Sunday Street Team: Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young

I am super excited for this book! I am extremely lucky to bring you an interview from the author herself! Keep reading for the interview, information about the book and author, and a special giveaway!

Interview:

1. If you could spend an afternoon with your characters, what would you do?

I would have them teach me to throw an axe.

2. What upcoming YA books are you excited for?

There are so many amazing books coming out this year but a few I’m super excited about are The Disasters, Ship It, and Valley Girls

3. What other characters from YA books would be friends with Eelyn?

I think she would really get along with Inej from Six of Crows. And I think that she would understand Lada from And I Darken in a way that few do.

4. If you could write a book with any other YA author, who would it be?

No one. Haha, I am way too much of a control freak!

5. What do you enjoy doing when you're not writing?

I practice yoga, collect old books. I also love food and wine and being out in the wilderness.

6. Do you prefer HEAs (Happily Ever Afters) or open endings?

I love a mix of both, I think. Too much of one gets old.

7. What projects do you have in the works?

Right now I’m finished the companion novel to Sky in the Deep that is coming out in 2019!

8. What advice do you have for young writers? 

Read, read, read. And not just in the same genre. Read everything – even the newspaper. It will make you a way better writer and fill your head with inspiration that will never run dry.

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Eelyn’s world is war. Raised to fight alongside her Aska clansmen in a generations-old blood feud against the Riki, her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago.

Faced with her brother’s betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki if she wants to make it back to the fjord after the thaw. But when she begins to see herself in the people she’s been taught to hate, the world Eelyn once knew begins to crumble. And after the village is raided by a ruthless clan many believe to be a myth, Eelyn is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend who has tried more than once to kill her. Together, they must end the blood feud between their clans or watch their people be slaughtered.

A lush, Viking-age inspired fantasy about loyalty, forgiveness, and the definition of family.

You Can Find It At:
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Author Bio:

Adrienne Young is a born and bred Texan turned California girl. She is a foodie with a deep love of history and travel and a shameless addiction to coffee. When she’s not writing, you can find her on her yoga mat, scouring antique fairs for old books, sipping wine over long dinners, or disappearing into her favorite art museums. She lives with her documentary filmmaker husband and their four little wildlings beneath the West Coast sun.

You Can Find Her AT:
Website
Twitter
Goodreads
Instagram
Pinterest
Facebook

Giveaway:

1 Finished Copy of Adrienne Young’s Sky In The Deep (US only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

4/1 Tour Stops
Review - Here’s To Happy Endings
Review - Flyleaf Chronicles
Interview - Emily Reads Everything
Guest Post - A Backwards Story

4/8 Tour Stops
Interview -OMG Books and More Books
Review - Life of a LIterary Nerd
Review - Boundless Bookaholic
Review - Avid Reader Diary

4/15 Tour Stops
Review - Hopeful Reads
Excerpt- The Hermit Librarian
Review -Dani Reviews Things
Review - Aimee, Always

4/22 Tour Stops
Review - Library of a Book Witch
Review - Pretty Deadly Review
Interview - Bookstacks Amber
Review - A Gingerly Review

4/29 Tour Stops
Guest Post - Sarcasm and Lemons
Review - A Thousand Words and A Millions Books
Interview - Tween 2 Teen Books
Review - A Book and A Cup of Coffee

Sunday Street Team: Bound By Blood and Sand by C.V. Wyk

I am super excited to host an interview with the amazing debut author C.V. Wyk! Read to the bottom of the post for a special giveaway and make sure to check out the other tour stops of more special content!

Interview:

1. What gets you up to write in the morning?

Right now? Deadlines. Haha. There is something nerve-wracking but highly motivating about knowing that someone is waiting on you. Most days though, it’s like having a song stuck in your head. The words and melody keep swirling and repeating, coalescing and separating and eventually driving you crazy until you just listen to the whole song. Writing is my way of listening to that song.

2. If you could spend an afternoon with your characters, what would you do?

I would definitely get Attia to teach me how to handle a sword. I’m sure Albinus would find that amusing, and Xanthus would probably be watching from the side, shaking his head and worrying about someone getting hurt. Lucretia would just laugh while I got everything wrong.

3. What made you choose Ancient Rome as your setting?

I didn’t actually know what story I wanted to tell until I wrote the first line: They called us slaves. Sure, that could have lent itself to a dystopian future or an SFF universe. But I’m a history major with a soft spot for Gladiator and 300, and when I decided to tell my version of the rise of Spartacus, I wanted to ground it in something familiar. Also, I really wanted my MC to have a gladius, so. You know.

4. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

The Isle of Skye in Scotland. I’ve moved around quite a bit, but no place has felt like my place until I went to Scotland a couple years ago. It was that feeling you get when you can finally take a full, deep breath. Like everything suddenly fits together, and you know that you’re home. That’s how I feel about Scotland, and I hope to move there permanently at some point.

5. What advice do you have for young writers?

Focus on finding your voice. Forget what’s popular and break whatever rules you’ve been taught if you feel like it. Instead, create something that only you could have made. The world needs as many stories as you can give it.

6. What would your characters do if they were suddenly transported to modern day?

Well, Lucretia would dominate Twitter, Iduma would fall into a meme-hole, Xanthus would end up being friends with Chris Evans, and Attia would probably have another rebellion on her hands.

7. What characters from other books would your characters be friends with?

General Organa would be the mother Attia always wanted, no doubt. Xanthus would probably want to adopt all the orphans (Oliver Twist, Huck Finn, HP) even though he’d have no idea what to do with them after. And Lucretia would become besties with Sybella from Robin LaFevers’ Dark Triumph and wreak havoc on men.

8. What are you working on now?

The sequel to BLOOD AND SAND! So no spoilers…

9. What upcoming YA books are you excited for?

ALL of them. 2018 is gearing up to be an awesome-sauce year for debuts, in particular. I have so many books on my TBR right now, I’m going to have to buy more bookcases to hold them all. (And I am totally okay with this.)

10. What books did you love as a child?

Some of my favorites were The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley and the Sevenwaters Trilogy by Juliet Marillier. Fantasy was my jam, and seeing Morgan le Fay riding a horse and holding a giant sword on the cover of MoA was like that scene in Amelie when everything gets bright and the main character hears a random choir singing. An epiphany kind of moment, is what I’m saying.

Synopsis:

The action-packed tale of a 17-year-old warrior princess and a handsome gladiator who dared take on the Roman Republic--and gave rise to the legend of Spartacus....

Roma Victor. The Republic of Rome is on a relentless march to build an empire--an empire built on the backs of the conquered, brought back to Rome as slaves.

Attia was once destined to rule as the queen and swordmaiden of Thrace, the greatest warrior kingdom the world had seen since Sparta. Now she is a slave, given to Xanthus, the Champion of Rome, as a sign of his master's favor. Enslaved as a child, Xanthus is the preeminent gladiator of his generation.

Against all odds, Attia and Xanthus form a tentative bond. A bond that will spark a rebellion. A rebellion that threatens to bring the Roman Republic to its end--and gives rise to the legend of Spartacus....

You Can Find it At:
Amazon
Target

Goodreads

Author Bio:

C.V. Wyk is the author of BLOOD AND SAND, debuting from Tor Teen January 16, 2018. Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Wyk has lived in five states in the continental US (and hopes to add a few international locales to that list). Prone to wanderlust and getting lost, Wyk likes to explore local hiking trails, mountain ranges, dark caves where nefarious mythical creatures undoubtedly reside, and libraries. She currently lives in Maryland with a precocious mini poodle and a demanding guinea pig. In her not-so-spare time, she enjoys playing MMORPGs, kayaking, coding, staring listlessly at blank walls, and nursing a totally healthy coffee addiction.

You Can Find Her At:
Website
Twitter
Goodreads
Instagram
Tumblr
Facebook

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

1/7 Tour Stops
Review - Dani Reviews Things
Review - Flyleaf Chronicles
Interview - Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews

1/14 Tour Stops
Interview -Library Of A Book Witch
Review - Novel Cravings
Review - Inkdin Book Blog

1/21 Tour Stops
Review - Boundless Bookaholic
Review - OMG Books And More
Guest Post - Emily Reads Everything

1/28 Tour Stops
Review - One Way Or Another
Excerpt- Literary Legionnaire
Review - A Gingerly Review

Sunday Street Team: The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily by Laura Creedle

I am super excited to be hosting the amazing debut author Laura Creedle today as part of Street Team Sunday! Read on for an interview with the author herself, info about her new book The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily, and a special giveaway!

Interview:

1. If you were to spend an afternoon with Abelard and Lily, what would you do?

I’m a board game freak, so we’d probably spend the afternoon playing Betrayal at the House on the Hill, or Dead of Winter. Both Abelard and Lily like to play games, so we’d have a good time, I think.

2. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I wanted to fly into Paris and drive from Paris to Bingen am Rhein in Germany. It’s a trip that Lily’s parents took while her father was in graduate school. I wrote about it, but I’ve never been there, which is pretty weird, when you think about it. My sister lives in Rotterdam, and she travels to Paris all the time on business. She promised to go with me, but our schedules haven’t lined up. One day.

3. What characters from other YA books would Abelard and Lily be friends with?

Lily would absolutely fit right in with Kat and Meg of Kat and Meg Conquer the World by Anna Priemaza. Lily and Meg are both ADHD so they would definitely have a lot to talk about.

4. What are you working on now?

A novel about a girl who live in the run down art moderne mansion with her musician mother and 18-month-old brother. When her mother goes missing at a music fest in Miami she tries to keep it a secret, but the shyest guy in school inadvertently finds out. He helps her track down her mother and take care of the baby. And they fall in love— of course.

5. Do you have any writing habits?

I drink a lot of coffee, and do a lot of random internet searches. When I’m revising, I write scenes on note cards and spread them all over the dining room table and everyone knows to stay out of the dining room.

6. What upcoming YA books are you excited for?

Blood Water Paint, by Joy McCullough about a renaissance era girl who becomes a painter. Also, Miles Away From You by A.B. Rutledge. A.B. is my critique partner, and I can’t wait this gorgeous, heartbreaking novel to be out in the world.

7. What books did you love as a child?

There was no YA back then! Because I was dyslexic, my father read to me every night. I loved From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and Nancy Drew. When I did finally learn to read for myself around fourth or fifth grade, I read Jane Eyre, which had a big impact on me. I remember devouring The White Mountain trilogy.

8. If you could co-write a book with any other YA author, who would it be and why?

It would be my dream to work with Maggie Stiefvater. I love her writing but I also love American muscle cars. However, I’m sure we would spend a lot of time talking about cars and wrenching, and not get a lot done. I work best in a quiet room by myself without a lot of distractions.

9. What advice do you have for young writers?

I read a lot of manuscripts. A lot of writers have the idea that you revise for several months, or go through two or three rounds of revision and beta, the novel is done. If they can’t find an agent, or a publisher, they think the novel wasn’t very good to begin with and become discouraged. Often it’s the case that the novel was good, but unfinished. Don’t put a time line on revision. Find your best paragraph and bring the rest of the book up to match it.

10. Do you prefer HEAs (Happily Ever Afters) or open endings?”

I like an HEA flavored with a bittersweet touch of reality. I don’t really buy a happy ending that’s all sunshine and roses, because you still have to live your life when all is said and done. But if I didn’t honestly believe that love is transformative I wouldn’t write romance.

Synopsis:

When Lily Michaels-Ryan ditches her ADHD meds and lands in detention with Abelard, who has Asperger’s, she’s intrigued—Abelard seems thirty seconds behind, while she feels thirty seconds ahead. It doesn't hurt that he’s brilliant and beautiful.

When Abelard posts a quote from The Letters of Abelard and Heloise online, their mutual affinity for ancient love letters connects them. The two fall for each other. Hard. But is it enough to bridge their differences in person?

This hilarious, heartbreaking story of human connection between two neurodivergent teens creates characters that will stay with you long after you finish reading.

You Can Find it At:
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository

Author Bio:

Laura Creedle lives in Austin, TX, and writes about her experiences as an ADHD writer at www.lauracreedle.com. The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily is her debut novel.

You Can Find Her At:
Website

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

12/3 Tour Stops
Creative Post - Life of A Literary Nerd
Excerpt - Of Wonderland
Interview - Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews

12/10 Tour Stops
Interview -Book Stack Amber
Review - Inkdin Book Blog

12/17 Tour Stops
Excerpt - Boundless Bookaholic
Review - Olivia's Catastrophe
Guest Post - YA Indulgences
Unique Post - A Thousand Words A Million Books

12/31 Tour Stops
Review - Books, Boys and Blogs
Interview - Aphonic Sara
Guest Post - The Hardcover Lover

Sunday Street Team: Brooding YA Hero by Carrie DeRisio

Welcome to this month's Sunday Street Team! I am super excited to be helping to promote Brooding YA Hero! And as a special treat, today I have an interview with Broody himself!

Interview:

1. How do you get yourself ready to be a YA hero in the morning?

I begin by waking up from a vivid dream sequence/prologue. Then I brush my tousled golden mane, and study myself in the mirror, being sure to use all my best adjectives and adverbs to describe my beauty. I don't have to worry about brushing my teeth--they're always flawless!

2. What are your thoughts on the broody vs boy-next-door heroes?

I'm far superior to any nice guy next door. They're all honest, respectful, and kind.... and who wants that, right?

3. What are your recommendations for other YA heroes?

Be yourself. No one can tell your story like you can

4. What's your favorite genre to be in?

Whatever one lets me be on the cover of the book... and shirtless.

5. If given the opportunity, what YA heroine would you like to flirt with?

All of them. And all the heroes too, please.

Also, villians with redemption arcs? Call me.

6. Who would you wish to play you if Brooding YA Hero was adapted to a movie?

I'd like to be played by someone named Chris. I don't think the last name matters.

7. Use three words to describe Blondie DeMeani

Evil, mean, way-less-cool-than-me-and-most-certainly-not-the-actual-hero-of-my-book

Title: Brooding YA Hero: Becoming a Main Character (Almost) As Awesome as Me

Author: Carrie DeRisio

Publisher: Sky Pony Press

Release: October 3, 2017

Pages: 288

Synopsis:

Ever wished you could receive a little guidance from your favorite book boyfriend?
Or maybe you're just really confused about what "opal-tinted, luminous cerulean orbs" actually are?

Well, popular Twitter personality @broodingYAhero is here to help as he tackles the final frontier in his media dominance: writing a book. Join Broody McHottiepants as he attempts to pen Brooding YA Hero: Becoming a Main Character (Almost) as Awesome as Me, a "self-help" guide (with activities--you always need activities) that lovingly pokes fun at the YA tropes that we roll our eyes at, but secretly love.

As his nefarious ex, Blondie DeMeani, attempts to thwart him at every turn, Broody overcomes to detail, among other topics, how to choose your genre, his secret formula for guaranteed love triangle success, and how to make sure you secure that sequel, all while keeping his hair perfectly coiffed.

You Can Find it At:

Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository

Author Bio:

Carrie Ann DiRisio is a YA writer and creator of @BroodingYAHero. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA with one large fluffy cat, and is currently pursuing her masters in business, although her true dream is to become a Disney Villainess, complete with a really snazzy gown.
In addition to writing and plans for world domination, she also enjoys running, coffee, Krav Maga, and knitting.

You Can Find Her At:

Blog
Twitter
Illustrator
Goodreads

Tour Schedule:

10/1 Tour Stops
Guest Post Illustrator - Bay In Wonderland
Interview - When Curiosity Killed The Cat
Review - Bri's Book Blog
Review - YA and Wine

10/8 Tour Stops
Guest Post - Awkwordly Emma
Interview by Illustrator -Books N Calm
Review - Lollipop's Books
Review - Left Handed Book Lover

10/15 Tour Stops
Excerpt - Next Page Please
Guest Post Illustrator - Bookishly Thinking
Interview - Book Stacks Amber
Review - Mikayla's Book Shelf

10/22 Tour Stops
Guest Post - The Heart of a Book Blogger
Interview Illustrator - The Petite Book Blogger
Review - The Bibliophile Confessions
Guest Post Author - Curly Hair Bibliophile

10/29 Tour Stops
Guest Post Illustrator - Fafa's Book Corner
Interview - Tween 2 Teen Books
Review - Roecker Reviews
Interview Illustrator - Pondering The Prose

Sunday Street Team: Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller

Hello, and welcome to my Street Team Sunday stop! Mask of Shadows is an amazing new book that I hope everyone reads! My review of the book will be going up on Teenreads soon, so keep your eyes peeled!

Interview:

1. How did you react when you first saw the cover?

I didn’t really know what to do because it was amazing and bright and deadly, and it didn’t look like many covers I had seen before. I loved it. I felt so, so lucky that it was the cover for Mask of Shadows.

2. What advice do you have for younger and aspiring authors?

Keep writing. Write everything you can, read everything you can, and keep your hobbies. Learn everything you can or want to learn. You don’t have to go to school for writing. You don’t have to be any sort of person to be a writer other than someone who writes. Yes, getting published is hard and can be harder depending, but you can do it and many would love to help.

3. Do you write friends/family into your books, or do you keep them separate?

Oh, no. They’re separate. Very separate.

4. What were your favorite books as a child?

Lirael by Garth Nix, Circle of Magic series by Tamora Pierce, Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith, and weirdly the Mallory books by Carol O’Connell.

5. What's your favorite part of the writing process?

I really enjoy my second round of revising when I rewrite everything to make it tighter. I think it’s very calming.


Synopsis:

Perfect for fantasy fans of Sarah J. Maas and Leigh Bardugo, the first book in this new duology features a compelling genderfluid main character, impressive worldbuilding, and fast-paced action.

Sallot Leon is a thief, and a good one at that. But genderfluid Sal wants nothing more than to escape the drudgery of life as a highway robber and get closer to the upper-class―and the nobles who destroyed their home.

When Sal steals a flyer for an audition to become a member of The Left Hand―the Queen's personal assassins, named after the rings she wears―Sal jumps at the chance to infiltrate the court and get revenge.

But the audition is a fight to the death filled with clever circus acrobats, lethal apothecaries, and vicious ex-soldiers. A childhood as a common criminal hardly prepared Sal for the trials. And as Sal succeeds in the competition, and wins the heart of Elise, an intriguing scribe at court, they start to dream of a new life and a different future, but one that Sal can have only if they survive.

You Can Find it At:
Goodreads
The Book Depository

Barnes and Noble

IndieBound

Amazon

Author Bio:

A wayward biology student from Arkansas, Linsey has previously worked as a crime lab intern, lab assistant, and pharmacy technician. Her debut novel MASK OF SHADOWS is the first in a fantasy duology coming in August 2017 from Sourcebooks Fire. She can be found writing about science and magic anywhere there is coffee.

You Can Find Her At:
Website
Twitter
Instagram

Pinterest

Giveaway:

The Prize: 1 Copy of Mask Of Shadows by Linsey Miller
Open to US Residents Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Stops:

9/3 Tour Stops
Interview - Emily Reads Everything
Unique Post - Roecker Reviews
Review - Bayy In Wonderland
Review - Bookishly Thinking

9/10 Tour Stops
Interview - Tween 2 Teen Books
Review -Charmingly Simple
Review - Pondering The Prose
Interview - When Curiosity Killed The Cat

9/17 Tour Stops
Interview - YA and Wine
Style Boards - Here's To Happy Endings
Review - Areli Reads
Review - The Hermit Librarian
Interview - Sarcasm and Lemons

9/24 Tour Stops
Interview - Flyleaf Chronicles
Review - Books N Calm
Review - A Thousand Words A Million Books
Guest Post - Written Infinities

Street Team Sunday: The Gentleman's to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzie Lee

I am super excited to be part of this Street Team Sunday! I absolutely ADORED Gentleman's Guide and I can't wait to share all my feels with you! But first, some background information!

Title: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue
Author: Mackenzie Lee
Publisher: Katherine Tegen
Pages: 528
Release: June 20, 2017
Review: 5 Stars!

Synopsis:

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

Witty, romantic, and intriguing at every turn, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is a sumptuous romp that explores the undeniably fine lines between friendship and love.

You Can Find it At:
Goodreads
The Regulator
Amazon- US

Amazon - UK
Barnes & Nobles
The Book Depository

First Impressions

I knew I wanted to read this book from the first time I heard about it. Two young men on a romp through Europe while slowly falling in love during the 1700s? Yes please! I expected it to be amazing, and it did not disappoint! I can't wait for everyone else to read it, because it is so much fun! The description "the Big Gay European Road Trip Novel you didn't know you were waiting for" is as apt a description as there can be!

Characters

I loved Monty. He's such a fun, lovable character, but he still has *much* room to grow. Being a white male, he is a bit blind to the world and troubles faced around him. But Mackenzie Lee handles that incredibly well. We start with a Monty that's more or less only concerned about himself, but get to see him grow into a loving older brother, as well as become more aware of the feelings of those he cares about.

Percy was a nice companion for Monty. They balanced each other out well. Where Monty was irresponsible and rash, Percy was grounded and thought things through. Percy has many things going behind the scenes that we the readers don't find out about until Monty does. It's obvious from the first page that Percy and Monty have feelings for each other, but it takes a little while for the two of them to figure it out.

Now, for quite possibly my favorite character, Felicity. Felicity is Monty's younger sister. She joins Monty and Percy on their little adventure, as she is being sent off to finishing school. Felicity is a book nerd, and for that alone I would love her. Felicity knows that all the answers she needs can be found in a book. So when pulls out some rather surprising skills, I'm really not surprised. While Felicity herself doesn't change much throughout the book, Monty's perception of her does.

World Building

I don't know much about 18th century Europe. So Mackenzie Lee's world building was rather important to a better understanding of the book. In the back of the book, Lee includes an author's note with some important background information for the story. While not vital, it's nice to finish with a general understanding of the time. Monty and Percy manage to traipse through many countries, through many modes of transportation, and meet many a strange character. Everyone from king's guards to pirates. The novel and world were truly incredibly done, and I can't wait to read more by this author!

Author Bio:

Mackenzi Lee is a bookseller, history nerd, and the author of THE GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE, THIS MONSTROUS THING (Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins), and the forthcoming SEMPER AUGUSTUS (Flatiron Books, 2018). She holds an MFA from Simmons College in writing for children and young adults. She loves Diet Coke, sweater weather, and Star Wars. On a perfect day, she can be found enjoying all three. She currently calls Boston home.

You Can Find Her At:

Website
Twitter
Goodreads
Pinterest
Facebook
Instagram

Tour Stops:

6/4 Tour Blogs Stops
Character Profiles - Blame It On The Books
Review - Bookishly Thinking
Review - Charmingly Simple
Interview - The Hermit Librarian

6/11 Tour Blogs Stops
Review - Tween to Teen Book Reviews
Interview - Sarcasm and Lemons
Unique Post (Ships to Travel With) - Roecker Reviews
Interview - Books Buying Beauty
Review - The Ultimate Fangirl

6/18 Tour Blogs Stops
Review - Books and Ladders
Interview - Book Stack Amber
Review - YA and Wine
Review - A Thousand Words A Million Books
Unique Post (Characters in Social Media) - Live Love Read YA

6/25 Tour Blog Stops

Interview - Hopeful Reads
Review - Olivia’s Catastrophe
Review - Bayy in Wonderland
Review - Curly Hair Bibliophile
Unique Post (Mood Board) - A Book and A Cup of Coffee

Sunday Street Team: Bound by Blood and Sand by

Interview:

1. Did you put character traits from people know into your own characters?

Nah. I think it's partly that I'm writing fantasy, and people's personalities are shaped so much by the world around them and how they grow up - so it would be a bit trickier to apply the people around me to the world I'm writing. But that also just isn't really how I develop characters. I tend to be a plot-first writer, so I start with an idea and end up asking myself, "What kind of character would be the most interesting for this story?"

2. How do you beat writers' block?

Oof. Well, I have sometimes said that I don't really get writer's block - don't hate me! But I've found when I'm stalled, it's usually because either there's something majorly wrong with the story and my writer-brain knows it, but my conscious brain hasn't figured it out yet, or because I'm so drained and exhausted that I can't really pull the words out.

If it's the former, then once I realize that's what's going on, I grab one of my trusted critique partners and talk it out. That helps me identify what's gone wrong and start coming up with ideas for how to fix it. (Which sometimes means completely deleting and rewriting whole chapters.) Once I've got a fix for the problem, I can go forward.

But when it's the latter, I have to stop and ask myself - am I just having a day where I don't wanna? Or is something else going on? If I just don't wanna, well... I sit down and make myself work anyway. (And usually once I get going, things get easier.) But if there's something more going on - serious stuff in my life, like I'm sick, my day job has exploded, etc - I have to measure the urgency of the deadline against taking some time for self-care. If at all possible, I take a few days off to recharge or focus on whatever it is that's going on in my life. Usually once I've given myself some breathing room, I can go back to writing with renewed energy.

3. Given the choice, would you live in a fantasy or dystopian world?

FANTASY PLEASE! Those can also be pretty dystopian (I certainly think the world in BBB&S is) but hey, at least there's magic. In some of them you even get dragons.

4. With great power comes great responsibility. What superpower or magical ability would you choose to have?

Oh mannn... there are so many good ones out there, but at my core, I think it comes down to some kind of empathy or healing -- powers I can use to help people. (I was raised by a volunteer firefighter and a nurse, so our house was big on the helping, healing thing.)

5. Would you rather be stuck on an island with your favorite book, or own all the books, but not enjoy any of them?

Island please! My favorite book combined with some island sunshine sounds like my dream vacation, actually. Especially if we toss in a bright pink drink with a miniature umbrella.

6. What are some of your favorite books that you've read recently?

Haha, define "recently." But within the last year, let's see. My big Can't Miss YA Fantasy is definitely COURT OF FIVES by Kate Elliott. For 2016 debuts, I really enjoyed THE GIRL FROM EVERYWHERE by Heidi Heilig and THE ABYSS SURROUNDS US by Emily Skrutskie.

7. What are some books from your childhood that still stick with you today?

I really came to love SFF as a kid by reading Bruce Coville (middle grade) - especially his MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN series. It starts out pretty light and fun, but by the end of the series, there are some reeeeally heavy themes and it shaped a lot of what I love about scifi in particular.

Then, when I was in about fifth grade, my older sister handed me a copy of Mercedes Lackey's ARROWS OF THE QUEEN, which I basically imprinted on like a duckling - I've reread that trilogy (plus tons of the other Valdemar books) ... uh, more times than I can count, really.

8. What made you pick a desert as your setting? Or did you know at the beginning?

I knew it was a story about a desert from the beginning - the very first piece of the book concept that came to me was that it was a desert society that depended on magic for its water, and that the magic was, for some reason, vanishing. I knew that was the big problem they had to solve before I knew why it was happening, what the solution would be, who the characters were, or anything else. The whole book was shaped around that idea, so the desert setting was always vital.

Thank you so much!

No, thank YOU!

Synopsis:

Once verdant with water from a magical Well, the land is drying up, and no one remembers the magic needed to keep the water flowing. If a new source isn’t found soon, the people will perish. Jae doesn’t mind, in a way. By law, she is bound by a curse to obey every order given her, no matter how vile. At least in death, she’ll be free.

Lord Elan’s family rules the fading realm. He comes to the estate where Jae works, searching for the hidden magic needed to replenish the Well, but it’s Jae who finds it, and she who must wield it. Desperate to save his realm, Elan begs her to use it to locate the Well.

But why would a slave—abused, beaten, and treated as less than human—want to save the system that shackles her? Jae would rather see the world burn.


Though revenge clouds her vision, she agrees to help if the kingdom’s slaves are freed. Then Elan’s father arrives. The ruler’s cruelty knows no limits. He is determined that the class system will not change—and that Jae will remain a slave forever.

You Can Find it At:
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Indie Bound

Author Bio:

Becky Allen grew up in a tiny town outside Ithaca, New York, and graduated from Brandeis University with a major in American studies and a minor in journalism. She is the website director of TheBody.com, an online HIV resource, and loves New York, brunch, and feminism. Becky lives in New York City.

You Can Find Her At:

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Sunday Street Team: The Way to Game the Walk of Shame by Jenn Nguyen

Hello all, and welcome to my stop for the Sunday Street Team! Below you can read an awesome interview I have with the author of The Way to Game the Walk of Shame!

Interview:

1. Are any of the characters based off of people you know?

None of my characters are based off of people I know, but there are quirks here and there that I give my characters. Like Taylor’s habit of making tuna when she’s stressed. And Evan naming his car Rudy. Although Oreo is totally based off of my own dog, Noodle.

2. Any advice for aspiring or young writers?

It seems cliche, but definitely write what you want to write. Trends come and go, but if you write something that your heart is into just because you think it’ll sell well then you won’t go very far. You’ll spend ages working on this book, talking about it, and selling it. You have to be its biggest cheerleader and if you don’t love it, then it’s going to be a hard road to handle.

3. What were some of the things that provided inspiration for Taylor's story?

I’ve mentioned before that the whole idea for a love contract/fake relationship came from a korean drama. I can’t remember which one because it’s been years, but I just thought it would be so much fun to have the characters bicker and pretend to be all lovey dovey. Some of the other small details did come from my life such as the pizza date. My husband bought me pizza when we first started dating and the aquarium is based off the aquarium downtown where we used to go on dates.

4. What made you decide to write YA fiction?

It just came naturally with my writing style. I experimented with a bunch of genres and age groups (MG, adult, historical, thriller, fantasy, etc) and I realized that YA contemporary romance fit me the best.

5. In five words or less, what can readers expect from The Way to Game the Walk of Shame?

A fun and heartfelt romance.

6. What do you hope readers take away from the book?

That you can’t plan every single part of your life. Things happen. And good or bad, you just have to deal with it the best way that you can and grown stronger because of it. And who knows? Something that you thought would ruin your life could end up being a blessing in disguise.

Synopsis:

Taylor Simmons is screwed.

Things were hard enough when her single-minded dedication to her studies earned her the reputation of being an Ice Queen, but after getting drunk at a party and waking up next to bad boy surfer Evan McKinley, the entire school seems intent on tearing Taylor down with mockery and gossip.

Desperate to salvage her reputation, Taylor persuades Evan to pretend they’re in a serious romantic relationship. After all, it’s better to be the girl who tames the wild surfer than just another notch on his surfboard.

You Can Find it At:

Goodreads

Barnes and Nobles

Amazon

Author Bio:

Jenn Nguyen fell in love with books in third grade and spent the rest of her school years reading through lunchtime and giving up recess to organize the school library. She has a degree in business administration from the University of New Orleans and still lives in the city with her husband. Jenn spends her days reading, dreaming up YA romances, and binge watching Korean dramas all in the name of 'research'. The Way to Game the Walk of Shame is her debut novel.

You Can Find Her At:

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Website

Giveaway:

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Sunday Street Team: What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi

Title: What You Left Behind
Author: Jessica Verdi
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release: August 4, 2015
ISBN: 9781492614401
Review: 4 Stars

Synopsis:

Jessica Verdi, the author of My Life After Now and The Summer I Wasn’t Me, returns with a heartbreaking and poignant novel of grief and guilt that reads like Nicholas Sparks for teens.

It’s all Ryden’s fault. If he hadn’t gotten Meg pregnant, she would have never stopped her chemo treatments and would still be alive. Instead he’s failing fatherhood one dirty diaper at a time. And it’s not like he’s had time to grieve while struggling to care for their infant daughter, start his senior year, and earn the soccer scholarship he needs to go to college.

The one person who makes Ryden feel like his old self is Joni. She’s fun and energetic—and doesn’t know he has a baby. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to keep his two worlds separate. Finding one of Meg’s journals only stirs up old emotions. Ryden’s convinced Meg left other notebooks for him to find, some message to help his new life make sense. But how is he going to have a future if he can’t let go of the past?

“Ryden’s story is a moving illustration of how sometimes you have to let go of the life you planned to embrace the life you’ve been given. A strong, character-driven story that teen readers will love.”—Carrie Arcos, National Book Award Finalist for Out of Reach

You Can Find it At:
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Apple

B&N

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IndieBound

Kobo
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First Impressions

When I saw the description of What You Left Behind, I knew I wanted to read it! It looked different form other stuff I'd read, and like it would be good. So, when I got an eARC of the book, I devoured. In only twenty-four hours or so.

Characters

The characters were insanely complex. Reading the novel, you really feel like you're reading about real people, not just characters. I especially loved Junie. She's a character that I feel I would be friends with in real life. Ryden was a bit whiny, but his situation did warrant it. Also, a thumbs up for an awesome mother!

Writing

The best kind of writing is the kind that you don't realize you're reading. This is that kind of writing. Instead of seeing words on a page, a movie played out in my head. And while that does happen a lot for me, it rarely happens with eBooks.

World-Building

There wasn't too much world-building to be done, as it takes place in the real world. But still, it does take effort to realistically develop small-town-America. You can see the town in your head. There's the grocery store, the school, various houses, etc. This isn't something where characters suddenly drive to a place that was never mentioned before. Instead, they have specific locations that they tend to return to.

Author Bio:

Jessica Verdi lives in Brooklyn, NY and received her MFA in Writing for Children from The New School. Her favorite pastimes include singing show tunes at the top of her lungs (much to her husband’s chagrin), watching cheesy TV, and scoring awesome non-leather shoes in a size 5. She’s still trying to figure out a way to put her uncanny ability to remember both song lyrics and the intricacies of vampire lore to good use.

You Can Find Her At:

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Giveaway:

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Sunday Street Team: The Revenge Playbook by Rachael Allen

Sunday Street Team has apparently become Monday Street Team, as I cannot keep up with dates. I need to get better at this. I promise I will! But lucky for you, I have a special interview with the author of The Revenge Playbook!

Interview:

1. Is football your favorite sport? If not, what is?

YES. I love all kinds of football. NFL football (Falcons Rise Up!), College Football (Go Jackets!), and flag football (I played all through college and grad school). I went to nearly every Georgia Tech home game when I was in college (and I got to watch Calvin Johnson play, like, every Saturday because he went there at the same time as me. Yay Megatron!). My favorite game ever was when we beat nationally ranked Auburn in a major upset when we weren’t even ranked and had a freshman quarterback. The entire stadium was electrified, and everyone rushed the field after the game and tore the goalposts down.

To any Tech fans out there - what’s the good word?

2. Do you have advice for teens navigating high school themselves?

I think my advice for teens would be pretty similar to my advice for anyone. Surround yourself with good people. Someone who makes you feel bad about yourself more often than they make you feel good about yourself isn’t someone you should be friends with, isn’t someone you should be dating. Think really hard about how people act: Do I like the way this person treats me? Do I like the way they treat other people?

And when you find those good people, do everything you can to be a good friend back. I’m still best friends with the girls I met in college - I know we’ll be friends for the rest of our lives. Having these brave, brilliant girls be a part of my life is so important. We’ve been bridesmaids in each other’s weddings and held each other’s babies. We take each other to bars when someone has a break up and bake each other ugly cakes when someone has a birthday and throw each other epic going away parties when someone moves. We’ve been on Spring Break trips, camping trips, ski trips, more sleepovers than I can count. And when life makes me feel like I need someone to peel me off the floor, they’re the ones I call.

That doesn’t mean we never fought. But a fight doesn’t mean the end of a friendship. Apologize when you’ve done something wrong. Tell someone when they’ve hurt you. Don’t lose someone important because you were afraid to try.

Oh, and if a boy ever tries to keep you from spending time with your friends, he’s a jerk. Period.

3. Have you ever gotten revenge? How did you get it?

Mostly just in the silly sense, like when I was little and would get into water balloon fights/prank wars/snowball fights with my friends and cousins. Like, oh, we’re at the pool and you splashed me? Allow me to CANNONBALL right next to you.

There was this one time in college, though. I was at a frat party, and things were winding down, and people were heading home. I had just met this guy (who I was not interested in, but had friend potential). Some of my friends were talking to some of his friends. And then he says, “Hey! We’re all going to Waffle House! C’mon.” Something about the way he said it ruffled me a little - he said it like I didn’t have a choice. So, I was all, “Oh...No, thanks, I’m not really--”

And then he slapped me.

Right across the face. Not hard enough to bruise or anything, but it definitely hurt. I was so shocked, I think I all I said was, “Did you really just slap me?” And then he was making this annoyed face and leaving with his friends, and I was making sure all my friends were walking home with me because I DID NOT want anyone going anywhere with him.

I told my friends what happened on the way back to the house, and they were horrified. And then it got weirder. Because when we got back to the house, one of our other friends told us about how she had gotten slapped just last week at the same fraternity. We dubbed him The Slapper and decided he needed to be dealt with quickly and with vengeance. So, while he was no doubt feasting in pecan waffle heaven, we plotted his demise...I kid! We plotted how we were going to steal his fraternity shot glass from his room. It’s not like we put a hit out on him or anything.

A couple weeks later, we successfully stole the shot glass, and it was a magnificent and perilous adventure, and we were the best spies in the world.

When I think about it now, yes, we had fun that night, but did we do anything that resulted in him having any real consequences for his actions? No. And I think the girls in THE REVENGE PLAYBOOK have a similar realization. They have tons of fun spying on the guys and racing against them to complete the scavenger hunt - doing this stuff is what bonds them as friends - but they ultimately realize that changing things in their town is so much more meaningful than simply getting revenge.

4. Which of your characters do you most relate to?

There are things I relate to with all the girls, but Peyton is the most similar to me in personality out of all the characters in this book or any other book I’ve written. I’m tenderhearted like she is, and I get super nervous about meeting new people even though I really love making new friends. But even though our personalities are really similar, I gave her very different interests and life experiences.

5. If you weren't a writer, what do you think you would be?


A scientist! That’s my day job, and I love that I get to do diabetes research by day and write YA by night.

Synopsis:

In this poignant and hilarious novel, Rachael Allen brilliantly explores the nuances of high school hierarchies, the traumas sustained on the path to finding true love, and the joy of discovering a friend where you least expect.

Don’t get mad, get even!

In the small town of Ranburne, high school football rules and the players are treated like kings. How they treat the girls they go to school with? That’s a completely different story. Liv, Peyton, Melanie Jane, and Ana each have their own reason for wanting to teach the team a lesson—but it’s only when circumstances bring them together that they come up with the plan to steal the one thing the boys hold sacred. All they have to do is beat them at their own game.

Brimming with sharp observations and pitch-perfect teen voices, fans of Jenny Han and Sarah Mlynowski are sure to fall head-over-heels for this sharp tale—by the author of 17 First Kisses—about the unexpected roads that can lead you to finding yourself.

You Can Find it At:
Goodreads

Author Bio:

Rachael Allen lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband, two children, and two sled dogs. In addition to being a YA writer, she's also a mad scientist, a rabid Falcons fan, an expert dare list maker, and a hugger. Rachael is the author of 17 FIRST KISSES.

You Can Find Her At:

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Giveaway:

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Sunday Street Team: Making Pretty by Corey Ann Haydu

Interview:

1. Do you see yourself as more similar to Montana or Arizona?

I see myself as closer to Montana. I certainly understand the desire of wanting to belong to someone and wanting to better understand your place in the world. I’m also a New York City girl, a girl who loves city on stoops, have struggled to accept myself the way that I am. I like the Montana fights to try to love herself, even when she finds it challenging. She wants to be comfortable in her skin, but she isn’t always. There’s so often a space between the person we want to be, and the person that we actually are.

Plus-- I’m about to dye my hair pink, so I’ll be even more like Montana!

2. How would you describe your book in five words?

Romantic, gritty search for identity.

3. If you could steal one characteristic from your characters and give it to yourself, what would it be and why?

I like Montana’s bravery. She finds herself (and puts herself!) in so many uncomfortable situations, and she embraces the discomfort and the fear. She doesn’t let fear hold her back. I like that she pushes herself and finds new sides of herself because of that push.

4. Of your three books, which is your favorite?

I don’t know that I could pick! I will say that OCD Love Story is my favorite because the reader responses are so powerful and meaningful; Life By Committee is my favorite because Tabitha is the character who is most like me in high school, and her story was the most personal; and Making Pretty is my favorite because I loved writing a story set in New York City. and when I read it during copyedits I didn’t even recognize it as my own, which was a sort of wonderful and new feeling.

I cheated, sorry!

5. What's your favorite part of the writing process?

I like revising, because it’s the biggest challenge. I love how I have to find new ways to tackle the material, and how every book requires something so different from the revision process. It’s often a really exciting time where I realize new and exciting angles to the story.

6. When did you know that you wanted to be a writer of YA fiction?

I didn’t know much about YA fiction until I started working for a literary agency that specialized in YA literature. My boss at the time handed me a pile of books to read and get acquainted with the genre. I fell in love immediately and realized how eclectic and interesting YA literature could be. I felt like it had more creativity than so much of the adult literature I was reading did. It was such an exciting time, falling in love with this thing I didn’t know existed and realizing it was what I wanted to do with my life.

7. Do you have any favorites quotes? (From books, movies, poems, etc)

Yes! My favorite quote is from Sylvia Plath’s poem, Elm. “I know the bottom, she says. I know it with my great tap root:/It is what you fear/I do not fear it: I have been there.”

I get weepy even writing it out!

8. What's a book that you're looking forward to that comes out soon?

In 2015 I’m still looking forward to Julie Murphy’s DUMPLIN’. I love the cover and I’m a fan of Julie’s work. I’m also looking forward to SKYSCRAPING by Cordelia Jensen, which sounds really wonderful and is in verse, which I love.

In 2016, HOUR OF THE BEES by Lindsay Eager sounds really wonderful and was pitched as Holes meets The House on Mango Street, both of which I love.

9. What makes up the ideal book you'd want to read?

My number one interest these days is uniqueness. I don’t want to read something that reminds me of other books. I like books that are very dark, have excellent, emotional writing, and feel strange and new to me. I want imperfect, complicated characters and relationships and surprising moments and sentences.

10. Any advice for aspiring writers?

Fall in love with your work. Stay connected to the joy of it. It’s easy to get lost in the hard work and the business and the wanting to finish a certain number of words in a certain amount of time. But what really works, what really comes through, is joy. Stay connected to the joy of writing.

Synopsis:

Montana and her sister, Arizona, are named after the mountainous states their mother left them for. But Montana is a New York City girl through and through, and as the city heats up, she’s stepping into the most intense summer of her life.

With Arizona wrapped up in her college world and their father distracted by yet another divorce, Montana’s been immersing herself in an intoxicating new friendship with a girl from her acting class. Karissa is bold, imperfectly beautiful, and unafraid of being vulnerable. She’s everything Montana would like to become. But the friendship with Karissa is driving a wedge between Montana and her sister, and the more of her own secrets Karissa reveals, the more Montana has to wonder if Karissa’s someone she can really trust.

In the midst of her uncertainty, Montana finds a heady distraction in Bernardo. He’s serious and spontaneous, and he looks at Montana in the way she wants to be seen. For the first time, Montana understands how you can become both lost and found in somebody else. But when that love becomes everything, where does it leave the rest of her imperfect life?

You Can Find it At:

Goodreads

Author Bio:

Corey Ann Haydu is the author of OCD LOVE STORY, LIFE BY COMMITTEE, MAKING PRETTY and her upcoming middle grade debut, RULES FOR STEALING STARS. A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and The New School’s Writing for Children MFA program, Corey has been working in children’s publishing since 2009.

In 2013, Corey was chosen as one of Publisher Weekly’s Flying Starts. Her books have been Junior Library Guild Selections, Indie Next Selections, and BCCB Blue Ribbon Selections. Corey also teaches YA Novel Writing with Mediabistro and is adapting her debut novel, OCD LOVE STORY into a high school play, which will have its first run in Fall 2015. Corey lives in Brooklyn with her dog, her boyfriend, and a wide selection of cheese.

You Can Find Her At:
Website

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Sunday Street Team: Alice in Wonderland High by Rachel Shane

Hello! And welcome to the first ever Sunday Street Team! Each month we will be featuring different authors and books!

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Alice just can’t find a way to be free. Her parents are environmental activists, whose cringe-worthy public protests might involve chaining themselves to a fence and pleading with passersby to “Save the World. Save Alice!” It’s not that Alice doesn’t believe there’s work to be done. But after a petition to start a farmer’s market meets with more snickers than signatures, she figures she should shut up instead of speaking out. At least, that is, until she can find something that feels real. Then along comes Whitney Lapin, a girl who speaks in cryptic riddles and spends her free time turning abandoned warehouses into beautiful gardens. Charismatic Whitney leads Alice on a rabbit trail into the underground–aka secret society–of Wonderland High. Curiouser and curiouser.

Alice is in wonderland! Even though Whitney’s group of teenage environmental vigilantes operates on the wrong side of the law, with them, Alice is finally free to be herself. She stomps on her good girl image by completing a series of environmental pranks to impress the new group: flooding the school and disguising a pig as a baby in order to smuggle it out of a testing facility. She wants to trust them, and she especially wants to trust (or maybe kiss) Chester Katz, a boy with a killer smile, a penchant for disappearing, and a secret that will turn Alice’s world backwards. But then, one of the young vigilantes tries to frame Alice for all the pranks, and she must figure out their secret before she ends up in front of a jury screaming, “Off with her head!"?

You Can Find it At:

Amazon

Excerpt:

Set up: Alice followed Chess to a house to spy on him but lost him when he disappeared in the backyard. She is peering into the basement window, where she suspects marijuana plants are being grown. 

"It's not pot, a deep voice beside me said. Chester [Katz] slipped outside through a door in the aluminum siding that hadn't existed a moment ago.

I jumped so hard I knocked my head into the wall, causing me to fall butt-first onto the ground. At least hitting my head might explain everything I'd witnessed tonight. Rubbing the spot with my palm, I looked up to see a tower of a boy blocking the moon. He carried a clay mug of green liquid. Foam and smoke billowed out of it, reminding me of mad-scientist experiments in moves. A bump was already popping out of my forehead. If I could move the swelling from my face to my chest, I'd really be on to something.

"I—I didn't think—" I rose until I was eye-level with his ribcage.

"You didn't think of a good excuse for your spying?" Chester shut the door behind him, sealing it back into the exterior. Now that I knew what to look for, I spotted faint cracks in the aluminum siding outlining the door. No knob, so it must only open from the inside. "Wow, we just met and I'm already finishing your sentences," he said.

I shot him my most angelic smile. "Then what am I going to say next?"

"You're going to ask my name. It's Chess."

I didn't want to acknowledge that I knew more about him than he probably did about me. So I stayed vague. "I go to Wonderland High."

​"Alice Liddell, right?" His lips curled into the kind of killer smile orthodontists and girls like me could appreciate. "Your picture's on the honor-roll board. Every time I pass by it…" His smile faded, and I immediately mourned the loss. "Never mind."

​"What?" I waited, wondering if he could see right through me to my secrets, like maybe transparency was a side effect of courage. Aside from a few kids who still remembered my parents' tree-hugging slip-up or my lame petition fiasco, most people at school only knew about me if they cheated off me. New gossip erased old memories daily, the circle of strife.

​"Nothing, it's—" He tilted his head to the side and his voice grew more confident with each word. "It's cheesy. I'm embarrassed I even thought it." He stared into his cup, then peered at me from under his eyelashes. "But you can guess if you want."

​"Um…" Strange. Why would he want me to guess an answer he was embarrassed about? Maybe he was trying to stall me before the police arrived. I took a step backward. I knew I should probably make a quick excuse and flee, but he studied me with such intensity, as though he was holding his breath for my answer. So I gave him one. "Every time you pass by the honor-roll board…you remember a test you haven't studied for? You wish you had a marker to draw devil horns on my head?"

​"That's a good one. Let's go with that." He grinned.

​His grin was contagious. Yesterday, his reputation would have scared me off. But now? I was intrigued.

Author Bio:
Rachel Shane studied Creative Writing at Syracuse University and now works in digital publishing at in New York City. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, young daughter, and a basement full of books. This is her first novel.

You Can Find Her At:
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