Hooked to Books

I think it's safe to say....

2013-01-28T21:44:00.001-05:00

I'm pretty much finished with the book blogging. As much as I love to read, blogging feels like a job and it's just not fun anymore. One of the biggest reasons? This little guy. We tried for so long to have a baby and now that he's here everything revolves around him. And I love every second of it. So, thanks for being a part of this blog the last couple years. It kept me sane during the hardest time of my life. <3

Review: The Archived by Victoria Schwab

2012-11-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Archived
Victoria Schwab
Publish Date January 22, 2013
Hyperion
ARC from Around the World Tours
Reviewed by Michelle

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous—it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption. -Goodreads

From the first second I heard there were ARC's of Victoria Schwab's newest book, The Archived, floating around I was constantly looking for ways to get my hands on a copy. The Near Witch was one of my favorite books in 2011 (I read it early) and I loved it so much that I knew I had to get my hands on anything Schwab ever writes. I was ECSTATIC when The Archived arrived in my mailbox from a blog tour site. ECSTATIC. And it did not disappoint. Oh no, my friends, I dare say that The Archived is better than The Near Witch - and that's saying something. I loved everything about it - every little thing. I was so sad when it ended and even sadder to think that I have to wait that. much. longer. for the second one. This is one book that I'm SO happy will be a series because I need more of Mac, the Histories, and the Archive.

It's been a while since I've written a review and this one might be all over the place because I have so many feelings! But.. they are good feelings so here goes..

Let's start with the characters. I absolutely adore Mackenzie. She is tough and can kick some butt - she became a Keeper at 12 when 16 is the age limit! Girl has got to know how to fight, how to use her words to persuade the Histories, and be smart when it comes to keeping the real world and the Archive world separate. And there's even more to her. Her love for Da and her grief over her brother and her relationship with her parents.. You just want to hug her and let her know that eventually things will be easier. But then she would hate that. Schwab could not have written Mac more perfectly and I can not wait to see where her story goes. I love the flashbacks with Mac and Da. Da is one of my favorite characters in the book and he's not even really there - he's just in Mac's memories but he is so smart and full of wisdom and I just wish he could've stayed around more. There is also a couple boys in The Archived that are worth your time and consideration - Wesley and Owen. I know what you're thinking - Oh no, another love triangle. But stop right now.. It's really not. Mac's relationship with the two boys are complex and so much more than "another love triangle." I loved the way Schwab had that aspect of the book play out.

Schwab's world building in The Archived is top notch. There is so much put into the different aspects of the Archive and the world surrounding it - the Narrows, the Outers, the Librarians, the Keepers, the Crew, the keys. And so many rules that go along with each aspect. It truly takes the reader to a whole new world and sucks you into it. I just really loved everything about it.

The mystery that Mac is trying to solve about the Archive and her new home (the Coronado) is so interesting and really had me guessing until the very end. I could not figure out who was on what side and which way it would all go. And I loved it. Schwab gives clues throughout the book of who it might be but then she will add something else that has you second guessing that clue.

Everything about this book is perfect. I couldn't have asked for a better story, better characters, better mystery, better anything. The Archived is (so far) my favorite book of 2012. Love love love. <3

EVER Blog Tour (Interview and Giveaway)

2012-10-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

Hello fair Hooked to Bookers! Hookers? Nope. That's not right. Moving on.

Today we are THRILLED to be part of the blog tour for EVER, by Jessa Russo, a paranormal romance featuring a hot ghost and a hot....boy next door? That sounds right. Don't want to give too much away, but let's just say that not everything is as it seems and maybe you shouldn't trust the smooth-talking, sexy blonde who suddenly moves in. (I mean, it's fine if you want to. It's just that I had FEELINGS about Toby.)

Seventeen-year-old Ever’s love life has been on hold for the past two years. She’s secretly in love with her best friend Frankie, and he’s completely oblivious.

Of course, it doesn't help that he’s dead, and waking up to his ghost every day has made moving on nearly impossible.

Frustrated and desperate for something real, Ever finds herself falling for her hot new neighbor Toby. His relaxed confidence is irresistible, and not just Ever knows it. But falling for Toby comes with a price that throws Ever’s life into a whirlwind of chaos and drama. More than hearts are on the line, and more than Ever will suffer.

Some girls lose their hearts to love.

Some girls lose their minds.

Ever Van Ruysdael could lose her soul.

Jessa has not only graciously agreed to answer some tough questions for us, but she is also giving away TWO!! e-copies of EVER to lucky readers. Because I prefer to do things in the most simple way possible, we will pick two winners randomly from everyone who comments on this post. All you have to do is tell us the title of your favorite ghost story (book, movie, legend) and leave your email address so we can contact you. Due to Frankenstorm looming outside and the possibility of the East Coast losing all power, we'll leave the contest open until the end of next week (Sunday, November 10). But we here at Hooked to Books hope everyone stays safe and your lights remain on and that you have plenty of cookies and various baked goods to get you through the storm!

An unashamed super fan of all things paranormal romance, Jessa Russo reads, writes and breathes paranormal YA, rarely straying from her comfort zone. When not writing or reading, Jessa enjoys making memories with her awesome family and amazingly supportive friends, while secretly planning her next trip to New Orleans. She’s won a few flash fiction contests and had a short story published, but feels her greatest accomplishment is raising the coolest kid ever – a little girl with a Tim Burton obsession and a desire to save every animal she sees.

Jessa will always call Southern California home, where she lives with her husband Jon, their daughter Faith, Bronco the Great Dane and Lola the Chihuahua.

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH JESSA RUSSO:

1. What was the starting point of this book? Was it one line that made it into the final book, or the characters?

It was definitely the characters. Ever had been in my head for a while, but when her story started to develop, she was in a house full of ghosts, unbeknownst to her, and then one day, BAM! She could see all of them. (Long story.) Anyway, Frankie had been in love with her forever, so the story is somewhat similar in that sense, but he was a ghost from the 1950's, not someone she'd grown up with. And, since he'd always been able to see her, but she'd been unaware of him, it made for an even trickier unrequited love between the two of them. As you probably know, the story has changed significantly. But, since I'm feeling generous, and slightly masochistic, I will include the original prologue for you. O.O

Its bad, really bad ... so please, keep your laughter to a minimum. :-)

PROLOGUE

June, Almost Three Years Ago

They were in the kitchen, the old woman at the table, and the young man at the counter, leaning casually and watching the girl and her friend talk about the latest gossip in their lives. Her friend was painting her nails again, and for once he wished he could smell the strong odor of the chemicals in the polish. Anything to help him feel he was a part of their world.

He desperately wished he could be. A part of her world in particular.

He’d been watching the girl for as long as he could remember.

He loved her. Not just a young, silly love. But a real, intense, can’t-be-without-her love.

He’d watched her grow up, watched her learn and play as a child, then argue and assert her independence as a young woman.

He knew everything about her, except for her innermost secrets. He hoped maybe one day she’d tell him those secrets.

But she didn’t know he was there. Didn’t know he existed in the same world as she did. Didn’t know he shared her home.

And what would he say to her if she did know?

He grabbed another cigarette from his pack of seventeen. Always seventeen cigarettes – that never changed. He didn’t light it; instead he just went through the motions. That was what his life consisted of now – going through the motions.

When she looked up at him, he could swear that for the first time, she actually saw him there. He cocked his head, wondering what she could be thinking about that had her staring towards him so directly. When he leaned forward away from the counter, she jumped up, eyes open wide in shock.

At that exact moment, her friend noticed the old woman sitting at the table next to her and shrieked as she jumped up to join the girl in the corner of the kitchen, sending her chair crashing to the floor. The girl’s parents, obviously responding to the commotion in the kitchen, came running into the room. The four of them quickly ended up huddled together tightly in the corner.

The old woman spoke first, “Oh dear,” she said, in a soothing tone. “Let’s just all relax.” She waved her hands in a calming motion, but the family’s eyes widened even more with the shock of hearing her voice. Clearly, they could not just see the woman, but could hear her as well.

Emotions flooded him, most significantly relief and excitement. He didn’t know what was going on, or how they could suddenly see and hear them, but he wasn’t about to question it or waste any more time.

He’d been wishing for this moment for as long as he could remember.

With a shrug, he walked over to the girl and smiled, no longer wondering what he might say to her if he ever had the chance.

“Hey Doll, I’m Frankie.”

2. What's Plan B (singer, astronaut, zookeeper) if for some reason you were unable to write?

Plan B? Um ... well ... um ... there isn't one? I've been a stay-at-home mom for the past nine years, so I"d still be doing that. Well, technically, I'm still doing that now, so ... I also used to have a small home-based painting business (children's room decor: wall letters, canvas art, growth charts, etc) so I could probably start that up again. But honestly, I'm hoping to just be able to continue writing all the stories - I have quite a few in this head of mine - and reading submissions for Curiosity Quills. If both of these "jobs" do well, I can continue to stay home with my daughter and do the carpool thing. lol

3. Top three books you would recommend to everyone?

Wow. That's tough. Not everyone likes what I like, you know? So let's say, hypothetically, that I'm recommending books to one of my female friends who happened to LOVE Twilight and has a thing for collecting fictional boyfriends half their age ... I'd say UNRAVELING by Liz Norris (because it was one of my favorites from 2012), The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead, because I adore everything she writes (and I LOVED all of the VAMPIRE ACADEMY *Team Dimitri*), and The Hunger Games Trilogy. Honestly, I'd recommend THG to anyone, really - not just Twilight-moms. lol! THG was such a breath of fresh air, in my opinion. So different, and unlike anything I'd ever read before. I also have to add a fourth book, and its something I recently acquired, so I can't tell you anything about it. Let's just say that it is a historical romance that blew my socks right off. I can't wait to recommend it to everyone. EVERYONE.

4. If you were to return as a ghost and had free reign to go wherever or do whatever, what's the first thing you would do?

You know, I've been sitting on this question for two days. This one and the next one, actually. Both have me totally stumped. I want to have some profound answer, but all I can think about is how sad I would be if I died right now. I can't imagine leaving my daughter, with all the life she still has in front of her - life she needs a mom's help with. And my husband ... he's strong and stubborn and not at all helpless, but I can't imagine leaving him either. What would they do without me, you know? Hmmm ... maybe I'd haunt them, just to make sure he's making sure she brushes her hair and eats a full meal when she's supposed to!

5. On the other hand, let's say somehow the spirit of someone attached itself to you for the rest of your life. Who would you hope it would be?

This one didn't stump me as much as the last one, though it did make me pause. My only thought is my dad. I try to come up with some other profound answer but keep coming back to him. I'd want my dad around, no question. He missed the birth of my daughter, my marriage, my book being published, all of my adulthood so far ... all these things he should have been around for. Lately, with the book deal and all that is involved with that, I've wanted to call him. Which is so strange when you think about it - he died when I was sixteen, so I never really had a life-altering situation (good or bad) to call him about, you know? I was a teenager. I talked to him (or rolled my eyes at him, etc) when he came home from work, or occasionally when we passed by each other on the weekends, but I never got the chance to have the sort of relationship with him where I picked up the phone and called him to talk about my day. So to have the urge to call him now is strange. But man I wish I could.

Thanks so much, Jessa! The prologue is so different, but also way interesting! And I wish your dad were here to be with you through this as well.

If you're looking for Jessa (and you totally should be), she can be found pretty much everywhere:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessaRusso

Jessa on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jessarussowrites

EVER on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EverTrilogy

Blog: http://jessarussowrites.blogspot.com/

EVER on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13625388-ever

I read EVER and was immediately hooked by Ever and her...shall we say, complicated...love life. I adored the fact that the ghost of her best friend and long-time love interest was just hanging out in her house, a huge secret kept from all and that her parents and best friend were totally on board with it, like he were a ghostly brother. Such an amazing concept for a love story (or any story, really). There were moments I definitely didn't anticipate and twists I never imagined, which made me happy to keep turning the page. Ever is a totally relatable character and she has the kind of kick-ass best friend we should all want on our sides and I'm so psyched to see how they all band together in the next book.

Don't forget to leave a comment about your favorite ghost story for a chance to win an e-copy of EVER!

Blog Tour: Amarok and Giveaway!

2012-10-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

Amarok
Angela J. Townsend
Publish Date: November 20, 2012
Spencer Hill Press
Advanced Reading Copy
Reviewed by Rachael

Emma's life has been hell since she moved from sunny California to a remote Alaskan town. Abandoned by her father and living with the guilt of causing her mother's death, she makes a desperate dash for freedom from her abusive stepfather. But when her car skids off the icy road, her planned escape leads to further captivity in a world beyond her imagining.

Dragged across the tundra by an evil mountain man and his enormous black wolf, she learns that love can be found in the most unexpected places. Amarok, as she's nicknamed the wolf, is a young man from the gold-rush era enslaved by an ancient shaman. Emma's gentle touch and kind heart win his love and devotion. When a vicious madman--trapped in bear form by the same Shaman--attacks the travelers and injures Amarok, Emma must find the strength to face her fears and free the wolf she's come to love. But that means she must face down the evil shaman, a Siberian mammoth hunter from the ice age, and he has no intention of giving up his power to her. -Goodreads

When the blog tour for this book was announced I knew I had to get my hands on this one. Other than our basement home theater, Alaska is pretty much my favorite place on the planet. I fell in love with it in 1996 on vacation with my parents and it's where we honeymooned in August 2005. I had zero expectations going into the book other than loving the setting. I'm not normally the paranormal reader of the Hooked to Books crew, so I was slightly skeptical, but found the book really enjoyable.

Emma's life breaks your heart from the moment you meet her and you immediately are her #1 cheerleader. The fast pace of the opening events captures your interest immediately which is huge for me as in general I'm not a fast reader, so you have to grab me right away. The alternating narrators of the book (every other chapter is narrated by Emma or Amarok) kept things really interesting and is a writing style I generally tend to enjoy. Mixing ancient folklore with contemporary storytelling Angela Townsend creates a blended world that you immediately feel a part of without having to spend an excessive amount of time on background information (personal pet peeve). If you're looking for a quick, engaging read and want to break out of the dystopisn overload we've had lately, I'd definitely recommend this book!

The folks at Spencer Hill Press are offering a prize package to ONE winner throughout the tour that includes a copy of Amarok, a $25 Amazon gift card and a wolf charm necklace. You can enter below!

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In My Mailbox (#61) / Stacking the Shelves (#1)

2012-10-07T11:26:00.000-04:00

In My Mailbox is Hosted by The Story Siren.
Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.

I haven't done a IMM in forever but this week calls for one.

I got a amazing package from Penguin and I was definitely doing a happy dance in my kitchen when I opened it.

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis (dies!)

Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff

Orleans by Sherri L. Smith

Natural Born Angel by Scott Speer

The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson (dies!)

Prodigy by Marie Lu

Rise by Andrea Cremer

I am SO EXCITED for all these books!

I also bought a book this week:

The Raven Boys (signed and doodled!) by Maggie Stiefvater

And since I'm here and SUPER excited about them... I got some of maternity pictures back this week.

So, I wanted to share a few of my favorites. :)

Only 3 more weeks before Baby Boy gets here!

Guest Post: Keeper of the Lost Cities Author Shannon Messenger

2012-09-25T13:34:00.000-04:00

Today, I have Shannon Messenger on the blog thanks to Mundie Moms and their awesome blog tours! Shannon is here discussing three things that every author needs to know.

Make sure to visit the tour page over at Mundie Mom's blog for a special offer and information about the different giveaways for this tour! (One of which you can enter below!)

http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/2012/09/mundie-moms-blog-tour-keeper-of-lost.html

Thanks for stopping by, Shannon!

*****

3 Things Every Author Needs

First of all, thank you so much for letting me take over your blog for the day! I promise not to mess things up around here. Too much... :)

Today I've been asked to share three things every author needs. Now, if this were my blog I would probably ramble with lots of parenthetical interruptions and exclamation marks as I tried to cover that topic. But since I'm visiting this lovely blog and TRYING not to spoil it, I'm going to be organized and color coded and FANCY!

(feel free to Oooh and Ahhh!)

Number One: Self Discipline

I know, I know, way to start with a downer... But the thing is, not everything about this job is fun. Plus, once you have deadlines the whole concept of "being in the mood to write" kinda gets trumped by THE DRAFT IS DUE. So the sooner you learn how to write on a schedule, the better. In fact, the sooner you get good at time management the better, because there is a crazy amount of workload that falls on an author's shoulders between writing, revising, marketing, publicity, and yanno... eating and sleeping occasionally. So yes--self discipline is essential!

Number Two: Confidence

Rejection is inevitable in this business--and I know, there I go being a downer again. But it's true! Every writer--even those flukey I-had-50-agents-fighting-over-me people have SOME rejections. And don't even get me started on reviews. So if you don't have confidence to believe that you are good enough and keep going, you are going to have a very hard time in this business. You have to believe in yourself--at least a *little*--if you want other people to believe in you. HOWEVER, there is such a thing as too much confidence, which is why you also need...

Number 3: Humility

Yes, I realize this seems to be a direct contradiction of point number two. But you need both. You need enough confidence to believe in yourself. But you also need enough humility to be able to listen to any critical feedback and learn from it. I have yet to meet a writer who doesn't need some sort of editorial guidance. Of course sometimes you will be right and you will need to stick to your gut. But honestly? Those times are fairly rare. More often than not if someone is commenting on something, it needs work. Maybe their suggestion isn't perfect, but that doesn't mean you won't have to push yourself to come up with another fix.

Really, what all of this is pointing to is that being an author is a job. A crazy awesome job. But still a job. And the best thing you can do for yourself is to start treating it like one. The earlier the better.

Wow--I made it through a blog post with only one parenthetical interruption. That might be a record! So I am going to duck away now before I ruin it.

Thank you so much for letting me stop by! I now happily turn your blog back over to you. *waves* *air kisses*

****

About the book:

Twelve-year-old Sophie has never quite fit in. She's not comfortable with her family and keeping a secret—she's a telepath. But then she meets Fitz, who tells her the reason she has never felt at home is that, well, she isn't. But Sophie still has secrets, and they're buried deep in her memory for good reason: the answers are in high-demand. The truth could mean life or death, and time is running out.

By: Shannon Messenger

Published by: Simon & Schuster

To Be Released on: October 2nd, 2012

Purchase from:

About the Author:

SHANNON MESSENGER graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts where she learned that she liked watching movies much better than making them. She also regularly eats cupcakes for breakfast, sleeps with a bright blue stuffed elephant named Ella, and occasionally gets caught talking to imaginary people. So it was only natural for her to write stories for children. Keeper of the Lost Cities is her first middle grade novel. Let the Sky Fall, a young adult novel, will follow in Spring 2013. She lives in Southern California with her husband and an embarrassing number of cats.

Now for the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review with Giveaway: Pushing the Limits

2012-09-12T10:11:00.000-04:00

Pushing the Limits

by Katie McGarry
Publication Date: July 31, 2012
Harlequin Teen

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again. -Goodreads

First off, I have to say that I loved this book. The story was really well written and kept me engaged and guessing, which normally I can see the ending coming from a mile away!
The story follows both Echo and Noah's points of view. It's interesting the way she accomplishes this. She alternates the narrator by chapters. So one chapter you are in Echo's head and the next is Noah's. This could have been distracting if not written well but I feel like it enhanced the story! I loved knowing what both were thinking and feeling!

Echo has secrets. She has scars. She's pretty messed up. The thing that intrigued me so much is that ECHO didn't even know what had happened to her. She knew that it involved her mom but the memories were so bad, her brain blocked it out. We found out what happened with her throughout the story as bits and pieces came back to her through therapy.

Noah, I loved. He was the ultimate bad boy. But he used that as a defense mechanism. Both of his parents had died in a house fire. Him and his 2 brothers were put into foster care. The worst part being that they split them up because his brothers were so much younger. You follow his journey as he figures out who he is, how he develops such an unlikely and beautiful relationship with Echo, and how he figures out, at 17 years old, how to put his family back together again.

This is definitely a book that I would say that needs to be in your "read IMMEDIATELY" pile. I couldn't stop thinking about the story for about a week after I finished and that, for me, is the mark of a great book!

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Review: Howl's Moving Castle

2012-08-17T07:30:00.000-04:00

Howl's Moving Castle
Diana Wynne Jones
Publish Date: August 1, 2001
Greenwillow Books
Borrowed from Megan
Reviewed by Rachael

In which a witch bewitched the hatter's daughter - and then some....

Sophie lived in the town of Market Chipping, which was in Ingary, a land in which anything could happen, and often did - especially when the Witch of the Waste got her dander up. Which was often.

As her younger sisters set out to seek their fortunes, Sophie stayed in her father's hat shop. Which proved most unadventurous, until the Witch of the Waste came in to buy a bonnet, but was not pleased. Which is why she turned Sophie into an old lady. Which was spiteful witchery.

Now Sophie must seek her own fortune. Which means striking a bargain with the lecherous Wizard Howl. Which means entering his ever-moving castle, taming a blue fire-demon, and meeting the Witch of the Waste head-on. Which was more than Sophie bargained for....-Goodreads

This was our book club selection for July. This isn't "my" genre of YA (the combo of fantasy and magic is not usually a winner with me), but it is one of the things I love about our book club, the genres change each month and it helps keep everyone interested and coming back for more. We have some YA Fantasy lovers in the group and it's always fun to see people excited about a book, even if you don't love it. I didn't finish in time for our discussion, but hearing other people talk about the book (and movie) made me want to finish.

The characters in the book were interesting, as was the world that was created around the Moving Castle. The beginning of the book was slow (and the paperback version I read had over 400 pages so a slow beginning is sort of a mood killer for me) but things picked up toward the end and I'm glad I finished. I think I may have skimmed a bit too much in the middle because in the final chapters I found myself confusing some of the characters. I've heard great things about the anime movie version of the book, but have yet to get my hands on a copy as of yet. This probably should happen, I've heard there are several deviations from the book that I can see as improvements and I'm excited to see how that plays out. I've never watched anime, but it sounds like this is an excellent movie to start with from what other people have told me.

Have you read Howl's Moving Castle and/or seen the movie?

Review: Ready Player One

2012-08-14T10:32:00.000-04:00

Ready Player One

Ernest Cline
Publish Date: August 16, 2011
Random House NY
Borrowed from local library
Reviewed by Rachael

It's the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place.

Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be, a place where you can live and play and fall in love on any of ten thousand planets.

And like most of humanity, Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. For somewhere inside this giant networked playground, OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune--and remarkable power--to whoever can unlock them.

For years, millions have struggled fruitlessly to attain this prize, knowing only that Halliday's riddles are based in the pop culture he loved--that of the late twentieth century. And for years, millions have found in this quest another means of escape, retreating into happy, obsessive study of Halliday's icons. Like many of his contemporaries, Wade is as comfortable debating the finer points of John Hughes's oeuvre, playing Pac-Man, or reciting Devo lyrics as he is scrounging power to run his OASIS rig.

And then Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle.

Suddenly the whole world is watching, and thousands of competitors join the hunt--among them certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to beat Wade to this prize. Now the only way for Wade to survive and preserve everything he knows is to win. But to do so, he may have to leave behind his oh-so-perfect virtual existence and face up to life--and love--in the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

A world at stake.
A quest for the ultimate prize. Are you ready?
-Goodreads

Megan and I are part of a YA Book Club for those "a little less Y and a bit more A" and this was our book selection for June. I can't believe I forgot to review it until now! (Summertime is always crazy and I've been MIA for a while for really no good reason at all...obviously I'm sure you missed my reviews ;-) )

The story takes place in the future where virtual reality is more like reality as most people spend their time in the virtual world of OASIS. Initially I was intrigued as it reminded me of the Bruce Willis movie Surrogates which I enjoyed, but this book was even better (granted the general public isn't too fond of this particular Willis flick, but whatever, I have strange taste in all things pop culture). I loved having a male main character for a change and Wade, oh man, I loved Wade so much. His friendships throughout the book were inspiring. Wade is about a million times more intriguing than I thought a main character that was an avid video gamer would be and the 80s pop culture references that the book revolves on weren't a hindrance to enjoying the novel at all (yes, while I'm a child of the 80s friends constantly think I slept through them, and the early 90s, since I missed crucial pop culture "events". Example, in the last 5 years I watched (for the first time) Star Wars, Goonies, and most recently became obsessed with Edward Scissorhands...) I had been worried I wouldn't "get" any references and that it was a tough read for an actual YA audience, but really it made things really interesting and sparked my interest in other books, movies, music, etc. and isn't that the point of reading? To take you to another place and spark your interest in other things. I for one most definitely enjoy when this is the case.

I've recommended this book to a lot of people already: guys and gals, YA readers and non-YA readers, video gamers and board gamers alike. It just came out in paperback this summer, so grab a copy or do what I did and borrow one from your local library. There's even a contest going on in the spirit of the book with the grand prize being a Delorean! If one of you win, I expect a ride ;-)

Guest Post: Lisa M. Stasse author of The Forsaken w/Giveaway!

2012-07-10T11:58:00.000-04:00

I'm very excited to have Lisa Stasse on the blog today. Lisa's book, The Forsaken, is out today from Simon & Schuster. Make sure to check it out!

*****

Talking Music with Lisa M. Stasse,
Author of THE FORSAKEN
(Coming July 10, 2012 from Simon & Schuster)

So I thought it might be fun to talk about some of the music that I listened to—and that inspired me—when I was writing and editing my debut dystopian novel, THE FORSAKEN. I almost always listen to music when I write, because I feel like it gives me more energy and helps set a mood in my head that I can translate onto the page. So, here's some of the stuff I was listening to along the way when I wrote THE FORSAKEN. It's not really an official playlist or anything. Just some songs and albums that I listened to over and over (and probably drove my neighbors crazy by playing too much).

1. “French Navy” by Camera Obscura—one of my favorite songs from a great, underrated band.

2. "Round and Round" by Ariel Pink—like a strange pop hit from another planet! I got really obsessed with this song for a while and had it playing on an infinite loop. It's pretty hypnotic.

3. The album "Maya" by MIA—sometimes I needed some really aggressive and energetic music to write the battle scenes in my book, and MIA's stuff usually did the trick.

4. The soundtrack to the movie "Drive." I know a lot of my friends hated this movie, but I actually liked it. But of course I love Ryan Gosling in anything, so maybe that had something to do with it! J

5. "Edith and the Kingpin" by Joni Mitchell—this is an old song from the 1970's that my mom actually used to play all the time. It's really good. Kind of melancholy. Good for writing sad scenes.

6. Anything by Cat Power and Feist—two of my favorite musicians. My husband teases me and says they are the ultimate "Starbucks/chick music" type artists, but I don't care! They are awesome. Cat Power's records are amazing.

7. Anything by Animal Collective—okay, so some of Animal Collective's music annoys me because it's just trying SO hard to be hip, etc, but some of their stuff is great. It's almost like classical music in places. Great music to write to.

8. A friend (hi Charlotte!) introduced me to a new genre of ultra-creepy dance music called "witch house." It's incredibly spooky. The band Salem is my favorite of the bunch—I wrote some of the creepiest/scary parts of THE FORSAKEN listening to their amazing album "King Night."

9. The album "Penthouse" by Luna—great low-key indie rock music from the mid-90's.

10. Finally, I just thought I'd list some of the bands that (according to my iPod) I listened to a bunch when I was writing THE FORSAKEN. Some of these bands I don't listen to much anymore (I probably just burned out on them) but some I still listen to almost every day! Ok, so here's the list: Arcade Fire, Ryan Adams, Skrillex, The Cure, Beck, Katy Perry, The Shins, Karen O, Charles Douglas, Mr. Oizo, Matt & Kim, Kate Bush, Bon Iver, Kanye West, The Velvet Underground, Pixies, Neil Young, Big Star, Brice Randall Bickford, Syd Barrett, Tim Buckley, Prince, The Dirty Projectors and Sleigh Bells.

THANKS AGAIN!!!!!

twitter: www.twitter.com/LisaMStasse
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/lisamstasse
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lisamstasse
www.lisamstasse.com

Giveaway:
US Only
Must be 13+
a Rafflecopter giveaway

In My Mailbox #60

2012-07-08T10:56:00.002-04:00

In My Mailbox is Hosted by The Story Siren.

For Review:

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi

Thanks Brilliance Audio!

Lost Girls by Ann Kelley

The White Glove War by Katie Crouch and Grady Hendrix

Thanks Little, Brown!

Hidden by Sophie Jordan

The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann

Glass Heart by Amy Garvey

Thanks Harper Teen!

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

Thanks Scholastic!

Deity by Jennifer Armentrout

Cursed by Jennifer Armentrout

Thanks Spencer Hill Press!

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Review: The Raft by S. A. Bodeen

2012-06-26T07:00:00.002-04:00

The Raft
S. A. Bodeen
Publish Date August 21, 2012
Feiwel and Friends
ARC from Around the World ARC Tours
Reviewed by Michelle

Robie, 15, lives with her family on the Midway atoll, a group of islands in the middle of the Pacific. Her parents are scientists; it’s an isolated life. Robie enjoys visiting her aunt in Hawaii – she gets back and forth on a cargo plane that brings supplies to Midway.

During a visit, her aunt is called to the mainland for a work emergency, leaving Robie to get home on her own. On her flight back to Midway the cargo plane hits nasty weather, and goes down. It’s just Robie, the pilot, and Max, a co-pilot she’s never met till this flight, on board. Robie is pulled aboard a raft by Max, who is injured and slipping in and out of consciousness. They have a bag of candy and very little water between them. When they finally reach an island that seems abandoned, Robie hopes they’ll be found quickly. But she’s not sure she was even on the flight manifest. Her parents must be looking for her…aren’t they?

In THE RAFT, S.A. Bodeen creates a hair-raising suspense story that will have readers agonizing over the same question as Robie -- how long can they survive? -Goodreads

I don't read a lot of contemporary but a survival story? That I will jump on. There were things I enjoyed about The Raft - the suspense, the terror, the wondering - and thing I just didn't - some things were just too "easy" the way they happened.

When the plane Robie is on starts to go down, Max (the co-pilot) throws her out, saving her life, and gets her on the raft. After that Robie and Max are left to float around in the warm waters of the Pacific without any food, water, or way to contact land. Like Robie, the thing that would freak me out the most about being stuck on a raft in the middle of the ocean would be the sharks. I am terrified of them - barely go in the water at the beach I'm so scared of them. So, I'm with Robie on this one and I'm not sure I would've been as brave as she was when she HAD to get in the water.

Robie is not someone I would want to be alone on a raft with. She was kinda annoying - even though I should probably remember that she is fifteen years old and being whiny and annoying is required. I just didn't connect with her at all. I would have liked to have gotten to know Max a little more - but he was always unconscious so we don't get much from him either.

When Robie and Max make it to the island is when Bodeen lost me. There were just a few things that happened that I just didn't believe was even possible. (This coming from a girl that loves paranormal/sci fi books.)

I can't really say much more about The Raft. I didn't form a connection with the characters and I just felt like I knew how it was going to end before it got there. There were times that I was freakin' out with Robie - especially with the sharks and being in the water. And there is a twist at the end that made me have a "OH!" moment - didn't really see that coming at all.

What's Been Up?

2012-06-18T00:01:00.000-04:00

I'm sure y'all have noticed my absence here on the blog. It wasn't intentional - believe me. I just had things come up. What things you ask?

Well...

This little BOY! has completely turned his Momma's life upside down. I was so sick the first 15 weeks of my pregnancy - I actually lost 15 lbs. And by the time I made it home from work I just wanted to sleep. It was rough but will be so worth it. <3

So, he is set to make his debut around November 4, 2012! I'm feeling MUCH better and plan on being better about blog stuff now that I can actually function.

I hope y'all are still out there. :)

In My Mailbox #59

2012-06-17T19:05:00.001-04:00

In My Mailbox is Hosted by The Story Siren.

For Review:

A Want so Wicked by Suzanne Young

Once by Anna Carey

Team Human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan

Thanks Harper Teen!

The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse

Thanks Simon and Schuster!

Awakened by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Thanks St. Martin's!

Nerve by Jeanne Ryan

Flash Point by Nancy Kress

Fallings Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

Origin by Jessica Khoury

The Innocents by Lili Pelquin

Venom by Fiona Paul

Black City by Elizabeth Richards

Thanks Penguin Teen!

Bought:

Signed copy of Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

from Bookperk!

Blog Tour: Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne w/Giveaway!

2012-06-09T00:01:00.000-04:00

I'm happy to have Emmy Laybourne on the blog today talking about her favorite post-apocalyptic fiction and distopian fiction.

Thanks for stopping by and make sure to enter the giveaway!

****

Hello Hooked To Books readers! My debut novel, MONUMENT 14, is a post-apocalyptic YA novel about 14 kids who get trapped in a superstore while civilization collapses outside the gates.

I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite post-apocalyptic novels. The five books I’ve listed are not necessarily YA novels, as MONUMENT 14 is, but they are novels that thrilled me, scared me and otherwise captured my imagination. I bet you’ll like them too.

Before I dig in, I want to mention that to me there’s a distinction between post-apocalyptic fiction and distopian fiction. To me a distopian book, such as The Hunger Games, is specifically portraying a society that is repressive and controlling – the opposite of a utopian society. Post-apocalyptic fiction, on the other hand, shows what happened when a crisis threatens life on Earth as we know it (now or in the near future). Those are the definitions I use as I read and write in this genre, so I thought they’d be helpful for you to have.

A World Made By Hand by James Kuntsler
Oooooh, this is my favorite. It’s a very down-to-earth novel, set in the Hudson Valley (where I live) in a future where there is no electricity and things are… made by hand. The characters are finely drawn and deeply human. I found myself rooting for the main character so much that I raced through the book to find out if he’d end up okay. And then, after racing through it, I went back and read it again, to savor the prose.

The Stand by Stephen King
Stephen King’s epic story of the battle between good and evil after a terrible virus kills off most of the population of the United States is a classic. Yes, it’s a bit long, but there are some very memorable scenes. Everytime I get stuck in Lincoln tunnel traffic I nearly break out in hives remembering a scene from the book. Sometimes you want a big book you can read fast – this is a great contender for that! Maybe read it the next time you’re home with the flu. I am joking, my friends, do not do that!

The Wild Shore by Kim Stanley Robinson
This book is from a series of three post-apocalytpic novels (The Three Californias). All three novels are set in the same place, but in three distinct futures. It’s a very cool series to read. The Wild Shore is my favorite of the three. It tells the story of Hank, a teenage kid in a fishing village on the coast of an America leveled by nuclear attacks. The US is patrolled by Japan and any attempt to rebuild is met with military measures. Hank, and others, long to find a way to start re-building America. It’s an exciting read, filled with action and longing.

On The Beach by Nevil Shute
This is a very classy post-apocalyptic novel, set in Australia while the population waits for radiation from a massive world war to reach them. There is a love story here so refined and elegant it took my breath away. It was written in 1957 and there’s something about the dignity and restraint that the characters possess that really entranced me. And man, do they ever drink a lot!

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Cloud Atlas will blow your mind. It essentially contains six novellas, intertwined and running backwards and forwards through time. It has a scope that seems to engulf life on Earth in the future and the past. Cloud Atlas has haunted me since I read it. It’s a novel I could read once a year and still come away with new revelations at each read.
And yet look: I’ve written a paragraph about it and I haven’t even tried to explain what it is about. It defies description. Read it. You’ll see.

It was so great to be hosted here at Hooked To Books on my blog tour today! I’m currently on a live book tour as well. We’re in Lake Forest, Washington tonight at Third Place Books at 6:30 so if you’re in the area, please come out and meet me and the rest of the Fierce Reads gang (Jennifer Bosworth, Anna Banks and Leigh Bardugo). I’ll be checking comments here, so please let me know if I missed any favorites of yours – or you can send me a message at emmylaybourne.com.

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/MfeyjuEMaOI
Author website: http://emmylaybourne.com/
Short Story Prequel: http://www.tor.com/stories/2012/05/dress-your-marines-in-white
Fierce Reads Tour Info: https://www.facebook.com/FierceReads/events

***

Giveaway

Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

US/Canada Only.

Must be 13+.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen

2012-06-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen
Andrea Cefalo
Publish Date: June 1, 2012
Scarlet Primrose Press
ARC
Reviewed by Rachael

Snow White was a pet name her mother had given her, but her mother’s dead now. Adelaide hates that name anyway. A rampant fever claimed Adelaide’s mother just like a thousand others in Cologne where the people die without Last Rites and the dead are dumped in a large pit outside of the city walls. Adelaide’s father is determined to obtain a funeral for his wife, but that requires bribing the parish priest, Father Soren. When Soren commits an unforgivable atrocity, he pushes Adelaide to her breaking point, but if she seeks justice against the cruel priest, she risks sacrificing everything: her father, her friends, her first love, and maybe even her life. -Goodreads

Fairytales have started to become super popular lately in everything from movies, to TV (I'm an avid Once Upon a Time viewer), to, obviously, books. When we first were asked to review this particular book, I was excited for a new take on Snow White, but really didn't know what to expect.

Adelaide, or Addie, is a solid character. In the beginning she is young, innocent, and naive about life and we get a glimpse of her growing and changing into an inspiring adult throughout the book. Sure she sometimes makes foolish choices, but isn't that what growing up is about? And Ivo, Addie's BFF/love interest. Swoon. I am seriously in love with this character. There is so much depth to him and I want to see where his story leads in the rest of this series for sure! Only Augustus Waters from The Fault in Our Stars is above him on my YA list o' romantical guys from everything I've read this year...and maybe last year, except for Hale from the Heist Society books.) Yup.

All in all I didn't "get" the fairytale angle on this book, it really didn't seem necessarily for the general plotline, but added some interesting backstory. I'm sure as the series progresses the tie-in with the fairytales will be explored more, but really the story was compelling with or without the added fairytale stories and trying to think about what the tie-in was just made my brain work too hard and not enjoy the book for what it was until I gave that up and just fell in love with the story and the characters. So don't beat yourself up trying to figure out who everybody is, or how this relates to fairytales you knew as a kid, just enjoy the book, you'll be glad you did! Also, just as a heads-up, the voice of the book is medieval in both the narration and the dialogue. If you're not a super strong reader (which is a category that I sometimes fall into...I love books and reading, but I'm not a super strong reader, very slow...have to re-read things a lot, etc.) it may take a little while to get used to, but in the end it's totally worth it to follow Addie and Ivo's journey and I wouldn't let it discourage you for too long!

The story that Andrea Cefalo weaves is intriguing and leaves you hanging wanting more. The "Coming Spring 2013" note at the end is definitely tough to swallow when you want more of the story ASAP after finishing!

Book Excerpt: Dark Frost with Giveaway!

2012-06-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

Jennifer Estep, author of the Mythos Academy series, has been kind enough today to stop by the blog and share and excerpt from the latest book in the series, Dark Frost.

Thanks for the peek, Jennifer!!

***

“Hey,” one of the other Reapers said, staring down at the glass that littered the floor. “Why are all the cases in here smashed already—”
“Now, Daphne!” I screamed. “Now!”
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Daphne rose up from her spot behind the stuffed horse, already drawing back her golden arrow and lining up her shot, aiming for the other girl. But the Reaper saw what she was doing, grabbed the man next to her, and shoved him in front of her, using him as a human shield. Daphne let go of her bowstrings.
Thwang!
My best friend’s aim was true, but the arrow zoomed into the man’s heart instead of the Reaper girl’s.
A Valkyrie, I thought, making a mental note in the back of my mind. The Reaper girl had to be a Valkyrie, had to have a Valkyrie’s superstrength, to shove a grown man around like he weighed nothing.
Beside me, a puff of golden smoke filled the air, and another arrow appeared in the onyx quiver strapped to Daphne’s back. My friend had been right—that was wicked cool. Daphne saw me staring at her. She nodded, reached back, and grabbed the arrow.
“Kill them!” the Reaper girl bellowed over the noise of the still-blaring alarms. “Kill them all!”
The other Reapers didn’t hesitate. Five of them charged forward, while the Reaper girl stayed where she was. Two of the Reapers raced by the wax Viking.
With a loud battle cry, Logan leapt out from his hiding spot and rammed his sword into the Reaper closest to him, wounding the Reaper. For a moment, there was mass confusion, before that Reaper and another one stopped to fight Logan, and the other three hurried in our direction, one going right and the last two going left.
Carson and I stepped out from behind the stuffed horse to meet them, still keeping Daphne in between us. She put an arrow in one of the guys to the left, felling him just before he reached Carson. That was all that I saw before the Reaper on my side of the dais attacked.

BIO INFO:

Jennifer Estep is a New York Times bestselling author. Jennifer writes the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. Dark Frost, the third book, was released on May 29. Touch of Frost and Kiss of Frost are the other books in the series. Visit www.jenniferestep.com for excerpts and more information about her books.

Giveaway:

Hardcopy of Dark Frost

US Only

Must be 13+

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Author Interview with Anne Greenwood Brown Author of Lies Beneath

2012-06-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

Please welcome Anne Greenwood Brown, author of Lies Beneath, to the blog today. She has graciously answered some questions for us.
Thanks for stopping by Anne!

*****

What was your favorite part about writing Lies Beneath?
My favorite part of writing Lies Beneath was that I had no agent, no editor, no deadline, no expectations. I was completely free to do whatever I wanted to do, and to tell the story I wanted to tell. On a story-level, I enjoyed developing all the characters’ backstories and understanding why each of them acted the way they did--particularly the mermaid sisters.

Do you have a favorite character? What about them makes them your favorite?
Well, of course I love Calder and Lily, but I have a soft spot in my heart for Maris, which might surprise people because she’s so awful. But in my head I know where she’s been, what she’s gone through, and what’s made her the way she is. I feel sad for her.

What other things do you enjoy besides writing?
I love all things Irish--which may be where my love of story telling comes from. My daughter is an Irish dancer, and I love Irish music, knitting, Guinness, and sheep herding (just kidding with that last one). After I’m done writing about mermaids, my next project will probably reflect my love for my celtic heritage.

What is the one book (besides your own) that you love so much you will push on anyone who will listen?
For little kids, “Miss Twiggley’s Tree” by Dorothea Warren Fox. My grandfather gave me that book when I was 5, and I still keep it in my bedside table. It’s all taped together, and some of the pages fall out, but it’s the most precious thing I own.

What is the one thing you want readers to know about Lies Beneath?
I want readers to know that it’s set in a real place, and that some of the weirdest parts are true. I want them to know that it’s not just a love story, but that it’s primarily an Evolution Story, about an animal, who becomes a man, and tries to do the hardest thing a human being could ever do.

Blog Tour: Dear Daemon

2012-06-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

Our favorite alien has set up his own advice column…yeah, you heard me right, Daemon Black giving advice. But because you just couldn’t help asking him some-very personal-questions, he’s very kindly answered those for you too!

****

[1]Dear (rolls eye) Daemon; How do you deal with the anger that arises due to arrogant, cocky, smart asses like you? My school is full of em =.=

Dear Rolls Eyes,

If your school is full of arrogant, cocky smart asses like me, then you shouldn’t be angry. You should feel blessed to be around such well-rounded people. I think the best thing is to step back, recognize the awesomeness that is someone like me, and take a deep breath. Life’s too short to be angry, especially for humans.

Yours truly,
Daemon

[2] Dear Daemon What name should I give my main character? Please note: it´s a girl Thank you. Mara and Lila

Dear Name Changer,

I think names should mean something, but I’ve always thought Sophia was a pretty name.

Yours truly,
Daemon

[3] Dear Daemon, There's this guy I like...I think. Well, he's hot and I enjoy kissing him...anyway, he's kind of a jackass and a know it all and likes to embarrass me in front of other people. How can i get him to be nicer?

Dear Bad Situation,

Look, all guys can be assholes. We are born with an inherent asshole trait and it rears its head at the most inopportune times. But embarrassing you in front of other people? That’s not good. I did that once and well, we know how that ended, even though I had good intentions. Don’t worry about making him nicer. Worry about finding someone who’s actually nice.

Yours truly,
Daemon

[4] Dear Daemon, Hi I'm Carley, I'm 13... love you and the relationship you have with Katy. Why do you call Katy Kitten, the real reason please? It’s been buggin me just have one name for her, lord!!!!! Thanks for reading ;P

Dear Carley,

I call her Kitten, because she reminds me of a kitten. You know how a kitten is all cute and playful, but when you bug them when they are trying to sleep, they put their little ears down, hiss, and swat at you with their tiny claws that can’t do any damage? Kat gets like that. It’s cute.

Yours truly,
Daemon

Make sure to head over to Putting Pen to Page for a review!

Review: DJ Rising

2012-06-01T16:08:00.000-04:00

DJ Rising
Love Maia
Publish Date: February 6, 2012
Little, Brown and Company
Review Copy
Reviewed by Rachael

The first thing I hear is music. The first thing I've always heard is music.Meet Marley, an unassuming high school junior who breathes in music like oxygen. In between caring for his heroin-addicted mother, and keeping his scholarship at a fancy prep school, he dreams of becoming a professional DJ.

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

Okay, so this book caught me completely off-guard. I devoured it, reading it in just about 24 hours. I have never been in a club, never seen a live DJ...didn't matter one bit. It may be my favorite book of the years thus far. Yup. There, I said it.

Marley is a character your instantly fall in love with, but in a "I really want to see this boy win!" type of way. He's a boy, like many out there, who is forced to grow-up and become a man way too early in life. A boy forced to take on the responsibilities no sixteen-year-old should have to deal with, and he does it with style. He doesn't do everything "right" by any means, but he's definitely got some role-model qualities that even some adults could learn from. Seeing the way he deals with his lot in life is inspirational, moving, and if you don't weep at least once while reading this book, well, you're doing something wrong and missed chapters or something.

Now, this book deals with some legit hard-core subjects, namely the fact that Marley's mom is a heroin addict and the fact that most of the action takes places in clubs and parties and whatnot. Since I'm probably the most conservative of the Hooked to Books crew, I feel that's something to be aware of when reading the book, but I'd say it's what makes Marley seem like such an amazing character in the way he deals with life that I appreciate the honesty of the writing (which also involves language I'm not generally comfortable with, but the author actually used it well if that makes any sense, not in an extraneous way just trying to look "cool" for a high school YA audience, which I appreciate.) The book deals with love, loss, and forgiveness in ways I never imagined when reading the description or glancing at the title/cover. Perhaps being surprised by all the book had in store for me was part of why I loved it so much, but had it not arrived in my mailbox, I would have never given it a chance. Give it a chance.

Now if you'll excuse me, I sort of want to read this all over again or drive it over to Megan's house so she can read it immediately...that's how much I loved it.

Ms Maia, I am blown away by your debut novel and cannot wait to read more of your work in the future!

Cover Reveal: The Collector by Victoria Scott

2012-06-01T00:01:00.000-04:00

The Collector by Victoria Scott is coming in March 2013 from Entangled Press

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple, weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal opportunity collector and doesn’t want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within 10 days.

Dante doesn’t know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky, Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect—he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector, and uncover emotions deeply buried.

About the Author:

Victoria Scott is a YA writer with a die-hard affection for dark and humorous books. Her work is represented by the fabulous Laurie McLean of Larsen-Pomada literary agency. She has a master’s degree in marketing, and is a member of the Writers’ League of Texas and Teen Shiver.

Her first YA book, THE COLLECTOR, will be published by Entangled Teen in 2013. And her short story, FOUR HOUSES, is available now through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

She currently lives in Dallas with her husband, Ryan.

Connect with Victoria:
Website l Twitter l Facebook
Add The Collector to your TBR pile on Goodreads!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

2012-05-28T14:07:00.002-04:00

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is hosted by Book Journey!

It's a great way to share what you read the past week, what you are currently reading, and what you plan to read next!

Just Finished:

Currently Reading:

(audio)

Up Next:

(audio)

Blog Tour: Guest Post by Arise author Tara Hudson

2012-05-26T09:15:00.000-04:00

Today I would like to welcome Tara Hudson to Hooked to Books as part of a blog tour hosted by Mundie Moms! Tara has been awesome enough to write up a guest post about her five favorite YA/middle grade novels she had while growing up.

Thanks for stopping by Tara!

****

When I was a preteen and teen, YA hadn’t really become a wildly popular subgenre yet. But lucky for me, there were some early, pretty outstanding YA and MG authors out there to guide my path! Here are my top 5 favorite YA/MG authors from my childhood.

5. R.L. Stine – First of all, my maiden name was Stine, so I was pretty convinced that I had some cosmic connection to this guy.  Also, he wrote such dark, fun, easily consumable stories that I started to find myself fascinated with an entirely different subgenre: horror.

4. Zilpha Keatley Snyder – It is an absolute shame if ya’ll aren’t familiar with this woman. Her books rocked my world, mostly because they combined contemporary settings with slightly spooky elements. (Ex. Potentially cursed Egyptian artifacts, bewitched animals, etc.) She also created believably flawed young characters – not an easy task. Try out THE EGYPT GAME. Trust me.

3. Joan Aiken – Her children’s books were so atmospheric, so deliciously gothic, that I couldn’t help but get lost in them. I wanted to move into THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE and fight sinister English caretakers right along with her heroines.

2. Christopher Pike – Much like Mr. Stine, Christopher Pike introduced me to horror. But he also introduced me to a world where adult writers didn’t talk down to their audience. They assumed that young adults could handle a good scare – even a particularly disturbing one.

1. Ray Bradbury – Although Bradbury is traditionally considered a Sci-Fi writer, a lot of his work dips into childhood issues , too. SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES terrified me…in the best possible way.

****

CODE WORD: I'm

Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

2012-05-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

Insurgent (Divergent #2)
Veronica Roth
Publish Date: May 1, 2012
Harper Teen
Purchased Copy
Reviewed by Mandi

One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.
"New York Times" bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian "Divergent" series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature. -Goodreads

I was so excited for this book to come out. I absolutely LOVED Divergent and I REALLY enjoyed this book as well! The book picked up immediately after Divergent, which I loved because that means you didn't miss anything. The only bad thing was that I hadn't read Divergent for a year so I forgot who a lot of the secondary characters were and forgot some of what actually happened in Divergent. Lucky for us, Veronica Roth posted a blog giving the back history of the characters and a refresher on who was who and what had happened. I do admit, I had to refer to the blog post a few times while reading the book because some of the characters ran together a bit and I had a hard time keeping them straight. This might had been more due to me reading it fast because I was so anxious to see what happened then due to the story/her writing.

The story picks up with Tris, Four and some of the others are on their way to Amity to take refuge from the Erudite and the Dauntless (Tris and Four's faction that were used by the Erudite to wage a war on the Abnegation, Tris' old faction, the one her mother and father were still a part of). You find Tris trying to come to grips with losing her mother and father and also dealing with shooting and killing one of her best friends, Will, when he was being controlled by the mind controlling serum. She really is more like a lost child in this book. She is reckless and has no regard for her life, which makes Four (Tobias is his real name, but he goes by Four because he only has 4 fears when put into the fear simulation used at the Dauntless compound for initiations) really, really mad at her. In all honesty, I got frustrated with her myself, I wanted to reach through the book and shake her to make her snap out of it. The book follows Tris as she comes to terms with who she is as she fights to uncover the secret of the Abnegation. The secret that caused the Erudite to start a war just to keep it hidden. A secret that can change everything they know to be true.

This is a must read if you read and loved Divergent. I am already anxiously awaiting Book 3 and can not wait to see how this story ends!

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