Are you DELIRIOUSLY FALLING?!?

Guys!

If you're a fan of anything LAUREN OLIVER, then become a follower of her first ever FANSITE!!! Which I'm glad to say I'm a part of!!! Now click the button below and DELIRIOUSLY FALL for Lauren Oliver and her books, Delirium and Before I Fall!!!

Read more...

I got into the Desires of the Dead Acknowledgements!!!

WHOOT!

I got into the Desires of the Dead acknowledgments page! Check me out on the fourth paragraph, last sentence!

WHOOT! (x100000000)

It was a complete surprise when I saw my name on there! Kim kept it hush hush and I wasn't even the one who discovered it! My friend, Ena found it when she was flipping through the book! The convo went something like this:

"Dude, you're name is on here...that's so cool...such a coincidence,"

"Really?!? Where?"

"Here," *shows the part*

Cue Reggie's hyperventilation: "AHHHHHHHH!"

"DUDE! WTF?!?"

"DUDE! That's me!"

"It's probably just a coincidence, Reggie,"

"No it isn't! She wrote about the bathtub!"

"..."

"Seriously! I dropped her first book, The Body Finder, in the bathtub!!! It's an inside joke," *feels special*

"Okayyyyyyyy,"

"I'm totally going to show Mrs. Thompson!"

"Dude, you're such a nerd,"

"But, I'm in a book!"

"Exactly."

---End Convo---

Thank you so much to Kim who put me there!!! OMG! I was showing everybody! Me and Justine (my other friend, who looooves TBF) were screaming and doing the happy dance!!!

(Do you like ^this^ picture? I'm such a pro photographer =) JK!)

Read more...

HARRY POTTER IS AWESOME.

The new Harry Potter movie is AWESOME.

Go watch it now.

In my opinion, it's the BEST Harry Potter movie eversofar.

Watch it.

You know you want to.

(I saw it early)

Comment here if you've seen it! I love the awkward dancing scene! You know what I'm talking about =)))

IT IS AMAZING!

Read more...

Author Uncovered: Andrea Cremer (Author Interview)

Books:

• Nightshade
• Wolfsbane
• Bloodrose
  

Website|Buy the Book

---

Author Bio:

Andrea Cremer spent her childhood daydreaming while roaming the forests and lakeshores of Northern Wisconsin. She now lives in Minnesota, but she thinks of her homeland as the “Canadian Shield” rather than the Midwest.

Andrea has always loved writing and has never stopped writing, but she only recently plunged into the deep end of the pool that is professional writing. When she’s not writing, Andrea teaches history at a very nice liberal arts college in St. Paul.

In the little spare time she can find, Andrea stares up at trees, rescues infant rabbits from predatory cats, and invents names for pug puppies with her husband. She has an unfortunate tendency to spill things – white carpets beware!

---

Who is your favorite character from Nightshade?
That’s a really tough question – I’m so deeply attached to the whole pack! If I had to pick one character it would be Ansel. His character is very loosely based on my own little brother, to whom I’m very close. I love Ansel’s giant heart and constant optimism; of all the wolves, he is the most devoted to Calla.

Why did you choose to make Nightshade revolve around the pack and Guardian wolves?
I grew up in the middle of the Chequamegon National Forest in northern Wisconsin. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the country – and I spent my childhood playing deep in the woods, building forts, discovering hidden waterfalls. It was a magical experience, full of wild possibility. Wolves struck me as an essential part of that mysterious and magical wilderness. Unlike most werewolf books out there I wanted to portray wolves as I see them: beautiful, social, and intelligent. The embodiment of freedom.

Calla is a very unique character in Nightshade. Is she based on any real-life person?
Not at all. Calla was the inspiration for Nightshade and she is completely unique. My books start out usually with one scene or one character getting lodged in my mind and refusing to go away. That’s what happened with Calla. I knew there was a girl and I knew she was also a wolf. I also knew she was in trouble, but I wasn’t sure why. The world of Nightshade spun out from the threads of Calla’s plea for help.

Are you Team Ren or Team Shay? Who do you think readers will favor more?
I’m Team Calla. It’s her choice, not mine and I won’t pick sides. EVER. But I will say I love both of them and each boy in his own way would be a good match for Calla. I’ve already had readers for both Team Ren and Team Shay contact me. I understand why both boys have fans – though Ren’s fans are a bit more *ahem* rabid, which kind of makes sense. Ren’s used to that kind of attention and he’s enjoying it. I think Shay’s fans will prove equally loyal though! Shay has always been a bit of a loner, so he’s a little thrown by the changes in his life, including the attention, but I think he likes having fans more than he’d willingly admit.

Personally, what's your opinion or predestined marriage or 'mating'?
Ooh! Big question. Nightshade is in many ways a story about oppression and the struggle for freedom. I think the most important part of life is discovering who you really are – and other people trying to tell you who you are or forcing you to be what they think you should be is a problem. Finding your own way to love is a key part of knowing yourself, your passions, and remaining true to them.

Which character do you resonate most with, in Nightshade?
The character I relate the most to doesn’t actually appear until book 2, WOLFSBANE, and I don’t want to give anything away about that now. Of the NIGHTSHADE wolves I’d say I resonate the most with Ansel – because as I mentioned above, he’s somewhat like my brother and my brother and I are a lot alike.

What was the message that you tried to get across to your readers with Nightshade?
I don’t know that I was trying to communicate a specific message, but there are certain beliefs I hold very close that are at work in Nightshade: Find your own path. Strength comes in many forms. The world isn’t always what you thought it was. History is cool, and vital. Love – real love – matters most.

The premise of Nightshade is quite unique. How did the idea bloom?
Like I said earlier, Calla started it all. The world of Nightshade came as I tried to figure out how someone like Calla, a girl who I knew was incredibly powerful, could be afraid and angry. What was controlling her? Why would she be fighting against her own destiny? I realized that she was facing off with something even more powerful than herself. That’s where my background as a historian came in. I teach early modern history (1500-1800) – a period of immense, violent change in human societies. This is the time of witchhunts, religious warfare, colonization, the Inquistion; all types of cataclysmic social transformation that turned the lives across the globe upside down. The more I thought about Calla I thought about the ways in which wolf warriors and witches could have intertwined lives. The mythology in Nightshade is a blend of history and lore plus new twists I imagined along the way.

What would you have done if you were in Calla's place?
This is a great question, but I’m afraid I can’t answer it without spoilers and I have a strict no spoilers policy. Sorry! I can say that Calla and I are very different people, so I doubt we would make the same choices. I also can’t shift into wolf form at will, which limits my options more than hers!

The cover is very beautiful. Did you have any input in it?
Authors have very little input into their covers, but my editor was amazing about including me in the process from concept to the final version. I’ve loved the cover from start to finish. My editor sent me photos of the model – and she was the perfect Calla, exactly as I’d imagined her. When they told me that Suza Scalora (http://suzascaloraphotography.com) would be doing the cover I was ecstatic. She is remarkably talented. I had the chance to meet Suza when she was in Minneapolis on her own book tour the week after they shot the Nightshade cover. It was so much fun to talk to her about the shoot; she is a lovely person. I’m thrilled with how the cover has turned out; I love the image and the bloody calla lilies. It captures the mood of the book perfectly!

What's the most interesting thing a reader has ever said to you?
I had one reader tell me she has an ARC (one that was distributed at the ALA Midwinter meeting in January) but she still hasn’t read it even though she’s dying to – she just doesn’t think she has the patience to wait for the sequel. I would never have that kind of discipline. When I get I book I’m excited about I have to sit down and read it immediately!

What’s up next for you book-wise?
WOLFSBANE is in copy-edits and will have a release date in the summer of 2011. Right now I’m drafting BLOODROSE, the third book in the Nightshade trilogy, which will be released in spring 2012. After that I’ll be writing a prequel to NIGHTSHADE that is set in the Middle Ages slated for fall 2012. Beyond that there are lots of possibilities. I’m working on a steampunk series set in 19th century North America that I hope will be on bookshelves eventually. Plus, I never know when a new idea will grab hold. My novels tend to take me by storm.

Book you've faked reading:
Wuthering Heights. I know this is sacrilege, but I can’t stand the Bronte sisters’ novels. I don’t like the heroines. I find the love interests off-putting and quasi-abusive. Their books make me feel miserable. I don’t enjoy books that make me feel miserable.

Book you've bought for the cover:
John Connolly’s The Book of Lost Things. I love its cover, which I find both idyllic and haunting – much like the content of the book itself. It’s a great book that I’d highly recommend.

Book you're an evangelist for:
Watership Down by Richard Adams. This is one thing Calla and I do have in common. It’s our favorite book though we like it for different reasons. I love the epic journey and vivid mythology, Calla loves the story of loyalty and survival.

---

Thanks so much Andrea!

Read more...

Check Me Out!!! Guest Post at Holly Cupala's Blog!

Hey guys!

I'm participating in a 'What YA Bloggers Want' guest post feature at Holly Cupala's blog! She's the author of the totally awesome TELL ME A SECRET!!! Here's my guest post:
http://www.hollycupala.com/2010/11/ya-bloggers-wantreal-issues-fun-factor.html

Go check it out! And say hi to Holly as well =))) She's AWESOME.

Read more...

Matched by Ally Condie

Title: Matched (Book 1)
Author: Ally Condie
Pages: 384

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Publication Date: November 30, 2010

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die. Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion.

Matched is an avid, subtly intense dystopian novel with three-dimensional characters, accentuated by the descriptive, oppressed world Condie has created. The constricted, and caged atmosphere present all throughout Matched is deceptive and unsettling with the plethora of rules, systems, and restrictions. The cover of Matched holds a symbolic significance wherein Cassia, is confined in a bubble of ignorance and negligence, yearning for an escape for freedom. The vivid depictions of the world with the Society are contemplative, it triggers thought-provoking questions about issues that plague the real world today.

Cassia is mostly confused and doubtful for the most of the novel. Cassia's metamorphosis is gradual and subtly creeping, but drastic and discernible when looked at as a whole. Trustful and submissive towards the Society, Cassia changes and matures as a character amidst the psychologically-unsettling world that Condie has created. The scene where she sees Ky's face on the computer screen is the catalyst that triggers her change, and her interactions with Ky emphasize that change in character. Her mindset is altered into being perplexed and doubtful of the mysteries that surround the society. But all throughout Matched, Cassia stays consistent to her character.

Ky and Xander are clashing opposites with contrasting personalities. Although Xander is competitive, he embodies a strong presence of understanding, loyalty, and strength. And at the same time, he remains supportive towards Cassia, despite her actions. Ky, on the other hand is brave and adventurous, willing to try new things. His past affects him, and the hardships he has gone through, is evident in the way he carries himself. Both love interests are different and good for Cassia in different ways.

Condie's prose in Matched has a subtle lyrical undertone with a rich, mysterious undercurrent. The culture in the Society is intensely developed and established flawlessly through nuances and other specifics. The subtleties such as the lack of choices, no matter how insignificant, are what builds the Condie's world and strengthens it. And the interplay of interactions, the atmosphere, and the characters all pull together to create a stunning, concrete plot.

Matched is a powerful, compelling read, amplified by the themes and inner messages in the story. It parallels itself both to the real world in a futuristic sense. Oppression and lack of freedom is common in Matched, and in reality; but here, it is presented in different ways. Matched is a perfect match for every reader (pun intended!).

The Bottom Line: Matched is probably my favorite in dystopian lit! It's friggin' amazing!

---Field Report---
Originality: 9/10
Ending: 7/10
Characters: 9/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 9/10
Theme: 9/10
Imagery: 9/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 92/100 (A)

Read more...

CSN Bookshelf Review

Hi guys!

Here's the long over due CSN Bookcase Review! I finally had it installed in my room! We didn't have a drill, so I wasn't able to put it up right away! And if you know me, I like to procrastinate! Haha! Anyway, I absolutely LOVE the 4D Hanging Corner Shelf (in espresso) from CSN!

- It's sturdy!
- It's a great space saver!
- It's a great value (Only $35.99!)
- It holds a lot of books!
- It's pleasing to the eye!
- It's a modern and unique bookshelf!
- It's really EASY to assemble!
- It' matches my door =)))

I LOVED it so much, that I even bought a second one for my dad! It's awesome!

CSN = AWESOMESAUCE!

*Thanks so much to my 'book fairy' for giving me the books you see on here =)))

Read more...

Author Uncovered: Elizabeth Rudnick (Author Interview)

Books:

• Tweet Heart
  

Website|Buy the Book

---

Author Bio:

This is the part I'm always the worst at—talking about myself! So as you've figured out, my name is Elizabeth Rudnick and I'm a young adult author. I'm also a Senior Editor at Disney Press in New York City. I've edited books based on movies like Pirates of the Caribbean and Prince of Persia as well as Miley Cyrus's memoir, Miles to Go, which was a New York Times bestseller (imagine if Tweet Heart was too!) and a total blast to work on.

When I'm not working, I live in Connecticut with a big mutt named Jack Dyson (because he has the ability to suck up anything in his way) and have a habit of watching hours of mindless television. I like to think of it as research!

---

Who is your favorite character from Tweet Heart?
Hard to pick a fav. But I'd say Bennett. Sci-fi loving smart aleck with a secret sweet side? What's not to love?

Why did you choose to write a book based on the concept of Twitter?
U can blame it on a boy. Guy I was dating once told me I made him feel twitterpaited. Line stuck--boy didn't--and story was born.

What is your opinion of Twitter? What part does it play in your life?
Twitter is what you make of it which is why it's so great. Wanna follow @cnn? Done. Wanna follow @justinbieber? No shame. I use it more for the latter.

What is the message your are trying to get across to your readers with Tweet Heart?
I guess its what I wish I'd known when I was in high school--prince charming doesn't always come in the package u expect.

How did the title Tweet Heart come to be?
It's genius! Thanks! I'm pretty fond of it myself! It was either that or A Case of Mis"tweet"en Identity. Actually, that gives me an idea...

What is the most interesting thing a reader has ever said to you?
That they wanted to read the book! :) That and one early reader told me I should be a playwright b/c format of Tweet is basically a play.

What's up next for you book-wise?
That's a good question! Up in the air. Have a few things working on--all very different from Tweet. But I have to admit, would love to do more with the kids of Watkins Prep!

Book you've faked reading:
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I found the characters trite & the plot meandering. And don't get me started on the ending. ;)

Book you've bought for the cover:
Prep by Curtis Sittenfield. I'm a sucker for effects and I couldn't get over the belt!

Book you're an evangelist for:
So many! Blue Bloods, Cowboys Are My Weakness, The Help, If I Died in the Combat Zone, The Fallen...

Anything else you'd like to add?
You know how people say, write what you know. Its the truth! So if u know me and see some of u in my characters--hope u r flattered! Except for that one guy--u know who u are!

---

Thanks so much Liz! We all loved the tweet-long answers! Perfect!!!

Read more...

Tweet Heart by Elizabeth Rudnick (A REVIEW IN TWEET FORM!)

Title: Tweet Heart
Author: Elizabeth Rudnick
Pages: 272

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Publication Date: June 29, 2010

Claire is a #hopelessromantic. Lottie is determined to set up her BFF with Mr. Perfect. Will wants his #secretcrush to finally notice him. Bennett is a man with a plan.

Claire can’t believe it when her dream guy starts following her on Twitter. She never thought he noticed her, and suddenly he seems to understand her better than almost anyone.

But the Twitterverse can be a confusing place, especially when friends act differently online than they do in person. Things get even more complicated when Claire realizes she’s falling for someone else, the last person she ever would have expected….

This review is going to be written in tweets! Be warned of my #FAIL tweeting!

@ThePlot is rly developed, considering tht there was no narration & it was written in tweets, blogs, emails, etc. #LovedItToDeath

@ClaireRBear is an #AwesomeCharacter but @KingofSlack (aka Bennett) is a #BetterCharacter because he was #FrigginHilarious!

#TweetHeart shows readers the importance of online identities and how technology affects the real world (#yesmom). @lizrudnick OWNS!!!

#TweetHeart is extremely #lifelike. The tweets, emails, etc. established the situation and the characters' personalities really well. #Cool!

@lizrudnick You Rock!!! #SeriouslyYouDo!

Read more...

Contest: ARCs Ahoy! *INTERNATIONAL*

Hey guys!

Get on board with some 2011 releases! The ARC Pirates are here, they stole my extra ARCs and now they're gone! Now all you have to do is steal them back! To do that, guess what my favorite is (answer the question in the form) between Oreos, Caramel Macchiatos, Books, Rainy Days, or All of the Above (you don't have to get the answer right to be counted in the contest)!!!

There will be THREE winners who will win the ARCs below!
Inside the treasure chest...

• ARC of Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schrieber
  
• ARC of Pink by Lili Wilkinson
  
• ARC of Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting
  

In order to enter, PLEASE FILL IN THE FORM BELOW.

Rules:
-Open to EVERYONE
-This contest will end on December 1 at 4pm (GMT+8) unless this contest doesn't meet at least 35-40 entrants...then, it will be extended.
-Contest Policy applies.
-I will use The Contest Winner Picker for picking the winners for this contest.

Read more...

Discussion Post: Is there such thing as a 'Reviewerspeak'?

While I was surfing through the net, I found an interesting article about The Top 20 Most Annoying Book Reviewer Cliches in the Examiner.

You guys already know the definition of 'newspeak' don't you? Just in case you don't know, it's the term George Orwell created and it means "whose vocabulary gets smaller every year."

In the article (and taken from there), it says the the 20 most annoying book reviewer cliches are as follows:

1. Gripping

2. Poignant: if anything at all sad happens in the book, it will be described as poignant

3. Compelling

4. Nuanced: in reviewerspeak, this means, "The writing in the book is really great. I just can't come up with the specific words to explain why."

5. Lyrical: see definition of nuanced, above.

6. Tour de force

7. Readable

8. Haunting

9. Deceptively simple: as in, "deceptively simple prose"

10. Rollicking: a favorite for reviewers when writing about comedy/adventure books

11. Fully realized

12. At once: as in, "Michael Connelly's The Brass Verdict is at once a compelling mystery and a gripping thriller." See, I just used three of the most annoying clichés without any visible effort. Piece of cake.

13. Timely

14. " X meets X meets X": as in, "Stephen King meets Charles Dickens meets Agatha Christie in this haunting yet rollicking mystery."

15. Page-turner

16. Sweeping: almost exclusively reserved for books with more than 300 pages

17. That said: as in, "Stephenie Meyer couldn't identify quality writing with a compass and a trained guide; that said, Twilight is a harmless read."

18. Riveting

19. Unflinching: used to describe books that have any number of unpleasant occurences -- rape, war, infidelity, death of a child, etc.

20. Powerful

Personally, I use these words in my reviews sometimes and don't find anything wrong with them. If these are the words that describe how you feel, then why the heck not use them? But of course, there's a difference between how you feel, and overusing these words. Of course, there's always room to improve your vocab and whatnot, but if you use these words over and over and over again, it can get pretty boring and less meaningful.

So, what's your take on this issue? What do you guys think is the most cliched word used by book reviewers?

Read more...

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Title: Angelfire (Book 1)
Author: Courtney Allison Moulton
Pages: 464

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Publication Date: February 15, 2011

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

Fierce, dramatic, and elaborately detailed, Angelfire seduces readers into a fiery world of drama and action, along with a sizzling romance. The world that Moulton creates is double-sided; the division between the supernatural and mortal realms is physically portrayed through the grim, providing a stark contrast of two completely different atmospheres. This demonstrates the disparity between Ellie's life as a Preliator, and her life as a normal teenager. With many symbolic contrasts and the contradicting concept of good vs. evil, Moulton creates a vividly convoluted world of romance and conflict.

Ellie is an unusual and strong protagonist, torn between two very different identities; a teenage girl, and the Preliator. A flawed character from the very start, Ellie's personality is detailed and concrete. Her life isn't labeled, unlike other female protagonists; she isn't poor or rich, and she isn't popular, and neither is she an outcast. She's sarcastic, and headstrong at times, but Ellie always has good intentions at heart. Ellie's character never looses its particular essence as the novel progresses. Moulton highlights her flaws as well as her strengths, making for a realistic, identifiable character. The reader will acquaint themselves with Ellie's problems, as she slowly comes to terms with her new powers and the responsibility attached to it. The flashback memories of her delicate pasts contribute a historical air while also leaving the reader to put the pieces together. The road to this acceptance is rough and unpredictable, but well-developed and honest.

Protective, humble, and sardonic, Will is unfathomable and macabre at the beginning, mirroring characteristics of a stalker, giving the reader fresh insight to a new male counterpart. Underneath his battle-hardened front, and shadowed by his experience, lies a flawed, but loyal fighter willing to sacrifice his life for Ellie's. The inner battles conflicting him is distinct and his gritty, scarred past affects him in a way that only further strengthens his character. Will's character drives the plot, and contributes much to the suspense. His disputing feelings for Ellie develops as they re-acquaint themselves with one another while he fights to decide whether their relationship is right or wrong. His heart wants Ellie, but his mind is against it. They both struggle with the choices that face them and learn to compromise in their situation.

Acceptance and trust are key themes in Angelfire that fuel the plot. Ellie's journey of acceptance and learning to trust Will develops in the midst of action and suspense, contriving a balanced, yet perplexing read. Many factors pull together to create a detailed, complex plot and sound voice. Both main and secondary characters fuel the novel from Ellie to Will, to Ragnut and Ivar. Each character has a distinct voice that is key to the development of the Angelfire. The mythological aspect and the concept of good vs. evil, merge together to create a striking, character-driven novel with unpredictable twists.

Moulton's sharp, detailed novel of angels is captivating and wonderfully original. Angelfire defies all stereotypes of an urban fantasy novel and introduces a world of romance, angels...and gore. Moulton's debut is filled with angelic lore and gory, bloody battles, foreshadowing what's to come in the next installment. All of these aspects compound together to create a seductive, action novel that will engulf the reader in its unique flame. Angelfire is a fierce, heavenly fire that readers will voluntarily dive into!

The Bottom Line: Bloody fights + Angels + Reapers = A book lover's dream!

---Field Report---
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 100/100 (A+) !!!This is one of the TWELVE books that hold the title: The Holy Grail - Beholder of the Perfect 100!!!

Read more...

Author Uncovered: Aimee Friedman (Author Interview)

Books:

• Sea Change
  
• The Year My Sister Got Lucky
  
• South Beach
• French Kiss
• Hollywood Hills
• A Novel Idea
• Breaking Up
• Mistletoe
• 21 Proms
  

Website|Buy the Book

---

Author Bio:

Aimee Friedman was born and raised in Queens, New York, in an apartment filled with books and different languages. She wrote her first story at the age of five, and was off and running from there. Aimee wrote all through her years as a student at the Bronx High School of Science and then Vassar College. After graduating from college in 2001, she became a children's book editor, a job she still does, and loves, to this day! Aimee published her first novel, the New York Times bestseller, South Beach, in 2005, and is now the author of six novels for young adults, the latest being Sea Change, a love story with a hint of enchantment. Aimee lives, works, and writes in Manhattan, where she also spends way too much time shoe-shopping. Aimee loves to hear from her readers so feel free to drop her line any time:
aimee@aimeefriedmanbooks.com

---

Did you always want to become an author?
Yes! I grew up in a house filled with books, and I always loved to read- - and write. I've written probably since the age of five or six. Writing was my escape, my joy, my most favorite thing to do, so I knew I would want to make it a part of my life in some way. I always say writers are lucky because, in a way, we get to daydream for a living!

Who or what was your inspiration for Sea Change?
I've always loved mermaid stories, from the classic Andersen fairy tale to the '80s movie Splash! I began to wonder: what if the gender roles were reversed? What if the human character was a girl, and the sea creature a boy? Out of that idea came the set-up for Sea Change.

What about for A Novel Idea? (It's my favorite out of all RoCom books)
I'm so glad you enjoyed this book! The main character in A Novel Idea--Norah--is very similar to how I was in high school. Like Norah, I was a city girl, bookish, very into music and fashion, and very close to my friends...but totally tongue-tied around cute boys! I always wished I'd thought up creating my own book club while in high school, so I decided to give that opportunity to Norah--while throwing some funny roadblocks in her path!

How does it feel like, knowing your books are on those bookshelves in a bookstore? It never gets old, that thrill of seeing your book on the shelf! It is surreal and wonderful, especially since writing is such a solitary task...you're creating these worlds alone, in your own head, and then suddenly, there they are--between covers and in bookstores, and in people's hands. It's wild.

Did you base any of your characters on real people?
I definitely draw on people I know to make up different parts of different characters--little quirks someone has, certain traits, certain funny family stories. But there isn't one character that's firmly based on anyone I know--with the possible exception of Katie and Michaela in The Year My Sister Got Lucky. Those characters are very closely modeled on me and my sister, but with a few changes.

What are your ten, most favorite things?
Wow, this is tough, but fun.
1) Books. The feel, touch, and look of them, and of course, the wonderful stories inside.
2) My iPod. I can't write without some type of music in my ears.
3) Sunny, hot beach days.
4) The store Anthropologie, where I get probably 75% of my clothes!
5) The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
6) Tibetan Poppy Lipstick by Fresh
7) A perfect slice of pizza.
8) Cashmere socks.
9) Ballet.
10) Soft-serve ice cream cones: chocolate, with chocolate sprinkles.

What is your typical day?
A typical writing day goes something like this: Get up, shower, put on jeans, tee, and flip-flops, pack up laptop, iPod, and wallet and head to neighborhood coffee shop. Order a large iced vanilla skim latte and a low-fat muffin, settle into one of the squishy seats, and get to work. Type away (with, unfortunately, many Facebook breaks) until lunch, and then dive back into the work until my brain starts to feel fuzzy and I know I need to step away from the words. I'll usually spend my evenings with friends, seeing a movie, having dinner, taking a walk, etc., and sometimes I'll pick up writing again late at night. It all depends!

What is your favorite type of drink?
Always and forever, hot cocoa--with whipped cream, but only as a special treat.

Do you have any upcoming books?
I'm working on a book now for slightly younger readers, and then I have a sequel to Sea Change in mind, along with another YA project. Busy times!

---

Thanks so much Aimee!

Read more...

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

Title: Halo (Book 1)
Author: Alexandra Adornetto
Pages: 496

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Publication Date: August 31, 2010

Nothing much happens in the sleepy town of Venus Cove. But everything changes when three angels are sent from heaven to protect the town against the gathering forces of darkness: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. They work hard to conceal their true identity and, most of all, their wings. But the mission is threatened when the youngest angel, Bethany, is sent to high school and falls in love with the handsome school captain, Xavier Woods. Will she defy the laws of Heaven by loving him? Things come to a head when the angels realize they are not the only supernatural power in Venus Cove. There′s a new kid in town and he′s charming, seductive and deadly. Worst of all, he′s after Beth.

The dark forces are causing many disasters; floods, fires, and generally spreading mishaps around the world. Three angels, Gabriel, Ivy, and Bethany go to Venus Cove to stop the catastrophes happening there. Out of the three, Bethany is the most inexperienced, and the most human. She is torn between her mission and her humanity. In Venus Cove, she experiences friendship, happiness, and falls in love. But the dark forces are gaining ground in Venus Cove, and somebody close to Bethany will betray her.

Halo is a vivid, powerful, and meaningful novel that elicits so much emotion as well as forces the reader to contemplate the religious references made in the novel. Halo's atmospheric difference is perceivable in the contrasting environments of Bethany's house and out of it. Inside Bethany's house, there's almost always an unsettling tension and it embodies a perplexing, complicated mood. Outside, there's a sense of freedom and an impression of limitless possibilities.

Bethany's growth throughout Halo is palpable from her transformation. At the beginning, her personality is naive and afraid; always careful and observant, never forgetting that this is her first mission. But as she befriends other people and gets closer to Xavier, she begins to change. Her yearning to be with Xavier is relatable as Bethany reveals her vulnerabilities and fears as an angel. She becomes more assertive, permissive, and independent, but her true values are genuine and never change.

Despite his guarded exterior, Xavier emanates a very genuine and honest personality from the very beginning. He isn't the cliché hero-type, instead, he's an honorable person with a past that still haunts him. Most of the time, people define others based on their pasts; in this case, the characters make assumptions and form opinions of Xavier with regards to his past. His relationship with Bethany is developed and extremely romantic. Their intense connection is tangible with the way they act towards each other; both depend on each other equally. Their relationship is symbolically sublime and profound.

Ivy and Gabriel (yup! THAT angel), the siblings of Bethany both holds an air of confidence and sophistication, whilst still holding their individual values and characteristics. Gabriel is serious, high-strung, and sometimes quite brooding, but he's caring and his carefully constructed façade of sureness and assurance hides his fears and inner-most vulnerabilities. This conveys his few imperfections. Ivy, although also serious, is more positive and reassuring. As the older sister, she withholds motherly characteristics and plays the role of the guiding, and understanding family member.

In Halo, the concept of differing between good and evil, and right and wrong is elaborately contemplated in different ways. Complete opposites such as heaven and hell, angels and demons, and light and dark, are re-introduced with religious connotations but without being preachy or assertive. The historical aspects in Halo are established in a non-pious, non-platonic way, making for a less religiously-biased read.

With new and old conceptualized ideas, fresh prose, and symbolic, vivid descriptions, Adornetto entices readers with contemporary and original characters and vivid imagery. Halo captures readers with the characters' magnetizing chemistry and the blend of both au courant and old-fashioned views of angels and love. A+ =)

The Bottom Line: Halo is a beautifully-woven tale that will definitely persuade readers to look forward to the next installment.

---Field Report---
Originality: 9/10
Ending: 7/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Total Score: 95/100 (A+)

Read more...

News!

Hey guys!

I got my own button!!! Finally! You can get it on my sidebar, or below here:

<center><a href="http://theundercoverbooklover.blogspot.com"><img src="http://i808.photobucket.com/albums/zz3/YAbookreviews/TUBLBUTTON-1.jpg"/></a></center>

And check out my new affiliate, Deliriously Falling!



Deliriously Falling is an awesome fansite for Delirium by Lauren Oliver! It's wicked cool and has everything Delirium! It's great! Check it out! Go on!

Read more...

Swoon-Worthy: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer!!!!

'Nuff said. Take a look!

Read more...