A Passion for Books

YA Buzz

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:16:00 PDT

New Book Summaries

Survive by Alex Morel
Releases: August 2, 2012 by Razorbill

Jane runs away from Life House, a facility for kids with mental health disorders and addictions. She boards a plane to Montclair, New Jersey, though her destination does not matter—she doesn’t plan to be alive when the plane lands. Jane has planned the perfect suicide: she’ll fall asleep on the plane and never wake up. As she’s reaching for her pills in the cabin’s bathroom, the plane hits turbulence. Another jolt, and the engine’s down. The plane crashes into the mountains of Montana, and Jane and a boy named Paul are the only two survivors.

What starts out as a death mission quickly becomes a fight for life.

Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield
Releases: May 10, 2012 by Razorbill

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.

Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life by Tara Altebrando
Releases: July 5, 2012 by Penguin

Mary Gilhooley lost her spot at Georgetown to self-professed “it” guy, bully, and superjock, Pete Lembo, but she’s not about to lose again. With only a week until graduation—when she and her friends will go their separate ways—there’s one last thing Mary and her friends must do together: participate in the Oyster Point High Official Unofficial Senior Week Scavenger Hunt. And Mary is determined to win. Their all-night adventure is fraught with unforeseen complications, shifting alliances, flared tempers and crushing crushes.

The Vindico by Wesley King
Releases: June 14, 2012 by Putnam

Led by the sinister Baron, the Vindico are a group of super villains who have been fighting against the League of Heroes for as long as they can remember. The Vindico kidnap a group of teenagers and train them to be the next generation. Mysteriously arriving at the Baron’s mansion together, James, Lana, Hayden, Emily and Sam are forced to train with their mentors and given powers beyond their wildest dreams. While struggling to uncover the motives of this evil group, the teens learn to trust each other and even form friendships. They plan to rebel against their mentors as soon as they are deemed ready to fight against the League of Heroes, but then they learn things may not be as cut-and-dry as they seem: both in their new roles and in their outside lives.

The Waiting Sky by Lara Zielin
Releases: August 2, 2012 by Putnam

Seventeen-year-old Jane can’t quite face her mother’s alcoholism even though it sucks to spend all her time and energy keeping them afloat—making sure her mom gets to work, that the bills are paid when there’s money to pay them, and that no one knows her mom is so messed up. But when Jane’s mom drives drunk almost killing both them and Jane’s best friend, Jane can no longer deny her mom is spiraling out of control. Jane has only one place to turn: her older brother Ethan, who left years ago to go to college. A summer away with him and his tornado chasing buddies may just provide the time and space she needs to figure out whether her life still includes her mother.

Dear Blue Sky by Mary Sullivan
Releases: August 2, 2012 by Nancy Paulsen Books

Twelve-year-old Cassie feels like her life is falling apart. Her parents are fighting, her formerly perfect big sister is skipping class, her best friend Sonia won’t speak to her, and her little brother, who has Down syndrome, has stopped speaking altogether. Worst of all, Cassie can’t turn to the one person who usually holds everything together—her beloved big brother, Sef, who’s gone to fight in the Iraq war. In her loneliness Cassie turns to Blue Sky, an Iraqi girl she meets through reading her blog. Blue Sky’s stories about her war-ravaged life reveal a side of the war that Cassie didn’t know existed, and the two girls start a correspondence. While Cassie can’t help Blue Sky or keep Sef safe, she becomes determined to keep her family together.

Small Damages by Beth Kephart
Releases: July 19, 2012 by Philomel

It’s senior year, and while Kenzie should be looking forward to prom and starting college in the fall, she is mourning the loss of her father. She finds solace in the one person she trusts, her boyfriend, and she soon finds herself pregnant. Kenzie’s boyfriend and mother do not understand her determination to keep the baby. She is sent to southern Spain for the summer, where she will live out her pregnancy as a cook’s assistant on a bull ranch, and her baby will be adopted by a Spanish couple.

Alone and resentful in a foreign country, Kenzie is at first sullen and difficult. She begins to open her eyes and her heart to the beauty that is all around her and inside of her.

Beauty by Lisa Daily
Releases: May 10, 2012 by Penguin Young Readers

When we first meet Molly, she is plain, shy, and practically invisible to most of her fellow high school students. Hudson, the boy she cannot help but like, is handsome and popular. One day at a town carnival, Molly stumbles across an eccentric artist who offers to sketch her portrait. Thinking aloud, she wishes she was the most beautiful girl in the world. The following day, Molly gets her wish. All the guys at school are vying for her affection. Best of all, Hudson’s finally noticing her. As Molly’s relationship with Hudson heats up, violence threatens to erupt among the guys of their high school, and the newfound attention threatens to destroy the relationships she values.

Dangerous Boy by Mandy Hubbard
Releases: August 2012 by Razorbill

Harper could care less about being popular—she'd rather have fun. She's definitely not worried about falling in love, something Harper is skeptical even exists. Besides, she's too busy with lab experiments. But everything changes when Logan moves to town. He’s charming, rich, and gorgeous. The two tumble into an intense romance. Then Harper meets Logan’s twin brother Caleb, who is everything Logan is not. He’s creepy, rude and sometimes malicious.

This is a modern, high-school retelling of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Playground by 50 Cent
Releases: January 1, 2012 by Razorbill

This poignant novel from international icon 50 Cent opens with thirteen-year-old Butterball in the office of a therapist named Liz. She is trying to get him to talk about why he assaulted his former best friend on the playground with a sock full of batteries. Butterball doesn’t have much going for him. He’s teased about his weight. He hates the Long Island suburb his mom moved them to, and he wishes he still lived with his dad in the city. Butterball’s dad is meaner to him than he likes to admit, and his mom is constantly working. Now Butterball is stuck in mandatory therapy sessions with Liz, who tries to uncover just what happened that day on the playground.

Zoe Letting Go by Nora Price
Releases: June 2012 by Razorbill

While at a clinic receiving treatment for anorexia, Zoe is instructed to write letters. Through letters, she tells her mother and brother about the clinic; the doctors, the food, her struggle to get better. But she tells her best friend Elise about the strange goings on around her, the shady relationships, the dark mysteries. When the lights go out, the place turns into someplace else.

While her mother and brother write back, their letters filled with cheerful encouragement—Zoe’s letters to Elise remain unanswered. As Zoe struggles to understand why her best friend would cut her off, she must unravel the secrets that surround her in the clinic.

The Girl With Borrowed Wings by Rinsai Rossetti
Releases: July 19, 2012 by Penguin

Every aspect of sixteen-year-old Frenenqer Paje’s life is controlled by her father and restricted by the desert, where each day is tediously the same. For as long as Frenenqer can remember, she’s dreamed of having wings to escape. Then a small act of rebellion explodes her world, and she meets Sangris. A boy, but not just a boy—a Free person, a winged person, a shape-shifter. He has everything Frenenqer doesn't—no family, no attachments, no troubles, no nothing. He's free. And he wants Frenenqer. When the delicate balance of their friendship threatens to rupture into something more, Frenenqer must confront her isolation, her father and her very sense of identity.

Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglein
Releases: July 24, 2012 by Putnam Juvenile

Sara Jane Rispoli is just a normal sixteen-year-old girl coping with school and a developing crush— until her parents and younger brother are kidnapped, and she discovers her family has been a key figure of Chicago’s Outfit (aka the mob) for decades. Her father, grandfather and great grandfather all used their special ability, cold fury, to settle disputes between the two mob factions—the muscle and the money. And unless Sara wants the mob to think her now missing family has turned state’s evidence, she will have to fill her father’s shoes as the mob’s peacemaker, using her own cold fury.

Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl
Releases: June 2012 by Viking Children's Books

Seventeen-year-old Althea is the sole support of her widowed mother, young half-brother, and two stepsisters—and she must maintain Crawley Hall. Althea, in short, must marry well. But there are few wealthy suitors—or suitors of any kind—in their small Yorkshire town of Lesser Hoo. Then Lord Boring comes to stay with his aunt and uncle. Althea sets her cap to become Lady Boring. There’s only one problem; his friend and business manager Mr. Fredericks keeps getting in the way. And, as it turns out, Fredericks has set his own cap.

New Covers

Fated by Sarah Alderson

*Jan. 12, 2012 by Simon & Schuster*

Touched by Cyn Balog

*Aug. 14, 2012 by Delacorte Press*

Gilt by Katherine Longshore

*May 15, 2012 by Viking Juvenile*

Timepiece by Myra McEntire (Hourglass #2)

*June 12, 2012 by Egmont USA*

Until I Die by Amy Plum (Revenants #2)

*May 3, 2012*

Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield

*May 10, 2012 by Penguin*

Shadow Bound by Rachel Vincent (Unbound #2)

*June 1, 2012 by Mira*

Waiting by Carol Lynch Williams

*May 1, 2012 by Simon & Schuster

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

* Jan. 10, 2012 by Dutton*

Never Enough by Denise Jaden

*July 10, 2012 by Simon Pulse*

The Lifeguard by Deborah Blumenthal

*March 1, 2012*

Dark Storm by Sarah Singleton

*March 2012 by Simon & Schuster*

The Princesses of Iowa by M. Molly Backes

*May 8, 2012 by Candlewick*

Don't You Wish by Roxanne St. Claire

*July 10, 2012 by Delacorte*

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

*2012 by Dial*

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

*April 24, 2012 by Harper Collins*

Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson

*Feb. 2, 2012 by Penguin*

My Family for the War by Anne G. Voorhoere

*Feb. 16, 2012 by Dial*

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

Hardback Version

Paperback Version

In My Mailbox (48)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 06:33:00 PDT

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren

Dark Days of Fall Tour

Fateful by Claudia Gray

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Bought

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Matched by Ally Condie

Library

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

Stay With Me by Paul Griffin

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

YA Buzz

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 07:33:00 PDT

News

Lauren Myracle's novel Shine was nominated as a National Book Award nominee.Then she wasn't. Then she was. Wednesday, Myracle withdrew her name from the finalists for the 2011 National Book Awards for Young People's Literature. The National Book Foundation claimed Shine became a finalist by mistake.

More articles:

'Shine' Withdrawn as NBA Young People's Literature Nominee

Oops! National Book Foundation Unveils Six YA Finalists

This Week in Clusterfuck, brought to you by the NBA by Libba Bray

Book award nominee withdraws

Vanity Fair interview Lauren Myracle about the mixup

Myracle wrote a post, How I Was Un-nominated For The National Book Award, at the Huffington Post.

Dutton Children's Books acquired rights to two new novels, Just One Day and Just One Year, by Gayle Forman, author of If I Stay and Where She Went. "Forman asks two questions in these companion books: the first probes whether two people can fall in love in a single day, and the second asks whether someone can become a new person over the course of a single year" (publishersweekly.com). Just One Day scheduled for spring 2013, and Just One Year is scheduled for spring 2014.

New Covers

What She Left Behind by Tracy Bilen

*2012 by Simon Pulse*

Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear

*August 8, 2012 by Flux*

Revived by Cat Patrick

*May 8, 2012 by Little Brown*

Immortal City by Scott Speer

*April 2012 by Razorbill*

Darkness Falls by Cate Tiernan (Immortal Beloved #2)

*January 2, 2012 by Little Brown*

Flirting in Italian by Lauren Henderson

*June 12, 2012 by Delacorte*
Keep Holding On by Susan Colasanti
*June 14, 2012 by Viking Juvenile*

Book Trailers

Legend by Marie Lu (Nov 29, 2011)

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Fateful by Claudia Gray

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Eve by Anna Carey

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey

Dark Days of Fall Signing!

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Last Sunday I traveled the three and a half hour drive to Naperville, IL to attend the Dark Days of Fall tour. I haven't been to too many author signings and to attend an event with not one, but four authors was a big deal for me!

I really enjoyed meeting Claudia Gray (Evernight, Stargazer, Hourglass, Afterlife, Fateful), Kiersten White (Paranormalcy & Supernaturally), Amy Garvey (Cold Kiss), and Jocelyn Davies (A Beautiful Dark). They are all wonderful and hilarious ladies. I loved having the opportunity to chat with them about random things and get my books signed.

Claudia Gray, me, and Kiersten White

Anderson's Bookshop did a fantastic job hosting this signing. I had put some books for the signing on hold to pick up at the store and when I arrived they didn't have my books. I was a little disappointed, but luckily they had some extra copies on the shelf I was able to grab. Other than not having the books I put on hold a few days before the signing, I had a great experience at Anderson's Bookshop and will definitely attend more signings they host.

A few girls had asked each author a variety of questions pertaining to writing, publishing, and personal experiences. I love this aspect in a signing because it is always fun to learn some new interesting things about an author.

Amy Garvey, me, and Jocelyn Davies

my signed books!!

I had an awesome time! I thought I would share some footage of the authors reading from their newly released novels. Enjoy!

Waiting on Wednesday (48)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 07:06:00 PDT

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams

Releases: January 3, 2012

Seraphina’s first love made her immortal…her second might get her killed.Incarnation is a new series that introduces a fresh mythology perfect for fans of bestselling series like The Immortals by Alyson Noel and Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

After spending six hundred years on earth, Seraphina Ames has seen it all. Eternal life provides her with the world’s riches, but at a very high price: innocent lives. Centuries ago, her boyfriend, Cyrus, discovered a method of alchemy that allows them to swap bodies with other humans, jumping from one vessel to the next, taking the human’s life in the process. No longer able to bear the guilt of what she’s done, Sera escapes from Cyrus and vows to never kill again.

Then sixteen-year-old Kailey Morgan gets into a horrific car accident right in front of her, and Sera accidentally takes over her body. For the first time, Sera finds herself enjoying the life of the person she’s inhabiting—and falls for the human boy who lives next door. But Cyrus will stop at nothing until she’s his again, and every moment she stays, she’s putting herself and the people she’s grown to care for in great danger. Will Sera have to give up the one thing that’s eluded her for centuries: true love?

Goodreads

What are you waiting on?

In My Mailbox (47)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren

Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver
Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton
The Gathering by Kelly Armstrong
Possess by Gretchen McNeil

YA Buzz

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

New Covers

Black Dawn by Rachel Caine (The Morganville Vampires #12)
*May 1, 2012 by NAL*
Bitterblue by Kristen Cashore (The Seven Kingdoms #3)
*May 1, 2012 by Dial*
Blackout by Mira Grant (Newsflesh Trilogy, #3)
*June 7, 2012 by Orbit*

Hemlock by Kathleen Peacock
*2012 by Katherine Tegen Books*
Starters by Lissa Price
*March 13, 2012 by Delacorte*
Above World by Jenn Reese
*February 14, 2012 by Candlewick Press*

The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams
*January 3, 2012 by Simon & Schuster*
On a Dark Wing by Jordan Dane
*December 27, 2011 by Harlequin Teen*
Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake (Anna Dressed in Blood #2)
*2012 by Tor Teen*

Forgiven by Jana Oliver (The Demon Trappers #3)
*2012*
The Book of Blood and Shadow by Robin Wasserman
*January 10, 2012 by Random House*
The Savage Grace by Bree Despain (The Dark Divine #3)
*March 13, 2012 by EgmontUSA*

37 Things I Love (in no particular order) by Kekla Magoon
*May 22, 2012 by Henry Holt and Co.*
The Difference Between You and Me by Madeleine George
*March 15, 2012 by Viking Juvenile*

Clockwork Prince Masquerade Ball Teaser

___________________________________________________

Not much this week except a bunch of gorgeous covers. I especially LOVE the cover for Girl of Nightmares and The Alchemy of Forever. What do you think? Which one's do you like the best?

Author Interview: Courtney K. Walker

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Courtney K. Walker
Website / Goodreads

Books:

On the Fringe

Claire is struggling to overcome the murder of her childhood friend and secret crush, Daniel. Everyone else seems to be moving on with their lives, but she's still trying to cope. The fact that she finds herself alone and drowning on her 16th birthday isn't helping.

Neither is thinking she sees Daniel's face in murky water as she mysteriously resurfaces. But something happened during those four and a half minutes that will make her realize it was not just her imagination.

As Claire and Daniel try to grasp a possible reconnection, other grudge-holding beings have plans of their own. Now, the two of them have to decide if their fleeting relationship is worth the possibility of Claire being trapped on the fringe forever.

Beautifully told, On the Fringe intertwines fresh ideas about devotion, revenge, and the consequences that come with life and death.

Describe your book in 5 words or less.

Like going home.

How did the idea of On The Fringe come to you?

My then 12-year-old son and I brainstormed one summer afternoon, trying to come up with a fun paranormal story that he would like to read. Ghosts sounded most interesting…the idea of death separating two friends who never had the chance to explore anything beyond friendship.

The cover is gorgeous! What was your reaction when seeing it for the first time?

Thank you! I love it, too. My first reaction to Elena Kalis’ underwater photo was: I love how it captures a critical scene in the book, as well as the mood of the entire story. It feels beautiful and innocent, with the blues and pinks melting together, yet completely frightening at the way her body is sinking.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time as a writer?

Just to tell a great story that readers can connect to, and maybe even ask a few questions about themselves.

Quick! Can you share 5 random things about yourself?

I love baked goods. I’m claustrophobic. I wish I could cry more easily because I feel like a major disappointment. I had to get knee surgery after tearing my meniscus while playing Dance Dance Revolution on the X-box. I compose music.

If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what book would you choose? Why?

Impossible! That would be a very sad life.

If you could be anything in the world, what would you be? Why?

How about someone who could eat whatever she wants without any consequences and not wimp out when her husband takes her mountain biking?

Is there anything you would like to tell your readers?

What I’ve been learning through this process of writing On the Fringe: We are all connected, whether we realize it or not, whether we want to be or not.

Thanks Courtney for stopping by!!

____________________________________________________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

COURTNEY K. WALKER grew up in Walnut Creek, California, and with her siblings built rocket ships and rafts out of cardboard, determined to make it to both the moon and Niagara Falls. But a trip across the border to Tijuana was as exciting as it ever got.

After being banned from the kitchen after a few too many catastrophes, she discovered a love for writing, music and art. Eventually she decided on graphic design for a career, and earned her BFA from Brigham Young University.

After residing in St. Louis, Chicago and San Francisco, Courtney now lives in Salt Lake City with her husband and four children. She has yet to make it to Niagara Falls, but did give up on her quest to go to the moon...at least in a cardboard box.

Waiting on Wednesday (47)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 PDT

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Release Date: January 3, 2012

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Goodreads / Amazon

What are you waiting on?

Author Interview: Jennifer L. Armentrout

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:00:00 PDT

Jennifer L. Armentrout
Website / Blog / Twitter

Books:

Half-Blood
Pure (April 2, 2012)
Deity (November 6, 2012)

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

Describe your book in 5 words or less.

The gods made a big mistake.

What has your road to publication been like?

I think it was fairly common. I started off completely naive about it. Wrote a book (the 1st draft of Half-Blood) and thought now I must go query. I learned that the first draft is not want you to try to get published. After several rewrites and revisions, I really started querying. Fielded rejections and requests right up until I was offered a contract for Half-Blood. By that time I'd already written two more books. Started writing Half-Blood in 2008 if that gives you an idea of how long it took.

The cover is gorgeous! What was your reaction when seeing it for the first time?

Thank you! I was really happy to see something so different from what we see on YA covers. I was really excited. And the cover actually plays into the book, so that makes me happy.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time as a writer?

That's such a hard question. I guess I hope to immerse readers in my own imagination, for them to be able to forget about things going on and live through my characters. That alone makes writing worth it.

What's something surprising about yourself that most people wouldn't think was true?

That I was a double major in college, Psychology and Sociology with a criminal justice track. Yeah, don't ask how I started writing YA Paranormal. I have no clue.

If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what book would you choose? Why?

Oh man, that's a tough one. I don't know if I could just pick one book. I guess a Soul Screamer novel. Preferably the new one.

Is there anything you would like to tell your readers?

Thank you so much for giving Half-Blood a chance. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it!

Thanks Jennifer for stopping by!!

Thanks for having me, Casey!

__________________________________________________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT lives in West Virginia. All the rumors you heard about her state aren’t true. Well, mostly.

When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write. She shares her home with her husband, his K-9 partner named Diesel, her hyper Jack Russell Loki, and her pet turtle called Michelangelo. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent her time writing short stories. Therefore explains her dismal grades in math.

She writes Adult and Young Adult Urban Fantasy and Romance. Half-Blood, the first book in a planned series, is her debut novel and is available October 2011.

In My Mailbox (46)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 13:30:00 PDT

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

If I Tell by Janet Gurtler

I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler

How to Save a Life by Sarah Zarr

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

Hourglass by Claudia Gray

North of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headley

Passion by Lauren Kate

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

Ten Ways to be Adored When Landing a Lore by Sarah MacLean

me and my daughter, Kaylee

Author Interview: Stasia Kehoe

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 06:54:00 PDT

Stasia Kehoe
Website / Blog / Twitter

Books:

Audition

When high school junior Sara wins a coveted scholarship to study ballet, she must sacrifice everything for her new life as a professional dancer-in-training. Living in a strange city with a host family, she's deeply lonely-until she falls into the arms of Remington, a choreographer in his early twenties. At first, she loves being Rem's muse, but as she discovers a surprising passion for writing, she begins to question whether she's chosen the right path. Is Rem using her, or is it the other way around? And is dancing still her dream, or does she need something more? This debut novel in verse is as intense and romantic as it is eloquent.

Describe your book in 5 words or less.

The audition is only the first step... (Okay, that's seven words. Sorry. Hard question!)

What has your road to publication been like?

When I tell the short-form of the story--queried short-list of agents on a Monday, had four offers of representation within a week, agent with whom I signed sold my book in four days--people tell me that my road to publication has been ridiculously easy. The long-form involves decades of writing my own fiction at night while working by day for trade publishers, including Random House and currently Simon & Schuster. It involves attending many SCBWI conferences, joining critique groups, taking playwriting classes (highly recommend these for honing dialogue), and writing countless manuscripts that will never see the light of day. I think the first turning point for my writing came when I really began to grasp the concept of revision and found the discipline to stick with one story through MANY drafts. The second turning point was summoning up the courage to submit stuff. So, you know, my journey took two weeks plus twenty years!

The cover is gorgeous! What was your reaction when seeing it for the first time?

Before the book design process began, I had been living with Sara and Remington for a long time, watching them dance in my imagination. So that first moment of seeing a photograph of ACTUAL PEOPLE was very surreal. Honestly, the guy on the cover was much hotter than the Rem I envisioned (seriously, where did they find him?)! Once I caught my breath, though, I really liked the cover--especially the tension between the two characters and the way the designer floated bits of verse behind the photographic image.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time as a writer?

All I hope is that I have the opportunity to write more novels and that I give the process my best effort every day. The rest of it, honestly, is out of my hands.

What's something surprising about yourself that most people wouldn't think was true?

As a teen, I proclaimed that I would never marry, never have kids, and would live only for art. My husband and I just celebrated our nineteenth wedding anniversary surrounded by our four awesome kids, so I imagine folks who know me now would find this surprising. Lesson: Stay open-minded about your future and if a cute guy from your acting class invites you out for a drink, prepare to revise proclamations!

If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what book would you choose? Why?

I love to read plays, so I would choose Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw. Its theme--the relationship between artist and subject--fascinates me. It is one of the things I wanted to explore in AUDITION. I think it's cool that Shaw wrote a bunch of different endings to Pygmalion (as a now-chronic reviser, I totally get that). The play was also made into a musical, My Fair Lady, so (if no one's around to listen) I can sing the story, too!

Is there anything you would like to tell your readers?

For me, a novel comes to life in the interaction between writer and reader. The journey from the printed page through the eyes (or ears or fingertips) to the brain is eternally individual, unique and special. The narrative is a product of my words and the reader's personal experience. So, thank you for all that you bring to Audition by reading it!

Thanks Stasia!!

______________________________________________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

STASIA WARD KEHOE grew up dancing and performing on stages from New Hampshire to Washington, DC. She now writes books for young adults and choreographs the occasional musical.

APPEARANCES

OCTOBER 13 from 8:30 - 10 PM
Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Nightcapper Event
Holiday Inn Portland Airport, Portland, OR

OCTOBER 18 at 6 PM
AUDITION Launch Party at B&N Woodinville, WA!

OCTOBER 20 at 5 PM
Stages on Pages Book Tour Kicks off its California at Mrs. Nelson's Book & Toy Shop, La Verne, CA

October 22 at 2 PM
Stages on Pages Book Tour stops at Barnes & Noble Manhattan Beach, CA

OCTOBER 23 at 2 PM
Stages on Pages Book Tour stops at Vroman's Bookstore, Pasadena, CA

OCTOBER 26 at 7 PM
SCBWI Fall Inside Story at Sunset Hill Community Association, Ballard, WA
Meet lots of Western Washington authors and learn the stories behind their books!

November 3 at 7 PM
Stages on Pages touches down in the Pacific NW at The Secret Garden Bookshop, Seattle, WA

November 4 at 4 PM
Stages on Pages Book Tour stops at Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA

November 5 at 4 PM
Stages on Pages Book Tour stops at Orca Books, Olympia, WA

November 6 at 2 PM
Stages on Pages Book Tour stops at A Children's Place Bookstore in Portland, OR

November 10 at 6 PM
Stages on Pages Book Tour stops at Books of Wonder, New York, NY

November 11 at 4 pm
Stages on Pages Book Tour stops at The Voracious Reader, Larchmont, NY

November 12
Stages on Pages Book Tour stops at Dolphin Bookshop, Port Washington, NY

November 13 at 4 PM
Stages on Pages Book Tour stops at Oblong Books & Music, Rhinebeck, NY

November 15
Gibson's Bookstore, Concord, NY, with Rosanne Parry

Author Interview: Mike Mullin

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 06:55:00 PDT

Mike Mullin
Website / Blog / Twitter

Books:

Ashfall

Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.

Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.

Describe your book in 5 words or less.

Alex seeks family after supervolcano.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given about your writing?

The most helpful advice I’ve received accompanied an agent’s rejection of ASHFALL. Here’s a taste, “The tone of the book doesn’t seem to match the horror of the details you’re conveying. Even when things are at their bleakest, the tension doesn’t seem to fully ratchet up,” Jim McCarthy, Dystel & Goderich. Literary agents don’t owe unpublished writers anything. There’s no upside to offering this kind of useful criticism and a lot of downside. I’m still grateful to Jim for his generous advice—so much so that I mention him in the acknowledgements, and I named a (nice) character in his honor. If you’ve got an awesome manuscript, I recommend putting him at the top of your query list.

If Ashfall had a theme song, what would it be?

Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture played in reverse through a mixer that changes the tempo randomly throughout. It starts with a bang, ends in a sorrowful dirge (but with a note of hope), and in between it’s chaotic, scary, and sublime.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time as a writer?

I’d like to give my readers the gift that Heinlein, Asimov, Cormier, Blume, and Peck gave me: A few hours of diversion in a childhood that was sometimes kind of shitty. The opportunity to live other lives vicariously through their writing. A few new thoughts, and lots of familiar feelings.

Quick! Can you share 5 random things about yourself?

Five fun facts about me:
1. I keep a pet alligator in the guestroom bathtub. It’s really friendly with my wife’s three cats.
2. I earned a black belt in Songahm Taekwondo in April.
3. The broken arm I got in fourth grade was caused by an unfortunate run-in with a grizzly bear.
4. I shelve my books in binary. You can find The Story of Edgar Sawtelle under 010110100101010.
5. I’m not entirely sure what the word “fact” means, but I’ve got fun down to an art.

If you could travel back in time, what time and place would you choose? And if you can only take 3 things with you, what would you take?

Do I dare go all the way back to the Cretaceous Period? I guess I’d have to. The opportunity to see live dinosaurs, even if only briefly, would be too tempting to pass up.

What would I bring?
1. My brother-in-law. He’s a Sergeant Major, 3rd degree karate black belt, and explosives expert.
2. My father-in-law. I’m pretty sure I could outrun him, so he’d get eaten first.
3. A survival kit. Yep, I cheated there. Neener-neener.

If you have the chance to give one piece of valuable advice to your readers, what would it be?

Everything is temporary. If you’re feeling depressed, it will pass. If you’re feeling on-top-of-the-world, that will pass too. Live like you mean it.

Thanks Mike!!

___________________________________________________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MIKE MULLIN’s first job was scraping the gum off the undersides of desks at his high school. From there, things went steadily downhill. He almost got fired by the owner of a bookstore due to his poor taste in earrings. He worked at a place that showed slides of poopy diapers during lunch (it did cut down on the cafeteria budget). The hazing process at the next company included eating live termites raised by the resident entomologist, so that didn’t last long either. For a while Mike juggled bottles at a wine shop, sometimes to disastrous effect. Oh, and then there was the job where swarms of wasps occasionally tried to chase him off ladders. So he’s really hoping this writing thing works out.

Mike holds a black belt in Songahm Taekwondo. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and her three cats. ASHFALL is his first novel.

YA Buzz

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 07:10:00 PDT

New Covers

Crazy by Amy Reed

All These Lives by Sarah Wylie

The Darkest Seduction by Gena Showalter (Lords of the Underworld #9)

Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham

Last Rite by Lisa Desrochers (Personal Demons #3)

Clarity by Kim Harrington (Hardcover version)

Clarity by Kim Harrington (Paperback version)

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton (Hardback version)

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton (Paperback version)

Book Trailers

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa (sneak peek)

On the Fringe by Courtney King Walker

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Audition by Stasia Ward Kehoe

Anna Dressed in Black by Kendare Blake

Banned Books Week: Crank

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:08:00 PDT

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina -- she's fearless.
Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul -- her life.

Reasons for being banned/challenged: drugs, offensive, language, and sexually explicit

Ellen Hopkins is one of my favorite authors because of her strong voice and realistic novels. Yes her novels do contain some mature content, but what people don't understand is that it only makes readers aware of these issues, not force them to participate. People need to be more worried in what their children learn from school rather than from what they are reading.

Crank is about a a drug called crank, also known as crystal meth. This novel is extremely truthful and gives some major insight on the damage it can do. There are people in this world who have turned to drugs as a means of escape, but don't realize that something so small can turn a life upside down very quickly. Reading a novel like Crank didn't make me want to go out and try it, instead it made me more aware and no for sure that this isn't something to be messed with!!

Author Event: Sarah Ockler

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:51:00 PDT

When I heard that an author event would be happening so close to my home, I was very excited! Yesterday I headed down to the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library in Indianapolis, IN to hear Sarah Ockler speak about her novel, Twenty Boy Summer, and its recent banning from a school district in Missouri.

As I picked a random seat to sit in, it so happened to be right behind author Saundra Mitchell, who I met at her launch party for The Vespertine back in April, and Mike Mullin, author of the debut novel Ashfall. It was such a blast to chat with the two before the event began. They both had me cracking up!

Sarah spoke about how she got started in writing, which was very interesting to me. She also spoke about her thoughts toward her novel being banned along with Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five from the school district in Republic, Missouri.

I had the pleasure of talking with Sarah, Mike, and Saundra a little more after the presentation had ended, which was awesome!

I has a such great time! Here are some pictures from the event:

Me and Sarah Ockler

Me and Mike Mullin

me with Mike Mullin, Saundra Mitchell, and Sarah Ockler

Waiting on Wednesday (46)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:46:00 PDT

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Release Date: November 1, 2011

Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everday people into hunters, killers, crazies.

Mason's mother is dying after a terrible car accident. As he endures a last vigil at her hospital bed, his school is bombed and razed to the ground, and everyone he knows is killed. Aries survives an earthquake aftershock on a bus, and thinks the worst is over when a mysterious stranger pulls her out of the wreckage, but she’s about to discover a world changed forever. Clementine, the only survivor of an emergency town hall meeting that descends into murderous chaos, is on the run from savage strangers who used to be her friends and neighbors. And Michael witnesses a brutal road rage incident that is made much worse by the arrival of the police--who gun down the guilty party and then turn on the bystanding crowd.

Where do you go for justice when even the lawmakers have turned bad? These four teens are on the same road in a world gone mad. Struggling to survive, clinging on to love and meaning wherever it can be found, this is a journey into the heart of darkness – but also a journey to find each other and a place of safety.

______________________________________________

This sounds so creepy and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy! I don't normally watch book trailers, but the trailer for Dark Inside just made me want the book more, so I thought I would share it with you guys.

What are you waiting on?!

Banned Books Week: The Hunger Games

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:52:00 PDT

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Reasons for being banned / challenged: sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, and violence.

This series is one of my favorite and I can't believe it was banned. Why does it seem as though all the good books are being banned?!

Banned Books Week: Twenty Boy Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

"Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?"
"Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?"

According to Anna’s best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie–she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.

Reasons for being banned/challenged: Twenty Boy Summer was banned from Republic, Missouri School district and Superintendent Vern Minor's reason was: "...focused on “sensationalizing sexual promiscuity.” He said questionable language, drunkenness, lying to parents and a lack of remorse by the characters led to the recommendation."

I'm big on reading about real issues and feel that people should read more realistic fiction too. But to ban a book for its realism is basically burying an issue and acting as though issues like teen sex, drugs, offensive language, drinking, and so on doesn't exist. Well guess what, it does and in my opinion, having authors who choose to write about those real issues others would rather not acknowledge is fantastic. I for one am extremely grateful for authors like Sarah Ockler!

Sarah gives her two cents about being banned.

Sarah Ockler will also be giving some presentations during Banned Books Week:

Indianapolis Details:

Tuesday, September 27 @ Noon
Presentation and book signing at the Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library on. The event is free and open to the public
Kurt Vonnegut Memorial Library
The Emelie Building
340 N. Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Springfield Details:

Friday, September 30, 7:00 PM
Author talk and book signing
The Library Center
4653 South Campbell
Springfield, Missouri 65810-1723

Saturday, October 1, 12:00 PM
Read-out!
The Library Station
2535 North Kansas Expressway
Springfield, Missouri 65803-1184

Saturday, October 1, 4:00 PM
Read-out!
The Library Center
4653 South Campbell
Springfield, Missouri 65810-1723

Saturday, October 1, 5:00 PM
Banned books discussion panel
The Library Center
4653 South Campbell
Springfield, Missouri 65810-1723

In My Mailbox (45)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 10:53:00 PDT

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren

BOUGHT: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

WON: Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff

What did you get in your mailbox?

Banned Books Week!

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 10:45:00 PDT

Today marks the start of Banned Book Week! This week my posts will be focusing on banned/challenged books and authors.

I strongly feel a book should NEVER be kept from anyone's hand. On one hand, I do understand as a parent to have the right to choose what content my child reads, but on the other hand, I believe no one has the right to tell me what I can and can't read. I make those choices for myself! I, along with every other passionate reader out there, read to escape, to be entertained, to find themselves, or to expand their knowledge. Each person has their own reasons for reading, and therefore has the right to read whatever they want. If someone doesn't like a book because of its content - religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, violence, drugs, or offensive language - then don't read it, but do not try to silence an author's voice!

Everyone has the right to choose what they want to read! Some of these banned books and continuously challenged authors do have some mature content in their novels, but I don't feel it should be silence. For example, Ellen Hopkins' novel Crank has been on ALA Top 10 Most Frequently Challenged Books list. She is one of my favorite authors because she speaks about realistic issues. I feel people can learn so much from her novels. People should be more worried about the content their children are learning from school or everyday life in general. What kids, and even adults, hear and see on a day-to-day basis is worse than what's in some of these challenged books. In my opinion, no book should be challenged over something that people are already exposed to everyday.

Author's have the right to express themselves however they choose! I appreciate all authors and their strong voices. I feel banning a book is taking away someone's freedom to express themselves and that just makes me mad...America is a free country and people can make their own choices. And I choose to read whatever I want, including Banned Books!!

Patch and You Story!!

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 07:22:00 PDT

Check out this cool feature for the Silence. You can now be part of the Hush, Hush saga!

Waiting on Wednesday (45)

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 07:16:00 PDT

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event, hosted by Jill from Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Crazy by Amy Reed

Release Date: June 12, 2012

Connor knows that Izzy will never fall in love with him the way he’s fallen for her. But somehow he’s been let into her crazy, exhilarating world and become her closest confidante. But the closer they get, the more Connor realizes that Izzy’s highs are too high and her lows are too low. And the frenetic energy that makes her shine is starting to push her into a much darker place. As Izzy’s behavior gets increasingly erratic and self-destructive, Connor gets increasingly desperate to stop her from plummeting. He knows he can’t save her from her pain… but what if no one else can?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I Feel As Though Everyone Has Read But Me

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:15:00 PDT

I'm participating again in Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. A top ten list is posted every Tuesday on various topics. To view previous and upcoming topics, visit their Top Ten Tuesday page.

This weeks topic:

Books I Feel As Though Everyone Has Read But Me

Divergent by Veronica Roth

I have heard nothing but how amazing this book is and I'm not quite sure why I haven't read it yet.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

This has been on my wishlist forever and I've been recommended this book so many times that I've lost count.

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

This sounds like such a cute read. I've had this sitting on my bookshelf for a year now. I think it's time I actually pick it up.

Anything by Anna Godbersen

Her books sounds so interesting and the covers are so gorgeous!

Evernight by Claudia Gray

I'm probably the only person out there who hasn't read this series...I haven't heard anything bad about this series and it sounds like my kind of read. I have the first 2 books.

Anything Ellen Hopkins

Well, technically I've read Crank and absolutely fell in love with her writing. I have the majority of her books and not sure why I haven't picked up and devoured the rest of her novels.

The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine

I have the first 4 books sitting on my self...waiting....and waiting....

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Since first hearing the summary, I'd been dying to read it...yet, it sits on my shelf collecting dust...why casey?!

Anything Sarah Dessen

Please tell me I'm not the only one who hasn't read anything by Sarah. I've been wanting to read one of her books for awhile now and I hear nothing but good things about them.

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

I absolutely loved the first 2 novels in the series.

What books are on your list?

Movie Review: Warrior

noreply@blogger.com (Casey) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:41:00 PDT

Release Date: September 9, 2011

Two brothers face the fight of a lifetime - and the wreckage of their broken family - within the brutal, high-stakes world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting in Lionsgate's action/drama, WARRIOR. An ex-Marine haunted by a tragic past, Tommy Riordan returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his father, a recovered alcoholic and his former coach, to train him for an MMA tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport. As Tommy blazes a violent path towards the title prize, his brother, Brendan, a former MMA fighter unable to make ends meet as a public school teacher, returns to the amateur ring to provide for his family. Even though years have passed, recriminations and past betrayals keep Brendan bitterly estranged from both Tommy and his father. But when Brendan's unlikely rise as an underdog sets him on a collision course with Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront the forces that tore them apart, all the while waging the most intense, winner-takes-all battle of their lives.

I don't normally do movie reviews, but I had some strong emotions after watching this movie and I thought I would share them with you.

My brother’s birthday was on September 11th and for his birthday he wanted to go see the movie, Warrior. Considering I have not seen any trailers or heard anything about it, I went into this movie having no idea what it was about. Let me just say that this was one awesome movie and by far one of my favorites.

I practically went through every emotion possible - from angry, sad, to ecstatic - during the duration of the movie. I loved each character for their uniqueness; the main characters had so much depth and realism to them. I felt so much sympathy for each character for many different reasons. The father may not have been the best father figure when the children were young, but it broke my heart to watch the boys threat their father the way they did. Everyone makes mistakes and I truly felt that the father was trying to make an effort to make up for his past mistakes. He lost the respect of his two boys, but I still think he deserved another chance. Tommy was the mysterious younger brother. I didn’t quite have him figured out until three fourths into the movie and even then I wasn’t sure if I was even close to the truth. Brendan was the oldest brother and he was trying to take care of his family. With the treat of losing his home hanging over his head, he enters a fighting completion where the winner takes home five million dollars.

This movie had it all - action, suspense, family issues, betrayal, love, and loss. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. There were times I was angry, there were times I literally jumped out of my seat cheering because I couldn’t contain my excitement any longer, and then there were times I had tears in my eyes. I definitely recommend this movie!