Imaginary Reads

Book Review: The Rivals

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:00:00 +0000

The Rivals (The Mockingbirds #2)

by Daisy Whitney

4 stars: Recommended
Format: Hardback
Publication: February 6th, 2012
Pages: 352
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Buy it: Amazon (Hardback) | Kindle | B&N | Book Depository

Alex's role in the Mockingbirds, an underground student justice system at her elite boarding school, is challenged when she tries to stop a group of students using prescription drugs to help other students cheat, as school officials turn a blind eye to the wrongdoing.

After reading The Mockingbirds, I was excited to pick up The Rivals. While The Mockingbirds could have ended where it did, I loved the characters and story, and I was a very happy reader with book two sitting next to me, especially with how different it proved to be from book one. (While I enjoyed book one, it would be boring to read the same formula in a different setting with a new case.) The Mockingbirds dealt with date rape. In book two, some students are using prescription drugs to cheat; plus, the Mockingbirds find rivals in another student group of vigilantes.

While the story picks up where book one left off, book two is different in that there is more intrigue: there is a case, but we don't know who is at fault and must figure it out along with the characters, who show some amazing development once again. Alex struggles with leading the Mockingbirds. While the idea of a student vigilante group sounds amazing, it is hard to maintain. Alex doesn't have a clear set of moral guidelines to follow, and she doesn't know when to be a friend, a student, or the head of a student vigilante group.

At the same time, Alex is still suffering from the same experiences that haunted her during book one, and her experiences prove an obstacle to forming new relationships. She and the other main characters' ethics are tested; they fail, they admit their mistakes, and they grow. I loved them the better for their human weaknesses. The culprits, on the other hand, are characters that you love to hate.

While there is not as much action as book one, The Rivals also confronts ethical issues that makes us consider what we would do in the characters' situations, and it is a great followup to The Mockingbirds. Whether or not you've read book one, The Rivals is a book that I would definitely recommend; and if you haven't read book one already, I highly suggest you get your hands on a copy!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. No payment was received in return for a review. The receipt of the book had no influence on the opinions expressed in my review.

Book Review: The Mockingbirds

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 08:00:00 +0000

The Mockingbirds (The Mockingbirds #1)

by Daisy Whitney

4 stars: Recommended
Format: Paperback
Publication: January 2nd, 2012
Pages: 332
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Buy it: Amazon (Paperback) | Kindle | B&N | Book Depository

Some schools have honor codes.

Others have handbooks.

Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way-the Themis way. So when Alex Patrick is date-raped during her junior year, she has two options: Stay silent and hope someone helps, or enlist the aid of the Mockingbirds-a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of the student body.

In this account of a teenage girl's search for her voice and the courage to use it, debut author Daisy Whitney reminds readers that standing up for someone, especially yourself, is worth the fight.

Daisy Whitney's writing is straight-forward and down-to-earth. She tackles a difficult subject and turns it into an inspiring novel. The idea of a secret society dedicated to helping students intrigued me. I've always been interested in the story of the "anti-hero," the one who aids others in unconventional ways, and The Mockingbirds are inspiring in the way they take a stand for their peers in a school where perfection is expected.

My favorite part of the novel is how character driven it is. (This made me very happy because I LOVE character-driven novels.) I have never been in Alex's situation, but I was able to empathize with her. Alex's passion for the piano makes her especially relatable, as it is such a big part of her life that I couldn't imagine her without thinking about the piano.

The Mockingbirds is a powerfully written novel about a girl who was date-raped and who decided to find help instead of remaining quiet about it. Date rapes happen more often than we would like to think, and I admire Daisy Whitney for taking a stand and speaking up on the subject. Her story tells us that life goes on, and it gives hope for the future for those who find themselves in traumatic situations. Look forward to my review on book two: The Rivals.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. No payment was received in return for a review. The receipt of the book had no influence on the opinions expressed in my review.

Lauren Oliver Livestreams + Dark Days Tours

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 15:22:00 +0000

Guess what, Lauren Oliver fans!

Yesterday, Lauren Oliver was at Quail Ridge books in Raleigh, NC, on the first official tour stop of the Pandemonium tour. If you missed the event (like me), you can check out this livestream video to get up to date.Lauren talked a little about the early influences of how she became a writer, the general process of the road to publication, and she read a little from Pandemonium!!! She also took questions from the audience present. Some of these questions might have occurred to you as well, so be sure to watch the video in its entirety. Lauren is as amazing a speaker as she is a writer. (This could be bias speaking, being the huge Lauren Oliver fan that I am, but hey. There's a reason that I'm a fan. You should join me in watching the video and fangirling. Post your thoughts below!)

Back to Earth.

On March 11th, Lauren Oliver, Claudia Gray, and Dan Wells' Los Angeles Dark Days event will be livestreamed on the Epic Reads Livestream via Tiffany at From Those About to Read..., so be sure to check that out too!

More Tour Stops

Catch Lauren at blogs here:

2/21 Lauren Oliver at All Things Urban Fantasy

2/22 Claudia Gray at A Life Bound By Books

2/23 Alex Flinn at Mundie Moms

2/28 Dan Wells at Bookalicious

3/1 Lauren Oliver at All Things Urban Fantasy

3/6 Claudia Gray at A Life Bound By Books

3/7 Alex Flinn at Mundie Moms

3/8 Dan Wells at Bookalicious

And see her in person here:
Lauren Oliver (PANDEMONIUM), Claudia Gray (BALTHAZAR), and Dan Wells (PARTIALS)

March 9^th @ 6:30pm | Books & Books | Coral Gables, FL | Harmony's Radiant Reads

March 10^th @ 2pm | Barnes & Noble | Alpharetta, GA | One Page at a Time

March 11^th @ 4pm | Vroman’s | Los Angeles, CA | For Those About to Read

*LIVESTREAM event

Author Interview: Janet Gurtler

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Late last year, I had the pleasure of reviewing Janet Gurtler's If I Tell. Today, I am interviewing with Janet Gurtler herself!

What do you enjoy most about writing in general?
Writing is something that is kind of an innate part of one’s soul. That sounds hokey but it really is hard to explain why I love it so much. It completes me. It satisfies my need to create. Or perhaps recreate. I’ve always had a need to express myself in words, on the page. I guess in some ways I want to be heard, but since I’m an introvert at heart and I hate expressing my opinion in the spoken word, I am best able to communicate with the world through writing.

Where are the most interesting places you've found inspiration?
The best spot where I’ve been struck by epiphanies or writing ideas is on the treadmill at the gym. Maybe it’s the flow of oxygen to my brain, or maybe it’s just the huge influx of stimuli around. People, television screens, loud music. Whatever it is, it seems to be my place of inspiration.

Your contemporary books tackle serious issues from cancer in I'm Not Her to ethnic issues in If I Tell to serious regret in Just Breathe. Are you planning on tackling more issues in future releases?
I am drawn to write about things that influence people’s lives. The real, juicy bits. I love to look inside and explore a character's truths about living with hardships, if that makes any sense. I love digging in and finding out what makes people tick in different circumstances, usually trying ones. So um. Yes!

I saw in your About page that you are now working on a paranormal YA book. What do you enjoy most about the change in genre form contemporary?
Eek. I do need to update my About page! I am still working on that darn paranormal, but I haven’t finished it yet. I wrote WHO I KISSED instead!

Contemporary comes most naturally to me, but I do like to write the paranormal genre as well. The books still tend to have characters with issues, but they might be solved in different ways that the purely contemporary books.

If you were to write a spinoff from one of your works, who would it be about and why?
Hmm. Good question. I think my book coming out this fall, WHO I KISSED, has a great character who kind of wants a book of her own. She’s the friend of the main character, and her name is Taylor. I’d like to explore her world and think she would have a great story to tell. She’s an athlete with a mother who would prefer her to be in the pageant circuit. I can see her going off the rails a bit before getting her life back on track. We’ll see. In WHO I KISSED, a couple of the characters from IF I TELL show up in a scene. See if you can spot them when the book comes out!

Assuming you could take on another job without it affecting your career as an author in any way, what would you like to do?
Well, I have a background in sales and have worked on and off as I’ve written over the years. I wouldn’t mind a part time sales job. I’d LOVE to work as a sales rep for a publishing company actually. That would be cool.

Anything else you'd like to add for readers?
Just that I appreciate so much the fact that people are picking up my books and reading them. It’s so great to have feedback from readers, which comes in many different forms. I love, love being able to write books for teens. Young adult fiction is just so amazing to read and to write! Thanks so much for interviewing me for your blog!

COVETED Excerpt

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Today, I'm excited to share with you an excerpt of Coveted by Shawntelle Madison! The YA paranormal is scheduled to be released on April 24, 2012 (my birthday month!) by Ballantine Books.

Coveted by Shawntelle Madison (Excerpt)

What do you think? Are you excited for this book too?

Book Review: DJ Rising

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 08:00:00 +0000

DJ Rising

by Love Maia

4 stars: Recommended
Format: Hardback
Publication: February 6, 2012
Pages: 304
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Buy it: Amazon (Hardback) | Kindle | B&N | Book Depository

The first thing I hear is music. The first thing I've always heard is music.

Meet Marley, an unassuming high school junior who breathes in music like oxygen. In between caring for his heroin-addicted mother, and keeping his scholarship at a fancy prep school, he dreams of becoming a professional DJ.

When chance lands Marley his first real DJ job, his career as "DJ Ice" suddenly skyrockets. But when heart-rending disaster at home brings Marley crashing back down to earth, he is torn between obligation and following his dreams.

If there's a character to admire, it's Marley. He sets high goals and works hard to maintain his scholarship in an expensive prep school. In addition, he works as a DJ while caring for his heroin-addicted mother. True, Marley wants a normal childhood, but he still makes something of his situation. Marley is far from perfect, but he is a protagonist that you want to support, someone you want to see rise and live the American dream.

The plot focuses on the characters and Marley's path as a DJ, and I loved learning more about the art of being a DJ. Marley's love for music is beautiful. While I don't know much about music in general, being the book nerd that I am, I found myself invested in the story and empathizing with Marley. Marley's friends are equally amazing and just as real. They give you a sense for the world Marley lives in. He has Chuckie and Scuz, Latreece, and Hawk, among others. There is also a hint of romance, as Marley has his eyes on a girl who doesn't seem to know he exists.

Love Maia tackles her novel with grit and realness. There are drugs, substance abuse, and strong language. DJ Rising is about hope, forgiveness, and acceptance.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher. No payment was received in return for a review. The receipt of the book had no influence on the opinions expressed in my review.

Pre-Insurgent Hype: The Choosing Ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:52:00 +0000

It is March first, and there is now only two more months until Insurgent comes out!! I am super-excited as Divergent was one of my very favorite dystopians of the year, the other top favorite being Delirium. Well, HarperCollins knows how much we are all yearning for more of Four and Tris, so they created the Choosing Ceremony for us!!

You get to spill some metaphorical blood playing this new game.
And if you want to find out your own faction? Take the faction quiz here!

Both Hikari and I tested Dauntless.

Characters in Love: Remembrance

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Michelle Madow has generously offered a signed copy of her book and a signed bookmark for one lucky winner in the U.S.

Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't know it yet.

Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's high school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she get him out of her mind?

Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, fighting fate isn't going to be easy.

To enter the giveaway, answer the following question in the comments and then fill out the form.

Would you like to be reincarnated with your love if you couldn't be together in another life?

THE FORM

Partials Exclusive Excerpt

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:23:00 +0000

Hi all!

I am excited to be sharing this exclusive excerpt from Partials. As you might know from my review of Partials, I love the concept behind this book, and I love the futuristic setting that Dan Wells has created. Go like the Facebook page and do check out the excerpt. Then come back here and let us know what you think about it!

Book Review: Wanderlove

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Wanderlove

It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry into this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.

Wanderlove: a title as beautiful as its story and the action for which it was named. The story follows Bria on a journey to heal from a bitter breakup, a chance encounter with a couple of backpackers, and her subsequent decisions to change herself for the better. The various locations that Bria visits on her backpacking journey seem to follow Rowan's plans; however, she learns something new about herself at each stop.

Both Bria and Rowan are running from their past. While they may grow to enjoy each other's company, Bria and Rowan also share a mutual discomfort about their past and with sharing their innermost thoughts with others. At first, they talk about nothing of importance and merely accept each other as travel companions forced upon each other by Rowan's half-sister Starling. As time passes, they grow more comfortable around each other, and they develop feelings that they didn't think were possible.

Some may see this as another book about summer romance, but it is more to me. Wanderlove is about finding yourself and accepting yourself no matter what anyone else says about you. It is about breaking free from the past and living for the present, with expectations and hopes for the future. Bria's problems are ones that pretty much all teens face: she is angry and resentful; she lacks confidence in herself; she wants to prove her independence. Her thoughts and feelings are entirely understandable, and it is easy to relate to Bria.

Kirsten Hubbard is an amazing writer, artist, and vagabond backpacker. I enjoyed reading about Bria's traveling experiences. I am insanely jealous of her and Kirsten. In fact, I'm tempted to take off for Central America this summer and bring along my copy of Wanderlove with me as a guidebook. Too bad Bria already found Rowan, or I would be looking for him during my stay. He is sweet and gorgeous. Think maybe I'll run into them? I could use some weathered backpacking friends, especially ones like them!

Book Review: Cross My Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Cross My Heart

by Sasha Gould

4 Stars: Recommended
Format: Hardback
Publication: March 13, 2012
Pages: 272
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Buy it: Amazon Hardcopy | Kindle | B&N | Book Depository

Venice, 1585.

When 16-year-old Laura della Scala learns that her older sister, Beatrice, has drowned, she is given no time to grieve. Instead, Laura's father removes her from the convent where he forcibly sent her years earlier and orders her to marry Beatrice's fiancé, a repulsive old merchant named Vincenzo. Panicked, Laura betrays a powerful man to earn her way into the Segreta, a shadowy society of women who deal in only one currency—secrets. The Segreta seems like the answer to Laura's prayers. The day after she joins their ranks, Vincenzo is publicly humiliated and conveniently exiled. Soon, however, Laura begins to suspect that her sister's death was not a tragic accident but a cold-blooded murder—one that might involve the Segreta and the women she has come to trust.

You can't trust anyone in Venice, as Laura finds out in Cross My Heart. Sasha Gould proved these words to be true. When I thought that I had finally figured out the truth, something popped up and baffled me yet again. Inexperienced with politics after having spent the last six years of her life in a convent, Laura struggles to understand what she has gotten herself into as she is swept into the mysterious world of the Segreta. Initially, it seems that Laura may have done an incorrigible wrong in giving up the secret that she possesses, and I found it cowardly of Laura to betray the Doge's trust, but it is in truth a stepping stone into greater intrigue. And I can't blame her desire to get out of a marriage with a sleazy old man with bad breath.

Even as Laura's father uses her as a tool in his quest for greater power at the same time that she finds herself falling in love with a painter, strange events take place in Venice, and she learns never to believe anything is an accident. When she learns that her sister Beatrice was murdered after meeting with the Segreta, Laura suspects the women have another agenda in mind. I admire Laura's courage in the face of incomprehensible danger to protect the man that she loves.

Have I mentioned how hot the painter is? Not only is he good-looking, he is sweet, caring, and far above the men embroiled in politics. Laura's first meeting with him is at night when she flees from a party after discovering the identity of Beatrice's fiancé, to whom she is now engaged. From that moment, he captured both Laura's heart and my own. I knew that either there had to be more to him for the two to have a happy ending, or she would elope with him. The mystery of how they would achieve their happy ending kept me guessing as more truths came to light, new obstacles emerged, and the plot climaxed.

In the end, I still do not understand the intention of the Segreta other than to wield power over men from the shadows. The politics of the time confuses me. Seemingly kind people will turn on you the moment you threaten to take political power away from them; friendship means nothing. Then again, this book takes place in another century. Overall, Cross My Heart is an enjoyable read that I will definitely recommend to those who love a good historical and/or mystery book.

Book Review: A Touch Morbid

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0000

A Touch Morbid (A Touch Trilogy #2)

by Leah Clifford

3.5 Stars: A Good Read
Format: Hardback
Publication: February 28, 2012
Pages: 299
Publisher: Greenwillow Books (Imprint of Harper Collins)
Buy it: Amazon Hardcopy | Kindle | B&N | Book Depository

Eden won the battle-she saved her true love from the darkest evil. But the war has only just begun. With secrets swirling around her, powerful allies unraveling, and life-and death-as she knows it eroding, Eden and those she loves tread dangerous ground. Can she trust anyone? Will her unearthly powers be her salvation or her downfall? A sweeping, dark, and sexy paranormal romance that will haunt readers with an inventive mythology and a cinematic New York City filled with shadows and longing.

A Touch Morbid is as dark and sexy as A Touch Mortal promised it to be. Eden gets a new look with green replacing the pink highlight and her new pixie-ish haircut, and Az is back in her life. However, they have both suffered heavy losses in their face-off against Luke. They need each other more than ever now in these uncertain times.

One big difference from book one is that there aren't time skips. The second is that Jarrod and Kristen have become narrators as well. Jarrod's relationship with a mortal brings another important character into the story while Kristen's narrative opens us to another side of a key character. Jarrod's perspective becomes crucial in pointing out changes in Eden that we wouldn't pay attention to otherwise, and it allows us to see the changing dynamics in the group's functions with Adam and Libby out of the picture.

As I mentioned earlier, there is more dark and sexy in this book. Leah further develops character relationships. Prepare yourself for hot scenes, sweet scenes, and some surprising reveals. I found myself falling in love and/or sympathizing with characters that I wanted to hate, and I fell deeper in love with characters that I liked from book one.

Eden forms new alliances, and she faces old friends in new lights. As Eden learns more about Siders, she faces new, dangerous threats that may potentially bring about her downfall. I eagerly anticipate book three in Leah Clifford A Touch trilogy!

A YA Romantic Fantasy in Real Life

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Characters in Love
OR
The Totally True Story Of How I Lived Out a YA Romantic Fantasy in Real Life

LOVE. Pretty loaded word, right? I mean, how do you even KNOW you're in love, really? What do you base your assessment on? What do you compare the experience to?

When I was growing up, the actual relationships I saw around me didn't give me a lot of hope for romance. The boys in my class were idiots. My parents fought a lot. Most of my friends' parents were divorced. So where were all these terrific magical feelings we were supposed to aspire to?

For me, the answer was always books. In the pages of my YA novels I could always find girls being surprised by flowers, sneaky kisses, adorable secret admirers... and in one book in particular, a girl named Kate actually got to go out with the soap opera star she'd been in love with for years.

The book is You Never Can Tell by Ellen Conford. In the story, the main character is obsessed with a guy on a soap opera who plays a sexy bad-boy named Brick. Then one day, it turns out the actor who plays him is going to her high school! They meet! He has a crush on HER! Craziness ensues!!!

I must've read this book a hundred times. And every time, I hoped that Kate would not act like a lunatic and mess the whole thing up – she wanted the guy (whose real name I can't remember... because, let's face it – Kate didn't care what it was and neither did I) to be like BRICK, you see, and not himself. (It didn't end well, as you can imagine.) At no point did I stop to think about how impossible the whole scenario was in the first place – I mean, really? A soap star in a high school? TV teenagers are played by 25 year olds. Everyone knows THAT.

It didn't matter.

I wanted a gorgeous guy who existed far outside the realm of my reality to suddenly burst into it, look around, and choose ME. That was love, obviously. And you know what? It only took 20 years for it to happen.

Not bad, if you consider.

Yes - I actually went on a date... with a soap opera star. He's a friend of a friend, and we went to dinner one night in the dead of winter. He was unbelievably handsome and charming and polite and funny and smart. Just like Kate, I spent the first part of the date looking around the restaurant thinking: “Is everyone here wondering what this crazy-hot guy is doing with a regular girl like me!?” But unlike Kate, I got over it. I had a terrific evening. I charmed HIM. I was rewriting the book! It was all happening!!!!

He was an excellent kisser, I'm delighted to report. (As he should be, with all that professional practice.)

Then he went back to Hollywood, and I stayed in NYC, and that... was that.

And you know what?

I still remember the book version as being more exciting. I still remember Brick. Because the sad (or great?) fact is, books are carefully plotted out to give you the maximum suspense and intrigue that will make that love scene pack a wallop. Real life just sort of marches along and takes you with it.

So. What's the moral of the story? Definitely not that romance in books is better than real life – don't panic! I wouldn't do that to you. Just that it's different. Characters who are in love let you peer through a window at them. You can watch what they do and learn from it. You can figure out what you'd have done differently. And you can relive their fun - their romance, their mistakes – over and over, whenever you want.

That comes in very handy when you're 12. Or 25. Or... well. That's enough sharing for now, methinks.

About the author

Meredith Zeitlin is a writer and voiceover artist who lives in Brooklyn with two adorable feline roommates. She also writes a column for Ladygunn Magazine, changes her hair color every few months, and has many fancy pairs of spectacles.

In case you're wondering whether any of Kelsey's experiences are based on Meredith's own, the answer is NO WAY. When she was fourteen, Meredith looked and behaved perfectly at all times, was never in a single embarrassing situation, and always rode to school on her very own unicorn.

Check out the book trailer | book website for Meredith's YA novel Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters.
You can pre-order the book at Amazon (Hardcopy) | Kindle | B&N | Book Depository

Characters in Love: Favorite Themes

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000

My Favorite Themes
Jennifer Laurens

Young love is the subject of zillions of songs and books – including some books of mine. One of my favorite themes is forbidden love. (Overprotected, A Season of Eden) I also enjoy writing about unattainable love. (the Heavenly series )

Since a lot of readers prefer HEA endings, I try to encourage my characters that direction. But since I’m an organic writer (meaning I have a skeletal outline of a story, set the characters in it and let them go where they naturally want to go) sometimes I can’t control the outcome or MAKE it a HEA.

Like in A Season of Eden. Eden’s a confident high school senior who always gets what she wants. When she meets the new choral director, James Christian, she’s taken by his youthful enthusiasm. She wants him. She doesn’t care that he’s her teacher—he’s only twenty-two and she’s eighteen—in her mind, she’s a legal adult and so is he.

To paraphrase Eden: “If we met in a club or somewhere outside of school, our age difference wouldn’t be an issue.”

This story could have gone different directions if James hadn’t been a young man with integrity and character. Even though Eden does everything in her power to encourage him, he holds his own— to nearly the breaking point—but does Eden really want to break him? Or is she just enamored with someone who has strength, discipline and integrity? (characteristics she hasn’t seen much at home and doesn’t really have herself).

Of all my books the ending of Eden is the one most readers have a comment about. Some want the end defined. Others love that the end is left to the readers’ interpretation based on the reading experience.

I believe in intelligent readers capable of coming to a suitable conclusion. That’s why the ending of Eden is satisfying.

But you can decide for yourself if it’s HEA.

Jennifer Laurens

Writer of YA books including the Heavenly series, Falling for Romeo, A Season of Eden, Nailed, Magic Hands & Overprotected.

Giveaway

Two winners will each receive a copy of A Season of Eden. Thanks to Jennifer Laurens for donating the prizes!

Details:
Open internationally
Ends March 25th
To enter, fill out the form below. Do not include your email in the comments section.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Characters in Love: Love and Leftovers

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:30:00 +0000

Excerpt from Love & Leftovers

IF ONLY WE COULD BE TOGETHER

If only Linus and I could walk downtown on Thursday nights
when musicians play on the street corners
and art galleries serve crackers and cheese.
If only we could dance on the sidewalk,
look up at the sequined sky
and wish upon the same shooting star.

If only Linus and could teach me chords on his guitar,
reach around to adjust my fingers
and help me strum.
If only we could sing about autumn mist and sealing wax,
hear our voices mingle,
and stir the air as one.

And by being with Linus
I’d figure it out.
I’d learn what love is.
If only Linus would kiss me,
touch the skin under my shirt,
press his fingers to my ribs, and feel my beating heart.

Then I’d know.
I know I’d know.
I’d know
I was in love.

Now, we would like to ask you...
If you had to choose between a brown-eyed rocker boy who writes you love songs and posts

them on YouTube or a popular, soccer-playing jock with a Prince Harry grin who brings you

breakfast, who would you choose?

Giveaway

One winner will receive a copy of Love & Leftovers donated by Harper Teen. Another will receive a love-themed prize pack donated by Sarah Tregay.

Details:
Open to U.S. residents
Ends March 25st
To enter, fill out the form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Characters in Love: Ditched

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

One day, when I’m not planning it, and organizing it and strangling it, love will become possible. There won’t be anymore leapfrogging. We’ll land in the exact same spot at the same precise moment.
- Robin Mellom, Ditched

About Ditched, from the author
In Ditched: A Love Story, Justina Griffith must piece together exactly how she ended up dateless on prom night—and with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven.

By telling her story of how she was ditched by Ian, her best friend (the guy she’d hoped would become so much more), Justina comes to realize maybe there was much more to this story.

Justina is the type of girl who has an assumption problem. And when it comes to love, it’s one of those things that can really get in the way. She assumes she knows what the other person is thinking or feeling. So she doesn’t ask because—really— she’s afraid of what the answer will be, right? It could go either way, so it’s best to assume...play it safe. Or is it?

Read the Prologue and First Chapter of Ditched here!

Book Synopsis

Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.

Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat handle first.

Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.

Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom.

And then ditched her.

Now, she must piece together stain-by-stain on her thrift store dress—exactly how she ended up dateless…with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven. But to get to the whole story, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. Can losing out at her prom ultimately lead to finding true love?

About Robin
Robin Mellom is the author of DITCHED, her debut teen novel coming January 2012 from Disney-Hyperion. And also THE CLASSROOM, a middle grade series coming from Disney-Hyperion June 2012.

Robin has taught grades 5 through 8 and has a master's degree in education. She lives with her husband and son on the Central Coast of California.

Visit her at her Website ❘ Facebook ❘ Twitter
Buy Ditched: Amazon Hardcopy ❘ Kindle ❘ B&N ❘ Book Depository

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive an ARC of Ditched.

Details
Open to residents in the United States and Canada
Ends March 25th
To enter, fill out the form below. Do not leave your email in the comments.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Characters in Love: Bad Boy - Good Guy Debate

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Today, Emma from The Book Barbies is here with the Bad Boy - Good Guy debate!

We've all read that book, where the lost MC has two beautiful and handsome boys fighting over her.

They're both heroes. They're both sexy, and totally edible.

Yes, they're the Bad Boy and the Good Guy.

I'll tell you right now that I'm a total sucker for the bad boys. I cannot explain how much I love the whole mysterious and troubled image. It's hot. It's the fact that they seem so far gone and so lost into their dark world that makes me want to scoop them up and surround them with love! I'm the type of girl who will always look for the better half of people. Undoubtedly, it's stupid, and I've gotten hurt over the years, but no matter how many times I tell myself to give up, I will never stop believing.

Have I saved my own 'bad boy'? Have I cured him from his misery?

No. And believe me I've tried (more than enough times). When I come to the aggravating conclusion that they just refuse to budge, that's when I wish my own Prince Charming would save me from this perpetual frustration and feeling of helplessness.

So, hello Good Guy! Where are you and do you even exist? Because I'd really love some help trying to understand these selfish and immature boys who just. won't. listen to me!

And this is how he feels.

There is only one 'good guy' in my life, and that is my best friend. He's my texting and city-roaming buddy and has the most awful case of unrequited love! And that is why it absolutely sucks to be the good guy. He's the friend, he's the funny guy, he's the guy everyone knows and respects, but he's never that guy. He's the guy you feel sorry for in novels because he's never the one to get the girl. He's the one that ends up alone and still apparently happy.

Isn't it just depressing how good guys hardly ever win? Because they're what we're supposed to want. Gentlemen, chivalrous, and handsome. Why aren't we girls satisfied with that? Why must we delve into the darker world to feel alive?

I know I'm just being general here. There are girls who'd do anything for a sweet and sensitive guy that actually cares about their girl. Someone who's actually decent and isn't a lawbreaker or some twisted supernatural creature.

Although I undoubtedly fall head over heels for the bad boys in books and movies, I know now to avoid them at all costs in real life. They are not good news. If you plan on fixing up one yourself, I bid you the best of luck, because unless you've got some great party trick up your sleeve, they are not going to change!

I've accepted that I'm never going to meet that 'good guy', all 'bad boys' are going to remain stubborn jerks and my love life will go no further than the books I read.

So while you girls are wishing for those bad boys to turn good (partially at least) and the good guys to obsess over the right girls, you'll meet a bunch of those other boys who'll test our strengths and threaten to push you to the very edge. But ladies, never give up hope.

One day, you'll get your chance, you'll find your guy - good or bad, and you'll have a story to tell of your own. I do look forward to it (;

Thus, my conclusion to this debate:

In the books:
Bad boys all the way!
In real life:
Seriously, I'm better off without boy problems.

And books to read if you're into the bad boy action? ;)

The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare (Will is to die for!)

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater (Oh, Luke, why are you so hard to love?)

Split by Swati Avasthi (Okay, Jace isn't 'bad', but he breaks my heart♥)

Hush Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick (Fallen angel..? nuff said)

Thanks to the lovely girls at Imaginary Reads for hosting such an awesome event!

Cover Reveal: My Heart Be Damned

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Remember how I was talking about My Heart Be Damned by Chanelle Gray earlier... err... late last year? Well, the cover has been revealed, and I am freaking out about it's gorgeousness and the artist's use of contrasting light and dark imagery. And Kris's brain is fried right now, so she'll stop talking and hand it over to you. What do you think?

If you’re a Hunter, there are only three things you must know about the Damned. The Damned can’t lie, can’t live without a body, and can’t leave you alone.

Amerie Carter has the blood of a Hunter, unfortunately. She is one of a rare line of women who, upon her sixteenth birthday, will come into extraordinary powers used to hunt the Damned; escaped souls from Hell who take up residence in human bodies. It’s supposed to be her sweet sixteen, but Amerie has never dreaded a day more, and her worst fears are confirmed as the celebration turns tragic when her mother is killed.

Grief-stricken, Amerie vows to never hunt a day in her life. She’s determined to hide behind normalcy, attending school, hanging out with her friends and working an after-school job at The Hut. All Amerie wants is to be left alone. But try telling the Damned that. The harder Amerie tries to ignore her powers, the more the Damned come looking for her.

When an attack leaves one of Amerie’s friends in the hospital, and endangers the lives of her fellow students, she knows she has no choice: Hunt or Be Hunted. Thankfully, the gorgeous, secretive, and so-off-limits Marshal offers to train Amerie to take out her supernatural enemies. But training with Marshal means leading lying to her friends, her family, and confronting the mysterious circumstances surrounding her mother’s death.

Amerie soon discovers she’s not the only one with something to hide, Marshals’ secrets might kill her before the Damned get the chance.

Characters in Love Event: Cara Lynn Shultz on Best Kisses

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Disclaimer: I won't be posting about The Notebook. Yes, the kiss in The Notebook is incredibly hot and romantic and rainy and Gosling-y. But everyone posts about The Notebook. Everyone wants to kiss in the rain. (Everyone wants to kiss Ryan Gosling in the rain, but that's another post.)

So, I made my best efforts to avoid the iconic kisses that we all know and love, like The Notebook and Titanic. ("I'm flying!" Yeah, I'd feel like I was flying, too, if floppy- haired Leo was smooching on me.) So here are some of my favorite movie and TV kisses. Granted, I was limited by what clips I could find on the Internet, so some of my favorites (the glove scene in The Age of Innocence, for example) are missing. Some are sexy. Some are sweet. But they all make you reach for the rewind button on your DVR. Check 'em out—and thanks to Kris for having me be a part of this Valentine's event!

Buffy & Angel

Skip ahead to minute 9. One of the greatest doomed romances of all time—Buffy and Angel. He's a vampire cursed with a soul. She's the Slayer in a world where vampires are bloodsucking demons, end of discussion. Spoiler alert: It's not going to work out. But the amount of love between those two practically jumps out of the screen and slaps you in the face.

Angel & Collins

A different Angel (played by Wilson Jermaine Heredia) and Tom Collins (Jesse L. Martin) profess their love for one another in the movie version of Rent. Now, I have to tell you: I worked at Rent as an usher in 1996, when the original cast was in the show. So I have a very deep-rooted love of this show, since I watched it eight times a week. This number was just as sweet in the movie as it was in the play, and Angel & Collins remain one of my favorite tragic couples. Their love is pure and sweet and true.

Indy & Marion

Only Indiana Jones can pull off being this romantic and slick while being a big ol' baby about his wounds. Hands up if, somewhere along the way, a guy tried this move on you.

Elizabeth & Mr. Darcy

Okay, the kiss isn't in this particular scene. But this scene, from the BBC miniseries, Pride & Prejudice, is still amazing. This is what made me love Colin Firth.

Robbie & Cecilia

The stolen kiss in the library is all breathy pauses, out-of-focus, shadowed shots of hands on skin and glimpses of fabric (like that enviable green dress), but it's the determined "I love you" from Keira Knightley and James McAvoy in Atonement that make this scene completely and totally hot.

Blaine & Andie
Click here to watch at Movie Clips.

There are a LOT of Molly Ringwald clips to choose from. The kiss at the end of Sixteen Candles. The stolen Judd Nelson smooch in Breakfast Club. There are even two other great kisses in Pretty in Pink: the parking lot kiss where Andie drops her bag in the rain, and Duckie planting a big ol' smooch on Iona in the club. But when it comes to smooches, being asked to the prom and then kissed by he-of-the-household-appliance-name Blaine, well, tell me you didn't swoon, even though Andrew McCarthy manhandles Molly's face like he's tenderizing meat.

Baby & Johnny
Click here to watch on Youtube.

The scene in his bungalow is also equally hot, but the playfulness (and sexiness) of this scene earn it a spot on the list, and space for Johnny Castle in everyone's dance space.

About the Author
Photo and Bio from her website

Cara Lynn Shultz’s love of supernatural writing began when she was 7 and wrote a play about ghosts, which she and her friends acted out on her grandparents’ porch. Since then, her work has appeared in Teen People, Alternative Press, Stuff, InStyle, Us Weekly, The Guardian UK and countless posts on Facebook and Twitter. She is a proud graduate of Fordham University and is currently a senior editor at PEOPLE.com. Cara lives in her native New York City with her husband, tuxedo cat and 8 million other people. Spellbound is her first novel.

Buy Spellbound: Amazon Hardcopy ❘ Kindle ❘ B&N ❘ Book Depository
Pre-order Spellcaster: Amazon Hardcopy ❘ Kindle ❘ B&N ❘ Book Depository

Related Posts:
Kris's Review of Spellbound
Character Interview with Brendan Salinger

Thanks for dropping by Imaginary Reads again, Cara, and thanks for sharing those phenomenal kiss scenes!

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a signed copy Spellbound.

Details
Open to residents in the United States and Canada
Ends March 24th
To enter, fill out the form below. Do not leave your email in the comments.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Characters in Love Event: Forbidden Love with S.M. Reine

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Today, S.M. Reine is here to talk about Rylie and Seth from her Seasons of the Moon series!

I was asked to visit and talk a little bit about the relationship between Rylie and Seth, who are in my books Six Moon Summer and All Hallows' Moon. When Rylie first saw Seth, there were instant sparks between them. Maybe it was the bad boy charm of someone from the guy's camp sneaking into the girl's camp, or maybe it was something else entirely-- more like animal attraction.

See, they met right after Rylie got bitten by a werewolf, and started transforming slowly into the same monster that attacked her. She later learns that Seth is a werewolf hunter, which means that it's his job to wipe out the bad guys. Including her. But by that point, she's already crazy in love with him.

Lovers don't get much more star-crossed than that.

The whole story is told from Rylie's perspective, so we see her going from crush, to love, to realizing he might kill her, and all the way back to love again. But if you ask me, Seth's side of things is a little more interesting.

Imagine how he must feel-- here's this beautiful girl who got mauled by the werewolf he was hunting, and he failed to save her. He feels responsible for her. He wants to save her. Even though he feels guilty for his part in her change, and knows he should shoot her if she makes the final transformation to werewolf, he can't help but fall for her.

So he's faced with a decision: love or duty? That's no small choice, and a heck of a responsibility for a seventeen year old werewolf hunter.

Their story has been wonderful to experience as I write, and even more wonderful to share with the readers. I still have two more books in the series to publish, so even I don't know what will happen with Rylie and Seth yet. But I do know it's going to be epic.

Excerpt:

The first thing she saw when she managed to open her eyelids were her hands. Ropes circled her wrists and were connected to her ankles by another rope. Rylie was laying under something heavy—a jacket. It was warm, buttery leather, and it smelled like the tang of metal and burning coals. She hadn’t realized it before, but that was Seth’s distinct smell.

She looked up. His face hovered over hers.

“Hey,” he said.

Realizing she was seated on the ground with her back against his chest, Rylie decided not to move. She was much more comfortable than she had been after the last moon. “What happened? Did we do okay?”

Seth untied the ropes around her wrists and ankles. “It doesn’t matter. How do you feel?”

“I’m... good,” she said. “Really good. I feel satisfied.”

Seth’s mouth drew into a hard line. “Good.”

“Is my face normal?”

“You look fine, Rylie.”

Her nose picked up the smell of drying blood. She sat up to look around and saw Seth’s ruined white shirt a few feet away. Examining her hands once more, she found blood in the cracks of her palms and between her fingers. He must have used his shirt to wipe her off. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“No. Let’s get you back to your cabin,” Seth said. He was only wearing his undershirt now, but he didn’t look bothered by the cool morning air.

“What about you? Won’t you get in trouble?”

He almost smiled. “They can’t send me home.”

He tried to shield her from something on the ground when they got to the side of the trail.
“What is that?” she asked, voice shaking. Seth didn’t respond, so Rylie pushed him aside to see the body.

It was a fawn. She could tell because of the spots on its rump and the four spindly legs. The rest of it, however, was barely recognizable. Rylie had killed a baby deer.
Her knees gave out. Rylie drew her legs up to her chest and buried her face in her arms. She didn’t hear Seth approach until he was crouching at her side. “It was an accident,” he said. “I let you get away.”

Seth touched her hand, and Rylie wrapped her fingers around his.

Giveaway

One grand prize winner will receive e-copies of both Six Moon Summer and All Hallows' Moon. Three other winners will receive one bookmark each. All prizes are open internationally.

Details:
Open internationally
Ends March 22nd
To enter, fill out the form below. Do not include your email in the comments section.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Team Asher

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Asher is the wild rebel that good girls should stay away from. He is the dark and passionate one that allures you. Energy surrounds Asher, and it is easy to get caught up in his face. While Skye believes that she knows what she wants, Asher makes her question herself. Does she really want to be a good girl? Or does she want to throw caution to the wind and see what happens? Girls flock around Asher like it is the most natural thing in the world, but it isn't really him. All they see is his front. They can't make sense of the complex puzzle that is Asher.

“You don't have a heartbeat," I realized.
"Does that bother you?" He asked.
"No." I thought for a minute. "As long as you can feel things and care about things."
"It's a misconception that you need a heart to love," Asher whispered into my hair.”

Outside, he is the wild rebel; inside, his worries amount to the weight of the world. Although Heaven may view him as a rebel, his heart is as pure as they come. Honestly, I have no idea what his goodness level amount to, and it doesn't matter. What really matters is that he takes Skye's feelings into consideration. He is there for her.

Not to say that Devin isn't there either. Yes, Devin also cares for Skye, but he isn't as free as Asher. And he isn't willing to put his entire being on the line for her or suspect his superiors of malicious intentions towards her, not until it is too late. In light of the fact that he acts on the orders of beings that you do not want to cross, it is easier to understand his position. Nevertheless, he remains indecisive for too long and cannot give Skye the attention and care that I believe she deserves.

“Then all of a sudden he'd taken two giant steps towards me, and before I knew it, had taken my face into his hands and the rest of me into the darkness of his wings and we were kissing each other in my little bedroom, in my little house, in my little town, while the mountains soared into the sky.”

Asher is the one who protects Skye when it really matters. He is there when she needs a friend, he is there to protect her, and he is there with his heart in hand. I have a soft spot for hot, bad boys who really aren't bad boys, if that makes any sense, and Asher is a dangerous boy in a tough spot with a soft heart. If you search for a guardian angel with no loyalties to Heaven and is not afraid to do whatever is necessary to be with you and keep you safe, if you are looking for a hot, dark, and wild with a past, then look no further. Join team Asher, if you haven't already done so.

Read the original post here and vote team Asher!

Characters in Love: Character Interview with Alex

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Hi Alex! Thanks for dropping by today. Would you tell readers a little about yourself?
I hate that question! Wow. Pressure. Um. . .well, I’ve been in and out of Portland, Maine for most of my life, although I spent my early years pretty firmly rooted in the Wilds. I prefer the Wilds to the cities. I don’t like being penned in.

I love books—especially forbidden books—and music from the time Before. Music nowadays sucks—sorry, but it’s true. My favorite time of day is two to three in the morning—the witching hour, when it feels like you can do anything, and no one will ever know.

What spurred you to leave the Wilds to fight for the resistance?
I didn’t really have a choice. My way of life, my beliefs, everything I hold valuable, is being threatened. I’m not going to stick my head in the sand. Anything worth anything in life is also worth fighting for.

Which brings us to how you met Lena. What were your first thoughts when you saw her?
She’s gonna trip. I know, it’s not very romantic, but she was running by this coffee shop where I used to work, and I noticed her shoe was untied. She was going really fast, and I just kept thinking, man, she’s going to faceplant. She didn’t, though. Pretty amazing.

That's an astonishing feat. I don't think I could pull off untied shoelaces without making an undignified greeting to the ground. When did you first realize that you were in love with her?
That’s a tough one. I mean, in one way, I guess it was this one time at 37 Brooks. She got dandelion fluff caught in her eyelashes, and she was laughing so hard, and I was trying to, you know, get it out of her lashes. And she just looked so beautiful. That’s the first time I remember wanting to say the words.

But there were flashes of it before that, I think. Like, even the time we were in the bay and I told her what I was—that I wasn’t valid, I mean—and she got really mad, right before she swam away, there was this tiny split-second where she seemed almost....I don’t know, relieved. She relaxed for the first time. And I loved her then, just for a flash.

Even when I used to see her running, I think I was half in love with her.

Do you believe in soulmates?
Of course.

Thanks again for joining us, Alex. We hope all the best for you!

Related Posts:
Hikari's Review of Delirium
Kris's Review of Pandemonium
Interview with Lauren Oliver

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a copy of either Delirium or Pandemonium courtesy of HarperTeen.

Details
Open to residents in the United States
Ends March 22th
To enter, fill out the form below. Do not leave your email in the comments.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Characters in Love: Dream Cast for Life on the Edge

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Life on the Edge Dream Cast

Jennifer Cormeaux

I’m very excited to be a guest here today and to share with you my dream movie cast for my novel Life on the Edge. Here’s a quick blurb about the book to give you an idea of the story: Nineteen-year-old Emily is new to pairs skating, but she and her partner Chris have a big dream–to be the first American team to win Olympic gold. Their young coach Sergei, who left Russia after a mysterious end to his skating career, believes they can break through and make history. Emily and Chris are on track to be top contenders at the 2002 Winter Games. But when forbidden feelings spark between Emily and Sergei, broken trust and an unexpected enemy threaten to derail Emily's dreams of gold.

Kimberly Matula
Photo from IMDB

My choice to play the protagonist Emily is Kimberly Matula, who currently stars on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. When I saw Kim on my television one day, I immediately pictured her in the role of Emily. She fits the look perfectly with her dark blond hair and big blue eyes. Also, the character Kim plays on the soap has similar principles to Emily, so I think she’d be able to nail Emily’s character!

Josh Dallas
Photo from IMDB

For the leading man Sergei, I’d cast Josh Dallas, who plays Prince Charming on the TV show Once Upon a Time. He has the captivating blue eyes, the golden brown hair, the deep sexy voice, and the perfect lean and muscular build. He has “hero” written all over him. I bet he could do a great Russian accent, too!

Adam Gregory
Photo from IMDB

My choice for Emily’s partner Chris is Adam Gregory, who also stars on The Bold and the Beautiful. He previously had a role on 90210. Tall and good-looking with thick dark hair–exactly what I’m looking for!

Ashely Benson
Photo from IMDB

In my dream cast, Emily’s best friend Aubrey would be played by Ashley Benson from the TV show Pretty Little Liars. She has the required beautiful long, blond locks and pretty eyes. I also think Ashley could pull off Aubrey’s sassy attitude.

Emmy Rossum
Photo from IMDB

For Emily’s other friend Marley, I’d choose Emmy Rossum, known most for her roles in the movies The Phantom of the Opera and The Day After Tomorrow. Her big brown eyes and innocent look work well for the image I’ve created of Marley.

I hope you’ll check out Life on the Edge and let me know if you like my casting choices!

About Jennifer:

Jennifer Comeaux earned a Master of Accounting from Tulane University and is a Certified Public Accountant in south Louisiana. While working in the corporate world, she sought a creative outlet and decided to put on paper a story that had played in her head for years. That story became her first published novel, a sweet romance between a figure skater and her coach. When not working or writing, she is an avid follower of the sport of figure skating, travelling to competitions around the country. Those experiences allow her to see another side of the sport and serve as an inspiration for her writing. Jennifer is blessed with a wonderful family and many friends who have encouraged her to pursue her dream of being a published author.

Find Jennifer at: blog ❘ Goodreads ❘ Facebook ❘ Twitter
Buy Life on the Edge: Kindle ❘ B&N ❘ Astraea Press

Giveaway

Jennifer is giving away a Life on the Edge ebook, calendar, and signed bookmark.
Details:
Open internationally
Ends March 21st
To enter, fill out the form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Characters in Love: Second Loves

noreply@blogger.com (Hikablack) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:54:00 +0000

Second Loves

Amy Garvey

Love. It sounds so simple and joyful, on the surface – “They’re in love!” “Love makes the world go round.” “All you need is love.” But love is also one of the messiest, most confusing, terrifying, and crazy-making things in the world.

I think that’s why Wren and Gabriel grabbed me – COLD KISS is all about Wren learning to let go when her very beloved boyfriend is killed in a car crash (and she subsequently brings him back to “life”). I couldn’t imagine meeting a new boy in the midst of that process, and finding herself confused all over again. Danny is the one she loves! The only boy she’ll ever love! Right?

Wrong. The good/bad thing about love is that it doesn’t work that way. There is no gray area as stormy and murky and grayly gray as love. For Wren, coming off her first ever relationship, and one that ended tragically, loving someone else seems not only impossible but completely wrong. Because if she loved Danny so much that she brought him back to life, showing even a glimmer of interest in another boy has to be the worst possible betrayal in the history of girlfriends, right?

Not really. Gabriel doesn’t and can’t replace Danny, but he’s not supposed to. What Wren finds with Gabriel is something completely other than what she had with Danny. And that was one of the hardest and best things to write when I was working on COLD KISS – the idea that love isn’t always a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

For more about COLD KISS and Amy Garvey, check out Amy’s blog, Twitter, or Tumblr.

Giveaway

Amy has kindly offered a signed copy of Cold Kiss to give away to one lucky winner!

Details:
Open to United States/Canada residents
Ends March 21st
To enter, Rafflecopter!
Please do not include your email in the comments section.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Characters in Love: A Little Romance with Claire LaZebnik

noreply@blogger.com (Kris (Imaginary Reads)) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

A LITTLE ROMANCE
Claire LaZebnik

I was recently talking to my agent and my editor about my next adult novel, and they were encouraging me to do something a little more serious, a little grittier, a little more mature. And I said, "Sure. But it still has to have a romance in it." Silence from the others.

Crickets chirping kind of silence.

I said, even more firmly, "There's no point to me if there isn't a romance."

Later, it occurred to me that maybe that was a weird thing to take a stand about. Why did I feel so strongly about it, anyway? I've loved plenty of great novels that weren't at all about two people falling in love.

So I made a list of the novels I've loved that don't have a romance in them:

Ender's Game

That's where I ran out.

That list is short, but the list of novels I've written that didn't include a romance is even shorter. As in none. Even the one short story I published was romantic.

What's up with me? Is this need for reading and writing about love a response to some void in my life? Am I trying to capture in fiction what I'm lacking in real life?

Doubtful: I've been happily married for over twenty years.

So what is it?

I honestly don't know. Maybe my taste in fiction was formed during the years that I was devouring every one of Jane Austen's novels, along with Jane Eyre and The Scarlet Pimpernel and Gone with the Wind and countless more books that featured smart, determined heroines and the passionate men who loved them.

But wait--that's a chicken and egg kind of thing. Did I love these particular books because they were romantic or did I get addicted to romance because I loved these books?

I do know this much: action may move a story along, but emotion grounds it. You have to care about a character to get invested in what happens to her. All the brilliantly plotted storylines in The Hunger Games trilogy wouldn't be nearly so compelling if Katniss weren't the kind of girl who would sacrifice herself for her sister and who two noble guys like Gale and Peeta would lay down their lives for. In the end, it was their love triangle that kept me reading breathlessly through the saga, not the fate of the entire world.

Also? I do love a happy ending. And--to me--nothing's happier than two people in love who survive all the obstacles in their way to find each other at last and forever. It's just so satisfying. And hopeful.

I know that in real life, finding someone--even someone wonderful--doesn't solve all your problems. That real life is complicated and messy and all that complication and messiness doesn't go away when you say, "I do." That in real life, the true challenges to love come when you have to worry about money and kids and keeping your house clean and doing the laundry. And that romantic love doesn't always survive life's relentless banality. But given all that, why not relive the magic of the "before" as often as you can through fiction?

Whatever the reason, I love my romance. And don't plan to write a single novel without one.

About Claire

Claire LaZebnik's novels include Epic Fail, Knitting Under the Influence, Families and Other Nonreturnable Gifts, and upcoming The Trouble with Flirting. She has also co-authored two non-fiction books about autism with Dr. Lynn Kern Koegel (Overcoming Autism, Growing Up on the Spectrum). She lives in the Pacific Palisades with her TV writer husband and four children.

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a copy of Epic Fail.

Details:
Open to United States residents
Ends March 20th
To enter, fill out the form below. Do not include your email in the comments section.

a Rafflecopter giveaway