Top Ten Tuesday (5)

Top Ten Most Memorable Secondary Characters

Hosted by  http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/

Top 10 worst and best series endings.

Worst:
There are more that I didn't like, but here are 4 of the worst. (I loved the entire Alex Rider series, and I did like the ending, but something happened in the book for it to make the worst list and not best)
             
       



Best:
There are a lot more series endings that I loved, but here are 5 of them.
      
      

 

Monday YA Author Interview With Rita Arens

Where are you from?
 I'm originally from small-town Iowa, just like my characters in THE OBVIOUS GAME.

When and why did you begin writing?
My first memory of writing was poetry and short stories in probably fifth or sixth grade.
What books have most influenced your life most?
THE STRANGER by Camus; CATCH-22 by Joseph Heller; anything by Ray Bradbury, George Orwell, Tom Robbins or John Irving; the A WRINKLE IN TIME trilogy by Madeleine L'Engle; THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA by C.S. Lewis; LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding, and the young adult novels of Judy Blume and Paula Danzinger. Among my contemporaries, I like the work of John Green, Coert Voorhees, A.S. King, Gayle Forman, and CJ Omololu in the realistic young adult space.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
 I've been mentored by Jean Kwok, who wrote GIRL IN TRANSLATION, and Michael Pritchett, author of THE MELANCHOLY FATE OF CAPT. LEWIS.

What book are you reading now?
 I just finished Hugh Howey's WOOL trilogy (it was amazing) and now I'm reading SOULBOUND by Heather Brewer.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I've really enjoyed getting to know new authors by reading a ton of YA to see what's out there. The authors I listed earlier aren't necessarily new, but they were new to me.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
My absolute favorite author is John Irving, even though my favorite book is CATCH-22. A close second would be A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY. The reason John Irving edges ahead of Joseph Heller is consistency. I haven't loved every one of his novels, but I've loved more than half. That's pretty incredible, since they are all so different.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?
 It's very humbling to write a novel, especially when you don't know what you're doing. The learning curve was very steep for me with this novel. I'm working on a new novel now, and it hasn't felt nearly as painful.

Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read)
 Oh, for sure. My sister actually thought that's why my parents named me Rita.


Ok now some fun questions:

What is your favorite sport to watch and or play?
 I like to watch major league soccer, thanks to my husband's new obsession. I like to be at baseball games, but I don't like watching them on TV. I like to listen to football on the radio, but only if I'm outside. I don't play sports, never have, never will. I work out a lot, but not in a sporty way.

Favorite TV Show?
 LOST
Chocolate or Vanilla?
 Chocolate

Puppy's or Kittens?
 Kittens

Beach or Mountains?
Beach -- I got married on a beach.

If you could be a color, what color would you be?
 Blue

Favorite Dessert?
Apple pie

If you could be a book character, what character would you be?

That's tough, because all the books I love are really hard on their characters. Probably Meg in A WRINKLE IN TIME. I named my main character in my new novel after her.


“Everyone trusted me back then. Good old, dependable Diana. Which is why most people didn’t notice at first.”

"Your shirt is yellow."
"Your eyes are blue."
"You have to stop running away from your problems."
"You're too skinny."

Fifteen-year-old Diana Keller accidentally begins teaching The Obvious Game to new kid Jesse on his sixteenth birthday. As their relationship deepens, Diana avoids Jesse's past with her own secrets -- which she'll protect at any cost

Also Known As Review

Also Known As Robin Benway I didn't really enjoy Audrey Wait! But I still decided to give Also Known As a chance. And I am sooooo glad I did!!! Also Known As was such an exciting book. With enjoyable characters and a really interesting plot. Maggie was so cute, and a really exciting character. As a spy she was able to do all these things that (in my opinion) are AWESOME! The relationships throughout the book were pretty believable Maggie's parents really cared about their daughter, but also were a l...more Also Known As Robin Benway Hardcover, 320 pages Published February 26th 2013 by Bloomsbury Juvenile US I didn't really enjoy Audrey Wait! But I still decided to give Also Known As a chance. And I am sooooo glad I did!!! Also Known As was such an exciting book. With enjoyable characters and a really interesting plot. Maggie was so cute, and a really exciting character. As a spy she was able to do all these things that (in my opinion) are AWESOME! The relationships throughout the book were pretty believable Maggie's parents really cared about their daughter, but also were a little bit overprotective (does that make sense?). Maggie becomes a friend to the class "outcast" which shows her character was not to just be in the "in" crowd, but to have a true friend. The romance between Maggie and Jesse was so adorable. But a bit to instantaneous for me, I am not a big fan of insta-love. But I still thought that the romance was really cute and fun. The plot kept going throughout the book, with pretty much no slow parts. The author managed to put in Romance, Adventure, Mystery, and an Awesome spy story in the same book, and she NAILED IT! The plot flowed nicely and everything made sense. I was not left with any questions at the end of the book. But was still thrilled to learn that there is a sequel coming out (Going Rogue). Definitely recommend this book to fans of Ally Carter, and really anyone who enjoys adventure and romance! I would read this again and am really looking forward to the sequel! 4.5/5

Stacking The Shelves (6)

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

 

Here are the books I bought/received this week.



Library:

Nightshade - Andrea Cremer
Wolfsbane - Andrea Cremer
Bloodrose - Andrea Cremer
The Spectacular Now - Tim Tharp

Bought As E-book:

The Sound - Sarah Alderson

Won:

Conjured - Sarah Beth Durst

Netgalley:

Hitler's Secret - William Osborne

Leap Of Faith Book Blitz And 2 Giveaways!

Leap of Faith by Jamie Blair
Published by: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: September 3rd 2013
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Synopsis: Can true love be built on lies? A teen on the run seeks relief and redemption in this gripping, romantic read.

Leah Kurtz has finally found a place to call home, a town where she and baby Addy can live in peace, far from the drug-infested place she grew up. Chris is one of the best parts of her new life, the only person who’s ever made her feel safe. And now that she’s found him, there’s no way she can tell the truth:

Her real name is Faith, not Leah. She’s seventeen, not nineteen. And the baby isn’t hers—Faith kidnapped her.

Faith’s history catches up with her when a cop starts asking questions and Chris’s aunt spots her picture in the newspaper. She knows it’s time to run again, but if Faith leaves, she’ll lose Chris. If Chris is in love with a lie, though, did Faith ever really have him in the first place?

 

 

Goodreads

Amazon

B & N

 

AUTHOR BIO:

Jamie Blair spent most of her teen years choreographing moves for her dance team routines, kissing boys on the couch after her mom went to bed, and pondering the mood enhancement qualities of Lemon Heads when consumed with Diet Coke. Writing under Kelli Maine, she’s the USA Today bestselling author of Taken. Leap of Faith is her debut New Adult novel.

Author links:

Website: http://jamieblairauthor.blogspot.ca/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamieMBlair

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5418337.Jamie_Blair

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jamie-M-Blair/280042602029930

 

Excerpt

“I’m Chris.”  His eyes are hazel.  They’d be bluer or greener depending on what he wore. 

His gray shirt keeps them the in-between shade.  He plays a few more chords and sets his guitar

on the couch beside him.  “Well?  What do you think?”

I glance around.  There’s not much to it, but it works.  “How much?”

He rubs his chin.  It’s covered in stubble.  I imagine how it would feel against my cheek,

and my face gets hot. 

Addy squirms and lets out a small shriek.  Chris’s eyes dart to her.  This could be the deal

breaker.

She squawks again.  “What time is it?” I ask, realizing she’s probably hungry. 

He shrugs.  “Around five or six.  She need to eat?”

“Yeah.  Guess I better go so I can feed her.”  I take a step toward the door.

“Here,” he comes forward, reaching his arms out.  “I’ll hold her.  Go on out and get her a

bottle.  You have one with you, don’t you?”

I nod, watching him take Addy out of my arms, place her against his chest, and rub her

back.  “Do you have kids?”  It seems like a dumb question, but he’s a natural with Addy.

He laughs.  “No.  Fortunately, I’ve never been in that predicament.”  He looks from Addy

to me, and his face falls.  “I mean…” 

Right.  He thinks I got knocked up.  I’m a teen mom.  “It’s okay.  Don’t worry about it.”

I smile, trying to put him at ease.  “I’ll be right back.”

After opening the door to the stairs, I glance over my shoulder.  He’s running his fingers

over the top of her head and bouncing her gently.  “Shh, baby, don’t cry.  Mommy will be right

back.” 

 

Giveaway(s)

 

Swag Pack

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blitz-Wide Giveaway

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway



*I am not in charge of the prizes given in these giveaways.....

The Rules Of Regret Book Blitz And Giveaway

The Rules of Regret by Megan Squires
Publication date: October 1st 2013
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Synopsis:

“Life doesn’t come with a blueprint, which makes it hard to have any plans.”
Nineteen-year-old Darby Duncan is finally on her own. Her boyfriend of six years just left for a high-powered summer internship, though in reality he’s been absent for much longer than that. This newfound freedom wasn’t a part of Darby’s plans, but as she’s come to discover, plans only exist on paper, not in reality.

And guys like Torin Westbrook aren’t supposed to exist in reality, either. But he does, with his disheveled curly hair, irresistible dimples, and endearingly quirky habit of reciting quotes from classic movies and ancient thinkers. When Darby meets Torin as a fellow counselor at the survival camp she impulsively applies to, she’s certain his main goal is to turn her world upside-down.

But Darby’s not sure she can adapt to Torin’s ways of viewing his past and the tragedies he’s faced. Because she’s had her own share of heartache, too, and as much as she wants to believe that it’s all been for a purpose, her grief hasn’t allowed her to get to that point. Yet the more Darby is around Torin, the more she craves the freedom to break out of her carefully constructed routine and mindset and fall into something new.

She’s just not sure that she should be falling for Torin along the way.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18486040-the-rules-of-regret?ac=1

Purchase:

Direct buy link not yet available but will be found here come release day:

--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?ie=UTF8&field-author=Megan+Squires&search-alias=books&text=Megan+Squires&sort=relevancerank

 

 

 

AUTHOR BIO:

Megan Squires lives with her husband and two children just outside of Sacramento, California. A graduate from the University of California, Davis, Megan is now a full-time mother, wife, and dreamer—though her characters don’t often give her much opportunity to sleep.

Visit www.theoutlierchronicles.com to learn more about her latest young adult series.

Author links:

Website: http://megansquiresauthor.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6547282.Megan_Squires

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeganSquiresAuthor

 

 

 

 

 Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

***I am not in charge of delivering the prize.

Variants #2 Cover & Title Reveal

 

 

Synopsis for book 1 – Impostor:
Can Tessa pose as Madison . . . and stop a killer before it’s too late?

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.

Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18045583-untitled?ac=1

 

 

Cover & Title Reveal!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defector by Susanne Winnacker
(Variants #2) 

Published by: Razorbill
Publication date: June 26, 2014
Genres: Thriller, Young Adult

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Together They Look Like:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aren't they pretty?????