Book Review- Lies Beneath

Early this morning, I finished reading Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown for a Teen Book Scene Tour.

From Goodreads:

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistible good looks and charm on unsuspecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

I usually have problems reading stories with guys as the main character, but I didn't really with Lies Beneath.  I think it was because it showed that Calder had emotions while still having a "guyish"ness about him (yeah I just made that word up).  Anyways, he didn't seem off-putting and cold, which is a good thing.  And I really liked Lily.  She was unique and true to herself and didn't care what anyone thought.

I think the premise of the story was interesting--that merfolk always keep their promises or at least the promises must be fullfilled.  And surprisingly, I liked that it was dark (usually I don't like stories that are too dark).  I think my one complaint is that Calder was immediately in love with Lily.  Too unrealistic!  But that's okay.  I still enjoyed the story none-the-less.

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

Lies Beneath will be released on June 12, 2012.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 23
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 20
2012 Debut Author Challenge: 5
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 20

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.

The Teen Book Scene: Character Interview: Lily from Lies Beneath

I am honored to host Lily, a character in Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown, on my blog today as part of a Teen Book Scene Blog Tour.
I got to ask Lily some questions!

1) What did you first think of Calder when you met him? Oh my gosh, don't tell him I said this--I mean, he probably knows, but I wouldn't want to hurt his feelings--but, honestly he kinda creeped me out. I mean, yeah, he's gorgeous, which I guess can be intimidating in its own right, but he was just so in my face. You know what I mean? Pushy. I guess that's the word for it. I thought he was pushy.

2) What about his sisters? The first time, like the very first time I met them, I was in a bit of a fog, and I don't remember thinking much of anything about them. The second time I met them was at the coffee shop, and my first thought was, I wish Jules was here to see these three. (Jules is my best friend from Minneapolis.) My second thought was: I wish my hair looked better today.

3) Would you ever really want to become a mermaid? No. I mean, yes. I mean, I don't know. It might be cool, except for the whole dying first thing.

4) Your taste in clothing is unique..what is your taste in music like? I used to listen to a lot of classical music, but then I found a box of vintage band tees in the attic last week (I think they were my grandpa's when he lived here), and now I'm totally into the Mamas and the Papas, Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane, and Jimi Hendrix.

5) What is your favorite food? Oh boy. Pizza? Or maybe peanut butter waffles? I don't know. I'll eat anything.

6) What is a secret about yourself that we don't already know? Well . . . there's a boy back in Minneapolis who's been texting me every night since I moved up here to the lake. He's just a friend and that's all he'll ever be. Ever. Besides, I think my best friend, Jules, kinda likes him.

 

Thanks Lily!

 

 

Book Review- Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe

I finished reading Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell for a Teen Book Scene Blog Tour.

From Goodreads:

Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school’s struggling radio station, where the other students don’t find her too queenly. Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Grams’s mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and lNowoner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and helps others find the fun and joy in everyday life. Readers will fall in love with Chloe as she falls in love with the radio station and the misfits who call it home.

My undergrad was in broadcast journalism and we had to work in the radio station before moving to the television station.  So radio will always have a special place in my heart.  And I loved this little radio station.  I loved the members that made it a little family.  Each member had his or her own quirk or problem that just made you love them even more.

And I really liked Chloe.  She had such a good heart and not a mean bone in her body.  She grew throughout the story and matured.  And I loved her quirky sense of humor and fun side.  And she definitely got it from her Grams.  What a great older character!  I want to be like her when I get old!  Duncan was an interesting character, but honestly, I found him a little boring.  I loved how he took such great care of his drug-addicted mother and I get how he had to spend his time working several jobs just to live but his character just seemed a little flat to me.  But maybe that's why he balanced out outgoing Chloe so well.

I rarely have a favorite part of a book.  I usually just absorb it all.  But I have a favorite part, without a doubt, of this book.

As our hands melted together, I realized the perfect gift to give Duncan, something to show how I cared.  The first day of kindergarten Grams had given it to me, and this past August, I'd given it to my brother Zach when he left for med school.

I raised Duncan's hands to my lips.  First I kissed one palm, then the other.  "When you feel lonely, I'll be there."

 Now, anyone who doesn't have child or doesn't teacher a younger grade level  might not get this reference, but it's from A Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.  It's about a young raccoon going to school for the first time and is scared so his mom gives him kisses in his palms to always remember her love for him.  I teach Kindergarten and always read this the second day of school to my kiddos.  So I love this book and LOVE this reference!

Anyways, this was a light read and something right up my alley.  Great book by a new debut author!

I gave this book a rating of 4/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 42
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 37
2012 Debut Author Challenge: 13
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 39
Completely Contemp Challenge 2012: 2012-8
2012 Standalone Reading Challenge: 10

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.

The Teen Book Scene: Guest Blog: Shelley Coriell

I am honored to host Shelly Coriell, author of Wecome, Caller, This is Chloe, on my blog today as part of a Teen Book Scene Blog Tour.
I got to ask Shelley some "this or that" questions!

1 Coffee or Tea? Tea. Green tea in the morning. Chai in the afternoon. For those of you who like chai with a kick, check out this chai concentrate recipe.

2 Hard copy of a book or e-book? I swear I never thought I’d say this, but…e-book. Great for travel and easy to read in bed.

3 Dog or Cat? Dog. I’m owned by a needy rescue weimaraner.

4 Girly Girl or Tomboy? Both. I pine for cute shoes, especially sexy sandals, but I also have a serious crush on my dusty hiking boots.

5 Cake or Ice Cream? Ice cream with toffee and double fudge brownie bites.

6 Color pictures or black and white pictures? Black and white. There’s so much story in shades of gray.

7 Travel the word or homebody? Travel the world. Just spent some time in Venice, Italy, and will be heading off next month to Alaska’s inside passage. Plus one of my best friends is a luxury travel writer, and I keep begging her to tuck me in one of her suitcases.

8 Beach or mountains? Beach. One of my favorite lines in WELCOME, CALLER, THIS IS CHLOE, is when Grams picks up a seashell and holds it to young Chloe’s ear and says, “Listen. It’s the heartbeat of the ocean.”

9 Watch movies at home or in a theater? I bow to the almighty Netflix. Current addiction: Downton Abbey.

10 Cook at home or go out to eat? Cook. I’m a former food magazine editor and love hanging out in my kitchen. I’ve been on a pasta kick lately. Tonight’s menu: orecchiette with broccoli, asiago breadsticks, and spring mix salad with orange wedges.

11 Early riser or night owl? Early riser. It’s amazing how productive I can be between five and seven every morning when everyone but the weim is asleep.

12 Popcorn or peanuts? Popcorn. Even better when made on the stove and drizzled with real butter. Never popped it yourself? Here’s an easy tutorial.

Thanks for having me on your blog, Andrea. May your world be filled with good books and great people!

To learn more about Chloe’s high school radio world and win a $50 electronic/radio store gift certificate or one of ten CHLOE swag packs, go to Shelley Coriell’s website, www.shelleycoriell.com/blog/. Good luck to all!

Popcorn is my all time favorite food--I'm not joking when I say I have it almost every day!  But I've never tried it made on the stove--I'm so doing it!  Thanks for the tip, Shelley, and for stopping by!

Book Review- A Closer Look

I finished reading A Closer Look by Karen DelleCava for a Teen Book Scene Tour.

From Goodreads:

Freshman year is going well for Cassie, a standout sprinter who is about to move up to varsity; school has been fine, her best friend Tara is also running track, and Tommy, that cute sax player she likes has asked her to come see his band rehearse. But in a matter of weeks, Cassie has a secret she is trying to hide from everyone. Her hair has started falling out, and she s doing everything possible to keep it from showing. When her parents tell her it happened to her once before, at age 3, she s horrified, and a trip to the dermatologist confirms what she has been afraid of: that all of her hair may fall out. She has alopecia, and there s no known effective treatment. Cassie eventually gets a wig when she can no longer disguise the truth, and she finally confides in Tommy about it. But when he starts being standoffish and avoids her, she feels betrayed. Then, at a track meet, Robin, her rival on the team, exposes her secret to the whole crowd. With her worst fears realized, will Cassie ever be able to face her classmates, her teammates, and most of all, Tommy?

My heart just broke for Cassie.  I cannot imagine having to start high school and get used to all the quirks of being a freshman and have to deal with losing all of your hair too.  Yes, I know that there are far worse things than losing your hair, but at an age where looks are important, this must have been devastating.

For some reason, I just couldn't really get into Cassie.  I'm not sure if it was the way she was written or her personality or what.  But I really loved Tara!  Every teenager (heck everyone in general!) needs a friend like her!  Tara was so supportive!  She truly cared about Cassie.  She didn't so much as blink when she saw Cassie's bald spot and was always there to cheer her up or help her cover up her patches and just be a great friend in general.  As for Tommy, I was mixed on him.  I think the summary kind of spoiled it for me because the whole time I was reading the book, I kept waiting for him to turn into a jerk (because it says he starts avoiding her after she tells him) so I knew that he was going to be a bad guy.  But when this situation happened, I knew right away that it was for a different reason and so I realized he wasn't such a bad guy.  And I spent the whole time thinking, incorrectly, that he was. 

(And on a completely random note, I was fascinated by all of the running talk.  I just got into running recently.  I hate running but I like the races!  So this part of story intrigued me.)

Anyways, I think that this would be such an important book for teens to read if they were dealing with alopecia or any other condition where they would feel different.  The book has such a strong message about being yourself and loving who you are inside, not just what you look like on the outside!

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 13
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 11
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 11
Completely Contemp Challenge 2012: 2011-1

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.

The Teen Book Scene: Guest Blog: Karen DelleCava

I am honored to host Karen DelleCava, author of A Closer Look, on my blog today as part of a Teen Book Scene Blog Tour.

I got to interview Tommy, from the book!

1.What is your favorite quality in Cassie?
She’s open to jazz and is willing to listen to anything I write even if it stinks. If I hit an off note, she’ll call me out in a nice way, “Did you mean that little part there?” I like that she’s honest.

2.What were your first thoughts when hearing about Cassie's condition for the first time?
Immediately I thought she had cancer. Crazy, I know. Chemotherapy is the only thing that I heard of that would cause someone’s hair to fall out. I felt scared for her and for me--which was really lame of me since she was the one dealing with something so major.

3.You wrote a song with Cassie in mind. If the song had lyrics, what would chorus be like?
We act like strangers now we’re in danger of tearing this apart.
The danger is you just can’t see it’s you who holds my heart.
It’s our last chance and we’re both here
So shed your doubt. Release your fear.
The danger is you just can’t see it’s me who holds your heart.

4.When did you finally get to meet your new sister and how did it go?
It was about two weeks after Cass’s meet against Cranford. I had bought Jenny that book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carl when Cass and I were at the mall. Anyway, it was weird. I went with my brothers, Eric and Rich, to a playground in town to meet her and my father who I haven’t seen in who knows how long. The sight of him really pissed me off because of what he did to my mother-all of us--but since this was supposed to be about meeting Jenny I held my shit together.
When I saw her, it finally sunk in that I was a big brother now. I gave her the book and Jenny not being shy at all, gave me hug and asked me to read it on the spot. That pretty much won me over. Then she gave us a drawing she’d made--a pink frog--that was covered in glitter. We took turns pushing her on the swings, just spending time all together. My little sister, Jenny. Kind of a mind blow but very cool.

5.Pretend I'm in high school...create a hall pass for me with a poem to get out of class to meet you!
If you tell Cass about this I’m dead meat. I did a little research on you so, okay, just for fun....

Roses are red
Hummingbirds hover
The library @ 1
But come undercover

Thanks, Andrea!

Visit www.karendellecava.com for details on how to win a signed copy of A Closer Look plus a surprise gift but “Do not open it until page 153.”

A Closer Look Book Signing Friday, April 13th 6:30-8pm
Teens will receive a surprise gift but “Do not open it until page 153.” (While supplies last.)
Well Read (New & Used) Bookstore
425 Lafayette Ave
Hawthorne NJ 07506
973-949-3440

http://www.karendellecava.com/ Read Chapter 1 of A Closer Look

http://www.thewellreadbookstore.com/

Thanks for joining us Tommy and Karen!

Book Review- Fractured Light

I finished reading Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan for a Teen Book Scene Tour.

From Goodreads:

Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. But she never felt ready to face them---until now. Defying the Auran Council and everything she's been taught, Llona must learn to use her power over light as a weapon if she wants to survive.


Fractured Light started off pretty rough for me.  I think the premise of the story was pretty  good but it was the writing at the beginning and the characters that turned me off.
 
Llona annoyed me.  She was selfish and cold and dramatic.  And some of the details of her thoughts were just random (when she first bumps into Christian, they're on the bleachers and she almost falls but he saves her by wrapping her arms around her and so she thinks he's hot and reminds her of a Navy Seal.  I don't know many teenage girls who would first jump to the thought of a high school guy being a Navy Seal.  It just struck me as weird).  And then Christian.  He supposed to be this strong guy protecting Llona but he seemed kinda weak to me.  I never really read any scenes that led me to believe that he actually could protect her.  Then there's Matt...I thought there was something up with him that would be important to the paranormal part of the story, but there wasn't.  He was nice enough but there was something just strange enough about him that I thought there was more going on.  I did like May though!  I liked that she was her own person but fit into every clique and was so nice!
 
That being said, the book did get better towards the end.  Once the action started, I was drawn in and wanted to know what was going to happen next.  Yes, I did guess who the bad guy was right away, but that was okay.  The sequel of the book seems like it will take place mostly at a school for girls who who have special powers like Llona.  I seem to always really like books that take place at colleges or boarding schools so I'll probably still give this one a try.
 
I gave this book a rating of 3/5.
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 30
2012 Debut Author Challenge: 9
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 27

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.

Book Review- Someone Else's Life

I finished reading Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale for a Teen Book Scene Tour.

From Goodreads:

When 17-year-old Rosie's mother, Trudie, dies from Huntington's Disease, her pain is intensified by the knowledge that she has a fifty percent chance of inheriting the crippling disease herself. Only when Rosie tells her mother's best friend, "Aunt Sarah," that she is going to test for the disease does Sarah, a midwife, reveal that Trudie wasn't her real mother after all. Rosie was swapped at birth with a sickly baby who was destined to die.

Devastated, Rosie decides to trace her real mother, joining her ex-boyfriend on his gap year travels, to find her birth mother in California. But all does not go as planned. As Rosie discovers yet more of her family's deeply buried secrets and lies, she is left with an agonizing decision of her own, one which will be the most heart breaking and far-reaching of all.
 
I have always loved reading books about people coping with diseases (I think it goes back to my Lurlene McDaniel days) so I often jump at the chance to read them.  Lately, I've been disappointed.  But not with this book!
 
Someone Else's Life is FILLED with drama.  There is more drama and surprises around every corner.  But it didn't get tiring.  I actually liked all the drama (except for how Andy kept leaving Rosie and coming back..that got a little old).  But I liked all of the twists and turn--some of which I figured out and some of which I didn't. 
 
I really liked Rosie.  She's a great heroine.  Super sweet and easy to be sympathetic about.  Holly on the other hand, not so much.  I know she got the shock of her life but she didn't need to be so nasty about it (but I guess that's what makes for some good drama).  The boys were pretty great too.  Both Josh and Andy seemed like sweet guys and supportive (for the most part). 
 
Overall, just a great drama and one that sucked me right in!
 
I gave this a rating of 4/5.
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2012 Reading Challenge 150+: 24
2012 ARC Reading Challenge: 21
2012 Debut Author Challenge: 6
2012 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 21
Completely Contemp Challenge 2012: 2012-4
2012 Standalone Reading Challenge: 5
 
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.
 

The Teen Book Scene: Guest Blog: Katie Dale

I am honored to host Katie Dale, author of Someone Else's Life, on my blog today as part of a Teen Book Scene Blog Tour.

I asked Katie what she did when she's not writing.

When I’m not writing (or blogging/tweeting etc) I love to get out of the house. I spend so much time in my flat (often I go all day without leaving at all!) that it’s great to go out, leave my laptop behind and re-engage with the world outside.

If the weather’s nice, there’s nothing like a long walk in the countryside, with fresh air and sunshine and birdsong, to clear your head and lift your spirits. Two things I miss since moving to Cambridge are hills (Cambridge is pretty much completely flat) and the sea (it’s a two-hour drive to the nearest coast) but when I go back to Sussex (where SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE is set) I delight in walking on the South Downs, with its gorgeous coastal views. My mum and I share the same passion for the sea, and love to go down to the beach to watch the waves fling themselves at the shore, then we roll up our trousers to go and paddle in the shallows – even in the middle of winter! Nothing makes me feel more awake – or more alive!

I love to travel, see new places, try new things – even if it’s just for a day out. There’s so much to discover in the world, and nowhere near enough time to see everything, so I relish the new discoveries I can make.

When I’m back home with my family, all of us – from my three-year-old niece to my ninety-three-year-old granddad love to play mini-golf, so we can often be found crowded round the green or crazy golf course desperately trying to put balls into impossible holes! And laughing. A lot. Any time spent with my family – especially my little niece – is an absolute joy. She has her own unique view of the world – and it’s completely hysterical!

Acting is my other passion. I trained as an actress after university and have performed in national Shakespeare tours (Juliet, Viola) and in a couple of independent films, and I love to take on new characters, as I do when I write, losing myself in someone else’s world. It’s the closest I can get to trying on other peoples’ lives, if only for a little while, and I think it can be quite magical.

If the weather’s horrid (or even if it isn’t) I just love going to the movies. There’s just something so special and timeless about sitting in those velvet chairs in front of the big screen, buzzing with anticipation – and I always make sure I get there in time for the trailers – sometimes they’re the best bit!

Finally, I love snuggling down in bed with a good book. There’s nothing like reading – for pleasure, for romance, for education or thrills, books have got it all.

Perhaps that’s why I choose to write them.

That's so neat the you also trained in acting!  And I agree about the trailers sometimes being the best bit..I absolutely CANNOT miss them! Thanks for sharing with us, Katie!

The Teen Book Scene: Guest Blog: Rachel McClellan

I am honored to host Rachel McClellan, author of Fractured Light, on my blog today as part of a Teen Book Scene Blog Tour.

I asked Rachel what her Top Ten Movies were.  Her reply

Top Ten Movies

10. Ladyhawk
9. Napolean Dynomite
8. Nacho Libre
7. Phantom of the Opera
6. Far and Away
5. Alias series with Jennifer Garner (okay, not technically a movie, but one of my favorite DVD’s)
4. Moulin Rouge
3. Batman series except for the weird ones, Batman 3 and 4.
2. Count of Monte Cristo
1. Underworld’s

I've heard of all of the movies, but only seen Moulin Rouge (so love this one!)  and I watched the Alias series when it was on!  I need to check out the other movies.

Thanks, Rachel!

The Teen Book Scene: Guest Blog and Giveaway!: Ivy Adams

I am honored to host Ivy Adams, author of The International Kissing Club, on my blog today as part of a Teen Book Scene Blog Tour.

I got to interview some of the characters from the book!

What is the most significant thing that has happened in your life so far?
Piper: Honestly, going to Paris and taking an art-blowing class. I've been drawing and painting since I knew what it meant to hold a pencil, but none of my art classes before ever came close to what it felt like to create glass in Paris. That class was the hardest I've ever taken, but it taught me what kind of art I want to create.
Mei: Getting adopted. For whatever reason my birth parents felt they had to give me up, I ended up with the best family I could have ever hoped for.

What is your most embarrassing moment?
Izzy: Oh, man, I have a lot of those... I going to go with the time I tried to kiss a boy to earn points for IKC, and the guy turned out to be only twelve. Twelve! Hey, all I can say in my defense is that he was really tall for twelve.

What is your best piece of advice for travelling abroad?
Cassidy: Always pack your toothbrush in your carry-on! You never know when fresh breath will be an absolute necessity, and your toothbrush is in your checked luggage. Ugh.

If you could have one wish, what would it be?
Piper: Besides to have that stupid Kiss the Pig video vanish from YouTube forever? I wish that my mother would see me, the real me, instead of the disappointment that she usually sees whenever she looks at me.
Mei: Full scholarship to MIT, of course.

Which person in your life has has the greastest impact on you and why?
Izzy: Probably my father, but keep in mind, his impact hasn't always been good. He's the football at the local high school and all he cares about is football. When I was younger, I drove myself crazy trying to win his approval. I'd never act that way now. Once I realized he was never going to get me, it gave me the freedom to stop caring what he thought.
Cassidy: My mom, hands down. She’s given up everything for me, and while I don’t want my life to be like hers, if I can grow up to be half as strong as she is, I’ll be doing okay. The Barlow women against the world!

Thank you for hosting us today!

Now tell me your best piece of travel advice in the comments (leave your email so we can contact you) to be entered to win the Around the World In 80 Kisses daily and weekly prize and also become eligible to win the Grand Prize, a Kindle Fire. For a list of all our Smooch Posts you can visit and earn more entries to win, visit us here.

The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams is the story of four best friends: Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy--the misfits of Paris, Texas. Their whole lives, they’ve dreamed of escaping small-town life and seeing the world. So when Piper is the victim of an embarrassing prank that goes viral online, she gets the idea that the girls should escape via the school’s international exchange program, in search of fun, love and internet redemption.

Emily McKay, Shellee Roberts and Tracy Deebs write under the pseudonym Ivy Adams. They shop, gossip and watch movies in Austin, Texas.

The Teen Book Scene: Guest Blog: Megan Curd

I am honored to host Megan Curd, author of Forbidden, on my blog today as part of a Teen Book Scene Blog Tour.

I got ask Megan several questions!

1) Where did you get the idea for your story?
As cheesy as it sounds, I actually had a dream one night. I don’t remember a ton of it, but I remember a young man tortured from his past and trying to make up for it. I couldn’t imagine how hard it would be to be in that predicament – to be trying to atone for what you’d done in your life, but feel helpless. It was actually ironic, because it was Sunday morning and I had to go to church. I sat through church thinking of this guy and what he’d do. The youth had an event after church that I was going to help with, and on the way to the museum we were going to, I wrote the first four chapters of FORBIDDEN as I drove – NOT SAFE…but I wasn’t taking anyone in my car with me, so it’d have just been me if something had happened! (That’s my safety announcement for the day, haha)


2) There have been a lot of angel stories lately. What makes yours different?
It’s a different look on what a fallen angel might go through. I think a lot of angel stories are pretty straightforward, but I wanted mine to have a different take on what could happen. I love writing characters that have twists you don’t see coming, and I hope I did it with FORBIDDEN. My favorite thing about FORBIDDEN is that it’s from a guy’s POV. Not as many YA novels are from the guy’s POV, so I wanted to freshen that up. I think people will enjoy it!

3) Did you have a say in your cover? If so, how did you come up with that idea?
 I love love love my cover! My good friend and fellow writer, Hope Collier, as well as another writer and friend, Beth Isaacs, both worked with Neil before me and spoke very highly of him. I also design book covers for eBooks, but I wanted to outsource my own (I would never be satisfied with something I made – I’m OCD like that :) ). I sent Neil three different designs I’d created, as well as my back blurb. He sent me two different options, and one of them was the cover. I knew the minute I saw it that it would be the cover! It is just perfect and embodies Levi’s struggle and mystery so well. ::Sighs:: I’m fangirling right now, but I loooove the cover! Lol :)

4) How do you come up with the names for your characters?
Some are names I liked and wanted to name my kids someday. Others are names of people I knew. If I run out of names I really like, then I go to baby name websites and lurk around on there until I find one I think fits. It can’t just be any name – the name has to fit the character. Sometimes I just put a letter in to mark a spot for the name when I find one that fits.

5) And just for fun, if you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I’ve been really blessed and been able to travel to Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Italy, and Switzerland. My favorite of those were definitely Ecuador and Italy! I did missions work in the South American countries, and I went snowboarding with some friends in Europe. If I could travel anywhere else, I’d choose England, Australia, Japan and China. I want to learn to surf, see the Great Wall of China, and I’d love to see Tokyo. England is just cool in general. I’d love to see London!

Thanks, Megan! I love that you based a book off of a dream..how neat! And I'm taking a girl's trip to Hong Kong and Tokyo this summer...you're more than welcome to come along!

Book Review- The International Kissing Club

I finished reading The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams for a Teen Book Scene Review.

From Goodreads:

Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy have been best friends their whole lives. And they've always agreed on one goal: to get out of tiny Paris, Texas, and see the world. The school's foreign exchange program seems like the perfect escape: Piper will go to the original Paris; Mei will go to China; Cassidy will go to Australia; and Izzy, unable to afford the program, will stay at home. To add spice to their semester away, and to stay connected to their best friends, the girls start The International Kissing Club, a Facebook page where they can anonymously update one another and brag about all the amazing guys they're meeting. After all, these girls are traveling abroad: amazing guys abound at every turn! But sometimes fun, flirty vacation flings turn into more serious romances, and sometimes you don't return from abroad the same person you were. Will the girls' relationships-and their friendships-be able to survive?


Even though this book made a snarky reference to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants book series, I found that the premise was kind of the same (minus the kissing part in the Sisterhood books).  But I liked that series, so I was hoping to like this one too.  Plus the girls used aliases of Disney Princesses, and anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with Disney and the Princesses, so I just HAD to like this book.  And I did! 

Yes, it was cheesy.  And kind juvenile-ish, with the whole premise being about how many boys they could each kiss.  But it was also a little deeper and dealt with friendships too.  So while its not going to win any awards, it was nice to just sit back and enjoy a book, a kind of guilty pleasure one!

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

The International Kissing Club will be released on January 3, 2012.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 A to Z Challenge: I (I am counting that the first name starts with since I don't have a single author whose last name starts with I.)
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 116
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 94
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 94
2011 YA Contemporary Challenge: 20

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.

The Teen Book Scene: Guest Blog: W. Bruce Cameron

I am honored to host W. Bruce Cameron, author of A Dog's Purpose, on my blog today as part of a Teen Book Scene Blog Tour.  I read this book last week and L-O-V-E-D it!  In fact, it's my favorite book so far this year!  If you want to read my review, go here.

I asked him what he did when he's not writing.

I find that writing can be broken down into several phases, such as panic, loathing, and screaming. When I’m in the middle of writing a book, I need to take time “for myself,” meaning, I need to be lazy and unproductive. Sometimes, the lazy and unproductive phase of writing consumes about 90% of my time, and then I have to nap.


When I’m not writing, I like to save mankind, explore outer space, and cure diseases. Since I haven’t actually done these things, it must mean that I’m never not writing. That’s certainly how it feels: I came up with the plot and characters for A Dog’s Purpose while driving with my then girlfriend up the coast of California. We stopped at a rest area, she went into get coffee, and when she came out, I said, “sit down, I have a story I want to tell you.” The whole novel downloaded into my brain as if straight from a DVD, so that even though I was driving, I was, well, writing.


I was hiking with that same girlfriend along the Hogback Ridge in Golden, CO when I got the idea that became my novel Emory’s Gift. What occurred to me was that we were way up high and could see everything, from Boulder in the north to Castle Rock in the south to Kansas in the east, and that after a few hours we’d be in the car driving through the canyon and able to see very little except what was out the windshield. I decided I wanted to write a book about that conflict between having so much revealed and then going back to seeing so little. In Emory’s Gift, something happens that, if you consider the larger consequences, is hugely profound and lends a whole new perspective to life, yet for Charlie, the 13-year-old protagonist, life is only about surviving Jr. High.


So even when I’m not sitting in front of the computer, I’m writing. My head is always plugged into a flow of stories and characters and events and plots flowing past in a continual river.


Even telling the stories to that girlfriend seems like writing—she’s a writer herself, and her questions, feedback, and suggestions often mold the books as I’m pitching them to her.


Now, I don’t only talk about the books in my head to her. Sometimes I change the subject, as when I asked her to marry me and she said yes. (Actually, what she said was, “are you kidding?” but eventually it turned into a yes.) She’s the love of my life, my writing partner and best friend, so maybe when I’m “not writing” I’m just being with her. That’s why she’s my “then girlfriend” instead of my “now girlfriend,” because the wedding gave her a promotion. It’s fun, though, to know that whatever we’re doing, I can turn to her and say, “hey, I have a story idea I want to run past you.”


Well, maybe not whatever. I can think of a few things where if I said that it would sort of spoil the mood, if you get my drift.


I never wanted to do anything but write, so now that it’s my full time job, it is as if my hobby is supporting me financially. I’d probably do nothing but write if it weren’t for my then-girlfriend now-wife, who drags me from my daydreams back to reality every once in awhile just to make sure I recognize the difference.


So there’s my answer: when I’m not writing, I’m writing. Except for when I’m not.

Thank you so much for joining us W. Bruce Cameron!

Book Review- A Dog's Purpose

I finished reading A Dog's Purpose today by W. Bruce Cameron for a Teen Book Scene Tour.

From Goodreads:

This is the remarkable story of one endearing dog’s search for his purpose over the course of several lives. More than just another charming dog story, A Dog’s Purpose touches on the universal quest for an answer to life's most basic question: Why are we here?


Surprised to find himself reborn as a rambunctious golden-haired puppy after a tragically short life as a stray mutt, Bailey’s search for his new life’s meaning leads him into the loving arms of 8-year-old Ethan. During their countless adventures Bailey joyously discovers how to be a good dog.


But this life as a beloved family pet is not the end of Bailey’s journey. Reborn as a puppy yet again, Bailey wonders—will he ever find his purpose?


Heartwarming, insightful, and often laugh-out-loud funny, A Dog's Purpose is not only the emotional and hilarious story of a dog's many lives, but also a dog's-eye commentary on human relationships and the unbreakable bonds between man and man's best friend. This moving and beautifully crafted story teaches us that love never dies, that our true friends are always with us, and that every creature on earth is born with a purpose.

I have always been a dog lover.  I always had a small dog growing up and knew I wanted one when I lived on my own.  But I couldn't afford one until last year.  And then I got Bella, my little Yorkie.  I had NO idea how much I could possibly love this little puppy.  Yes, she's a brat.  She barks all of the time, chews on things, and is very stubborn.  But I love her more than anything!

This book struck such a chord in me.  I instantly was engrossed in this book and it felt like I became the dog in the book.  It was so well written.  I could feel his happiness and his sadness and his love for the boy.  And the whole time I kept looking at Bella curled up in my lap with tears in my eyes. 

This was such a great, great book.  In fact, I think it's my favorite of this year!  If you're not a dog person, you might not get this book.  But if you are, you need to devour this, NOW!

I gave this book a rating of 5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 112

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.

Book Review- Second Hand Heart

I read Second Hand Heart by Catherine Ryan Hyde.
From Goodreadds:

Vida is 19 and has never had much of a life. Struggling along with a life-threatening heart condition, her whole life has been one long preparation for death. But suddenly she is presented with a donor heart, and just in time. Now she gets to do something she never imagined she'd have to do: live.

Richard is a 36-year-old man who’s just lost his beloved wife, Lorrie, in a car accident. Still in shock and not even having begun the process of grieving, he is invited to the hospital to meet the young woman who received his wife’s donor heart.

Vida takes one look at Richard and feels she’s loved him all her life. And tells him so. Richard assumes she’s just a foolish young girl. And maybe she is. Or maybe there’s truth behind the theory of cellular memory, and maybe it really is possible for a heart to remember, at least for a time, on its own.

Second Hand Heart is both a story of having to learn to live for the first time, and having to learn to live all over again.
 
Okay, I really hate having to do this.  But this book just did not do it for me.  When I read the premise, I jumped at the chance to read it.  I thought it would be emotional and pull at my heart strings, but unfortunately, it did far from that. 
 
I couldn't care less about Vida.  First of all, she's 19 but the writing style made her seem so much younger (and not just because she was sheltered.  I think its because it was way too simplified).  I didn't find her to be a sympathetic character at all.  I got no emotion from her.  And her relationship with Richard was creepy.  I get the whole "memory" thing since she got his deceased wife's heart.  But still.  It turned me off completely.
 
I dunno.  I guess I was just expecting something that would be either a tearjerker or something that would be heartwarming.  And this wasn't it. 
 
I do have to say however that I liked that the author brought light to the issue of organ donation.  I am such a big believer in this and can't imagine why someone would choose not to help others live if they were able.  And I think organ donation needs as much spotlight as it can get.  So bravo to the author for that!

I gave the book a rating of 2.5/5.
 
This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 95
 
*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.

Book Review- Wherever You Go

I finished reading Wherever You Go by Heather Davis for a Teen Book Scene review.

From Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Holly Mullen has felt lost and lonely ever since her boyfriend, Rob, died in a tragic accident. The fact that she has to spend most of her free time caring for her little sister and Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather doesn’t help. But Holly has no idea that as she goes about her days, Rob’s ghost is watching over her. He isn’t happy when he sees his best friend, Jason, reach out to help Holly with her grandfather—but as a ghost, he can do nothing to stop it. Is his best friend really falling for his girlfriend?

As Holly wonders whether to open her heart to Jason, the past comes back to haunt her. Her grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob. Could the messages he has for Holly be real? And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side?

Told from the perspectives of Holly, Jason, and Rob,Wherever You Gois is a poignant story about making peace with the past, opening your heart to love, and finding the courage to move forward into the light.

I had a hard time getting into this book.  I think it might be because of the fact that the perspectives of the story kept jumping around.  There is Holly's point of view in the first person.  There is Rob's point of view in the second person.  And there is Jason's point of view in the third person.  Personally, I didn't like reading in second person AT ALL.  It was just too off putting.  And I think that since there were all of these different viewpoints, that I couldn't connect with any of the characters.

Holly bugged me somewhat.  She seemed so cold and distant.  I get that her boyfriend died.  But she didn't really seem sad to me, just emotion-less.  I never really felt that she loved Rob.  And then the scenario with her mother.  Argh!  I get that in today's economy, teenagers often times have to take care of younger sibling while parents are at work.  But she really did seem too much like she was the parent.  And when her mom stepped in to actual be a parent, I wanted Holly to give more attitude to her mom to ler her really know how much of a burden was being placed on her.

I liked Jason.  He seemed sweet.  But also a little distant.  I liked that he seemed to care so much for Holly and wanted to make her happy.  But I also think it's kind of odd to move in on your deceased best friend's girlfriend only 6 months after he'd passed away.  Maybe that's just me.

And then there's Rob.  His story was an interesting one.  I didn't see it coming.  I think a whole story could really be told about the reason behind the crash.  And I think that could be an important story.  Unfortunately, this story didn't go into it that much.

And finally, there's Aldo, Holly's grandfather who is suffering from Alzheimer’s.  I really enjoyed him.  I think he was the most sympathetic character of the whole book.  I really felt for him.  I felt so sad for him when he was struggling and almost trapped inside his brain.  And I loved when he was so engaged while doing things on his "list".  Such a sweet old guy.

This story was definitely a character-driven one.  I'm not too keen on the whole multiple-perspectives, but if you are, then give this book a try.

I gave this book a rating of 3/5.

Wherever You Go will be released on November 15, 2011.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 80
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 64
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 62
2011 YA Contemporary Challenge: 14

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.

The Teen Book Scene: Guest Blog: Heather Davis

I am honored to host Heather Davis, author of Wherever You Go, on my blog today as part of a Teen Book Scene Blog Tour.

I got to ask Jason, a character in Wherever You Go, some of his preferences!

1) Dog or Cat? I don’t have a pet but I like both.



2) Air or water? Water. I like to sail.


3) Day or night? Day.


4) Ocean or mountain? Ocean.


5) Hot or cold? Hot.


6) Cake or ice cream? Cake.


7) Bookworm or TV couch potato? Bookworm.


8) Disney or Universal? Neither. These places don’t interest me.


9) Junk food or healthy food? Healthy food.


10) Shop in stores or online? Store.


11) Desktop computer or laptop? Laptop - Mac


12) Email or snail mail? Snail mail.

Thank you so much for joining us Jason, and Heather!

The Teen Book Scene: Guest Blog & Giveaway!: Wendy Delsol

I am honored to host Wendy Delsol, author of Frost (Stork #2), on my blog today as part of a Teen Book Scene Blog Tour.

Thank you to Andrea at So Many Books, So Little Time for having me. To be clear, the answers below are my own and NOT from the POV of my main character, Katla Leblanc. We’re so very different that probably not a single answer would be the same. And she’d probably have a snarky comment, or two, about some of my responses.


Sweet or salty?
If it’s what I like to eat, then sweet. I’m a sucker for anything lemon/lime: lemon bars, key lime pie, lemon meringue pie (which, as a girl, I used to request instead of cake for my birthday treat), etc.
If you’re asking about my personality, a little of both

Dogs or cats?
Cats. I’ve never owned a dog. Growing up, I had a cat named Tinkerbell. Our family now has a cat named Valentine. She kind of has the personality of a dog, however. She’s affectionate to the point of needy.

Coke or Pepsi?
Neither. I rarely drink soda of any kind. My parents only let us have pop on weekends so it wasn’t something I had often as a child. In my teens and twenties the diet drinks were so perfectly awful (anyone remember Tab?) that I never acquired the habit.

Hard copy of books or electronic copy of books?
I’ve yet to read a book on any type of e-reader, thus definitely hard copy. I spend so much time on my computer writing during the day that this has more to do with eye fatigue than an aversion to new technology.

Color pictures or black and white pictures?
Hmmm. Probably black and white. Next to the bed in our master bedroom is a wall of family pictures, all in black and white. There are four generations of photos, many date back to when black and white was the only option.

Cake or ice cream?
Ice cream. Baskin-Robbins’ chocolate peanut butter is my favorite flavor.

Hot dog or hamburger?
Burger. If it’s an option, patty melt.

Fab 5 Disney characters (Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Pluto) or Disney Princesses (Cinderella, Bella, Snow White, Ariel, etc.)?
Princess, all the way. Girl Power!

Watching movies in movie theatre or at home?
I watch more movies at home these days. Having said that, there’s nothing like seeing a “big” movie on the screen. The last movie I saw at the theatre was The Help. Loved it. Loved the book, too.

Country music or Hip hop music?
Country. My two teen sons will give me major eye rolls for this confession, however.

McDonalds or Burger King?
Neither willingly. If we’re on the road and fast food is the only option, then I’m more likely to suggest Subway or Quiznos’.

Stay up late or get up early?
Stay up late, definitely. The alarm clock is evil incarnate.

Left-handed or right-handed?
I’m right-handed. Here’s an interesting fact. While writing Stork, I injured my right arm and was forced to type (and even write long-handed) with my left. Since then I’ve stumbled across brain studies that suggest using your non-dominant hand can lead to increased creativity. By exercising the other side of your brain, you force the two hemispheres to create new synapses or connections.

Thanks Wendy!  And I agree about girl power and that the alarm clock is evil!!!

Also, thanks to Wendy, I have one copy of Frost to giveaway!
To enter, fill out the form HERE!


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~contest ends on October 27th at 11:59pm EST
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Book Review- The Vision

I finshed reading The Vision by Jen Nadol for a Teen Book Scene blog tour.

From Goodreads:

Cassie Renfield knows the mark tells her when someone is going to die and that she can intervene and attempt to change fate. But she still doesn't understand the consequences, especially whether saving one life dooms another. With no family left to offer guidance, Cassie goes in search of others like her. But when she meets Demetria, a troubled girl who seems to have the power of the Fates, Cassie finds the truth isn't at all what she expected. And then there's her heady new romance with bad boy Zander. Dating him has much graver repercussions than she could ever have imagined, forcing Cassie to make choices that cut to the essence of who she is and what she believes.

Jen Nadol offers readers a romance with big stakes and an ethical dilemma with no easy answers in this riveting sequel to The Mark. Paranormal fans who love the psychological thrill of Lisa McMann's bestselling Wake trilogy will flock to these books.

I'm glad that I read The Vision right after reading The Mark, but at first there seemed to be some jumping around (Jack, the move to a diferent city..although it is explained later on in the book).  Once again, I really liked Cassie's character.  I loved how she was trying to figure out what the right thing to do really was, not just going off of the history of what she was told to do. 

And there were some great secondary characters.  I really liked Liv, her new best friend.  I loved her personality and how she was sarcastic with Cassie, but completely there for her.  And then you have the two new guys: Zander and Ryan.  At first, I didn't get what Cassie's attractiong to him was, but that's explained too.  I liked Ryan.  He seemed so sweet and eager to please Cassie.

I do feel that its kind of weird that Petra would divulge patient info to Cassie but it did make it an interesting side story but I wish there was more of a conclusion with that patient.

This book had a teeny tiny cliffhanger, and I'm eager to see what's going to happen next in the third book in the series, The Touch.

I gave this book a rating of 3.5/5.

This book fulfills items in the following challenges:
2011 100+ Reading Challenge: 88
2011 ARC Reading Challenge: 70
2011 Young Adult Reading Challenge: 69

*FTC Disclosure: I was given this book for free for an honest review as part of the Teen Book Scene.