Down The Rabbit Hole

Book Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

2012-01-31T00:02:00.000-05:00

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Reading Level: Young adult
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062071130
ISBN-13: 978-0062071132
Series: Everneath #1
Source: ARC provided by publisher
Cover: Hello Clarice! Seriously, this cover is so envy worthy it's sickening. From the second I saw this cover I knew it was going to be Greek mythology and I also knew I had to have it. The red is sort of romantic and the smoke adds an element of mystery. Yes, Balzer + Bray. A thousand times yes.
First Sentence: "I was picturing his face-- a boy with floppy brown hair and brown eyes--when the feed ended."

Mini-Review: Going under has never looked so tempting.

Summary:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

Review:

Equal parts passion and pain, Everneath is a bittersweet re-telling of the Persephone myth like you haven't read before. Weaving complex mythology, awesome characters and intense emotions effortlessly together, Everneath sets itself apart from the crowd. Merging both the past and present with a ticking time line adds plenty of tension and it's hard not to get sucked up into the story where the stakes are laid out from the beginning.

Nikki Beckett has had a tough year. Dealing with the loss of her mother is something she isn't really ready to face. So when a chance comes to get out, she takes it (there are other factors but I don't want to reveal too much). Dealing with a character that is so upset, I worried Nikki might be mopey but the author sets that straight quickly. What I loved about Nikki is that she is willing to accept responsibility for her mistakes and wants to do whatever she can to make what little time she has left right. Sometimes this makes her a pushover but she's already done enough damage and right now, her only goal is to make things right and the people she loves happy. I liked Nikki's voice and how soulful she was. Her observations felt deep and unique on to her own. Though I did get a bit annoyed that she was keeping things from people, I loved that she decided to trust those she loves too.

Going into this novel, I really thought I was going to get another love triangle and this is not the case. While I can understand why Nikki went with Cole to the Everneath, there is really no competition. Jack had me from the get go. I'm a sucker for best friends falling for each other and Jack and Nikki are are great example of this. For me, they echoed Jay and Violet from The Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting and Decker and Delaney from Fracture by Megan Miranda. Their friendship felt whole and like it existed before we came along to this story. Jack was always thoughtful and sexy and sweet. It's hard not to fall for him. Which makes Cole's attempts seem shallow. I will say that I could see Cole's appeal and I believed that he cared for Nikki. I'm interested to see where his character is going in the next book.

What set Everneath apart for me was the unique world and history the author set up for this well known and often imulated myth. Re-imaging the river Styx, how the Underworld works and what it looks like are just some of the things the author has thought of to change. I liked the back history to Everneath and what Cole and his band are. I did get confused in the middle as to Nikki's role and if she was something supernatural herself, but Ashton is able to clarify. I was also really impressed with the beauty of Ashton's writing. I felt like I was marking every page because of something gorgeous or funny or meaningful. It's inventive and emotional and exciting. Everything I could ask for in a read.

At first, I found the switch in time between the present and past a little jolting. But after a couple times, I started to realize that the author was utilizing important pieces of the past to show us the entire story and it started to flow a lot easier. Plus, Ashton did an awesome job of portraying Nikki's voice pre-Feed (that is, in the past) as very different from the girl she is now. This helped the transitions to be smoother and I felt the bits in the past also added to tension rather than detracting. The ending of this novel is so bittersweet and beautiful it has me dying for the next book. I'm just saying that if Cole offered me the next one in exchange for going to the Everneath, I'd seriously have to consider the offer...

Everneath reinvites the mythology its telling with creativity and complexity.With characters your going to fall in love with and an intensely passionate and realistic romance, it's hard to put down. Even though you are told the outcome from the beginning, your heart will be racing to the last seconds to see if Nikki and Jack can find a way to beat fate. Either way, going under has never looked so good.

Rating:

Favorite Lines:

I startled. It was him. Jack. The boy who had gotten me through Hell.

--Pg. 11 of "Everneath" by Brodi Ashton

I knew the smell of mowed grass and mud, and the chill of icy rain on my skin, and the sound of Jules screaming in my ear, would be grafted onto my soul and become part of the irremovable things about me. The stuff that memories are made of.

--Pg. 21 of "Everneath" by Brodi Ashton

"I remember what boys in high school were like. Especially the kind like Jack Caputo."/"What kind is that?"/"The kind that doesn't even walk a girl to the door."/I rolled my eyes. "Well, he would have, but he had to go drop off his other dates. There were three of us."

--Pg. 59 of "Everneath" by Brodi Ashton

"You don't give my job enough credit. It's really hard to convince a girl to follow me. The average pickup lines don't work so well. 'Hey, wanna get coffee? And then spend an eternity getting the life force sucked out of you?'"

--Pg. 62 of "Everneath" by Brodi Ashton

He smiled widely. "Sorry. I always feel like this after a set."/"Like what? Like you have the sudden urge to pick up teenage girls and throw them around?"

--Pg. 121 of "Everneath" by Brodi Ashton

"Okay. Friends talk. Friends help each other."/ I nodded./ "Friends don't eat friends' souls."/ I smiled. "Got it."

--Pg. 223 of "Everneath" by Brodi Ashton

But as I watched him drive away, the front end of his car still twisted from the wreck, I knew that there were no perfect moments left. When Jack found out the truth, it would be too late.

--Pg. 258 of "Everneath" by Brodi Ashton

Cole just smirked at me. "Hate. Such a strong feeling. A next door neighbor to love."

--Pg. 282 of "Everneath" by Brodi Ashton

I am as much of a ghost to him as he is to me. We are a breath away--and a world apart--from each other.

--Pg.370 of "Everneath" by Brodi Ashton

The "Write" Facts Interview: Lori Strongin

2012-01-30T10:01:00.001-05:00

This week, I have author Lori Strongin on the blog. An author of many novels, Lori's first YA novel entitled Bite Me is out this week!

Lori Strongin

Novel: Bite Me
Agent: none
Publisher: Mundania Press (http://www.mundania.com/)
Word Count: 101,000
Describe your novel in five words: Vegetarian Vampire meets Surferboy Werewolf
Favorite Word: Spork
Writing is like (fill in the blank): running around naked in public.

1) What do you think is the hardest part about writing? The easiest?

Easiest for me is the plotting. When I come up with an idea, I'll sit down and plot the whole thing out in what's called a treatment, which is basically like an extended outline. It details the major plot points and motivations for each chapter. The benefit is, when I go to actually write that chapter, I already have a roadmap and so I don't waste page time, meandering around, trying to find my way.

The hardest part is when my characters don't let me do what I'd originally wanted to do. Sometimes they'll want to drop certain bombshells chapters earlier than I'd planned, so they force me to rework the treatment around them being difficult little buggers.

2) Are you a plotter or a pantser (write without a plot to see where the story takes you)?

Definitely a plotter now (see above). I used to be a pantser though, and never thought about doing the treatment until an agent wanted to see one for the as-yet unwritten 3rd book of a series.

One huge benefit of being a plotter, I've found, is looking for plot holes. With the whole plot laid out in front of me, I can do a seek and destroy mission for motivations that don't make sense or places where I bend reality to my whims (which unfortunatley never works out well).

One of Lori's main characters from Bite Me

3) Do you think reading through the slush pile has helpped you in your own writing? Any tips or tricks you can share?

Oh God, yes! Beyond just learning the Do's and Don'ts of querying, I've seen so many repeated, play-out tropes come across my inbox. One batch, I think there were 35 half-vamps falling in love with half-weres. So when an agent says "This one's not for me" or "This doesn't fit my needs at this time," that likely means they already have clients writing these types of stories and don't need to add another one, or it also might mean the market is so oversaturated with these types of stories that they already know the publishers aren't buying any more books with that plotline at the moment.

In terms of querying, I can't stress enough the importance of specifically addressing your letter to a specific person rather than a "Whom it May Concern" or "Dear Sir or Madam." If you can't be bothered to take the 30 seconds to read the agent's website, why should that agent take 30 seconds out of their incredibly busy schedule to read your letter? Also, make sure you check your pronouns and that the Mr. really *is* a Mister.

Another tip--keep your query to ONE PAGE ONLY and focus on no more than two characters. And don't Tell me who they are, but Show that to me by condensing the entire plot into 3-4 sentences that highlight what's at risk for these characters and why I should care about them.

(As a sub-note, if anyone is going to the Romantic Times convention in Chicago this April, I'll be teaching the Query Letter Bootcamp class and will be giving attendees an in-depth crash course on how to perfect their query letters.)

4) What is the difference between editting someone else's work and editting your own?

For me, editing someone else's work is both harder and easier than doing my own. It's harder, because I really have to restrain from rewriting things to how I would have said it. I've learned the hard way to respect the author's voice and realize that their way of writing, while different to mine, isn't bad. Just different. And obviously their publisher loved their authorial voice enough to publish them, so I just focus on grammar and sentence construction, plot, pacing, characterizations, and overall storytelling. It's my job as an editor to make someone's work better, not rewrite it in my own voice.

As for editing my own work, I actually rewrite/edit each chapter twice (not including my first draft) before giving it to my critique group. Then I'll edit again as the critiques come in, and the final pass will be as a unified whole once the novel is complete and all chapters have been up for inspection.

Another of Lori's characters from Bite Me

5) What common mistake do you often see in either editting or reading slush?

Focusing too much on why the person chose to write this book. Once, someone wrote in their query that dolphinstold them to write this book, and angels helped the author translate the tale into English. Seriously! This actually happened!

So, no, as a slush reader, neither I nor the agent I work for care about where the idea for the book came about or who's already read and loved it. Awesome that your mom, 3rd grade teacher, next door neighbor, and family dog all loved your book. But that's not going to help you sell your idea to an agent.

Think of the query letter like a job interview. You've got less than one minute to impress your prospective employer (i.e., the agent who will be "hiring" you as a writer), so don't scare them off with a bunch of crazy. Be professional, be concise, tell me about the plot elements of the story, and what makes your story different from all the other ones in the same genre.

6) What surprised you the most after you started working with a publisher?

How much work is involved *after* the editing! Whether you're self-published, going through a small press, or writing for a large house, you NEED to get your name out there. Thankfully, social media outlets help immensely. But man, I didn't realize how many hours I'd have to schedule for things like twitter, tumblr, goodreads, and blogging. It's a tightrope to balance marketing, my freelance work, my ever-growing slush pile, and still finding time for my own writing.

7) Can you show us your favorite place to write (could be your desk, a favorite café, the most comfy couch in the world)?

I love writing in cafes and coffee shops. Twice a week, I camp out at the local Panera's Bread for about 5 hours after work with my writing group, and then on Saturdays, I go to the Barnies Coffee and Tea shop and do an all-day writing marathon from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. It sounds like a lot, but I see my writing a job--I schedule set times to devote to it. But there's nothing wrong with spreading out on a comfy couch with a chai latte to keep me company!

8) How do you deal with rejection?

Ben and Jerry's Phish Food. :)

haha, I've actually been at this so long, rejection doesn't really sting me for long any more. One author friend of mine got over 500 rejection letters before selling her romance series. She keeps all those letters in a suitcase and looks at them when things get rough to remind herself of how long she's been fighting and that giving up now would just be a waste after all those years of working so hard.

Another character from Bite Me

9) What do you think the advantage is to working with a smaller publisher vs. a bigger one?

I only have experiences with small and mid-sized houses, so I really couldn't say much about the Big Seven. But with Mundania for example, I love my editor and my acquistions editor. I know them as People now, not just employees of a large company assigned to help me make the parent organization money. Any time I have a question or concern, someone usually gets back to me within a day. Plus, Mundania has really welcomed me into the fold with open arms and made it feel like a personal experience. I'm not so sure that one of the larger houses would be able to provide such a sense of community.

10) What is your best piece of advice for aspiring authors?

Love what you write. If you don't love your characters, your world, your plot, readers are going to notice. It's smart to think about your prospective audience as you write, but you can't only think about the business side of publishing. Writing is also about art, about expression, and if you don't love what's flowing out of your fingers, then you're only Producing, not Writing.

Linnea Sinclair, an author who I have a ridiculous amount of respect for, once told me, re: writing, "If you're not opening a vein over your keyboard, you're doing it wrong." It was some of the best advice I've ever gotten.

That is really good advice! While I've got Lori here, I had to ask a question about her brand new YA novel.

Bonus Question: Tell us something we could know about BITE ME. Prehaps how one would get into Hedgehill University?

Oh, I LOVE this question. Well, Hedgehill University is located in Woodstock., NY, not too far from where the concert took place in 1969. One thing I love most about the town are all the old hippies who never left, still wearing their tye-died shirts and leather fringe vests and driving around in their psychedelic green and pink vans. Where better to place a school full of paranormal creatures than in the middle of Hippie Central where the flower children are more interested in certain...pasttimes than the fact a werewolf is running down the street after a pub crawl gone bad?!

Thanks so much for stopping by today and sharing your insight. It was awesome to get some questions answered by someone who has experienced a lot of different aspects of the writing and publishing world! Next week, Lauren DeStefano is talking about writing!

Incarnate Theater Treasure Hunt

2012-01-30T00:15:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the INCARNATE Theater Treasure Hunt!

This week, 48 bloggers are celebrating the release of INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows by participating in a treasure hunt with clues, activities, and lots of prizes including signed books and handknit fingerless mitts. You've reached an ACTIVITY blog, which means on this page, you can gain extra entries for Jodi's grand prize drawing by completing my activity and filling out the accompanying form. Then head to the next activity for more INCARNATE fun! There are 22 INCARNATE activities around. The more you do, the better your chances of winning the grand prize.

For more information on the INCARNATE Theater Treasure Hunt, check out Jodi's post.

I'm an activity blog. My activity is fairly simple, all you have to do is choose one of these sentences and fill in the blank. Dazzle me with the beauty of your words or make me snort with laughter. Remember, you only have to choose one!

I want INCARNATE so badly, I would [fill in the blank].
INCARNATE is to butterfly as [blank] is to [blank]

Make sure you answer the question in the comments!

Here's the form you can fill out to get points towards the main giveaway:

Loading...

Don't forget to check out more activities. Here are three more people on the list:
Libri Ago: Book Lives
The Mod Podge Bookshelf
Scattered Pages

But wait! I love this book so much, I want to giveaway a copy of my own. So if you've answered one of my questions, fill out my form for a finished copy of INCARNATE from the Book Depository. If The Book Depository ships to you, then you are eligible!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In My Mailbox 70

2012-01-29T00:35:00.001-05:00

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!

Here's what I got in my mailbox this week:

A closer look, Shelf #1:

From HarperTeen:

Vesper by Jeff Sampson
Havoc by Jeff Sampson

From Penguin:

ARC of Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin

Closer look at Shelf #2:

From Books-A-Million:

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (already read this one and LOVED it)
Fallen In Love by Lauren Kate
The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard

Closer look at Shelf #3:

From Books Like Stars:

Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Here's a look at the spines:

I want to thank Rochelle from Books Like Stars and both publishing houses for making my week awesome! That's it for me this week. What did you get in your mailbox?

Also, you have got to check out the event Books!!!! & I are hosting in February.

Want to meet your match? Want to match someone else up on a blind book date? You've got to participate in My Fair Book Date! Check out this post here to see more details, read the prizes and sign up!

My Fair Book Date Event

2012-01-28T02:57:00.000-05:00

Looking for that perfect read for February but have no idea what to read in that HUGE to be read pile? Why not let someone choose your perfect match for you?

If this sounds like a good idea to you, then sign up for our My Fair Book Date event going on for the entire month of February!

Where?: Right here on Down the Rabbit Hole and over at Books!!!!!

When?: The entire month of February

When you fill out the form, you will become matchmaker to someone and will also become set up with a matchmaker of your own!

As a matchmaker, you will research from the list of books provided for you on the form and pick out your perfect match by checking up on reviews and/or recommending one that you read and loved from the list! Then, you will send us your book choice to set up your friend on a blind date with and a short description as to why you choose that match for them. You'll also provide a short paragraph as to why you choose that book for your friend which will be used later. The catch is that your friend won't know it's you till the end of the month!

Your secret matchmaker will pick a book and we'll email you with the title. Then you'll go on a blind date with that book through the entire month of February. At the end of the month, you'll fill out a survey rating your date (it will be about 10 questions) to see if your matchmaker did a good job. We'll send over the identity of your matchmaker and the reason why they choose your match to include in your post.

Then you link up your survey and are entered into a giveaway where two random picks will win a book of their choice from The Book Depository!

To sign up, all you need to do is fill out this form. *Sign-ups will be open until February 4th and you will receive the information for your matchmaking February 5th.*

Loading...

Also, if you'd like, snag a button:

This month is all about current reads. But we need people to guest post about past blind dates they had with books. If you'd like to write up a one or two paragraph guest post on a YA book someone recommended that you ended up loving, please sign up below. If you could do it for the earlier dates, please specify. The sooner we get these posts, the better!

Loading...

This February...Come meet your match!

Book Review: The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

2012-01-27T00:01:00.001-05:00

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Books CH (January 24, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1423146166
ISBN-13: 978-1423146462
Series: The Way We Fall #1
Source: ARC provided by publisher
Cover: I think this cover is interesting. It's not beautiful because that isn't what this book is about. It does jump out like a warning though with it's big bold yellow (like yellow tape the police use) and the silhouette of the girl running is quite striking.
First Sentence: Leo, it's been six hours since you left the island.

Mini-Review: The Way We Fall is contagious.

Summary:

It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.
Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Because how will she go on if there isn't?

Megan Crewe crafts a powerful and gripping exploration of self-preservation, first love, and hope. Poignant and dizzying, this heart-wrenching story of one girl’s bravery and unbeatable spirit will leave readers fervently awaiting the next book in this standout new series.

Review:

Like the virus the novel is written about, The Way We Fall is contagious. Killer characters, a dire situation, a terrifying plot and a general feeling of paranoia run rampant through the novel creating an exciting read. It's like your favorite zombie novel minus the slow shuffling feet. But this virus is a killer and it takes over your mind right before it stops your heart.

Written in a journal as a series of letters, we get to see Kaelyn's thoughts as she sees them. And she's trying to be brutally honest. A situation like this, where so many people are dying, already lends itself to forcing the reader to feel sorry for the characters. The fact that I generally worried for Kaelyn's well being despite of the circumstances is an added bonus. The thing about Kaelyn that I really liked was that she was really trying to better herself before the virus struck. She constantly struggled with how to make herself into the person she wanted to be instead of the person she was. This carried through when the disaster struck and made her question her actions, thinking deeper than just surviving. I loved that she actually cared and was willing to admit it. Plus, I thought it was fascinating that she was so in to animals and would look at the world through the eyes of someone knowledgeable in the wildlife hierarchy. This shaped her view point in a pleasant, unique way.

As well-developed as Kaelyn was, you'd think the other characters would be lacking. Yet, they were all real too. You got the sense that the characters were doing something before Kaelyn walked into the room. They had their own interests and let things shape them in their own ways. Meredith survived perfectly as Kaelyn's motivation and Kaelyn's tenuous relationship with her family made for plenty of tension as people started dying. The fact her father was a lead doctor in disease research and was responsible for finding the cure made it all the more interesting. Kaelyn's budding friendship with Tess and starting a relationship with Gav at one of the most dangerous times to grow close to someone was sweet. What I loved about this story was that everyone was into their own things and they all felt whole. It was almost as if any of these characters could be the one writing the journal.

The journal form helped to grasp the enclosed feeling of being trapped on the quarantined island. Having Kaelyn write about each day and the gradual changes in her behavior was a really effective way to see how the island was changing and slowly unraveling. Then, to see Kaelyn slowly lose her mind as the virus spreads and fight to find her wa yback is both awesome and terrifying.

Terrifying is truly the word to define this novel. I was left with a feeling of dread at the horrible circumstances that the island faced in just a few short weeks. I picked up this story not realizing that what I was going to read was a horror but this disease truly is a killer and it's hard not to feel scared as everything we know from normal society begins to break down. All of a sudden Internet and phone lines are down, power is going out, gas is running low and people are starting to take the law into their own hands. Ms. Crewe is masterful at showing how people begin to crack under pressure and how disasters can truly pull out the very worst in people. But though the world is bleak, Crewe still manages to sprinkle little rays of light, Through her character's actions we see bravery in an entirely new way and we see how always questing to better oneself can lead to accomplishments far beyond one's expectations.

Blending the awesomely terrible and horribly amazing into one heartbreaking story is successful in The Way We Fall. The characters feel real so real that they will grip onto your heart and the illiness seems so plausible you'll find yourself wincing at every cough and sneeze. But should The Way We Fall become a virus, I'd suggest you catch it. Because like the virus contained within the pages it will take over you mind and make you want to spread it around to all your friends.

Rating:

Favorite Lines:

...I can imagine what it's like to fly. At least, I usually can. Right then I felt as if I had a weight strapped around my waist, holding me down, made up of all the things I should have said to you before you left.

--Pg.4 of an ARC of "The Way We Fall" by Megan Crewe

So I tried. If your girlfriend wants to risk her life for fertilizer or a spade or whatever, that's up to her.

-- Pg. 53 of an ARC of "The Way We Fall" by Megan Crewe

"...This is all I can say right now. The government's decided the area's too high risk. They're closing off the island."

--Pg. 57 of an ARC of "The Way We Fall" by Megan Crewe

His forearms were wiry with muscle. Possibly from pummeling his friends on a regular basis.

--Pg. 78 of an ARC of "The Way We Fall" by Megan Crewe

It doesn't make its victims stagger around slobbering and moaning so anyone in their right mind would run the other way. It gets you cozying up to people...

--Pg. 93 of an ARC of "The Way We Fall" by Megan Crewe

"You're always threatening me with violence," he said, his breath warm against my ear. "What's that all about?"/"You're the one teaching me how to hit people," I pointed out./"You're saying I'm the bad influence then?" he asked. I could feel his grin./"Oh definitely," I said.

--Pg. 223 of an ARC of "The Way We Fall" by Megan Crewe

This is what we do. We make tea and read books and watch people die.

--Pg. 279 of an ARC of "The Way We Fall" by Megan Crewe

Young Adult Giveaway Hop!

2012-01-26T16:04:00.000-05:00

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and I have teamed up to host an awesome giveaway hop for YA books only! I'm so pleased to be a part of this hop. So now, I'm sure you are all wondering what I'm giving away!

There will be one winner that can choose a pre-order for the following titles:

As you can see, those are some wonderful prizes!

All you have to do is fill out the form and you're entered! You may only fill out the form once.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
*let me know if the form isn't working please*

Good luck and thanks so much for stopping by my blog! It's all YA here all the time!

Also, if I reach 2000 followers this time, I'll be doing a HUGE 2000 Follower giveaway. We're talking at least 12 books!

Why not check out some of the other amazing giveaways?

The Time Will Come (30): Warm Bodies by Issac Marion

2012-01-26T11:41:00.002-05:00

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!

Warm Bodies by Issac Marion

A zombie who yearns for a better life ends up falling in love—with a human—in this astonishingly original debut novel.

R is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he has dreams. He doesn’t enjoy killing people; he enjoys riding escalators and listening to Frank Sinatra. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

Not just another zombie novel, Warm Bodies is funny, scary, and deeply moving.

I picked this novel up while I was at YAllfest because the author was supposed to be there. He never showed (plane delays I think) but I still got the book. I'd see it around a lot and also heard it was being turned into a movie. So I snagged myself a copy. I will read this one before the movie comes out, I just need to have the time.

What about you? Have you read it? Or what's been sitting on your shelf too long?

Author Interview: S.R. Wells, author of On the Bright Side

2012-01-25T09:52:00.003-05:00

Today I have S.R. Wells on the blog, chatting up her up and coming tween novel On the Bright Side. I've got to tell you guys, this novel looks adorable! Thanks for stopping by!

1) Describe ON THE BRIGHT SIDE in 140 characters or less.

OTBS is about a tween angel assigned to protect her school nemesis who's now dating her crush. Intead, Gabby starts pranking her mortal & unleashes a dark side.

2) So Gabby dies at 14 and is in a sort of limbo. What three things does she miss the most about Earth?

1) her best friend (and crush) Michael
2) her mom
3) her jeans because now she's stuck in white fat pants for eternity

3) Gabby's put in charge of looking after her enemy. What advice do you think she'd give someone who is paired with someone they don't like or put in a similar situation?

Well, at first she would say: pssst, have you tried the Prickly Dead Arm Charm OR did you know if you blow on their neck, they get the chills. But in the end, Gabby would tell someone that things are not always when they seem on the outside. That you never know what someone is going through or how your actions can ripple into something worse than you wanted or expected. And sometimes doing the things you think will make you feel better about yourself, actually make you feel worse.

4) Can you tell me your reaction when you saw your cover?

I love it. Vania at VLC Photo does a great job of taking my vision and capturing it in a way I did not expect. This cover captures the spirit of Gabby to the core. It think its cute and fun. There are not many paranormal tween books (true tween) and most of the middle grace paranormals are illustrated. I love that she captured the age and spirit in a real photo.

5) What is the difference between writing for teens and writing for tweens?

Well, teens are a little bit more insightful than tweens. Tweens have that kid side where they want to hug their moms yet that teen side where they want independence. They are inbetween which describes Gabby exactly. The romance is different in tweens. They are more light and border on a crush. Whereas teens are usually full blown love.

6) Have you read anything lately that you'd recommend?

For tweens? I love Alyson Noel's Riley Series - the spinoff of Evermore. I think Riley and Gabby would be great friends and have lots of fun.

7) Can you tell us anything about any future projects you have in the works?

I have an Anthology (In His Eyes) coming out with some other indie authors on Feb 14th. It is comprised of short stories that are all from the perspective of the hot guys in our books. Also, the sequel to Untraceable (my YA wilderness thriller) comes out sometime late summer 2012.

As if the devil’s food cake at her wake and the white fat pants she’s stuck wearing for eternity weren’t bad enough, fourteen year-old Gabby is quick to discover that Cirrus, the main rung of Heaven, is a far cry from the Pearly Gates. Here, Skyphones and InnerNets are all the rage. At her first Bright ceremony, G.O.D., the automated assignment system, spits out Angela Black, Gabby’s arch nemesis and longtime fencing rival. As a Bright, Gabby has to protect Angela, her assigned mortal, in order to move up through the training levels of heaven.

Back on earth, Angela starts hitting on Michael, Gabby’s crush and should-have-been boyfriend. Gabby’s pranks to quell the love are harmless at first until the school dance sabotage gets completely out of control. Then, Celestial Sky Agent, Clarence, who happens to have anger management issues of his own, steps into reveal that Angela has big problems, and what she really needs is Gabby’s help. Determined to right her wrong and ease her mother’s grief, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to earth for just one day. But if Gabby’s not careful, her well-meaning mission just might shift the very foundation of Heaven, Earth, and every place in between, causing the danger of the dark side to roam free.

Here' what people are saying about On the Bright Side:

"S.R. Johannes delivers a cute sci-fi thrill ride for middle graders! Even in death there is a BRIGHT SIDE!" - Addison Moore, author of the bestselling Celestra series

Clever and charming, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is the story of a reluctant guardian angel, her still-breathing crush, and the frenemy she’s assigned to protect. A great read! -Suzanne Young, author of A Need So Beautiful, A Want So Wicket (6/12), and The Program (2013)

“ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is both hilarious and heart-warming – a tale that’ll have you hoping that there really *are* spunky and determined angels like Gabby who’ve got our backs.” - Kristin O’Donnell Tubb, author of Selling Hope & The 13th Sign (2013) (Feiwel & Friends)

"With a smart, snappy heroine and a heart-warming crush, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is a page-turning new take on guardian angels that left me begging for a sequel!" - Gretchen McNeil, author of Possess and Ten (9/12) (Balzar + Bray)

Thanks a million time to S.R. Wells for stopping by!

Teaser Tuesday (71) and Top Ten Tuesday (17)

2012-01-24T15:07:00.002-05:00

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 pageBe 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!

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

"You won't have me." I spun and leaped off the cliff. Death would be fast and cold; I wouldn't feel a thing.

--Pg. 13 of an ARC of "Incarnate" by Jodi Meadows

I haven't read much of this novel yet but it is already starting out as something I didn't expect. This is way more fantasy than I originally thought which is a great thing. I'm looking forward to where this story will take me!

What's your teaser?

Top Ten Tuesday is a 10's list meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. There is a different question every week and all you have to do is answer their question with your top ten results!

Top Ten Underrated Books

This week is a freebie where we can pick any of the prompts from the past. I've been meaning to do something like this on my blog anyway so this is a perfect excuse! Check out my top ten underrated books

1) Shifting by Bethany Wiggins- Without a doubt, this is my top underrated book. I haven't read too many reviews but every one that I do read raves about this book. And there is a good reason. Complex characters, a plot filled with tough choices and interesting Native American legend fill every fast paced page. If you haven't rad this book, do yourself a favor and pick it up!

2) Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender- This novel is one that got a little more popular around Halloween this year which I was pleased to see. Written as a horror, the author is a master at creating scary situations with the atmosphere in the first installment and psychologically with the second. Strong characters and a gripping plot make this one book you need to read.

3) Give Up The Ghost by Megan Crewe- I went in not expecting a lot from this book and the complex characters and strong relationships blew me away. The writing flows naturally, the story is interesting and I loved the main character!

4) Hold Still by Nina LaCour- This novel is literally perfect for fans of If I Stay. Deeply emotional, Hold Still explores the healing process of what comes after someone kills themselves and has a cast of characters that will stay with you. I think back on Taylor and Caitlin, I still smile.

5) How To Say Goodbye In Robot by Natalie Standiford- This novel literally tore my heart in two in the best way possible. Every time I think back on this book, I smile at the odd radio station and get a little emotional about the ending. It's stuck with me even though I've read it a year ago.

6) The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver- It seems like so many people have heard of this series but too few have read it. I love tough-as-nails Riley and her southern guy who looks after her Beck. This series is such a fun, exciting read with an entirely new world. You have to check it out!

7) Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey- I love how this book combined the paranormal and contemporary genre. So many times when someone dies, it still feels like they are there because we carry them with us. I'm really glad to see someone take this to a new place and give us an emotionally complex story bursting with beauty.

8) Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday- This novel is just a good time. Hartley is so funny and her relationship with her best friend/partner in crime really makes this novel special. I loved Hartley's unique voice. From page one, it feels like something special because it is.

What's your top ten list this week? Have you read any of my choices?

Book Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

2012-01-24T00:01:00.000-05:00

Fracture by Megan Miranda

Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Walker Childrens (January 17, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0802723098
ISBN-13: 978-0802723093
Series: No
Source: ARC provided by the publisher
Cover: I'm so in love with this cover from the bleak, icy background to the bright red coat which is an image in the book that's hard to forget. I love the reflection right below the title and the calm serious look on the model's face. I feel like this works well as a YA cover but could easily be in regular fiction as well.
First Sentence: "The first time I died, I didn't see God."

Mini-Review: A stellar debut with unforgettable characters. Completely unputdownable.

Summary:

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine

—despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death.

Review:

It feels premature to say I just read one of my favorite books of 2012 but I'm going to say it anyway. Fracture is every bit the stuff favorites are made of. Every sentence is something I wanted to commit to memory and hold close, the characters all felt so raw and real and the story had me guessing until the last chapter... and speaking of the last chapter, it had me reeling. Beautiful, complex, and raw, Fracture is one debut you won't be forgetting.

There are too few characters that get under your skin and implant themselves into your heart. Delaney Maxwell, "miracle and anomaly", is most certainly one of those girls. From her first chapter, I could tell she was someone I was going to fall in love with and she didn't disappoint. True nerd to the core, she is witty and intelligent without seeming like a know-it-all and her inner turmoil all feels real and valid. The slow measures in which she went insane and then pulled herself out of it is so subtle, it sneaks up on the reader. Being a passenger in her head, we know the reasoning behind her actions and it is all valid. But then the author expertly slips in the reactions of other people and we, as readers, get a rare opportunity to view her as we probably would if we were around her. I loved how real Delaney was, how her actions and reactions and interacts all felt like something a living, breathing person would do.

And you want to talk about solid relationship building? I haven't seen a best friend story told like this since The Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting. Just like Jay and Violent, Delaney and Decker are given the chance to fall in love. Decker is flawed, he makes plenty of mistakes in this novel, but for me, that's what made him human. I'm really tired of guys that are too nice or too rude. Decker was the perfect in between. But the most important part is that he was always there for Delaney, whenever she truly needed him. And Delaney knew she could always call Decker, no matter how angry they were with each other. Watching these two fumble around in the darkness of their own grief, each trying to figure out how to deal with it in their own way and still grow together was addictive, sweet and absolutely wonderful.

The only thing I knew about this novel was that "Decker pulled me out at eleven". I had no idea what to expect for a plot and was pleasantly surprised when what I found was part thriller, part contemporary with just a dash of the unexplainable. Like a runaway freight train, I had no idea where this story was racing to and was shocked when we crashed into the final destination. I literally had no idea where would end up and the ending completely shocked me in all the right ways.

Fracture had me laughing, it had me crying and it had me feverishly marking each page where I'd find even more beautiful revelations, heart-breaking emotions, or pulse pounding scenes. The range of emotions jammed into this relatively small novel is just incredible and the complexity of grief and happiness is remarkable. The author plays with the shadows between miracle and damnation with the mastery of an author with 20 novels under their belt. Yet, this is a debut writer. If this is novel number one, I can't wait to see what Ms. Miranda is going to proved us with next. My only small compliant is with the length. I'd have like to see 50 more pages not because it felt like the novel needed it but because I wasn't ready for Fracture to end. I didn't want to stop hanging out with Decker and Delaney.

Like cracks in the ice, there are a million different ways to express how beautiful and amazing Fracture truly is. But probably the best and most effective way is with the words of the author herself. Fracture is "a miracle, an anomaly". Fracture is "alive".

Rating:

Favorite Lines:

I was still trapped. Only now, instead of staring through the surface of a frozen lake, I was staring through the surface of a frozen body.

--Pg. 2 of an ARC of "Fracture" by Megan Miranda

It had been two days since I broke Best Friend Commandment Number One: Thou shalt not hook up with best friend's other friend on said best friend's couch.

-- Pg. 6 of an ARC of "Fracture" by Megan Miranda

...I hated my room, claustrophobia personified in a hideous color.

--Pg. 14 of an ARC of "Fracture" by Megan Miranda

Apparently I need to go to rehab to find out I didn't need rehab. It sounded like a Catch-22, but I wasn't sure since my English class started that book while I was comatose. It was high on my to-do list.

--Pg. 30 of an ARC of "Fracture" by Megan Miranda

I was not a hugger as a general rule. I was not a fan of Tara as a specific rule.

--Pg. 52 of an ARC of "Fracture" by Megan Miranda

"Now it's really not fair because I know you won't pick paper this time. I'll pick rock. I can't lose." (Decker)/ "I'm brain damaged, you know. That's just cruel." (Delaney)

--Pg. 94 of an ARC of "Fracture" by Megan Miranda

And Decker said, "Tomorrow I'll make you smile."

--Pg. 103 of an ARC of "Fracture" by Megan Miranda

...I let him, because I wasn't sure who I was most scared of at the moment. The stranger I was learning about too quickly, or the woman I'd known all my entire life who was quickly becoming a stranger.

--Pg. 165 of an ARC of "Fracture" by Megan Miranda

Decker was always able to believe in the impossible--that I could live when I was dead, that it could snow in August, that loving me was enough.

--Pg. 259 of an ARC of "Fracture" by Megan Miranda

****Yes, I realize this is a crazy amount of favorites and I NARROWED them down. This book is that good!****

The "Write" Facts Interview: Jodi Meadows

2012-01-23T00:01:00.000-05:00

Jodi Meadows has an exciting debut coming out next week called Incarnate. Read on to find out more about her journey!

Jodi Meadows

Novel: INCARNATE
Agent: Lauren MacLeod of the Strothman Agency
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins Publishers

Word Count: 80,000
Describe your novel in five words: Reincarnation, newsoul, insecurity, dragons, kissing
Favorite Word: I have lots of favorite words, but since my agent and husband both mock me when I use "keening," I will choose that one today.
Writing is like (fill in the blank): a lot of other things, but more replacement keyboards.

1) Are you a plotter or a pantser (write without a plot to see where the story takes you)?

I'm both. Sort of. I used to be more of an organic writer, with only a vague idea of where I was heading. When I started writing INCARNATE, I did a lot more plotting ahead of time, but I made sure to leave lots of room for the story to grow organically within that structure. Some things, like the masquerade, were completely unplanned until a character brought it up.

2) What are some of the things you do to motivate yourself to write? Do you have any goals set up, rewards or do you not need motivation?

I write with little goals in mind, like getting to 100 words, then 500 words, or reaching the end of the scene/chapter, or getting to a certain part of the story by the end of the day. Whenever I feel like I'd rather go nap, I'm usually really close to another goal, so what's another 50 words? I might as well, right?

Maybe it's like writing "shower" on your to-do list for the day, but it makes me feel productive.

As for rewards, usually there are scenes I'm looking forward to reaching (they tend to involve kissing -- surprise surprise), and I will writer harder just to get to them.

3) Can you tell us about The Call when you got your agent and why you chose them?

The day before Lauren offered, I had the terrifying opportunity to write one of those emails: the kind that says "I've received an offer of representation; please let me know if you'd like to offer, too."

So I was still nervous when I got up that morning. I'd already received one offer I wasn't sure was real and I wasn't sure how I'd manage a whole week without imploding. Then two seconds after I got on my computer and said something on Twitter, Lauren called me. I was still very groggy because I hadn't had coffee yet, so it went kind of like this:

Me, sounding much like a frog: Hello?
Lauren, peppy: Hi, is this Jodi?
Me: Uh huh.
Lauren, peppier: This is Lauren MacLeod. I just finished reading your book and I love it! I want to represent it.
Me: *jawdrop*

It turns out she'd been stalking my Twitter page that morning (because she knew I had a weird sleep schedule), and she wanted to surprise me first thing. (She did.)

Choosing between agents was incredibly difficult, because both who offered were amazing and loved INCARNATE. After a LOT of consideration (I seriously made them wait all week), I accepted Lauren's offer. Not only did we have a great personal connection, she was building her list in the same direction I wanted to build my career. We had similar visions for my book's future and how it fit in the market, and similar visions for my own writing future beyond the INCARNATE books.

There are a lot of things to consider when accepting an agent's offer (I've written a huge blog post about it!), and I was lucky enough to get all my dream agent qualities in one adorable person.

4) When you got your editorial notes from your editor for the first time, was there something that surprised you?

I was lucky enough to have the chance to talk with Editor Sarah before I received my edit letter, so I knew she loved the book and understood what parts were important to me. I knew we had similar visions for it. (I can't stress how important this is when accepting agent and editor offers!)

I'd anticipated something like the best crit partner letter I'd ever gotten, but EVEN BETTER, and that was exactly what I received. I was a little afraid that I'd want to crawl into a hole and never come out after the letter, because I know other writers have felt like that, but I didn't. I was INSPIRED after receiving my letter.

5) Can you tell us how you felt when you got the file for your novel cover and opened it?

Nervous! When the art department asked what book covers I loved, I'd sent gorgeous landscapes and iconic images. The email containing my first cover comp said things like "model" and "photo shoot" and "headshots." By the time I got to the end of the email (I'm one of those rare people who reads the words before scrolling down to the pictures), I was pretty nervous about what I'd find. I'd heard horror stories about authors who hated their covers . . .

Then I saw the girl (not my girl -- a different girl for the comp) with a butterfly mask and all these colors around her and I. Fell. In. Love. Every worry I'd had was gone, just like that because they'd captured my story exactly. By the time they did casting and a photo shoot with Model Susan (who plays Ana on the cover), I was composing love sonnets in my head to the art department. (Fortunately for them, these sonnets were never written down. I'm not a poet.)

6) How do you feel about using online media? Has the effect been over all good or have there been some drawbacks?

I love social media! I love being able to interact with people AND wear my PJs. For me, it's been an overall positive thing. I do sometimes have to remind myself that I blog and tweet for fun, and when it gets stressful, I just back away.

7) What is your best piece of advice for aspiring authors?

Write! And read! And make sure you get up every now and then to combat Expanding Butt Disease, which affects so many writers . . .

Thanks so much to Jodi Meadows for agreeing to do this interview and letting us in on her path to becoming a debut author! I particularly loved hearing about her reaction to the cover!

Next week I've got Lori Strongin!

In My Mailbox (69)

2012-01-22T12:46:00.000-05:00

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 Scholastic:

ARC of Perception by Kim Harrington

From Books-A-Million:

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
Fracture by Megan Miranda

From Amazon.com:

Tempest by Julie Cross

From Ivy over at Ivy Reads: (thanks so much for the awesome Twitter contest!)

Two bookmarks and a very sweet note

Thanks to Scholastic for making my mailbox so wonderful this week and Ivy for my prize. What did you all get in your mailbox?

Saturday Discussions: BEA

2012-01-21T00:35:00.000-05:00

Normally I use these to answers other questions or to start up a conversation. But today, I want to talk about something and let you guys give me advice.

BEA sign ups just opened up this week. I've been saving to go to BEA since last year when I found out about it (I'd known about it before but never thought of going as a blogger) and am so excited to get to go this year. I've checked for the right hotels, scoured the site for information and read up on posts. I even joined a Goodreads Group hosted by Rex Robot Reviews to get my info and have been quietly reading through all the comments.

What I want to chat about today is if you know any good information or sources for people planning on going their first time.

This will be my first time and I am already feeling a little overwhelmed and it hasn't even started yet. I've been actively reading any tips and tricks I can get my hands on and praying I'll be able to navigate my way through the mazes of books and people!

The biggest thing I've learned so far is to be organized and be prepared for everything-- rude people, line cutting, meeting awesome bloggers, meeting industry professionals and everything in between.

So do you have a post with tips and tricks from last year I should read? Are you going this year? Are there any newbies out there? I want to know!

Book Tunes (36)

2012-01-20T13:08:00.001-05:00

Book Tunes is a new meme that will be held on Fridays and the point is to share the book your reading and a song you think represents it.

Want to join in?:

Write up a post
Tell me the book you are reading, the song you picked and why
Link up by leaving the URL to your posts in the comments

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

The Tune: Anywhere But Here by Safetysuit

The Lyrics:
Is this the end of the moment
Or just a beautiful unfolding
Of a love that will never be?
Or maybe be
Everything that I never thought could happen
Or ever come to pass and
I wonder
If maybe
Maybe I could be
All you ever dreamed, cause you are

Beautiful inside
So lovely and I
Cant see why I'd do anything without you, you are
And when I'm not with you
I know that it's true
That I'd rather be anywhere but here without you

Is this a natural feeling
Or is it just me bleeding
All my thoughts and dreams
In hope that you will be with me or
Is this a moment to remember
Or just a cold day in December?
I wonder
If maybe
Maybe I could be
All you ever dreamed, cause you are

Beautiful inside
So lovely and I
Can't see why I'd do anything without you, you are
And when I'm not with you
I know that it's true
That I'd rather be anywhere but here without you

Is this the end of the moment
Or just a beautiful unfolding
Of a love that will never be
For you and me?

Cause you are
You're beautiful inside
You're so lovely and I
Can't see why I'd do anything without you, you are
And when I'm not with you, I know that it's true
That I'd rather be anywhere but here without you

I'm about half way through Everneath and right now this song sort of fits two-fold. I feel like it really fits the emotions that Nikki is working through. She traveled up to the Surface for Jack on nothing more than a memory of his face, knowing she is going to face terrible consequences but needing to be near him to say good bye.

This song also seems like how Cole feels for Nikki. I'm not sure if he really cares about her yet, I think he really does just care about her but there are going to be ulterior motivates that are making him stay to go with it. But it seems like he could be in the Everneath right now and instead, he's sticking around the surface trying to convince Nikki to come back with him.

What song fits the book you are reading right now?

Swoon Thursday (8): Everneath by Brodi Ashton

2012-01-19T01:01:00.003-05:00

The ladies over at YA Bound created a sexy meme where you share what made you tingle in your current read. If you want to join in, here is what you do:From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog!

This week's swoon is coming from Everneath. I'm only 70 pages in and I've already read like three swoons so I have a feeling I'll have another one from this novel next week!

"We did it, Becks!" He spun me around.
"Congra--" I couldn't get anything else out, beacuse his lips were on mine. His mouth tasted faintly of salt. The eye black on his cheeks was no doubt smearing onto my face, but I didn't care. We had this moment together, and I knew it would be over too quickly.

--Pg. 22 of an ARC of "Everneath" by Brodi Ashton

How stinking cute is this? He lifts her up over a wall onto the football field to kiss her in front of everyone. I have to say, Jack is going to have to really screw up for me not to be head over heels for him. Sorry Cole. I'm really looking forward to finishing this book. 70 pages have gone by like nothing.

What made you swoon this week?

The Time Will Come (29): Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

2012-01-19T00:50:00.000-05:00

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!

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan

What if you were bound for a new world, about to pledge your life to someone you'd been promised to since birth, and one unexpected violent attack made survival—not love—the issue?

Out in the murky nebula lurks an unseen enemy: the New Horizon. On its way to populate a distant planet in the wake of Earth's collapse, the ship's crew has been unable to conceive a generation to continue its mission. They need young girls desperately, or their zealous leader's efforts will fail. Onboard their sister ship, the Empyrean, the unsuspecting families don't know an attack is being mounted that could claim the most important among them...

Fifteen-year-old Waverly is part of the first generation to be successfully conceived in deep space; she was born on the Empyrean, and the large farming vessel is all she knows. Her concerns are those of any teenager—until Kieran Alden proposes to her. The handsome captain-to-be has everything Waverly could ever want in a husband, and with the pressure to start having children, everyone is sure he's the best choice. Except for Waverly, who wants more from life than marriage—and is secretly intrigued by the shy, darkly brilliant Seth.

But when the Empyrean faces sudden attack by their assumed allies, they quickly find out that the enemies aren't all from the outside.

Since I read Across the Universe at the beginning of last year, I've still been reeling on this epic sci-fi kick and I really think Glow will satisfy this. I've been hearing mixed reviews up this one but with the second novel coming out in a while, I hope to get to this one soon!

What have you been sitting on for too long this week?

SOPA Blackout

2012-01-18T03:07:00.000-05:00

My blog is going on protest against SOPA because it's important that this doesn't happen and I started this to have my voice heard. Well, I'm raising it like so many other wonderful blogs out there.

You can check out here for more info on SOPA.

But basically, it would give companies the right to pull any site because they *think* someone is doing something bad. I'm against piracy but not to the point of this bill. Basically, there would be no internet as we know it...

This is important. So my blog is going silent for today. Everything will resume again on Thursday January 19th. If this is something you don't like, you should speak up (or rather, go silent) too!

Teaser Tuesday (70) and Top Ten Tuesday (16)

2012-01-17T13:41:00.000-05:00

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!

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

I reached for his hand, then hesitated as I remembered that face. The one with the brown eyes. The boy with the hands that fit mine just right.

--Pg. 6 of an ARC of "Everneath" by Brodi Ashton

I'm really only a chapter into this book and I can already tell I'm going to love it. I'm a bit confused but in a really good way like the start of a new adventure. Can't wait to see how this one turns out!

What's your teaser?

Top Ten Tuesday is a 10's list meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. There is a different question every week and all you have to do is answer their question with your top ten results!

Top Ten Books I'd Recommend to Someone that Doesn't Read YA Dystopian

1) The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins- I'd recommend this novel to any person, old or young, male or female and everyone in between. If you want something amazing in your hands, I always start with this series.

2) Divergent by Veronica Roth- Any fan that loved The Hunger Games is bound to love Divergent. Tris is just as tough and able to care for herself as Katniss but she isn't as cold.

3) Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi- I feel like this is geared more toward your comic book loving gal. Shatter Me is heavy on the romance but has an interesting world to back it up.

4) Matched by Ally Condie- This is definitely a quiet sort of novel. I'd recommend it to those who really like contemporary and are itching to try something new.

5) Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi- Good for both girls and guys, Under the Never Sky is a great novel for the fantasy/sci-fi readers in your life.

6) XVI by Julia Karr- This is something for everyone and I honestly wish they'd require this novel for school. I feel like this is a great book to open up dialog between teens.

7) Wither by Lauren DeStefano- Another quieter dystopian that would be perfect for a contemporary or romance reader.

8) Eve by Anna Carey- Eve is full of action but is is also heavy on the romance. I'd say this would definitely work for a paranormal or romance lover!

9) The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe- Got any zombie loving fans out there? This one is about a virus that spreads (though it isn't a zombie virus) that would be perfect for them or fans of psychological horror.

I know there are quite a few other dystopians out there but I still haven't gotten to read them all. These are the ones I'd recommend out of the books I've read this far.

What's you list about?

Bout of Books Finish Line

2012-01-17T01:30:00.001-05:00

Well, this is the end! I wish I'd gotten more done (and I'm even a little late writing this) but things happened this week and it just didn't happen. No use crying about spilled milk though! Here are my results.

Total pages: 556
Total number of books I’ve read: 1 and a half
Books: Tempest by Julie Cross and The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

I didn't completely finish The Way We Fall but I got a lot of the way through and was able to finish today (or I guess yesterday now). Over all it isn't too bad since I knew I wouldn't get through all my books but I wish I would have gotten the chance to read longer.

I did participate in most of the challenges which is fun and I plan on going through a lot of results to find new friends.

How did you do?

Book Review: Tempest by Julie Cross

2012-01-17T00:19:00.000-05:00

Tempest by Julie Cross

Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (January 17, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312568894
ISBN-13: 978-0312568894
Series: Tempest #1
Source: ARC provided by publisher
Cover: I'm so in love with this cover. I love that the two model's are reaching for each other like they are being whirled into space with the dark, stormy background. It sets up the mood perfectly and I realize now that it is depicting part a scene of the book rather effortlessly.
First Sentence: Okay, so it's true.

Mini-Review: Tempest is a solid story that lives up to it's promising premise but does have a few little stumbles along the way.

Summary:

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.
But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

Review:

Described as The Time Traveler's Wife meets The Born Identity, Tempest promises a fast paced plot, incredible characters and something unforgettable. In some ways it delivers and in other areas it falls just a little short. Built around a solid voice, it has an innovative time travel system and plenty of who-dun-it action. Tempest does stumble sometimes since the writing is hard to follow and bits tended to drag.

I'm always looking for novels written in the male perspective. So I was really excited to hear about Tempest when I found out it was told in Jackson's perspective. I thought his voice sounded natural and he had an interesting point of view. In the beginning, I found myself less than excited to know him as he seemed like a jerk. But as the novel wore on, I did enjoy that he started to change. His growth was without a doubt, one of my favorite parts of the novel. While the fact that he was rich could have made everything too easy for Jackson, he never made anything easy for himself which made up for his ultra-wealth.

The large cast of secondary characters worked for the most part and I found myself really liking a lot of them. The ghost of Jackson's twin sister Courtney added depth to his character, the strained relationship with his father definitely added the action, Holly was good motivation and Adam was a great sidekick. I liked that I felt the depth of Jackson's and Holly's relationship early on and as Jackson explored his feelings for her, the relationship became even more alive. It's easy to see why these characters liked each other and helped me to stay engaged and believe in their relationship. I did tend to get confused with so many other characters in the CIA and EOT divisions, sometimes to the point where I'd just shrug my shoulders and keep reading, hoping a name would straighten itself out. It was good to have that many characters in some ways because it did keep me guessing but I felt I lost a little bit of the effect since I couldn't keep them all straight.

Time travel is a tricky beast to make work. There are so many questions and never enough answers. The author did a great job giving us a plausible time traveling system. I'm sure there were kinks I didn't understand but I got the mechanics of it and those worked so I was happy. I'm alright with not knowing the "why"s or "how"s as long as the character doesn't know these things either. I also really enjoyed that Jackson had to pick up clues in many different time periods. The jumps that weren't used for plot building were used to flesh out Jackson's character.

A plot involving many excursions everywhere is bound to be a fascinating one and adding in the CIA was sort of the cherry on top. While most things went smoothly, I did find that the pacing was off in some parts of the book. I also felt like sometimes Jackson would connect things and I'd wonder how he was able to with the pieces provided. This might have been two different mindsets at work but I wish everything was a little clearer. I'm still not sure I understand exactly what happened in the big fight scene at the end.

I also had a small problem with the ending. I don't want to reveal too much, and this is purely my opinion, but I felt like Jackson's last decision went completely against all the things he learned in the past. Again, as far as that goes, it's merely that I wasn't crazy about the direction the story took but that's what happened and I can respect it. It's not going to keep me from reading the next book in the series and I feel like with more practice under her belt, the author is really going to be able to make something special.

While Tempest didn't blow my mind like I was hoping it would, it was a solid story and lived up to it's promising premise. Jackson's voice and growth were the best parts of this book and I have no doubt that the author will improve with the next novel (as that is what writing does, it gets better with every book). It might not have been everything I was hoping it would be but it was definitely enough to tempt me into entering Jackson's head again for book 2.

Rating:

Favorite Lines:

Only in New York City could someone materialize out of thin air and get no more than the usual angry driver reactions.

--Pg. 39 of an ARC of "Tempest" by Julie Cross

...this is the most freaked out I had ever been in my entire life. And I still had a lightbulb to change--another scary thought.

--Pg. 79 of an ARC of "Tempest" by Julie Cross

Looking back on it now, I could have stretched that moment out for weeks and been completely content. Maybe even months. Nothing went exactly right. And yet it was perfect.

--Pg. 166 of an ARC of "Tempest" by Julie Cross

Okay, my dad was officially much cooler than I'd ever imagined. Even if he was a big fat liar.

--Pg. 207 of of an ARC of "Tempest" by Julie Cross

Here's a sample of the Tempest audiobook:

The "Write" Facts Interview: Gemma Halliday

2012-01-16T00:01:00.000-05:00

The “Write” Facts is a new weekly post where I’m chatting with a different author every week about everything to do with writing. Here we’ll be discussing the writing process, editing, working with an agent, publishing houses and talking about some of the logistics of book you either already love or will soon be a new favorite!

Today I've got the pleasure of having Gemma Halliday, author of Deadly Cool and Social Suicide, (and other adult novels too!) her to discuss all aspects of writing. Check out these "write" facts.

Gemma Halliday

Novel: DEADLY COOL, SOCIAL SUICIDE
Agent: Holly Root
Other Authors repped by agent: Myra McEntire, Rae Carson, Rachel Hawkins & Victoria Schwab
Publisher: Harper Teen
Word Count: approx. 80,000
Describe your novel in five words: High school is a killer.
Favorite Word: Dude
Writing is like (fill in blank): awesome therapy or pulling teeth, depending on the day.

1) On a normal day, how many hours do you devote to writing?

Usually about 4.

2) Do you find it easier to develop characters or plot the story? Can you explain?

Plotting the story is something that I always do first, before I start a book. I generally stick pretty close to that plot. The characters, however, tend to develop as I write, so they come more naturally and change as I go on.

3) Can you tell us about The Call and why you chose your agent?

I’ve actually written several books for adults, so The Call for me was for one of those books. I had given myself a deadline to either sell a book or pick a new career by the time my son started kindergarten. I got The Call on the very day my son started. Cool timing, huh?

4) How do you deal with rejection?

At any stage of a writer’s career there is reject to deal with – whether it’s from editors, agents, or reviewers and readers. Someone somewhere will always hate your work. You just have to know that rejection is just one person’s opinion. No matter who that person is! I once had a very well respected editor – whose opinion I really valued – give my book a 1 out of 10. A couple of months later, that very same book – with no revision – went on to win a very prestigious writing award. And it earned me my first sale. For every person who hates your work, there’s someone else out there that loves it.

5) Any tips or tricks of the trade that you use during the editing process that you’d like to share?

I tend to edit as I go, so that by the time I type that last chapter, my manuscript is pretty much ready to go. My writing process is that I write as much as I can as fast as I can, just letting the words flow without worrying about spelling, typos, plot holes, etc. I do that until I find myself at a point where I’m not sure what happens next. Then I go back and edit that chunk, and through editing I usually get a clear picture where to go from there. Rinse and repeat until the book is finished, then I do one more quick read through before it’s done.

6) How many novels did you before you got published?

My first published book was the seventh novel I wrote.

7) What is your best piece of advice for aspiring authors?

Keep writing! Don’t get bogged down in endless rounds of edits and revising and don’t get discouraged by rejection. Just move on to the next project and keep writing. The more you write, the better you’ll get, guaranteed.

Now we have to learn a little about Deadly Cool and Social Suicide so I asked a question!

Bonus Question: Hartley and Sam are the best partners in crime. Which other pair of best friends from a YA novel do you think they would get along with?

I would have to pick Nancy Drew and her besties, Bess and George. Even though they’re from different eras, they have that same drive toward the truth, and I think they’d make the best teen crime solving team ever.

I want to thank Gemma Halliday for stopping by the blog to chat about all things writing! Next week's author is debut author Jodi Meadows!

In My Mailbox (68)

2012-01-15T00:44:00.001-05:00

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 Simon & Schuster:

The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams

From the author:

Last Rite by Lisa Desrochers

From Shirt Woot:

Also:

An awesome stamp

What did you get in your mailbox?

Bout of Books Read-a-thon Challenge

2012-01-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hey guys! I'm ending this awesome read-a-thon with a challenge here and a giveaway over on the the Bout of Books read-a-thon blog. You can gain extra entries for completing this challenge!

So my challenge is going to be a little topsy-turvy. For mine, you are going to need to match the heroine (or hero) of the book you are reading right now with a hero/heroine another novel. You can also choose a main character from another book you read this week if you can't think of one for your current read.

After you've thought of your new pairing, either leave it in the comments or write up a blog post telling me about your pairing, why choose to link them toegether and link up at the bottom!

Example:

Katniss from The Hunger Games and Four from Divergent

I think these two would make an awesome couple because they compliment each other. Four isn't quite as ruthless as Katniss but he does understand the need to do drastic things in the middle of a fight. Katniss is a survivor, much like Tris, and I feel that Four would respect and admire that about her. I'm not sure how many sparks would fly in this pairing but I am sure that they'd challenge each other in all the right ways.

See guys, it's as easy as that (though honestly, it is a bit difficult). I'm looking forward to crazy new and exciting pairings!

Like I said before, I'm also giving away a choice of six awesome books over on the Bout of Books Read-a-thon blog and participating in my challenge will give you extra points! It's international and you could win either a finished copy or pre-order of the following books:

Saturday Discussions: ARC Tours

2012-01-14T02:18:00.000-05:00

Recently, I was approached by Shannon over at Stalking the Bookshelves to help her run an ARC Tour for Southern Book Bloggers. Naturally, it got me thinking about ARC tours in general and I thought it might be a fun topic for this week.

So basically, I'm wondering what you guys think about ARC tours.

There are tons of them out there and they seem to come and go like the wind. I know that they can be really frustrating because things happen--books get lost in the mail, people don't follow the rules, and it can be hard to get that surprise package in the mail and only have a week to read a novel.

But I feel like ARC tours are a really good thing. The point of an ARC is for reviewers to review it. If the ARC is not getting into reader's hands and getting talked about then it's kind of pointless. I've read plenty of articles talking about how ARCs actually cost more to produce than the books. And think about this, the publisher isn't getting any money back for those little suckers. So they have to make them and then pay to mail them out. That's a bunch of money they are never going to see again and this is for every book they create.

I'm not saying I think ARCs are wrong. I think they are super cool! I'm just saying that I think ARC tour sites are amazing because they get this book out to a lot of readers with the intention of reviewing the book. I'm a slow reader so I don't join a lot of ARC tours but I can say that I'm always thankful when I do join one and things run smoothly.

So how do you feel about ARC tours? What are some pros or cons and what have you found that you really like? We could always use some help making our tour site better!

Book Tunes (35)

2012-01-13T12:54:00.002-05:00

Book Tunes is a new meme that will be held on Fridays and the point is to share the book your reading and a song you think represents it.

Want to join in?:

Write up a post
Tell me the book you are reading, the song you picked and why
Link up by leaving the URL to your posts in the comments

Tempest by Julie Cross

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit… or kill him.

ecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

The Tune: Somewhere Out There by Our Lady Peace

The Lyrics:
Last time I talked to you
You were lonely and out of place
You were looking down on me
Lost out in space

We laid underneath the stars
Strung out and feeling brave
I watched the red orange glow
I watched you float away

Down here in the atmosphere
Garbage and city lights
You've gone to save your tired soul
You've gone to save their lives

I turned on the radio
To find you on satellite
I'm waiting for this sky to fall
I'm waiting for a sign

All we are
Is all so far

[Chorus]
You're falling back to me
You're a star that I can see, yeah
I know you're out there
Somewhere out there
You're falling out of reach
Defying gravity, yeah
I know you're out there
Somewhere out there

Hope you remember me
When you're home sick and need a change
I miss your purple hair
I miss the way you taste

I know you'll come back someday
On a bed of nails, I'll wait
I'm praying that you don't burn out
Or fade away

All we are
Is all so far

[Chorus: Repeat x3]

I know
I know
You're falling out of reachI know

I'm not sure if there is a more perfect song for this novel. I just finished this book last night and this song fits it, particularly the ending, like a glove. Even traveling through time, Jackson knows that Holly is out there somewhere and that keeps him going.

What's your song pick for your current read?

Bout of Books Update #4

2012-01-13T00:53:00.002-05:00

I got a little bit more read today which I'm happy about! I wanted to do a quick update though this actually for January 12, 2012.

Pages read today: 82
Total pages: 284
Total number of books I’ve read: 1
Books: Tempest by Julie Cross

I'm starting on The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe now. Can't wait to dive in! Tomorrow at work, I'll be writing up a review and Happily Ever After for Tempest.

Happily Ever Endings... Soul Thief by Jana Oliver

2012-01-12T10:01:00.001-05:00

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!

Soul Thief 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…

Click "Read more" to read the ending of Soul Thief so you'll be ready for the next installment of the series!

Riley has run into a dead end with the summoners and thanks to Mort has learned that a witch can summon her father's spirit. With a newly freed Peter (thanks to his parent's divorce and his mother's moving), Riley goes to Ayden's to do the summoning. Her father's spirit comes but won't reveal who took his body and when they press him, a dragon comes out and tells them to stop pushing. yden has no idea what has happened and neither down Mort. She meets Ori who gives her two white roses and after fighting and breaking up with Simon (as he is convinced Riley is working for the devil) she decides to give into her feelings for Ori. Ori reveals he is an angel and kisses her.

Beck finds out that the Hunters are there and interested in Riley, believing Simon's story. Beck says they can't speak to her and starts up a relationship with a reporter. He sleeps with the reporter who reveals that she is the ex-girlfriend of the Hunter's Captain which isn't good because the Guild Master's only rule is to not make a fool of the Hunters. He fights with Riley about her breaking up with Simon and with her dating Ori, pushing her into Ori's arms.

Riley goes to Harper's home and the Five finally shows itself and attacks her and Harper. Harper makes her hide but she refuses to leave Harper to die. They fight the demon and lose. Ori shows up and kills it but tells Riley to tell everyone Harper did. Beck goes to Stewart's house where Harper reveals he didn't kill the demon and tells them both about Ori. They tell Beck to find Riley. Riley meets Ori in the graveyard and decides to give herself to him. The next morning, Ori asks her to pledge herself to him but when she doesn't he gets angry. Lucifer appears and reveals that Ori is his servant abd one of the Fallen. He also reveals that her father had sworn himself to Ori in return for not dying while hunting and leaving Riley an orphan. Lucifer also says he is the dragon.

Lucifer asks Riley to pledge herself to him for her protection but Riley refuses. Lucifer turns Ori to stone but says he will change him back is Riley doesn't agree to do a favor for him. Riley says yes to the favor and no to the soul. She runs to Beck, the only person she knows. Beck is kind to her, letting her cry but she is sure that he will cast her out once she reveals she slept with a Fallen. He reacts violently learning that she has slept with Ori and storms out of the house. Riley heads to the bathroom and the Magpie from her apartment alerts her that the Hunters are outside. Beck calls as she flees and she yells at him for siccing him on her. She goes to the only person who might harbor her, Mort. Mort agrees to hide her and goes to hide her car. She walks into his livingroom and sees her father.

Did I miss any important details? Please leave them in the comments!

Swoon Thursday (7): Under the Never Sky by Rossi and Tempest by Cross

2012-01-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

I've got two swoons this week! One is from a novel I just finished reading and the other is my current read. Twice the hotness is never a bad thing!

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. The soft warmth of his mouth sent a wave of fire through her. Perry froze, then his arms tightened around her ribs as he deepened their kiss. They molded together, fitted against one another with stunning perfection.

--Pg. 297 of an ARC "Under the Never Sky" by Veronica Rossi

I really, really liked this book and thought the romance was well done. There of plenty of kissing scenes to choose from here and lots of sweet stuff on top of that.

I didn't even hesitate, afraid she would stop me. I leaned down and kissed her, pressing my body to hers. She tasted so good, like strawberries and peppermint. Her arms went from up against the wall to around my neck, yanking me even closer. Fingers were in my hair, lips moving across my cheek, hearts pounding.

--Pg. 141 of an ARC of "Tempest" by Julie Cross

This is my current read. I really like that it's from a guy's perspective! Always makes it interesting.

So what is your swoon this week?

The Time Will Come (28): Frost by Marianna Baer

2012-01-12T01:11:00.000-05:00

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!

Frost by Marianna Baer

Leena Thomas’s senior year at boarding school begins with a shock: Frost House, her cozy dorm of close friends, has been assigned an unexpected roommate: confrontational, eccentric Celeste Lazar. But while Leena’s anxiety about a threat to her sanctuary proves valid, it becomes less and less clear whether the threat lies with her new roommate, within Leena’s own mind, or within the very nature of Frost House itself. Mysterious happenings in the dorm, an intense triangle between Leena, Celeste, and Celeste’s brother, and the reawakening of childhood fears, all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. Frost is the story of a haunting. As to whether the demons are supernatural or psychological . . . well, which answer would let you sleep at night?

I bought this novel for Halloween because it sounds like the perfect spooky Halloween read. I didn't hear too many things about it but from what I did hear, it's a good book. Like always with me, it's more of a time thing than anything else.

What;s been on your shelf for too long?

And the reason is this... and Bout of Books Update 3

2012-01-12T00:54:00.001-05:00

Hey guys! I sort of disappeared today and yesterday as well and I feel bad. I've been trying to stay sane (impossible for the insane) but two days ago, something wonderful and terrifying happened.

We feed a stray cat outside and I was putting down food for him when two little kitties (6 months to a year old) ran up and decided to join in on the dinner party. They are both super cute and one was very nice. We took her in from the outside and decided to name her Isadore.

We named her after the Incubus song Isadore (and if you are counting that puts our total number of cats up to five). But she has a brother who was much more scared of humans. Well, he was until last night. Then he pranced right up and started acting as sweet as our little Izzie. So I told my hubby we needed to take him inside too and find a home for him. For now I'm calling him Boyd (Brandon Boyd is the lead singer of Incubus):

So I've been taking care of both of these little ones. I'm really looking to find Boyd a good home. I know I can take him to the Humane Society but the fact is, black cats don't get adopted. They just don't. I feel I owe it to these little guys to find Boyd a home. He's such a sweetie. He just needs a little love and attention.

So that's why I've been a little MIA. It also explains my stats for today's read-a-thon:

Pages: 50

Total pages: 120
Total number of books I’ve read: 0
Books: 0

Bout of Books: Mini-Challenge: Day 2

2012-01-10T15:36:00.005-05:00

Today for Bout of Books Read-a-thon I plan on getting a lot more done. We accidently found a kitten yesterday and I haven't gotten too much done since.

So today's challenge is hosted by Picked by Poison and the point is to pick a paranormal novel and turn it into a movie by casting people for it!

This is a pretty difficult challenge and I'm going to have to use a YA paranormal.

My choice is... The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

My pick of Mara would be...Jane Levy

I was originally thinking it would be Emma Stone but I felt she was a bit too old. Then I remember how much Jane Levy from Subgatory reminded me of her. Jane Levy is awesome at delivering snarky lines without seeming like a jerk and she's instantly likable. I think Mara would need both of these features since she is a bit of a downer sometimes.

My pick for Noah is...Shiloh Fernandez

I always pictured Noah as slight, dark and mysterious. I think Shiloh gives that off in waves and he's got the prefect look about him. His face just looks like he's up to no good.

There are other characters but these would be my picks for the main two.

What do you think of my choices?

Pages: 70

Number of books I’ve read today: 0
Total number of books I’ve read: 0
Books: 0

Teaser Tuesday (69) and Top Ten Tuesday (15)

2012-01-10T02:50:00.001-05:00

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!

Tempest by Julie Cross

I had to end our conversation because Adam called again and decided I needed to come to his house just in case the CIA had installed listening devices in my place. Not only did I agree with him, I made a promise to myself not to roll my eyes or dismiss what I used to call Adam's paranoia ever again.

--Pg. 119-120 of an ARC of "Tempest" by Julie Cross

I'm participating in the Bout of Books read-a-thon so I've been trying to plow through this novel quickly. So far it's really pretty good. I'm interested to see where it's going.

Top Ten Tuesday is a 10's list meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. There is a different question every week and all you have to do is answer their question with your top ten results!

Top Ten Authors I Wish Would Write Another Novel

1. J.K. Rowling- I feel in lov ewith Harry Potter and have been waiting for her to write something else. I'm not sure if she ever will but I'm in should she decide to!

2. Stephenie Meyer- I know she is still writing The Host series but I could never get into that one. I'd like to read some of the other stuff she said she was working on a few years ago.

3. Libba Bray- I'm really excited for her new series to come out. She does timepieces so well that I can't wait to see what she has in store for us!

4. Bethany Wiggins- I really loved her debut novel Shifting and can't wait to read more stories by her!

5. Tahereh Mafi- Being in Juliette's mind was like seeing the world in technicolor for the very first time. Ms. Mafi's writing is so beautiful that I want to read more, more, more!

6. Veronica Roth- Can I just say... Divergent? I know she has already written Insurgent (or is writing it) but I can't wait for it!

7. Michelle Hodkin- Mara Dyer was her first novel and it was superb. Number one. Can you imagine what her fifth or tenth novel is going to look like?

8. Wendy Delsol- Her Stork series is so inventive and both novels just sucked me into the story. I really want to get my hands on more.

9. Megan Miranda- Her first novel just came out and I already want more. Beautifully written and filled with amazing characters, I devoured it. Couldn't get enough.

10. Veronica Rossi- Under the Never Sky was so addictive that I can't wait for the next installment. I need to get back to the world under a sky full of Aether!

There were tons of other authors I could have included but these were the ten off the top of my head. What authors made your list today?

Bout of Books Mini-Challenge: Day 1- TBR pile

2012-01-09T16:33:00.004-05:00

Today starts off Bout of Books Read-a-thon and I'm afraid I haven't been too productive yet. But that's going to change later tonight! I swear it!

So today's challenge is hosted by Once Upon A Time and it is to take a photo of your reading stack for the read-a-thon which is a prefect way to begin! Here's a photo of my overly ambitious stack:

It's not going to happen but a girl could dream. And let's not lie, a week with those books is like heaven!

Pages: 10 (?)

Number of books I’ve read today: 0
Total number of books I’ve read: 0
Books: 0

What's your pretty stack look like? Did you check out the giveaway for today?

Book Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

2012-01-09T10:01:00.001-05:00

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (January 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 006207203X
ISBN-13: 978-0062072030
Series: Under the Never Sky #1
Source: ARC provided by publisher
Cover: This cover is absolutely gorgeous! I'm in love with everything about it from the aether swirling in the background to the model's strong pose, striding with purpose towards us. The font with the enlarged title glowing like the aether in the book is a great touch too. Overall, I think this is one of the strongest dystopian covers I've seen.

Mini-Review: An expert blending of sci-fi, fantasy and dystopian, Under the Never Sky is a richly crafted debut with something incredible to discover on every page.

Summary:

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.

Review:

Expertly blending elements of sci-fi, fantasy and dystopian into one, Under the Never Sky is a richly crafted debut with something incredible to discover on every page. Humming with excitement, Under the Never Sky is filled with vibrant and well developed characters. The pair of main characters make the reader want to find out what's going to happen to them and the setting feels like a world unfolding with each page.

Following both Perry and Aria in third person, the reader gets both perspectives of two distinctly different races. Aria comes from the world underneath a dome where technology is used as the only escape and everything is orderly and docile. All the air is regulated, the food carefully enhanced and the only entertainment is the simulated pleasures of the Realms. Scientist and engineers have nipped and tucked the world into all the "best" parts so that there is no pain or sickness or unpleasant things. Because of this easy life, Aria isn't equipped with the knowledge on how to protect herself or survive in the world outside the dome called "the Death Shop" by her people. Though she lacks basic survival skills, it is easy to like Aria because she questions her surroundings and instead of moping around when her life spins out of control, she fights back with everything she has.

In sharp contrast with her society is the one Peregrine comes from. Taking half the chapters, Perry is skilled in surviving outside with the aether storms, cannibals and small amounts of food. He knows how to hunt and how to protect himself. And unlike the race that retreated, the Outsiders have adepted with the aether which (though it still plagues them) have enhanced their Senses to incredible lengths. Perry's particular abilities are incredibly fascinating to read about and I really enjoyed learning how Perry's world mixed old customs with new ones.

But the best part by far about following both of these characters around is watching them both start to change. It isn't just Aria that shifts as she stays on the outside but Perry changes a bit too. They start out on opposite sides of the spectrum and through spending time with each other, they both drift into the middle, learning useful things about each society through each other. Watching these two characters slowly learn to trust each other and realize that something more is blossoming underneath their original need for each other is satisfying and slow like all good things. I cared for these characters and their journey.

The secondary characters helped to make the world richer with their presence. Perry's bond with Talon is adorable, Aria's need to find and make ammends with her mother is heartbreaking and Roar's charisma really helped to brighten the novel when it started to seem too bleak. Even Cinder's strange presence is welcome. I also really liked the character's brief stay in Delphi because it helped show that though the world is rough, there are bright patches in it.

Even the world itself seemed like a living, breathing thing. It is in this new place that the author created that I see traces of fantasy in this novel. From the aether clouding the sky and raining down with its vicious storms to the cannibalistic Crovens to the Blood Lords and Sense, everything felt familiar but distant too. The world wasn't so far-fetched that I couldn't picture it but it was different enough to feel wild and exciting. I liked seeing how people survived in this darker place and how being in The Death Shop changed Aria.

With everything else going on, the plot was actually pretty straight forward. I liked that the characters had time to explore this strange world (and each other) and weren't tied down by some ticking clock. Yet, there was enough tension that putting down Under the Never Sky proved difficult. Ms. Rossi's writing is easy to follow. I did notice a few bumps here and there (mostly just dialog jumping around) which might be straighten out in the final draft. Also, I did have some trouble getting into the story at the beginning because of the third person narrative but that's because I'm used to first. I actually prefer first and usually find it hard to get into the third person narrative mindset. Once my brain switched though, I barely noticed it and I liked have the freedom of following both Aria and Perry.

Under the Never Sky promises so much with its pretty package and it delivers everything and more. A vivid and well developed world offer the perfect backdrop for characters the reader will want to get to know. That Under the Never Sky is first in a series is all the better for me. A debut that's impossible to put down, Under the Never Sky should be filed under "never to be missed" right next to your favorites shelf so you won't have to move it far when you are finished.

Rating:

Favorite Lines:

He stood. "You better live, little Mole," he said. "After all this."

--Pg. 28 of an ARC of "Under the Never Sky" by Veronica Rossi

Between his nose and his eye, he figured he was made for the night.

--Pg. 32 of an ARC of "Under the Never Sky" by Veronica Rossi

She couldn't think beyond his grip on her wrist. A wave of warm air swept past her, heavy, like fingers brushing her face.

--Pg. 101 of an ARC of "Under the Never Sky" by Veronica Rossi

The tattoo on his back was of a falcon, judging by the sleek head...In the Realms people used moving designs. They chose new ones whenever they wanted. She couldn't imagine having an image on her skin forever.

--Pg. 111 of an ARC of "Under the Never Sky" by Veronica Rossi

"Never, Mole. The Aether never leaves."/She looked up. "A world of nevers under a never sky."

--Pg. 124 of an ARC of "Under the Never Sky" by Veronica Rossi

He hadn't seen her as a girl before now. He's seen her as a Mole. Now he couldn't stop seeing all the girl about her.

--Pg. 169 of an ARC of "Under the Never Sky" by Veronica Rossi

"You took so long. I thought maybe the Croven had gotten you."/His eyes glinted with amusement. "No wonder you were sleeping so well."

--Pg. 218 of an ARC of "Under the Never Sky" by Veronica Rossi

Perry stared at the empty space by her side. Just four steps away. Four steps that looked like a mile. Hr took them like he was going to launch himself off a cliff.

--Pg. 240 of an ARC of "Under the Never Sky" by Veronica Rossi

She absorbed the terror and beauty of him and his world. Of every moment over the past days. All of it, filing her up like the first breath she'd ever taken. And never had she loved life more.

--Pg. 252 of an ARC of "Under the Never Sky" by Veronica Rossi

...She learned that it was the loveliest thing to be kissed for no reason...

--Pg. 327 of an ARC of "Under the Never Sky" by Veronica Rossi

Happily Ever Endings... Fury by Elizabeth Miles

2012-01-09T09:01:00.000-05:00

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.

Click "Read more" to read the ending of Fury so you'll be ready for the next installment of the series!

After Ty tricks Chase in to letting go on the railing and reveals what she truly is, Chase plummets to his death which is eerily similar to Sasha's suicide attempt in the beginning. The school is reeling with the nose, especially Em who can't get the hectic last voice mail Chase left her out of her head. She knows she should have continued on the way to see him and feels guilty plus she's creeped out after stopping to help the girl with the red ribbon tied around her neck to the hospital.

Em goes to dig around at Chase's trailer and finds the notes he and Sasha had been exchanging. Em figures out that it was Chase who posted those photos and quotes from Facebook in the school. In a desperate attempt to figure out things, Em heads to the hospital to visit Sasha who is in a coma. While Em is talking to Sasha, Sasha rises with a creepy smile on her face that looks like the blonde girl that has been following her around. Em also puts together that Chase talked about Ty having two cousins, Ali and Meg. Em rushes out of the hospital and is run off the road by a car.

Inside the car is Drea who says that Em's car breaks have been cut and she would have died. Drea also notices the flower on Em's bag and tells her she know what's happening but Em refuses to talk. Later that night, Em has a fight with JD who doesn't take her seriously and is visited by Ali. Then she makes up with Gabby who says she saw Zach with another girl. Em thinks things are going to be okay and makes up with JD, asking him out to the bonfire. She then goes to Drea's and Drea reveals that the three sisters are the Furies and gives Em some reading material. Before they can go to the bonfire, she gets a call from Gabby telling her that she is stranded at the new mall and needs a ride. Em goes but finds out quickly that she was tricked.

The Furies try to kill her for cheating with her best friend's boyfriend and Em runs. Ty helps her escape her two sisters but when Em gets back to her car, the three sister are waiting for her, telling her that their debt is even. Em realizes JD is there and has fallen into a hole and been knocked out. A cement crane is about to fill the hole. She is able to get JD out but he is going to die anyway so she takes the five berries Ty offers her even though Ty warns her there will be consequences and she will be tied to the Furies forever. JD lives but hates her and she can't tell him the truth. Em knows one thing for certain and that is that she is going to hurt the Furies.

Meanwhile, off at a new school Zach meets a beautiful girl with long blonde hair who hands him a flower while leading him off. She says her name is Ali.

Did I miss anything important? Please let me know in the comments!

The "Write" Facts Interview: Stacey Jay

2012-01-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

The “Write” Facts is a new weekly post where I’m chatting with a different author every week about everything to do with writing. Here we’ll be discussing the writing process, editing, working with an agent, publishing houses and talking about some of the logistics of book you either already love or will soon be a new favorite!

This week's interview is with Stacey Jay, author of the hilarious Megan Berry series (You're So Undead To Me & Undead Much?), The Locket, Juliet Immortal and more! Very excited to have her on the blog!

Stacey Jay

Novel: JULIET IMMORTAL
Agent: Ginger Clark (with Curtis Brown Agency)
Authors also repped by this agent: Jeri Smith-Ready & Kristin Walker
Publisher: Delacorte Press (a division of Random House)
Word Count: 88,000
Describe your novel in five words: Love knows no limits. (Is four okay?) (Answer: Four is even more impressive!)
Favorite Word: Today, I think...reptilian is pretty high on the list. I could never choose one favorite for all time. There are too many good words out there!
Writing is like (fill in blank): skydiving naked--scary and embarrassing, but thrilling all the same.

1) Are you a plotter or a pantser (write without a plot to see where the story takes you)?

I'm a plotter. I usually start with a 5-7 page synopsis broken down into three acts, but, if I'm under a tight deadline, I'll take that a step further and do a chapter by chapter breakdown. That helps me power through a first draft even more quickly if needed.

2) How do you deal with rejection?

Pretty well, actually. I understand that writing is a subjective business and not every reader or editor (or agent when I was looking for one) is going to love my work. All I can do is write the most entertaining, well-crafted book I'm capable of writing at the time and hope for the best, while striving to make every story better than the one before.

3) What’s it like working with your agent? Are they hands on?

My agent is a professional who is extremely up front and I love that. She responds to my submissions quickly, gives spot on feedback, is always ready to help me understand things that confuse me about the business (of which there are still plenty even three years after my first book was published!), and is an advocate for me and my work. An author couldn't ask for more.

4) Any tips or tricks of the trade that you use during the editing process that you’d like to share?

Know thyself: learn what your personal writer ticks are and be on the lookout as you edit. Being aware of them can really help improve your pre-submission draft. (One of my ticks is that I use the word "just" waaaaayyyy too many times in my first drafts. When I'm editing I get pretty ruthless with that word.)

As far as working with an editor is concerned, I'd say the best advice is to take the time to digest before freaking out and hurling yourself on the floor in defeat. Sometimes an editorial letter can seem impossibly overwhelming at first, but if you give yourself a few days to digest and brainstorm, the way often becomes clear on its own.

5) Can you tell us how you felt when you got the file for your novel cover and opened it?

When I received the finished cover file for JULIET IMMORTAL I was blown away. The designer did such an amazing job. I am so, so grateful for that cover.

6) What has been your best experience as a published writer?

Email from readers. Readers are what it's all about, and I do my best to respond to every one of their emails personally. (Though that's getting harder as I have more books out and more feedback rolling in. But for now, I do respond to every email myself.)

7) What is your best piece of advice for aspiring authors?

Read and write every day, and when you're ready to take the step from invested hobbyist to writer-seeking-publication, find a support group. SCBWI (Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators) is a great organization that will help you learn the ins and outs, and dos and don'ts before you submit. RWA (Romance Writers of America) is also a great one if you're writing for the adult market (even if you don't write romance, they have a wealth of knowledge to share and the members are a very welcoming crew).

Finally, I've got to ask a burning question about your work!

Bonus Question: Do you think Megan from You Are So Undead To Me would be friends with your other leading lady, Juliet, from Juliet Immortal?

Absolutely! I think Megan and Juliet would be good friends. They have some important things in common--they both work to serve others and make sacrifices for the greater good--but they're different in many ways, as well. Juliet is confident and self-possessed, while Megan is insecure and still figuring out who she wants to be. Juliet can let the dark side of life drag her down, while Megan maintains her sense of humor (even when battling the undead). I think a friendship between them would help Juliet lighten up and Megan hold her head a little higher, and be a good thing for both of them.

Thanks so much to Stacey Jay for stopping by the blog this week and chatting a bit about all things writing! Next week is Gemma Halliday, author of Deadly Cool.

In My Mailbox (67)

2012-01-08T02:01:00.000-05:00

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 the author:

On The Fringe by Courtney King Walker (&swag)

From HarperCollins:

ARC of Partials by Dan Wells
ARC of Slide by Jill Hathaway
Finished copy of Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
Finished copy of Forbidden by Syrie James & Ryan M. James

From Amazon.com:

2 copies of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E Smith (1 is a Christmas gift)

From Books-A-Million:

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer
Touch of Power by Maria V Snyder

What's in your mailbox?

Saturday Discussion: Author/Blogger Relationships

2012-01-07T00:51:00.000-05:00

Before I start this post, I want to state right here at the beginning that I both write YA and review it here on the blog. When I started this blog it was to "get my name out there" as was suggested in many things I read as an aspiring author. I didn't really think about how reviewing things might affect my future career because I never planned to write something that would hurt anyone's feelings. However, I would tell the truth. That's what I've tried to do this entire time.

If you've been around at all this week, especially on Twitter, you should have been noticing tweets from bloggers saying that it's our right to type up a bad review. It's our right to have an opinion, even a negative or mean one, because that's what an opinion is. It isn't a fact but rather what a person thought about something.

Then, you've seen authors talking, thanking bloggers for the hard work they put into reviewing or saying everyone has a right to an opinion or equally kind things.

It's because of several authors acting badly as of late. It goes directly back to what I was talking about last week with author's commenting on posts. I've said here that I don't mind when author's comment on my posts but commenting on a negative review can be awkward for both the reviewer and the author if they choose to comment on it. Last week, I even stated that I felt it was inappropriate for an author to comment on a negative review publicly. Some people felt that was a double standard or questioned me on this and I understand why. Their points were valid and made a lot of sense. I would absolutely stand by what I said in any review but I still feel it causes unnecessary awkwardness when an author comments on a negative review.

And then boom, this week sort of proves my point. Several authors have let bad reviews get to them. They've gone as far as to attack these reviewers personally and publicly for their negative reviews. And that is a problem, not only for the reviewer who is getting publicly slammed for being honest but for the author whose career it is damaging. Perhaps when I was stating that I didn't think it appropriate for an author to comment on a negative review, I was looking to my own future and expressing how I would react for my career. I wear both hats here so I understand what both sides are like.

This whole debacle has me worried and no one wins. I want authors and their readers to communicate openly with each other as both a reader and a future author (I swear I'm not being presumptuous here, I just don't plan on ever giving up until I'm published).

But what I hate more than the way we are treating each other is what it is doing to the community. I've already seen comments saying "this is why I don't read YA" and I'm thinking "what?". Don't let one or two bad representatives give the entire genre a bad name. Because the YA genre is filled with the most humble, excited, alive authors I've ever come across. And likewise, it has some of the most loyal and loving readers out there. I don't want our community to get a bad name because several people decided to type some words that they will probably come to regret.

Because these mean spirited reviews and these angry author rebuttals are not my YA.

My YA saves. My YA bands together in the face of untruth and stands up for what they believe. My YA is filled with authors who look their readers in the eye and thank them over and over again for coming out to see them. My YA is filled with people that write posts dedicated to their favorite characters and shove their favorite books into any pair of open hands.

Yes, a few authors screwed up this week. Yes, I feel like a few bloggers did too. But let's not forget what all brings us here. It is love, it is dedication and it is a passion so bright that it can't be put out. It's the countless nights spent under the covers with a good book, the missed bed times, the shared discussions and hours of staring at a keyboard typing (for writers and bloggers alike).

This week has made each of us consider what we believe in. I think we should believe in each other. Because without that, this community wouldn't exist.

Power to the writers.

Power to the readers.

And power to every one of us that are in between.

Thoughts?

Book Tunes (34)

2012-01-06T13:23:00.000-05:00

Book Tunes is a new meme that will be held on Fridays and the point is to share the book your reading and a song you think represents it.

Want to join in?:

Write up a post
Tell me the book you are reading, the song you picked and why
Link up by leaving the URL to your posts in the comments

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live
UNDER THE NEVER SKY.

The Tune: Kings and Queens by 30 Seconds to Mars

The Lyrics:
oh--->

Into the night
Desperate and broken
The sound of a fight
Father has spoken

oh->

We were the kings and queens of promise
We were the phantoms of ourselves
Maybe the children of a lesser God
Between Heaven and Hell
Heaven and Hell

Into your eyes
Hopeless and taken
We stole our new lives
Through blindness
In defense of our dreams
In defense of our dreams

We were the Kings and Queens of promise
We were the victims of ourselves
Maybe the Children of a lesser God
Between Heaven and Hell
Heaven and Hell

The age of man is over
A darkness comes at dawn
These lessons that we've learned here
Have only just begun

We were the Kings and Queens of promise
We were the phantoms of ourselves
Maybe the Children of a Lesser God
Between Heaven and Hell

We are the Kings
We are the Queens
We are the Kings
We are the Queens

I think this song fits this book perfectly. Like to the tee. Earth as we know it has been over for a long time and both Aria and Perry's races have been trying survive the only ways they know how. But as they come together and begin to discover the truth, they gain inside into the darkness.

Plus I feel like the lyric "between heaven and hell" fits well with their situation. As the continue to move across their hellish landscape, they slowly find solace in each other. It's a strange sort of heaven that never of them are prepared for.

Armed with their knowledge of both worlds, I truly believes these two are the "kings and queens" of their generation and together, they might be able to make something more.

Are you a Southern Blogger in need of an ARC Tour?

2012-01-06T12:44:00.001-05:00

Shannon from Stalking The Bookshelves and I have been talking endlessly (with a lot of input from Lori over at Pure Imagination) about starting an ARC tour for the Southern Book Blogger site and I am pleased to say that the guidelines and sign-up just went up today. If you're blogging from the South, you should go check it out.

Southern Book Bloggers is an amazing site telling you all the info on events and books in your area. This gem was thought up by Lori of Pure Imagination and I feel so honored that she asked me to help out!

Bout of Books 3.0 Goals

2012-01-05T12:40:00.000-05:00

I've never actually participated in this read-a-thon because I just haven't had time. This year though, not only am I participating but I'm also co-hosting a challenge and a giveaway! I'm really excited to.

What's great about this read-a-thon is that Amanda isn't asking for you to read all day, every day for an entire week. Rather, you can read as you normally would and update as you go along!

For the schedule, you can go here.

To sign up with me, you can go here.

Now, onto the goals stuff. I'm a super slow reader so I'm going to list 6 books here and that is laughable. I usually get through 1.5 books a week because I've got loads of other things pressing me for time (as I'm sure we all do). But I figure, this is a good excuse to just make myself read.

Books:

Tempest by Julia Cross
Don't Breathe A Word by Holly Cupala
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton
Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic
Everneath by Brodi Ashton

If I get even three of those finished, I'll be more than happy. But a girl can dream big, right?

Goals:

Meet new bloggers
Tweet loads while reading
Participate in every challenge
Read a lot while I'm at work
Write reviews as I finish books
Always have little tag on hand to mark good places

Updates:

I'm going to update as I go and at the end of each challenge, I'll put an update as to where I am!

Are you joining in with me? If so, what are your goals?

Swoon Thursday (6): Fracture by Megan Miranda

2012-01-05T10:01:00.000-05:00

It's that time of week to swoon all over again. This week, my swoon comes from a book I just finished and loved!

His hands clung to the back of my jacket, like I was a thing that might slip away if he paused to take a single breath. And he kissed me like he was looking for something, like there was a question he couldn't quite find the answer to.

--Pg 154-155 of an ARC of "Fracture" by Megan Miranda

Holy hot sauce Batman, is this book fulled with a great relationship! If you like your romance slow burning and super well developed then be prepared to be swept off your feet by Delaney and Decker!

I love them both to pieces!

What's your swoon this week?

The Time Will Come (27):Warped by Maurissa Guibord

2012-01-05T00:23:00.004-05:00

Warped by Maurissa Guibord

Tessa doesn't believe in magic. Or Fate. But there's something weird about the dusty unicorn tapestry she discovers in a box of old books. She finds the creature woven within it compelling and frightening. After the tapestry comes into her possession, Tessa experiences dreams of the past and scenes from a brutal hunt that she herself participated in. When she accidentally pulls a thread from the tapestry, Tessa releases a terrible centuries old secret. She also meets William de Chaucy, an irresistible 16th-century nobleman. His fate is as inextricably tied to the tapestry as Tessa's own. Together, they must correct the wrongs of the past. But then the Fates step in, making a tangled mess of Tessa's life. Now everyone she loves will be destroyed unless Tessa does their bidding and defeats a cruel and crafty ancient enemy.

This really bums me out that I haven't had the time to read this novel. I mean, seriously, this reminds me of Beauty and the Beast (for some reason) and I love that story. Plus, I've heard a few really good things about it and feel like it's one of those under appreciated books. I really need to get to it.

What's been on your shelf too long?

Cover Alerts!

2012-01-04T13:07:00.001-05:00

There have been a slew of cover alerts and changes that I wanted to share with you all!

The first, and probably biggest, is the cover premiere of City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare:

In Book 5: City of Lost Souls, the Shadowhunters struggle to piece together their shattered world after a betrayal by one of their own leaves them reeling.

It comes out May 8, 2012.

Just wow! These latest covers from The Mortal Instruments series are just blowing my mind. I loved that Simon got to be on City of Fallen Angels but this steamy picture of Jace and Clary is just gorgeous! I love everything about it from their pose to the passionate way they are looking at each other to her red hair.

Up next, Divergent by Veronica Roth gets a change in paperback to match Insurgent coming out in the UK.

I'm really loving these new covers. I think they fit really well with the feeling of the book. I especially like the burning leaves on Insurgent.

Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan is also getting a new cover for the release of the second novel Spark.

I did actually like the old cover for Glow too but these re-designs are just gorgeous. I'm in love with the soft colors and the girl's face in the title for Glow is absolutely stunning set behind the stars. Spark's cover is even more beautiful if that's humanly possible.

Also, another cover was announced a while back for a book called The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent.

In an alternate London where magical creatures are preserved in a museum, two teens find themselves caught in a web of intrigue, deception, and danger.

Vespa Nyx wants nothing more than to spend the rest of her life cataloging Unnatural creatures in her father’s museum, but as she gets older, the requirement to become a lady and find a husband is looming large. Syrus Reed’s Tinker family has always served and revered the Unnaturals from afar, but when his family is captured to be refinery slaves, he finds that his fate may be bound up with Vespa’s—and with the Unnaturals.

As the danger grows, Vespa and Syrus find themselves in a tightening web of deception and intrigue. At stake may be the fate of New London—and the world.

It's coming out April 14, 2012.

I love that the cover is oh-so steampunk! The greens work really well with the juxtaposition of the cityscape!

Finally, I posted up a novel called Transendence by C.J. Omololu on one of my WoW posts but it's since received a new cover!

Love isn’t the only emotion to survive death . . .

When a visit to the Tower of London triggers an overwhelmingly real vision of a beheading that occurred centuries before, Cole Ryan fears she is losing her mind. A mysterious boy, Griffon Hall, comes to her aid, but the intensity of their immediate connection seems to open the floodgate of memories even wider.

As their feelings grow, Griffon reveals their common bond as members of the Akhet—an elite group of people who can remember past lives and use their collected wisdom for the good of the world. But not all Akhet are altruistic, and a rogue is after Cole to avenge their shared past. Now in extreme danger, Cole must piece together clues from many lifetimes. What she finds could ruin her chance at a future with Griffon, but risking his love may be the only way to save them both.

Full of danger, romance, and intrigue, Transcendence breathes new life into a perpetually fascinating question: What would you do with another life to live?

It comes out June 5, 2012.

The other cover was interesting but I like this one more with the two people looking straight into the camera. I think the post is interesting and I love the background. Awesome!

So there are some covers you need to be aware of! What do you think about the switches?

Waiting on Wednesday (65): The Temptation, Drain You and Vessel

2012-01-04T01:17:00.001-05:00

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.

The Temptation by Alisa Valdes

His touch was electric.

His eyes were magnetic.

His lips were a temptation....

But was he real?

After crashing her car on an empty highway, Shane is miraculously saved by Travis, a mysterious cowboy who walks out of nowhere. She is instantly attracted to him, and for the first time, she believes in “soul mates.” But Shane soon discovers that Travis is dead and that strict rules from the Underworld govern kindred spirits of different dimensions. Breaking these rules could destroy both their souls. And while Travis is almost impossible to resist, temptation proves to be the kindest enemy they encounter.

Can true love surpass the power of pure evil? Part love story, part supernatural thriller, this first book in the Kindred trilogy will leave readers lusting for more!

Why I need this: I'm definitely lusting here. This sounds like a sexy, fun read and I love the paranormal twist. Plus, it's part thriller too! I'm in love here folks!

The Temptation is out April 24, 2012 from HarperTeen.

Drain You by M. Beth Bloom

There’s normal, and then there’s paranormal, and neither is Quinlan Lacey’s cup of Diet Coke.

Quinn’s life is a red carpet of weird fashions, hip bands, random parties, and chilling by the pool with her on-and-off BF Libby. There’s also her boring job (minimum wage), a crushed out co-worker (way too interested), her summer plans (nada), and her parents (totally clueless). Then one night she meets gorgeous James, and Quinn’s whole world turns crazy, Technicolor, 3-D, fireworks, whatever.

But with good comes bad, and unfortunately Quinn’s new romance brings with it some majorly evil baggage. LA is crawling with gangs of the undead, all aching to drain something. Now, to make things right, Quinn has to do a lot of things wrong.

Quinn’s goal: to stay sane, cool, in love, and alive.
With a one-of-a-kind protagonist, high-fidelity friendships, wicked LA nightlife, and a restless romance, this unforgettable debut from M. Beth Bloom is perfect for fans of Heather Brewer and John Green.

Why I need this: If the summary is written in the character's voice (and a suspect it's something close to it) I think this novel is going to be a blast. I great mix of quirky contemp and paranormal!

Drain You is out July 24, 2012 by HarperTeen.

Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

In a desert land where serpents made of unbreakable glass fly through the sky and wolves made of only sand hunt within storms, Liyana is destined to be a vessel, to sacrifice herself so that her clan's goddess can inhabit her body... but her goddess never comes.

Why I need this: Hello sexy cover alert! Is this not gorgeous? Plus, it sounds super unique. It's definitely a world I'd like to visit for a while (even if I do hate serpents).

Vessel is out September 11, 2011 from Margaret K. McElderry Books.

What are you waiting on this week?

Exciting e-book offer- Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

2012-01-03T22:32:00.000-05:00

"Don't miss your chance to grab the underground cult fave that will keep you reading long into the night."

Guys, Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is currently a free download for e-book. I really enjoyed this novel. Everything from Jessica's feisty personality to luscious Lucius had me hooked and it really is a different type of vampire story. I wanted to let you all know that you can download it free until January 6th so you better get on it!

Check it out here so that you'll be ready to read Jessica Rules the Dark Side!

Teaser Tuesday (68) and Top Ten Tuesday (14)

2012-01-03T01:13:00.002-05:00

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!

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

He'd planned to leave after a few minutes, but by then he'd gotten curious about the girl. When Soren tore the eyepiece from her face, he couldn't stand by and watch any longer, even if she was just a mole.

--Pg. 30 of "Under the Never Sky" by Veronica Rossi

So far, I'm really enjoying this book though I'm on a few pages in. I'm liking the society and I can't wait to figure out what type of trouble Aria and Perry are going to get into together!

What's your teaser?

Top Ten Tuesday is a 10's list meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. There is a different question every week and all you have to do is answer their question with your top ten results!

Top Ten Books to Read in 2012

Here's my list of books that I can't wait for. This is a very short list and in now way covers all the books I'm excited about. They are also in no order.

1) Tempest by Julia Cross
2) Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer
3) Insurgent by Veronica Roth
4) A Million Suns by Beth Revis
5) Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake
6) Slide by Jill Hathaway
7) The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
8) For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund
9) The Selection by Kiera Cass
10) Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
11) When It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
12) Croak by Gina Damico
13) Grave Mercy by R.L. Lafevers
14) Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris
15) Fated by Sarah Alderson

These all look like fantastic reads. Some are sequels by authors I love and others are brand new authors to fall in love with. Like I mentioned before, there are a zillion others but here are just a few listed for you!

What can't you wait to read in 2011?

Winner's List

2012-01-03T00:00:00.000-05:00

Several of my giveaways have come to an end and I wanted to announce the winners. Want to take a quick second to thank everyone who entered!

First up, Bella of Cheezyfoot and I held a giveaway for our feature Happily Ever Endings. I've been so excited to see all the buttons up on various blogs and we got two new amazing helpers out of it so we couldn't be more pleased.

Winners are...

Daphne (lvngbooks) and Jocelyn!

Both winners have been notified through e-mail.

Next, I held a giveaway for Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep and the winner is...

Linda @ Most Important Letter!

Congrats!

Didn't win? Don't fret! More contests coming soon!

The "Write" Facts Interview: Kendare Blake

2012-01-02T10:01:00.000-05:00

The “Write” Facts is a new weekly post where I’m chatting with adifferent author every week about everything to do with writing. Here we’ll bediscussing the writing process, editing, working with an agent, publishinghouses and talking about some of the logistics of book you either already loveor will soon be a new favorite!

Today, I've got the author of Anna Dressed In Blood and the up coming Girl of Nightmares, Kendare Blake here to discuss all things writing. So here are the "write" facts.

Kendare Blake
Agent: Adriann Ranta, Wolf Literary
Authors at the same agency:

Publisher: Tor Teen
Word Count: Around 80k
Describe your novel in five words: Boy meets Girl. Girl kills.
Favorite Word: That would be a tie between a defeated-sounding real swear word (*sigh*shrug*"shit") and a flustered barely contained faux swear word (*bodily shakes* "Fricken frick frick!")
Writing is like (fill in blank): Eating chocolate. You just have to do it. If you don't, you get cranky. But sometimes you wish it didn't have so many calories.

1) Do you find it easier to develop characters or plot the story? Can you explain?

Characters. Of course, it's nice to have a basic idea of what the characters might go through. Like, their main obstacle. I knew Cas was going to go up against Anna. That was it. If you get to know your characters, the plot will develop organically, through their situations and unique motivations. Things that happen will feel genuine, less like a twist or a turn, and more like it's just what happens.

2) Can you tell us about The Call and why you choose your agent?

Sure. This is The Call where I got my agent, right? Not The Call where I got my publisher? Okay. So I had to offers from two fantastic agents. I had good conversations with them both, and they were both extremely enthusiastic about the work. One was from a larger agency, one from a smaller, boutique type. It was a nauseous choice. My gut told me which was the right fit, but who trusts their gut, at a time like that? So I left it up to fate and flipped the remote control like a coin, three times. They all came up for Adriann. Then I flipped it again, just to make sure it wasn't weighted weird and could actually flip the other way. Yeah. It was pretty scientific.

3) What do you think is the most important question to ask your agent when you are first trying to decide if they’d be a good fit?

Ask them everything that is important to you. That's the most important thing to ask: everything that you want to ask. Don't hold anything back. If you want to know how they would handle your career through a genre-shift, ask. Want to know what their plan would be for submitting your work? Ask. Want to know how much revision they'd want before sub, and how that process would work? Ask. Want to know how they prefer to communicate with clients? ASK.

4) Any tips or tricks of the trade that you use during the editing process that you’d like to share?

When it comes to the first round of edits, the bigger, conceptual edits that might require some real revision or scene addition/deletion, I like to let it sit a few days. Read the editorial letter. Go, hmm. Then let it sit. Even if it feels like I know just what needs doing, I let it sit.

5) What surprised you the most after you started working with a publisher?

The fact that I was working with a publisher. It took awhile for the stars to leave my eyeballs. Some of them are still in there, actually. And sometimes they scratch. It surprised me, I guess, just how many eyes are on a manuscript through the process, and yet, each time, they find new mistakes! I used to get so annoyed when I'd read a book and it would be missing a period, or missing a space between words, but seriously, that crap really has a way to sneaking by.

6) How do you deal with rejection?

Badly. I go all Hemingway, only, not with the suicide. Or at least sometimes I do. The really big ones. Or the ones with bad timing. Sometimes, you can shrug it off, if you weren't expecting much from it anyway, but come on. Rejection blows goats. And it always will. They say you become accustomed to it (btw, who the heck are 'they'?) but I'm not sure. There's always an element of rejection in writing, well, in life really. And I suspect that it always sucks. I suppose I should give some advice, something gruff like, "Buck up and get used to it" or something sunny like, "start a new project." But I'm not going to do that. It's different for everyone.

7) What is your best piece of advice for aspiring authors?

Read. Always read. Not just in your genre. Actually, read outside of it. Find writers you admire, and think about why they're good. Watch the ways they handle certain narrative situations. It's interesting to think about things like perspective choices, or the passage of time, or the pacing at which things unfold. Read a first person. Read a third limited. Read omniscient. Read epistolary (even though sometimes that's like pulling teeth.) Be a student of the craft. And then go back and read for fun.

And here's a question specifically about the main character Cas in Anna Dressed In Blood and Girl of Nightmares!Bonus Question: I always tell people that Cas is the best part of the Winchester brothers from Supernatural rolled up into one. If you could add another fictional character into the story to hunt ghosts with Cas, who would you pick and why?

Hmm. Fun. I think I would choose both Dr. Wilson and Dr. House. They could really break down the pathology of the ghosts. And they could prank the hell out of each other. It would probably end up broken down into teams: Carmel and Wilson trying to temper Cas and House, with Thomas trying to referee.

Thanks so much for having me by the Rabbit Hole! -Kendare

Pleasure was all mine! Hopefully you got something useful out of this. Want to thank Kendare Blake for dropping by. Next week, Stacey Jay is popping by to share some priceless information on the world of publishing!

Book Review: Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

2012-01-02T00:01:00.000-05:00

Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (January 10, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0547393091
ISBN-13: 978-0547393094
Series: Jessica #2
Source: Finished book provided by publisher
Cover: I love that it mixes well with this first one but this shows a more confident Jessica. I'm also a fan of the plum color. I just noticed the stake now but it works well since we learn a lot about what stakes mean to vampires in this installment.
First Sentence: "Mother?"

Mini-Review: While the vampire lore and history makes for a compelling read, Jessica's meekness does slow down the plot.

Review:

I'm divided on Jessica Rules the Dark Side and I'm not sure if it is because I'm such a big fan of the first novel or not. I went into this novel with expectations because I remember falling in love with these characters. In some parts, particularly Jessica's character, I'm disappointed and other ways, with the introduction of two new perspectives, I am pleasantly surprised.

Jessica's cowardice really surprised me and made me very angry. I realize that the author was making her weak as a plot point and that she was thrust into this whole new world where she was overwhelmed but she becomes so meek that I really didn't like her at all. I liked how brave and intelligent she was in the first novel and to find her completely ruined in this one really made me upset. I can happily report that after 200 pages of ducking and hiding she finally comes into her own and it is something fierce and amazing to behold but I couldn't help but wonder if it was too little too late.

I missed Lucius something fierce in this novel. His absence was a tangible thing and though it was completely necessary, I wish that I'd gotten more of him. However, his letters to his best friend Raniero were funny and provided a much needed break of tension. Raniero's responses are just as funny and really highlight their differences. The history between Lucius and Raniero is by far the best thing about this novel. Mindy Sue also gets her own chapters. She shares most of the narrative with Jess. At first, I didn't love things in her perspective but she ended up being the one I could relate to the best. Plus, her voice is very unique and I liked seeing things from her point of view.

The vampire world is explored much more thoroughly in this novel and truly comes to life as all the characters learn how to live within. While Lucius understands his place, it is fun to watch how the other character's figure out where they fit into it all. With the meetings of the council, the way vampire law is governed, the addition of stakes and how vampire's deal with destruction, it was pretty easy to see why Jessica was intimated and it was all really interesting. Plus, the setting really helped the isolated feel but also give it a forgotten fantasy quality (they're living in a castle after all) which I liked.

Unfortunately, even though the plot is centered around a murder, it did sort of drag and a lot of time is wasted on Jessica moping around and whining to the world about how she can't get out of bed. This is certainly not something I wanted to spend 200 pages with it. Overall, I'm glad I stuck it out though because when she finally begins to change, her transformation is swift and amazing to behold. I just wish that she and Raniero started working out things earlier and she started changing from the beginning.

Basically, I wanted to like this novel the way I liked the first one and I just couldn't, mostly because of Jessica. It's sad because I liked her so much in the first and by the end, I liked her again. I just wanted so much more, so much earlier. Because of her unwillingness to face anything, the plot suffered too. However, the world of the vampires and Lucius and Raniero's history particularly, is very interesting and the ending does pay off. So if you're a fan of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, this is probably something you won't regret reading but be perpared to be angry at first.

Rating:

Favorite lines:

Raniero and I faced each other across his bloody stake, that confession hanging between us.

--Pg. 205 of "Jessica Rules the Dark Side" by Beth Fantaskey

It was a crazy connection, but I was in a completely whacked-out place [...] and I kinda left it alone to glow like Raniero's incense, to see if it might just catch fire in my head.

--Pg. 207 of "Jessica Rules the Dark Side" by Beth Fantaskey

He always seemed to be reaching for something, like he was ambitious even in dreams.

--Pg. 211 of "Jessica Rules the Dark Side" by Beth Fantaskey

Jess sounded like a different girl--a different woman then. Like she was channeling her birth mom and using a whole new vocabulary that was even better than Romanian. She was speaking royalty.

--Pg. 281 of "Jessica Rules the Dark Side" by Beth Fantaskey

Happily Ever Endings... Abandon by Meg Cabot

2012-01-01T10:01:00.000-05:00

Abandon by Meg Cabot

New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld.

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

Click "Read more" to read the ending of Abandon so you'll be ready for the next installment of the series!

After meeting with Mr. Smith and finding out that John is a ruler of the underworld and that her necklace is the necklace Hades gave Persphone, Pierce goes home with the idea that she should be nicer to John. She feels relieved that someone can see John. That night, she sees a lizard in the pool that John threw in there. She rescues it and her and John talk. He confirms what she already knows and they kiss. Pierce is surprised that she likes him and John says that he's going to see her tomorrow night, no matter what.

The next day, Pierce goes to school and is a little taken back to realize that John wants to meet at the same time that the coffin building will be going on. At school, a storm starts to gather and Pierce is brought in for questioning by the police. There she finds out that her consueler was killed last night. Alex gets a call saying that his father is the main suspect in the case and has been brought down to the station for questioning. He also mentions that his grandmother's car is confiscated and Pierce's mother is with him.

Alex leaves for class and Pierce's grandmother shows up. Pierce connects that her necklace always turns black and that her grandmother knitted the scarf that killed her. She realizes her grandmother is actually a fury and baits her grandmother into revealing it. Pierce gets a good punch in before John shows up and whisks her away. John says hedidn't want to but he's going to have to keep her safe because the furies are tormenting her. She tells him not to but he does it anyway.

Pierce wakes up in the same room as before in a white dress and flowers in her hair. John says that she isn't dead but she is trapped there. Pierce says she can't just disappear that her mother will worry and her father is a bigwig. John offers to let her give letter to Mr. Smith to give to her mother but she knows her father won't let her disappearance go. She hugs John who says he won't let her leave because he can't protect her and though she submits to staying there she vows she won't stop searching for a way out. She realizes now that she love John and he loves her but she won't be able to be happy unless her family doesn't worry and her Uncle is free.

Did I miss something important? Please leave it in the comments and let me know! Are you excited about Underworld or what?

Book Review and Giveaway: Switched by Amanda Hocking

2012-01-01T08:01:00.000-05:00

Switched by Amanda Hocking

Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (January 3, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250006317
ISBN-13: 978-1250006318
Series: Trylle Trilogy #1
Source: ARC provided by publisher
Cover: I'm so in love with this cover. It's my favorite one because of the color and I love the castle in the background. The model in the gorgeous dress in the foreground, picking those bright flowers is just lovely. I even love the design around the title. Everything about this cover pulls me and demands I know more.
First Sentence: A couple things made that day stand out more than any other: it was my sixth birthday, and my mother was wielding a knife.

Mini Review:

Summary:

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

Review:

It's hard not to read this book and factor in its past up until publication. The fact of the matter is, this was first and foremost, a self-published novel that ended up doing extraordinarily well. So well in fact, that St. Martin's Press picked up the story. I'm not really sure if that gave me higher expectations or lower ones. Needless to say, I went into this novel really not knowing what to expect. What I found surprised me. Switched is filled with solid writing, a different type of paranormal creature and an interesting world within our own.

It's hard not to root for Wendy considering the past she's had. While I wasn't always fond of her somewhat meek demeanor, I did feel like her voice was natural and she seemed like a normal girl. The only problem I found is that Wendy was supposed to be unique and not able to fit in so I found myself a little upset at how normal and plain she was at times. But then, I get glimpses of something different like when she was able to pick a lock and though it seemed out of nowhere, the author was able to back it up by her inability to fit in and need to adapt.

What I do like about Wendy is I feel like there is a lot of potential for her to grow. I grew frustrated that she wouldn't fight for herself but over the course of the novel, she began to fight back. By the end, I felt like I would see a very different Wendy in the next novel and that excited me. So while my feelings were a bit mixed about the main character, I am happy to report that as she grows up, she grew on me.

Wendy's love interest, Finn, did annoy me at first. I saw the same hot/cold pattern going on between them like so many other couples in YA and was waiting for them to finally just make out in a moment of heating passion. Only, that moment never came and I can't tell you how happy I am for that. Ms. Hocking took her time to build a relationship between these two characters which made for a much more realistic romance that felt deeply statisfying. Plus, there's something just smoking about a body guard and charge scenario that was definitely working for this scenario.

The plot was a little slow but that is because the author takes her time immersing Wendy in an entirely new world right underneath our noses. I really liked the world building and different customs of the Trylle. While I felt that the middle did drag a bit, I was interested in knowing how exactly Wendy would have to adjust and what she was expected to do. The fantasy, otherworldiness feel to the world was just enough to hold my attention and kept it special. Plus I liked how magic blended into the story and two seperate races at war with each other.

I wasn't sure what to expect as far as writing went but what I found was a smooth, easy voice and a natural flow to the prose. Ms. Hocking's clear descriptions, exciting fight scenes and snappy dialogue all work to make this novel something worth reading.

In the end, this novel made up my mind for me. With it's interesting paranormal creature and customs, beautiful hidden setting and evolving main character, Switched is a great read. Nothing is going to switch my perspective on this one!

Rating:

Favorite Lines:

"We weren't friends," I corrected her. "I just stole his motorcycle. While he happened to be on it."

--Pg. 16 of "Switched" by Amanda Hocking

Maybe they were bounty hunters or kidnappers or just big fans of chopping up girls into little pieces and disposing of them in a ditch.

--Pg. 75 of "Switched" by Amanda Hocking

After a little while, I sighed in frustration and hurriedly rubbed the rest of the lotion in while Finn continued to rummage through my clothes./ "I don't think I have anything in your size," I said.

--Pg. 137 of "Switched" by Amanda Hocking

"Anything." He spread his arms wide. "Can you move stuff?"/ "With my hands, yeah."

--Pg. 220 of "Switched" by Amanda Hocking

Giveaway Time!

The folks at St. Martin's Press were kind enough to offer up a signed copy of Switched by Amanda Hocking to one of my lucky US readers. Trust me when I say that you don't want to miss an opportunity like this!

Rules:

Must be 13 years or older
Must fill out the form below
May only enter once
This is a US only giveaway
Must leave a thoughtful comment
Giveaway ends 1/15/12

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to everyone!

In My Mailbox (66)

2012-01-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

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 Bloomsbury:

ARC of Fracture by Megan Miranda

From St. Martin's Press:

2 ARCs of Tempest by Julia Cross

Christmas Haul:

Purchased from Book-A-Million:

RAK:

Entangled by Cat Clarke (thanks to Amber from Books of Amber)

This has been my mailbox for the last two weeks and it had my enormous Christmas haul in it which is why the list is ridiculous.

What did you get in your mailbox?

2011 End of the Year Book Survey

2011-12-31T13:51:00.003-05:00

This survey is created by The Perpetual Page-Turner. For even more fun, go to the page and link up your survey so you can look at other people's answers!

1. Best Book You Read In 2011?

I've got to give my top 5 here because it's too hard to narrow down:

-Divergent by Veronica Roth
-The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
-Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
-Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake
-Shifting by Bethany Wiggins

2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?

Lost Voices by Sarah Porter- I really wanted to love this one because I like this idea of mermaids. Unfortunately I just couldn't get through the slow pacing and never felt attached to the characters.

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?

The Demon Trapper's Daughter series by Jana Oliver because I just wasn't expecting to fall in love with these characters so quickly and I was entrance by the world they inhabited.

Also, Shifting by Bethany Wiggins which just blew me away when I opened it and made me mad I hadn't read it the second it came out.

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?

Hands down Divergent by Veronica Roth and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. Can't say enough about these fabulous books. Also, right around Halloween I was throwing Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender and Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake around like they were candy.

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?

I'm going to say that this question means several books already out and not the start of a series (or I'd be in trouble).

Definitely The Body Finder series by Kimberly Derting.

The Demon Trapper's Daughter series by Jana Oliver, Firelight series by Sophie Jordan, Paranormalcy series by Kiersten White and Stork series by Wendy Delsol.

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

Too many to list... Veronica Roth, Michelle Hodkin, Kimberly Derting.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

The Art of Dancing in the Rain by Garth Stein was way out of my usual reading and it broke my heart in all the right ways,

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?

Again, I have to go with Divergent by Veronica Roth. I was late for plans because I was reading this novel.

9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?

The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler and Legend by Marie Lu. Both of which I haven't had a chance to read. Also Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi which I did read and wasn't disappointed with.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?

Has to be Wither by Lauren DeStefano. Not only is this an excellent novel but that cover gets prettier every time I look at it!

11. Most memorable character in 2011?

Noah Shaw from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?

Toss up between The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi and Wither by Lauren DeStefano.

13. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting. It's too good to wait!

14. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012?

If I re-read anything it'll either be Divergent by Veronica Roth or The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.

15. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

Divergent by Veronica Roth (the whole thing), The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (the whole thing and particularly the parts with Noah), Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (the whole thing but mainly the writing) and Wither by Lauren DeStefano (the beginning with the gun shots).

Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2011:

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2011?

I made two lists on my blog of blogs I'm thankful. You can check it out here and here. The list had blogs like Reading Angel, Pure Imagination, Xpresso Reads, and Cheezyfoot Books.

But I'd like to add One Page At A Time which is one of the blogs I was looking for but couldn't remember the name. KM's reviews are always really helpful, she has insightful posts and she's very sweet.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2010?

Has to be my review for Victoria Schwab's The Near Witch which I tried to write to match the beauty of the writing. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi is another one.

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

I have loads of great discussions on my blog. I have a weekly post called Saturday Discussions where I chat about all sorts of things. I'm fond of my most recent talking about how I feel when authors comment on blog posts.

4. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

This one is pretty easy. I went to YALLfest which was loads of fun. Not only did I get to see historical Charleston but I got to meet a lot of amazing authors including Michelle Hodkin, Kimberly Derting, Beth Revis, Diana Peterfreund and others! I had a blast!

5. Best moment of book blogging in 2011?

Anytime someone recognizes me from my blog-- either author or other blogger. Eating dinner with Angela from Reading Angel is high up there as well as finally getting to meet my little sis Jessica from The Midnight Bookworm.

6. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

It was YA Bachelor Voting Open!

7. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

My Happily Ever Endings posts. They are book ending summaries for series novels. Basically, in about four paragraphs, I recap what happened in the last 100 pages of books. This feature has grown so that three other people help me. I know they are viewed but I love to get more comments on them so I know people are using them!

8. Best bookish discovery (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Well, I finally sat down and figured out what BEA is all about. And now, I'm planning a trip to New York for next year's BEA! I can't wait!

9. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I did complete the 2011 Debut Author Challenge which is exciting. I didn't end up reading 100 books like I had originally planned but I did manage to finish writing my novel so it washes out for me.
Looking Ahead...

1. One Book You Didn't Get To In 2011 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2012?

The Furture of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler as well as Legend by Marie Lu, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins and The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2012?

Loads of them. Seriously, a lot. I'm going to say Something Strange and Wicked by Dennard, Incarnate by Meadows and Where It Began are very high up there.

3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging in 2012?

Make more amazing friends, meet more authors and bloggers, read even more books and hopefully get my own novel polished enough to snag an agent!

Did you take this survey?

Saturday Discussions: Authors Commenting on Posts

2011-12-31T01:33:00.000-05:00

I was browsing on an author's site recently (can't remember who) and they were talking about how they felt a little nervous to comment on post's that showcase their work--whether it's a review or a Waiting on Wednesday post or something else. It got me thinking about this and Jessica and I thought it would be a great topic for discussion.

Authors are meant to be on the internet to interact with their fanbase by writing out blogs, holding contests and being genuinely fabulous so that reader's want to read their novels. I think a huge part of that is knowing the community they are going to write for. Which means that I think it's important that authors look at book reviewing sites and interact.

I know that when I take the time to write up a post about books I'm excited about, it makes me feel super awesome when a writer leaves a quick comment or shoots me an email letting me know they saw the post and thanking me for featuring their book. Ann Redisch Stampler (author of the upcoming Where It Began) is particularly good at this. Every time I've talked about her novel, she left a comment or sent me an email with something sweet to say. And you know what? It makes me feel really, really good.

As many of you bloggers will agree, we put a lot of time and effort into reading all about the latest books and shouting from the rooftops about things we love or are excited about. I'm certainly not complaining about the work I do for this blog. I wouldn't do it if I didn't want to. And I'm not saying that every book I mention on this blog should come with a personal note thanking me for talking about it. What I am saying is that I think it's awesome when an author realizes how much work we do and takes the time to thank us. It certainly isn't a requirement but it sure does make my day.

I've been noticing that a lot more authors are doing this lately. I was just contacted by Courtney King Walker (author of On The Fringe) who talked about seeing one of my posts with her novel in it and who thanked me for an interview I did with her a while ago again even though she'd already thanked me once before. There are so many authors now that are doing these sort of things and I think it's fantastic. I love it when authors join in discussions too.

The only time I don't think it's appropriate for an author to comment is when it's a negative review. I know that, at least for me, I never want to review something badly but also that it's my responsibility as a book reviewer to give the readers an honest opinion. It doesn't mean I don't feel badly about it. Heck, I'm a writer myself so I know how much it stinks to have someone not like your work. As a reviewer, I don't want to know that an author has read my negative review, especially when they disagree with it. Likewise, even if it's a positive review I prefer to get an email about it than a comment where everyone can see. To be fair, I've never seen an author do either of these things but I just thought I'd cover it.

Pretty much every time I go to an author signing or event, I hear them express gratitude to the blogging community for all the work we do. I love how this is turning into comments on our blogs and emails in our inboxes. Am I saying that I won't love an author if they don't do this? Heck no. But I will say that I feel very fondly towards the authors that are doing this and I definitely shout a little louder about them to the people I know and love.

So I'm for authors commenting on blogs or emailing a quick thank you. It makes me feel good and anything that spreads cheer is alright by me!

What about you bloggers? How do you feel about authors commenting on blog posts?

Authors? Do you do this? Why or why not?

*Just so this is clear, I don't expect authors to comment on posts. This isn't their job. Rather, I really like it when they do and should they feel like they want to, I always appreciate it!*

December R.A.K. Wrap-up post

2011-12-31T00:01:00.000-05:00

I hadn't done R.A.K. in a little while so it was fine to participate again! I had a blast going through wish lists and will do this again next month.

I sent a R.A.K. of The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting to Amanda at Hippies, Beauties and Books, Oh My!

I received an R.A.K. this month as well:

Amber from Books of Amber sent me Entangled by Cat Clarke and I couldn't be more thankful. Seriously Amber (of the rocking name), you made my month!

Can't wait to participate again next time! Did you post a Wrap-up?

2011 Stats

2011-12-30T14:02:00.000-05:00

This has been my first full year of blogging and let me tell you, it's been intense! I've had so much fun getting to know all the amazing people around the interwebs and sharing my thoughts on books. The blogging community has kept me sane in may ways and kept me very, very busy too. So in a year's time, here's what I was able to accomplish!

Books read (including short stories): 87
Pages read (according to Goodreads): 28,517
Number of blog posts (not counting today): 588
Number of page views: 201,522
Most popular post this year: YA Bachelor Voting Open with 11,603
Review with most comments: After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E Wedel
Book signings attended: 4 (1 vicariously though my husband)
5 bunnies: 25
4 bunnies: 41
3 bunnies: 19
2 bunnies: 1
1 bunny: 1

Interesting facts:
- I joined both Twitter and Amazon this year.
- My Goodreads wishlist has 362 books on it.
- I hosted one major event this year: YA Bachelor's Contest (in which Jace from The Mortal Instruments won)
- I signed up for 5 challenges last year and completed only 2.
- I finished writing 1 novel and am 7 chapters into a new one.

So how was your year this year? I predict 2012 will be even more amazing!

Top Ten Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2012

2011-12-30T00:01:00.000-05:00

Top 10 of 2011 is an event going on all week long hosted by Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic, Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Rachel from Fiktshun and Jamie and Patricia from Two Chicks on Books. It's a feature where we are talking about our favorites of this year and next year for an entire week!

This time we are looking ahead to book of 2012. There are so many great ones coming out! Here are my picks in no order:

1) Tempest by Julia Cross- I love the combo of time traveling and a male narrator. Can't wait to read this one!

2) Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer- The epic conclusion to Calla's story. Who will she choose- Ren or Shay? I'm not sure who I want her with in the end.

3) Insurgent by Veronica Roth- The second installment to Divergent. Enough said.

4) A Million Suns by Beth Revis- Fell in love with Across the Universe and I heard this second novel is even better.

5) Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake- I have to find out what happens to Anna. In the worst way.

6) Fracture by Megan Miranda- Love the concept and the trailer for this novel just made me want to read it more.

7) Slide by Jill Hathaway- I got to beta read this novel in an earlier draft and I have to see how it changed.

8) The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith- I love that this story is set for one day. I can't wait to see these characters meet and sparks fly!

9) The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg- This just sounds like such an amazing read.

10) For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund- I love Ramapnt so I can't wait to see how Ms/ Peterfreund does dystopian!

11) The Selection by Kiera Cass- Another dystopian with a unique spin. I really like that the guy she's set up with might actually be someone she call fall in love with.

12) Incarnate by Jodi Meadows- This cover blew me away and then I read the concept and had to have the novel.

13) Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard- Smart guys rock! Looks like a fun read with an interesting concept I don't think I've seen before.

14) Where It Began by Ann Redisch Stampler- You knew I had to have one contemp on here and this has to be it. It looks like such a beautiful read!

15) Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi- I've been reading such positive reviews for this novel that I can't help but drool over it!

And there could be a million more on this list. Seriously, it fluctuates and expands every single day. These are just a few off the top of my head.

What are your picks?

The Time Will Come (26): Heist Society by Ally Carter

2011-12-29T13:36:00.002-05:00

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!

Heist Society by Ally Carter

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

I feel like I repeat myself a lot here but again, the main reason I haven't read this one is time constraints. I've got a tbr pile that's out of control and this is just one of the novels in it. Shame really because I've heard this series is a lot of fun and I know at one point it was picked up to be made into a movie with Drew Barrymore attached to it.

What has been on your shelf too long?

Swoon Thursday (5): Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

2011-12-29T13:25:00.002-05:00

This week's swoon comes from Jessica Rules the Dark Side and is more sweet than sexy but still totally swoon-worthy.

Indeed, if so much as one hair on my wife's head is disturbed while I cannot protector her, this kingdom will see retribution that will go down in the history books--to be read by the very few who remain standing.

--Pg. 143 of "Jessica Rules the Dark Side" by Beth Fantaskey

As you can see, this is less sexy and more incredibly sweet Lucius' own way. He's always been prone to violence, something he struggles with since that is how he grew up, and his only instinct is to protect Jessica with every fiber of his being. Even though this is a threat, I think it's swoon-worthy because of it's passion and it shows how much he loves her.

What's your swoon this week?

Bout of Books Readathon

2011-12-29T10:01:00.000-05:00

Not only am I going to be participating in this very easy marathon but I am also one of the co-hosts this year. I'm going to be holding a fun littler challenge on the blog at the end of the readathon and offering up a cool prize.

So you should definitely sign up!

It starts January 9 and ends the 15th (my host day!).

It's a low key marathon where you read as you normally would over the week and just participate in different challenges to win prizes.

Sign ups are today and I'd love it if you'd all decide to do it!

Go to the blog here for more info on the event!