Read Books and Live Green

Unrequited by Emma Grey

2014-10-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

Unrequited
by Emma Grey
Release Date: 05/26/14
Series: No
Genrre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: Four Trees

Summary from Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Kat Hartland loathes Unrequited, the world's biggest boy band. Is she the only girl in Sydney who can't be bothered with perfect-looking Angus Marsden?

Give her 5 Seconds of Summer. Now.

Or maybe the seriously-hot med student who rescued her on a train—and who could be Douglas Booth's twin! Perfect formal partner, much?

But when Kat comes face to face with Angus Marsden himself, things start to get complicated. Very. Throw in a deranged female popstar, final exams, a part in the musical and a mum who just doesn't get it—and where is her best friend?

When did life get so crazy? Kat's just an ordinary schoolgirl.

Isn't she?

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MY THOUGHTS

To start off this review, I feel like I should get this out of the way, the idea for the book is so crazy and unrealistic. I mean lets face it, this would never happen in real life, yet the author manages to completely convince me that it's possible and draw me into the Unrequited world.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about the book was the fact that you really didn't know who Kat would end up with. Was it going to be the hot med student or would it be the world famous singer? I thought the author did a fantastic job at keeping the reader guessing.

Another aspect of the novel that I loved was the fact that Kat was just a regular student struggling through school. As a current senior in high school trying to balance a million other things I really related to her and thought she was a great example of a normal person (or as normal as you get knowing a superstar). I also liked Kat as a character. She knew who she was and didn't want to change it and conform to other people's ideas. I appreciated how she didn't care what people thought of her and loved her attitude about everything. Kat was a character that really made the book for me.

While the idea for Unrequited isn't new I truly enjoyed all the twists and turns the author employed that made her book really stick out. I think that the author had several unique ideas that set her book apart from the other girl meets boy band books out there.

For me the book was a fast paced, fun novel that took my mind off school and the work that I was supposed to be doing. I would definitely check out anything else this author writes!

MY RATING

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books

Read the first three chapters at: www.unrequited.com.au

Book Trailer:

About the Author
Emma Grey has two teenage girls, a three-year-old boy, a couple of businesses and another teen novel in the pipeline. Her first book, 'Wits' End Before Breakfast! Confessions of a Working Mum' was published in 2005.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

GIVEAWAY:
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Summer in New York Anthology Review and excerpt

2014-09-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Summer in New York
Authors: Janette Rallison, Heather B. Moore, Luisa Perkins, Sarah M. Eden, Annette Lyon, and Lisa Mangum

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Anthology

Series: None

Rating: Four and a half trees

Going into this anthology I had no idea who any of the authors were which meant that I had absolutely no idea what stories might become one of my favorites. I skipped around a bit depending on the mood I was in, and I have to say that overall I was extremely impressed by all the stories and I definitely am planning to check out some of the other books written by the authors.
This review is going to be broken down into individual sections for each short story. I will be giving each story an individual rating and then an overall rating for the collection as a whole.

Job Hazards by Janette Rallison
Rating: Five trees
The Premise: In USA Today bestselling author Janette Rallison’s delightful novella, JOB HAZARDS, Lydia Robinson is posing as a prostitute. Undercover of course. Lydia’s job as a police officer hasn’t reeled in her prince charming yet. That is, until Harrison Aldridge, old high school flame, pulls up to the corner to rescue the fallen damsel. Lydia can’t exactly give Harrison the truth without blowing her cover, and it takes a series of mishaps and another whole set of misunderstandings before Lydia will even consider letting Harrison back into her life
If there is one story in this entire anthology that is a must read, it would have to be this one. This is the first story in the book and it immediately pulled me in. I love short stories and I know that a lot of people hate them but the fact that they are short, yet still manage to tell an entire story is the reason as to why I love them. With that said, after reading this short story I WANTED MORE! The story was so fun and I loved the main character. I hated coming to the end and realizing that the story was over! (Although I do think the story was told perfectly and any more might have ruined it for me! But still...) I think that this was probably the strongest story in the collection and definitely worth it!

A Taste of Sun by Heather
Rating: Three and a half Trees
The Premise: In Heather B. Moore’s enchanting novella, A TASTE OF SUN, Winona Grant embarks on a summer-long visit to NYC to house-sit for her great-aunt after a nasty break-up with her boyfriend Paul. But when her aunt commissions neighbor Steve Monti to tour Winona around, they strike a deal. Winona has too many deadlines to play tourist, and Steve is looking for a distraction from his looming gallery opening. So Steve goes on the tours by himself, and Winona reports back to her aunt as if she’d gone too. The longer this happens, the more Winona wants to change her mind. Seeing the city with Steve might be the perfect solution to forgetting about Paul.

While I did find this story to be adorable, I also thought it was extremely unrealistic and a bit too insta-lovey for my taste. I felt like the characters barely knew each other and then all of a sudden they were willing to anger Winona's aunt because they rapidly developed feelings for each other? I don't know... It just didn't mesh well with me. The other aspect I found completely unbelievable is a bit of a spoiler. It has to do with Steve's gallery though and I felt like that was all too convenient and perfect.... This one had a lot of potential and while still highly adorable, was a bit lacking for me.

Dulce de Leche by Luisa Perkins

Rating: Three Trees

The Premise: In Luisa Perkins’s sweet romance novella, DULCE DE LECHE, Marisol is desperate for another nanny job after being unfairly fired from her previous position. She has only two more semesters of college, but she’s too proud to ask her wealthy parents for financial help. When her potential new employer, a single father working long hours as an anesthesiologist, decides she’s too young and pretty to hire, she practically begs him for the job. Darius finally agrees, and as he watches her work miracles with his Asperger’s son, he realizes there is much more to Marisol than he first believed

This was definitely my least favorite short story from the collection. I had recently watched the Nanny Diaries and I felt like there were so many parallels between that movie and this story. While it was enjoyable I never really connected to the characters or understood their motivations. I did love the diversity in this short story though and I thought that it was a great aspect.

Take a Chance by Sarah M. Eden
Rating: Four Trees
The Premise: In TAKE A CHANCE, a captivating story by Sarah M. Eden, Miguel Santos has a stopover in New York. When the announcement of delayed flights comes over the PA system, Miguel is looking at spending several hours at the airport. Determined to get comfortable for the long wait, he’s surprised when he spies a familiar face amongst the stranded passengers: Jane Schoonenburg, the last person he expected to see. Three months have passed since he asked Jane to marry him—three months of misery. And now he knows that he must talk to her, if only to find out why she broke his heart
I thought this story was so incredibly adorable! This was one that I found to be realistic and just cute! I loved Miguel and the entire idea was great. I love how the author chose to have everything play out and there were several smaller parts in the story that made it even better than I thought possible. This is an author that is now definitely on my radar and I can't wait to read some of her other stuff!

Firsts and Lasts
Rating: Four Trees
The Premise: Annette Lyon’s entrancing novella, FIRSTS AND LASTS, begins with Dani’s last week in New York. She’s failed in her dreams to catch a break as an actress and is now ready to return home and dust herself off. As she visits the places on her final to-see list, she meets Mark, another New York City transplant with big dreams. Except Mark hasn’t given up on his. As they spend the day together, Dani realizes that even though she hasn’t hit the “big time” she might be living her dream after all. Only problem: she has a one-way ticket back home.

This is a story that I don't really have a lot to say about. I thought it was really good and a great addition to the collection. It's definitely one with the message to never give up and I really liked how the author pointed out that struggling is part of the journey. Overall really enjoyable!

& by Lisa Mangum
Rating: Five Trees
The Premise: In Lisa Mangum’s whimsically titled story: &, Lucy is riding a wave of success at having found a bestselling novel in the slush pile at an exclusive New York publishing house. If only her personal life was storybook perfect as well. Her relationship with Devon is on the rocks, and even though she's been put in charge of the house while her boss is gone on business, Lucy isn't sure she's up to the task. It will take a chance encounter with a handsome wordsmith to help Lucy claim the courage that has always been a part of her heart
Last, but certainly not least is &. (And yes & is the title.... It may have taken me a minute to figure that out..) I think the authors of the collection definitely picked great stories to begin and end the collection. This book was not only fun, but also a story that book lovers will love. The romance was sweet and I loved watching it play out. I also loved watching Lucy figure out who she was and have confidence in herself! A fabulous read!

IN CONCLUSION
Overall this was a fantastic anthology and has become one of my favorites! There were so many cute stories and it truly was the perfect summer read. I found out about so many new authors and I am so excited to to read more of their works! (I've already picked up more Janette Rallison! WOO-HOO!) I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of short stories and adorable romances!

OVERALL RATING

Purchase links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

EXCERPT

Job Hazards

Janette Rallison

Chapter One

Fighting crime wasn’t supposed to involve wearing a leopard-print miniskirt, a silky halter top, and stiletto heels. Not once while Lydia Robinson was in the police academy a year ago had she envisioned that the job would land her on a seedy New York street posing as a hooker. But as Lieutenant Miner had told her a week ago after he called her into his office, “You’re a natural.”

A natural hooker? “Is that supposed to be a compliment?” she asked.

He held up his hands to stop her protest and nodded at the glass window of his office. Outside, two other female officers were talking about a case. Officer Loomis was fifty-two and had more wrinkles than a pile of forgotten laundry. Officer Dustin was seven months pregnant. “I just meant,” Lieutenant Miner said, “that you’re the best one in the department for the sting.”

So now Lydia stood on a dimly lit corner next to a row of bars and strip clubs. She wore so much makeup that she looked like she was part of a Broadway play. Her usually long, brown hair had been curled, teased and poofed. It was magazine-girl, notice-me hair. Half-a-bottle-of-hairspray hair.

Rival Love by Natalie Decker

2014-09-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Rival Love
Author: Natalie Decker
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Romance
Series: ? (I think so...)
Rating: Four Trees
THE PREMISE
Skylar Fletcher is a proud Harris Academy Bulldog! She has everything she’s ever wanted: a perfect boyfriend, great friends, and her dream college waiting for her in the fall. But nothing lasts forever. Skylar's world shatters when her mom decides it is time to move and drags Skylar, kicking and screaming, into Bobcat territory.

At Delmont High School, home of the Bobcats, Skylar has no friends and is often bullied. To make matters worse, her home life sucks thanks to all-star quarterback Caleb Morgan, nephew of her mom's live-in boyfriend.

At first Skylar and Caleb want nothing to do with one another. But they soon discover they're not that different after all--and each is harboring a secret attraction to the other. But can a Bulldog and a Bobcat ever really be more than friends? And are Skylar and Caleb willing to risk everything to find out? Rival Love is a debut young adult contemporary romance from Natalie Decker.

MY THOUGHTS
Rival Love is definitely one of those cute books that's a quick, fun read, perfect for when you need something on the fluffier side.

The book starts out with our main character moving into her new home in the enemies territory.... *DUN, DUN, DUUUUNNNN*

As a teenager I can sympathize with Skylar and the fact that her mom is forcing her to move her SENIOR YEAR! I completely understand Skylar's point of view and why this would be such a traumatic experience for her. I'm pretty sure most people would have that problem.

On the the hand, I completely didn't understand Skylar's mom. The fact that she moved in with her boyfriend and forced Skylar to switch schools and never understood why this was such a big deal bugged me. I didn't like how oblivious her mom was and it really brought the book down for me.

The one other negative thing I have to say is the fact that the secondary characters are kind of unrealistic. Skylar loses all of her friends from her old school because they are so mad that she switched to the rival school, like huh?! That was waaaayyyy too extreme. I also thought the bullying Skylar underwent was over the top. I've never known any school to be so competitive and mean especially when they could be gaining a huge asset to help out their own teams.

I did really like Skylar's and Caleb's relationship. I love the whole enemies to friends trope and I love how it played out on this book.

I also thought that the author did a fantastic job with the switching POV. I felt that the voices were recognizable and unique so I didn't feel confused when I was reading.

I also loved the sports aspect and how Skylar was a swimmer. That was definitely fun to see how it played into the book.

I did find the ending to be a bit rushed. All of a sudden all of this stuff is going down and it feels kind of like WHAT?!

I will definitely be checking oh the next book because I am so curious as to what might happen next.

I would recommend this book to people looking for something light and fun. It was definitely perfect for the mood I was in!
MY RATING:

Natalie Decker is the Author of Rival Love. She loves oceans, sunsets, sand between her toes, and carefree days. Her imagination is always going, which some find odd. But she believes in seeing the world in a different light at all times. Her first passion for writing started at age twelve when she had to write a poem for English class. However, seventh grade wasn’t her favorite time and books were her source of comfort. She took all college prep classes in High school, and attended the University of Akron. Although she studied Mathematics she never lost her passion for writing or her comfort in books. She’s a mean cook in the kitchen, loves her family and friends and her awesome dog infinity times infinity. If she’s not writing, reading, traveling, hanging out with her family and friends, then she’s off having an adventure. Because Natalie believes in a saying: Your life is your own journey, so make it amazing!

Author Links:
http://adayintothewriter.blogspot.it/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7487891.Natalie_Decker
http://www.twitter.com/NatalieDecker07
https://www.facebook.com/natalie.decker.716

$10 Amazon gift card + ebook of Rival Love (INT)

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Waiting on Wednesday: Emergent

2014-08-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting by Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!
This post highlights a book that I am dying to be released!!

THIS WEEK I'M WAITING ON:

Emergent
By Rachel Cohn

Zhara, the First. Elysia, her clone. On the surface, they are identical. But looks can be deceiving.

When Zhara plays, she plays to win. She thought she had escaped the horrors of Doctor Lusardi's cloning compound. But the nightmare is just beginning. Elysia has taken everything from Zhara-a softer, prettier version of herself and an inescapable reminder of all she's failed at in her life. Now the man Zhara loves has replaced her with Elysia. Zhara will get her clone out of the way, no matter the cost.

Elysia has finally learned the truth: she has a soul. Her First is alive. She knows it hurts Zhara to see her with Alexander, but she can't give him up. The genetically-perfected Aquine has chosen as her as his life mate, and their days together are limited.

Elysia can't remain in the Rave Caves off the shores of Denesme forever. Revolution is brewing on the island paradise. Hundreds of soulless clones remain imprisoned like Elysia once was, slaves to the whims of their owners-wealthy human inhabitants of the island. As a group of clones and humans, led by Alexander, plot an insurrection that will turn Denesme's world upside down, Elysia knows her place is fighting by his side. Terrible sacrifices must be made to defeat Denesme's twisted regime. But even the greatest losses cannot prepare Elysia for the ticking time bomb built into her own programming...

RELEASE DATE: September 2nd, 2014
Why I'm waiting:: Truthfully I wasn't a fan of the first book... but I'm curious to see what happens... SO I really want to check this one out!

What are you waiting on?

Stolen Dreams: Review

2014-08-16T22:19:00.000-04:00

Title: Stolen Dreams

Author: Christine Amsden

Genre: NA, Fantasy, Romance

Series: Cassie Scot #4

Rating: Five Trees

THE PREMISE

Edward Scot and Victor Blackwood have despised one another for nearly a quarter of a century, but now their simmering hatred is about to erupt.

When Cassie Scot returns home from her sojourn in Pennsylvania, she finds that her family has taken a hostage. Desperate to end the fighting before someone dies, Cassie seeks help from local seer Abigail Hastings, Evan Blackwood’s grandmother. But Abigail has seen her own death, and when it comes at the hand of Cassie’s father, Victor Blackwood kills Edward Scot.

But things may not be precisely as they appear.

Evan persuades Cassie to help him learn the truth, teaming them up once again in their darkest hour. New revelations about Evan and his family make it difficult for Cassie to cling to a shield of anger, but can Evan and Cassie stop a feud that has taken on a life of its own? Conclusion to the Cassie Scot series.

MY THOUGHTS

Cassie Scot has become a series which I can safely say is a favorite of mine. Each time I pick up the newest book I think that it can't be nearly as good as the previous one, yet somehow Christine Amsden manages to amp it up with each new book.

In this final installment in Cassie's life, the reader sees Cassie reach new heights as a character and make choices that reflect her character perfectly.

I completely loved the romance in this book and I was so happy with how things played out in this book!

In each book I'm amazed at Amsden's expertise at throwing in twists that I would never see coming. So many of the predictions that I made prior to reading this book were completely wrong and made me admire Amsden's skills as a writer even more.

I have to admit that there were several sections where I feared up (partially because it's the last book) but also because of the way that Amsden wrote. At this point I felt as though I knew all of her characters and that their decisions personally effected me.

I also really liked how not every character got their happy ending. There was a lot of death and tragedy that made the story realistic for the reader.

Sitting here writing my review and rereading my notes for the book feels so sad. There is so much more I have to say about this book, yet half of it is extremely spoilery and I don't want to say anything to give away what happens.

So I'm going to leave it on this note. This book (along with the rest of the Cassie Scot series) was a roller coaster. I laughed, I cried, and I grew closer to these characters than any other book I've read in the past few year. (Which is really saying a lot. I read A LOT of books) I am so glad that I was introduced to the world of Cassie Scot and have become a huge fan of anything that Christine Amsden writes. Cassie Scot is without a doubt in mind one of the best fantasy series I've ever read and I can't wait to read the stories that the author plans to publish about some of the other characters. I don't think I will ever be able to give this series enough praise.

Buy Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Print Release Date: October 15, 2014

Audiobook Release Date: TBA

Rafflecopter Giveaway ($100 Amazon Gift Card) Code

(For some reason I can't get this to pop up on my blog so here is the link!)

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/c888753/

The Cassie Scot Series:

Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family’s reputation isn’t easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective (Cassie Scot #1)

Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot #2)

Mind Games (Cassie Scot #3)

Author Bio

Christine Amsden has been writing fantasy and science fiction for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and relationships, and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.

At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a condition that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams.

In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work.

Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children.

Social Media Links:

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Waiting on Wednesday: Trust Me, I'm Lying

2014-08-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting by Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!
This post highlights a book that I am dying to be released!!

THIS WEEK I'M WAITING ON:

Trust Me, I'm Lying
By Mary Elizabeth Summer

Julep Dupree is a con artist, a master of disguise, and a sophomore at a swanky Chicago private school. When she comes home one day to a ransacked apartment and her father gone, Julep's carefully laid plans for an expenses-paid golden ticket to Yale start to unravel.

RELEASE DATE: October 2014
Why I'm waiting: As of this moment this is all the summary there is! (I'm writing this in January) So there might be more out now, but I am DYING to read this one! It sounds fantastic!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I would give to people who have never read Steampunk

2014-08-05T00:00:00.000-04:00

Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC IS: Top Ten Books for readers new to Steampunk

1.) Leviathan trilogy by Scott Westerfeld~ Maybe my favorite book EVER! The Leviathan world is epic! It is one of the best steampunk books I've ever read! I adore this book so much. I think anyone who wants to start reading steampunk should start off with this book.
2.) The Clockwork Scarab by Colleen Gleason~ Going into this book I was apprehensive. It sounded like a fantastic book, yet I never thought it could be pulled off well. I absolutely adored this book and I can't wait for the next one to come out! A must read if you love steampunk or want to try it out!
3.) The Friday Society by Adrienne Kress~ Admittedly, I am only half way through at the time I am writing this post, but so far I LOVE it! The three main characters are fantastic and it is a great example of awesome steampunk! Definitely a great read! (So far!!)
4.) Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger~ This one is a bit more midle gradey, but it is definitely a fantastic steampunk novel. I really want to read Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series, too!
5.) The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross~ This is another fantastic book! I love the entire series! (Still need to read The Girl with the Windup Heart!) It has great steampunk aspects and the series only gets better!
6.) The Unnaturalists by Tiffany Trent~ Another fantastic steampunk novel that is super unique! Love the world for this one!
7.) Corsets and Clockwork by Many Authors~ Honestly some of the stories in this anthology weren't that great, others were fantastic! Definitely a great steampunk read!
8.) Steampunk! by Many Authors~ Another really fun steampunk anthology!
9.) The Falconer by Elizabeth May~ While this novel has a more minor presence of steampunk than the other books on this list, it was still a fantastic story! I absolutely loved the entire book!
10.) A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel Schwarz~ This is actually a book I've yet to read, but it looks like it should be fantastic! Hopefully it will be another great example of steampunk!

Are there any steampunk books that you would recommend??

Mafia Girl: Review

2014-08-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Mafia Girl
Author: Deborah Blumenthal
Genre: YA, Crime, Contemporary, Romance
Series: None
Rating: 2 trees

THE PREMISE
Gia's father is the head of a powerful mob in New York City. Since Gia is the "don's daughter", as she feels the need to consistently remind the reader, she is living the high life. After Gia and her BEST FRIEND Ro get pulled over for speeding, being drunk, and potentially being high, Gia falls in love with the cop. *DUN, DUN, DUN*
Gia also has to deal with everyday matters like running for class president and being featured in Vogue! Yet she juggles it all using her awesome connections and friends.

MY THOUGHTS
I don't know if you can tell from the summary of the book that I wrote, but my thoughts on Mafia Girl are not all that positive.
I picked this up hoping it was going to be a light, fun read, maybe even something that could pull me out of my reading slump. Instead I got a book where I was forced to reread passages in order to understand what the heck was going on. There were several times when Gia was doing something and then BOOM something completely different was happening at a different place and I didn't even realize the setting changed. So then I would go back and reread the passsage two or three times trying to make sense of it all.
For example:

So when he grabs my hand, I follow him into the laundry room.

Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.

The door to my room flings open and me dad x-rays me so hard I can practically feel the burn.

Do you see my point? At first s'hes in the laundry room and then BAM it's her bedroom. I was feeling so confused...

Another thing about this book that I hated was Gia 's need to label every single person in the entire school with some type of derogatory term.

...what I'll say to the a**holes at Morgan to get the to vote for me...

Man, I would totally vote for her if she was at my school she doesn't seem stuck up or nasty at all! Gia truly believes that she is better than every single person in her school... BUT then at the same time she hates herself a little bit. She was constantly calling herself a slut and her friends also referred to her as such.... (which confused me even more because she didn't seem the least bit slutty....)

Basically in Gia's perfect the world, EVERYTHING revolves around her. Her friends think she is so amazing! When she first tells them about running for class president the response she gets is is immediate. The tell her how freaking amazing she is and how she will win. Which I mean is cool and everthing, except for the fact that she's a absolute jerk towards the entire school. How could you possibly win with that kind of reputation?

I would also like to point out that Gia is a stalker. After being puller over by a cop, who she refers to as Officer Hottie, she proceeds to have her friends hack things in order to find out where he lives, where he goes when he's off work, and even his entire back story. Because ya know, that's not creepy at all!!!

When she meets up with him at this bar (after sneaking out of her house) she proceeds to give him her number and tells him that he should call her... (Can we also please note that she went to a bar that was full of cops and managed to use her fake ID to buy beer and wasn't caught...)

It's been one week, sixteen hours, and thirty seven minutes or so since I've last seen Michael. I check my phone every time I inhale to see if he might have broken down and called.

So after he still hasn't called her she finds him again, where she once again completely freaks both him and the reader out.

I wake up at night thinking about you, Michael.

(There is one point where he calls her and they jusr sit there silently and listen to each other breath... How creepy can it get?)

There were several other places where there were inconsistencies in the writing and with the characters. At one point Gia complains about not having Michael's number where only pages before he had just texted her asking to meet up and she had replied. Gia also kept talking about how Ro was her absolute best friend with Clive at a close second, yet I can barely remember any sections focusing on Ro. It was all about Clive and his terrible life where his parents don't love him. (I also found this hard to believe. I can't believe his parents would just leave him around like that and act as though he was inconsequential... The author tried to make a valid reason for there actions, but it didn't make much sense to me.)

I also completely don't understand how Gia can constantly talk about being a straight A student and then do what she does. I also thought her dream seemed a bit out of place... ***Highlight this next part to see a spoiler*** I don't get why she wants to go to law school. I completely don't see her motivations or why her dad would be so happy about it. I also don't understand how she'll be able to get into law school with her arrest record.... I don't understand her plan....

Mafia Girl had potential, yet I found it to be lacking in so many aspects. The characters were weak and the plot was basically about Gia and Michael's epic romance. There were other events (like Vogue and the school election along the way) but in the big picture it didn't really matter.

I really wish that before picking up the book I had read reviews for it so that I wasn't so surprised. Mafia Girl just wasn't the book for me.

MY RATING:

My thoughts on DNFing

2014-07-31T00:00:00.000-04:00

Personally I've always considered myself to be a realist. I see things for what they are and I accept that. Yet when it comes to reading I never manage to keep that view.
I always go into a book believing that it has the potential to be the best book I've ever read. It could be about something I despise or adore or it could be something completely new or something overused.
To me each book has that potential to completely blow my mind and truthfully I won't normally pick up a book that I don't think I'm going to like.

But then, I'm sure you all know that feeling when you get to a book and just hate it. For some reason it doesn't sit right with you and you just don't want to go on.

So maybe at first you just continue to push on and think this will get better. I mean it has to, right? It's a book it has to get better. But there gets to be a point where you just start to think it's impossible for it to redeem itself and that is the point when most people would DNF because really, what's the point of wasting your time on a bad book when there are SO MANY good books out there!

Unfortunately that's not me and I'm not sure it ever will be. To me even books that bore me to tears, I still need to finish. I stay optimistic and keep thinking it will get better even if I'm two pages from the end. I JUST CAN'T STOP MYSELF. It's often like a car crash for me, it may be terrible and awful but I can't bring myself to ever look away.

I can count on one hand the number of books that I've DNFed..... And that means I've read some extremely unenjoyable books straight through until the end.

What brought on this post though is an issue that I've had of late. I have read several books in a row that I just wasn't into. I put them down and then picked them back up hoping that all of a sudden it would get better and also so that I could satisfy my curiosity, yet all that it has really done has been to put me in a reading slump....

So my question to you all is how do you decide to DNF a book?

Are there any tips that you can give me to make it easier?

Waiting on Wednesdays: Of Metal and Wishes

2014-07-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting by Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!
This post highlights a book that I am dying to be released!!

THIS WEEK I'M WAITING ON:

Of Metal and Wishes
By Sarah Fine

There are whispers of a ghost in the slaughterhouse where sixteen-year-old Wen assists her father in his medical clinic—a ghost who grants wishes to those who need them most. When one of the Noor, men hired as cheap factory labor, humiliates Wen, she makes an impulsive wish of her own, and the Ghost grants it. Brutally.

Guilt-ridden, Wen befriends the Noor, including their outspoken leader, a young man named Melik. At the same time, she is lured by the mystery of the Ghost and learns he has been watching her … for a very long time.

As deadly accidents fuel tensions within the factory, Wen must confront her growing feelings for Melik, who is enraged at the sadistic factory bosses and the prejudice faced by his people at the hand of Wen’s, and her need to appease the Ghost, who is determined to protect her against any threat—real or imagined. She must decide whom she can trust, because as her heart is torn, the factory is exploding around her … and she might go down with it.

RELEASE DATE: August 5th, 2014
Why I'm waiting: Not a fan of the cover, but the book sounds like something I could definitely be into.

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I own the most books from

2014-07-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

Top Ten Tuesdays is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

(The beautiful picture of my Nancy Drew/Hardy Boy/Dana
Girls Collection. In case you can't tell they're all double stacked!)

THIS WEEK'S TOPIC IS:

Top Ten Authors I own the most books from

I definitely own a lot of books, but typically they are all from different authors. Some of these books I may only own four from some of these authors, but to me, it's amazing that I've managed

1.) Carolyn Keene~ I know that the Nancy Drew books were written by a multitude of different ghost writers. Yet this is definitely a series where I own nearly every book.

2.) On that note Franklin W. Dixon is also a main author that can be found on my bookshelves... (There are a lot more Hardy Boy books than what's in that picture

3.) Angie Sage was a favorite author of mine when I was younger. I own all of the Septimus Heap series.

4.) J.K. Rowling~ Ummmm... Harry Potter, duh.... I own all of those books and then copies of some of them.

5.) Michael Scott~The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel is one of my all time favorite series.

6.) Scott Westerfeld~ I own most of his books.... Definitely an author I own a lot of.

7.) Kasie West~I own all four of her books, which is kind of shocking, I tend not to buy the same books

8.) Kelly Oram~ Definitely one my favorite authors and I own all of her books on my kindle.

9.) Ally Carter~ She writes such fun exciting books I have to own all of them!

10.) And finally Rick Riordan~ On my shelf you can find almost every book he has written just because.

Waiting on Wednesdays: The Girl from the Well

2014-07-23T00:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting by Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!
This post highlights a book that I am dying to be released!!

THIS WEEK I'M WAITING ON:

The Girl from the Well
By Rin Chupeco

You may think me biased, being murdered myself. But my state of being has nothing to do with the curiosity toward my own species, if we can be called such. We do not go gentle, as your poet encourages, into that good night.

A dead girl walks the streets.

She hunts murderers. Child killers, much like the man who threw her body down a well three hundred years ago.

And when a strange boy bearing stranger tattoos moves into the neighborhood so, she discovers, does something else. And soon both will be drawn into the world of eerie doll rituals and dark Shinto exorcisms that will take them from American suburbia to the remote valleys and shrines of Aomori, Japan.

Because the boy has a terrifying secret - one that would just kill to get out.

The Girl from the Well is A YA Horror novel pitched as "Dexter" meets "The Grudge", based on a well-loved Japanese ghost story.

RELEASE DATE: August 5th, 2014
Why I'm waiting: OMG, this book sounds beyond fantastic! I need it soooo much! It sounds great!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Islands at the End of the World

2014-07-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting by Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!
This post highlights a book that I am dying to be released!!

THIS WEEK I'M WAITING ON:

The Island at the End of the World
By Austin Aslan

In this fast-paced survival story set in Hawaii, electronics fail worldwide, the islands become completely isolated, and a strange starscape fills the sky. Leilani and her father embark on a nightmare odyssey from Oahu to their home on the Big Island. Leilani’s epilepsy holds a clue to the disaster, if only they can survive as the islands revert to earlier ways.
A powerful story enriched by fascinating elements of Hawaiian ecology, culture, and warfare, this captivating and dramatic debut from Austin Aslan is the first of two novels. The author has a master’s degree in tropical conservation biology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

RELEASE DATE: August 5th, 2014
Why I'm waiting: I'm really in the mood to read something about Hawaii and this book sounds so interesting. Definitely can't wait for this one's release!

Waiting on Wednesdays: Midnight Thief

2014-07-02T00:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting by Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!
This post highlights a book that I am dying to be released!!

THIS WEEK I'M WAITING ON:

Midnight Thief
By Livia Blabkbourne

Growing up on Forge’s streets has taught Kyra how to stretch a coin. And when that’s not enough, her uncanny ability to scale walls and bypass guards helps her take what she needs.
But when the leader of the Assassins Guild offers Kyra a lucrative job, she hesitates. She knows how to get by on her own, and she’s not sure she wants to play by his rules. But he’s persistent—and darkly attractive—and Kyra can’t quite resist his pull.

Tristam of Brancel is a young Palace knight on a mission. After his best friend is brutally murdered by Demon Riders, a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats, Tristam vows to take them down. But as his investigation deepens, he finds his efforts thwarted by a talented thief, one who sneaks past Palace defenses with uncanny ease.

When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance at survival—and vengeance—might be to join forces. And as their loyalties are tested to the breaking point, they learn a startling secret about Kyra’s past that threatens to reshape both their lives.

In her arresting debut novel, Livia Blackburne creates a captivating world where intrigue prowls around every corner—and danger is a way of life.

RELEASE DATE: July 8th, 2014
Why I'm waiting: You can't tell me this book doesn't sound amazing because it does! I am so excited to read this one! IT SOUNDS SOOOO GOOD!

Waiting on Wednesdays: Latitude Zero

2014-06-25T00:00:00.001-04:00

Waiting by Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!
This post highlights a book that I am dying to be released!!

THIS WEEK I'M WAITING ON:
Latitude Zero
By Diana Renn

“I have to run,” said Juan Carlos. “You will call? Please? It is very important.”
“Yes. I will call. Definitely. At two.”

That’s what Tessa promises. But by two o’clock, young Ecuadorian cycling superstar Juan Carlos is dead, and Tessa, one of the last people ever to speak to him, is left with nothing but questions. The media deems Juan Carlos’s death a tragic accident at a charity bike ride, but Tessa, a teen television host and an aspiring investigative journalist, knows that something more is going on. While she grapples with her own grief and guilt, she is being stalked by spies with an insidious connection to the dead cycling champion. Tessa’s pursuit of an explanation for Juan Carlos’s untimely death leads her from the quiet New England backwoods to bustling bike shops and ultimately to Ecuador, Juan Carlos’s homeland. As the ride grows bumpy, Tessa no longer knows who is a suspect and who is an ally. The only thing she knows for sure is that she must uncover the truth of why Juan Carlos has died and race to find the real villain—before the trail goes cold.
RELEASE DATE: July 3rd, 2014
Why I'm waiting: Well... It's by Diana Renn... There are cyclists involved and it sounds awesome, does it not?

Waiting on Wednesday: Breathe, Annie, Breathe

2014-06-18T16:40:00.000-04:00

Waiting by Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!
This post highlights a book that I am dying to be released!!

THIS WEEK I'M WAITING ON:

Breathe, Annie, Breathe
By Miranda Kenneally

Eighteen-year-old Annie Winters can barely run a mile without wheezing. Still, she’s training to run the Music City Marathon in seven short months. Running is so not her thing, but she has to finish what her boyfriend started… before he died.

Annie feels guilt that she’s still alive and blames herself for his death. Plus, training gives her something to do, it’s a distraction. So is Jeremiah Brown.

He’s an adrenaline junkie who runs marathons backwards. He flirts with Annie on the trails and it makes her feel alive and happy and guilty all at the same time. She wants to both race into his arms and sprint in the opposite direction – because loving is a risk she’s not sure she’s ready to take again…

Read an excerpt: http://mirandakenneally.com/writing/e...

RELEASE DATE: July 1st, 2014
Why I'm waiting: I love running and I'm really excited to see what the author does with this. It should be interesting to see how it turns out!

Waiting on Wednesday: Find Me Where the Water Ends

2014-06-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting by Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!
This post highlights a book that I am dying to be released!!

THIS WEEK I'M WAITING ON:

Find Me Where The Water Ends
By Rachel Carter

Lydia has been trained into a person she might have once feared: focused, fierce, deadly. Although she never wanted the life of a Montauk Project recruit, the Project has captured someone she loves-someone she'll do anything to save.

Then Lydia glimpses a world in which the Montauk Project never existed. The Project has taken so much from Lydia already, but she knows that she will sacrifice everything to make her vision of a world without the Project a reality.

Publishers Weekly said that "readers will be hooked" by Rachel Carter's plot-twisting So Close to You series. The conspiracy theories, romance, and compelling "what if?" questions build to a satisfying series end, making Find Me Where the Water Ends the perfect fit for the teen fans of light science fiction like The Time Traveler's Wife.

RELEASE DATE: July 1st, 2014
Why I'm waiting: I LOVE the first two books in the series and after the cliffhanger at the end of the last one I kind of need this book NOW! Plus THE COVER! Gorgeous!

Waiting on Wednesdays: The Body in the Woods

2014-06-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting by Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!
This post highlights a book that I am dying to be released!!

THIS WEEK I'M WAITING ON:

The Body in the Woods
By April Henry

In this new series told from multiple perspectives, teen members of a search and rescue team discover a dead body in the woods.

Alexis, Nick, and Ruby have very different backgrounds: Alexis has spent her life covering for her mom’s mental illness, Nick’s bravado hides his fear of not being good enough, and Ruby just wants to pursue her eccentric interests in a world that doesn’t understand her. When the three teens join Portland County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, they are teamed up to search for a autistic man lost in the woods. What they find instead is a dead body. In a friendship that will be forged in danger, fear, and courage, the three team up to find the girl’s killer—before he can strike one of their own.

This first book in April Henry’s Point Last Seen YA mystery series is full of riveting suspense, putting readers in the middle of harrowing rescues and crime scene investigations.

RELEASE DATE: June 17th, 2014
Why I'm waiting: ONE WORD~GREEN Another word~ Murder
Last word~ EXCITED

Waiting on Wednesdays: My Faire Lady

2014-05-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting by Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!
This post highlights a book that I am dying to be released!!

THIS WEEK I'M WAITING ON:

My Faire Lady
By Laura Wettersten

Rowena Duncan is a thoroughly modern girl with big plans for her summer—until she catches her boyfriend making out with another girl. Heartbroken, she applies to an out-of-town job posting and finds herself somewhere she never expected: the Renaissance Faire.

As a face-painter doubling as a serving wench, Ro is thrown headfirst into a vibrant community of artists and performers. She feels like a fish out of water until Will, a quick-witted whip cracker, takes her under his wing. Then there’s Christian, a blue-eyed stunt jouster who makes Ro weak in the knees. Soon, it’s not just her gown that’s tripping her up.

Trading in the internet and electricity for stars and campfires was supposed to make life simpler, but Ro is finding that love is the ultimate complication. Can she let the past make way for her future?

RELEASE DATE: June 3rd, 2014
Why I'm waiting: Although I find the cover hideous the premise sounds cute and fun, something I've been needing recently! Definitely can't wait to check this one out!

Not Until Tonight Book Blitz

2014-05-26T00:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Not Until Tonight by Jessica Sankiewicz release day blitz!

~♡~

Title: Not Until Tonight
Author: Jessica Sankiewicz
Series: This Night Novella
Genre: New Adult Contemporary
Release Date: May 26th 2014
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Every day after work, Haley goes to the bar across the street from her apartment to get a drink. It's the only time she gets to see Skylar, her bartender and crush. She would like to get to know him as more than a friend but she's afraid he won't be interested and she'll have to go elsewhere for her after work drink.

When Skylar asks Haley to pretend to be his girlfriend for a night, she is more than happy to oblige. She finally has the chance to make something happen without risking anything. But pretending proves to be more difficult than she thought. She's not sure she can resist the pull any longer with her feelings growing stronger, and it seems like Skylar is feeling the same way.

At the end of the night, will they be willing to turn a fake relationship into a real one?

~♡~

About the author

Jessica Sankiewicz is the author of the New Adult novella series, This Night. You can often find her either reading or marathon watching TV on DVD, her favorites being Castle and Veronica Mars. She frequently mismatches her clothes and giggles uncontrollably. She knows almost every Billy Joel song by heart. She collects books and toys, and she has an intense love of cats and lemurs. Jessica decided when she turned 27 that she would remain 27 forever. Currently in the midst of her quarter-life-crisis, she is still takin' names and getting very close to reaching an epiphany.

Follow Jessica on

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Author Blog

~♡~

Excerpt

“Speaking of which, what was that all about?” he asks me.

“I think...I think he was just trying to present a solution to your problem.” A solution to both the problems at hand.

“Yeah, probably.” He half smiles. “I'm just sorry he had to go and put you on the spot like that.”

“Oh, that was no biggie. I just happened to be the closest girl to the conversation.” More like, the closest girl intentionally put on the spot to begin with. I wave it off. “Besides, I would be fine with helping you out of a jam.”

Something changes in his eyes at hearing this. “You would?”

“Of course. We're friends.” I pop a fry in my mouth and smile.

He stares curiously at me. “Are you saying you would help me?”

“Yeah, I would.” I look back down at my fries and pick up another.

“With this?”

My head snaps up. “Wait...what are you thinking?”

He touches a finger to his lips. “Maybe...just maybe...Tyler could be on to something.”

“And what would that be?”

He steps forward and takes my free hand in his. “Pretend to be my girlfriend, Haley.”

~♡~

Giveaway

THREE WINNERS

ONE Prize pack: Notebook, Chocolate, Book Swag, and an E-book copy of Not Until Tonight

TWO signed postcards

~Open Internationally~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~♡~

Waiting on Wednesday: Relax, I'm a Ninja

2014-05-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting by Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!
This post highlights a book that I am dying to be released!!

THIS WEEK I'M WAITING ON:

Relax, I'm a Ninja
By Natalie Whipple

A Clan of ninjas in San Francisco may sound improbable—but as the son of a ninja master, Tosh Ito knows what lurks in the shadows of his city. Or at least he thought he did.

When a killer with a poisoned blade starts cutting down teens, Tosh enlists Amy Sato—newest ninja recruit and his best friend’s crush—and sets out to uncover the killer’s identity. What they find is ninjutsu more evil than they could have ever imagined.

As Amy and Tosh grow closer, they discover their connection unleashes a legendary power that could stop the murders. Problem is, that power may be exactly what the killer is looking for, and wielding it could cost them both their souls.

RELEASE DATE: June 3rd, 2014
Why I'm waiting: First of all, I love Natalie Whipple's writing style. I also not the concept for the book plus the title. So in all I really think this boo is going to by a win!

What are you waiting for?

Interview with Christine Amsden, author of the Cassie Scot Series

2014-05-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

Today, I am so excited to be able to share with you all an interview with one of my all time favorite authors.

If you don't already know, Christine is the author of the Cassie Scot series, a New Adult series, about a girl who is far different from her friends and family in a way that you wouldn't expect.

When I picked up the first book, I was a bit apprehensive and it was one of my first forays into the genre of New Adult. It also happened to be one of my first book tours on my blog. After reading the first one I quickly fell in love with the world that Christine has created and with every book she writes it only gets better!
I am so excited to have this chance to share some of Christine's thoughts about her epic series.

QUESTION: Cassie is such a unique and interesting character. Instead of following the pattern you often see in books and making her different in a powerful way, you chose to set Cassie at a disadvantage. Do you think that helped you to make her the character that we read about in the books? Did setting her at that disadvantage make it easier or harder to write about?

ANSWER: It helped me to connect with her as a character, so in that sense it made her easier to write about. But plotting was a challenge. The norm in fantasy is to keep throwing bigger and more powerful bad guys at your hero. It's a simple and effective way to escalate the tension in a typical series, but I had to think outside the box in order to achieve the same effect. In each book, Cassie faces a challenge that forces her to learn something new about herself or the world around her. The challenges also become more personal, culminating in Stolen Dreams when the family feud that has been simmering in the background between the Scots and the Blackwoods explodes. But the path isn't as straightforward, and ultimately this isn't a story about a woman learning to kick ass. It's about a woman who learns to be happy with who she is and the role she can play.

(YES YES YES! This is just too perfect of a description! I think that's one of the things that I like so much about Cassie. She isn't trying to gain power, she's working with what she has. She is accepting of her limits and doesn't try to make things happen when she knows she can't!)

QUESTION: One of the things I love about the Cassie Scot series is Cassie’s independence. She chooses what she wants to do and she values it. Do you think that often gets her into more trouble than it’s worth?

ANSWER: Ah, the independent spirit! Yes, it does get her into trouble sometimes. The thing about independence is that it can go too far. We do need one another, after all. The trick is to know when it's time to stand alone, to prove yourself, and when it's time to ask for help. I don't think Cassie is too reckless with her independence, even if she toes the line now and again. For Cassie, much of her independence is related to her desperate need to prove herself to everyone around her, including herself. When she is more secure in who she is, I think she'll find the right balance between standing up for herself and asking for help.

( I completely agree. At the beginning of the series we see Cassie go through so much upset in her life and feeling forced to depend on no one. As the series progresses we see her accepting that she can ask for help. I think that is such an important idea. No matter how independent you think you are, asking for help doesn't make you weaker!)

QUESTION: How did you come up with the idea for the series? It’s unique in ways that many stories aren’t and one of the best aspects of the novel is that Cassie is a relatable character because she’s normal, like us everyday humans, rather than a powerful witch. Was there anything that drove you make Cassie different from her family in a way many people wouldn’t expect?

ANSWER: When I came up with Cassie, I knew I wanted to write a story about a unique character. That was the very first thing I knew about the series, before I knew anything else. I wasn't sure how I would pull it off, especially since I had a vague notion that I wanted to write contemporary fantasy. I mean, every magical power under the sun has been done, hasn't it? Or near enough. And these days the dark hero, whose power is as much curse as gift, is also a well-explored theme. So what did I have to offer the genre?

That's when I had my lightbulb moment. What magical power hasn't been done in fantasy? Why, no magic at all!

I'm legally blind. I don't want to exaggerate the connection between this real-world disability and Cassie's “disability” of being without magic in a magical world, but there is a connection. It struck me the instant I had my lightbulb moment, and it was one of many reasons why I simply knew this was it. I had my character.

I was reading a lot at the time. I took a break from writing after I finished The Immortality Virus because I didn't think I knew who I was as a writer. So I stopped for a while and took a look around me. I saw something surprising – I related more to the sidekicks than the heroes. To the people in the periphery of the story, standing just behind and off to the left. I made up stories in my head about these people (I still do when I read). Who are they? What do they want? Are they happy being in the background or would they like to step forward?

Cassie is not happy in the background. :)

(I love how Cassie doesn't have to be the hero and that makes her so interesting. I feel as though I always read books where the character is powerless and weak, but then undergoes an extraordinary transformation into *the most powerful being EVER*. Cassie learns so much about herself, yet there is never a change that makes it unbelievable. I find her to be such a relatable character because she is like a normal person in that way!)

QUESTION: I’ve heard that you plan for there to be four books in the Cassie Scot series with two spin offs! When do you plan to have that final book come out?? (*Anxiously sits on edge of seat*) And also how did it feel to begin writing about Cassie’s world from a different perspective?

ANSWER: Stolen Dreams should be out this summer! Seriously, the ebook release (crosses fingers) may be in July. Print and audiobook readers will have a bit more of a wait, but I'm eager for the whole story to be out there. I am so anxious (as in nervous and excited) to see what readers will think of my conclusion. I hope that, once again, I took the series down an unexpected path.

The spin-offs are coming along well. I've finished Madison's Song (it is in the editorial phase of its existence) and I have to say … I've been dying to say it so thanks for asking … it is not the same story! It's the same world, but Madison is not Cassie and Scott is not Evan. I knew this before I began writing. Madison is a less obvious heroine even than Cassie because she's shy and uncertain, even fearful. Scott, on the other hand, is more the typical dark hero. Together they needed me to write a story that is a little darker in tone and also more grown up (if for no other reason than because Scott is 28 and Madison 23). If the Cassie Scot series is borderline YA (I vastly prefer New Adult, but not everyone listens), the spin-offs have moved inland.

But the experience showed me something important about myself. I really do write characters. I've been saying it for a year, since the Cassie Scot series came out, but now I see just how much of the story was defined by the perspective through which I told it. Cassie only ever saw a small part of the world around her. I've always known more about the world than I was able to share in the Cassie Scot books because she only saw her small corner of that world. Madison's Song and Kaitlin's Tale are both giving me a chance to show more of the big picture. Both stories take the characters outside of Eagle Rock and develop a few world-level issues I only touched on in the Cassie Scot series.

I'm working on Kaitlin's Tale right now. I've been told that I do unexpected things with my books, but I think I'm still going to shock some readers when they see what I've done with Kaitlin. I won't give too much away, but I will say one thing that should be apparent from the book blurb (as soon as I write it!) – Kaitlin will not get her happily ever after with Jason. I hope I don't upset too many people with that news, but he's not the right man for her and never was. They spent one whole night together after all! I'm feeling a bit vindicated in my position since the movie Frozen came out. :)

(I definitely agree that Cassie Scot is much more of a new adult book, than what I would consider YA. The characters are in the NA age range and it fits Cassie much better. I am so excited to read Madison's story! I want her to get a happy ending and I find her to be such an interesting character! Personally I'm kind of happy that Kaitlin and Jason don't end up together! I definitely agree that they just weren't right together and I can't wait to see what direction you go with her story! Good luck!)

QUESTION: There were several twists and turns with varying degrees of obviousness spread throughout the book. There were several that I never saw coming. Was thinking of those twists hard or did it just kind of flow together when you looked at the big picture of the series?

ANSWER: Yes. :)

I'm not sure which twists you felt were obvious and which you thought were more surprising, but I have some guesses. Some of the twists came as a surprise to me – such as the cliffhanger ending to Secrets and Lies that sets the tone for the rest of the series. I had no idea until I was halfway through drafting Secrets and Lies and then I had a lightbulb-over-the-head moment. Oh! It felt right, almost like I had planned it that way all along.

Not every aspect of this story came so easily, though. You've said some great things about the complexity of the characters and their interactions – all of that takes a lot of planning and work. I don't write by the seat of my pants, even if I don't usually stay true to my outlines. Somewhere in all that complexity are connections that were inspired, but others I had to work for. Cassie's parents' backstory is an example of something I had to work for. I kept thinking I almost had it, then I would see a hole in need of mending. I feel good about it now, but I'm sure I devoted several weeks to that issue alone (not consecutively).

(The Secrets and Lies cliffhanger was shocking! I never saw it coming and I loved it! It made so much sense with the book and was just perfect! There were so many other times when I was reading the book and I came across a spot and then I was just like OMG... that did not just happen! I felt that the twists and turns were so perfectly interwoven and fit so well with the story.)

QUESTION: Is there any particular character that feel particularly connected to?

ANSWER: Besides Cassie? Madison. That's why I wrote her spin-off first. I channeled my inner shy Catholic schoolgirl into her. There's also something about Elena that calls to me. I'm not sure what it is yet, but of all Cassie's siblings, she's the one I think I could write a spin-off about. (I have no plans to do so … I really need to move on to another series after Kaitlin, but if I ever come back, it will be for her.)

There's a bit of me in almost every character, including Kaitlin, who is proving a challenge to write because she is less like me than almost any other point of view character I've written. I never expected to get inside her head when I came up with her! But now I'm there and it's a strange place. Among other things, Kaitlin is a flirt and I am so not! I found my connection to her when I wrote her reading a romance novel. She doesn't connect to the heroine, but instead to the hero's ex-lovers. I swear, if I ever write a straight romance novel (doubtful, but stranger things have happened), it will be about the ex-mistress who “knew the score.”

(Ohhhh! I would definitely love to read a series about Elena, but at the same time I am so excited to read all of the other stuff that you plan to write! And yes! So excited to see what you do for Kaitlin's story! It will be amazing!)

Thanks so much for having me here today!

Thank you so much for answering all my questions! I am so excited for the release of the final book! I can't believe that it will be coming to an end so soon!

Waiting on Wednesday: Oblivion

2014-05-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting by Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!
This post highlights a book that I am dying to be released!!

THIS WEEK I'M WAITING ON:

Oblivion
By Sasha Dawn

Lisa McMann's Dead to You meets Kate Ellison's The Butterfly Clues in a psychological thriller full of romance, intrigue, and mystery.

One year ago, Callie was found in an abandoned apartment, scrawling words on the wall: "I KILLED HIM. His blood is on my hands. His heart is in my soul. I KILLED HIM." But she remembers nothing of that night or of the previous thirty-six hours. All she knows is that her father, the reverend at the Church of the Holy Promise, is missing, as is Hannah, a young girl from the parish. Their disappearances have to be connected and Callie knows that her father was not a righteous man.

Since that fateful night, she's been plagued by graphomania -- an unending and debilitating compulsion to write. The words that flow from Callie's mind and through her pen don't seem to make sense -- until now.

As the anniversary of Hannah's vanishing approaches, more words and memories bubble to the surface and a new guy in school might be the key to Callie putting together the puzzle. But digging up the secrets she's buried for so long might be her biggest mistake.

RELEASE DATE: May 27th, 2014
Why I'm waiting: This sounds like a super cool book! And I really am interested in what it's about!

Royally Lost Blog Tour: Excerpt and Giveaway

2014-05-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

Title: Royally Lost

Author: Angie Stanton

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: May 6, 2014

THE PREMISE

Dragged on a family trip to Europe’s ancient cities, Becca wants nothing more than to go home. Trapped with her emotionally distant father, over-eager stepmother, and a brother who only wants to hook up with European hotties, Becca is miserable. That is until she meets Nikolai, a guy as mysterious as he is handsome. And she unknowingly finds herself with a runaway prince.

Nikolai has everything a guy could ask for-he's crown prince, heir to the throne, and girls adore him. But the one thing he doesn't have...is freedom. Staging a coup, he flees his kingdom and goes undercover on his own European tour.

When Nikolai and Becca meet, it’s their differences that draw them together. Sparks fly as they share a whirlwind of adventures, all the while dodging his royal guard. But Becca's family vacation ends in a matter of days. Will Nikolai and Becca be forced to say goodbye forever, will his destiny catch up to him, or will they change history forever?

(You can find the rest of the stops on the tour here!)

“So how was your date with Nikolai?”

Becca glared at her brother, Dylan.

“Uh-oh. Did he stand you up?” Dylan held a rolled-up magazine.

She frowned, frustrated that she’d been so easily played. “Yeah, you could say that.”

“This might explain why.” Dylan held the magazine under her face, forcing her to look at the glossy picture of a guy who looked exactly like Nikolai.

She took the magazine and examined it closer. Her breath caught in her throat. “That’s Nikolai!”

She’d recognize him anywhere. She couldn’t read the foreign headline, but it ended with an exclamation point. “Dylan, where did you find this?”

He grimaced and shrugged. “It was at every newspaper stand I saw today.”

“Why is he on the cover? Did he do something wrong?” She paged through the magazine, holding her breath. Confusion turned to shock when she saw a two-page spread filled with pictures of Nikolai.

Nikolai at the beach; a picture of him playing polo; a picture of him in a tuxedo with a girl wearing a glittering gown. Then Becca’s eyes landed on a formal picture of Nikolai in uniform, with a sword at his belt, standing next to a young girl. A stern man and austere woman sat in gilded chairs; both adults wore crowns.

Her jaw dropped open.

“Why is Nikolai in that picture with people wearing crowns? Who is he?” she asked. Her heart pumped so fast she could feel the blood pulse through her temples. “And why did he lie about his identity?”

Angie Stanton never planned on writing books; she wanted to be a Rockette. However, growing up in rural Wisconsin, with her brothers' 4-H pigs as pets, dance didn't work out. Instead she became an avid daydreamer. After years of perfecting stories in her head, she began to write them down, and the rest is history.

Angie is the author of six books including Royally Lost, Rock and a Hard Place, and Snapshot. She graduated with a Journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin, and is a proud double finalist of the National Readers Choice Awards for Love 'em or Leave 'em.

Website: http://angiestanton.com/
Twitter: angie_stanton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngieStantonAuthor

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Waitning on Wednesday: Just Like the Movies

2014-05-07T00:00:00.000-04:00

Waiting by Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine!
This post highlights a book that I am dying to be released!!

THIS WEEK I'M WAITING ON:

Just Like the Movies
By Kelly Fiore

Pretty and popular track star Marijke Monti is confident about almost everything – she’s got great friends, a great family, and she’s on her way to the State Track Championship. In fact, the only thing Marijke isn’t confident about is her relationship with Tommy Lawson.

Lily Spencer has spent her entire high school career preparing for the future – she’s participated in every extracurricular activity and volunteer committee she could. But, at home, she watches her mother go on date after date with dud-dudes, still searching for “the one.” Lily realizes that she’s about to graduate and still hasn’t even had a boyfriend.

While they live on each other’s periphery at school, Lily and Marijke never seemed to have much in common; but, after a coincidental meeting at the movie theater, Lily gets an idea – why can’t life be like a movie? Why can’t they set up their perfect romantic situations, just in time for their senior prom, using movie techniques?

Once the girls come up with the perfect plans, they commit themselves to being secret cohorts and, just like in the movies, drama ensues.

RELEASE DATE: June 15th, 2014
Why I'm waiting: This book sounds adorable! Plus Track star? Count me in!