Interview with Paige Harbison, author of Here Lies Bridget, and Giveaway!

Paige Harbison, the author of the recently released Here Lies Bridget, which I reviewed here, is here today on Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf  to answer a few of my questions and to giveaway a copy of the book. So, without a further ado...

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In your opinion, what are the top three reasons why teens, or even adults, should consider picking up Here Lies Bridget the next time they see it online or in stores?

1) Well, really, the cover! It’s awesome! If you don’t know anything about the book, I think that is an intriguing conflict of moods.
2) What I feel is an important thing to remember is that it’s almost as if Bridget is the antagonist, and the supporting characters are the ones you root for. So it’s kind of a new treatment of the old story of redemption and mean girls.
3) Moms should pick it up for their daughters—whether you’re being bullied, have been bullied, are a bully, or are considering a life in bullydom, I think there’s something to be gotten from the story!

Here Lies Bridget tells the story of Bridget Duke, the infamous queen of mean in her high school, which leaves me to wonder the following: what made you decide to give her such a mean personality? Was it something that developed as you wrote the book, or did you know she would be that way from the start?

Oh, she was always supposed to be mean. If she wasn’t just awful, there would be no point in the book. There are so many awful girls out there in high schools (remember that video on youtube of the girls beating the crap out of that other girl to haze her?), and Bridget is just one of them. Bullying, especially lately, is a huge issue in schools today. I didn’t write it to be bossy or instructive, but high school girls can be terrible. Some people make up for it, some people never do. And some people try to, and it’s too late.

In Here Lies Bridget, Bridget faces several people she has wronged in limbo. Out of all the people she encounters, which one was favorite to write about? Why?

Liam. He’s the one who she wronged in the most ‘real’ way. She hurt him, but not through childhood taunts or blatant rudeness. She hurt Liam by not being herself.

One of the things that originally drew me to Here Lies Bridget was the cover, which is morbid yet cheerful at the same time, so what was your reaction when you saw it for the first time?

I was excited. I thought it was freaking fantastic. I wanted and hoped for something darkly endearing like True Blood and Dexter posters. A little morbid, but light too. I didn’t write a dark book, but I didn’t write something only dippy. I think the art team captured it perfectly.

Since Here Lies Bridget’s publication, have you had any noteworthy 'rock star' author moments? If so, do you have any you would like to share?

Pfft, ‘rock star!’ I don’t know about that, but some cool stuff has happened. The L.A times reviewed my book favorably, and mine was the book in the March issue of Teen Vogue under the ‘People Are Talking About’ section. Then Jen Lancaster featured Here Lies Bridget under her winter reads—and she couldn’t be more fabulous.

Also the film rights were bought by Galgos Entertainment. So hopefully HLB will be hitting the big screen! It’s on IMDB and everything—so cool.

Your mother is Beth Harbison, a New York Times Bestselling author, so did she play a part in inspiring your writing career?

I’m not sure where it came from exactly. It never even occurred to me that the career was a possibility or even an interest of mine until I got inspiration for HLB on a seemingly endless train trip from Orlando to DC.

Since you write teen books, what were some of your favorite young adult books when you were a teen?

Let’s see..my teen years ended all of two years ago, so it might be hard to remember that far back… =)

I loved lots of different books from many different genres (Emily Giffin books, Bill Bryson, David Sedaris, James Herriot, lots of classes. Strictly from the YA genre, I was obsessed with the Harry Potter series, How to Deal, Holes, The Outsiders, the Twilight series, and when I was younger the Series of Unfortunate Events books, and The Princess Diaries books. But lots of them; I read tons.

What is up next for you book wise? Is there anything else you would like to add?

My second book is finished and in the next stages now. It’s sort of a modern adaptation of Rebecca, but with some elements from Sixteen Candles. I really like it—it’s called New Girl. It’s a little more me than my first book, and I think it’s got some good stuff in it!

Thank you for the interview!

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You're very welcome, and thank your for taking the time to answer my questions. I can't wait to read your next novel- it sounds like it will be fabulous!

Now, the part you've all been waiting for...the giveaway!

Thanks to the lovely people at Harlequin Teen, I have one copy of Here Lies Bridget to giveaway to one lucky reader of my blog.

To enter, please fill out the form below.

Official Contest Rules:

~ Must be 13 years or older to enter.
~ This contest is open internationally!
~ This giveaway will close on April 14, 2011!




If you would like to find out more about Paige Harbison, you can follow her on twitter here, visit her website here, or read another interview she did with Chanelle at Beyond Words here. And to buy your own snazzy copy of Here Lies Bridget (which I know you want to!), head on over here.

Waiting on Wednesday (104)

Waiting on Wednesday was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

My pick this week is:

Little Women (and Me) by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (November 8, 2011)

Emily is sick and tired of being a middle sister. So when she gets an assignment to describe what she'd change about a classic novel, Emily pounces on Little Women. After all, if she can't change things in her own family, maybe she can bring a little justice to the March sisters. (Kill off Beth? Have cute Laurie wind up with Amy instead of Jo? What was Louisa May Alcott thinking?!) But when Emily gets mysteriously transported into the 1850s world of the book, she discovers that righting fictional wrongs won't be easy. And after being immersed in a time and place so different from her own, it may be Emily—not the four March sisters—who undergoes the most surprising change of all. Lauren Baratz-Logsted's winning confection will appeal to fans of Little Women as well as anyone who enjoys a modern twist on an old favorite.

This one looks like it's going to a cute take on the beloved classic, which I still have yet to read (Note to self: Must read Little Women this year!). Better yet I've enjoyed Lauren's previous books so hopefully this will be just as good if not better.

Night Road by Kristin Hannah

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

For a mother, life comes down to a series of choices.

To hold on…
To let go..
To forget…
To forgive…
Which road will you take?
Night Road

For eighteen years, Jude Farraday has put her children’s needs above her own, and it shows—her twins, Mia and Zach—are bright and happy teenagers. When Lexi Baill moves into their small, close knit community, no one is more welcoming than Jude. Lexi, a former foster child with a dark past, quickly becomes Mia’s best friend. Then Zach falls in love with Lexi and the three become inseparable.

Jude does everything to keep her kids on track for college and out of harm’s way. It has always been easy-- until senior year of high school. Suddenly she is at a loss. Nothing feels safe anymore; every time her kids leave the house, she worries about them.

On a hot summer’s night her worst fears come true. One decision will change the course of their lives. In the blink of an eye, the Farraday family will be torn apart and Lexi will lose everything. In the years that follow, each must face the consequences of that single night and find a way to forget…or the courage to forgive.

Vivid, universal, and emotionally complex, NIGHT ROAD raises profound questions about motherhood, identity, love, and forgiveness. It is a luminous, heartbreaking novel that captures both the exquisite pain of loss and the stunning power of hope. This is Kristin Hannah at her very best, telling an unforgettable story about the longing for family, the resilience of the human heart, and the courage it takes to forgive the people we love.

Review:

When I first heard of this book a few months back, I just knew I had to read it. The premise sounded amazing, the cover was eye-catching, and Kristin has received plenty of praise. Therefore, when the chance finally came to read Night Road, I jumped right in, devouring it in one long sitting, as Night Road was simply fantastic. Full of likeable and complex characters, star-crossed romance, and tension, this one read had me flipping the pages as fast as humanly possible.

Night Road tells the story of Lexie Baill and the Farraday family. For Jude Farraday, her whole life has been dedicated to her family- specifically her two twins Zach and Mia. However, while Zach is the king of his grade, Mia has always failed to the wayside. Everything changes when Lexie moves to town during the twin's freshman year of high school, though. Scared yet brave, Lexie quickly finds herself part of the Farraday family- another daughter to Jude, a best friend to Mia, and possibly "something more" to Zach. As the years continue, the bond only grows strong...until one horrific accident. Faced with sudden and bone chilling tragedy, everything changes between them all, landing one in jail and the rest in emotional distress. Will they all be able to begin living again? Will they be able to forget and move on before it is too late to do so? Will everything get worse or better in the end? Only time and more pages will tell in this heart wrenching tale of love, hope, and forgiving as well as moving on.

Out of everything in this book, I have to say the characters are most likely my favorite aspect. Complex yet loveable, the main characters found in this one where one is who stories caught me from the very first page and kept me until the very last. Specifically, I loved the bonds that developed as the novel progressed. Ones between family, friends, and boyfriends/girlfriends- all were present and in full string. There was the one between Mia, Zach, and Lexie. Complicated as it was, it was easy to see just how much these three loved and adored each other and how far they would go to make the others happy. There was also the one between families, showing how while love is important, sometimes it cannot save everything. However, the thing I loved most about these characters was that they were real. Lexie, Zach, Mia, Jude, and Miles all made mistakes, but they learned from them and improved upon them- even if it did take a long time to do so. More importantly, when faced with tragedy, they grew strong, though in a way that was believable.

Moving on, another part of Night Road I found enjoyable was the plot and the execution. Full of twists and turns to keep nearly any reader enthralled with the story at hand, I truly never lost interest, not even once. As I was constantly rooting for the characters on their journey’s, sitting on the edge of seat, eating up every word, curious to see what road block would pop up next.

Making everything even better was Kristin Hannah’s writing. Hannah is one talented storyteller to say the least. She knows how to balance the sad scenes with the funny scenes. More importantly, she knows how to not only bring the characters to life, but also have the reader become dedicated to their stories.

Nearly perfect, reading Kristin Hannah’s Night Road is the perfect way to spend a day, in my opinion. Though, word of warning: this is one story you will need a box of tissues for it, as it left me- miss-never-ever-cry-with-about-book-tearing up in some spots.

Lastly, while this book is technically labeled as adult, it still has plenty of great crossover appeal because the majority of the story takes place in Lexie’s voice when she is a teen.

Grade: A+

Night Road is now out!

Source: St. Martin's Press via Self Awarness Ad

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins

*Spoilers from the first book are present, so if you have not read it and/or don't want the book be spoiled, please do not read this review.*

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch. That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth. Turns out, Sophie's a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What's worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They're demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they're using Acher to do it. But it's not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

Review:

After reading the spectacular prequel to this, I couldn't wait to read more about Sophie, Archer, and the rest of their friends and foes. Thankfully, Demonglass is not only better than Hex Hall,surprisingly enough, but it also has made me love this series and its author even more.

Demonglass continues the story of Sophie, a girl who is facing quite the load of problems lately. For one, she's just found out that she's not a witch, but rather demon-one that can kill people- thanks to her family's lineage. Furthermore, it doesn’t help that her crush/sort-of-boyfriend is from a line of people whose main purpose in life is to kill her kind. With all this info, she knows she has to go to London for the Removal- it's life or death, in her opinion. However, when her dad appears, he offers her one choice: she can go through the Removal, but only if she comes to England first to learn about her kind before officially deciding. Now off to England with her two of her friends, she's not sure what she should think, especially when she meets two other teen demons and her sort-of-boyfriend makes a grand entrance. Will Sophie discover what and whom she wants? Better yet, when she discovers a life-changing secret, will she be able to change everything before it's too late? Moreover, what about Archer- does she still love him? Only time and more pages will tell in Demonglass, the fast-paced continuation that will leave nearly any fan of Sophie and Archer's begging for more.

Just like in Hex Hall, a strong selling point in this novel would have to be the characters. For one, I love Sophie. Strong, witty, and full of spunk, it's hard to imagine she could ever have any haters. The same goes for her friends Jenna and Cal. Best of all, Archer makes his grand return in this, leaving Sophie as well as me completely bedazzled.

Rachel Hawkins' also stepped it up majorly with the plot. Full of twists, turns, and secrets, there wasn't a time I wasn't sitting on the edge of my seat, curious to know what would happen next. Would Sophie and Archer ever reunite? Who was raising the demons? Would Sophie go through the Removal? There was just so many! Better yet, I loved the introduction of the new characters, such as Daisy and Nick, because they lead for even more drama and secrets to be revealed.

Hawkins' writing also improved for the best, in my opinion. She did a fantastic job of fleshing out the characters and plot lines even more. In addition, the ending was evil, yes, but perfect nerveless.

In all,  Demonglass is one of the best sequels I've read in ages, which is a very high compliment coming from me!

Grade: A+

Demonglass is now out!

Source: Library

In My Mailbox (115)

In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren.

For Review:

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann (Love Lisa's books!)  

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready (The prequel to this one was amazing so I'm hoping this one will be the same.)

And Then Things Fall Apart by Arlaina Tibensky (I WOWed this one a couple of months ago.)

From Galley Grab:

The Summer Before Boys by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton

Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury

The Cupcake Cure by Coco Simon

The Summer of May by Cecilia Galante

From Netgalley:

Where She Went by Gayle Forman (If I Stay? Amazing! Hoping the same applies to this!)

From Author:

Starring in the Movie of My Life by Laurel Osterkamp

Much thanks goes to Dawn at Simon Pulse, Laurel Osterkam, the people at Netgalley/Penguin, and the people at Galley Grab.

Though, enough about me, what did you get this week? Anything exciting? Let me know in the comments, and feel free to like to your IMM post.

Have a great week everyone! :)

Betrayal (A Haunting Emma Novel, #2) by Lee Nichols

Summary/Cover Image from Author's Website:

Emma Vaile is the most powerful ghostkeeper in centuries. Which is great for battling the wraith-master Neos and horrible for her social life. Emma knows fellow ghostkeeper Bennett Stern is her soul mate, but when ghostkeepers fall in love, the weaker one loses all power. And until Neos is defeated, Bennett and Emma can't risk it.

When the temptation of being with Emma gets to be too much, Bennett disappears, pursuing a dangerous path to increase his powers. Heartbroken and alone, Emma tries to lose herself in school. But when the Knell, a secret ghostkeeping society, sends two new ghostkeepers to Echo Point—one a snarky teen guy, the other a British scholar—Emma throws herself into training to battle Neos. But as the team grows stronger, so do the ghosts. And worse, one of their own will betray them. One Emma never suspected. . . .

Review:

Ever since reading the promising start to this trilogy, I've been dying to know what will happen to next to Emma, Bennett, and all the other ghostkeepers and their friends, family, and enemies I came to love and even hate in some cases. Thankfully enough Betrayal was a fabulous continuation to this rock solid series. I'll even go so far to say this was even better than the first one- something I thought would be nearly impossible!

Betrayal starts shortly after Deception ended with Emma picking up the pieces after her beloved friend Coby died under some usual circumstances involving her and her ghostkeeping world. The majority of her friends and schoolmates think she's the one to blame, and that's okay with her, because she does feel at fault and at least she still has Bennett and Natalie to call friends and in Bennett's case something more than just a friend. Plus, she has bigger fish to fry, namely the evil wraith-master Neos and his army who want nothing more than to see her dead. But after a horrifying event everything is left askew in Emma's world. Bennett has pulled away, going so far as to move out of the house, she has a new ghostkeeping team including one hot heated British boy and a snarky teen, and Neos is growing stronger each and every day. Will Emma be able to defeat Neos when she sees him again? And when Emma's parents make their grand return will everything begin to make sense? Better yet will her and Bennett ever reunite? Only time will tell in this deeply thrilling and romantic read that will have nearly any Haunting Emma fan asking for more, more, and more.

Just like in the first one the characters were my absolute favorite part of Betrayal. Lee Nichols has done such a fantastic job of making each and everyone even more relatable and developed, even going so far to introduce some new ones into the mix. Better yet, I loved what she has done with Emma's character, because not only is she more fierce and kick-butt before, but I truly enjoyed seeing how Emma grows as a ghostkeeper and person in this one. Plus I can't help but love the star crossed she has with a certain boy whose name begins with a B. I also enjoyed seeing her friendship with Natalie continue to develop as well as the intro of the new snarky boy named Lukas.

Adding to this all, the plot of this one was filled with lots of twists and turns and drama that nearly always had me on the edge of my seat, curious to know what would happen next to Emma and her friends and foes. And when mixed together with Lee's excellent writing and characters, this book was such a fun way to spend a morning.

Lastly, if you thought Deception had a nail-bitingly bad cliff-hanger ending just wait until she wait Lee has up her sleeve with this one. It'll make you want to pull at your hair and scream, but in the grand scheme of things it was worth it and the perfect way to end the book, and that all I'll say about that.

In all, if you loved Deception or even just liked it, you sure to love Betrayal. Filled with romance, funny, well developed characters, and twist and turns every step of the way, it's sure have nearly any reader in love with the story at hand!

And if you haven't read Deception for some reason, be sure to pick it up as well! I promise you won't regret it.

Grade: A+

Betrayal is now out!

Source: Publicist at Bloomsbury. Thanks Kate!

Savita Kalhan's The Long Weekend (Review, Interview, and Giveaway!)

Summary/Cover Image from Amazon:

Sam knows that he and his friend Lloyd made a colossal mistake when they accepted the ride home. They have ended up in a dark mansion in the middle of nowhere with man who means to harm them. But Sam doesn't know how to get them out. They were trapped, then separated. Now they are alone. Will either of them get out alive? This gripping and hypnotic thriller will have you reading late into the night...

Review:

Reading Savita Kalhan’s The Long Weekend is like watching the latest chilling and mystifying thriller movie, as not only is it a freighting read, but it’s one that will keep nearly any reader- from middle-grade to adult- clinging to the page, waiting to know what will happen next, while these two boys land themselves in one colossal mess.

Sam knows his newest friend Lloyd and he should never have gotten into the black shinny car that Friday afternon, but it was raining, cold, and chilly waiting there by the school. In addition, there were so many cool things in the car- movies, CDs, as much junk food as any young boy could eat. However, now he is in the scariest position he has ever been in. Locked in a big mansion with Lloyd and a petrifying man in black, he knows he has to get them out of there if he ever wants to the light of day. Will he be able to? Will he come out unharmed, or will everything lead to the worst death imaginable?

In The Long Weekend, Savita introduces a duo of two unique yet stereotypical tween boys. Sam and Lloyd are both easy to like and root for, and I feel many teen boys will be able to root for Sam’s desire to be strong, and Lloyd’s fight to keep hope in the most dangerous of situations. More importantly, their friendship is fully fleshed out in a way that it not only plays an important part in the book, but also leads to yet another part of the book I adored.

As mentioned before, the premise of this is frightening to no end. However, what it makes it even more so is how situations like these do happen to kids all the time in real life- they make the wrong decision, get in the car with the wrong person, and end up fighting for their life. Better yet, Savita does not sugar coat the situation. Instead she makes it realistic to the point that it leaves an impact on the reader as well as an important message.

In addition, Savita’s writing was also quite good. I thought she did an excellent job of fleshing the plot lines as well as the characters and there feeling out given the book’s short length. Lastly, I really liked how realistic the ending was- it was happy but it still taught a lesson so to say to Lloyd, Sam, and hopefully the reader, and that is all I will say about that.

The Long Weekend is perfect for readers- avid and reluctant alike- looking for a fast-paced book to get lost in- one that while contains not only shock and intrigue but a great underlying lying message as well.

Grade: B+

The Long Weekend is now out!

Source: Author- thanks Savita!

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Recently I received the chance to ask Savita, the author of The Long Weekend, a few questions about the book, her writing, and a variety of other things. Without a further ado...

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Hi Lauren! Thanks so much for inviting me here today! I’m looking forward to answering your questions.

In your opinion, what are the top three reasons why teens (or even adults)should consider picking up The Long Weekend the next time they see it in stores or online?

Well, because everyone says it’s a heart-stopping read, which I’m so chuffed about! Yes, it’s dark, and scary, and some people have problems reading it at night – adults more so than teens! But it’s a good read, full of suspense and danger, and very moving, too.

I hope teens pick it up because it does inadvertently carry a specific message for them – be aware! It’s a message that applies to everyone really, but school assemblies doesn’t have quite the same impact as reading my book. After reading The Long Weekend you’ll almost certainly never ever allow yourself that moment of being a little distracted or unaware when you’re out.

There is also another element to the story that I think is very important. It doesn’t usually appear in many teen or YA stories, but it’s definitely one that should be talked about – between kids as much as adults, parents and grandparents. You’ll know what I’m talking about when you read the book.

The Long Weekend tells the story of Lloyd and Sam so would you mind sharing a little about each? In addition, if you could offer them any advice, what would you say?

Sam and Lloyd are both pretty average kids. They’re both eleven, naive, and all their worlds revolve around football and Play Station. The nightmare that happens to them can happen to anyone at all, and that’s the frightening part.

It’s probably a bit late to give them advice. I’d like to scream - NO! - at them before they get in the car, but it’s too late for that. They might have some for all of us - I think they would want to make sure that no one had to go through what they did. They would want to tell people to just stop and think for a moment before doing anything. That’s all: a moment’s thought.

How did the title The Long Weekend come to be? Was it always the title or did it come later on in the game?

As soon as I started writing the title came to me. I kept it as my working title when I submitted the book to the publishers. They did look at several different titles, but in the end they came back to The Long Weekend.

Do you have a favorite scene or line from The Long Weekend? If would you mind sharing it, or a bit about it to get readers excited to read the book?

My favourite scene is definitely the end of the last chapter – it was really moving to write. (Yes, it makes me cry!) For the reader, the only way to really appreciate it and get the full impact of it, is to read the rest of the book! I hope they trust me when I say I know they won’t regret it! And they’ll definitely want to make sure every single teen they know reads the book too!

Name three things that your readers would be surprised to know about you. Also, is there anything else you would like to add?

I used to study the martial art of Ju Jitsu and stick-fighting! It’s a great self-defence system and there are basic elements to it that I wish had been part of the school curriculum. It’s great for fitness, for building core strength and stamina. I still do boxing, but not as much as I would like!

I used to run a wine bar when I was a struggling student at Uni in Wales! My employers were a pair of completely mad guys from Liverpool who loved having fun and weren’t into the day-to-day running of the wine bar, so I ended up managing the restaurant and bar! It was fun for a while.

I think my readers might also be surprised to know is that the first thing I ever wrote was a very long epic fantasy trilogy – it couldn’t have been more different to The Long Weekend!

You can find out more about me at my website, www.savitakalhan.com Have a look around and please leave me a message on my message board and tell me what you all think of The Long Weekend!

I’m also on twitter and on Facebook.

If your followers are interested in the international GIVEAWAY competition, all they have to do is answer this question – is there something that most people who know you would be surprised to find out about you? It doesn’t have to be your deep, dark secret! (Sidenote: To enter, please just leave a comment below along with your email address. Savita and I cannot wait to see what you say! The giveaway will close on April 1, 2011!)

It was great to be here today. Many thanks, Lauren.

~~

No, thank you Savita! It's wonderful to have you as a guest here today. To find out more about Savita and her books, be sure to visit her website here and follow the rest of the blog tour here. To find out more about buying your own copy of The Long Weekend, head on over here.

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.*

Sleepaway Girls by Jen Calonita

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

When Sam's best friend gets her first boyfriend, she's not ready to spend the summer listening to the two of them call each other "pookie." Sick of being a third wheel, Sam applies to be a counselor-in-training at Whispering Pines camp in the New York Catskills. But what she doesn't realize is that it's not going to be all Kumbaya sing-alongs and gooey s'mores. If Ashley, the alpha queen of Whispering Pines, doesn't ruin Sam's summer, then her raging crush on the surfer-blond and flirtatious Hunter just might.

Review:

After all these dark, deary, and snowy days in the Northeast, I've been looking for a read that would take me to the season I love the most: summer. And thankfully enough, Jen Calonita's Sleepaway Girls was just the read, because not only did it take place during the glorious and beautiful summer, but it was a funny and adorable read that I just could not get enough of!

Though, before we get too far into this review, let me tell you a little about it... Sleepaway Girls tells the story of Sam, a girl who has officially became the "third wheel" ever since her best friend got a boyfriend. And if Sam knows one thing it's that she want be spending her summer this way as well so off she goes to Whispering Pines, a sleepaway camp up in the New York Catskills. At Whispering Pines Sam is quick to find her own clique of great friends and even some prospective boyfriends, but with her arrival comes drama, namely a rivalry between here and fellow counselor-in-training Ashley, the unofficial alpha queen of Whispering Pines. Will Ashley and Sam be able to overcome their feud? Better yet, after falling into a love triangle will Same be able to make a decision and the right choice in the end? Only time and more pages will tell in this story of one summer like no other!

Just like in the previous books I've read by Jen the characters in Sleepaway Girls were well developed, relatable, lovable, and just ordinary teens overall. And while I nearly liked each and everyone, I have to admit my favorite would have to be main character Sam. Sam is someone I related to easily, a character I had no trouble rooting for over the course of the novel, and best of all, I loved how she wasn't anywhere near perfect. Adding to this, I also enjoyed reading about the different friendships Sam developed in over the course of the novel between her and the fellow sleepaway girls because they seemed real so to say. Better yet I really enjoyed seeing the moments she shared with Cole and Hunter as well as the love triangle that began to develop between them, because at some points it was a bit unclear who exactly she would pick, leaving Sleepaway Girls to take on a mysterious feeling sometimes.

Another aspect of Sleepaway Girls I adored was the setting. Surprisingly enough, I've never been to a sleepaway camp so I always love to live vicariously though others experiences with it, especially when they are as picture clear as Whispering Pines was because of the detailed descriptions.

I also thought Jen Caolnita did a great job of developing the plot in this with her characters and writing, because while the story was predictable, it was easy to loose yourself in it for a few hours and that's just what I want sometimes.

In all, Sleepaway Girls is yet another solid effort by Calonita, which makes me even more pumped to see what she has planed next for all of her readers!

Grade: A-

Sleepaway Girls is now out!

Source: Author/Publicist at Little, Brown. Thanks!

Waiting on Wednesday (103)

Waiting on Wednesday was created by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

My pick this week is

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

"These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume."
—Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The most tragic love story in history . . .

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

Stacey Jay is one of my favorite YA authors of all time, no doubt it. Her Megan Barry, Zombie Settler series? Spectacular, funny, and romantic; I still get sad that there isn't more of them at times. Therefore, when I heard about Juliet Immortal I knew I had to read it! I love the story of Romeo and Juliet, and the fact that this is retelling of it (with an epic sounding premise to boot) makes me very excited! Now if only September 13 could just get here a bit faster everything would be perfect!

Blog Tour: Elle Newmark's The Sandalwood Tree (Review and Giveaway!)

Sumary/Cover from Publisher's Website:

A sweeping novel that brings to life two love stories, ninety years apart, set against the rich backdrop of war-torn India.

In 1947, American historian and veteran of WWII, Martin Mitchell, wins a Fulbright Fellowship to document the end of British rule in India. His wife, Evie, convinces him to take her and their young son along, hoping a shared adventure will mend their marriage, which has been strained by war.

But other places, other wars. Martin and Evie find themselves stranded in a colonial bungalow in the Himalayas due to violence surrounding the partition of India between Hindus and Muslims. In that house, hidden behind a brick wall, Evie discovers a packet of old letters, which tell a strange and compelling story of love and war involving two young Englishwomen who lived in the same house in 1857.

Drawn to their story, Evie embarks on a mission to piece together her Victorian mystery. Her search leads her through the bazaars and temples of India as well as the dying society of the British Raj. Along the way, Martin's dark secret is exposed, unleashing a new wedge between Evie and him. As India struggles toward Independence, Evie struggles to save her marriage, pursuing her Victorian ghosts for answers.

Bursting with lavish detail and vivid imagery of Calcutta and beyond, The Sandalwood Tree is a powerful story about betrayal, forgiveness, fate, and love.

Review:

When I first heard about Elle Newmark's The Sandalwood Tree, I was beyond excited. Containing history, an India setting, and characters that sounded intriguing, I thought I would love it. However, after reading about 100 pages of it, I could not go any further because it was not the book for me.

Nevertheless, before I get to why that was, let me tell you a bit about it. The Sandalwood Tree tells the story of Evie Mitchell, a 1940s American homemaker dealing with a crumbling marriage and life in chaotic India, as well as Adela and Felicity, two young Englishwomen who is letters Evie discovers in her house. Thankful to find an escape from her life, Evie quickly falls into the intriguing life of these two British women, while facing her own life woes. Combining viewpoints from all three sets of characters as the novel progress, the reader quickly fall into to the world of India in the late 1800s and 1940s as all three characters face the changing of India and the complications that come from life, love, and friendship.

The main reason why I could not get into this novel was the characters. While on the surface they appeared interesting, I was not able to relate to them in many ways, leaving me to feel very little towards them. In addition, Evie's character annoyed me to no end. I wanted to feel for her character- understand and relate to her- but when it came down it she was a very unlikable woman so to say.

Furthermore, while I thought the plot sounded nifty at first, I found the execution to be lacking. Constantly I became sidetracked while reading and I never felt truly committed to the book. The plot also tended to jump around a lot, flying from one part to the next and back again for me, confusing me to no end. However, I will say, Elle did a fantastic job of creating the setting in this with her writing, making it truly pop off the page and come to life in the few chapters I read.

In all, while Elle Newmark's The Sandalwood Tree possesses a great idea, it just was not the book for me for a variety of reasons. However, I still feel many historical fiction fanatics will be able to find likable and loveable parts in it, which is why I am giving my copy away (see portion below).

Grade: N/A

Source: Publisher/Publicity Firm- thanks Tracee/Artia Books!

Becasue I would love to put my ARC (advanced reading copy) in the hands of someone who may enjoy, I've decided to give it away. The only thing I ask is that you review it when finished with it. Amazon, Goodreads, on your blog, it dosen't matter where as long as you do so. The review can be any length as well.

To enter, please follow the following rules and fill out the form.

Rules:
- Must be 13 years or older to enter. (Please realize that this is an adult book and may contain some adult themes)
- Must review the book somewhere when finished (Amazon/Goodreads/LibraryThing/Barnes and Noble/etc.)
- Open internationally
- This giveaway will close on April 1, 2011!

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER.*

Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Janie Gorman wants to be normal. The problem with that: she's not. She's smart and creative and a little bit funky. She's also an unwilling player in her parents' modern-hippy, let's-live-on-a-goat-farm experiment (regretfully, instigated by a younger, much more enthusiastic Janie). This, to put it simply, is not helping Janie reach that "normal target." She has to milk goats every day…and endure her mother's pseudo celebrity in the homemade-life, crunchy mom blogosphere. Goodbye the days of frozen lasagna and suburban living, hello crazy long bus ride to high school and total isolation--and hovering embarrassments of all kinds. The fresh baked bread is good…the threat of homemade jeans, not so much.

It would be nice to go back to that old suburban life…or some grown up, high school version of it, complete with nice, normal boyfriends who wear crew neck sweaters and like social studies. So, what's wrong with normal? Well, kind of everything. She knows that, of course, why else would she learn bass and join Jam Band, how else would she know to idolize infamous wild-child and high school senior Emma (her best friend Sarah's older sister), why else would she get arrested while doing a school project on a local freedom school (jail was not part of the assignment). And, why else would she kind of be falling in "like" with a boy named Monster—yes, that is his real name. Janie was going for normal, but she missed her mark by about ten miles…and we mean that as a compliment.

Frances O'Roark Dowell's fierce humor and keen eye make her YA debut literary and wise. In the spirit of John Green and E. Lockhart, Dowell's relatable, quirky characters and clever, fluid writing prove that growing up gets complicated…and normal is WAY overrated.

Review:

Ten Miles Past Normal is one of the most adorable and hilarious coming-of-age stories I've read in a while!

How was little Jane supposed to know when requesting that her parents move to a farm, they would actually do so? Sure, it may sound like every little kid's dream, but come high school it won't be nearly as fun as cute, as Jane is soon to learn. For one, on the first day of high school school, Jane steps in goat poop when doing her daily farm chores (yes, farm chores) and goes to school with it not noticing, but everyone else does as they soon begin to call her "the girl who came to school with goat poop on her shoe." Adding to the horribleness that is Jane's freshman year of high school is the fact she has barley any classes with any of her friends, including lunch. But when gets offered the chance to learn bass and join Jam Band with her new friend Monster's help, she jumps at the chance, and when she meets a new girl at lunch, she quickly begins to see that things can get better, but will she realize being ten miles past normal is the best thing ever in time? Only more pages will tell in this sweet story of one girl's journey to becoming her own person.

As with most books I enjoy, I really enjoyed the characters in Ten Miles Past Normal. All of them were there own unique people and that's what I loved most about them. For instance, there's Monster who's one of the tallest and scariest looking guys around, but as it turns out he's also one of the sweetest guys. Then there's Sarah, Jane's best friend, and Emma, Sarah's older sister, who are two girls who don't let anything get in the way of them getting what the want, which often cased for several laugh-out-load funny scenes. Finally, there's Jane, the queen of them all, and while Jane may think being "normal" is the thing to be, her journey to become anything but is funny and heartwarming.

While the plot of this was kind of scattered over the place, I still enjoyed this book to the fullest potential possible. I loved how Frances tied so many different plot lines together in a way that they never felt overwhelming, and how she also managed to show through her characters that being normal is way overrated and that you should never judge a book by its cover.

In all, Ten Miles Past Normal is a unique read filled with many lovable characters that will leave almost anyone with a smile on their face by the end.

Grade: A+

Ten Miles Past Normal is now out!

Source: Simon and Schuster's Galley Grab Program

In My Mailbox (114)

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

For Review:

The Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry (YAY for surprise review copies! This one looks superb! Can't wait to get started on it!)

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (A zombie love story? Now that's something I don't see too much of. I'm so excited about this one that I'm not even slightly put off by the Stephanie Meyer blurb.)

Family by Micol Ostow (I've read only book by Micol before, and it was very cute and tons of fun. Though, this one looks very different, much more intense, but I'm sure I'll still love it.)

Hourglass by Myra McEntire (I'm in the middle of reading this currently, and I love it SO MUCH! Can't wait to read more of it!)

A & L Do Summer Jan Blazanin (Adored Jan's Fairest of them All so I cant' wait to read this one!)

My Life, the Theater, and Other Tragedies by Allen Zadoff (Looks interesting! Also, side note: the cover shown on ARC is not the final one.)

Trial by Fire (Raised by Wolves #2) Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Seriously adored the first one to this, and can't wait to see what happens next!)

Entwined by Heather Dixon (I always love a good fairytale retelling so fingers crossed this will be good.)

Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott (This is one of Scott's best books, no doubt it! My review will be up in May.)

Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt (All ready read and loved this one! My review will be posted in July, but until then, let me tell you- this one is AMAZING!)

Stay by Deb Caletti (Read this one as an egalley a few months ago, and I still feel blown away by it. My review will be posted next month so stay tuned!)

Alex Rider: Scropio Rising + Folder (Surprise review copy. I haven't read any of the prior Alex Rider books (Are they any good?) so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this...)
The Sandalwood Tree by Elle Newmark (Not the biggest fan of this one. My review will be posted this week.)

E-Review Copies:

Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson

The Sext Crime (C.Y.A. : Covert Youth Agency, #2) by Jason Ancona

The Case of Tangled Love (C.Y.A. : Covert Youth Agency, #1) by Jason Ancona

Dreamwalk by Sarah MacManus

Much thanks goes to Jenny at Goodman Media, Katie at Sourcebooks, Jason Acona, Sarah MacManus, HarperTeen, Artia/Tracee at Pump Up Your Book, Kat at Regal Literary, Simon and Schuster/Gallery Books, and Penguin!

In all, a busy yet fantastic book week! I've read a few of them already, and if they are any indication, I have no doubt the others will be amazing. Though, enough about me, what did you get this week? Feel free to let me know in the comments, or link to your IMM post.

Have a great week everyone!

Blog Tour: Interview with Cara Chow, author of Bitter Melon!

Today, I have an interview with one of my new favorite debut authors- Cara Chow, the person behind Bitter Melon! So, without a further ado...

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In your opinion, what are the top three reasons why teens or even adults should consider picking up Bitter Melon the next time they see it online or in stores?

1. It’s not paranormal, but it’s still a page-turner. Many readers have told me that once they pick up the book, then can’t put it down.
2. If you’ve read “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior” and feel angry at the Tiger Mom in the story, well, now you can get your vicarious revenge through my protagonist, who rebels against her Tiger Mom.
3. If your intellectual side prefers stories with complex characters and substantive writing but your shadow side craves forbidden romance, well, now you can have both!

Bitter Melon tells the story of Frances so would you mind sharing a little about her with us? Also, if you could offer her any advice, what would you say?

Frances in many ways embodies the Asian-American stereotype of the young person who has been molded into an obedient, disciplined over-achiever by her Tiger Mom. This begins to change, however, when Frances discovers her own voice through her involvement in speech.

In terms of advice . . . Frances doesn’t really need my advice because she gets the clues she needs to make the right choices by listening to Ms. Taylor, Derek, and Theresa and by observing the actions of those around her. Frances is a smart girl, so I’d rather stay out of her way and let her figure things out for herself.

Just like Frances, you are a Chinese-American so in what ways to do you relate to her character? Are any of her experiences similar to your own?

We both grew up with fierce, demanding moms. We both went to all girls Catholic schools. We both grew up in the Richmond District of San Francisco. We are both workaholics, though I am currently in recovery (two steps forward, one step back). We are both easily swayed by the opinions of others, but once we make up our minds, God help whatever obstacle that stands in our way!

One more thing we have in common: contrary to our ethnic stereotype, we are bad at math! (Bad by Chinese standards, which means we can score an A minus if we study really hard.)

In Bitter Melon, Frances has great public speaking skills, so what inspired you to give her that talent? Did you enjoying public speaking when you were her age as well?

As a high school speech competitor, I found public speaking to be nerve-wracking and draining but also fun, even exhilarating. It was from this experience that I got the idea to make Frances a champion speaker. I saw speech as a means of empowerment for this person who, figuratively speaking, had no voice. My speech coach was a very influential figure in my life. I embellished this role for Ms. Taylor, Frances’s speech coach, and made her the alternative role model for Frances, in opposition to Gracie, Frances’s mom.

I also stole from my own experiences to enhance Frances’s plot. In real life, I competed in the Chinese American Citizens Alliance speech competition, upon which Frances’s Chinese American Association competition was loosely based. David Louie, Wendy Tokuda, and Emerald Yeh, the newscasters that judged Frances’s competition, were real newscasters that judged my competition. I don’t remember being mentioned on Channel 26 as Frances was, but my photo was featured in the Independent, the free San Francisco newspaper. It was easy to embellish and alter these real events for the purposes of the book.

One of the most intriguing parts of Bitter Melon, in my opinion, is the mother-daughter relationship Frances and her mother share, which leaves me to wonder the following: what made you want to put such a big focus of the book of that kind of relationship?

In the early drafts of the book, Frances had a mom and a dad. The father figure was very important in the story. After the first two drafts, I realized that my book lacked focus because I had too many storylines. To simplify the story, I decided to focus on the mother-daughter storyline. To intensify the mother-daughter power struggle, I decided to axe the dad.

So why choose the mother-daughter story over the father-daughter story? In my own life, the person who had the most influence on me, for better or for worse, was my mom. This was the first relationship I sought to understand and heal as an adult. The mother-child relationship is the deepest, most primal relationship there is. Based on the feedback I get, my readers seem to feel this way too.

Bitter Melon takes place in the 1980s so what inspired you to have it take place in that specific time rather than current times?

During the early drafts of Bitter Melon, I didn’t set the story in 1989 intentionally, but I was imagining all the scenes in 1989 because that was when I was Frances’s age and living in her city. During the middle drafts of Bitter Melon, I experimented with incorporating a second time line, in which Frances is an adult and must decide whether or not to forgive and reconcile with her mother. Because the adult story line was set in the present, the scenes from the past, in which Frances was seventeen, had to be set during a specific time, which was 1989. Around the time that I was writing those drafts, I created an important scene that occurred during the Loma Prieta earthquake. I also created Frances’s “Asian American Whiz Kid” speech. Towards the later drafts of the book, I decided that the adult story line did not work well with the teenage story line, so I got rid of those chapters. I had contemplated setting the story in the present, but that would mean having to get rid of the earthquake and the Newsweek article, both based on real events that happened in 1989 and both important to the plot. So instead, I decided to take advantage of the time in which the story was set. 1989 was before the internet and cell phones. Without that technology, Frances is even more trapped at home and must work harder to plot her escape.

Recently Amy Chua's article titled "Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior" took the Internet by storm, which leaves me to wonder what your thoughts are on that piece, as it's similar to a speech Frances gives in the book.

As you can guess from my book, I am critical of Tiger parenting. Though it can push kids to achieve high levels of academic and professional excellence, it can also push kids towards high levels of anxiety and depression. It can suppress creativity, dampen kids’ love for learning, and damage their relationship with their parents. This understanding inspired the writing of Bitter Melon, which tells the Tiger Mom story from the daughter’s point of view. Frances’s initial speech parrots the Tiger/Confucian value system, but, as she grows and changes, she revises her speech to reflect her new understanding.

Finally, what's up next for you book wise? Is there anything else you would like to add?

A second book is definitely on my agenda. Stay tuned!

Thank you for inviting me to be a guest on your blog!

~~

No thank you for providing such great answers!

To find out more about Cara and her books, be sure to check out her website or other stops on the blog tour here. And you can find out more about buying your own copy of Bitter Melon here.

Winners + Bookish News!

Hey everyone!

I hope you all are having a FANTASTIC Friday. Where I live the weather is finally turning warm after the long, gloomy days of winter, which is always a good thing, right? :)

But I digress...

Anyhow, I have a few winners to announce and a few bookish news updates to talk about, so without a further ado...

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Winners:

The winner of Suzanne Selfors' Mad Love and Coffeehouse Angel is Tiffany!
The winner of Angie Frazier's The Midnight Tunnel is Christi the Teen Librarian!
The winner of Lili Wilkinson's Pink is Dani!
The winner of Kelly Keaton's Darkness Becomes Her is Sami T!
The winners of Karen Metcalf's In the Storm are Amanda G, Orchid, and Lindsay!
The winner of Patricia Selbort's The House of Six Doors is Pat C!

Congrats! I hope you enjoy your book, or books in Tiffany's case. If I haven't all ready emailed you about winning, I'll be doing that later today or tomorrow, and if I have your book is on its way, or already there!

Didn't win? Well, I have a couple of other contests going on right now, and I'll be having more in the new few weeks, so keep an eye on the right sidebar.

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Beware the Dark Days of Winter!

Are you like me, and can't make it to the bookstores for the Dark Days of Winter tour? Well, the Dark Days of Winter are coming to you via Livestream tonight and tomorrow night. Here's all the details:
Claudia Gray (Afterlife) Kimberly Derting (Desires of the Dead)Courtney Allison Moulton (Angelfire) are touring the country this week as part of the Dark Days of Winter book tour. If you are unable to attend, be sure to tune in and watch the bookstore events live via Livestream at http://www.facebook.com/PitchDarkBooks!

The dates of the Livestream events are:
Friday, March 18
7:00 PM (central)

Saturday, March 19
7:00 PM (eastern)

Viewers will be able to submit questions for the authors to answer, as well as purchase books. For more information check out http://www.facebook.com/PitchDarkBooks, or follow @ PitchDarkBooks.

The tour schedule is below:

Friday, March 18
7:00 PM
Anderson’s*
123 West Jefferson Ave
Naperville, IL
Authors in attendance: Claudia Gray, Kimberly Derting, Courtney Allison Moulton and Ellen Schreiber

Saturday, March 19
7:00 PM
Books & Books*
265 Aragon Avenue
Coral Gables, FL
Authors in attendance: Claudia Gray, Kimberly Derting, and Courtney Allison Moulton

*will be available to watch via Livestream

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An E-book Bargain for Shannon Hale Fans!

From now until March 31, 2011 Bloomsburry books has a very special offer for you all- Shannon Hale's THE GOOSE GIRL for only 1.99! To cash in on this fabulous deal, head on over to you favorite e-book selling store.

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Trip to Curacao from The House of Six Doors

If you're an avid reader of my blog, you'll know I reviewed The House of Six Doors earlier this month. In the book, the majority of the scenes take place in musty, stunning Curacao, and because of this the author and publisher are teaming up to bring readers a contest! The prize- a trip to Curacao, and there's even some great secondary prizes as well!

To enter, buy the book and follow the directions here.

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A Book You must add to your Wish List:

Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt

Lastly, I just finished Lauren Barnholdt's Sometimes It Happens, which will be released July 12, 2011! It's been a while since I've read a book by Barnholdt, and Sometimes It Happens is making me regret that deeply. Amazing, realistically told, and full of heart-stopping moments, this is truly going to be the book of the summer, in my opinion! My review won't be up until July, but until then, pre-order the book if you love contemporary YA or Barnholdt. I promise you won't regret it! :)

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And that's all for today! Check back tomorrow for an interview with one of favorite new debut authors! Who is it, you may ask? Well, you'll just have to wait and see. :D

Lindsey Leavitt's Sean Griswold's Head (Review and Giveaway!)

Summary/Cover Image from Pubisher's Website:

What if your first love was literally sitting right in front of you?

According to her guidance counselor, fifteen-year-old Payton Gritas needs a focus object-an item to concentrate her emotions on. It's supposed to be something inanimate, but Payton decides to use the thing she stares at during class: Sean Griswold's head. They've been linked since third grade (Griswold-Gritas-it's an alphabetical order thing), but she's never really known him.

The focus object is intended to help Payton deal with her father's newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis. And it's working. With the help of her boy-crazy best friend Jac, Payton starts stalking-er, focusing on-Sean Griswold . . . all of him! He's cute, he shares her Seinfeld obsession (nobody else gets it!) and he may have a secret or two of his own.

In this sweet story of first love, Lindsey Leavitt seamlessly balances heartfelt family moments, spot-on sarcastic humor, and a budding young romance.

Review:

After reading Lindsey Leavitt's bubbly and sparkly Princess for Hire last year, I was eager to read more by her. Thankfully enough Sean Griswold's Head is the perfect sophomore attempt by her, because not only is it sweet and adorable, but it has just the perfect amount of realism to have any fan of contemporary YA begging for more.

Sean Griswold's Head tells the story of Payton Gritas, the star student, friend, and basketball player- she truly is the girl who manages to have it all together repeatedly. That is until she finds out not only that her dad has MS, a crippling and scary disease, but her family has been hiding it from her for the past six months. Payton does not know what to do. Should she be mad at her family for hiding it from her and pretending everything was normal, or should she just go back to living her normal life? Payton picks the first, and after a few weeks of silence to both her parents and brothers, she ends up in the guidance consoler’s office, forced to pick a focus object to focus her emotions on. Surprisingly enough, she picks Sean Griswold, or more exactly his head, but as she begins to learn more about Sean, the more she wants to know him, and with the help of her best friend, Sean and she end up being sort-of-friends and maybe even more... However, what happens when Sean learns about her focus object? Will she loose him once and for all? In addition, why is her best friend acting so strangely lately? Better yet, will she ever mend her problems with her family? Only time and more pages will tell in this fun, fast-paced tale of one girl's path to growing up and dealing with life's many problems and complications.

One of the things I always love most about Lindsey Leavitt's books is that she always has such fun and relatable main characters, and Payton Gritas was no different of course. Payton is a girl who I clicked with automatically, as I am sure many others will, because not only is Payton bubbly and witty but most importantly she is real. For one, her feelings and confusion over her dad's disease will ring true to anyone who has ever been through a similar situation, and secondly, her attempts at first love will have readers laughing as well as reminiscing about why they did to get their first boyfriend. Adding to this, I enjoyed the detail Lindsey put in the relationships between not only Payton and Sean but also Payton and her father because both added yet another fantastic touch of realism to the story.

Another aspect I adored about this book was the premise and thankfully enough the execution of the idea was even better. I loved the idea of a focus object because it leads to so many great moments involving Sean and Payton as well as biking surprisingly enough. Better yet, Sean Griswold's Head even surprised me at times with several twists and turns the story took.

Lastly, Lindsey Leavitt's writing improved greatly in this book because not only did she create such a well-spun story, but also her characters managed to jump of the page and come to life within the first chapter and throughout the rest of the book.

Full of wit, fun, and aw-worthy moments, Sean Griswold's Head as well as its author are sure to become new favorites among readers of YA fiction!

Grade: B+

Sean Griswold's Head is now out!

Source: Kate at Blomsbury

I also have ONE copy of Sean Griswold's Head to giveaway. To enter, please fill out the form below. Also, here are the rules for the giveaway:

~ Must be 13 years or older
~ Must have a US mailing address
~ This giveaway will end on April 1, 2011!

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.*

Minder by Kate Kaynak

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Sixteen-year-old Maddie Dunn is special, but she needs to figure out how to use her new abilities before somebody else gets hurt. Ganzfield is a secret training facility full of people like her, but it's not exactly a nurturing place.

Every social interaction carries the threat of mind-control.

A stray thought can burn a building to the ground.

And people's nightmares don't always stay in their own heads.

But it's still better than New Jersey.

Especially once she meets the man of her dreams...

Review:

Don't you always love when a book manages to impress and surprise you time and time again? Well, I do, and thankfully enough that's exactly what happened with Minder, the first spellbinding addition in the Ganzfield series.

After a fatal accident involving three boys and Maddie Dunn and a single, mind killing thought, Maddie is recruited by Ganzfiled, the opulent, fancy academy for teens who have special abilities like herself. At Ganzfield, Maddie learns she's a minder, someone who can not only read people's thoughts and implant her own in them, but overload their brains so much that they can die. Loving the fact that she's finally learning about her ability and making new friends, Maddie finally fells at home so to say, even though the other teens aren't always too nice to her and the fact she's kind of scared of her ability and what it entitles. Better yet, when she meets Trevor, everything gets even better. Though, even with this fun, there's still a stealthy, killing man out there who has only one goal in mind: kill off all of Ganzfield's population. Will Maddie and her friends be able to stop him in time? Or will he succeed? Only time and more pages will tell.

With Minder, Kate Kaynak has created quite the cast of diverse and interesting teenagers with a range of "special abilities." I always truly enjoyed finding out more about what each group (the sparks, charms, RVs, healers, etc.) could do, and how their talents affected their attitudes towards life in general. Though, my favorites out of the bunch would have to be main character Maddie and her group of friends. All were thoroughly developed, in my opinion, which has left only more eager to find out more about them in the future. Better yet, even with their talents, I think everyone one who reads this series will at least find one character to relate to. The only thing I wasn't too big on about the characters was how fast Maddie and Trevor's relationship occurred, because as you know if you're a long-time reader of my blog, one of my biggest book pet peeves is unrealistic romantic relationships.

Moving on, the premise of this was pretty great, because who doesn't love a book about a boarding school with students who are more than just the average teen? And the execution was even better, because not only did Kate constantly surprise and impress with the amount of world building and plot development she did within this, but I was unceasingly on the edge of my seat, dying to know what would happen next, as Kate also does a pretty great job when it comes to the sudden twists and turns everyone loves to hate.

Full of surprises and heart stopping moments, Minder is the perfect start to a series I feel I'll come to love even more as time goes on. And Kate Kaynak- she's a pretty fantastic author too so far!

Grade: B+

Minder is now out!

Source: Author. Thanks Kate!

Waiting on Wednesday (102)

Waiting on Wednessday was created by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Damage by Anya Parrish

There was a time when I prayed for Rachel to be real. Until the night I learned she'd always planned to kill me.

When Dani was eight, she fell from a building. No one believed her claim that she was pushed by Rachel . . . her imaginary friend. It took years of therapy to convince Dani that Rachel wasn't real.

Now fifteen, Dani wants to make it as a dancer. But a deadly freak accident sends Dani a terrifying message: Rachel is back, she's real, and she'll stop at nothing to kill Dani.

Complicating matters is Jesse, the school bad boy who's being stalked by his own invisible childhood nemesis. Dani and Jesse join forces to learn why their astral tormenters are back. Their investigation leads to a horrifying discovery—and the terrible experiment that binds them to each other.

Ever since I first saw the cover and summary for this one, I've been eager to read it! It sounds like it will be amazing- mysterious and unique. Plus after reading an excerpt, I even more pumped about it. Now if only September could get here a bit faster. :)

Damage will be released September 8, 2011.