Title: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare
Author: Melissa Jensen
Series: None
Publisher: Speak
Released: February 16, 2012
Website: http://www.melissajensen.com/
Book Summary:
Pretty in Pink meets Anna and the French Kiss in this charming romantic comedy.
Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. She's got her friends - the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She's got her art - and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they're dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl?
I loved the way this book was written, it was quite witty. It starts off with Ella sharing her undying love for Edward Willing. The only problem with this is that he died...long ago, as in years before Ella was even born. Through the course of the book she has many an interesting conversations with her idol Edward. If only she could find someone alive who could live up to Edward. Of course there is always her crush Alex Bainbridge, but he's a "Philitte" who will likely never notice her.
Ella and her friends Sadie & Frankie attended Willing School where they are at the bottom of the social ladder. Sadie has money but has a less than perfect body, Frankie is gay and Ella is a scholarship student with a scarred body. This leaves the three of them nearly invisible among the many elite students (Philittes) who attend Willing. At least they have each other and their close friendship with many a game of Truth or Dare.
When Alex is assigned to be Ella's French tutor Ella finally has a chance to be noticed by Alex.
I loved the first couple chapters but then found it really slow going for a while. It picked up again by mid book and I enjoyed the story. I ended up really liking many of the characters: Sadie, Ella & especially Alex. I liked Frankie too but I just don't enjoy reading about same-sex relationships and was a little turned off by how often his relationships were mentioned.
Full of many great quotes and laughs I'm sure this will be a hit with those who enjoy contemporary young adult literature.
Rating: 3.5 Stars - Good Book
Content: a little language include 1 use of the f word, one of the main characters is gay so there many conversations about who he was dating/liked, one of the characters makes crude comments to and about Ella, a scene where a shirt is removed but done to show a scar, etc.
Title: Bitter Blessings
Author: Christine Mehring
Series: None
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Released: July 8, 2011
Book Summary:
Megan has the perfect life, but when her mother dies in an accident, everything spins out of control. With the rest of her family falling apart, Megan must confront her past to uncover the truths that will keep everyone together. Thought-provoking and heartfelt, this book shows that even in times of trial, you can often find blessings.
I hadn't read the summary for this book prior to reading it so I had no clue what to expect. In all honesty I had a hard time getting into this story until I hit the half way point. Then I was hooked and flew through it, reading the second half in one sitting.
This is a book by an LDS author but the first half of the book there is no mention of religion. The book's focus is Megan and how her life is thrown upside down with the unexpected death of her mother. Life is not easy for Megan or her sisters and grandmother and nothing seems to go their way. As her life starts unraveling secrets from the past are revealed and this is where the book hooked me.
This short book dealt with prejudice, lies & deceptions, death, teen drinking & drug use and friendship & faith. From the start I suspected that Megan's best friend Adam was Mormon but until the last few chapters of the book this didn't feel like a typical LDS fiction novel.
If you are looking for a clean LDS fiction book that deals with facing life's challenges without being overly preachy or sappy give this one a try.
Holly Cupala wrote teen romance novels before she ever actually experienced teen romance. When she did, it became all about tragic poetry and slightly less tragic novels. She has worked with the Western Washington chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, been a readergirlz diva, and now serves on the board of the University of Washington Writing Program. When she isn't writing and making art, she spends time with her husband and daughter in Seattle, Washington. These days, her writing is less about tragedy and more about hope.
INTERVIEW: What inspired you to want to become a writer?
I’ve known since I was a little kid that I wanted to be a writer, but the movie Romancing the Stone was what cemented my dream to be a novelist. Specifically one who made people cry triumphantly at the end of the book! Not sure if I succeeded, but I know I burst into tears when I finished writing my first novel in eighth grade. That has to count for something!
What's the craziest writing idea you've had?
I keep a notebook for writing down ideas, and one day I wrote, “girl who fakes being homeless.” Maybe she was going to be a cheerleader by day and fake being on the streets after school—silly idea, but I still wrote it down. Then one day my friend Jack, a youth pastor, was putting out a call for socks and toiletries and backpacks to take to homeless kids on Capitol Hill in Seattle, and suddenly the idea for DON’T BREATHE A WORD hit me, about a girl who runs away and lives on Capitol Hill for real.
If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
Street powers are pretty important in DON’T BREATHE A WORD. Joy thinks of herself as having the ability to hide in plain sight, and she meets a cast of characters with other powers—May has the power of disguise, Santos can talk his way out of anything, Creed can see into people’s souls. If I had a street power, or for that matter a superpower, I would want teleportation. Handy for all kinds of applications…
In your wildest dreams, which author would you love to co-author a book with?
Of course there are my favorite writers—Laurie Halse Anderson, Ellen Hopkins—but truly I’d love to sit down and co-author a book with my best friend, Amy. She always helps me through the hairiest dialogue scenes in my books. We’ve been friends since high school and have been talking about it forever.
What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
Don’t be too hard on yourself! As my friends Kirby Larson and Randy Powell say, “Write through the bad stuff.”
Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
I’m working on another contemporary YA, sort of like TMAS and DBAW on steroids—very emotionally charged and suspenseful and hopeful. Four voices, four terrible secrets, one explosive murder that will connect them all…
Action or Drama?
Meaningful drama with a fast-paced plot.
City or Country?
City, except there’s this house we’ve fallen in love with in the country…
Spontaneity or Planning Ahead?
A little of each—I usually have the big ideas in place and like to be spontaneous in between.
Shoes or Sandals?
Barefoot. On a beach. :)
Favorite quote from a movie?
“You keep using that word…I do not think it means what you think it means.”
What is your guilty pleasure?
Free classic novels on my Kindle app. Recent reads: A Princess of Mars, Phantom of the Opera, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, and The Scarlet Pimpernel.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I have a really big silly streak. Just ask my friends or family! My books are on the serious side, but sometimes a little of it comes out, like that scene between Joy and Creed at the music museum…my favorite!
Don't Breathe a Word
Joy Delamere is suffocating...
From asthma, which has nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From delectably dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out.
Joy can take his words - tender words, cruel words - until the night they go too far.
Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe... if only she can get to Creed before it’s too late.
Set against the gritty backdrop of Seattle’s streets and a cast of characters with secrets of their own, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the meaning of love, and how far a girl will go to discover her own strength.
Giveaway Details
1 copy of Don't Breathe a Word
Open to US only
Ends 2/20/12
Regina Sirois is 90% reader and 10% writer, and as such, her loyalty lies with readers. She believes a book should do more than mildly entertain- it should change us. She graduated summa cum laude from Missouri State's Department of History and English and settled in the golden wheat fields of Kansas with her High School love. She is currently doing laundry (probably) and raising her two daughters. She fell in love the day she learned to read and cried the first time she did a word problem in math ("But it's not a problem..." sob, sob. "It's a story!"). In her debut novel, "On Little Wings," Regina Sirois holds nothing back as she dares to make us believe.
INTERVIEW: If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?
Would I have to get out of the time machine? Because my degree is in history and I have a passion for the past, but talk about dangerous! When you really study history, you get over the nostalgia and sentimental ideals really fast. I’m so grateful I live now in the age of medicine, democracy, sanitation. I would want very much to go back and thank the people who got us here- hold their hands and kiss their cheeks. But when they brought out the gallows or fiery stakes- see ya!
Night owl, or early bird?
I am an early bird. I start drooping around 9 at night. If you get an email from me at 3 in the morning, I got up that early, I didin’t stay up that late. In case you were wondering.
Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
My book sticks to your ribs, tunnels into your thoughts, gets under your skin, and doesn’t let you forget it.
What inspired you to want to become a writer?
I didn’t want to be a writer. People told me that some day I would be a writer when I was just a little girl and I resented it. I fought it. I wanted to be the president (that was before I knew the down and dirty of politics). I wanted to be a photographer for National Geographic (before I found out they sat in a bush for three months waiting for a lemur to come along). I wanted to work for NASA (before it nearly went out of business) or dig in the Atacama Desert looking for ruins of lost civilizations. I didn’t value writing. I didn’t think it was special because everybody writes. But then I realized that writing isn't to make me special. It's there to help me interpret the world. And I decided it was only fair. I’ve been reading every word I could find since kindergarten. What if those thousands of people never wrote their books? I felt like I owed it as a thank you to those who gave so much to me- a little gift on the alter, albeit a humble one.
Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.
Seeing my book on the front page of Amazon kindle! But even more than that, reading reviews from strangers who said it was their new favorite. I just stood in my kitchen and cried. Thank you, stangers who reviewed my book. I love you!
Can you see yourself in any of your characters?
I see myself in every character. To make them real I find a piece of me- crazy, shy, insecure, overbearing, jealous, tender- and I stretch it out, knead it like dough, adding new ingredients until I’ve cooked up a brand new person. Each and every character does or says things that I would say or do- if I let that part of myself have free reign.
What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?
Need you ask? I have a countdown timer until the Hunger Games movie. It looks incredible.
If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?
It’s not a novel, but I would want a signed poem by Emily Dickinson. She taught me that words can be trained to do your will, if you take the time to master them.
Which authors have influence you most how?
Dodie Smith, Jerry Spinelli and James Herriot.
Who or what inspired you to become an author?
I looked at my daughter and I wanted to give her something. I can’t sew. I don’t knit or quilt or paint. I didn’t want to just buy her something someone else made. This book is a gift to her- the best of me given to the best thing that ever happened to me.
What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you'd be embarrassed to admit?
I feel no shame about it, but I am a big time Trekkie. Next Generation hands down! Who doesn’t love Captain Picard? No really- who?
Favorite smell?
My grandmother’s linen closet. It smelled like heaven lent her some angel dryer sheets. I’ve tried to recreate it. Now I know it was just her, beautiful her.
Write a Haiku about your book.
Ooh, ooh. Can I do a limerick instead?
There once was a girl with a book
But no one would give it a look
she thought it was bad
and that made her sad
But now they request it on Nook.
Now you can see my real talent, right?
Print or Ebook?
I have a Kindle. I use it often. I am slowly converting. But really- really- my kindle doesn’t show me the spot where I cried when Jane almost died on the heath or where I laughed so hard I drooled red popsicle. These things mean something. I like evidence that I’ve been there before.
City or Country?
Suburbs
Harry Potter or Twilight?
Harry Potter all the way. I mean- they have wands.
Beach or Pool?
Beach- who asked that one?
Shoes or Sandals?
Barefoot!
Text or Talk?
Talk. I am a lover of words. Not a lvr o wrds. Let’s just be grown ups and talk to eachother. And here’s a cool idea- let’s use sentences. With periods. I think it’s gonna catch on.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I am quiet so people assume I am shy. They should know that every other thing I say is a joke and I don’t have a shy bone in my body. I hate singing in front of people- but that isn’t being shy, that’s just being merciful.
On Little Wings
This is a story of the countless ways we get love wrong. And why, despite every disappointment, we keep fighting to get it right.
Jennifer must do the impossible – bring her mother home. When a family is torn apart by death, two sisters take violently divergent paths and the story of their family appears to end terribly and abruptly. Two decades later Jennifer never dreams that the photo she finds stuck between the pages of a neglected book will tear open a gaping wound to her mother’s secret past. Abandoning her comfortable life with her parents and best friend in the wheat fields of Nebraska, Jennifer’s quest for a hidden aunt leads her to the untamed coast of Maine where she struggles to understand why her mother lied to her for sixteen years.
Across the grey, rocky cove she meets Nathan Moore, the young, reluctant genius surrounded by women who need him to be brother, father, friend, provider, protector and now, first love. The stories, varied, hilarious, and heartbreaking, unfold to paint a striking mural of the shattered past. As Jennifer seeks to piece together her mother’s story, she inadvertently writes one for herself.
Giveaway Details
1 paperbook copy open to US only
3 ebooks open Internationally
Ends 2/19/12
Title: Die for Me Author: Amy Plum Series: Revenants Book #1 Publisher: HarperTeen Released: May 10, 2011 Website: http://www.amyplumbooks.com/
Book Summary:
My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.
Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.
Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.
While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?
I don't think I've ever read a Zombie book before. Prior to Die for Me if you asked me I'd probably say I don't like Zombies. This book definitely changed that opinion. Similar to the way Twilight changed my opinion on vampires Die for Me changed the way I see Zombies. Called Revenants, a term I had never heard prior to reading this book, these zombies are a far cry from the gruesome creatures I picture when you say the word zombie.
I loved everything about this book. From the characters and story-line to the action and romance, this book seemed as if it were written just for me. Although this book follows the typical young adult paranormal romance story-line it was completely unique in many ways and left me wanting for nothing except to get my hands on the sequel as soon as possible.
Die for Me is a beautifully written book that I won't soon forget. The sequel Until I Die is definitely on the top of my want ("need now") list.
Content: I can't remember anything that was objectionable in this book (maybe I was too engrossed in the story to notice).
Rating: 5 Stars - I loved it.
Source: Audible.com Download
The sequel Until I Diewill be released on May 3, 2012.
Kristen Simmons has a master’s degree in social work and is an advocate for mental health. She loves Jazzercise, her husband, and her precious greyhound, Rudy. Also chocolate. She currently lives in Tampa, Florida.
What is one book everyone should read?
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Every character is so wonderfully complex. The heroes are monsters, the monsters are heroes. It really highlights the good and evil within all of us.
If you were a superhero what would your name be?
Super K!
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Oooh. Pumpkin. I love the fall when pumpkin ice cream comes out!
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
Blueberry pancakes. I would eat blueberry pancakes every day if I could get away with it.
Skittles or M&M's?
M&M's! Chocolate first!
Any other books in the works?
I'm currently writing book 3 of the Article 5 trilogy. I'm about halfway through. It's a little sad - I don't want to say goodbye to Ember and Chase!
If you could jump into a book and live in that world which would it be?
Probably not a dystopian, those worlds are way too harsh! Maybe Harry Potter's world. Post-Voldemort of course. I could definitely go to Hogwarts.
What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
Don't give up. If I can do it, you can. Patience and perseverance pay off.
What is your favorite quote?
Oh, I have lots of favorite quotes. Here are a couple:
"Those who don't try never look foolish." - Gregory Maguire, Wicked
"What would be the cost of not having an enemy? Who would you strike for retribution other than yourself?" - Charles Frazier, Cold Mountain
When you were little, what did you want to be when you "grew up"?
A professional hockey player. Of course, I'd never actually been on ice skates, but the Mighty Ducks made it very appealing.
What's the best advice anyone has ever given you?
My grandmother once told me, "When you can do nothing else, you can still sweep the floor." It reminds me never to lose hope or feel useless. There is always something that can be done.
What movie are you looking forward to this year?
I can't wait for the Hunger Games movie!
What was your favorite children's book?
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. I loved the illustrations!
If you were a bird, which one would you be?
One with long legs. I have rather stumpy legs, but I've always wanted to be tall. Maybe a stork or something.
If you were a superhero, what would your kryptonite be?
Red velvet cupcakes. If a bad guy tempts me with red velvet cupcakes (especially with cream cheese frosting), the world's in trouble.
Action or drama?
I love action movies. Anything where stuff blows up.
Article 5
New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.
The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.
There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.
Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.
Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.
That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.
Giveaway Details:
1 copy of Article 5
Open to US only
Ends 2/18/12
Like many authors, Megan Crewe finds writing about herself much more difficult than making things up. A few definite facts: she lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband and two cats (and does on occasion say "eh"), she tutors children and teens with special needs, and she has yet to make friends with a ghost, though she welcomes the opportunity. Her first novel, GIVE UP THE GHOST, was published by Henry Holt in 2009 and is now out in paperback. Her second novel, THE WAY WE FALL, will be released January, 24 2012 by Disney-Hyperion.
INTERVIEW Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
You like thoughtful, slow-building but tense stories about society falling apart.
Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
The Way We Fall is the first in a trilogy, so there are two sequels on the way. I also have a couple of standalone projects (both YA, one fantasy, one horror) that I hope to be able to share more about before too long. My main goal is to keep writing the kinds of books I'd like to read--hopefully other people like to read them too! :)
Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?
The theme song for The Way We Fall is "Crowd Surf Off A Cliff" by Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton. I think it captures the mood, and some of the details of the story perfectly. I must have listened to it a hundred times while I was writing.
What's one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?
Persevere. Very few writers get published with their first book. As with any other skill, it takes practice before you can write well. So keep writing and learning all you can about writing, and remember that any rejections you get are not saying "You can't write" but "You're not quite there yet."
How did you know you should become an author?
Well, I've come to realize that I can't not write. My head is full of stories, and when none of them is quite ready to be written yet, I get irritable and rather unpleasant to be around. I'm happiest when I'm writing. And since I'm going to be writing anyway, it made sense to see if I could make a career of it. I don't think a story's quite complete until it has readers as well as an author.
Can you see yourself in any of your characters?
There are pieces of me in all of my characters. It'd be difficult for me to relate to them and understand their motivations if they didn't have at least one or two similarities. I'd have to say, though, that Kaelyn--the main character in The Way We Fall--is probably the most like me of all the characters I've written so far, or at least like me when I was that age.
How do you react to a bad review?
I read them and consider what the reviewer took issue with. If I can see their point, I'll make mental notes for future writing. I've developed a pretty thick skin over the years, and I recognize readers are going to have all sorts of responses, so I don't take personal offense to criticism. The only thing I really mind is seeing incorrect assumptions or information presented, but that's unavoidable too, so in those cases I may complain about it to my husband or a friend to blow off some steam, and then I move on.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
People seem to be surprised when I tell them I like revising. But it's true! Writing a first draft is actually the hardest part of the process for me, because I can tell I'm not writing the story as well as I'd like, but I know I won't be able to write it properly until I have the whole thing down and can see the big picture. So I'm always looking forward to getting to that second draft when I can start fixing everything, without the stress of wondering whether I'll reach "The End" at all.
You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy?
If I didn't have to worry about taxes or the like, I'm start looking for my dream house right away.
Print or Ebook?
For books I love, I like to have the print version. It's more concrete and permanent-feeling. But I'm reading more and more ebooks these days, because they're so easy to carry around (I read them on my iPad, which I take with me everywhere anyway), I can buy them instantly, and I can bring several with me without them taking up extra room.
PC or Mac?
Mac all the way! I grew up in a Mac household, so they're what I'm used to, and I like their stability and ease of use.
Beach or Pool?
Beach. I'll take natural water over chlorinated any day. (Though a pool will do if there's no other option--I love to swim.)
Favorite quote from a movie?
For a long time I had this quote from Adaptation in my blog profile: "You are what you love, not what loves you." I think those are excellent words to live by--to define ourselves by what's meaningful and important to us, not by how good at it we are, or what other people's opinions of us are. If you can do that, I suspect you're a much happier person.
The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe
It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.
And then you're dead.
When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.
Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.
Because how will she go on if there isn't?
Megan Crewe crafts a powerful and gripping exploration of self-preservation, first love, and hope. Poignant and dizzying, this heart-wrenching story of one girl’s bravery and unbeatable spirit will leave readers fervently awaiting the next book in this standout new series.
Giveaway Details
1 Hardcover copy of The Way We Fall
Open Internationally
Ends 2/1/12
will be released on May 3, 2012.
