Blog Tour: Character Interview with Helen from Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood

1. Do you have any advice for other girls who are betrayed by their best friends?

First off anyone who would betray you isn't really your best friend. It took me a while to figure this out. It might seem like revenge is a good idea (and I'll admit for short periods of time it can feel sort of good), but long term the best revenge is being happy. Move on. Make a new better best friend. Be happy.

2. When you decided to take revenge on Lauren, did you have any idea what the outcome would be?

I like to make plans. I put a lot of thought into getting revenge on Lauren. The one benefit of trying to take down a former BFF, is that you know exactly the things that will drive them the most crazy. I knew how things would turn out, at least in part, but I thought I would feel differently about things. Revenge is complicated. You think it is going to be very black and white, but it ends up being very very very complicated.

3. If you could have done one thing in your life differently, what would it be?

This is one of those complicated questions. Part of me wishes I never started the revenge plan on Lauren, but if I hadn't I don't know if I would have met Brenda or Christopher. I'm not a slow learner, but I do sometimes need to do things for myself, so by doing the revenge I learned I didn't need the revenge anymore. Does that make sense? My parents are really into karma and "what the universe wants for you" and all that stuff. They would say that the universe needed me to have these experiences in order to become the person I am. I'm not sure if I believe that or not, but I'm going to say that I wouldn't change anything. Except maybe the one time I let my mom talk me into getting this outfit made out of hemp fabric. The dye ran when I washed it and turned everything in that load of laundry blue.

4. What is one place in the world you would love to travel to?

I want to go to Paris. I like art and I'd love to see some of the museums there. Plus it's Paris!

5. Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Wow. Ten years seems like forever from now. I hope that I am done with college and have had a chance to travel all over the world. My best friend might be an astronaut by that time so maybe I'll go down to Florida and watch her get shot into space.

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Thanks so much to Helen (and Eileen!) for stopping by and answering my questions! I definitely recommend checking out Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood- it's a great read! Also be sure to visit the rest of the tour stops here.

Blog Tour: Jill S. Alexander Cover Interview and Giveaway!

I'm excited to welcome the fantastic Jill S. Alexander to my blog today! She is here as part of her blog tour, this time to discuss her covers!

1. The cover of your debut (The Sweetheart of Prosper County) and your sophomore novel (Paradise) are quite a bit different. Did the same designer work on them? And did you have any input on them before they were finalized?

This is such a great question, and one I’ve never been asked. Like most authors, I have little or no input on covers. The art director is Rich Deas, and he’s amazing. On both covers, I received an email of the cover image and responded with my thoughts – even though the decision had already been made. I loved the Sweetheart covers (both hardback and paperback). However the first image sent to me for Paradise caused some concern. I can’t share the image, but the girl and boy were much older. I did not feel they reflected the characters in the book. My agent and I expressed our concerns, and my fantastic editor and Rich, the art director, came up with the cover you see today.

2. Were cover models used for Paradise’s cover or was a stock image selected? Do you think the cover suits the book?

The PARADISE cover is a stock image. I do think it suits the book. It’s very swoon-y, and the girl is Paisley perfect. I also love that it captures a moment of hesitation.

3. The Sweetheart of Prosper County’s cover changed quite a bit from hardcover to paperback. What made your publisher decide to do that? And which version do you like better? Do you think one appeals to teen readers?

SWEETHEART’s hardback cover (the rooster) is fun and whimsical but is more of an intellectual cover – it requires some interpretation. The paperback with the girl rockin’ the hat is less interpretive. You can look at that image and know that it’s a story about a small town girl. The more straightforward cover is probably better for impulse buying at a bookstore. I’m sure that factored into the publisher’s decision to make a change. At school visits, teen readers tell me they prefer the paperback cover with the girl on it. Which do you prefer?

4. If you could have any other image on your cover then the couple currently being used, what would you choose?

One of the things I adore about my publisher, Feiwel & Friends, is that they believe in attention to design detail – both inside and out. When folks buy the hardback, they will find beautiful images on the inside – one of which is a girl with drumsticks in her back pocket. I’d probably put that on the cover if we weren’t going with the kissy couple.

5. You are lucky to have two fantastic covers that really stand out. What are some of your favorite covers?

Thanks so much. I do feel really blessed with fantastic covers. However, there are really some terrific covers in YA fiction. I LOVE the cover for Sara Zarr’s newest novel HOW TO SAVE A LIFE. (Anxious to read that one!). And I have to say; Andrew Smith’s novel STICK, which comes out this fall with my same publisher, has a powerful cover that captures the strength of the novel. Those two covers really stand out to me.

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GIVEAWAY TIME!

I also have a signed hardcover of Paradise to giveaway to one lucky winner.

Fill out THIS FORM to be entered!

US Only. Ends July 13th.

Review: Paradise by Jill S. Alexander

Paradise by Jill S. Alexander

Paisley Tillery is the drummer for a country rock band. If they can make it to the stage at the Texapalooza music fest, then Paisley will be closer to her dream of a career in music and a ticket out of her small Texas town.

Drumming and music are what Paisley has always wanted. Until the band gets a new lead singer, the boy from Paradise, Texas. With Paradise in her life, what Paisley wants, and what she needs, complicate her dreams coming true.

Review:

I was completely taken by Jill S. Alexander's sophomore novel. With likable characters, a charming setting, and an inspiring plot I was soon caught up in Paisley's story. All Paisley has ever wanted to do was live her dream- play the drums. And by being the drummer of the Waylon Slider Band, which is well on its way to being in the Texapalooza, she will be that much closer to escaping her little town. Until Paradise shows up, with his sexy hat, sweet singing voice, and charming smile, Paisley suddenly isn’t sure drumming is the only thing she wants. Paradise was a novel filled with so much heart. It will inspire readers to want to live their dream and have them rooting for Paisley and the rest until the last page.

Paisley was a feisty main character, but she had heart. I didn’t really know anything about drumming and this is the first novel I’ve read that focused on the drummer (and female, at that!) of a small rock band. I enjoyed getting to know the different members of the band- they each had something unique about them. Levi, Cal, and Waylon were a great group of guys and together with Paisley and Paradise they were going to get to Austin to play on the big stage at the Texapalooza. Their ride wasn’t all smooth sailing though and the band faced a lot of ups and downs as a group and separately as well.

Family is such an important aspect often overlooked in YA novels and I loved getting to know Paisley’s parents and her sister, Lacey. Over the course of the story Paisley hid a lot from her mother, but learned that sometimes honesty is the best course to take. Her family members were each very developed and I was rooting for the Anderson’s from the start.

After almost every chapter was a song written by Cal and it expanded on his character so much, since he didn’t say much during the actual story. The lyrics were beautiful and heartbreaking and inspiring all at once. The setting of this story was a character in itself and I liked getting to see the different sights through Paisley’s eyes. Paradise- wow, what a guy. He was cool and collected and knew where he was headed, but at the same time had so much more to him than met the eye. I really liked the scenes with him and Paisley and watching their relationship develop.

The ending was definitely surprising and tugged my heartstrings. I may have even shed a few tears! Jill S. Alexander completely emerged me in the story of everyone in Paradise and by the end I felt like I knew them all personally. This was a fantastic, contemporary read that I hope won’t be overlooked. Definitely check this out! I can’t wait to read Jill’s debut, The Sweetheart of Prosper County, and to see what other sweet, Texas tales she writes next.

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

July 5, 2011/Feiwel & Friends/256 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Author (ARC)

Other books by this author: The Sweetheart of Prosper County

Blog Tour: Suzanne Young Guest Post

My Guilty Pleasure

I spend a lot of time writing—maybe too much. And when I’m in front of my computer the closest I get to entertainment is Twitter. But when I need some down time, I turn to my favorite guilty pleasure—television.

True Blood is my absolute favorite—blame the gorgeous blond Viking, with Game of Thrones creeping up to second. I have DVR’d a season of Fringe, America’s Next Model and House Hunter’s International. On my days off, I sort through OnDemand and catch up on Oxygen Network’s Snapped, about women who kill people.

Sometimes I get up to 12 or more episodes (Hi, Supernatural) and just give up. Comedies are usually the go to choice: Community, Modern Family and Traffic Light. But when they run out, we sometimes find ourselves watching… Celebrity Apprentice.

The glamorous life of a writer.

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Thank you so much for stopping by, Suzanne! I have read, and loved, all of Suzanne's books and I definitely recommend picking up her newest release ASAP- A Need So Beautiful!

Review: Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

Review:

Hate List was a powerful and riveting debut novel that was nearly impossible to put down. I have never read anything about a school shooting before and I know this will be extremely eye opening to teenagers everywhere.

Valerie's boyfriend, Nick, brought a gun to school and opened fire in the school Commons. He targeted those on the "Hate List" he and Val had created. A list of people that bullied them or they just didn't like. Valerie had no idea Nick- a school shooting. When she couldn't stop him any other way, Val dove in front of one of Nick's targets and ended up being shot herself. One thing is certain- Val's life will never be the same.

I wasn't sure if I was going to connect with, or even like, Valerie, but I ended up feeling for her a lot. Her struggles were heartbreaking and it was sad to see how her family, friends, and the rest of the world turned on her. So many people believed she should have died that terrible day and on top of dealing with her own guilt and emotions, she must face the fact that she is starting school in the fall. There were a lot of characters introduced in Hate List and all of them played a key role in shaping the story, even if it was in just a small way. Dr. Heiler stood out to me a lot and he really changed Val's life for the better- he was one of those people that believed in Valerie and worked her through the toughest months.

The novel alternated between different times. From the day of the shooting, to memories Val had of her and Nick, to the present. It really helped develop the story and allow the readers to get to know the person behind the shooting and how Val truly didn't realize what was going to happen.

Jennifer Brown's debut novel was complex and unique, heartbreaking and emotional, and, also, hopeful. She made me feel so much while reading this and she didn't hold back with writing what needed to be said.

All in all, I highly recommend picking up Hate List if you haven't already. This novel will surely impact every person who reads it in some way and I am anxious to read Brown's sophomore novel (Bitter End) as soon as possible.

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars

September 1, 2009/Little Brown and Co/408 Pages/Young Adult

Source: Library

Other books by this author: Bitter End

In My Mailbox (85)

For Review:

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Little Women and Me by Lauren Baratz-Logsted (ARC- I'm also quoted in this!)

Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers

IMM Is Hosted By: The Story Siren

Review: Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs

Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs

On Lily Sanderson’s eighteenth birthday she’ll become just a girl—still a mergirl, true, but signing the renunciation will ink Princess Waterlily of Thalassinia out of existence. That leaves plain old Lily living on land, dating the boy she loves, and trying to master this being-human thing once and for all.

Now that Lily and Quince are together, mer bond or not, she’s almost content to give up her place in the royal succession of Thalassinia. But just when she thinks she has everything figured out, the waves start to get rough. Lily’s father sends a certain whirlpool-stirring cousin to stay with her on land. What did Doe do to get herself exiled from Thalassinia and stuck in terraped form when everyone knows how much she hates humans? And why why why is she batting her eyelashes at Lily’s former crush, Brody?

The seafoam on the raging surf comes when a merboy from Lily’s past shows up—Tellin asks Lily for something that clouds her view of the horizon. There’s a future with Quince on land, her loyalty to the kingdom in the sea, and Lily tossing on the waves in the middle. Will she find a way to reconcile her love, her duty, and her own dreams?

Review:

After reading and really enjoying the fun and splashy prequel, Forgive My Fins, I was really excited to dive into this one. While it didn't entirely live up to my love of the first book, it was still a great read. This series is perfect for the summer because it is light and fluffy with just the right amount of drama and adventure to keep me hooked.

Mermaids are definitely one of my favorite “creatures” to read about and Tera Lynn Childs definitely makes them her own in the Fins series. There are a lot of new plot twists in this installment to the series and Lily is forced to make some difficult choices. I definitely think Lily’s character developed a lot in Fins Are Forever and I adore Quince. He is such a sweet guy and definitely not the typical bad boy. He’s always there for Lily and supports her no matter what. Lily has also become content with the fact that she will have to give up her claim to the throne on her eighteenth birthday so she can remain on land with Quince.

There were a few new characters introduced in this novel and a few from the prequel entered the scene in an even bigger way- particularly Lily’s cousin Dosinia. Lily’s plans for living a normal life on land come to a screeching halt when she learns her cousin Doe has been banished from Thalassinia and is going to be living on land and attending a human high school. At first Doe made me so angry, I had no idea how everyone could put up with her. She was rude, spiteful, and had no respect for Lily and her wishes whatsoever, but as I read more, a different side of Doe slowly emerged and I ended up actually liking her!

There were some slow moments in the plot, but, all in all, I was captivated by the story and this is definitely one of my favorite mermaid series. Tera Lynn Childs threw in a lot of new twists to the story that kept me wondering what was going to happen in the end. What decision would Lily finally make? Her descriptions of the underwater world known as Thalassinia were just as vivid and beautiful as in the first book. There was also mention of other mermaid kingdoms and I’m eager to find out more about those in (hopefully?) the third book.

If you’ve read Forgive My Fins and enjoyed it, I’m sure you’ll want to find some time to read this relaxing by the pool. It didn’t entirely live up to my expectations, but it was a fun sequel that I finished in a few hours.

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

June 28, 2011/Katherine Tegen Books/272 Pages/Young Adult/Book Two

Source: Splash Team ARC Tour

Other books in the series: Forgive My Fins

Imaginary Girls Blog Tour: Secret #5

I’m here spilling secrets about my book Imaginary Girls. As the cover says, “Secrets never stay below the surface.” I guess not, because here’s another one bubbling up now…

Secret #5: I did swim in the reservoir that inspired the one in the novel, but not since I was a teenager.

My last secret revealed how the town in Imaginary Girls is based on a real town, sort of. So you should know that the reservoir is a real place, too, even if I made up some stories surrounding it. This is the Ashokan Reservoir in the Hudson Valley of upstate New York, which used to be a fifteen-minute walk or so across the highway from my house. It really is illegal to go swimming there, but just like the characters in the story, my friends and I ignored the No Trespassing signs and snuck in to cool off on hot summer nights with full knowledge that we may have to flee, and fast, if anyone saw or heard us. I admitted in an interview recently that I did swim illegally in the reservoir as a teen, and I was asked if I was ever caught or arrested. No, I never was. But my friends and I, on a couple occasions, did have to quickly grab our clothes off the rocks on shore and run.

The last time I went swimming in the reservoir was the night before I left town to go to college. A friend of mine suggested we walk there, just the two of us, a friend who is no longer with us. I saw her only once after that, months later in town, and never again. When I think of the reservoir, I think of her, and how I was so preoccupied with my own life I never did anything to help save her. That night kept coming back to me, and I wonder if it’s one of the reasons why a night swim at the reservoir became such a pivotal moment in Imaginary Girls.

When I was writing I began to think that I should go back upstate to see the reservoir again—to breathe the air, catch the reflection of the moon on the water, dip my toes in… I thought it would help me describe the place better, since I live in the city now, and have for years. But I kept postponing the trip. Finally I decided I shouldn’t go back, not until the book was done. It was memories of the place that brought the story to life, and I didn’t want to shatter them. So I stayed away, on purpose. And, actually, I haven’t been back to the reservoir since.

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-The IMAGINARY GIRLS sampler: http://www.scribd.com/doc/53080390/Imaginary-Girls
-A link to Nova’s website (www.novarensuma.com) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/novaren)

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GIVEAWAY TIME!

I also have one signed, finished copy of Imaginary Girls to giveaway to one lucky winner!

Fill out THIS FORM to enter.

US Only. Ends July 8th. Thank you to Penguin for sponsoring the giveaway!

Review: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

Review:

Hourglass was a stunning and addicting debut novel that completely sucked me in from the first page. There was something completely unique and captivating about Myra’s writing style and she developed the plot of Hourglass perfectly. From the steamy romance to the sizzling action to the kick-butt main character, Hourglass had it all.

To elaborate on the aforementioned kick-butt protagonist, Emerson Cole was truly everything you could want in a heroine. She spoke her mind and didn’t take crap from anyone. Em was vibrant and very real. Life had dealt her some painful blows and I felt for her when nothing seemed to be going right. At least she has Dru and Thomas on her side. Her brother and his wife were a great pair and I only wish I could have seen more of them. They were always there for Em and stood beside her through some tough times. Another character I wanted to know a bit more about was her best friend Lily. There was definitely more to her than met the eye and I liked how she had her own trials and tribulations to deal with, but still stuck by Emerson. The characters in Hourglass were mostly all well developed and two others that really stood out to me were Michael and Kaleb.

Michael Weaver and Em had that instant love connection that often annoys me, but it worked for Hourglass. They truly are perfect for each other and will go to any lengths to keep each other safe. Michael was more than an attractive face- he was kind, loyal, and treated Em with the respect she deserved. Of course there was another guy who I liked as well. Kaleb. He was a complex and broken character who I immediately fell for. Em is definitely going to have some hard decisions in the future because both guys are awesome.

I think my favorite part of this novel had to be the plot. It was complex with so many small twists and dimensions that tied together to make what could be an absolute mess, but Myra made it work out perfectly. There were also a lot of unexpected occurrences that made it hard for me to put down. The time traveling twist was great and I was captivated- I had to know how everything would end up.

Hourglass is definitely something new to the YA market and while it had a few flaws, this is one of my favorites of 2011. There was just so much about the book that I loved and now I am dying to read the sequel!

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

June 14, 2011/Egmont USA/397 Pages/Young Adult/Book One

Source: Publisher (ARC)

Blog Tour: Amanda Ashby Interview and Scavenger Hunt Letter

Stopping by today as part of her blog tour is the hilarious Amanda Ashby! Read on to find out about her new middle grade project, her favorite travel destinations, and much more!

1. You've written about all kinds of magical creatures (zombies, angels, and faeries). What is one creature you would love to write about, but haven't yet?

This is going to sound weird but right now I’m obsessed with birds! In the YA book I just finished writing, one of the characters uses the shape of an owl to get around but that didn’t seem to quench my bird-mania so I’m thinking that birds will be next on the list (once I figure out that small problem of plot!!!!)

2. Has your writing style changed at all from your first book to now? Do you plan differently or name characters in a new way?

Yes, it definitely has! I actually went back and line-edited my first published novel, You Had Me at Halo so I can release it on Kindle and I nearly died at the clunky writing! I remember when I first wrote it, it felt like I was desperately trying to control a runaway horse, where as the last book I finished was a joy to write and I felt like I was in control for the entire time. I think the difference is that now I look deeper into my characters before I start the actual writing, where as before, I would figure things out as I went along and then I would go back and try and make it all work (and would repeat that process every chapter!).

Though saying that, I actually find it harder to write books now than I used, but I think that’s because I always want to make the next one better than the last!

3. On your website you talk about a new project- a middle grade series about djinns. Can you tell us anything about that?

Yes I can! I still don’t have a series title but it looks like book one might be called Sophie’s Magical Mix Up and is about an eleven year old girl (called Sophie!!!!) who accidently gets turned into a djinn the day before sixth grade starts! She then has to spend her time learning how to use her new powers while hiding it all from her stressed-out mom. None of which is helped by the fact that her ghostly djinn guide, Malik gets her into more trouble than you can ever imagine. There are three books and in each one, Sophie has to learn to control a different part of her magic and she is also trying to solve the mystery of why her father disappeared four years earlier.

4. If Emma, Mia, and Holly could spend the day together- what would they do?

Holly and Mia are like two peas in a pod and those girls would shop all day long and then go home and watch movies and boxed DVD sets. As for Emma, shopping isn’t really her thing and half the time she doesn’t even remember to brush her hair, but she would try and keep up with the other two, though she would secretly be bored and probably end up texting Curtis Green about the best way to use throwing knives when going on a slaying trip.

5. I see you've lived in quite a few different countries. What are some of your favorite places to visit around the world?

I love Paris! I only went for a week but it was amazing. At the time my husband and I were poor backpackers and we hardly had any money at all, but that didn’t stop us from having the best time ever. Going to the Louvre was one of the highlights.

Fiji is also a very special place to visit! My friend was born there and when I stayed with her family I was spoiled rotten. Plus the beaches are truly to die for!

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Thanks so much Amanda! I posted my review of Fairy Bad Day yesterday and I can say it was a great read! I definitely recommend checking it out.

SCAVENGER HUNT DETAILS

This tour is also a scavenger hunt. Be sure to visit each of the stops on the blog tour and collect the bolded letter at the bottom of the post. On June 25 you will have the opportunity to enter the word you created from the mixed up letters on Amanda's blog (http://amandaashby.blogspot.com/) to win a fun prize pack. The pack includes a signed copy of Fairy Bad Day, some candy, and cute cell phone charms.

MY LETTER IS: T