GReads!

YA March Madness: Top 16 Paranormal!

2012-03-11T09:41:00.000-05:00

Thanks to every one who voted last week, we now have our Top 16 YA Paranormals! The books listed below are in order of how many votes they received (yay #TeamKilt!). Starting tomorrow, I will announce the brackets for which book will go up against which book. The voting will begin on Tuesday & continue through the week, round by round. Make sure you come back & vote for your favorite YA Paranormal so that it makes it all the way through to the Final Four, where it will compete against books from other genres: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Dystopia, & Fantasy.

1. Shift - Jeri Smith-Ready
2. Daughter of Smoke & Bone - Laini Taylor
3. The Demon’s Surrender - Sarah Rees Brennan
4. Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare
5. Hunting Lila - Sarah Alderson
6. Touch - Jus Accardo
7. Angelfire - Courtney Allison Moulton
8. Anna Dressed in Blood - Kendare Blake
9. Silence - Becca Fitzpatrick
10. Witch Eyes - Scott Tracey
11. The Name of the Star - Maureen Johnson
12. Demonglass - Rachel Hawkins
13. City of Fallen Angels - Cassandra Clare
14. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin
15. Forever - Maggie Stiefvater
16. Bloodlines - Richelle Mead

TGIF at GReads! {54}: Promote An Author

2012-03-09T00:00:00.003-06:00

Who's ready for the weekend?! I know I am! I'm introducing a new(ish) feature for Fridays to re-cap the week's posts & to propose a question for my followers. Feel free to get involved by linking up at the bottom. If not, I'd love to read your responses in the comments. Thanks!

This Friday's Question:

Promote An Author: Is there a particular author you wish got more recognition?

Pick one author & tell us why we should read their work.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Siobhan Vivian (pronounced: shev än)

I'll admit it, I have a writer's crush on this author's work. I first fell in love with her book Not That Kind of Girl when I read it last year. It's the perfect dose of teenage angst, swoony-times, & an over-all feel good message to walk away from. Reading her novel was like watching a movie. The plot played out in my head as though I was watching it scene by scene. She has a new book coming out April 1st, The List, which I am eager to read. With this story she's again depicting the social scrutiny of high school. Ahh I remember those days.

Siobhan's story-telling is unique though because you don't feel like you're being preached to, or that she's trying to shove a message down your throat. She presents it in a subtle way, yet keeping it in the forefront at all times. Later this year she'll be publishing a co-author project with one of my favorites, Jenny Han - Burn For Burn. Man oh man I can not wait to get my hands on that genius collaboration. If you haven't read anything by Siobhan, I highly recommend doing so soon. She's a fabulous voice in the young adult literature world that I hope more readers will connect with.

Follow her on twitter: @SiobhanVivian
Become a fan on goodreads: Siobhan Vivian

If you'd like to join TGIF on your blog, link-up below:

Rewind & Review: March Edition

In My Mailbox {64}

YA March Madness: Voting Begins - Top 30 Paranormal

Tune in Tuesday {71}: Book Playlists Edition - Mat Kearney

Good Boys vs. Bad Boys - The Ongoing Debate with Anna

The Blogger Behind the Book {52}: Meet Johanna!

2012-03-08T00:00:00.000-06:00

Ever wonder who that person is over there, creating that fabulous book blog you're looking at?! I know I do! That is why I have started this feature, "The Blogger Behind the Book". There are tons of bloggers out there who love books & deserve to be noticed!

*This feature is currently scheduled with participants through May. If you'd like to be featured later in 2012, please email me.

Meet this week's Blogger Behind the Book:

Johanna from JJ iReads

When did you first start blogging? What made you want to review books?

September 9th, 2011. For a while I had been reviewing books on Goodreads and occasionally on Twilightish.com (a Twilight Fan site), then I started following book blogs and loving the idea of sharing my thoughts on books with everyone. That's when JJiReads was born.

Where in the world do you call home?

I currently live in Miami, Florida, but I consider lots of places home. I lived in New York City for many years and was born and raised in Dominican Republic, so I consider these places as home too.

Have you been to any book events since becoming a blogger?

I have been to local book signings and to the Miami book fair. In the future I would love to attend the bigger events like ALA, BEA, or even Comic Con.

When you're not reading/blogging, what occupies most of your time?

I work full time as a computer technician and I also do freelance web and graphics design. I also have 2 children. These two things occupy pretty much all of my time.

Who is a fictional crush of yours?

I have many, but I have to say if I had to pick one it would be Edward Cullen. Twilight was the book that rekindled my love for reading after a long hiatus, and Edward had a big part in that.

Describe yourself in 5 words.

Geek, Bookworm, Techie, Creative, Romantic

Best moment about book blogging so far?

Meeting Authors and other bloggers at book signings. Nothing compares to meeting a group of people that share your passion.

Thank you so much Johanna for wanting to be featured this week! I, too, owe it to Twilight for getting me in to reading as an adult. That series definitely hooked me and I've been an avid reader ever since :) Please be sure to check out Johanna's blog & tell her hello!

Good Boys vs. Bad Boys - The Ongoing Debate with Anna

2012-03-07T00:00:00.245-06:00

It's no surprise how much I love my characters in books. Throw in a beautifully broken bad boy & I am completely sold! I love books that present a character conflict, and it's a given there will be MANY conflicts when there's a bad boy present.

My good friend Anna (from Anna Reads) and I have this never-ending debate: Good Boys vs. Bad Boys - Which are better? She tends to like the "good boys" - you know the kind; the sweet, innocent type. Though I do have a soft spot for those dudes as well, it's still the BAD BOYS that keep me turning the pages.

We've put together this little feature today to settle this debate (or at least give the other bragging rights? ha). I'll state my case, then hop on over to her blog where she'll state her's. After reviewing the facts, we want YOU to decide which is better... the good boy? or the BAD BOY? Take our poll & let the results stand for themselves.

Subject: The Bad Boy

Characteristics:
- Confident, Unpredictable, Risk-taker, Bold, Adventurous, Experienced, Tough skin, Wounded heart, Mysterious, Challenging, Irresistible, Charming, Sexy...

Examples (in YA lit):
Will from The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare
Jace from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
Wesley from The DUFF by Kody Keplinger
Rusty from In Honor by Jessi Kirby
Conrad from The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Patch from Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Jake from Saving June by Hannah Harrington
Jeremy from Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez
Adam from Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols
Noah from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Cole from The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater
Four from Divergent by Veronica Roth
Travis from Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

Why We Love Him:
- He's arrogant, yet so sexy doing it.
- He has a wounded heart we so badly want to heal.
- He can make us melt with one smoldering look.
- His cockiness usually comes with a sense of humor.
- He's made a few mistakes which validate him being real.
- He usually has a guitar in hand, or close by.
- His hair is almost always glorious.
- He sports that half crooked smile at just the right time.
- He may act like he doesn't care, but he's the first to protect us.
- He's loyal to the ones he loves.

Verdict: Clearly it's the Bad Boy who is the winner here. How can you resist all of that?! He may have his low moments, but it's those high moments that make up for everything & then some. *SWOON*

**MARCUS FLUTIE. He is the one thing both Anna & I can agree on. Give us good, give us bad. We love every bit of him. You. Yes, you MARCUS FLUTIE belong on both lists. Neutral ground it is.

Take the poll & YOU decide!
Good Boy vs. Bad Boy

Tune in Tuesday {71}: Book Playlists Edition - Mat Kearney

2012-03-06T00:00:00.005-06:00

A weekly feature hosted by me that showcases music - my other passion in life besides books! Each week I will post a new or old song in hopes to gain more interest. Help me in spreading the love of music!

Feel free to get involved with this feature by linking up at the bottom of this post, thanks!

This week kicks off BOOK PLAYLISTS EDITION for the month of March! Ever hear a song that reminds you of a book? Or maybe while you're reading you think, wow I know a song that would be perfect for this scene! I know it happens to me quite often, so I thought I'd spend this month featuring some of my own "book playlists" for you all. Feel free to get involved on your blog so we can hear more great tunes.

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson - "Breathe In Breathe Out" by Mat Kearney

I read Jandy Nelson's amazing debut The Sky is Everywhere last year & found myself completely in love with this breathtaking story. If you have not read it yet, I highly recommend it. The story is about a girl who loses her sister and is caught between two boys; one who she can grieve with and the other who brings her back to life. It's an emotional journey filled with such poetic grace. Mat Kearney's "Breathe In Breathe Out" came to mind because this too has always been an emotional song for me. The lyric, "move on and break down, if everyone goes away, I would stay" fits these characters and this story so perfectly in my mind.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where She Went by Gayle Forman - "All I Need" by Mat Kearney

Another very emotional read for me was Where She Went by Gayle Forman, the follow up to If I Stay. So much about this story I adore. I loved that it's being told through a male POV and that we see clear inside to his soul, feeling every emotion right along side him. This boy and this girl are meant to be together, but sometimes you have to let go in order to find your way back to one another. Mat Kearney's "All I Need" is the epitome of this love story. The lyric, "I'm holding on to you, holding on to me, maybe it's all we got, but it's all I need" is so so true. Hearing this song makes me want to re-read this book, NOW.

If you'd like to join Tune in Tuesday on your blog, link-up below:

YA March Madness: Voting Begins - Top 30 Paranormal

2012-03-05T00:00:00.034-06:00

Last week you all nominated your favorite YA Paranormals from 2011 & this week I have taken the top 30 & put them in to a voting system. You may come back & vote ONE TIME EACH DAY. You can also change your votes per day (if you're like me & have more than one favorite). This poll will be open until Saturday, March 10th. So get your votes in all week!! Once this poll has closed I will choose the top 16 (according to the votes) and they will be inserted into brackets beginning March 11th. Let the March Madness begin!!!!

Favorite YA Paranormal of 2011?
	A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young
	A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
	Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton
	Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
	Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
	Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
	Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter
	City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
	Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
	Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
	Dearly Departed by Lia Habel
	Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
	Die For Me by Amy Plum
	Fateful by Claudia Gray
	Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
	Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
	Hourglass by Myra McEntire
	Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson
	Passion by Lauren Kate
	Shift by Jeri Smith Ready
	Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
	Supernaturally by Kiersten White
	The Demon's Surrender by Sarah Rees Brennan
	The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
	The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
	Touch by Jus Accardo
	Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
	Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
	Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
	Wolfsbane by Andrea Creamer

pollcode.com free polls

In My Mailbox {64}

2012-03-04T00:00:00.003-06:00

You know those books that you mark on your "to be read" list as soon as you find out about them, & then have to wait the excruciating long wait for them to become available?! Well that's my history with this week's book! Thanks to my lovely friend Carla, I was introduced to this author's work way back when (Carla is mentioned in the acknowledgements!). Since then I have been patiently waiting to get my hands on it. The wait is over people. It's on NetGalley! I devoured this book in ONE DAY. It's so, so good!!!!!

Something Like Normal by Trish Doller

What's in YOUR mailbox this week?

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Have you nominated your favorite PARANORMAL from 2011 for the YA March Madness Tournament?!

Nominations close TONIGHT! So make sure your favorite paranormal makes the cut!

Voting will begin TOMORROW on the top 30!!!

Rewind & Review: March Edition

2012-03-03T00:00:00.021-06:00

Welcome back to another month of Rewind & Review! Not familiar with this new feature hosted by Lisa and myself? Then please check out this blog post here, which goes in to more detail about the happenings of this awesome idea.

The idea of this feature is to encourage readers to give love to those "older" novels and hopefully attack that mile high pile of books!

I have to apologize because I failed miserably with my reading this past month. I was lucky to finish two books, yes TWO books. Neither of which were part of my Rewind & Review feature. I know, I know.. bad blogger! I am going to attempt to make up for it this month though. By attempt I mean I am going to try my very best. Right now my reading time has taken a back seat. I am in the middle of moving this month, plus with a full load of school & work that doesn't leave a lot of extra time for my poor books. So bare with me here!

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6) by Richelle Mead

Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

I have started both books & plan to continue through the month of March!

TGIF at GReads! {53}: Book Moments

2012-03-02T00:00:00.044-06:00

Who's ready for the weekend?! I know I am! I'm introducing a new(ish) feature for Fridays to re-cap the week's posts & to propose a question for my followers. Feel free to get involved by linking up at the bottom. If not, I'd love to read your responses in the comments. Thanks!

This Friday's Question:

Book Moments: What has been your favorite moment (scene) in a book that you've read so far in 2012? Please be kind & not include spoilers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In Honor by Jessi Kirby

It was a strange sensation, continuing to take in a breath, even as I dipped below the surface of the water. I concentrated on breathing slow and steady like Sam and Wyatt had both said, and the sound of the air moving through the hose made it easy to stay focused on that.

...When Wyatt's hand landed on a black line, he motioned for me to stop, and I realized we must've hit twenty feet.

...Our legs tangled languidly there in the dark, and we stayed like that, suspended vertically together, for a long moment before he peeled my fingers, one by one, off the rope. I let him, and when the last one was free, his hands went to my waist and gently pulled me back with him until I was lying back with my eyes to the surface. They caught a tiny light, waving down through the water, and then another and another. Stars twinkled in the pailing sky, sending light from the past all the way down to us.

...We were a constellation put in the sky-two people holding hands, floating peacefully above everything else, in a beautiful, perfect moment.

...Finn told me once that life sometimes gives you a tiny moment of peace when you need it most.

It's difficult to capture this moment in all it's beauty. When I read this part of the story I remember having to take a break from reading, clutch the book to my chest, and allowed that moment to sink in. Jessi Kirby does a fantastic job of setting the scene and this is just one of many examples throughout the book. I adore this book, SO MUCH. I cannot wait for you all to read it when it is published this May.

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

"Don't remind me." Rowan crosses his arms, the eye of his dragon [tattoo] peeking through his fingers. "Anyway, I have another apology-but you have to get in first."
"The hammock?"
"That's right."
I climb in beside him, playfully pushing his feet from my face.

...Mystified, I tip my head back.
I don't know how, but I forgot about the stars. They coat the sky like smeared wet sugar, so many the whole night seems to glow. When was the last time I looked up?

...After a moment, he reaches out. Because of the way we're lying, we can only hook our fingers together clumsily. It's more awkward than anything.

...Rowan grins at me, then closes his eyes. We sit there awhile longer, listening to the waves, the grackles trilling in the trees, the soft thump of reggae music from the bars down the street. I want to let go of his hand. But I don't want him to think anything's wrong.

Hammocks & Stars. One of the BEST moments I've read in any book. The moment is full of so much swoon. I highly recommend reading Wanderlove so you can read up to this point, and experience the beyond of it as well. It's phenomenal.

If you'd like to join TGIF on your blog, link-up below:

In My Mailbox {63}

Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Tune in Tuesday {70}: The Airborne Toxic Event

Waiting On: Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield

YA March Madness! Nominate your favorite YA Paranormal

The Blogger Behind the Book {51}: Meet Stephanie!

2012-03-01T12:00:00.000-06:00

Ever wonder who that person is over there, creating that fabulous book blog you're looking at?! I know I do! That is why I have started this feature, "The Blogger Behind the Book". There are tons of bloggers out there who love books & deserve to be noticed!

*This feature is currently scheduled with participants through May. If you'd like to be featured later in 2012, please email me.

Meet this week's Blogger Behind the Book:

Stephanie from The Night Bookmobile

Which books comes to mind when you think of a cold/wintery day?

I definitely think of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I'm ashamed to say I've only read The Fellowship of the Ring so far but I read it when it was nice and cool outside, and it was the perfect setting to read about Frodo's life in the Shire, and his adventures among the elves. I also think Harry Potter is particularly fitting for that weather. Then again, Harry Potter is perfect for every season. My Corgi Teddy Lupin would agree.

Have you met any authors? If not, who is top on your list to meet?

I have not met any authors. Unfortunately, no one ever really comes to my neck of the woods. We do have a reading festival coming up and Lauren Oliver will be there. I am very excited about that because she is one of my favorite YA authors. I'd also be thrilled to meet J.K. Rowling, Kristen Cashore, Margaret Atwood, and Lorrie Moore.

Where in the world do you call home?

A little town called Lehigh Acres in SW Florida. I'm about two hours north of Miami where I spent a good portion of my childhood.

On a rainy day, what can you most likely be found doing?

Dozing off to sleep with a book in my hands. Unless there's coffee. If there is coffee available that's a whole different story. I actually don't know why so many people here find the rain gloomy. I think it's wonderful. Who wants that sun in their faces all the time?

If you could go back & give your teenage self advice, what would you tell her?

College is possible! No one ever talked to me about college when I was younger because no one in my family had ever gone, so I didn't know about financial aid, which is a shame because I love reading and learning. Also, you have rights! You don't owe anyone anything just because you're a woman. Don't let the bastards grind you down.

Favorite pair of shoes?

In true Floridian fashion I basically live in flip flops and sandals year round but my favorite pair of shoes happens to be a pair of boots.

Furthest you've traveled from home?

In 2009 a friend and I went on a week long road trip. We had no destination. We just jumped in the car and left. We got about as far as Texas before we started to run out of money and had to turn around. Austin and Houston were some of my favorite towns we visited. New Orleans was great too.

Favorite moment about book blogging so far?

I've definitely enjoyed getting to interact with authors. I participated in Jodi Meadows' treasure hunt recently and Jodi was so nice and great to work with. I've had a few authors retweet or reply to my reviews or comments on their books which is so much fun. I also love when people comment on my reviews and tell me that I've made them want to run right out and pick up a book. It's a great feeling to spread the love for books that I really enjoyed.

I love that you just got in the car & drove! What a fun roadtrip. I also love it even more that Texas was among your favorite stops :) We're pretty friendly here, huh? Thank you so much Stephanie for wanting to be featured this week. Please check out her blog if you haven't already!

YA March Madness!

2012-02-29T14:00:00.006-06:00

For the month of March I have teamed up with fellow bloggers Shanyn, Pam, & Erica to present to you all YA MARCH MADNESS!! We are busting out the best of the best in different genres.

The rules of the game:
1. Nominate your favorite book published in 2011 from select genres.
2. Come back each round to vote for your favorite book & push them ahead in the brackets.
3. Encourage others to vote for your favorite & watch your book make it to the National Championship!

Each of us are representing a different genre for you to nominate & vote for your favorite books.
Shanyn from Chick Loves Lit: YA Contemporary
Pam from Bookalicious: YA Dystopia/Sci-Fi
Erica from The Book Cellar: YA Fantasy
Ginger from GReads!: YA Paranormal

After nominating your TWO favorite Paranormal reads from 2011 HERE, visit the other blogs & cast your votes for your favorites in those select genres. Then let the madness begin as we knock out the competition each round until ultimately the Final Four (one book from each genre) is left standing to battle it out.

Fill out the form below to nominate TWO of your favorite YA PARANORMAL books from 2011.

From this list I will select the top 30 for you all to begin voting on next week.

If you need some ideas on which books to choose, check out this list from goodreads.

(remember they must be paranormal, ya, & pub'ed in 2011)

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Waiting On: Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone

2012-02-29T00:00:00.002-06:00

Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield
to be published: July 5, 2012

On the night of Becca’s high school graduation, the discovery of an unidentified dead girl left to bleed out on the side of a dirt road sends the town—and Becca—into a tailspin. Becca has always longed to break free from her small home town, but as the violence of the outside world creeps into her backyard, she withdraws and retreats inward, paralyzed for the first time in her life.

Short chapters detailing the last days of Amelia Anne Richardson’s life are intercut with Becca’s own coming-of-age summer, unfolding into the parallel stories of two young women struggling with self-identity and tense romantic relationships as the summer’s tumultuous events twist Becca closer and closer to the truth about Amelia’s murder. {goodreads.com}

I received an ARC of this book at ALA midwinter after the publisher told me a bit about the book. Lots of good things were being said about it. I love young adult books that are set during the summer after graduation because the tone is so promising. That's a crucial time for any teenager, but with the plot of a murder thrown in - definitely shakes things up a bit! I'm looking forward to this novel, for sure.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Tune in Tuesday {70}: The Airborne Toxic Event

2012-02-28T00:00:00.014-06:00

A weekly feature hosted by me that showcases music - my other passion in life besides books! Each week I will post a new or old song in hopes to gain more interest. Help me in spreading the love of music!

Feel free to get involved with this feature by linking up at the bottom of this post, thanks!

This Tuesday's Tune: "Sometime Around Midnight" by The Airborne Toxic Event

This is one of those songs I loved when it was released back in 2009 and for whatever reason, it got lost on my playlists and I didn't listen to for awhile. When it randomly popped up on a local radio station I immediately fell back in love with it. This song is so unique to me because it's not your typical tune with a beginning, chorus, middle, and then repeat of the chorus until it fades out. Sometime After Midnight is played in a story-telling sort of way. It makes me want to read a book about this story!!! I even mentioned on twitter how fantastic that would be. We all know what it's like to have a run-in with those ex's that stir old emotions inside of us. This song beautifully portrays that.

*Don't forget next week begins BOOK PLAYLISTS for March's Special Edition of Tune in Tuesday. Pick which songs you'd think would make fantastic playlists for your favorite books. You can come up with your own, or pull songs from author's actual playlists. The choice is yours! I can't wait to listen to what everyone picks :)

If you'd like to join Tune in Tuesday on your blog, link-up below:

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

2012-02-27T00:00:00.003-06:00

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Published: January 10, 2012 by Dutton Juvenile
Received: on loan from a friend :)

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind. {goodreads.com}

As soon as I mentioned to others that I was beginning to read this novel, I received the same piece of advice from just about every one who had already read it: have tissues on hand. I thought, yeah ok. Usually when an abundance of people tell me a book made them cry, it has the opposite effect on me. Meaning, yes I'll find it sad, but my tear ducts will be on anticipation and won't fully let go. I was wrong. The tears came, and they came hard. So hard I forgot I was even reading and felt myself submerged in to the pain of these fictional characters. THAT is some powerful writing.

Hazel is a teenager, dying from terminal cancer. I say that she is dying and not living because this is how her character is introduced to us in the beginning of the story. Her world is nothing but hospital stays, breathing tubes, and sorrowful glances her way. Hazel's parents are not in denial of her situation, but they also want the best life possible in these final days. It's her mom who encourages her (insists actually) to attend a support group for other children with cancer. Not wanting to, but doing so anyway, Hazel is physically present for the support group meeting, but mentally she has checked out. It's not until the presence of Augustus Waters that Hazel begins to really wake up. Her once hazy world of tubes and needles begins to fall away, and she starts to really live her best days yet.

Augustus has become a victim to the world of cancer, too. But his battle has been won and he is attending the support group as a friend to Isaac, another character who I immediately fell in love with. Between Hazel, Augustus, and Isaac I found myself in awe of the bravery, yet the realism that each of these characters portray. The dialect among them is true to John Green fashion, witty and sarcastic, with those one liners thrown in that make you stop what you're reading and mark the page. His ability to capture such meaningful moments with just a few words has always intrigued me. John Green is a master at crafting this perfection.

My love for this story is infinite. I felt so connected with the characters that when things happened, I felt as though they were happening to me too. This novel takes the reader to a special place; one that is heavy and haunting, yet beautiful and surprising. I feel like a different person after experiencing this story. It's books like these that remind me why I adore literature so much. The impact they leave on you is so limitless that you start to look at your own world in a different light. Life is short, what we do with it is our own personal choice, but the opportunities can be endless if we allow them to be.

This book deserves a million more stars than what I am giving it. I hope you all will read this one and allow yourself the pleasure of meeting such significant characters among an emotional and inspiring story.

In My Mailbox {63}

2012-02-26T00:00:00.001-06:00

This book popped up in my mailbox this weekend, so I thought I'd show it off for this week's IMM post. I am SUPER pumped for The Hunger Games movie, so this book will be an interesting read. I also bought my movie passes for the midnight premiere this past week. Less than a month til I get to see the boy who bakes bread on the big screen!!!! Can't wait!!!!

The Girl Who Was on Fire - Movie Edition edited by Leah Wilson

Contributors: Sarah Rees Brennan, Carrie Ryan, & Jennifer Lynn Barnes

*thank you Smart Pop for this review opportunity.

What's in YOUR mailbox this week?

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

TGIF at GReads! {52}: Required Reading

2012-02-24T00:00:00.018-06:00

Who's ready for the weekend?! I know I am! I'm introducing a new(ish) feature for Fridays to re-cap the week's posts & to propose a question for my followers. Feel free to get involved by linking up at the bottom. If not, I'd love to read your responses in the comments. Thanks!

This Friday's Question:

Required Reading: Which book from your school days

do you remember reading & enjoying? Is there a book published now

that you'd like to see in today's curriculum for kids?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the soon-to-be Reading teacher coming out in me with this week's question :) Right now I am taking a Literacy class which is basically teaching me how to teach reading to my future students (FYI: I want to teach middle school). I've been thinking a lot about the books I read in school and how they did or did not have an impact on my reading life as a child. I think it's so important to find that RIGHT book for each child in order to engage them in reading. Usually when a child is forced or required to read something, they simply don't want to. As a future teacher my goal is to open up that spectrum and introduce more books to more kids.

I was a child who did not like to read. I know, shocking. So the only reading these youthful eyes did were what was required of me. Fortunately there's two books that stand out the most when I think back to my middle school/high school English class days. They are:

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton & The Great Gatsby by F. ScottFitzgerald

I'm not sure they'd have the same impact on students today as they did back in.... well let's just say it was awhile ago :) haha. I think it's important for children to read about events that occurred in the past; however, they don't always hold a child's interest for long. These two books may feel too distant to today's student. If I were to choose something a little more current for my classroom today I would definitely have these books on my shelf:

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins & Speak by Laurie Halse-Anderson

Both of these books portray excellent writing, in my opinion. Obviously they would need to be in an age-appropriate classroom though. The best part about getting kids to read is getting them to talk about what they read. If the book tends to be highly engaging and provokes thoughtful responses, then I think it's a good fit for any classroom.

If you'd like to join TGIF on your blog, link-up below:

In My Mailbox {62}

Review: Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

Tune in Tuesday {69}: Matthew Mayfield

Waiting On: Speechless by Hannah Harrington

The Blogger Behind the Book: One Year Later

2012-02-23T00:00:00.126-06:00

A year ago I began this feature in hopes of bloggers discovering new bloggers, and learning something a bit more behind that book they're reading & reviewing. 50 bloggers later I hope I've accomplished just that!

In celebration of this feature going strong after one year, I thought I'd let YOU know a bit more about THIS blogger behind the book - ME! I chose a few bloggers I've featured here in the past to ask the questions. Maybe you'll learn something new about myself :) Thanks to every one for coming back week after week & supporting this feature!

Meet this week's Blogger Behind the Book:

Ginger from GReads!

Jamie from The Perpetual Page-Turner asks... As a person who also cannot fathom living without music, why is music so important to you? What are some of the most soul shaking examples of songs that embody what it is you love about music?

I can't remember a time when I did not listen to music. I feel like it's always been on in the background, my entire life. Some times you just need a good song to help orchestrate that moment of your life - ya know? Music has been such a strong healing tool for me. I can remember being a teenager and using music to get me through tough break ups. On the opposite side of the spectrum, music also facilitated some pretty epic dance parties growing up with my friends. Whether they were happy or sad moments, music has always been there for me. I can hear a song & it brings me back to a certain moment of my life. I love that!

The music that speaks the most to me are songs I can listen to over & over and never get tired of. Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam brings me back to my youth. Coldplay's In My Place reminds me of some of the happiest memories in my life. Most recently it's been SafetySuit's These Times that's moved me the most. This song in particular is personal to me and it's something I will always be close to.

Anna from Anna Reads asks... Marry, Kiss or Kill: Jace Wayland ("City of Bones"), Conrad Fisher ("The Summer I Turned Pretty"), Zachary Moore ("Shade")?

I have been sitting here trying to think up the easiest round about way to answer this so that I could have all 3 of these boys and no one would be left out because that is just MEAN! haha Seriously though, I'm loving this question. And to be fair, here is my answer:

Marry: Conrad Fisher - he's the beautifully broken boy who I so badly want to take care of the rest of my life. So why not marry him? If you've read the series, then you know he's grown up A LOT. His heart is just so full & with the right person (which is me! obviously!) he'll give it his all.

Kiss (& other things, ha!): Jace Wayland - do I really need to explain this one?!

Kill: Zachary Moore - kill is such a final word, and one that is not acceptable in this case. My lovely kilt-wearing Zachary will come back as a ghost. We may not be able to touch, but at least I can still sit & look at the pretty & listen to that hot scottish accent :)

Magan from Rather Be Reading asks... How do you decide what you'll read next, without getting caught up in release dates or books for review from publishers, and still stay inspired and motivated to read?

Mostly what I read is based on other blogger's reviews and friend's book recommendations. I feel like I've formed a pretty solid relationship with a lot of other book bloggers that I can trust their opinions on books. If someone says, Hey Ginger you REALLY need to read this book! Then you bet I'm going to check it out & grab a copy if I feel like it's something I'm interested in. I've always kept in the back of my mind the reasons why I started this book blog, because I love to read! Overwhelming myself with review books is not something I enjoy doing. Reading should be fun, inspiring, and.. relaxing!

Tara from Fiction Folio asks... If you could read one book again for the first time, what would it be and why?

Oh wow, GREAT question! When ever I finish an amazing book, I'm always a little sad and wish I could re-read it again for this first time. There's just something about that first time feeling you'll never get back again. Wait, that sounded inappropriate! haha Seriously though, I would love to go back and read The Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty again for the first time. Especially the 5th and final book, Perfect Fifths. Jessica Darling and Marcus Flutie's journey is one I so want to encounter again for the first time. The moments never stopped, from laughing hysterical to the unexpectedness, to the emotional tugs that pulled so hard on my heart. Though I've read Perfect Fifths for a second time, it's still not like that first time. Gosh I adore that book.

Capillya from That Cover Girl asks... If an extremely wealthy benefactor gave you $1 million to spend on any of the bookish things below, which would you choose and why? You can only choose one.

a) A mini-conference that pulled in your favorite authors to give talks & sign books!

b) A blogger retreat! To anywhere! In the world! With all your favorite blogger friends!

c) Quit your day job and write the book you've always dreamed of writing!

d) Make up your own because you clearly can't choose from the three options I've already supplied!

These questions keep getting more difficult to answer, ha! I am leaning towards answers B & C. Though quitting my job and writing for a living sounds verrrrry tempting, a trip with blogger friends would be AMAZING! So I choose answer B. A blogger retreat sounds fabulous. Of course the destination spot would need to be on a beach some where because I'm a beachy kind of girl. We would spend our days lounging around, getting massages, reading, napping, eating yummy food, & checking out the local hot spots. Let me know when y'all are ready to go & I'll pack my bags, ha!

Lisa from Lisa is Busy Nerding asks... It's the end of the world as we know it, and you don't feel fine. In fact, you're pretty frakking scared about what's going to happen from here on out. What mad skills would you use/develop/invent to survive? Keep in mind, there is at least one cute boy involved. There is ALWAYS at least one cute boy involved. GO!

First of all, I love that you know me so well as to include a cute boy. End of the world or not, cute boy present is a must! Now on to my special qualities... I'd need the ability to disappear at a moment's notice. If the bad people are coming, or if I'm in real danger, I need to be able to blink? snap my fingers? click my heels? and disperse in to thin air! Second, I have the knowledge of where the freshest water is, how to grab that tasty Jimmy Johns sandwich, and where my pretty little head will be sleeping each night. Survival skills at it's best! And just for fun, thirdly I'd like the ability to read mind's - but not like all the time. Walking around with every one's thoughts inside my own would be annoying as heck. I just want to know what the cute boy is thinking when ever I feel it's necessary :)

Jess from Gone With the Words asks... What was it like to be in a video on VH1?

Ha! The video Jess is referring to is SafetySuit's These Times. The guys work closely with VH1, so I had a feeling once this video was made it wouldn't be long before VH1 got their hands on it.

Surreal? I guess that's the appropriate word. When I think of this band, and everything that's happened in my life since I first discovered them, I have to pinch myself to really believe it's true! In my world, I'm just a girl who has a passion for music. I fell upon their music randomly one day & fell in love with their sound, their personalities, their talent, and the list could go on... Apparently my constant tweets did not go unnoticed and they soon discovered me, ha! I've been a supporter of good music since I can remember, and I love introducing people to bands/singers they may have never heard of before. This is the first time the actual band acknowledged my efforts :)

As I stated before, These Times is a very personal song for me. I was honored to be chosen to be a part of their video for it. We all go through hard times in life, no matter the degree. This song represents what it feels like to endure those moments, but also realize those moments will pass... to better times. Having my few seconds of fame on TV for it is pretty awesome, but being a part of such an incredible song for my most favorite band: definitely priceless.

Yani from The Secret Life of an Avid Reader asks... If you could be any character from a book, who would you be?

I could pick the obvious choice and go with a character who has outlandish capabilities like casting spells, jumping through portals, or seeing the future; but since I'm an avid reader of young adult contemporary, I'll choose a character I WISH I could have been in my younger years. Ruby Oliver. E. Lockhart has captured such a true voice in those awkward, misguided, but oh so much fun years that truly spoke to me. This girl is cynical, yet daring. She's hysterical, but beautiful. I know she had to go through some pretty rough times as a teen, but didn't we all?! I love her attitude through the whole thing. She may be totally messed up in the head, but she's REAL and she has the best sense of humor while trying to figure it all out. I love that.

Melanie from Reclusive Bibliophile asks... If you had your own reality show, what would be the theme song?

Gosh this is a hard question, because 1. my life is no where near exciting enough for a reality show, haha. And 2. how can I pick just one song?! I would need like a 10 minute before-the-show-montage of all my favorite songs. But to be fair, I'll choose a song which I consider my "theme song" for life. Learning to Fly by Tom Petty. To me, this song is about getting beat down in life.. having a bad day.. a horrible moment, but realizing that it will get easier and you will eventually move on to other things. That seems to be a common occurrence in my life ;) Just because you're all grown up doesn't necessarily mean you know everything. Learning a new path in life can happen at any age. I definitely know this to be true.

Thank you SO much to all the bloggers who participated this week by asking me the questions. I loved your creativity and had a lot of fun answering them. Hopefully my followers have discovered something about myself that they didn't know before. I promise there's more to this girl than just books & SafetySuit, haha.

If you would like to be featured on The Blogger Behind the Book in the future, please email me. Right now I am currently scheduled through May, but have open spots after that. I look forward to showcasing more bloggers for you all to get to know better.

Waiting On: Speechless

2012-02-22T00:00:00.003-06:00

Speechless by Hannah Harrington
to be published: September 2012

The story of a girl named Chelsea Knot who takes a voluntary oath of silence after her gossip-mongering ways yield unexpected consequences… {goodreads.com}

I realize this is an insanely short & vague book description, but to be honest this author doesn't even need one for me to want to read anything she's written :) I ADORED Saving June in 2011 and can not wait to read more by Hannah Harrington. Yes, what little we do know about this next novel intrigues me, but seriously.. her writing completely blew me away in her debut that I'll read anything by her. That's a given.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Tune in Tuesday {69}: Matthew Mayfield

2012-02-21T00:00:00.004-06:00

A weekly feature hosted by me that showcases music - my other passion in life besides books! Each week I will post a new or old song in hopes to gain more interest. Help me in spreading the love of music!

Feel free to get involved with this feature by linking up at the bottom of this post, thanks!

This Tuesday's Tune: "Don't Look Back in Anger" (cover) by Matthew Mayfield

I adore this man, so much. I featured Matthew Mayfield on Tune in Tuesday a few weeks back, but wanted to show him off again because he's THAT GOOD :) He's been in the studio working on his next album which I am SO happy to be a part of. You may be wondering, how are you a part of this album?! Haha Well... Matthew is a solo artist, meaning he's not signed with a record label. So anything he produces comes out of his own pocket. Through this really cool website, Pledge Music, he's asked his fans to help him achieve his goal of creating his next album. I jumped on board with this opportunity because I want nothing more than new music from this man :)

Matthew Mayfield does some of the best covers I've ever heard. When I came across "Don't Look Back in Anger", which just so happens to be my favorite Oasis song, I got REALLY excited! Don't you love it?! I recently found out he'll be coming to town later in May for a show. I will definitely be in attendance for that & I will definitely be requesting that he perform this cover :) haha.

If you'd like to join Tune in Tuesday on your blog, link-up below:

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard

2012-02-20T00:00:00.003-06:00

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard
Published: March 13, 2012 by Delacorte Books
Received: ARC from the publisher - thank you!

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. {goodreads.com}

I'm a creature who loves to travel. So when I first heard about this novel, my interests were definitely on high alert. However, my preferred form of travel involves airline tickets and hotel reservations. The idea of sleeping in the jungle under a mosquito net and washing my body with a bucket of well water (that may or may not have been used already) didn't exactly scream Ginger's Dream Vacation! But that's the beauty of literature, we can escape to places we never thought we'd venture to, and completely lose ourselves among the pages. That is exactly what I did with Kirsten Hubbard's Wanderlove.

Bria has just graduated high school and is on the brink of the rest of her life. She's caught between her past, the mistakes she's made, and the future which she is not so certain about. On a whim, which is so not Bria, she decides to take a couple weeks vacation to Central America with a group of total strangers - the Global Vagabonds! Once Bria steps off the plane in the muggy air of Guatemala, she soon realizes what a horrible mistake she's made. The tour group she thought she signed up for turns out to be a bunch of middle-aged typical tourists, fanny-pack and all. Just when she thought her life could not get any better, she literally runs in to Rowan, the seasoned backpacker that reeks of experience and adventure. On another whim, Bria decides to follow Rowan and his sister on the not so mapped out adventures across Central America.

The journey that Bria travels along contains vast jungles, endless blue waters, and a million new types of insects she'd rather forget about. Aside from the physical journey that Bria descends upon, it's the personal growth that stood out the most in my eyes. She is caught between the girl she thought she was, and the ambition to become a bold and daring new Bria. I admired her want to be someone new, but understood her fears of actually taking the plunge. It's a scary reality to face. With the help of Rowan, and her love for art, she begins to shed her old skin and discover the girl she's meant to be.

I love stories that are about self-discovery, but not in a preachy way. This novel flowed so nicely that I forgot just how far and wide Bria allowed herself to grow, until it literally hit me right in the face. The scenery was so breath-taking that I could image every scene as if I were there, laying in that hammock staring up at an endless blanket of stars. This is a novel that will linger with you long after you've finished. It's a journey you won't want to see end, with that feeling of not being ready to unpack your bags just yet. Wanderlove has definitely captured my heart.

In My Mailbox {62}

2012-02-19T00:00:00.001-06:00

I stepped foot in my Barnes & Noble this week for the first time in FOREVER. They moved everything around! There was Travel & Informational Text where my usual Young Adult section is! Completely threw me off. Thankfully I found my place & umm purchased one book. I know I said I shouldn't be buying books right now, but.. but.. it's Jennifer Echols & I couldn't resist :)

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko - for my Literacy class!
The One That I Want by Jennifer Echols
The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen - thanks Sash!

What's in YOUR mailbox this week?

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

TGIF at GReads {51}: Book Blogger Pride

2012-02-17T00:00:00.006-06:00

Who's ready for the weekend?! I know I am! I'm introducing a new(ish) feature for Fridays to re-cap the week's posts & to propose a question for my followers. Feel free to get involved by linking up at the bottom. If not, I'd love to read your responses in the comments. Thanks!

This Friday's Question:

Book Blogger Pride: What do you take pride in when it comes to blogging?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First and foremost, it's the work I produce on my blog that I take most pride in. Book blogging is a time consuming task and something I put a lot of effort in to. I take pride in every review I write, every author/blogger interview I post, and yes.. even those fangirly music posts, too! I was taught from an early age to take pride in the work I do. You need confidence to succeed in life, whether that be professionally or personally. Owning your craft is essential and I hope it shows through this blog that I have created.

I also take pride in the relationships I have established through this blog. I've had the opportunity to meet some incredible people since I started GReads!, both personally and professionally. I try to keep my voice true to who I am when I write my reviews and other posts. I want the reader to get a sense of me, but still keep it professional (I know I walk a thin line with this sometimes, haha). I believe it's important to maintain solid relationships in this community, whether that be with other bloggers or authors/publishers. I take pride in the connections I've made and I hope they continue.

I'm very proud to be a part of this community. It's an amazing feeling when you can share your love of books with other people. I've found some life-long friends through this experience, and have had so many wonderful opportunities come my way that would not have happened otherwise.

If you'd like to join TGIF on your blog, link-up below:

SafetySuit Sunday at GReads!

Review: In Honor by Jessi Kirby

Tune in Tuesday {68}: David Gray

My day with SafetySuit (again!)

The Blogger Behind the Book {50}: Meet Michelle!

2012-02-16T00:00:00.003-06:00

Ever wonder who that person is over there, creating that fabulous book blog you're looking at?! I know I do! That is why I have started this feature, "The Blogger Behind the Book". There are tons of bloggers out there who love books & deserve to be noticed!

*This feature is currently scheduled with participants through May. If you'd like to be featured later in 2012, please email me.

Meet this week's Blogger Behind the Book:

Michelle from Hooked to Books

Where in the world do you call home?

I live in Logan, West Virginia. It is a small town in the southern part of the state and I love it here. It's beautiful - especially in the spring and winter. In the spring, everything is blooming and my husband and I love to go 4wheeling in the mountains. In the winter, it is gorgeous when it snows. I can't imagine living anywhere else.

How long have you been book blogging? and what made you decide to create your own blog for it?

I've been blogging for a little over a year. I read book blogs all the time - but I was in Grad school, coaching volleyball (which I don't do anymore), and working full time and just didn't have time to do my own. Once I finished Grad school I started one and have loved every minute of it!

What was the last book you attempted to read, but could not finish?

Hmm.. I think it would be The Pledge by Kimberly Derting. I didn't finish reading it because I didn't like it but my galley expired and by the time I got the book in I just never picked it back up. I need to get back to it.

It's a Friday night, and you have no responsibilities. What would you most likely be doing?

This is sad but I will most likely be on the couch with my dogs reading or watching tv. I love to veg out on my couch when my husband is working and not do anything.

What are you most looking forward to this spring?

Book wise, I'm hoping to go to the RT Conference in Chicago in April for Teen Day. It looks like it will be lots of fun - with lots of authors and bloggers attending. Life wise, just looking forward to warm weather and being able to spend some time outside again. And hopefully a vacation happening soon!

Which book character do you think is most similar to you, and why?

Oh this is a hard one! I really don't know! I don't think there is one character that I've really every thought, "Hey! She is totally me!" Sometimes I see parts of myself in characters. Whether its my relationship with my family, my love for my husband, my don't-take-any-crap-from-people attitude or other parts of my personality - there isn't one character that stands out as being "me." I guess I'm just one of a kind.. ;)

Best moment about book blogging so far?

I think the best moment of book blogging for me was when I was the "blogger correspondent" for the Raleigh stop of the Breathless Reads tour last year. I was able to sit down and talk to Andrea Cremer, Beth Revis, Ally Condie, Brenna Yovanoff, and Kirsten Miller and it was so much fun! They were super nice and it was the highlight of my blogging experience so far.

I am jealous of your seasons! It sounds lovely where you live, Michelle. Thank you so much for wanting to be featured this week. I hope my followers take a minute or two to check out Michelle's blog. She's a fabulous blogger who shares excellent book reviews.

My day with SafetySuit (again!)

2012-02-15T00:00:00.004-06:00

So I flew to New Orleans last weekend to check out this band I really like. SafetySuit. Ever heard of them? ;) I thought I'd do a re-cap of the day's events & post pics & videos from the concert. That feeling I get when I see these guys just gets better & better each time. I thought my life was complete last October when they came to Houston & I got a chance to finally meet them. Don't get me wrong, THAT night was pretty dang incredible; however, this weekend's show introduced me to a whole new side of the band!

The concert was outdoors for a Mardi Gras music festival. The weather was almost perfect with the sun shining, but it got a bit chilly when those clouds started to roll in. My adrenaline was pumping so much though, that I didn't even realize it was below 40 degrees until we left! Just before the guys got on stage, I was able to claim my spot down front. With two of my friends with me, who had never heard SafetySuit before, I was excited for them to experience their music for the first time. Just as the opening melodies for "Believe" began to play, I felt my heart jump a little bit. This was really happening. I am seeing SafetySuit perform, right here, right now.

The guys did a good mix of new & old stuff. I got really excited when they played "Staring At It" because it's one of my favorites from their new album. Doug has one of the best stage presences I have ever seen. The guy is a natural. I loved watching Jeremy on bass and Dave on guitar, just enjoying the hell out of themselves. Every once in awhile I'd take a peak back at Tate on the drums, pounding away with the biggest smile on his face. From every beat, to every lyric, it was so obvious how much these guys truly love what they do. That right there was a gift in itself to witness.

After their amazing performance, I hung around the side stage hoping to say a few hello's to the guys and give hugs. The crowd wasn't very big, but there was a small group of younger girls waiting around. I thought I'd hang back and let them do their meet & greets first. By some luck that I somehow get when ever I am around SafetySuit, a security guard standing near by saw me and let me behind the gate to see Doug. Just as I walked up to Doug, he saw me and said, "Oh hey Ginger!" That right there was the icing on the cake. He remembered me!!! We chit chatted for a bit, hugged for a bit, and took pics for a bit. The moment was surreal, but one I will always remember. Afterwards I made my way behind the stage where the guys were packing up their stuff and said a few quick hello's to Jeremy, Dave, and Tate, where I congratulated them on an awesome performance and of course - gave more hugs!

If you ever get a chance to catch a SafetySuit show, I highly recommend it. These guys know how to rock it! They own the stage. I may have been the only fan there singing along to every note on their new songs (which btw, SafetySuit needs a bigger fan following in the South I've realized!), but again, the guys made it feel like such an intimate experience for me. I adore that!!! Below are videos I took, which I thought turned out pretty good (thanks iPhone 4s, ha!) The "Hallelujah" cover is by far my favorite. Simply amazing. Enjoy the tunes!!!

"Let Go" - SafetySuit

"These Times" - SafetySuit

"Hallelujah" (cover) - SafetySuit

Tune in Tuesday {68}: David Gray

2012-02-14T00:00:00.007-06:00

A weekly feature hosted by me that showcases music - my other passion in life besides books! Each week I will post a new or old song in hopes to gain more interest. Help me in spreading the love of music!

Feel free to get involved with this feature by linking up at the bottom of this post, thanks!

This Tuesday's Tune: "Be Mine" by David Gray

Since today is Valentine's Day, I thought this song would be appropriate to feature on this week's Tune in Tuesday post. I first came across David Gray back in 2000 when I was visiting my parents in London. His single "Babylon" was playing constantly on the radio over there, so it was hard not to miss. I fell in love with his voice and brought myself back a copy of his album to the states. From then on I was a fan! I had the opportunity to see him live in 2003, too. Such an amazing performance! This song in particular is a favorite of mine. I love the lyrics... how can you not? And because it's such a lovey-dovey kind of day, here's another David Gray song that just makes my heart swooooooooon!

"Please Forgive Me" by David Gray

If you'd like to join Tune in Tuesday on your blog, link-up below: