The Thoughts of a Book Junky!

Review: Wolfsbane By Andrea Creamer

2011-10-09T23:39:00.000-04:00

Andrea Creamer
Hardcover, 390 pages
Penguin YA Group
July 26th 2011

“It took less than a second for me to shift and leap onto his desk, snarling. My fangs snapped inches from his face. Silas yelped, tipping his chair over backward, and rolled across the floor...
I glared at Silas, who was brandishing a letter opener at me.
"You do know she's not a werewolf, right?" Shay smirked at the Scribe. "That silver thing's not gonna be worth much."

When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she’s certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer—one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack—and the man—she left behind.

Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what?
Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

****************

Wolfsbane is the second installment in the Nightshade series and I really enjoyed this book. We enter Wolfsbane right where we left off in Nightshade. Calla and Shay are in hands of the Searchers. When Calla wakes up after being attacked by the searchers on the night of her union with Ren she doesn't know what to expect, but she would never expect that the Searchers want her help. With a chance to save her pack and possibly get rid of the Keepers for good, Calla only has one choice.. She must work together with the people who she thought were her enemy's.

I really liked the introduction of a few new characters in Wolfsbane. Here we meet a few of the Searchers,

Connor, the sarcastic and slightly perverted Searcher who I love.. He had me laughing at multiple points in the book. Adne, who is a Weaver for the Searchers and has a strong personality herself. I really liked that she was not afraid to speak her mind. She is young but is not afraid to stand up for herself and tell it like it is.

As Calla tries to wrap her head around who the Searchers really are and if she can trust them she learns a lot about the history and the fact that The Keepers have been lying about more then she could have dreamed. There is a very big back story in this book about the Keepers and the Searchers. Creamer gives us a lot to absorb. I did enjoy learning a bit more about the past of Calla's world but at times it was a bit much. I tended to want to skip a bit of the history and get back to the action of the book. And Action there was.

Calla has to return to her home town of Vail to try to locate her pack. But that is way easier said then done. She and a few of the Searchers who make up her team are faced with Guardians who have turned agents her and Keepers who want her dead.

Calla seemed to get on my nerves a bit in this book. In Nightshade she was a strong Alpha leader who would do anything for her pack. Now she has abandoned her pack for Shay ( who I have never liked). She does try to go back and make it right but In the beginning of this series I never thought that she was the selfish type. I really was a bit disappointed in her choices. And then there is Shay, still getting on my nerves. I just cant see what Calla sees in him. In Wolfsbane he comes off as controlling and still lacking personality. There was also not enough Ren in this one. I really missed him in this book and the little that we got of him was not enough.

All in all I give Wolfsbane 4 Hoots. I really enjoyed the action of this book and the introduction of the new characters. The story line was fast pace and had plenty of surprising twists. I do have to say that the ending almost killed me. It was very cut off and I probably would have liked the book less if I was not saved by the first chapter of Boodrose that is offered HERE. I cant wait to read the third book in the Nightshade series when it comes out January 3rd, 2012. As a whole I did like Wolfsbane quite a bit. I wish the main characters were a bit more likable but it is a good story that I would recommend to readers who enjoy YA paranormal books!

Review: City Of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

2011-10-09T21:40:00.002-04:00

Cassandra Clare
Hardcover, 424 pages
Simon & Schuste
April 5th 2011

“You know, some people think Shadowhunters are just myths. Like mummies and genies." Kyle grinned at Jace. "Can you grant wishes?"

"That depends," he said. "Do you wish to be punched in the face?”

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out that he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side—along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. Not to mention that he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls—neither of whom knows about the other one.

When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. The stakes are higher than ever in City of Fallen Angels.

***********************

Let me start by saying that this book was a long time coming for me. I absolutely love TMI series and when I finished the first three books in 2 days in 2009 I was dreading the wait for City Of Fallen Angels. So when it FINALLY came out I decided to re-read the first three books. I must say that I'm glad I did.

We enter the book a few weeks after City Of Glass ended. Things have settled down and every one is getting back to normal life. Clary is training at the institute, trying to tap into her Shadowhunter roots, Jace is training Clary and trying to find himself through his fathers old things, Alec is off traveling with Magnis, and Isabelle is with Simon who also happens to be dating Maia.

In City Of Fallen Angels someone is killing Shadowhunters that were associated with Valentine and the Circle. The Shadowhunters have to investigate the killings that happen to be turning up in the territories of the Downworlders. On top of all this Jace is pulling away from Clary due to terrifying and violent dreams he is having, and is keeping it all from her. Someone is following Simon and thanks to the mark of Caine, ending up dead.

I really loved the forth book in TMI series. It was a fast pace read with great plot twists. I really enjoyed the different angels with each characters. I love the fact that Simon was such a big part of this book. He really held his own and has defiantly grown on me as a character. It was also hard for me to read about problems between Jace and Clary. I really love them as a couple and hated seeing Jace pull away from her.

I do have to say that I really enjoyed Kyle, Simons new roommate. He reminds me of Jace in some ways. He has that funny sarcastic vibe about him that I love so much. He also has some secrets of his own that I really did not see coming.

Overall I give City of Fallen Angels 4+ Hoots. It was not my favorite book in the series but it had everything I loved about the series included. I loved the character dynamic in City Of Fallen Angels. The characters have grown and each stand on there own to make me want them all to have their own stories. There was however a huge cliff hanger at the end which I thought was a bit predictable for me but I really enjoyed the was it was played out. All in all I really enjoyed this book and cant wait for City of Lost Souls, release date May 8th 2012.

Guardian of the Dead Giveaway!!!

2011-09-08T12:00:00.000-04:00

Hi Guys, I wanted to do a giveaway to say Thank You for hanging in there while I take care of some family issues. I really am hoping to be back up and blogging within 2 weeks or so. But for now I have been collecting some things for giveaways.

So Thank You for hanging in there!!!

Now on to the good stuff!

Win a Paperback copy of Guardian of the Dead.

Little Brown just released Guardian of the Dead in paperback

and they graciously gave a copy to me for a giveaway!

Read my review HERE!!

This is an intriguing YA urban fantasy in the tradition of Holly Black and Wicked Lovely. Set in New Zealand, Ellie's main concerns at her boarding school are hanging out with her best friend Kevin, her crush on the mysterious Mark, and her paper deadline. That is, until a mysterious older woman seems to set her sights on Kevin, who is Maori, and has more than just romantic plans for him. In an effort to save him, Ellie is thrown into the world of Maori lore, and eventually finds herself in an all-out war with mist dwelling Maori fairy people called the patupaiarehe who need human lives to gain immortality.
The strong, fresh voice of the narrator will pull readers in, along with all the deliciously scary details: the serial killer who removes victim's eyes; the mysterious crazy bum who forces a Bible on Ellie telling her she needs it; handsome, mysterious Mark who steals the Bible from her and then casts a forgetting charm on her. All of this culminates in a unique, incredible adventure steeped with mythology, Maori fairies, monsters, betrayal, and an epic battle.

Rules:

There will be one winner

International

Ends 9\16

To Enter:

Just leave a comment with your email address

and a quote from your favorite book!!

Extra entries:

Follow +1

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Sidebar +3

Blog Post +4

* Please provide link!!

Good Luck and Happy Reading!!

Coolest Bookshelves... EVER!

2011-06-12T12:00:00.000-04:00

Hey guys, So I have stumbled across some really neat bookshelves. (Most of which I want really bad)

So I thought I would share them with you!!! Enjoy!!!

Console Reading Bookshelve Bench by Stanislav Katz.

The Flybrary Bookshelf create the levitation effect, hanging the books on a metal strips.

Malagana Design

Paagman Book Store bookshelves interior design

Also check out these really cool Bookends!

by Artori Design

October Hill Dora Designs Cuddly Creature Bookends

I actually own these... and they are the best!!

So there you have it... Happy Reading!!

In My Mailbox (6)

2011-06-12T10:00:00.005-04:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren

This week i got a few great titles for review.

After the death of her free-spirited mother, sixteen-year-old Alex Lee must leave her home in northern California to live with her wealthy grandmother in Savannah, Georgia. By birth, Alex is a rightful, if unwilling, member of the Magnolia League, Savannah's long-standing debutante society. She quickly discovers that the Magnolias have made a pact with a legendary hoodoo family, the Buzzards. The Magnolias enjoy youth, beauty and power. But at what price?As in her popular adult novels, Crouch's poignant and humorous voice shines in this seductively atmospheric story about girls growing up in a magical Southern city.

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.
But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.
The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.
As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.
Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.
Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come.
When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

Thanks to all the wonderful publishers who supplied these amazing books!

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Review: Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

2011-06-11T18:25:00.002-04:00

Kendare Blake

Hardcover, 320 Pages

Tor Teen

August 30, 2011

"Thunder Bay, Ontario, is our destination. I'm going there to kill her. Anna Korlov. Anna Dressed in Blood."

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

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

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

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

*************

Kendare Blake has created a world that has left me craving more. From the very first page, I was hooked. Anna Dressed in Blood is a beautifully written horror story with everything you would want rolled into one book. If you like a gruesome horror story, this book is for you. If your into a good Murder Mystery, Anna Dressed in Blood is right up your ally. If you want a uniquely written story with humor, love, loss and characters that will blow you away, Then Anna Dressed in Blood is your book.

Cas is no ordinary teenager... He is a bad ass ghost killer. Cas along with his mother, travel the world in search of ghosts who need to be sent from this world. After receiving a tip, Cas travels to Thunder Bay, Ontario in search of her, Anna Korlov, Anna Dressed in Blood. Blake has captured Cas's character perfectly. She has turned him in to a real person, from his laid back; carefree attitude, to his use of teenage slang, he definitely reminds me of my younger brother. It is not very often when you find the main character to be male, and it brings a new freshness to YA books.

Anna was such an amazing character to read. She was genuinely scary and yet had a softer side that made her one of my favorite characters in YA to date. Anna is constantly struggling to find herself which gives you such a diverse and interesting perspective to read. I love constantly wondering what she will do next.

Anna Dressed in Blood was by far my favorite read of 2011. I loved the dark humor and the gruesome details that Blake has introduced in her story. She has truly captured the essence of a teenage boy in today's society and the more reserved side of a girl who grew up in the 1950's. The way Blake was able to tap into the mind of each character and made them feel so real was mind-blowing and I have truly enjoyed every word she has written. Overall I give Anna Dressed in blood 5+ Hoots. It was exceptionally written and laugh out loud funny. I can not wait to revisit this wonderful world in the sequel.

Author Spotlight: Marianne De Pierres Author of Burn Bright

2011-06-05T10:00:00.001-04:00

Please Welcome

Marianne de Pierres

Author of

Burn Bright

1) Could you tell us a bit about yourself.

I was born and grew up on a wheat and sheep farm in Western Australia. As the youngest by quite along way, I was left on my own a lot to read books, dream and run wild. Adolescence was rough when I was wrenched from my lovely cocoon and sent to boarding school. I started writing at an early age (eight) but didn’t really knuckle down to it until I was about 30. Since then I’ve worked hard to become a better writer. In my leisure time I love sport and reading and TV.

2) What was the inspiration for writing Burn Bright?

I’ve always been interested in the idea freedom versus rules and regulations. And I’m fascinated with nocturnal creatures. The two things kind of collided and Burn Bright was their baby!

3) Were there any personal experiences that went in to writing Burn Bright?

I think as a young girl I experienced minor forms of oppression and those things came out in the writing of the book. As a teenager you can feel very disempowered and Retra’s journey helped put some things to rest for me. As the writer, I was cheering for her (the character) to get strong and more confident.

4) Was Retra's character based on anyone or were they purely made up character? What is she like?

Retra is a purely fictional character. She’s a girl who’s had little life experience and has been terribly sheltered. Going to Ixion is the beginning of her discovering herself and the world. She’s shy but smart and she’s very loyal.

5) What was your inspiration in the cover art for Burn Bright?

That was my publisher’s inspiration. We knew we wanted something really special, and someone at Random House had see Jaroslaw Kubicki’s work. Once you’ve read the book you’ll understand that it’s a perfect fit. I think he is an inspirational artist.

6) Do you plan to have Burn Bright as a stand alone novel or part of a series?

It’s part of a series called The Night Creatures trilogy. Book two, Angel Arias, will be out later this year. And book three, Blaze Dark, will be available next year.

7) Do you write to music? If so, what is your favorite?

Funnily enough, I can’t. I love music too much and find it too distracting while I write. However I listened to Yunyu’s song (http://www.burnbright.com.au/the-music/) so many times during the time I was writing Burn Bright, that I think of that as my soundtrack.

8) What do you plan on doing in the future?

Well, I have book three still to write. I also have an idea for a book written about which I call Emo Traders which will be my next young adult proposal. Can’t tell you too much yet ,but it’s a neat and scary idea. Watch the website www.burnbright.com.au for updates.

9) What are you reading right now?

I’m reading a lot of crime novels at the moment. It seems to suit my mood.

10) Who are a few of your favorite authors?

In YA: Melissa Marr and Isobelle Carmody.
In SF: Ian McDonald, Jon Courtenay Grimwood and Nancy Kress
In Crime: Stuart MacBride and Michael Connelly

In Paranormal Fantasy: Patricia Briggs, Diana Pharoah Francis, Kat Richardson

Where to find Marianne:
Twitter
Website
Facebook
Goodreads

Review: The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

2011-05-07T19:06:00.000-04:00

Kelley Armstrong
Hardcover, 359 pages
Harper Collins, New York
April 12th 2011

Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

In The Gathering, New York Times best-selling author Kelley Armstrong brings all the supernatural thrills from her wildly successful Darkest Powers series to Darkness Rising, her scorching hot new trilogy.

*********************

Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors, so when I found out she was starting a new series I was thrilled. She is the type of author who sucks you into a book and wont let go until the very last page.

The Gathering is the first book in the Darkness Rising trilogy. Maya, the main character is just an ordinary girl, living in a very small town. She is a very likable character, she is smart and sweet. But Maya also is a very strong girl, she doesn't let people push her around or get to close. I love the fact that she really has a sense of who she is. She is the type of main character who you can really follow.

Her best friend Daniel is the big brother type of guy that you cant help but fall in love with. He is sweet and very protective of Maya. He has a good sense of humor and will stand up for what he knows is right. I absolutely love Daniel. He is someone you wish to have as your best friend. He is always by Maya's side and is always there when she has to deal with the hard stuff.

Rafe, the bad boy from out of town is Maya's new crush. She always thought he was the school's player, but now he is showing her a new side to him. As their relationship progresses, Maya seems skeptical of the way Rafe is acting. She learns that things are not what they seem. I liked Rafe well enough, he has the bad boy thing going for him but he just seems a bit played out to me. I feel like the bad boy who has a softer side and a secret thing is a bit over played. But all in all he is an OK character.... I really like Daniel :)

Overall The Gathering was a good first in a trilogy book. I liked the fact it gave you a solid back story and gave you time to get to know the characters. I feel that things could have moved a bit faster but all in all I feel it will make the other books in the trilogy better. A good connection with the characters is important and I do like when an author takes the time to establish them. I also have to had that this book has a major cliff hanger ending. I finished the last page and flipped to the next expecting a new chapter to began. I dont hate cliff-hangers but it just makes it 10 times harder to wait for the next book.

I give The Gathering a 4+. It had very likable characters, a well written plot and an interesting story. I am very excited to read The Calling, The second book in the Darkness Rising Trilogy, coming in April 2012. I also hear that she might merge The Darkest Powers and The Darkness Rising Trilogy's together which is very exciting. If you love Kelley Armstrong as much as I do, I say, you should really pick up The Gathering. It is sure to be a very exciting story!

Author Spotlight: Aimee Carter

2011-05-04T09:00:00.001-04:00

Please Welcome

Aimee Carter

Author of

The Goddess Test!

1) Could you tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm Aimée, and I write too much for my own good. I love dogs, books, music, and I got a degree in screenwriting and film from the University of Michigan. I've been writing since I was eleven, and I got my start in fan fiction. The Goddess Test is my first published novel, but I wrote roughly two dozen manuscripts before it. I'm represented by the lovely Rosemary Stimola. The Goddess Test will be released on April 19th, 2011, from Harlequin Teen.

2) Could you tell us a bit about The Goddess Test?

The Goddess Test is a sort of a sequel to the myth of Hades and Persephone. The back of the book sums it up rather nicely:

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails...

3) What was the inspiration for writing The Goddess Test?

I've loved Greek mythology for as long as I can remember. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths was one of my favorite books as a kid, and I used to reread the myths over and over. This story has been in the back of my mind ever since I was a kid, and over the years the pieces fell into place. Finally in 2007, I put pen to paper.

4) Were there any personal experiences that went in to writing The Goddess Test?

Funny you should ask. In the story, Kate's had to face the reality that her mother, who is her only family, will die very, very soon - she's suffering from cancer, and she's at the end. They return to her mother's hometown, and Kate is essentially her caretaker, being thrust into this very adult role that she's trying so hard to handle. But she's eighteen, and this is a lot for an adult to go through with support, let alone a teenager who's in a strange place where she doesn't know anyone.

About four months after Harlequin Teen made an offer to publish The Goddess Test, my father had two heart attacks and wound up having to have heart surgery. Those few weeks and the months after were so much like what Kate was going through - not exactly by any means, since my father was recovering (and has since recovered). But it was setback after setback, and I think that gave me a lot keener insight into what Kate was going through. Because I was still in the editing stage of the book, I went through and added some of those aspects in, trying to make the story more authentic in that regard.

5) Was Kate's character based on anyone or was she a purely made up character? What is she like?

Kate is purely fictional, though like I mentioned, in later edits a lot of what she was going through with her mother and some of her feelings on the matter were taken from my experience taking care of my father. She's gone through a lot, but she doesn't let it get to her - she does what she has to do when she has to do it. It's hard for her to open up to new ideas, and she's a very closed-off person based on the life she's lived so far, particularly with her mother so sick. But she really develops throughout the story, and I hope she's someone you can root for.

6) What was your inspiration for Henry's Character? Could you tell us a bit about him?

Henry...oh, Henry. I can't say too much without it being a big spoiler, but I spent a lot of time developing his character and deciding exactly who he is and what he's gone through. He and Kate complement each other in interesting ways, as he's experienced a great deal of tragedy and loss in his life as well. He has his own set of goals separate from Kate, which I hope makes him a more intriguing character than just Kate's love interest. Melissa Anelli, who read and was kind enough to provide a blurb for the book, once called Henry "Heathcliff with a sense of humor".

7) What was your inspiration in the cover art for The Goddess Test?

I have nothing to do with the cover art - most authors don't have any input. The fantastic artists at Harlequin Teen did an outstanding job, and I adore the cover to pieces. I had no idea what to expect, had no mental image of what it might look like, so that was a great day, that first glimpse of their vision for the cover.

8) Do you plan to have The Goddess Test as a stand alone novel or part of a series?

Originally I wrote it as a standalone, and it can stand on its own as a story. However, once it was over, I realized there was still so much story to tell, and it became a trilogy. I've written the sequel, Goddess Interrupted, which will be out in January 2012, and I'm about to start writing the third book as well.

9) Who is your favorite character in the book? And why?

That's kind of like asking who's my favorite child! I love them all, even the baddies. Nothing's worse, in my opinion, than being asked to follow a boring character around for four hundred pages, and I tried not to do that. I think if I had to pick...my first instinct is to say Ava, who is a classmate of Kate's and somewhat of a bully. But then I have to say Henry, and then I have to say James (another classmate of Kate's), and it's all one big mess. So let's go with my top three instead: Ava, Henry, and James. As for why, I'd say it's because all three of these characters surprised me in the writing and editing process. I love their voices and how they interact with others, and each of them has a story that I really enjoyed creating.

10) If The Goddess Test was made into a movie, Who would be your dream cast?

I just did a blog post on this! I almost never picture actors as characters in my head when I'm writing them, but I do have a few firm contenders:

Kate - She would be by far the hardest to cast. I think I'd prefer a newcomer. Someone brunette and not stunningly gorgeous, but other than that, her face has always been fuzzy to me.

Henry - Ben Barnes, hands down. He fits Henry perfectly, both in his looks and his acting voice (and I've always pictured Henry with a British accent). If by some miracle there was ever a movie, I would give up my first born to have him play Henry.

Ava - Elisabeth Harnois. This is an example of a character whose face I did picture from day one, and Ava has always been Elisabeth Harnois to me, though she's in her thirties now.

James - I've never run across an actor who looked exactly like my mental image of James, but Mitch Hewer (from the UK version of Skins) is fairly close. As far as personality goes, however, Darren Criss (best known from playing Blaine from Glee) would be a perfect fit. I'm willing to sacrifice hair color for Darren. :)

11) Do you write to music? If so, what is your favorite?

I used to for a long time, but I found I paid more attention to the music than to the writing. Now if I listen to music while writing, it's because I'm in a public place and trying to drown others out. Right now I've been listening to Apocalyptica's version of Nothing Else Matters on repeat. No words, so it works out well.

12) What do you plan on doing in the future?

That depends entirely on how many people buy my books. I would love to keep writing and publishing novels for the rest of my life, but I'm only 25, so who knows what the future brings? If I had a choice though, writing novels would be it.

13) What are you reading right now?

I just finished Beth Revis' wonderful novel, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. I'm in the middle of rereading HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS before the movie's release this summer. I haven't read it since it was released, so it's almost like discovering an entirely new book.

14) Who are a few of your favorite authors?

JK Rowling, without question. The Harry Potter series is the reason I stuck with writing, and I wouldn't have gotten this far if it hadn't been for her. Orson Scott Card is one of my all-time favorites as well. Anne Bishop, Suzanne Collins, David Eddings, Kevin Brooks, Meg Cabot, Rick Riordan...too many to count! I do tend to be a rereader with books and authors. If I love something, I'll reread it once a year or so.

15) Anything you would like to add?

Thanks for having me, and I can't wait to hear what you think of The Goddess Test!

Where to find Aimee:

Blog

********************

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

2011-04-27T14:12:00.000-04:00

Lauren Oliver
Hardcover 488 pages
February 1, 2011
HarperTeen

"And now I know why they invented words for love, why they had to: It's the only thing that can come close to describing what I feel in that moment, the baffling mixture of pain and pleasure and fear and joy, all running sharply through me at once."

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love

**********************

Lauren Oliver is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. With her beautifully written words and her unique stories, Oliver has captivated the young adult audience.

Delirium was by far my favorite book this year. It has all the components of a great read, Interesting and loveable characters, a one of a kind plot, and a fast pace story that had me flipping through the pages as fast as possible.

Lena is one of those characters that I easily liked. She is just your average girl and there is something very humbling about her. She has had a rough past but that doesn't get her down. She is pretty content in her life and looks forward to the day when she no longer has to worry about the disease called love. Lena just wants the procedure, she wants the normal life that comes with it and she wants to be safe. But when Lena meets Alex everything changes.

Alex is different. He has his eyes on Lena and now she knows it. As Lena and Alex grow closer, Lena begins to realize that Alex is not at all who she thought he was. Once Lena comes to terms with who Alex is she must come to terms with her own reality. Everything she has ever known is about to change and Lena must make the choice, to love or not to love.

I think what made this book so wonderful for me what the way Oliver writes her stories... Her words practically flow off the pages and make you feel like you are right in the story. She has a way of making the smallest of details a crucial part of the story.

I had a hard time letting Delirium go. I wanted to continue reading the beautiful story Oliver has written. I have to say that the ending was a big shocker to me and I felt a bit disappointed that I will have to wait so long for the story to continue. An ending such as that of Delirium is hard to digest and I will literally be counting down the days until Pandemonium hits shelves February 2012.

Delirium was an enchanting story of love and the hardships we go through to keep it. Beautiful written I give Delirium 5+ hoots. I don't often give them out, but this story will be one I will reread over again and think of often. Luren Oliver is a talented author and I urge you to pick up any of her books.

Where to find Lauren:
Goodreads
Facebook
Website
Twitter
Blog

Author Spotlight: C.C. Hunter

2011-03-26T10:00:00.011-04:00

Please Welcome

C.C. Hunter

Author of Born at Midnight

1) Could you tell us a bit about yourself.

CC: I’d be happy to. First, C.C. Hunter is a pseudonym. My real name is Christie Craig. In addition to writing freelance non-fiction and book-length non-fiction, I also write adult fiction, specifically humorous romantic suspense novels. (Shameless Self-Promotion Moment Here: My next Christie Craig novel is Don’t Mess With Texas, and it’ll be released through Grand Central Publishing in August of 2011.) I’m married, have two children, and live with my hubby, four rescue kitties, a puppy who sometimes thinks my furniture tastes better than his kibble, a rabbit named Floppy Skivvies whom the cats think is just a funny-looking cat, and a wild assortment of outdoor critters, like raccoons, opossums and the occasional turtle. Now, that may sound like a lot of crazy, what with all the animals, but you know, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

2) What was the inspiration for writing Born at Midnight?

CC: I get asked this a lot and I always say that I wish I could tell you that it was all my idea. But it wasn’t. What actually happened was my editor at St. Martin’s Griffin planted the seed of the idea in my mind. She did it with two words, too: “Paranormal Camp.”

Those two words got my imagination revving, so I asked her, “What kind of paranormals?” She said, “That’s up to you.” I then asked, “Who is the main character?” She goes, “That’s up to you, too.” So, I go, “Is the main character a paranormal?” Now, I bet you know what she said, right? LOL. If you guessed she said, “That’s up to you,” you’d be right. Anyway, we went on like that for a while but in the end, I took those two words, “paranormal camp,” and went to work on creating the world that is now Shadow Falls.

3) Were there any personal experiences that went in to writing Born at Midnight?

CC: Oh, this is a great question. And the answer is, “Absolutely!” When asked to write a paranormal I quickly related to my some odd things in my family tree—and things that sort of still haunt me. I come from Alabama and one of my great grandmothers was known throughout the county as a natural healer. When people were badly burned because of an accident, the hospital would have her come in a talk the burn out of them. It must have worked, too, because she did this a lot.

She was also sort of known as a bit of a psychic, too. People came to her to read their fortunes. And in some small ways, I sort of inherited some of that sixth sense from her, which has freaked out my hubby and my friends over the years, believe me. It’s never something that I can control or even predict. We could be sitting in a restaurant, having dinner, and all of a sudden, I get this strong feeling that something has happened and that I need to call my mother. When I do, I find out she twisted her ankle or that a family member was in an auto accident. Something odd like that. I’ve also had some crazy experiences when I felt I’d been visited by spirits, too, which I used for fodder when I wrote the scenes where Kylie experiences the ghosts. .

4) Was Kylie's characters based on anyone or was she a purely made up character?

CC: Well, that’s a hard one to answer. You see, all of my characters have traits that either come from me or from the people I know. They are bits and pieces of my own experiences. I start with the kernel of an idea about the character. For example, when the book opens, Kylie’s parents are splitting up. That happened to me when I was a teenager, too, so I used my experiences to flesh out hers. But then Kylie became real in my mind, and she began to fill in the blanks, so to speak.

Here’s where I have to say that I’m not crazy. All writers feel their characters are “real” and we have conversations with them. Lucky for me, my hubby has gotten used to it. LOL.

5) What was your inspiration in the cover art for Born at Midnight?

CC: I wish I could also take credit for the cover art but I can’t. The wonderful people over at the art department at St. Martin’s Griffin created the cover. They did an awesome job, too. I love the cover! And not just on the first book, but on the second. I love the cover for Awake At Dawn. It’s due out October 2011.

6) How many books do you plan on having in The Shadow Falls series?

CC: Well, I’m currently working on Book 3 and, right now, my publisher and I don’t have any plans to end the series. A lot really depends on how well Born At Midnight does when it releases. Let’s just say I see so many possibilities for expanding the Shadow Falls world, and I’d love to stay with these characters for as long as the readers want me to do so.

** I absolutely love this cover... just sayin'
OK back to your regularly scheduled interview :)

7) What do you plan on doing in the future?

CC: Oh, that one is easy. In the future, I plan to be writing more books. Both as C.C. Hunter and as Christie Craig. Sure, juggling two contracts for two different publishers can be hard but, you know what, I love every minute of it!

8) Do you listen to music when you write? What kind?

CC: Normally, I don’t listen to music when I write. It’s not that I don’t enjoy music – I do. I like all kinds of music, too, from country to classic rock, to some pop and alternative rock. It just depends on my mood. But when I’m writing, I can’t listen to music with lyrics. Songs with lyrics tell stories and it’s just too distracting for me when I’m trying to write one myself.

9) What are you reading right now?

CC: Actually, right now, I’m reading a new book by a debut author. It’s called Shattered Dreams by Ellie James . It’ll be released in 2012 and I highly recommend it!

10) Who are a few of your favorite authors?

CC: Oh, wow. I really enjoy reading so many YA authors. There is Stephenie Meyer – I love her Twilight series. Plus Alyson Noel, Sophie Jordan, Tera Lynn Childs, Jenna Black, P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, Rachel Caine. Trust me when I say, I have a huge TBR stack!

11) If you could jump into any book and live in that world, which would you choose and why?

CC: Well, there are a lot of great dark paranormal books out there but I don’t know if I’d really like to live in that world, so I’d probably go with something like The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot. I mean, what’s not to love about Mia and her life? Sure, she’s got all the problems a typical teenager has but she’s also a princess. How totally cool is that? Now, I’ll be honest. I’d love to be a princess for a day . . . if only I could convince my family to go along with the plan. LOL.

12) Anything you would like to add?

CC: First, I’d like to thank you and your readers for having me visit you at your Blog. I’ve really had a great time. I’d also like to add that if anyone wants to learn more about my book and the Shadow Falls series, they should swing by my website, www.CCHunterBooks.com. They can watch my book trailer, read some of my blogs and even sign up for my newsletter.

Where to find C.C. Hunter
Goodreads
Facebook
Website
Twitter
Blog

Guest Review: Spells

2011-02-26T10:19:00.000-05:00

Guest Review!!!

Today Alexa stopped by for a guest review!!

You can find her at: Pages of Forbidden Love

Title: Spells

Author: Aprilynne Pike
Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: May 2010

"I can't just storm in and proclaim my intentions. I can't ‘steal' you away. I just have to wait and hope that, someday, you'll ask," Tamani said.

"And if I don't?" Laurel said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Then I guess I'll be waiting forever."

Although Laurel has come to accept her true identity as a faerie, she refuses to turn her back on her human life—and especially her boyfriend, David—to return to the faerie world.
But when she is summoned to Avalon, Laurel's feelings for the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani are undeniable. She is forced to make a choice—a choice that could break her heart.

My Thoughts:
When we last left Laurel, Tam and David everything was mostly on the right track. Laurel had saved her dad's life and managed to keep their cabin with the help of the faeries. Upon returning to this exciting world we are informed that Laurel is invited to come spend most of her summer in Avalon so she can get back to her studies as a Fall faerie. Avalon is beautiful and a place meant for peace and order where Winter faeries are rare and lead the place while Fall faeries are considered an important second. Summer and Spring faeries fall into the social order after the upper faeries and there are several society rules on how one must behave when addressing an upper faerie. It all sounds complex which it can become with all the things Laurel must now figure out. She is of course entirely use to the way the human world functions but now she must learn a new place with new customs. When her stay in Avalon is over she must go back to her human life to help protect the people she loves most.

I loved getting to see Avalon and see how the faerie world works. It was great to see Laurel in a different element and watch her grow and change in subtle ways. It was also great to see her friendship (cough relationship cough) with Tam grow more than ever before. He is key in the beginning of the story because he can show Laurel just how much she has missed when she is in the human world. He is however a Spring faerie so he is lower in class than Laurel and their friendship is a little strained sometimes because of the strict Avalon customs. The Avalon world kind of reminded me of Harry Potter sometimes, how there is this whole other world to escape to in order to learn stuff that humans have no clue about.

It was a little heartbreaking to see Laurel leave Avalon and Tam behind yet again to rejoin the human world with her boyfriend David. The heart breaking lasted only a little while though as the reader starts to remember all of the things that make David such a great guy. I personally felt so connected with the story, I was feeling some of the same emotions as Laurel with her extreme like and troubles over both of our leading male characters. Just as Laurel starts to get comfy in the human world again the trolls start to show up, out to get revenge. Laurel is left having to try to find a way to stay alive during this slowly forming war between good and evil, faerie and troll!

Overall I really did fall in love with this story I read it in about a day and a half because I was that engrossed in what was happening. I loved the characters even more than I did in the first book and I felt like everyone grew up in a natural way. I liked how we got to see more mature characters and that the relationships forming between Laurel and David/Tam were growing as well. Who doesn't love the all out battle of a girl's heart as she tries so hard to figure out who to love, who is right for her. The ending left me screaming out that I want the next book in the series because Aprilynne left us at a cliffhanger, one that I can't wait to read more about in the next installment. Overall I would give this book 5 stars, I enjoyed it even more than I did the first book Wings.

Quick Update!!!

2011-02-24T12:05:00.000-05:00

Hi guys,
So I was suppose to leave from PA today but a few family things came up... so It looks like I will be moving up here!!! I am really going to try to keep my blog going while I move but for now, a few weekly memes will ahve to be put on hold. I am hoping this will not take too long but you never know!

Thanks to all of you for hanging in there with me and if there is anyone who would like to do a guest post or review just email me @ stephanie_xoxo27@yahoo.com!!

XOXO

Author Spotlight: Scott Tracey

2011-02-15T10:00:00.004-05:00

Please Welcome

Scott Tracey

Author of

Witch Eyes

1) Could you tell us a bit about yourself.

Scott: I'm from Ohio, born and raised, and when I was about eight or nine, I was convinced that there was a book at the library that was going to have a magic spell that would create a Gameboy for me. Unfortunately, that book was always checked out. So instead of becoming a Gameboy-toting wizard, I decided to become a writer instead.

2) Could you tell us a bit about Witch Eyes?

Scott: When I usually have to describe the book, I call it my "gay Romeo and Juliet with witches" book. Braden, whose been raised by his uncle, suffers from a curse known as the witch eyes - a powerful ability to see the world as it truly is - an encyclopedia of memories, pain, and darkness. But this power is costly - it's killing him a little more every time he uses it.

When one such vision suggests that his uncle is in danger, Braden runs away to the town of Belle Dam, hoping to stop the threat before his uncle is hurt. Instead, he finds himself in the midst of a supernatural feud that divides the town, and trapped between the rival witch dynasties in charge. Each of whom has plans for Braden, and hopes to use him to ignite the feud into a final, vicious victory.

3) What was the inspiration for writing Witch Eyes?

Scott: Mostly, it stemmed from wanting to write something that I would want to read. There aren't a lot of genre books with a gay main character. But being gay is probably the least interesting thing about Braden, and that was something that was important to me. My focus was more on the story I was telling, and the trouble that Braden gets into. The fact that he's gay was just like saying he has brown hair or wears sunglasses.

Braden's ability actually came to me while thinking about people who were allergic or sensitive to sunlight and wondering, if there were a supernatural cause to it, how would that work?

4) Were there any personal experiences that went in to writing Witch Eyes?

Scott: Well, there was that one time where I fought off demons in a cemetery... ;)There are little details in Witch Eyes that were drawn from personal experiences. Like the fact that Braden arrives in town on a bus - I did a cross-country bus trip a few years ago, and it was a fascinating experience. The diner he eats at is based off a place my parents and I went to, once. Little things like that - nothing mind-blowing, though. Given what happens to Braden over the course of the book, I think that's a good thing.

5) Was Braden's character based on anyone or was he a purely made up character? What is he like?

Scott: Braden's like a lot of teenagers. The witch eyes make him feel like a freak, and all he wants is to be treated just like everyone else. He's stubborn and sarcastic, and generally on the defensive a lot. He's like a couple of people I know, and a little like myself (although much cooler, obviously). Little things that he does are drawn from people I worked with, or went to school with.

6) What was your inspiration in the cover art for Witch Eyes?

Scott: Well, Flux gets all the credit for coming up with such a fantastic cover. I absolutely adore it. I knew I wanted something darker - to fit more with the tone of the book. The eyes are a little creepy and fantastic, and the way everything is a little hazy and bleeds across the cover is perfect.

7) Do you plan to have Witch Eyes as a stand alone novel or part of a series?

Scott: As of right now, it's part of a two book series. There may be another book after that, but we'll have to wait and see.

8) Who is your favorite character in the book? And why?

Scott: It really depends on the day. Most of the time I'd have to say Braden, but it depends on the kinds of scenes that I'm writing. Braden gets to say things that I wish I could say, sometimes. Lucien, one of the adults in town, is also a lot of fun to write. And it's interesting, because in writing the sequel, my favorites have completely changed.

9) If Witch Eyes was made into a movie, Who would be your dream cast?

Scott: Braden - Max Thieriot (My Soul to Take)
Trey - Drew Van Acker (Tower Prep). He'd just have to be a little more blonde.
Riley - Magda Apanowicz (Kyle XY, Caprica)
Jade - Aly Michalka (Hellcats).

For the adults:

Catherine Lansing - Heather Locklear (Melrose Place)
Jason Thorpe - Adrian Pasdar (Heroes)
Lucien Fallon - David Anders (Vampire Diaries)

10) Do you write to music? If so, what is your favorite?

Scott:I have to have music to write. I usually listen to a lot of rock when I'm writing: 30 Seconds to Mars, The Pretty Reckless, Red. But my absolute favorite band to listen to has to be The Birthday Massacre. The occasional Glee cover sneaks in there, too.

11) What do you plan on doing in the future?

Scott: Well, I'm finishing up the sequel to Witch Eyes right now, and I have a couple of other projects in the works, but nothing for certain yet. I have another take on witches that I want to do, and then a couple of things that are completely different.

12) What are you reading right now?

Scott: As I type this, I'm literally eyeing my ARC of Demonglass. I can't wait to get back to it. My TBR pile is out of control right now, but I've got The Iron Witch, Wither, Hourglass, and Beauty Queens staring at me.

13) Who are a few of your favorite authors?

Scott: Jim Butcher, Holly Black, Cassie Clare, Kiersten White, and Rachel Hawkins. I like them all for different reasons. I think Jim Butcher's Dresden Files are required reading for anyone who wants to see how to build up a supernatural back story along with plot. Holly Black and Cassie Clare tell the most amazing stories in the most fascinating ways, which I always appreciate. Kiersten White is my nemesis because she has some lines that make me tremble with jealousy. And Rachel Hawkins totally rocks at the sarcasm.

Braden Michaels wears his sunglasses at night. And at the movies. And in the shower. Raised by his warlock uncle and taught to use magic, he suffers from a deadly curse: the witch eyes. He sees everything that normal eyes filter out: history and memory; love and pain; magic and darkness. The mind was not meant to process so much information, though, and the power is killing him slowly. The only thing saving his sanity are the sunglasses he always wears.
Then the visions reveal a dark threat on the horizon. Braden runs away to Belle Dam, the city where the threat originated, and is immediately swept up into the town’s mysterious feud. Two rival magical families have divided the town into a personal chessboard of scheming and machinations, and Braden is their latest pawn. As he tries to avoid their manipulations, and see the truth behind his return to Belle Dam, he has a choice to make. One side, or the other. Ignite the feud, or end it. Sacrifice himself, or someone else. Live, or die.

Witch Eyes comes out September 2011 from Flux Books!

Where To Find Scott:
Goodreads
Website
Facebook
Twitter

And the Winner is...

2011-02-14T09:47:00.000-05:00

Thank you for everyone who entered!! There was a great turn out and 311 people entered!! Plus Book Junky reached 1000 followers! I just wanted to say thank you to all my followers, new and old for sticking around and being so amazing!! I really Love you guys!!

So the winner of the Follower Love hop is.....

Alyssa

Congrats and thanks again to everyone who entered!!

Happy Reading!

XOXO

Going on Vacation!!

2011-02-11T12:58:00.000-05:00

Hi Guys!!

I just wanted to let you know that I will be going on vacation!!! YAY I will be back on the 25th but I'm not sure how much blogging time I will get it. I didn't want you to think I abandon you!

I'm going to Philly to visit family!!

So I have a few things post dated to run while I am gone, and I will have my phone so I can check my emails and get your comments from there! I hope you all have a fantastic Valentines Day and I hope everyone is doing a great job on there A-Z Reading Challenge!! I will miss you all!!

XOXO

Happy Reading!!!

Author Spotlight: Kendare Blake

2011-02-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

Please Welcome

Kendare Blake

Author of

Anna Dressed in Blood!

1) Could you tell us a bit about yourself.

Kendare: Sure. Uh...I speak absolutely no foreign languages. And that's not for lack of trying. I've tackled French, and Italian, and they both hate me. But I love traveling in both places, and the people seem patient as I stammer and spit on them. Um...Animals! I'm a big fan of animals. All sorts. Except spiders. They know what they did.

2) Could you tell us a bit about Anna Dressed in Blood?

Kendare: Anna Dressed in Blood is a horror novel chronicling the exploits of Theseus Cassio "Cas" Lowood, as he attempts to kill the title character. It's in his blood, you see. He has a sacred duty to kill the murderous dead. And nobody murders like Anna murders.

3) What was the inspiration for writing Anna Dressed in Blood?

Kendare: I wanted to go back to dark. Back to gore. It's what I started my adult reading career with (Anne Rice, Stephen King, Poppy Z Brite) and I hadn't written anything like it in years. Of course Anna Dressed in Blood has little in common with the work of Rice, King or Brite, but they're in the same vein. Vein. Crap is that a pun? So be it.

4) Were there any personal experiences that went in to writing Anna Dressed in Blood?

Kendare: I think personal experiences go into writing just about everything. Except maybe extremely abstract, experimental stuff. But realism, where else do we get it but from our own experience of reality? Having said all that philosophical stuff, there was no personal, personal experience that went into it. Unless you count that I used my own cat. It's okay, he signed a release and everything.

5) Was Cas's character based on anyone or was he a purely made up character? What is he like?

Kendare: You can tell I'm a nerdy writer when my instant response to this question is to think how offended Cas would be if I referred to him as "made up". But yeah, he's made up. So what is Cas like? He's a loner, but not an outcast. He does what he has to do. Because of his vocation, I think he's sort of an adrenaline junkie.

6) What was your inspiration for Anna's Character? Could you tell us a bit about her?

Kendare: Anna whispered her name in my ear. She's a murderess. She's trapped. She's black-veined and dressed in blood. Cas has never met anyone like her. Oh, and I found her grave in a Finnish cemetery in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

7) What was your inspiration in the cover art for Anna Dressed in Blood?

Kendare: It was my editor's idea. She's excellent. I couldn't be happier with the cover art. They went through a few drafts, and there was a bit of a debate about the amount of blood that would be on it, but aside from me seeing every draft and saying, "ooh, pretty!" I had nothing to do with it. Oh. Except I did ask that her face not be on it. I like to leave it to the reader's imagination.

8) Do you plan to have Anna Dressed in Blood as a stand alone novel or part of a series?

Kendare: As it stands, it's a duology. I just finished writing Book 2 (currently untitled) and it feels like a duology. But sometimes it feels like a trilogy. We'll have to see.

9) Who is your favorite character in the book? And why?

Kendare: I love Cas. I'm in his head the most. And he's got that...hero quality in him. I don't know. He's confident, but compassionate.

10) If Anna Dressed in Blood was made into a movie, Who would be your dream cast?

Kendare: My editor asked this too. Well, not dream cast exactly, but who I thought they looked like. I said Cas looked sort of like a younger Kevin Zegers from Transamerica, but I saw a trailer for Red Riding Hood and whoever that guy is would work too. As for Anna, that's a toughie. A younger Summer Glau comes to mind. Or a younger Shiri Appleby.

11) Do you write to music? If so, what is your favorite?

Kendare: Just recently started writing to music. I always assumed I'd just jack around and not do anything but jam to it. Turns out I'm more discliplined than I thought. I stream my college station sometimes, or playlists I make myself. Favorite bands include Kings of Leon, The Strokes, Weezer, The Black Keys and Fleet Foxes. In girl world, Fiona Apple's voice is incredible. And Ani DiFranco. Florence and the Machine. Oh, and I love the 80's. What?

12) What do you plan on doing in the future?

Kendare: Writing, if all goes well. And traveling, to many and varied places. Except Australia. Too many poisonous spiders. Beautiful, but damn, the spiders. maybe someday I'll get over that phobia. Japan has that same spider problem. Did you know sometime around monsoon season you can find spiders the size of dinner plates in your apartment? And they bite? They hunt smaller insects at night. It'd be like listening to your cat chase mice, if your cat had double the legs.

13) What are you reading right now?

Kendare: Right now, I'm actually reading Michael Crichton's TIMELINE. I had a craving for that point he writes where the science ominously builds up, and then promptly caves in on itself. I love that. By the time this interview posts, I'll probably be through Maurissa Guibord's WARPED,Ty Roth's SO SHELLY and Courtney Allison Moulton's ANGELFIRE. Maybe Holly Black's collection THE POISON EATERS. And some Andre Dubus. If you like short fiction, he's not to be missed.

14) Who are a few of your favorite authors?

Kendare: Bret Easton Ellis. He's a satirist and a moralist, people. Get off his nuts. Caitlin R Kiernan. I hear through the grapevine that she might be turning YA soon, and that will blow my mind. Milan Kundera. He understands existence as best as one can. Joe Hill. 20th Century Ghosts was amazing. I didn't mention any YA authors, I know. But I can't play favorites there. Too many are high on my list.

15) Anything you would like to add?

Kendare: Yeah! You like owls? Have you seen the YouTube video of the Transformer Owl? If you haven't, go search it out. It is amazing, adorable and frightening all at once. Thanks so much for featuring me on the blog. I hope Anna Dressed in Blood doesn't disappoint.

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story. . .
Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.
So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

Anna Dressed in Blood comes out September 2011 from Tor Teen!

Where to find Kendare
Goodreads
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Blog

Follower Love Giveaway Hop!!!

2011-02-08T02:54:00.001-05:00

Hi Guys, Welcome to the Follower Love Giveaway Hop!

This hop is hosted by I An A Reader, Not A Writer

This is a giveaway to show love to all of you!!!

My Wonderful followers!!!

As it is a followers hop, you must be one!

Here is whats up for grabs:

A Book Of Your Choice

( $20 or less)

All you have to do is leave a comment telling me which book you would like to win

and your email address!

Good Luck and Happy Reading!!!

**Make sure you sign up for the other giveaways going on here at Book Junky!**

Find them on the top right sidebar!

Author Spotlight: Kate Kaynak

2011-02-03T07:05:00.003-05:00

Please Welcome

Kate Kaynak

Author of

The Ganzfield series!

1) Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

Kate: I studied psychology and taught it around the world for the University of Maryland. I now live in New Hampshire with my husband and three kids under age 6, where I enjoy reading, writing, and fighting crime with my amazing superpowers.

2) What was the inspiration for writing The Ganzfield books?

Kate: I'd read and enjoyed both the Twilight and Sookie Stackhouse books, but both had telepathic characters who could only fall in love with someone whose thoughts they *couldn't* read. I started thinking about what kind of person a telepath *could* fall in love with--and who would be comfortable in a relationship with someone who knew their every thought. I've always loved parapsychology, so playing with the ideas grew pretty quickly into the full cast of sparks, charms, minders, healers, RVs, etc.

3) Were there any personal experiences that went in to writing The Ganzfield series?

Kate: Absolutely. Most of the places in the books are real--including the setting of Ganzfield itself, which is on a real lake near North Conway, NH. And many of the characters are based on real people; I shared a cab in NYC with the man who inspired Dr. Williamson, and most of the bad guys are named after my ex-boyfriends.

4) Was Maddie's character based on anyone or was she a purely made up character? What is she like?

Kate: Actually, Maddie's a lot like me--except when I get angry with someone, my thoughts don't kill them. She's intense and take-charge, but she wants to make things right and take care of the people she sees as "her" people.

5) What was your inspiration in the cover art for Minder?

Kate: It's based on the old Gestalt psychology tests--do you see a vase or two faces? It's funny, though--not everyone sees it. I've had people ask why I have a chess piece or a candlestick on the cover of MINDER. One guy actually thought it was a weird bird. The covers definitely inspire love-it-or-hate-it reactions, though.

6) Do you plan on furthering the Ganzfield series or sticking with a trilogy?

Kate: I submitted book 4 to my editor last week, and I'm nearly done with the first draft of book 5. I think I'll have a total of six books before the major story arcs conclude, and I may do a seventh from Seth's point-of-view, since his story and Maddie's diverge in the later books.

7) Who is your favorite character in the books? And why?

Kate: Just one? I love writing from Maddie's point-of-view, since she thinks the things that I would if I were in her situation. I have a major book crush on Trevor (my husband only tolerates it because Trevor's partially based on him), and Drew just cracks me up.

8) If Minder was made into a movie, Who would be your dream cast?

Kate: I would love--just LOVE--to have Stephen R. McQueen play Trevor. He's perfect for the role. *dreamy sigh*

9) Do you write to music? If so, what is your favorite?

Kate: I do! I have a playlist that includes "Mad World" by Gary Jules, several Muse songs, Regina Spektor's "Fidelity," Joshua Radin's "Only You," a couple of songs from Something Corporate, and Scissor Sisters' "Fire with Fire."

10) What do you plan on doing in the future?

Kate: I'll finish the Ganzfield books this year, and my next project will probably be a YA paranormal set at Yale with an incoming frosh who talks to ghosts--and whose family history holds a dark secret.

11) What are you reading right now?

Kate: I just finished Beth Revis' ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, and I loved it. I'm still digesting it.

12) Who are a few of your favorite authors?

Kate: I have SOOO many. All time favorites include Orson Scott Card, Jane Austen, Douglas Adams, Connie Willis, Stephenie Meyers, Gail Carriger,Suzanne Collins, and Scott Westerfield. Keep an eye on Jennifer Armentrout, who's debuting this year--HALF-BLOOD is amazing! I'm biased though, since she's a fellow Spencer Hill author.

Quick Questions:

Favorite Food:

Chocolate.

Favorite Book:

Too many to name.

Favorite Color:

Blue.

Favorite song:

Depends on my mood.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Right here in New Hampshire, but I'd vacation in Aruba.

Where to find Kate:

************

Waiting on Wednesday: Shattered Souls

2011-02-02T02:13:00.001-05:00

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, in which we highlight an upcoming book release we're eagerly anticipating!

I didn't do a WOW last week so I figured I would do 2 books this week.

Mary Lindsey's SHATTERED SOULS, a dark and dangerous forbidden love story about a Speaker who helps lingering ghosts pass to the spirit world and the Protector who has pledged to serve her, to Jill Santopolo at Philomel, by Ammi-Joan Paquette of Erin Murphy Literary Agency (World).

From the author of RUINED, a spellbinding tale of ghosts, mystery, and love.

The city of York is the most haunted place in the world: The ghosts of Vikings, hanged highwaymen, and tragic royals all haunt its cobblestone streets.

Miranda Tennant arrives in this moody ancient city, nursing a great sadness. She will fall in love for the first time in York. She will also risk losing everything: her family--and her life. All because of two boys fighting for Miranda's attention. One whose mind has been warped by the death of his brother. And the other a ghost, determined to finish a terrible crime.

So those are my picks...

Leave a comment and let me know What you are waiting for!!!

Happy Reading!

Forget Me Not! (8)

2011-02-01T08:25:00.000-05:00

Forget me not is a weekly meme dedicated to books that are not brand new but still worthy of reading and are on out TBR list. Feel free to join! Have fun and Happy Reading!

*******************

This weeks FMN is:

She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him.

"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would."

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

Have you read it?

Let me know your thoughts!!!

Happy Reading!!

Only 2 days left to win 2 books!!!

2011-01-31T09:44:00.000-05:00

Hi guys, Just 2 more days to enter to win

2 books of your choice!!!

All you have to do is sign up for the A-Z Reading Challenge!!!

Learn more and Sign up HERE!

Happy Reading!!!

Author Spotlight: Lori Pescatore

2011-01-27T10:00:00.001-05:00

Please Welcome

Lori Pescatore

Author of

Human Blend

1) Could you tell us a bit about yourself.

Lori: I am a married mom of two grown men. I've been married for 27 years and have taught preschool for over 15 years. I'm an avid reader of the sci-fi/fantasy/romance genre.

2) What was the inspiration for writing Human Blend?

Lori: I've read so many books and have lost most all of them but I always found a scene or two that I would think, I would have written that differently. So out from that came the idea to write an original story all my own. The inspiration of the story itself came from the characters. Once they introduced themselves in the story, the rest just flowed.

3) Were there any personal experiences that went in to writing Human Blend?

Lori: I've been in and out of the hospital so I am very familiar with the setting so those scenes were quite easy. The location of the storyline was unfamiliar to me so a lot of research went into the area so I could accurately depict it.

4) Was Julie's character based on anyone or was she a purely made up character? What is she like?

Lori: Julie was a fictional character in my head that came out to tell her story. She is a stubborn but determined girl who has lived a very troubled life. She escapes from the hell she had been forced to live and tries very hard to be normal, something impossible for her because of her unique abilities. She struggles to be strong and does achieve it eventually.

5) What was your inspiration in the cover art for Human Blend?

Lori: A co-worker of mine and I actually designed the cover concept in work on the chalkboard. The actual design, it is slightly different. The cover consist of three different photos of trees taken near my home, blended together. Editing the numbers into the trees and adding rain was done using photo-shop and my techy son's expertise in cleaning up the image.

6) How many books do you plan on having in your Human Blend series?

Lori: It is a trilogy, so three. I am penning the second book now and hoping for an April release.

7) Who is your favorite character in the book? And why?

Lori: Oh wow, tough question. They are all important to me. I'm going to say Marcus because he is just so fun to write. He is sarcastic and humorous, yet at the same time, you can't help but want to smack him upside the head.

8) Do you write to music? If so, what is your favorite?

Lori: Music is playing when I type up the story after handwriting it, but usually when I write it is quiet, or just low volume noise in the background. I listen to a lot of R&B and pop/rock. Country and rap are fun to have playing depending on my mood or the mood of the scene I am typing. I've listened to everything from Taylor Swift to Eminem.

9) What do you plan on doing in the future?

Lori: Hopefully more of this, writing and promoting. I have so many stories and characters floating around in my head, there is lots more to come.

10) What are you reading right now?

Lori: I am actually reading Nightwolves Coalition by Clarrissa Lee Moon. She is another Indy author with a cool kick-butt lead female character.

11) Who are a few of your favorite authors?

Lori: Anne Rice, Dean Koontz, Stephanie Meyer and P.C. Cast.

12) Anything you would like to add?

Lori: First a Thank You to Stephanie for allowing me to promote my book. Look for book two to come out mid April. Thanks for taking the time to read this interview and I hope you all enjoy the book.

***************

Where to find Lori:

Goodreads

Facebook

Twitter

New Meme Idea... Come join the fun!!!

2011-01-25T09:24:00.000-05:00

Hi Guys,

So I have been thinking ( I know.. Dangerous) About creating a new meme here at Book Junky.
Here is my idea:
Every week ( most likely Friday's ) I would like to spotlight a book blogger.
I would like to get to know you better... pick your brain and ask you a few questions!

I wanna know what makes you tick! ( but not in a creepy way..hehe)

So if you are interested in being featured here on Book Junky, Fill out the form and I will contact you and schedule a feature date!!!

I am really looking forward to getting to know you better!!!

Fill out this FORM!!

Happy Reading!!

Forget Me Not! (8)

2011-01-25T06:48:00.000-05:00

Forget me not is a weekly meme dedicated to books that are not brand new but still worthy of reading and are on out TBR list. Feel free to join! Have fun and Happy Reading!

*******************

This weeks FMN is:

The It Girl meets The Exorcist in this chilling, haunted boarding school tale

New-girl Lindsay discovers all is not right at the prestigious Marlwood Academy for Girls. Ethereal, popular Mandy and her clique are plotting something dangerous. Lindsay overhears them performing strange rituals, and sees their eyes turn black. It doesn't help that the school itself is totally eerie, with ancient, dilapidated buildings tucked into the Northern California woods, a thick white fog swirling through campus. There are hidden passageways, odd reflections in the windows at night, and scariest of all is the vast lake rumored to have captured the ghost of a girl who drowned many years ago.

What Lindsay doesn't yet realize is that Mandy and her cohorts are becoming possessed by spirits who have haunted the school for two hundred years. Spirits who want someone dead...

And that someone is Lindsay.

This book looks really good and I think I may have to push it up in my TBR list!

What do you think?

Have you read it?

If so, link your review.. I would love to read it!!!

Happy Reading!

BuildASign.com Review!

2011-01-25T03:01:00.000-05:00

I recently received an email from Melissa with BuildASign asking me to do a review of a product from their company. BuildASign.com has tons of different products such as, yard signs, magnets, licence plates, art prints and more! with so many great products to choose from it was hard to pick, but I decided to go with a bumper sticker.

I was able to design it right there on the website. It was easy to do and really fun!

I received my bumper stickers quickly and they were awesome. My bumper stickers are shiny and made of very durable material.

I received 100... yes 100 bumper stickers and I can not wait to share them with you guys! I will be sending them out with my giveaways!

So if you want to promote your blog with a shiny bumper sticker or some cool magnets, head over to BuildASign.com and check out there products!!!

Here they are... what do you think???

Pretty great huh!

I just wanted to say thank you to Melissa and everyone from BuildASign.com

for letting me review a great product!!!

Happy Reading!!

Review: Human Blend + Giveaway

2011-01-24T18:02:00.001-05:00

Loi Pescatore
Paperback, 234 pages
June 10, 2010
CreateSpace

She was breaking a promise she made to herself. Her thoughts were silenced the minute his lips touched hers. It was different, Julie realized.

Escaping from them had been difficult enough, now Laney needs to keep hidden. All she wanted was to be on her own. Laney is not like other girls... she has very special abilities that set her apart from others. How or why she came about these abilities is a mystery she has yet to unfold.

Haunted by memories and flashbacks of the suffering she endured at the hands of her captors, she changes her appearance and hides out in a small town. Ignoring her own warnings, she begins a relationship with a local boy.

The relationship turns dangerous when the boy begins developing similar abilities. This development does not fall under the radar of the men who are trying to recapture her.

A young doctor's interest is piqued when he witnesses her mysteriously curing a young child's illness. He befriends her due to his growing fascination with uncovering the true nature of her abilities, but not without harboring secrets of his own. Laney's new life falls apart when she meets a young intern that seems to have all the answers to her questions. The information sends her into a tail spin. Thoughts of going on the run once again are thwarted as those whom she was running from find her.

***********************

Let me start of by saying, I loved this book. The concept was original, the plot fast paced and kept me drawn in throughout the entire book!

Julie as a character was really fun to read. She was a strong girl with a strong personality and knew how to take care of her self. She also had a love for helping people which I thought was great. With everything going on in her life all she wanted to do was lead a normal life and help the people around her.

When Julie comes to the town of Marion, she never intended to meet Austin. He immediately is drawn to Julie. As Austin and Julie become friends, it becomes apparent to Julie that she is getting to close to Austin. Even though she knows she needs to distance her self from him, she seems to be doing the complete opposite.

I liked Austins character, he was that sweet boy next door type. He was caring and wanted to make Julie feel special throughout the book. We see him doing all types of sweet things for Julie that would give any girl the worm fuzzies.

When Julie goes to the local Hospital to do volunteer work she meets the Eli the resident Doctor. He immediately knows her is not all human and he wants to know her secret. Julie shortly finds out that Eli isn't entirely human either. As Eli and Julie learn more about each other, they start to have feelings for one another.

I absolutely loved Eli's character, he was a protector. He wanted to help Julie at all costs and does everything he can for her. He was kind and caring but also knew when to lay down the law. As Eli and Jules relationship progresses, Julie is faced with the choice of what direction to take.

Without giving too much away, I will say this, Human Blend was a great story with mythological beings that we are introduced to that are pretty uncommon in the YA scene today. I loved the uniques story and the great relationships that were introduced.

Overall I really enjoyed Human Blend. I do feel the characters could have been described in a bit more detail. The visual details were a bit vague(hair color, and eyes) I am a very visual reader and I wish I had a better sense of who I was reading about. Other than that I really loved it. I am really looking forward to more from Lori Pescatore and am hoping that there is a sequel to Human Blend and it comes out soon!

***************

This book was part of my A-Z Reading Challenge. As you know for every book I complete, I will be giving away a prize!

One winner will receive a copy of Human Blend!
To enter, please leave a comment with your email.

If you are not apart of the A-Z Reading Challenge and you would like to enter SIGN UP HERE!
If you are already participating you are automatically entered and get +5 entries!

Extra Entries:
Follower +1
Tweet +1
Facebook +1
(must leave direct link)

Ends 2-20-2011

Happy Reading!!

2011 A-Z Reading Challenge Update!

2011-01-18T19:11:00.009-05:00

~Update~Update~Update~Update~Update~Update~Update~Update~

Hello all, I just wanted to do a quick update and let you know that the A-Z challenge is in full swing!

There has been quite a few entries and I am so excited to read all your reviews!

I realized that I forgot to put an end date to the 2 books of your choice giveaway... haha silly me!

So I think that February 12th is a good day!

Thats gives us a month to get all are entries and entry posts ready!

Below is a list of entry's so far.. You can still join and I advise you do. You can combine this challenge with other challenges that you are doing and there is going to be some great prizes for participating!

So there you have it... so far! If you are not apart of this challenge :( Please visit the sign up page and sign up.. It is going to be really fun and will hopefully help you make a dent in your TBR list...

plus you might even get some Great books!!

Check it out here:

** If you signed up and do not see your name, email me with your name and entry post url @ stephanie_xoxo27@yahoo.com

Happy Reading!!!

Forget Me Not! (7)

2011-01-18T10:00:00.002-05:00

Forget me not is a weekly meme dedicated to books that are not brand new but still worthy of reading and are on out TBR list. Feel free to join! Have fun and Happy Reading!

*******************

This weeks FMN is:

"I Know Your Secret . . ."

Stacey's junior year at boarding school isn't easy. She's not the most popular girl at school, or the smartest, or the prettiest. She's got a crush on her best friend's boyfriend, and an even darker secret that threatens to ruin her friendships for good. And now she's having nightmares again. Not just any nightmares – these dreams are too real to ignore, like she did three years ago. The last time she ignored them, a little girl died. This time they're about Drea, her best friend who's become the target of one seriously psycho stalker. It started with weird e-mails and freaky phone calls. Now someone's leaving Drea white lilies – the same death lilies that have been showing up in Stacey's dreams. Everybody thinks it's just a twisted game . . . until another girl at school is brutally murdered. There are no witnesses. Worst of all, no one has a perfect alibi. With everyone as a potential suspect, Stacey turns to the one secret weapon she can trust – the folk magic taught to her by her grandmother. Will Stacey's magic be strong enough to expose the true killer, or will the killer make her darkest nightmares come true?

In this Deluxe Spellbook Edition you'll find:

Spells created by You and other keepers of secrets-poems, spells and meditations contributed by fans of this popular series. Extras also include an interview with the author.

Have you read it yet... I really want too!

Let me know your thoughts!!

Happy Reading!

Dreaming of Books Giveaway Winner!!!

2011-01-18T00:51:00.000-05:00

The Winner is....

Megan Kyser

Congrats Megan and thanks to everyone who entered!!!

2011 Debut Author Challenge!

2011-01-18T00:27:00.001-05:00

Hey dear readers,
I am participating in the 2011 Debut Author Challenge hosted by The Story Siren.
I am super excited about this challenge. There is so many great books coming out and I can't wait to jump into this challenge! If you haven't signed up, I suggest you do!

Here are the basics:

The objective of the DAC is to read at least twelve novels from Young Adult or Middle Grade Authors. While twelve is the minimum there is no maximum limit! I encourage readers who can read more than twelve to do so!
Anyone can join. You don't have to be a blogger, and you don't have to live in the United States.
You do not have to have an blog written in English to participate.
~~You can join at anytime.~~ Deadline to join is November 20, 2011. (not 2010 you still have PLENTY of time to sign up!) The challenge runs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.

You can read more and sign up HERE!

OK so my 15 books I have selected are:

So there you have it! I believe 2011 is going to be a great reading year..
I mean will you look at that list...I am really excited!

Happy Reading!!

Stylish Blogger Award!

2011-01-17T16:53:00.001-05:00

Hi guys... So this week I received 3 Stylish Blogger Awards..

I would like to thank:

Britta @ I Like These Books

Mistress of the Library

Aik and Koey @ The Bookaholics

Thanks guys for the great award... Make sure to go check out their blogs...they are great!!!

Being a stylish award I must thank Danny @ Dreamy Blog Designs for creating my fantastic blog design... she is great and if you have a blog and want a new design I advise you check out her work! XOXO

OK here are the rules:

1.) Be sure to thank the person who gave you the award in your post.

2.) Share seven fun things about yourself

3.) Pass the award onto ten bloggers who you think are extremely stylish

4.) Be sure to let the winners know they were chosen.

Seven fun facts:

1) I love owls... duh, I'm sure you know that!!

2) I am a huge Stephenie Meyer fan

3) Owl City is my favorite band.. and not because

it has owl in the name... although it is great!

4) I pretty much live on Arizona green tea and red Gatorade

5) I love to sing... I sing in the shower, in the car, when I'm making dinner and when I'm cleaning the house. Plus I tend to use inanimate objects as microphones... such as spoons, hair brushes and what not!

6) I hate onions!

7) Avatar is my favorite movie of all time!

OK the ten lovely bloggers who will be receiving this award from me are:

Brodie @ Eleusinian Mysteries
Myranda @ The Book Nymph
Lucia @ iLive, iLaugh, iLove Books
Monica @ The Ramblings of a Book Addict.
Christi @ Christi the Teen Librarian
Ivy @ Ivy Reads
Brandi @ Blkosiner's Book Blog
Alexa @ Pages of Forbidden Love
Danielle @ An Eagles View
Jay @ Books, and other things...

Make sure to check out all the great blogs I nominated and the 3 that nominated me!
Happy Reading!

Dreaming of Books Giveaway!!!

2011-01-14T00:00:00.004-05:00

Alright... It's time for yet another hop... Are you ready.

OK so you know the drill... its a Hop so you have to be a follower...

Wanna know what you will win?

One winner will win a choice of these 4 books:

So there you have it! Fill out the form and your entered!!!
<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>Make sure you enter my other giveaways that are going on here at Book Junky!

Win Bumped by Megan MacCafferty

Enter HERE!

Join the A-Z Reading Challenge and get a Swag pack just for joining
and be entered to win 2 books of your choice!

Sign up Here!

A-Z Reading Challenge + Giveaway!!

2011-01-11T23:42:00.015-05:00

Welcome to the 2011 A-Z Reading Challenge...
Hosted by Me!

So... here's how its gonna work...

Read 26 books this year ( easy right )

One for each letter of the alphabet.

Here's how to enter:

Make a post with your list of 26 books and fill out the entry form.
If you don't have a blog don't worry.. you can post your list on Facebook, Goodreads or where ever you can find... just add your link to where ever you posted your list!!

When I have your link you will automatically be entered to win 2 books of your choice.. yes thats 2

Any 2 books you want... under $25 each .. I'm not rich here people.

Plus for every book on my list I read there will be another giveaway...

Thats 26 giveaways that you are automatically entered for and all you have to do is particulate.

Pretty great huh. Read books, get free stuff.

So what are you waiting for?

Join now!!!
Yes... It's International
And if you don't have your whole list complete just yet... It's OK... just fill it in as you go along!!
Any other questions, feel free to ask... I don't bite!

Fill out This
FORM

Here's my list:

A- ~~Anna Dressed in Blood By Kendare Blake~~ (Read my Review Here)

B- Bumped by Megan McCafferty

C- City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

D- ~~Delirium by Lauren Oliver~~ (Read my review Here)

E- Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst

F- Forsaken by Jana Oliver

G-~~The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong~~ (Read my Review here)
H- ~~Human Blend by Lori Pescatore~~ (Read my review here)

I- I Am Number Four by Lore Pittacus

J- Jonas (Beautiful Dead) by Eden Maguire

K- Knife by R.J. Anderson

L- Lament by Maggie Stiefvater

M- Matched by Ally Condie

N- Need by Carrie Jones

O- Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCallough

P- Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Q- Queen in Exile by Donna Hatch

R- Rosebush by Michele Jaffe

S- Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves

T- The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

U- Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

V- Vampire Academy by Rachelle Mead

W- Wildfire by Karsten Knight

X- XVI by Julia Karr

Y- You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Z- Zombie Vs. Unicorn by Various Authors

Happy Reading!!

** Edit: For all of you who had signed up with Mr. Linky you do not need to fill out the form... I thought this was a better way of keeping all of your info... :)

Forget Me Not! (6)

2011-01-10T23:54:00.001-05:00

Forget me not is a weekly meme dedicated to books that are not brand new but still worthy of reading and are on out TBR list. If you would like to particulate make your own FMN post and link it to the Mr. Linky below! Have fun and Happy Reading!

*******************

This weeks FMN is:

In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now.

The Nine had to separate and go into hiding. The Mogadorian caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next.

I AM NUMBER FOUR is the thrilling launch of a series about an exceptional group of teens as they struggle to outrun their past, discover their future—and live a normal life on Earth.

I AM NUMBER FOUR.
I AM NEXT.

********************

So, I actually just bought this one. I saw the trailer for the movie and it looked really good so I ran out and got it so I could read it before I see the movie... What do you think, Have you read it?

Whats your FMN for this week?

Make sure to link up and share your picks with your fellow book lovers!

Happy Reading!!

Review: Torment by Lauren Kate

2011-01-10T08:00:00.006-05:00

Lauren Kate
Hardcover 464 pages
September 28, 2010
Delacorte Book

"Sometimes beautiful things come into our lives out of nowhere. We can't always understand them, but we have to trust in them. I know you want to question everything, but sometimes it pays to just have a little faith."

Hell on earth. That's what it's like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel. It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts - immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students -Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans.

At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn't told her everything. He's hiding something - something dangerous. What if Daniel's version of the past isn't actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else? The second novel in the addictive FALLEN series . . . where love never dies.

***************************

* If you haven't read Fallen... STOP READING!

OK so book two in the Fallen series was great. Here we open up to Luce just after she was taken from Swards and Crosses school and brought into hiding. Now Daniel has to go off and fight yet another fallen angel battle while keeping Luce safe. So he brings her to a new School called Shoreline and drops her off with very little info as to whats going on. Luce then has to fend for her self and try to figure out whats going on and why she is there. All the while being hunted.

My thoughts.. I really liked the second installment in the series. It was action packed and had me turning the page until the very end. I really enjoyed the fact that Luce was exploring her past lives. She wanted to figure out why she is still alive and who she and Daniel really are.

Torment has a few new characters that I really enjoyed, Miles is a new guy that Luce meets at Shoreline who instantly befriends her. He is cute, funny and extremely sweet. Shelby, who at first seems to hate Luce, finally comes around and is very outspoken and a bit sassy. Both Miles and Shelby help Luce discover her past and hopefully find out some answers.

Torment was funny and very well written. I loved the characters and the fast pace story line. All in all I give Torment 4+ Hoots. If you haven't read this series, I advise that you do! Its a great read and I can't wait for Passion, the next in the series to come out!

Do Judge a By it's Cover: Anna Dressed in Blood!

2011-01-06T14:23:00.001-05:00

"Do" judge a book by its cover is a weekly meme hosted here. Have you ever picked up a book because of its cover? Of course you have. Well here we get to look at some of the outstanding covers that are coming out soon! To participate, just link back here and grab the pic, and let everyone know what your favorite cover of the week is!

This weeks fantastic cover is:

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story. . .

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

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

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

And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

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Looks pretty awesome huh... The cover is so pretty and the book looks great!

I for one can't wait to read it. Anna Dressed in Blood comes out September 2011.

Will you be picking it up? I know I sure will!

Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday: Die For Me!

2011-01-04T22:47:00.000-05:00

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by

Jill @ Breaking The Spine

that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating!

This week I am waiting for:

DIE FOR ME is the first of three books about Kate, a sixteen-year-old American who moves to Paris after the death of her parents. She finds herself falling for Vincent, who she discovers is not the typical French teenager he appears: he is something else entirely.

DIE FOR ME presents a new supernatural mythology presented in a city where dreams are sometimes the same as reality...

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What do you think? Looks good right? I know that I want to read it! Die For Me comes out May 10, 2011

What are you waiting for?

P.S. Don't forget to enter my Bumped Giveaway.

Find the link over there ---->

On the top of the side bar!

Forget Me Not! (5)

2011-01-04T10:56:00.000-05:00

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This weeks FMN is:

For the Darkborn, sunlight kills. For the Lightborn, darkness is fatal. Living under a centuries-old curse, the Darkborn and the Lightborn share the city of Minhorne, coexisting in an uneasy equilibrium but never interacting - until a Darkborn physician finds a pregnant fugitive on his doorstep...

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The synopsis is pretty vague but from what I have heard, Its a pretty good series.

Have you read it? Do you want to?

Let me know your thoughts and don't forget to sign up and share your own

Forget Me Not book of the week!

Happy Reading!

Author Spotlight: Megan McCafferty & Giveaway!

2011-01-03T08:20:00.002-05:00

Please Welcome Megan McCafferty

Author of the Jessica Darling series and Bumped!

1) Could you tell us a bit about yourself.

Megan: Let’s see…I’m New Jersey born and raised, and even spent a few summers in high school and college serving ice-cream and exchanging tokens in an arcade on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights. But I’ve never fist-pumped unironically, hooked up with a gorilla juicehead or pouffed my hair Snookie-style.

2) What was the inspiration for writing Bumped?

Megan: Whether fictional (Juno), semi-famous (Bristol Palin and Jamie Lyn Spears) infamous (the girls of the Gloucester High School “pregnancy pact”), or not-famous-until-MTV-made-them famous (the girls of 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom) pregnant teens make big news. I’ve been troubled by the media’s response to the so-called “teen mom phenom.” As with most controversial subjects, any reasonable discussion about the teen pregnancy problem gets overwhelmed by extreme thinking that leaves very little room for common sense middle ground.

The ironic thing is, BUMPED isn’t an “issue book” about teen pregnancy. It’s a book about making choices, defying expectations, and living the life you want to live.

3) Were there any personal experiences that went in to writing Bumped?

Megan: Unlike the Jessica Darling series (for which I drew a lot from my experiences growing up as a brainy overachiever in suburban town where such qualities weren’t exactly appreciated), BUMPED has nothing to do me personally.

4) Was Melody and Harmony's characters based on anyone or were they purely made up characters? What are they like?

Megan: These girls are pure fiction, but inspired by lots of research, reading, and observation of real people in real life. They’re sixteen-year-old identical twins that were separated at birth and raised in radically different environments. Harmony has grown up in a deeply religious settlement called The Church that isolates itself from the outside world. As a member of the Church community, she’s expected to get married at 13 and have as many babies as possible before she’s made infertile by the virus that affects 75 percent of people on earth. Her sister Melody lives in a future version of Princeton, New Jersey that’s not all that different from where I currently live…only she’s being paid six figures to make and deliver a baby for a couple who can’t have one for themselves. In the novel, both girls begin to question everything they’ve ever been brought up to believe.

5) What was your inspiration in the cover art for Bumped?

Megan: I had no input with the cover, but I love that it doesn’t look like anything

else on the shelves right now.

6) Do you plan to have Bumped as a stand alone novel or part of a series?

Megan: Trilogies are big, but BUMPED will only have one sequel. The book focuses on a set of identical twins, so two books made symmetrical sense to me.

7) Could you tell us a bit about your Jessica Darling series?

Megan: The Jessica Darling series followed one young woman’s coming-of-age over five books and ten years of her life. She evolved from a snarky, 16-year-old trying to survive catty cliques, unrequited crushes and other daily indignities of high school, into a slightly less snarky 26-year-old woman looking to do something meaningful with her life. Through it all, the on-again/off-again love of her life, Marcus Flutie, complicated matters in the most intoxicating and infuriating ways.

8) What was your inspiration for Jessica's character?

Megan: I created the kind of smart, funny and outspoken female protagonist I wish I’d found in a book when I was in high school.

9) What do you plan on doing in the future?

Megan: For the next four months or so I’ll be working on the sequel for BUMPED. I’ve got the tiniest germ of an idea for what might come after that, but it will require me to do a lot of research before I can turn it into anything close to a book.

10) Do you write to music? If so, what is your favorite?

Megan: I always write to music. It varies according to my mood and what kind of scenes I’m writing that day. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite artist or song. I was shocked when I discovered that my most played song iTunes was “Stronger” by Kanye West. I mean, WHAT?! I had no idea I’d listened to that song 189 times!

11) What are you reading right now?

Megan: “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot. I’m reading it for my book club. And I’m about to start an ARC for a YA novel titled, “The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight” by debut novelist Jennifer E. Smith.

12) Who are a few of your favorite authors?

Megan: Rachel Cohn, Sarah Dessen, Patricia McCormick, Carolyn Mackler and Gabrielle Zevin. They all happen to be pretty amazing people too.

13) Anything you would like to add?

Megan: BUMPED is dystopian, but it isn’t depressing. Early readers have expressed surprise at how much there was to laugh about in such an apocalyptic scenario. But that’s my goal as a writer: Make people laugh and think.

Make sure to check out Megan's website: http://www.meganmccafferty.com/

Thanks Megan for stopping by Book Junky!

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Want to win a Pre-Order of Bumped?
Or
A copy of Perfect Fifths( Jessica Darling #5)
and a signed bookmark?

There will be two winners, one for the pre-order of Bumped
and one for the Perfect Fifths and bookmark

Just Fill out the form below!

Open International

Ends 2-1-11

Good Luck and Happy Reading!

** Contest Closed**

New Blog Design!!!

2011-01-02T10:48:00.000-05:00

Hey guys,
Guess what??? As you can see I have a new blog layout! What do you think?? I happen to love it! I just wanted to say thanks so much to Danny for creating this amazing layout for me! If you have a blog want it to be awesome make sure you head over to her blog and check out all her great designs at http://www.dreamyblogs.com/!

Forget Me Not! (4)

2010-12-27T20:40:00.002-05:00

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This weeks FMN is:

Incarceron is a prison unlike any other: Its inmates live not only in cells, but also in metal forests, dilapidated cities, and unbounded wilderness. The prison has been sealed for centuries, and only one man, legend says, has ever escaped.

Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, can’t remember his childhood and believes he came from Outside Incarceron. He’s going to escape, even though most inmates don’t believe that Outside even exists. And then Finn finds a crystal key and through it, a girl named Claudia.

Claudia claims to live Outside—her father is the Warden of Incarceron and she’s doomed to an arranged marriage. If she helps Finn escape, she will need his help in return. But they don’t realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye. Escape will take their greatest courage and cost far more than they know.

Because Incarceron is alive.

Have you read it? What do you think of Taylor playing Finn?

Share your thoughts and make sure to share your own FMN post!

Happy Reading!

Merry Christmas!!!

2010-12-24T14:37:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy holidays!!

Whatever you celebrate I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

Sorry I have been so scarce, with Christmas and work I have been super busy, but I promise I will pick up blogging very soon. Thanks to everyone for hanging in there with me!

Do Judge a By it's Cover: Wildefire

2010-12-16T05:20:00.002-05:00

This weeks fantastic cover is:

Ashline Wilde never received an instruction manual on how to be a 16-year-old Polynesian volcano goddess. If she had, it might have contained helpful warnings such as:

• Dreaming about your (thankfully) mortal boyfriend may cause your bed to spontaneously combust
• Oven mitts should be worn at all times during heavy make-out sessions

Instead, Ash has to learn these life lessons the hard way as her dormant powers erupt at the most awkward times. In the wake of a hometown tragedy, Ash transfers to Blackwood Academy, a boarding school nestled in California’s redwoods, where a group of fellow gods-on-earth have mysteriously convened. As if sophomore year couldn’t get any worse, her storm goddess older sister, the wild and unpredictable Eve, resurfaces to haunt Ashline. With a war between the gods looming over Blackwood, Ash must master the fire smoldering within her before she clashes with her sister one final time, which leads us to life-lesson #3:

• When warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

Coming July 26, 2011

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My Thoughts: I have to say this is is one of my absolute favorite book covers of all time.

I can not wait to read this one!

Whats your favorite cover of the week?

Forget Me Not! (3)

2010-12-13T23:23:00.002-05:00

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This weeks FMN is:

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 finds out her mother might've been telling the truth.

With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of.

Have you read it?

I think it looks really good!

Whats your Forget Me Not book of the week?

Make sure to link it to the Linky below!

Happy Reading!

WOW Thats a low price!

2010-12-13T07:46:00.002-05:00

Hi Guys,
I just wanted to share with you some of my weekly findings. I was out doing a bit of Christmas shopping and I was at Big Lots. I came across these two books and they were both marked for $3.. I thought wow thats a great price. So when I got to the register they rang it up and guess what... both of them were only 54 cents... can you believe it. two hard cover books (that I had on my wish list) and I got them both for $1.08. Pretty awesome huh! Do you have a Big Lots near you? You should check it out, maybe you can find a super awesome book too for only 54 cents!