Interview: Kami Garcia

How many of you have heard of YallFest? How many are attending? It's a one day book festival in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information, check out the official website! Each monday and friday leading up to the festival, I, along with a bunch of other bloggers, will be posting author interviews to help with promotion for the festival. Today, please welcome Kami Garcia! She is the author of the Legion series and the coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures series!

Author Interview:

Q. What one thing do you need to have when you write?

A. I need three things: my laptop, my headphones, and Diet Coke.

Q. Describe your book in 5 words

A. Paranormal. Ghost-hunting. Intense. Romance. Secret Societies.

Q. Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

A. 1. I don’t know how to ride a bike. 2. I used to be an artist (a painter). 3. I won’t fly without my huge charm necklace that I believe will keep the plane from crashing. 4. I believe in ghosts. 5. Every time I write a book, I worry that everyone will hate it.

Q. What are you working on now?

A. I am working on the second book in the Legion Series, the sequel to Unbreakable. Like Unbreakable, the sequel is very intense and has plenty of paranormal elements. But I think it’s even more romantic and surprising than the first book.

Q. What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

A. My favorite genre to write is definitely urban fantasy/paranormal romance. I love to read paranormal, but I am also a huge fan of horror, crime fiction, high fantasy, and science fiction.

Author Bio:

Kami Garcia is the #1 New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, LA Times, Wall Street Journal,Indiebound & international bestselling co-author of the Beautiful Creatures Series (BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS, BEAUTIFUL CHAOS & BEAUTIFUL REDEMPTION) — and the author of UNBREAKABLE, the first book in The Legion Series, releasing on October 1, 2013 (from Little, Brown).

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES has been published in 50 countries and translated in 39 languages. The Beautiful Creatures movie based on the novel, released in theaters on February 14, 2013, from Warner Brothers, directed by Richard LaGravenese and starring: Viola Davis, Jeremy Irons, Emma Thompson, Emmy Rossum, Alice Englert, and Alden Ehrenrich.

You Can Find Her At:

Website

Twitter

Facebook
Tumblr
Pinterest
Instagram

Synopsis:

Unbreakable:

I never believed in ghosts. Until one tried to kill me.

When Kennedy Waters finds her mother dead, she doesn’t realize paranormal forces are responsible—not until mysterious identical twins Jared and Lukas Lockhart break into her room and destroy a deadly spirit sent to kill her.

Kennedy learns that her mother’s death was no accident, and now Kennedy has to take her place in the Legion of the Black Dove—a secret society of ghost hunters formed to protect the world from a vengeful demon. A society whose five members were all murdered on the same night, leaving the Legion in the hands of the next generation: a misfit group with unique skills.

As the new members race to find the only weapon capable of destroying the demon, each uses their individual skills to battle paranormal entities and earn their rightful place in the Legion—except for Kennedy.

If she is truly the missing piece of the puzzle, can she stay alive long enough to find out—without losing her heart in the process?

Protect yourself.

What you can’t see can hurt you.

You Can Find it At:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Indiebound

Facebook

Pinterest

Tumblr

Twitter

Beautiful Creatures:

Ethan Wate is haunted by dreams of a girl he’s never met. When Lena Duchannes moves into his small southern town of Gatlin County, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her. And he is determined to uncover the strange connection between them, even if it means uncovering the one secret that could change everything.

You Can Find It At:

AMAZON
B&N
BOOK-A-MILLION
BOOK DEPOSITORY
IBOOKSTORE
INDIEBOUND
OFFICIAL SITE
MOVIE SITE
AUTHOR SITE
MOVIE FANSITE
US FAN SITE
BC EXAMINER

Interview: Veronica Rossi

How many of you have heard of YallFest? How many are attending? It's a one day book festival in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information, check out the official website! Each monday and friday leading up to the festival, I, along with a bunch of other bloggers, will be posting author interviews to help with promotion for the festival. Today, please welcome Veronica Rossi! I have read all her books and reviewed the here and here!

Author Interview:

Q. What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

A. Yeah, those. And all the ones in between!

Q. Best writing tip you ever received?

A. $5. Just kidding. Um… tip… I think it’s probably to allow yourself to suck when writing early drafts. It takes away a lot of the fear of generating good material. It’s not easy to be creative when you’re judging your work.

Q. Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

A. 1. In the past year, I discovered a deep love of Brussel sprouts

2. I talk to myself. Heck. Sometimes I argue with myself.

3. I’m arguing with myself about including that last point at this very moment.

4. My favorite animals are elephants.

5. Dresses with pockets make me happy.

Q. Where's your favorite place to write?

A. I usually work in my home office, but I love working in hotel rooms. No distractions!

Q. What are you working on now?

A. Something I’m very excited about! Can’t divulge any details yet, but it’s an idea I’ve been mulling over for years.

Cover Reveal: Soul Possessed by Katlyn Duncan

We are thrilled to be able to share with you the cover for SOUL POSSESSED, the second book in Katlyn Duncan's The Life After Trilogy, which releases next month on October 28th. We think the cover is absolutely beautiful and we can't wait for its release!


We also have an awesome excerpt from the book so be sure to check it out below!

***

Soul Possessed (The Life After Trilogy #2) by Katlyn Duncan

About the Book

Release Date: October 28, 2013
Publisher: Carina UK
Series: Book 2, The Life After Trilogy
Genre: YA Paranormal
ISBN: 9781472044556

Synopsis:

Life after Life

Now Maggie has been given the chance of her after-life to become a Guard, nothing will stand in her way. Not even the undeniable attraction she feels for her trainer and past love—Jackson. But when the battle between Shadowed and Guard begins again which side will she choose?

When her boss, Felix, partners Jackson and Maggie up with Ally and Cooper to investigate terrifying Shadowed activity, she doesn’t think it could get any worse. Jackson and Cooper barely tolerate each other and this time, Maggie isn’t just proving her loyalty to the Guard during one mission...she has a side mission too. One so secret and so dangerous she can’t tell a soul...

You Can Find it At:

GOODREADS

AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

iTUNES US

iTUNES UK

Chaos by Christine O'Neil

Title: Chaos
Author: Christine O'Neil
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release: August 26, 2013
Series: Kardia Chronicles
Pages: 292
Review: Five Stars

Chaos was amazing. It was spectacular. It was superb. Words cannot describe the awesome that is this book. If you look here, you can see that about a month ago, I was part of the cover reveal for this book. The language in this book is a bit over the top, and I don't recommend it to readers who are either younger or like clean books. The romance isn't as over the top, but the moments, which are few and far between, are steamy. I find that Entangled Publishing tends to have really good taste in books to publish. I've read multiple books published by them and each time they are amazing and often better than I expected, like with Chaos. Chaos was provided for me in eBook form by the publisher. I expected it to be just another book that I read, one that wouldn't stand out, but boy was I wrong. I read this book in approximately one day. So what if I was up past midnight, it was worth it.

The main character is Maggie. She is pretty awesome. I have a couple pet peeves with her, which I'll get out of the way. One, she has a fairly poor body image. Not to say she hates herself, but it's little comments that hint at her insecurity and could affect the reader, especially young women. Two, she blames herself for things that either aren't her fault or anyone else would have done in her position. Namely with a character named Eric. She blames herself for what happened to him and, while she may have been the catalyst, it was his fault and his alone. Maggie apologizes easily, but that's something that I think will change over the course of the books. Her language is crude, even compared to other books I've read, but at the same time, I know people who speak like her in real life. It may not be the norm, but after what Maggie's been through, she can say just about anything she wants. The male protagonist is Mac. Granted, he's a jerk for most of the book. I'm positively sick of his behavior by this point, but if nothing else, I think that will turn around in book two. After the end of Chaos, there's no doubt in my mind that book two will be angst filled. That disappoints me, only because I feel that angst tends to get in the way of actual plot. Hopefully, the characters will be able to get over it sooner rather than later, but only time will tell.

The book was plotted perfectly. It was plotted in such a way that I read it so fast, that I can barely remember how fast or slow it was. The plot might have been slow as can be, but it kept me interested which caused me not to notice. The story is amazingly done with just the right balance or development and action. The end was somewhat predictable, but that is to be expected after reading so many books. It's almost easy to pick up the foreshadowing in books after reading as many as I have, but this book had me reading so fast that I didn't really have time to think about it. More serious readers might have a hard time with the book and determine it 'fluffy' but you really should read it. As a teenager myself, I can connect with the main character and empathize with her. I get what her and her friends are going through. There are grammatical errors, but only a few. So get those spines cracking and dig in!

Interview: Ransom Riggs

How many of you have heard of YallFest? How many are attending? It's a one day book festival in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information, check out the official website! Each monday and friday leading up to the festival, I, along with a bunch of other bloggers, will be posting author interviews to help with promotion for the festival. Today, please welcome Ransom Riggs! He is the author of Mrs. Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children. I have read his book and expect a review soon! He's also engaged to the amazing Tahereh Mafi, whose book I have reviewed here. That alone makes him amazingly awesome. Now go read Mrs. Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, well, after you read the interview of course!

Author Interview:

Q. What one thing do you need to have when you write?

A. Silence. My noise-cancelling headphones have become almost essential.

Q. What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

A. The first. I rewrite and rewrite it a million times. The last comes easy.

Q. Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

A. I’m six foot four. I lived on a working farm until I was five. I used to know how to cook Indian food but now I’ve forgotten. I love documentaries. One day I will conquer the moon.

Q. What are you working on now?

A. A novel for Little, Brown the plot of which is SECRET! (Sort of, for now. But I’m really excited about it.)

Q. What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

A. Oh, definitely YA to write in. I read everything, lots of YA, lots of adult, nonfiction of all sorts. I even read poetry when I’m feeling ambitious. I think it’s crucial to have lots of different influences. If you only read in the genre you write in, your writing will sound like everything else that’s already out there.

Interview: Rainbow Rowell

How many of you have heard of YallFest? How many are attending? It's a one day book festival in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information, check out the official website! Each monday and friday leading up to the festival, I, along with a bunch of other bloggers, will be posting author interviews to help with promotion for the festival. Today, please welcome Rainbow Rowell!

Author Interview:

What one thing do you need to have when you write?

Lip balm.

Describe your book in 5 words.

FANGIRL

Earnest, snowy, swoony, minty, bookish.

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

THE FIRST! The whole first page is a nightmare. I want people to just skip it. And I always end u rewriting it.

Best writing tip you ever received?

“Just finish your book.”

What one young adult novel do you wish you had when you were a teen? Why?

Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt. I think it would have made me feel less alone.

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

Where's your favorite place to write?

At coffeeshops. In giant overstuffed chairs.

What are you working on now?

I’m revising my adult novel, Landline, which comes out in spring 2014, and playing with a romantic/political/tragicomic fantasy.

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

I write mostly contemporary. I read mostly fantasy.

At what point in the development of an idea do you know that it will become a full-length novel?

All of my ideas are full-length novels. I have a hard time narrowing my scope.

Series Sunday: The Gallagher Girls Series by Ally Carter

Round Two!

Titles: I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You, Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy, Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover, Only the Good Spy Young, Out of Sight Out of Time, United We Spy; Double-Crossed (Crossover Novella)
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Series: Gallagher Girls
Review: Five Stars

I can't believe I forgot to review this earlier! The Gallagher Girls series is one of the BEST in the world! Teenage Girls + Spies + Geniuses + Boys + Covert Operations + Explosions = Pure Awesomeness! The books are riddled with facts that might be useless to the average person, but are super interesting none the less. I'm serious when I say I've learned a ton from these books. The Gallagher Girls are amazing. Something to say now, from an outsiders point of view, I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You (LYKY) has almost nothing to do with the rest of the series. And overall, it doesn't. But there are about two lines in there that catapult the main character from regular spy prodigy, to not-so-regular spy prodigy. The devil is in the details, as they say.

The main character is Cammie, The Chameleon, Morgan. She's far from ordinary, yet she's what's known as a real pavement artist. Cam can blend in in just about any scenario. Her parents are spies and she's expected to go high places after she graduates from the Gallagher Academy, a school for spies. Cammie is relatable and much like any other teenage girl. She makes mistakes, which are later amended in any way she can. Secrets and lies are a way of life for Cammie. All information is on need-to-know basis only. That leaves her in the dark more than once and her need for information gets her into more than one sticky situation. The Gallagher Academy is riddled with secret passageways, which Cammie explores endlessly. Fun fact: Cammie can name 46 different lethal household items, speak 14 different languages, and can kill a grown man 7 different ways with her bare hands. Pretty cool, right? Bex is Cammie's best friend and roommate and has been using Barbie as a weapon since age 7. Though I hate how she acts in book five, overall she's a fun, kick-butt, spunky character. Liz is Cammie's other roommate/best friend. She's the brains of the operation, and that's saying something, considering that they all go to a school
for geniuses. Macey is the bear-at-the-door of sorts in the series. Cam, Bex, and Liz meet her at the beginning of LYKY and she is NOT welcome. She quickly becomes one of their closest friends and their best, and only, consultant in the boy department. Cammie meets Josh in LYKY. He's a normal boy who does not belong in her world. He's also the first boy Cammie ever dates. After that ends poorly, Cammie meets Zach in Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (CHHS). Zach seems to know everything about her, yet she knows nothing about him. Whenever she asks, he'll point to himself and say "Spy." Zach is the male protagonist of the story and I love his character, faults, lies, half-truths and all. Cammie's mother is the headmistress of the academy and Mr. Solomon is a new teacher in LYKY. Her mom is overprotective more often then not, but she does the absolute best she can. Mr. Solomon is really something. He's a top
notch spy with a hidden past. One that can cause serious trouble at the academy. We meet Cammie's aunt Abby in Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover (DJGC) and let me say this right now, she is probably one of my favorite characters in the book. She is sassy, spunky, and outright hilarious. Abby isn't afraid to lay her life on the line for her duty, which is tested in DJGC.

Funny story. United We Spy came out on the 17, which was actually a week earlier than I thought it was. When I realized that it was out, I raced to the book store at about eight o'clock at night and bought the book. I preceded to fly through it and was done by noon the next day. These books are easy reads that are full of fun facts. Action is fast paced and romance is just right. The younger YA reader would definitely enjoy these books. I got the first three as a gift back in 2010 (I think). I loved them even then at age 11. They're appropriate for all ages, which is something you don't find much of in YA. Whatever you think this story is, it's not. At the end of CHHS/the beginning of DJGC, everything changes. And when I say everything, I mean everything. Cammie's world goes from slightly tilted to completely upside-down and backwards. Get ready for a thrilling ride that grips you even after the pages end!

Series Sunday: The Hourglass Trilogy by Myra McEntire

Titles: Hourglass, Timepiece, Infinityglass
Author: Myra McEntire
Publisher: Egmont
Number of Books: Three
Review: Five Stars

I liked this series. It wasn't my favorite, but I liked it. As far as each book went, Hourglass was definitely my favorite. Why? Because Em was the main character. All the other characters didn't really make me tick, but Em did. Infinityglass pulls up in second place, not because I loved the characters (though Hallie was pretty cool), but because it had a fast-paced, fun plot. And lastly comes Timepiece. Timepiece seemed to fall into the second book slump. Meaning, I liked the characters, but found them dull at times and I had to slog
my way through the book due to plot issues. Overall, I really liked the series and I can't wait to see what Myra has in store for us next!

I feel like the over-arching main character is Em. While each book has their own, Em was the original and is in each. Em's parents died about a year previous to the book. She is fun, spunky, and quirky.  Em has an awesome sense of humor that I can't get enough of. She's also a brown (black?) belt in karate. It's super funny to imagine the looks on her friends faces when she shows them exactly how well she can take care of herself. Her character has the biggest arc, simply because we have the most time with her. That time gives Em time to change slowly as well as the things surrounding her. Em's boyfriend is Michael. I find him swoon-worthy at times (so much so that I need to reread the
first book soon), but he also drives me crazy. Michael treats just about everyone like they need-to-know less than him. He withholds information until, eventually, someone gets hurt. Lily is Em's best friend and female protagonist of book two. She's a cool chick and I love her snark. Kaleb is the male protagonist of Timepiece, and gah! Kaleb turns out okay, but for the longest time, he drives me crazy with his neediness and weakness. Hallie is the main character of Infinityglass and plays a pivotal role in the story. That being said, I don't believe readers get enough of her backstory. So while I love her character, I can't feel for her because we don't have enough info. Dune is the male protagonist of Infinityglass and again, while I really love his character, I have a couple issues with it. We get enough of his backstory, but Dune himself is never resolved. What he can do and how exactly he does it is still up in the air at the end of Infinityglass.

The end of the series? Pure perfection. I laughed out loud so many times at that last line. It is funny and well, just go read the books. It doesn't make sense out of context, but it is endlessly funny to the reader. And this is in the epilogue by the way. The writing of these books was superb. Even when the plot was in a slump, the writing was still fun. There is some content in here for older readers, especially in book two. The overall plot arch is well-done. It stretches from page one of Hourglass to page whatever of Infinityglass. I find myself reminiscing about the series already, and can't wait until I have the time to reread it! I give these books four stars.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Title: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak
Publisher: Alfed A. Knopf
Release: September 11, 2007
Pages: 576
Review: Five Stars

This book made me cry, sob, cheer, and all-out break down. The writing was fantastic. The book could have had no plot and I still would have loved it, it was so well written. But it had plot. Oh, it had plot. I jumped late on the Book Thief train, so I'm not sure how many of you have read it. With that in mind, I will try my hardest to make this as non-spoilery as possible. Just thinking about this book makes me want to cry all over again. For those wondering why, it is a holocaust story that takes place in Germany. I generally try to avoid holocaust stories, because I know that they will make me cry, yet I picked this one up. Why? Well, when I was in the theatre about to see City of Bones for the second time, my friend and I saw the trailer for the movie  adaptation of The Book Thief. We both looked at each-other and mouthed "I need to read this." I started the book and couldn't stop. Despite the tears and the heartbreak, I recommend this book to EVERYONE!!!!

The main character is Liesel. She's a younger German girl who is adopted after her mother gives her up because she can't take care of her anymore. Liesel starts the book at about ten years old. At the beginning, Liesel is an innocent and slightly naive girl. Yet here's the catch, the story is narrated by Death, not Liesel. Death will skip around and mention things that happen years ahead of what's going on. When the story begins, Death is telling the reader that he sees Liesel, whom he calls the Book Thief, three times. First, when her brother dies. Second, when a pilot crashes. And third, when the street she lives on is bombed. How Death knows her story is explained in bits and pieces. How he knows it is yet another sad aspect of the book. After Liesel's father teaches her how to read, she begins to steal books. This eventually earns her the nickname The Book Thief from characters who know of her actions. Other characters include Rudy, who is the male protagonist and Liesel's best friend. He is a character that I enjoyed tremendously. Liesel's adoptive father Hans is spectacular and her adoptive mother Rosa is easily the most hilarious character in the book. Max is a Jew who hides in their basement for a period of time. I love him so much, but do not envy what he's been through.

This book is not for the faint of heart. Though I think just about anyone could enjoy it, it drives the readers' emotions to the breaking point. I had my doubts about the book, but I was gripped from page one. It's a read that you will not regret nor forget. It's very long, which can look daunting, but it's not as long as it looks when your in the midst of WW2. Events are constantly skipping back and forth, making skimming the book near impossible. More often then not, one line or one paragraph are more important than the entire chapter as a whole. I recommend this book from the bottom of my heart and, once you're done, we can sob with our "In Case of Feels" tissue boxes together.

Interview: Sean Williams

How many of you have heard of YallFest? How many are attending? It's a one day book festival in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information, check out the official website! Each monday and friday leading up to the festival, I, along with a bunch of other bloggers, will be posting author interviews to help with promotion for the festival. Today, please welcome Sean Williams!

Interview With Sean Williams

Q. What one thing do you need to have when you write?

A. The right music. And chocolate as a reward when I finish.

Q. Describe your book in 5 words

A. Jump meets Uglies. But different.
Q. What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

A. The first line is often the hardest to write, but I like a good challenge. The line I like writing the least is the last because it means I have a whole load of rewriting ahead of me.
Q. Best writing tip you ever received?

A. Give up. If you can do that, you’ll be happier and probably better off as a result. If you can’t, then you know writing is exactly the right thing for you!
Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

1) I live in Adelaide, South Australia, a place that’s home to about a million other people but somehow feels like a small town, which is why I love it.

2) I still think music from the 1980s is cool.

3) My stepson has situs invertus, which means his heart is on the wrong side of his body. That’s not really about me, but it is pretty random.

4) I’m a huge fan of Doctor Who.

5) I’m minding a pair of green tree frogs, Skipper and Jumpy, for a young friend while she’s overseas with her family. You can see pictures of them on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/seanwilliamsauthor/.

Q. Where's your favorite place to write?

A. In my study, a lovely upstairs nook containing all my favorite book-related things, but I’ve trained myself to write anywhere as long as I have my headphones and some music. I quite like writing in hotels, probably because someone else does all the household chores.

Q. What are you working on now?

A. Crashland, the sequel to Twinmaker.

Author Interview: CJ Lyons

How many of you have heard of YallFest? How many are attending? It's a one day book festival in Charleston, South Carolina. For more information, check out the official website and twitter! Each monday and friday leading up to the festival, I, along with a bunch of other bloggers, will be posting author interviews to help with promotion for the festival. Today, please welcome CJ Lyons!

Interview With CJ Lyons

Describe your book in 5 words:

CJ: Girl dying of broken heart (literally)

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

CJ: The first. I’ll often return to it over and over again until I’ve sliced and diced and fine-honed it to that perfect combination of intrigue, visceral reaction, and emotional connection with the reader.

Best writing tip you ever received?

What one young adult novel do you wish you had when you were a teen? Why?

CJ: Code Name Verity because it is so emotionally honest and inspiring, empowering, not to mention gut-wrenching. Really brings the era to life as well as the sacrifices made in the name of freedom.

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

CJ: When I was a kid I worked summer stock theatre and was actually a theatre major undergrad before switching to pre-med. I’ve had two hard landings in helicopters while working as a flight doc. I survived rampaging Cape Horn Buffalo and a pack of wild baboons, not to mention a leopard (he’s already eaten) while hiking in Hells Gate Park in Kenya. I’m a Capricorn. I diagnosed my niece with the heart condition that’s at the center of my YA thriller, BROKEN.

Where's your favorite place to write?

What are you working on now?

CJ: DAMAGED, my next YA thriller, due out in 2014. It deals with the really tough topic of abuse and coercion and is the most difficult book I’ve ever tackled—there have been times while writing when I was literally in tears as I typed.

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

CJ: I created my own genre of Thrillers with Heart—I love writing fast paced stories with raising stakes but centered on the emotional heart of an evolving relationship. As for reading, I read almost every genre but especially love YA, magical realism, and thrillers. As long as a story grabs me by the throat and won’t let me go because I’m too worried about what the characters are going through, I’ll read it and love it.

Series Sunday: The Clann Trilogy by Melissa Darnell

Titles: Crave, Covet, Consume
Author: Melissa Darnell
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Number of Books: Three
Review: Four Stars

I have been waiting for these books for over TWO years! My library wouldn't order them and I had so many other books to buy that I couldn't pay for them. I finally decided to just do it a couple weeks ago. I bought the first book and it rocked! I went back to the book story and they had book three but not book two, which put the series on hold for about a week. I finally finished the books on friday and have been dying to review them. Admittedly, these books weren't as

good as I was expecting, but they were still awesome! After getting halfway through The Book Thief and sobbing my eyes out, I needed something much lighter, and The Clann answered!

The story is dual POV between protagonists Savannah and Tristan. Savannah grows up a normal girl in Texas, but has been hated by the Clann her entire life. She's been betrayed by friends and pushed around nonstop. Does that stop Savannah? Of course not. Despite a lifetime of harassment, Savannah still stands. Throughout the series, Savannah is a voice of reason in their ragtag group. Even when things go from bad to worse, Savannah is there. She sees the bright side of things and doesn't stop until she's overcome any obstacle in her path. Tristan on the other hand, is a different story. I actually don't like his character a whole lot.  "how he was raised", but I don't care. The characters live in modern times and he need to realize that. Tristan continues to mock Savannah and gives up instantly when told they can't be together. Even if he doesn't realize it, Savannah is fighting to the end. Savannah sacrifices just about everything for him, and even still he's wrapped up in his desire for revenge, even if that pushes her away. Savannah's mother is a decent character but she is not a bit of a wimp, she's a wimp. Period. She runs away and treats her dog better than she does her daughter. Savannah's dad is a nice guy, but geez, I'm pretty sure he still lives in the 1800's. Tristan's sister Emily is an awesome character is book one and two, but gets on my nerves in book three. To be fair, she has an excuse and comes around in the end. I have to say, the characters weren't like what you find in your average book, and it probably makes them more realistic. Sure, he has his redeeming qualities, but overall, I view him as a bit of a jerk, self-obsorbed, and kinda sexist. On the last count, it's supposedly

The plot of the books is fun. It's fairly simple and predictable, but there are a few twists and turns that caught me by surprise. Each book takes off right where the other left off, which gives them a cool sense that they flow into each other. It'll often end in the middle of dramatic moment, which is continued in the next book. It adds to the overall plot arc and makes for a better story. Some events in the story were over-dramatized, especially in book three. Overall, I really liked the books and give it a four star rating.

Excerpt From Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott!

As part of the V-Mafia, I'm excited to share the first excerpt from Victoria Scott's new book, Fire and Flood! It's from the first thirty pages of the story! Keep reading for the excerpt and giveaway courtesy of Scholastic and Chicken House! Before you do, check out the cool and creepy cover!

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Title: Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release: August 27, 2013
Series: Throne of Glass
Pages: 418
Review: Five Stars!

I know it's Sunday and I should be doing a Series Sunday post, but today is special. This afternoon, I'm going to go to a book signing and meet the one and only, Sarah J. Maas! I recently finished her new release, Crown of Midnight, and decided to review that today instead. If I have time, I'll post a regular Series Sunday post later.

Crown of Midnight was spectacular. The first book, Throne of Glass, was one of my all-time favorite books, but this managed to top it, easily. See my review of Throne of Glass here. When reading the reviews by bloggers before it came out, I didn't get what was SO great about this book, but having picked it up and read it, I can't disagree with them. Crown of Midnight is perfect in every way. It has amazing character development, a perfect plot arc, and a cliffhanger at the ending that has left me hungering for book three!

The main character is Celeana Sardothian. She's an assassin in a mythical land known Erilea. As of the beginning of the book, Celeana works for the twisted and evil king of Adarlan. When I started book one, I knew something was special about Celeana. On page 85, I realized just how special she was. I had fantasies about Celeana that I was almost positive wouldn't happen, but oh, they happened. She's good at keeping secrets, even from herself. Celeana's past has always been a bit of a mystery, but this book sheds more light on the topic then ever before. The truth comes trickling out through secrets and lies. Romance is an important aspect of the book, but more often than not, I wasn't quite feeling the spark. In book one, there was a love triangle between Celeana, crown prince Dorian, and Chaol, Captain of the Guard. It's more or less solved in this book, but I keep wanting more. As readers know, previous to the series, Celeana had a boyfriend named Sam who was killed right before she was arrested. The ideal ending romantically for me, would be that Dorian and Chaol were put to the side and Sam was brought back from the dead. I honestly loved that boy, and his character feels too rich and deep just to kill off after four novellas. The characters don't end! There's also Princess Nehemia. She's Celeana's best friend and closest confident. She's a rebellious girl and hates the king for attacking her people. When the worst happens, and disrupts all of their lives, the characters still manage to heal and heal fast. Not once to they hold back, mess up, or go to slow. And by the end of the story, Celeana has realized what she is willing to fight for, her past, her family, her kingdom, herself.

Sarah J. Maas was tasked with the responsibility of created an entire new world, full of possibilities and people. She does this amazingly, effortlessly weaving in side-plots and backstories for characters only mentioned or to come. Events occur that readers know will have repercussions and can't wait to see. Your characters pain is our gain, as they say. The book flows from one page or another until, before I know it, I've somehow already finished the book. I flew threw these pages, not once stopping for anything. The book is so amazing, words simply can't describe it. A world has been born, people, and as each person picks it up and discovers it, this world will grow more and more. I love this book and am super excited to meet Sarah herself this afternoon! I give this book five stars!

P.S. Here are my reactions on twitter while I was reading...

Crown of Midnight Pg 190: I already knew the king was evil, but geez, what he just did was beyond so. Take him down Celeana! @SJMaas
— Tween 2 Teen Books (@Tween2TeenBooks) September 2, 2013

Crown of Midnight Pg 236: What. The. Heck. Just. Happened. Well played @SJMaas, well played. *Flails**Dies*
— Tween 2 Teen Books (@Tween2TeenBooks) September 2, 2013

Just finished Crown of Midnight by @SJMaas. Oh. My. God. This book was amazing!
— Tween 2 Teen Books (@Tween2TeenBooks) September 3, 2013

Origin by Jennifer L Armentrout

Title: Origin
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release: August 27, 2013
Series: Lux
Pages: 364
Review: Five Stars!

Do you know how hard it was to choose a book to review? I've read SO many amazing books recently that is was super hard to choose one. Origin was the one I was most excited for though, so I decided to review it first. Let me tell you, this book was amazing. If you look back at my not to amazing review of the previous book, this one turns it all around. The writing is as amazing as always. The characters begin to heal, only to hurt all over again. There were a few awkward moments, but overall I really liked it.

This story did something different from the previous books in the series. Origin is told from two POV's. The main character Katy and the male protagonist, Daemon. It's nice to finally get inside Daemon's head for long periods of time. Part of the reason I was so annoyed at Daemon in Opal was that I didn't know what he truly meant and why he was so condescending. Origin shed some light on his character and I had loads of fun getting to know him more. Katy develops exponentially in this book. She finally learns what she's fighting for, and the true scope of the situation and hole they've been thrown in. I can't help but love Katy and find her hilarious. Her inner monologue is a never-ending stream of funny mixed with bits of love and seriousness. Katy knows when to be silly and when to get down and dirty. In this, we finally get to meet Beth, the love interest of Dawson who was also kidnapped by the government and who's freedom cost Katy hers. Beth is portrayed as weak and fragile, but a big reveal towards the end of the story tossed my presumptions out the window. This reveal will be a big problem in the final book and I'm excited to see it play out.

The best part of this book? One word. Archer. His character is so awesome, so swoon-worthy, that he gets his own paragraph. Archer is Katy's guard of sorts, and from the page we meet him, I know I like him. His character is obviously hiding something, but that only intrigues the reader more. Archer is mysteriously kind and randomly humorous in a place that have little of both. I was praying that Archer wouldn't become an enemy or bad guy, because I couldn't stand to loose his character. I can't say any more so as not to spoil the surprise, but I'll give you one hint. Archer knows more about the Origin project than he lets on. Here's a fan-made picture of Archer in case you're in doubt.

Archer was my favorite character, but my favorite part occurred on pages 260-261. In fact, they're so awesome, I just have to share them with you.

Reading my new name for a third time, I still couldn't believe it. Something about this name was familiar. "Anna Whitt?"

Dee bounced a little. "I picked the names."

Things started to click into place. "What's yours, Daemon?"

He flipped his billfold open and snickered. "Kaidan Rowe. Hmm. That has a nice ring to it."

My mouth dropped open as I twisted toward Dee. "You picked names from a book!"

She giggled. "I thought you'd like that. Besides, Sweet Evil is one of my favorites, and you made me read it, so..."

I couldn't help it. I laughed as I stared down at my picture ID. It was an identical copy of my real driver's license, except it was a different state and address. Underneath it was my actual ID-Katy Swartz-and a few other sheets of folded paper.

Gosh, I missed my books. I wanted to hug the, love them, squeeze them.

"I found that in your bedroom," Dee explained, tapping a finger off it. "I snuck in and got you some clothes and this before we left."

"Thank you," I said sliding my new ID over my old one. Staring at both was going to give me an identity crisis.

"So, wait, my new name is from one of those books?" Daemon frowned. He also had his real ID, but there was a bank card underneath, set to Kaidan's name. "I'm afraid to even ask what it's about. I better not be named after any kind of magician or something lame like that."

"No. It's about angels, demons, and nephilim, and..." I stalled, acutely aware that everyone was staring at me like I'd grown a third eye. "Kaidan's like the embodiment of lust."

If you can't tell why this is my favorite part of the story, it's because two of my favorite series, the Sweet trilogy and the Lux series, were combined into a page and a half of pure awesomeness. I actually got into multiple twitter conversations with both authors. One went something like this.

@Tween2TeenBooks Yeah baby! ;) @JLArmentrout
— Wendy Higgins (@Wendy_Higgins) August 28, 2013

 Anyway, I just loved this book. It was so amazing and fun. I cannot get enough of the characters or the story. There are awkward moments that I don't think are needed in the story, but maybe they're building up to something special. Who knows? It's no question that this book receives five stars!

P.S. After finishing Origin, this *might* have also happened on twitter...

@Tween2TeenBooks I want to see this happen. @JLArmentrout @Wendy_Higgins
— Victoria Scott (@VictoriaScottYA) August 29, 2013

And in reply to that...

@Wendy_Higgins @Tween2TeenBooks @JLArmentrout Let's make this happen.
— Victoria Scott (@VictoriaScottYA) August 29, 2013

And this...

@Tween2TeenBooks @VictoriaScottYA @JLArmentrout Now that's just dangerous, right there.
— Wendy Higgins (@Wendy_Higgins) August 28, 2013

Cover Reveal: Sidelined by Kendra C. Highley

Today Kendra Highley and Entangled Teen Ember are revealing the cover for SIDELINED. Coming out this September! I'm excited to help out and can't wait to read this book!

On to the reveal!

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Blurb:

After being pushed to excel her entire life, high school basketball star Genna Pierce is finally where she wants to be. University scouts are taking notice, her team is on its way to the state tourney, and Jake Butler, the hot boy she's daydreamed about since ninth grade, is showing somedefinite interest. When he asks her out and their relationship takes off, Genna believes things can't get better.

Then, it's over.

A freak accident ends her career before it's even begun. Her parents are fighting more than ever, her friends don't understand what she's going through, and she's not sure who she is without basketball. And while he tries to be there for her, Genna doesn't understand how Jake could ever want the broken version of the girl he fell for.

Her life in a tailspin, Genna turns to the only solace that eases her pain: Vicodin. 

You Can Find the Book At:
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
iBooks

About Kendra: 

Kendra C. Highley lives in north Texas with her husband and two children. She also serves as staff to two self-important and high-powered cats. This, according to the cats, is her most critical job. She believes in everyday magic, extraordinary love stories and the restorative powers of dark chocolate.

You Can Find Her At:
Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads

Giveaway!

1 eBook of SIDELINED International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz: Sweet Legacy by Tera Lynn Childs

Sweet Legacy, the final book in the Sweet Venom trilogy by Tera Lynn Childs comes out TODAY! I'm so excited to be part of the book blitz! Below you'll find an awesome giveaway and a Fast Five interview with Tera herself!

Author Bio:

Tera Lynn Childs is the award-winning author of the mythology-based Oh. My. Gods. and Goddess Boot Camp, the mermaid tales Forgive My Fins, Fins Are Forever and Just For Fins, and a new trilogy about monster-hunting descendants of Medusa that includes Sweet Venom, Sweet Shadows, and Sweet Legacy (September 3, 2013). She has two new e-novellas coming soon, Goddess In Time (November 2013) and Pretty In Pearls (January 2014). She has also e-published two fun chick lit romances, Eye Candy and Straight Stalk. Tera lives nowhere in particular and spends her time writing wherever she can find a comfy chair and a steady stream of caffeinated beverages.

You Can Find Her At:
Website
Twitter
Facebook

Synopsis:

Greer has always known she was privileged, though she had no idea how special her second sight made her, even among her triplet monster-fighting sisters. But when a god starts playing with her mind, can Greer step up in her pretty high heels to prevent anything from stopping her sisters’ mission?

Grace loves her adopted brother, Thane, but now that he’s back and has joined her sisters’ team, it’s clear his past is full of dark mysteries. She wants to trust him, but will Thane’s secret put the girls in even more danger?

Gretchen knows she can rely on her sisters to help her stop the monsters. But after getting to know some of the beasties in the abyss, she finds her role as a huntress comes with more responsibility than she ever imagined. How can she know what her birthright demands of her now?

The girls cannot hesitate as they seek the location of the lost door between the realms, even as monsters and gods descend on San Francisco in battle-ready droves. In this exciting conclusion to the Sweet Venom trilogy, these teenage heirs of Medusa must seek the truth, answer the ancient riddles, and claim their immortal legacy.

You Can Find the Book:
Website
Indiebound
Amazon (hardcover, kindle)
Apple
Barnes & Noble (hardcover, nook)
Books-A-Million
Book Depository

Lori by L. Diane Wolfe

Title: Lori
Author: L. Diane Wolfe
Publisher: Dancing Lemur Press
Release: March 31, 2009
Series: Circle of Friends
Pages: 368
Review: 2.5 Stars

I went into this book with hopes of putting out a four star review. Sadly, that was not the case. I forced myself to read this as fast as possible, mostly by skimming it. The book itself wasn't that bad, but I just couldn't stand it. All the characters were supportive and came through and took care of their issues in the end. The book was TOO happy. I get that it's meant to be a supportive book, but you can't have that without sacrifice and pain. Compared to other YA contemporary novels I've read, these characters all live a charmed life where just about everything goes right. The plot is see-through, if there even is one at all.

The main character is Lori. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with Lori herself, but geez, her world seems too perfect. There's no character arc. From page one, she wants to win the gold medal in swimming in the Olympics, and it was easy to see where that was going. The relationship is instant, and her and the male protagonist Jason have kissed by the end of chapter one and are seriously dating by the end of chapter two. Her relationship literally faces no obstacles, despite what the description says. There are no fights, no breakups, no tension. Lori and her friends simply get putting along and life just gets better and better. I don't like (or maybe I do) when characters hurt, but this book needed some pain and suffering. Everyone I know has their issues and none of them seem to be present in any of these characters. The only character I'd say who has legit pain and suffering, for lack of a better term, is James.

The book was a fairly easy read once I started skimming it. I got two hundred pages in the amount of time it had taken me to get fifty. It might have helped that my mom had said if I don't read the book, I had to come out and weed the garden with her... Anyway! The book seems to have no plot. The characters don't develop and their situation hasn't changed. The characters feel one dimensional. Sure stuff happened, but it wasn't plot. It was like a chain of meaningless events, not an arc where the characters think everything's fine, then there's tension, then they face their fear or challenge, and then things resolve to a point. All the characters end happy with their happily ever after. While I love that things worked out, I feel the need to point out that the characters never seem to fully realize just how good they've got it and no one is left out in the rain. The book simply didn't feel real. I couldn't relate to the characters. Lori has been training for years, and when it comes down to it, gets what she wants. There are things I've been doing for a while, but I know I won't get first, second, or third try. If you have nothing else to read, pick this up and try it. You might like it more than I did. It's written somewhat bluntly, but to be fair this was the author's debut. If anyone reads or has read the book/series, let me know! I want to hear your opinion on it. But I can't find it in my heart to give this book more than 2.5 stars.