In My Mailbox: Week 64

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi at The Story Siren.

For Review:

( Much thanks goes to Loretta, Simon and Schuster, and Emma for sending me the following books!)

In a Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth  (Really great book. My review along with an author interview and contest shall be coming soon. :) )

WTF by Peter Lerangis  ( This was a surprise, and what makes it even better is the fact that it sounds interesting. Plus, I like the cover a lot.)

A House Afire by Emma Kinna ( I'm really looking forward to reading this one!)

The Bought:

None

The Borrowed:

Dear John by Nicohals Sparks ( Really looking forward to reading this one and seeing the movie for it!)

Not My Daughter by Barbara Delinsky ( Not my usual read, but the premise sounds interesting.)

Heartless by Sara Shepard ( I love the PLL series!)

Overall: Great week! :)

New Covers I Love!

I'm usually not one to post covers, but I recently came upon a few that just call to be posted about here. So, without a futher ado, here they are.

~~~

Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols (August 3, 2010)

Lori should have known better than to date a pirate.
After finally getting together and going out on their first real date, only Lori and Adam could manage to fall asleep—and wake up seven hours past Lori’s curfew. Their parents forbid them to see each other. So Lori takes it upon herself to date boys scarier than Adam until her dad gives in.

But Adam won’t play along. He’s afraid Lori might fall for these scary boys. And when she goes out with the scariest boy of all—Adam’s own brother and her ex-crush—even the threat of being sent away to military school can’t keep Adam from swashbuckling his way back into Lori’s heart.

Can this forbidden love stay afloat, or will it sink in the watery deep?

I love Jen's books, and while I have not read the prequel to this one ( I have it my TBR pile though), I'll definitely looking forward to reading this one!

Losing Faith by Denise Jadan (September 2010)

A sister's sudden death is shrouded in mystery in this lyrical,emotionally intense debut.

When Brie's sister, Faith, dies in a fall from a cliff, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood, Brie must also contend with increasingly distant parents, her boyfriend's betrayal, and her sudden outcast status at school. And once she's over the initial shock of Faith's death, Brie is encountering more questions than closure. Certain facts about the way Faith died just don't line up. She soon uncovers Faith's role in a dark and twisted religious cult...a cult that now wants Brie as a member.
 
I've been looking forward to reading this one since I heard about it last year, and seeing the cover has just increased that feeling. By the way, please note that the final cover will NOT have the purple outline.
 

The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K. Madigan (October 2010)
 
Lena has lived her whole life near the beach—walking for miles up and down the shore and breathing the salty air, swimming in the cold water, and watching the surfers rule the waves—the problem is, she’s spent her whole life just watching.

As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena vows she will no longer watch from the sand: she will learn to surf.

But her father – a former surfer himself – refuses to allow her to take lessons. After a near drowning in his past, he can’t bear to let Lena take up the risky sport.

Yet something lures Lena to the water … an ancient, powerful magic. One morning Lena catches sight of this magic: a beautiful woman—with a silvery tail.

Nothing will keep Lena from seeking the mermaid, not even the dangerous waves at Magic Crescent Cove.

And soon … what she sees in the mermaid’s mirror will change her life …

Love the cover of this one, and I'm really the loving the mermaid trend in YA right now.
~~
 
So what are YOUR thoughts on them? Will be reading any of these books when they are released?

A Contest Not To Miss!

Steph Su is giving away 8 amazing ARCs. The ARCs included are; Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan, Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink, Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien, Linger by Maggie Stiefvater (signed), The Snowball Effect by Holly Hoxter (to the left), Airhead, Book 3: Runaway by Meg Cabot, and Incarceron by Catherine Fisher! To enter, head over to Steph's blog! There will be FOUR winners!

Winners of The Lonely Hearts Club and Wish!

Winners of The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg:                   

Catie F (Already replied to my email- thank you!)                 

Janssen (Needs to reply to my email ASAP. You have 48 hours.)
Kelsy K (Needs to reply to my email ASAP. You have 48 hours.)

Winner of Wish by Alexandra Bullen:

Yan (Already replied to my email- thank you!)

CONGRATS to all four of you!

If you didn't win, you always have the option to buy either one- Wish Amazon/Indie Bound/ Barnes and Noble or The Lonely Hearts Club Amazon/ Indie Bound/ Barnes and Noble.

Also, I have two other contests running right now (Of All The Stupid Things and Undead Much? Swag). So be sure to enter those too. Links are above! :)

Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten

Summary:

Nina was beautiful, artistic, wild . . . and adored by her younger sister, Ellie. But one day, without any warning, Nina disappeared.

Two years later, Ellie can't stop thinking about her sister. Although everyone else has given up hope that Nina will return, Elile just knows her sister is out there, somewhere. If only Ellie had a clue where to look.

And then she gets one, in the form of a mysterious drawing tucked into the pages of a book. Determined to find her sister, Ellie takes off on a crazy, sexy, cross-country road trip with the only person who believes she's got a chance -- her hot, adventurous new crush.

Along the way, Ellie finds a few things she wasn't planning on. Like love. Mysteries. Lies. And something far ore shocking -- the truth.
 
Review:
 
Wherever Nina Lies was a page turning thriller and a solid debut by Ms. Weingarten.

The plot was fun, fast paced, and forever kept you guessing with the turns and twists it threw at you constantly. Though, while I did have a great deal of fun watching Ellie travel across the country to find her sister, I felt that at times it was a bit unbelievable. Since, for one, how many people would actually get in a car with a stranger they've only knew for about a day? Also I was often surprised at the fact that during the week long trip Ellie's mom didn't realize she was gone. Though, Wherever Nina Lies was still a great read even with this problem.

In addition to the plot, Lynn's writing often aided it in being even better. I loved how she was constantly manipulating what you thought was going to happen with the her words. Further more,  it was really interesting to see how she worked in all the clues and events to make up the story behind  Nina's disappearance.

The characters were interesting also. Ellie was a girl that wouldn't put anything in front of finding her sister which I respected even with some of the silly choices she made at times. Nina was probably my favorite character even though she was the one shown the lest because I loved her recklessness and carefree attitude. Though Sean was the one surprised me the most. At the beginning, I truly thought he was a great guy who only wanted to the best for Ellie, but those thoughts were quickly diminished as more was relived about his troubling, secretive past.

In all, Wherever Nina Lies is a novel I suggest to reluctant teen readers looking for a fun novel to get lost in. I'm looking forward to reading more by Ms. Weingarten.

Grade: B+

Wherever Nina Lies is now out not only in hardback (cover shown to left), but in paperback (the cover shown above and the one I like the most) too.

Source: Library

Quick Qs and As with Tish Cohen

Tish Cohen is the author of the YA novel Little Black Lies ( I read it a while back and adored it. You can check out my review here.) along with several adult novels. Though, without a further ado, here's my interview with her!

~~~~

1) First off, I’m going to give you a couple of categories and I would like you to list your favorite.


Food? Burritos, definitely.

Drink? Fruit juice right out of the juicer

Book? This changes all the time but right now I would have to say Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Author? John Irving

Movie? My Life as a Dog

Season? Fall

2) Your debut to the YA world was published this past October. So, can you share with us what you road to publication was like for it?

Well I was already published as a writer of adult fiction, so it certainly wasn’t as difficult as when we sold my very first book. Basically, I worked with my agent on the manuscript for six months after completing it and he shopped it around to editors. One editor seemed to really get the book and the character but she had issues with a few areas of plot and rejected it. We did have strong interest from another publisher but I felt strongly about the first one so I offered to revise the book and resubmit to her – if she would agree to have another look. She did and she wound up buying the book.

3) Also, what inspired you to write Little Black Lies?

Anton High is loosely based on New York’s Stuyvesant High School, which is the most sought-after public high school in America and is tougher to get into than Harvard. I’d read an interesting article about Stuy in New York magazine and saved it because the students at this prestigious school sounded so unique. Then one day I picked it up…

4) Whose your favorite character in Little Black Lies?

Hm. Hard to say. It just might be Carling Burnack’s dread-locked chauffeur because he appears to be such a no hoper but he really has soul. He really cares for Carling when few others do.

5) How did the title Little Black Lies come to be?

I think the title came to me very early in the process. Once I knew Sara was going to tell a slew of lies to fit in, and that some of the lies would be quite hurtful, the title just happened.

6) Sara’s dad in Little Black Lies has an obsessive-compulsive disorder which leaves me to wonder why you made him have this problem? Was it something that came from your life or did you just want to explore the disorder?

I thought if Charlie was really going downhill in terms of his problem, if something was causing his cleaning and washing and obsessing to worsen, it would make him more of a threat to Sara’s social life. And I liked that he just couldn’t help it and that Sara just couldn’t help being frustrated by it – it added a nice believable tension.

7) Is there a specific message your hope readers of Little Black Lies take from it?

The biggest thing would be to give people a chance to know you before you decide to hide parts of yourself. Also, as it concerns Sara’s mother, some people you cannot change no matter how hard you wish. And if you have a person like that in your life, you have to lower your expectations about how they will behave toward you. Otherwise you’ll constantly be disappointed. In life, everyone is just doing the best they can with what they have to work with – and it might be better to look at people who disappoint you with a degree of empathy instead of frustration.

8) What’s one of the most interesting comment you have received about your books since you‘ve become a published author?

Well…this is kind of embarrassing! When my first adult book, Town House, came out, the Globe and Mail newspaper said this: “Winsomely told...there's more than quirky charm and endearing oddness in the characters Cohen creates. They're sharp and can bite in the barbed way that the more mordant inhabitants of Alexander McCall Smith's “44 Scotland Street” do; Cohen's Lucie is a North American near-relative of McCall Smith's Bertie, and that's an incredible achievement in itself.” The reason this one stands out for me is that I liked the way the reviewer noticed my characters aren’t just odd. I do want readers to see the characters as offbeat and unpredictable. I liked that he said they are sharp and can bite.

9) If you could have any job in the world besides being an author, what would you choose?

Ballet dancer.

10) What’s up next for you book-wise?
 
I am writing the first draft of my next novel for teens—something very different from Little Black Lies!
 
~~~
 
Thanks so much, Tish! I hope everyone gets the chance to check out Little Black Lies along with the rest of your books! :)
 
Other Links:

Tish's Website
Tish's books on Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Indie Bound.

Waiting on Wednesday: Week 63

Take Me There by Carolee Dean (July 20, 2010)

Seventeen-year-old Dylan Dawson is trying to pull his life together after his release from juvenile hall. But going straight isn’t easy, and Dylan just can’t seem to keep out of trouble. His problems escalate fast, and soon he has no choice but to hit the road, even though it means leaving behind the girl of his dreams. He heads south for Texas, on the run and in search of his father. (Dylan has no idea how his life became such a mess, but he knows that his dad is at the root of it.) When Dylan finds him, he certainly gets answers—but they’re answers to questions he wishes he’d never asked.

Sounds interesting!

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

Summary:

Sixteen-year-old music and sound design obsessed Drea doesn't have friends. She has, as she's often reminded, issues. Drea's mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have settled on "a touch of Asperger's."

Having just moved to the latest in a string of new towns, Drea meets two other outsiders. And Naomi and Justin seem to actually like Drea. The three of them form a trip-hop band after an impromptu jam session. Justin swiftly challenges not only Drea's preference for Poe over Black Lab but also her perceived inability to connect with another person. Justin, against all odds, may even like like Drea.

It's obvious that Drea can't hide behind her sound equipment anymore. But just when she's found not one but two true friends, can she stand to lose one of them?
 
Review:
 
Every once in a while there comes a YA debut novel that fits in with adjectives such as fantastic, wonderful, and amazing leaving me to be absolutely grateful that YA is the genre I read. Oh, and if you haven't guessed it so far, Harmonic Feedback is the book I'm talking about.

Within Drea, Tara has created an inspirational and real girl that's unique  voice is one that I adored reading. I loved that even though Drea has Asperger's syndrome she was still someone that I, someone who doesn’t have this condition, could relate to. How you may ask? Well, deep down Drea was simply a girl trying to find herself in this complicated world while being someone she was proud to be; a desire that many teens including myself have. Plus, the supporting characters varying from Naomi, a funny and fascinating girl whose wanting of love simply got in the way of living, to Justin, a boy who was also trying to find a place in this world far from were the one he landed himself in the last few years, were ones that I loved just as much as Drea and would have made Harmonic Feedback incomplete without.
 
Harmonic Feedback’s backbone, or plot, along with it's writing also fit in to making this novel a great deal of fun to read. I loved the fact music was a big part. Also, as mentioned before,  Ms. Kelly's writing was awesome leaving to have the desire to savor it bit at a time, but at the same time have the feeling to rush through it because I was dying to find out what happened next.

Part of the ending was something I wasn't expecting at all; and while it made me a wee bit angry, it was something that just worked and made this book to be a A+ times a gazillion in my mind.

In all, I urge you to walk run to the bookstore when Harmonic Feedback comes out because it's just THAT good! I'm truly looking forward to reading more by Tara because I have a feeling she'll be a big star in the YA world in a few years.


Grade: A+
 
Harmonic Feedback will be released  May 25, 2010.
 
Source: Around The World Tours for review.

Sidenote: I just love that the cover perfectly matches a two important sceanes in the book. Bravo Henry Holt and Co.! :)
 
Further Links:
Tara's Site
Harmomic Feeback's dedicated website 
Tara's Twitter
Tara's Blog

Life of Glass Blog Tour: Quick Qs and As with Jillian Cantor and Contest Info!

Jillian Cantor is the author of two amazing YA books- The September Sisters (2009) and The Life of Glass ( February 2010)- and an adult one that I haven't had the pleasure of reading yet- The Transformation of Things (Fall 2010). She currently resides in Arizona with her husband and two sons. Though without a further ado, here's my interview with the lovely Jillian!

~~~

Can you describe you newest novel The Life of Glass in three words?

That’s tough! Life of glass? Just kidding!! How about: beauty, love, family.

Can you describe you main character Melissa in one sentence. Also, are you similar to her in any ways?

Melissa is a strong character who is less concerned with “being beautiful” than being loved, but she comes to learn that her idea of true beauty is different than she once thought, and so is her idea of true love.
I am similar to Melissa in that when I was in high school, I always thought of myself as the smart girl, rather than the pretty girl. I was not one of those very polished girls on the cheerleading team who always wore designer clothes and had perfect hair. No, I was the girl in jeans and a sweat shirt, with the too-frizzy hair. I valued real friendships over being popular, and though I never had a guy best friend like Ryan in the book, I always did have some pretty close friendships with guys in high school, and one of those friendships did actually turn into relationship (and that guy is now my husband!)

How did the title The Life of Glass come to be?

It originated from the last thing that Melissa’s father ever told her, that the life of glass is a million years. It’s an idea that Melissa comes back to a lot in the book, the fact that glass is so fragile and yet it lives so long, and that people seem so much stronger, yet they die so easily. I had two title ideas for the book – this one and BEAUTIFUL. I gave both options to my editor and my agent, and they both agreed that The Life of Glass was the better title, more unique.

Is there anything you hope readers of The Life of Glass take from it?

Well, of course I hope they enjoy it, and that they come to love Melissa as much as I do. But if you’re asking if there’s anything I would want readers to take from it on a grander scale, I guess it would be that they would think about their ideas of beauty and what it means to be beautiful. There is so much value placed on being “beautiful” and being thin in our society (and so much pressure on women from TV and mass media to live up to these impossible ideals), but I think in reality, there are so many different definitions of what it actually means to be beautiful.

Did The Life of Glass change in any big ways from first draft to final copy?

Not in any big ways, no. This book came to me from start to finish, piece by piece, as I was writing it, and when I was done it was nearly (and amazingly!) all in tact. I actually changed very little in the editing process, aside from some dialogue tweaking and a bit of cutting and pasting in the first few chapters. Really, the only thing I can think that I changed that is big enough to be interesting, is that I did end up adding a chapter near the end to give a little more closure about who Sally really was. In the original draft, I left this up in the air, but my editor thought readers would want an answer!

How does it feel knowing your books are in bookstores?

I have to say, it’s definitely strange walking into my local store and seeing it there on the shelf, and I don’t know if it’s something I’ll ever get used to! I took my kids to the library the other day, and I saw The September Sisters out on the shelf, and for some reason, that wowed me even more. I was a big checker-outer of library books when I was a teen!

You blog over at The Novel Girls with four other writers which leaves me to wonder what your experience has been like working with all those talented authors.

It’s been amazing! Writing is sometimes such a solitary profession that it’s great to be connected with four other women who are doing the exact same thing I’m doing at the exact same time. Before I had a book published, I was doing what I was doing now, writing and trying to navigate the publishing world, but I didn’t have anyone to bounce ideas off of or ask for advice or compare stories with. It’s such a great support system.

What part of the writing process is the most challenging for you?

For me, it’s when I have a manuscript that’s done but isn’t totally working, for whatever reason. It’s always hard to try and figure out how to revise it to fix the problems without totally squashing anything that’s already good about it.

What’s your favorite thing about being an author? Least?

My favorite part is the writing itself. Sitting down every day, telling a story, letting the story blossom in my mind and consume my thoughts, and getting it down on the page. My least favorite parts have more to do with the business side of publishing, waiting (and driving myself crazy with what-ifs) while a manuscript is out on submission with an editor, and getting rejection letters.

What’s a really good book you’ve read recently?

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. It’s probably the first middle-grade book I’ve read since I was in middle school myself, but also one of the best books I’ve read in the past year and definitely not just for middle grade readers. I gave it to my mom to read when I was done, and she loved it, too! It was beautifully written, I loved the characters, and the ending was twisty and perfectly executed, something that I admire almost more than anything else in a book.

What’s your typical day like?

Very glamorous. (Not really!) I get up, do lots of “mom” stuff (take my older son to school/pick him up, play with my younger son, do laundry, clean my kitchen, etc.) In the afternoon I usually write for an hour or two when my kids are napping. Then I do more mom stuff, make dinner, get the kids ready for bed, and then I usually write for a few more hours after my kids go to bed. If I’m on a deadline to get stuff done, I’ll squeeze more writing in before and after dinner when my husband is home and extra on the weekends.

What’s up next for you book-wise?

My debut book for adults, THE TRANSFORMATION OF THINGS, is going to be out this coming fall. It tells the story of a woman who, in glimpsing the intimate lives of her loved ones, is able to illuminate the half-truths in her own life. On the YA front, I just finished revising a book that’s a love story which takes place against the backdrop of illegal immigration on the US/Mexico border. Cross your fingers for me that it will soon find a good home!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog, Lauren, and for kicking off my blog tour! The Life of Glass will be out on February 9, 2010, and you can find more about me and the book on my website: http://www.jilliancantor.com/

~~

Thanks so much, Jillian!

To continue on with this blog tour check out Shelf Elf tommorow as well as the full blog tour list!

And now for the contest info:

Enter to win free copies of Jillian Cantor's books and cool prizes! One grand prize winner will receive two glass spirit stones (one for you, one for a friend) from Arizona, where THE LIFE OF GLASS is set, along with an autographed copy of each of Jillian's novels: THE LIFE OF GLASS and THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS. Two lucky runners-up will receive a signed copy of THE LIFE OF GLASS. To be eligible, send an email to contests@jilliancantor.com with the subject line "The Life of Glass Giveaway". All e-mail entries must be received by midnight (PST) on February 14, 2010. The winners will be selected at random on February 15, 2010. Be sure to include your name and e-mail address with your entry (If you're under age 13, give your parent's contact info). One entry per person. Jillian Cantor's complete blog tour schedule can be found at www.jilliancantor.com. Good luck!

I hope everyone enters and good luck to those who do. You'll certainly be in for a great read if you do win The September Sisters and/or The Life of Glass! 

Further links:

Jillian's Website
Here books on Amazon/Barnes and Noble/Indie Bound.

Life Of Glass Blog Tour: Review of The Life of Glass by Jillian Cantor

Summary:

Before he died, Melissa’s father told her about stars. He told her that the brightest stars weren’t always the most beautiful—that if people took the time to look at the smaller stars, if they looked with a telescope at the true essence of the star, they would find real beauty. But even though Melissa knows that beauty isn’t only skin deep, the people around her don’t seem to feel that way. There’s her gorgeous sister Ashley who will barely acknowledge Melissa at school, there's her best friend Ryan, who may be falling in love with the sophisticated Courtney, and there’s Melissa’s mother who’s dating someone new, someone who Melissa knows will never be able to replace her father.

To make sure she doesn’t lose her father completely, Melissa spends her time trying to piece together the last of his secrets and completing a journal her father began—one about love and relationships and the remarkable ways people find one another. But when tragedy strikes, Melissa has to start living and loving in the present, as she realizes that being beautiful on the outside doesn't mean you can't be beautiful on the inside.

This is a lyrical tale of love, loss and self-discovery from the author of THE SEPTEMBER SISTERS.
 
Review:

Last year a little debut called The September Sisters took a place in my heart and The Life of Glass continued to do the same.

I can't even begin to describe how much I absolutely loved this book of love, loss, and moving on, because I don't think my words could ever do it enough justice.

The one thing I absolutely love about Jillian Cantor's books is that she takes a topic so simple that you worry for a moment that it'll provide to be dull, but instead proves to be complex enjoyable with her smooth, lyrical like writing and her characters who always earn my respect with their realness.
I liked how Melissa could be any teen because of the fact she was dealing with a loss of the loved one, worried about fitting in while staying true to herself and coming to term with several issues that I bet any teen or even adult, possibly, can find relatable. And talking about relatable-ness, I give props to Jillian for addressing toxic friendships with Courtney and Melissa. Further more, I loved how sweet Ryan was most of the time to Melissa and how Jillian once again had siblings take part in the plot of her book. Though, this time in a happier way, thankfully.

In all, The Life of Glass once again shows of Jillian Cantor's story telling talent making it a book I'll definitely be suggesting come February.

Grade: A+

The Life of Glass comes out February 9, 2010!

Source: Contest won at one of the author's blogs. Thanks Jillian!

Winner of the a $150 VISA Gift Card for Your Own Girls' Night out!

First off, Elizabeth, Chelsy, and I all had a great time reading all of your amazing best friend stories. Because of all the greatness they contained, it would have been nearly impossible for Elizabeth to pick a winner. So because of that and some other factors, Random Number Generator was used to pick a winner in the end.

And that winner is:

Samantha LeAnne from Harelquin Twilight's Book Blog!

Congrats, Samantha. I just emailed you so be sure to reply in the next 72 hours or I'll have to pick a new winner.

In cause your curious, here was her best friend story:

This was an absolutely adorable post! Friendship is such a priceless thing to have.

My best friend is awesome because he's been there for me through everything, no matter what it has been. We like the same movies, books (I got him reading again!), and music. He went as far as to put off moving to California (we live in Tennessee), for as long as possible just to stay with me. He was able to put it off for about 6 months, but now he is leaving at the end of the month (and when I started to cry about the news, he was the one to say HE was sorry!). He's been the best friend I've ever had.

Now I'm going to stop before I start to cry, lol.

What a cute story! He sounds like such an amazing best friend! :)

Oh, and if you have the time, I highly suggest you go check out the rest of the stories in the comments! Since they are seriously great!

In My Mailbox: Week 62

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren.

For Review:

None

Around The World Tour:

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

Sixteen-year-old music and sound design obsessed Drea doesn't have friends. She has, as she's often reminded, issues. Drea's mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have settled on "a touch of Asperger's."

Having just moved to the latest in a string of new towns, Drea meets two other outsiders. And Naomi and Justin seem to actually like Drea. The three of them form a trip-hop band after an impromptu jam session. Justin swiftly challenges not only Drea's preference for Poe over Black Lab but also her perceived inability to connect with another person. Justin, against all odds, may even like like Drea.

It's obvious that Drea can't hide behind her sound equipment anymore. But just when she's found not one but two true friends, can she stand to lose one of them?

This book was AMAZING! It made me cry, laugh, and smile; leaving me to definitely think Tara is one of the new superstars of YA!

To see more of my thoughts on it, be sure to check out my review which will be up this coming week.

The Bought:

None

The Borrowed:

I Will Always Love You by Cecily von Ziegesar


Blair, Serena, Nate, Dan, and Vanessa went off to live their lives. Now they're coming home for the holidays.

A lot can change in a few months . . . but some things never do.

It finally happened: we went to college. We started over. No one knows who we've coveted, what we scored on the SATs,where our parents live, or when we became debaucherous. We've learned new things, made new friends, and maybe even met the loves of our lives. We've changed.

Or at least, some of us have. But old habits are hard to break-especially when faced with your former besties and former flames. With everyone back in the city for the holidays, this break is guaranteed to be filled with makeups, breakups, and shakeups.

Lucky for you, I'm here to report all the scandal as it happens. Let the games begin!

You know you love me,

xoxo Gossip Girl
 

A Walk To Remember by Nicholas Sparks
 
Every April, when the wind blows from the sea and mingles with the scent of lilacs, Landon Carter remembers his last year at Beaufort High. It was 1958, and Landon had already dated a girl or two. He even swore that he had once been in love. Certainly the last person in town he thought he'd fall for was Jamie Sullivan, the daughter of the town's Baptist minister. A quiet girl who always carried a Bible with her schoolbooks, Jamie seemed content living in a world apart from the other teens. She took care of her widowed father, rescued hurt animals, and helped out at the local orphanage. No boy had ever asked her out. Landon would never have dreamed of it. Then a twist of fate made Jamie his partner for the homecoming dance, and Landon Carter's life would never be the same. Being with Jamie would show him the depths of the human heart and lead him to a decision so stunning it would send him irrevocably on the road to manhood...
 
Since I really enjoyed The Last Song I thought I would give this one a try too.
 
In all, a pretty great week book-wise even if I didn't get any books for review. :)

Quick Qs and As with Laura Pedersen

Laura Pedersen is the author of severl books including the Hallie Palmer series which looks like a complete blast to read.

~~~

Describe you newest novel Best Bet in four words.

Humorous, hopeful and heartfelt.

Are you similar to Hallie, the main character in Best Bet, in any ways?

I used to gamble as a teenager. We both possess unruly hair that is the envy of nesting animals in wintertime. However, I have outdoor allergies and so a gardening job wouldn’t be a good fit.

What has been your favorite part of writing the Hallie Palmer series?

I’ve enjoyed being with all of the characters. I suppose some call it imagination and others might say schizophrenia, but they really do have conversations in my head and make me laugh. Or something unusual happens and I automatically know what Bernard or Olivia would say about it.

With Best Bet being the last book in the Hallie Palmer series, what are your thoughts on closing the series?

As it does in life, I wanted the end to lead back to the beginning. Whether you believe the Christian version of life starting in a garden or that we evolved from nature, that’s where the story starts and finishes. But I hope the end of the series feels like a new beginning for Hallie and readers in that much still lies ahead. Looking back, I like to think that whenever Hallie had a choice, she embraced life.

Is there a specific message you hope readers of the Hallie Palmer series take from it?

I hope readers will seek out opportunities, have lots of failures to learn from and laugh about (if you’re not then maybe you’re not trying enough different avenues), be involved in their communities, and fight for whatever it is they’re passionate about. I hope they’ll always consider the value of kindness, because almost everyone we meet is fighting a difficult battle, some battles more obvious than others, some we know about and many we don’t. In his short story “The Freshest Boy,” F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote, “It isn’t given to us to know those rare moments when people are wide open and the lightest touch can wither or heal.”

What’s your favorite thing about being an author? Least?

I’m an only child and so I’ve always been comfortable quietly entertaining myself alone in a room. It’s fun to will an entire world of people and circumstance into existence. And it’s a thrill to take a rough draft and shape it into a finished story. The bad part is the first week, looking at that blank screen and knowing you have about three hundred pages to go.

Which part of the writing process do you find the most challenging?
It’s hard for me not to make all of my characters sound the way I do and react to situations the way that I would. It helps to assign each fictional character to a real person I know and imagine what they would do.

Is there any book out there you just wish you had written yourself?
I wish I’d written A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn, who examines the country from the view of the people who helped build it but didn’t have a voice because they were poor or a minority. However, just thinking about all of that research makes me want to lie down so it’s a good thing Mr. Zinn successfully completed the task and I need only enjoy it.

What’s your typical day like?

Walk dogs, eat yogurt with blueberries, write (books and/or checks), eat lentil spinach soup, tutor at a school in East Harlem, call Dad in New Mex (ask him, “How are you?” and he says, “I got up this morning.”), eat burrito, e-mail Mom about any disasters or local flu epidemics or injuries at school since she’s a nurse and likes that sort of thing, read New York Times and some magazines and hopefully a few chapters of a book, walk dogs, watch documentary. As you can see, it’s a phenomenally glamorous existence (not!). That said, I have had exciting life experiences where I traveled around the world and did cool things and met fascinating people and so try not to become a boring shut-in until you’re older. Hopefully I’m going to India in a few months to work on some interesting political issues, but as the only child of an only child I’m currently involved in an extended family eldercare spiral which takes precedence.

What’s up next for you book-wise?

I recently wrote a humorous memoir called Buffalo Gal about growing up in the Rust Belt during the stagflation 1970s. It did well and so now I’ve chronicled the Buffalo renaissance in Buffalo Unbound, which comes out in the fall.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Candles in the home are a fire hazard if you’re absentminded the way I am. I now put them in water, even if it’s just a little dish of water at the base. Just thought I should pass that on.

~~~

Thanks Laura!

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Summary:

Seventeen year old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alientated from her parents, especially her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church.

The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story of love on many levels--first love, love between parents and children -- that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them.
 
Review:

After seeing the movie trailer for this one a couple days ago, I knew I had to get my hands on copy. Since, for one, it looked fantastic and because of that and the fact that I doubt I'm going to see the movie ( It has Miley Cyrus in it which is a big turnoff for me), I made my way to the library to get it.


As it turned out, The Last Song was just as amazing and heartbreaking coming to age novel as I thought it would be.

The Last Song is told from four different people's perspectives- Will (Ronnie's main love interest throughout out and just a really sweet guy), Ronnie ( The person whose story this is basically; I loved reading her parts), Marcus (The creepy 'villain') , and Steve (Ronnie's Dad). All of them proved be excellent narrators and characters I came to love. Well, expect for Marcus, of course, because he was a grade A creep.

My favorite aspect of this novel would be seeing the different relationships that evolved - the one between Will and Ronnie and the one between Steve and Ronnie- since both relationships never ceased to feel so real because of the fact that you saw the bad, the good, and the struggles each had equally. Plus, it went on to show that the relationships you make in life are what can truly hold you up in the end to be the best you can be; a message that is very important, in my opinion.


Also, I enjoyed seeing all the emotions Nicolas writing provoked in me throughout. Since, it showed just how amazing of writer his which leaves me to want to read the rest of his novels so bad.

In all, The Last Song was a fabulous read that I not only adored but will be suggesting to all. Though, word of warning, this book will make you cry so much at the end.
 
Grade: A-

The Last Song is now out!

Source: Library

Over The Top Award

I received this award from the lovely La Coccinelle of The Ladybuy Reads.

Here are the rules:

The rules are pretty simple. Answer the following questions with Single Word answers (HA! Let's see if I can actually do this.) then pass this along to 5 other bloggers. Make sure you let them know about it though.

Your Cell Phone? There.

Your Hair? Brown.

Your Mother? Supportive.

Your Father? Annoying.

Your Favorite Food? Cheese-Its

Your Dream Last Night? Forgettable.

Your Favorite Drink? Water.

Your Dream/Goal? Sucess.

What Room Are You In? Computer.

Your Hobby? Blogging.

Your Fear? Dying.

Where Do You Want To Be In Six Years? Elsewhere.

Where Were You Last Night? Home.

Something That You Aren't? Outgoing.

Muffins? Chocolate

Wish List Item? Books!

Where Did You Grow Up? PA.

Last Thing You Did? Study.

What Are You Wearing? Pajamas.

Your TV? Upstairs.

Your Pets? Two.

Friends? Funny.

Your Life? Uneventful.

Your Mood? Bored.

Missing Someone? Yes.

Vehicle? No.

Something You Aren't Wearing? Glasses.

Your Favorite Store? Barnes and Noble.

Your Favorite Color? Pink.

When Was The Last Time You Laughed? Lunch.

Last Time You Cried? Unknown.

Your Best Friend? Amazing.

One Place You Go To Over And Over Again? School.

Facebook? Si.

Favorite Place To Eat? Panera.

I tag:

Since, I really need to get back to study for clase de espanol, I'm going to pass this on to everyone who follows my blog (Yes, all 636 ( Sidenote: When did this number get so HIGH?!! haha) of you)

Dream Life Blog Tour

Today I have a very special guest visiting Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf. Who is it, you may ask. Well, it’s no one other then Claire Voyante, the main character in Lauren Mechling's Dream Life and Dream Girl.

~~~~

Greetings and salutations, book lovers! I’m Claire Voyante, the main character of Dream Life, Lauren Mechling’s rip-roaring detective novel (and no, it is not immodest to say that about a book you didn’t write but in which you star—I checked in one of my grandmother Kiki’s etiquette books).

Dream Life is all about what happened after I found out my best friend Becca had just joined a super-exclusive, centuries-old secret society called the Blue Moons. I figured out how to wiggle my way into the club, and, of course, much drama ensued. I warmly invite you to check Dream Life out—it’s available at a bookstore or Internet site near you.

When Dream Girl, the first book in the series, came out, my creator Lauren fielded questions from bloggers and journalists. Lauren is currently underground working on a secret project so I offered to step in and relief pitch. I’m taking a page from Ann Landers's book and writing an advice column. The questions came from fans of the series. The answers came from the heart.

(Warning: I don't have a degree in psychotherapy--use at your own risk!)

Dear Claire,

My uncle and aunt are having a baby and if it’s a girl they want to name it Andromeda. And my math teacher just gave birth to a boy who she called Xander. What the heck is going on? Whatever happened to names like Tom or Brittany?

Lia Who Used To Think Her Name Was Somewhat Interesting

Clinton, Iowa

Dear LWUTTHNWSI,


Okay, that wasn’t really an advice question. More like a Seinfeld joke. But I’m happy to take this on—I totally agree that something weird is afoot.


I live in a building for NYU professors and their families, and I haven’t met a single baby with a normal name in the past few years. There’s Virgil, Artemis, Finn, Tigris, Ethel, and Maker. Swear to Zeus. Oh wait--there's also a Zeus.


My theory is the people who are having babies these days—mostly people in their late twenties or thirties—were named in the ‘70s, when guys with names like Richard and Jimmy were president, pop stars were named Judy and Barbara, and extremely boring names were popular. Lauren, my 70s-born author, went to a party recently where every single guy she met was named Matt or Jason or Jessica or Lauren. Every. Single. One.


So now that these Laurens and Jasons are bringing babies into the world, it’s their turn to right the balance and name their kids after planets or ancient gods. Must stink to be a kindergarten teacher and have to remember all those names!


We can comfort ourselves with the knowledge that everything goes in cycles, and in fifty years or whatever, our kids won’t grow up to say to people at cocktail parties, “Hi, my name is Mesopotamia!” As for your uncle, well, it is his kid. Just remember you're free to have as many Jacks and Judys as you wish.

L’amour toujours!


Claire
 
~~~
 
Thanks so much, Claire/Lauren!
 

Dream Life by Lauren Mechling -- Trailer from Richie Williams on Vimeo.
 
Other Links:
 
Dream Life on Amazon/ Indiebound 
Lauren's Website
Lauren's Blog
Lauren's Twitter
Some of Lauren's other books on Barnes and Noble/ Amazon

Waiting On Wednesday (62)

My pick this week is:

Kiss It by Erin Downing ( June 15, 2010)

 

Summary:

Chastity, aka Chaz, is a high school senior who cannot wait to flee her closed-minded, constricting small town. One night at the beginning of winter break when a stranger enters the restaurant where Chaz works, she is instantly taken with him—and his sexy body. Sebastian is staying with his dad for the holidays, and over the course of the break, from helping her cope with an unexpected crisis at home and a friend’s accidental pregnancy to sending her virginity to a point of no return, Sebastian changes Chaz’s life forever. Intelligent and entertaining, Kiss It is a tribute to the unexpected thrills of regular life.

I'm not a huge fan of the cover, but the premise sounds interesting enough. Plus, it's a PAPERBACK release! So I'll actually be able to buy it. :)

Quick Qs and As with Stacy Jay and CONTEST!

Stacey Jay is the author of several books for Young Adults including Megan Berry, Zombie Settler series which I adore, and the fourthcoming My So Called Undeath (2010) and The Locket (2011).

~~~

Can you describe your newest novel Undead Much? in four words?

Secrets. Romance. Mystery. Zombies!

Are you similar to Megan in any ways?

Megan and I both have the tendency to over-think every little decision. I'm bad about that now, but I was even worse in high school. I'd become paralyzed by thinking about all the possible outcomes of one choice versus another and be unable to choose at all. It was awful! Lol.

What’s your favorite aspect about writing the Megan Berry, Zombie Settler series?

I love the over-the-top zombie fight scenes. I love how brave Megan is becoming. I love evil fr-enemy, Monica, and romantic hero, Ethan. I just love these characters. I hope I get to write the third book soon!

Do you have a favorite scene or line in Undead Much? If so, would you mind sharing with us a bit about it?

The truth was squirming around in my brain, like some horrible worm set on devouring my happy past.

This line sums up a major plot line in Undead Much? There are a lot of secrets in this book that--when they come to light--change Megan's view of herself and her life forever. (And this sentence is so gross it makes my brain twitch a little. I'm proud of that!)

How did the title Undead Much? come to be?

It came to me while I was writing the first book. This is the only title that I've ever come up with that's actually ended up on a book. Usually, my publishers come up with something much more clever, but this time they liked "Undead Much?".

I love the covers for Undead Much? and You Are So Undead to Me which leaves me to wonder what it was like seeing them both for the first time

Thanks so much! I love them too. I was so thrilled with the first one and even more in love with the second. The art production team at Razorbill is amazing. I feel so lucky to have them working on my books!

How does it feel knowing your books are in stores?

Trippy. Scary. Humbling. Thrilling.

What’s one of most interesting comments you have received about your books?

I love getting emails from people named Megan Berry who can't believe my character has the same name. It makes me laugh every time. So far, I've received about six of those. There are a LOT of Megan Berrys out there.

What’s your favorite thing about being an author? Least?

I live for the drafting and revising process. I love being alone with my characters and getting them into so much trouble I'm not sure if I'll ever get them out of it again. That's the best part of being an author for me, the actual writing.

I'm not such a huge fan of promotion. It's hard to put yourself out there when you're basically an introvert. I can put on the extrovert persona now and then, but I prefer to be behind the scenes. That's why acting, my first career, was ultimately such a poor fit. I loved pretending, but I wasn't so in love with everyone watching me do it, lol.

What part of the writing process is the most challenging for you? Easiest?

It can be hard for me to compromise when it comes to an idea I'm really excited about. The book I'm working on now, THE LOCKET, was originally a very gory, horror-inspired story, but my editor wanted something more eerie and romantic. It was hard to re-imagine a plot I was so psyched about, but I'm glad I did. I think THE LOCKET is going to be a very intense, romantic read because of the compromises I made.

The easiest part is dreaming up new things. I love shiny, new ideas! I have so many stories I want to write at the moment. I wish I didn't need to sleep.

What’s your typical day like?

Up at 6 a.m. getting 5 ready for Kindergarten. Then Baby and I come home and do breakfast and email--if he's in the mood to let me mess with the computer--and then hit the gym. Once we get home we do lunch and playtime and then he goes down for nap and I write like a madwoman for two hours. Then it's snack time and off to pick up brother and the rest of the day is a blur of baths and homework and more feeding and cleaning up and playing. I get most of my work done on the two afternoons my baby is at Mother's Day Out and on weekend mornings when my husband watches the kids while I go to the library. Being a stay at home mom is a full time job and so is writing so...it can be hard to smash it all in there, but I do my best. I really love both of my jobs.

What’s up next for you book-wise? Also, are there going to be anymore Megan Berry, Zombie Settler books? Since, I personally would love some more!

Aw, thanks. I would LOVE to write more Megan books. I have at least one more story extensively outlined, but I won't know whether I get to write that book or others until sales of UNDEAD MUCH? are calculated in a few months. If the sales are as strong as the first book, I'll get to write more. It's up to the fans to show Razorbill they want more Megan Berry books! (And more Ethan. I know you guys. Ethan is the subject of most of my reader email, lol.)

Right now I'm working on the stand alone novel that I mentioned earlier, THE LOCKET. It's a love story about a girl, two boys, and a very scary piece of jewelry that messes with the fabric of time. It's very romantic. I think fans of Megan and Ethan's love story will enjoy it. It will be out in early 2011.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy UNDEAD MUCH?

~~

Thanks Stacey! I can't read to more of there novels.

Now, on to the contest! Stacey has offered to giveaway an "Undead Much?" tote bag with some original Megan Berry inspired artwork by artist, April McGuire! If you would like to enter, leave a comment for Stacey on this post and then fill out the following form. This is open to the US only and will run until  Feb. 2nd!

Contest for a Signed ARC of Of All The Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz!

Thanks to Alex, I have a signed ARC of Of All The Stupid Things to giveaway!

Here's the summary:

When a rumor starts circulating that Tara’s boyfriend has been with one of the guy cheerleaders, the innuendo doesn’t just hurt Tara. It marks the beginning of the end for three lifelong friends.

Tara’s training for a marathon, but also running from her fear of abandonment from her father.

Whitney Blaire seems to have everything, but an empty mansion and absentee parents leave her looking for her own value in the wrong places.

And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mama she’s never stopped missing.

Then the new girl arrives in school and Tara starts to feel things she’s never felt for before for a girl. Can the girls’ friendship survive when all the rules have changed?

To enter, fill out the form. This contest is open to US only and will close February 1st!

Good luck!

Quick Qs and As with Alexandra Diaz

Alexandra Diaz is the debut author of a book titled Of All The Stupid Things which I enjoyed reading. (You can read my review here, if you would like.) Though, without a futher ado, here's my interview with her.

~~~

Can you describe Of All the Stupid Things in three words?

Friends, relationships, and misunderstandings.

Of All the Stupid Things is told in three different girls’ perspectives- Whitney Blaire, Pinkie, and Tara. So, which one are you most like in real life?

Originally I thought that was Pinkie, though I don’t worry quite as much as she does. But as I developed the girls further, there are certainly bits of me in each one. Like a mother, I don’t think I can play favorites now!

What was the inspiration behind Of All the Stupid Things?

The idea came with Brent and him being such a jerk. From there I thought about what he did to become such a jerk and what the consequences of said actions were. The rest just flowed on out; through the course of a year or two…

How did the title Of All the Stupid Things come to be?

My original title didn’t work and I had to come up with something different. I had the line “of all the stupid things” already in the first page so it seemed like it would work for the title.

If Of All the Stupid Things had a theme song, what would it be?

I’m sure there are other more appropriate songs, but the only one that comes to mind is “One week” by Bare Naked Ladies.

Was there a specific moment where you went, “I want to be an author.” or was it something that involved over time?

Making up stories is something I’ve always done so writing just seemed to be the natural course. Give me a “what if” scenario and I can go crazy with it! I think technically my mom knew I was going to be a writer before I did because at a young age she saw where my creativity would go.

What made you choose YA as the genre you write in?

 I started reading YA by the time I was 9 or 10 and I’ve never stopped. It is my choice genre to read, probably because it often includes kissing! Because it’s what I love to read, it makes sense to write what I love.

What type of setting do you usually write in?

Mostly in my room, though I can technically write anywhere. I’ve been known to scribble on scrap bits of paper while at work or in the car.

What is your typical day like?

In my life there’s no such thing as a typical day. Because I’ve always had jobs with varied schedules it’s each day for its own, writing whenever I get the chance. I’ve never been one to write at the same time for the same length of time each day.

If you could choose any career besides being an author, of course, what would it be?

I’m not sure. I’ve had many jobs, but there’s never been one that grabs me like writing does. It would have to be something that allows me to travel and has me interacting with people of various cultures.

What’s up next up for you book wise?

I have a few things I’m working on but I don’t know for sure which one will be next.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
 
Thanks for interviewing me and I hope you enjoy the book!
 
~~~
 
Thank Alexandra! Also, be sure to check back later for a contest!
 
Further Links:
 
Website

Secrets of My Hollywood Life by Jen Calonita

Summary:

What if? Your picture was taped inside teenage boys' lockers across America, your closets were bursting with never-worn designer clothing, and the tabloids constantly asked whether you were losing your "good girl" status?

It's a glamorous life, but 16-year-old Kaitlin Burke, co-star of one of the hottest shows on TV, is exhausted from the pressures of her fame. So she decides to spend two months undercover as an ordinary high school student. But could it be that real life high school is just as harsh as cutthroat Hollywood??

Juicy Hollywood secrets appear throughout. Combining the vicarious star-studded glamour of the New York Times bestselling A-List with the innocence of The Princess Diaries, this is an engrossing look behind the velvet ropes of stardom. (from goodreads)

Review:

I have to admit that going into this I as expecting a whole lot. Maybe an okay read, but nothing close to what I got. Since, surprisingly enough, Secrets of My Hollywood Life was a fabulous read and is officially one of my newest guilty pleasures.

Kaitlin, the main character, is a Hollywood starlet who shows you that while Tinsel Town can be amazing, it comes with it's prices including the fact that a normal life is something that you almost never get. I found Kaitilin to be likeable from start because even though she's a huge star, she's just a normal girl on the inside who loves Star Trek and would do anything for her friends and family. Further more, I found her 'entourage' to be fantastically funny and likeable even with some of the faults they had.

While the premise of this is something you see a lot of these days, I thought Jen did a great job at making Kaitilin's story a fun and fast paced journey. I loved all the "Celeb Secrets" to the fact that Jen did a great job of caputurating what it must feel like to be a teen star. Plus, I adored the ending! It was so cute and perfect, leaving it to definitely make me want to read the rest of the series.

In all, Secrets of My Hollywood Life is a book you should definitely add to your to-read list! I promise it won’t be as superficial as it appears.

Grade: B+

Source/ Disclosure: Borrowed from my favorite librarian. Thanks Anne! :)

Secrets of My Hollywood Life is now out!