Review: Wolfsbane By Andrea Creamer

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

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!!!

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

Tweet +2

Sidebar +3

Blog Post +4

* Please provide link!!

Good Luck and Happy Reading!!

Coolest Bookshelves... EVER!

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.

designed by David Garcia for the Archive series.

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)

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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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.

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Author Spotlight: C.C. Hunter

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.

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