Monday Madness (23) Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

What is Monday Madness?

It’s the phenomenon affecting all book lovers as we count down the hours in hopes of getting our hands on highly anticipated books on release day. So, come join me throughout the week where I will be featuring Author Interviews, Reviews and Contests for great books.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Pub. Date: December 2009
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover, 563pp

Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
There were no surprises in Gatlin County
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Beautiful Creatures Book Trailer


Want More? Head over to The Book Butterfly on Tantalizing Tuesday for a special treat!

Winner of Deadly Little Lies!

The Winner is...

Deadly Little Lies (ARC) by Laurie Stolarz

Purplg8r @ So Many Books So Little Time

Please email me your address within 48hrs

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Interview: Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

I'm thrilled to welcome authors Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl to my blog. They stopped by to talk about their current novel, Beautiful Creatures, which is in stores now.

Please welcome these talented ladies!

FBR: How did you decide on writing a book together? What was the process like?
M: We were already so many things to each other: friends, critique partners, therapists…becoming writing partners just seemed like the logical next step.
When we stumbled across a story we wanted to write together, in a place we wanted to write it, everything sort of fell into place.
K: Writing together was surprisingly easy. We have very similar writing voices, and, more importantly, we had the same vision for the story and the characters. Neither of us has any ego, so that helps. We both have the power of veto.

FBR: Writers will often describe a reading experience that made them want to put the book down and go start writing immediately. What authors have inspired you in that way?
M: Harper Lee. Susan Cooper. Diana Wynne Jones. Kristin Cashore. Robin McKinley.
K: Southern Writers: Harper Lee, Flannery O’Connor, Anne Rice. YA Authors: S.E. Hinton, Clive Barker, Holly Black, Phillip Pullman, Cassandra Clare.

FBR: What comes to mind when you hear the words "the perfect story"?
M: To Kill A Mockingbird.
K: To Kill a Mockingbird for sure, Fahrenheit 451 & Lord of the Flies.

FBR: What’s the best compliment you’ve received about your book?
M: When it made my sixteen-year-old cry. When Amazon named it the top 5 book of 2009. When Sarah Burnes said she’d sell it. When Jen Hunt said she’d buy it.
K: Margie covered some of the big ones. Making the Indie Next List for Fall/Winter 09 was huge. But it always hits home for me when readers tell me BC made them cry, or they are reading it for the second time.

FBR: Tell us something that we might be surprised to learn about you.
M: I’m scared of everything and Kami is scared of nothing.
K: I wish. My fears are just more insane: earthquakes, snakes, flying, horror movies. So basically, my worst fear would be – snakes on a plane, while the in-flight movie, the Exorcist, is playing in the background, and an earthquake hits as we land.

FBR: What other projects are you currently working on? What can we expect in the future?
M: We just wrapped the sequel to Beautiful Creatures and will be fussing with that for the next few months, while we head out to our BC Southern Tour in January. Stay tuned for details, if you live in the South!
K: We’re always thinking about the world of Beautiful Creatures. At this point, the characters have their own stories to tell, and they are hard to ignore!

You can keep up with Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl at http://www.beautifulcreaturesthebook.com/.

Visit Little, Brown’s Beautiful Creatures website at http://www.somelovesarecursed.com/.

Thanks Kami and Margaret!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you're enjoying spending time with family and friends and eating delicious food! I can't wait to eat some fried turkey myself!

Please be safe over the holidays!

Review: Shadowland by Alyson Noel

Shadowland by Alyson Noel
Pub. Date: November 2009
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: Hardcover, 339pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Series: The Immortals Series, #3

Enter the realm of the Immortals—the #1 New York Times bestselling series that’s been acclaimed as breathtaking, mesmerizing, flawless and extraordinary.

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world’s darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just when their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen…one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into the Shadowland. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source…a surfer named Jude.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She’s always believed Damen to be her soulmate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them, Ever’s connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before…

Shadowland picks up where Bluemoon left off with Ever having to confess to Damen about the terrible mistake that she made in trusting Roman. These two lovebirds have to not only find the antidote to cure Damen from a fate far worse than the two could have ever imagined, but they have to come up with a way to be together in the mean time. Damen manages to come up with a temporary solution but is it enough to suffice to keep the relationship from going into shambles? Especially when there’s a new player in town – one who can possibly turn their world upside down. What is it about this mysterious guy with the mesmerizing sea green eyes who goes by the name of Jude?

Shadowland introduces us to a new fate that could affect the immortals in dire circumstances but I can’t help that I was a little disappointed with Ever and her choices (Although I would never want to be in her position to make these choices) in this installment but I know we can’t always get what we want but I’m crossing my fingers that our girl will come out on top in Dark Flame, the next installment in this series. I got to see a different side of Damen and I’m not sure if I like the selfless one who gives Ever the biggest choice of their undying love. But and there is a big BUT – let’s call him Jude. I don’t know how, but I found myself more intrigued by him. He has some alluring qualities that had me wanting to get to know him even more. So, I can’t wait to read more about him in the next installment.

All-in-all Shadowland pretty much builds up to the next installment where hopefully a lot of questions will be answered and with much anticipation, we’ll find out what really happens when one is given choices without interference. I can’t say anymore than that without being spoilery.

Noel continues to keep readers in suspense up until the very end. I’m a sucker for true love, so I find myself torn after reading this installment and I can’t wait to see how Noel spends Dark Flame.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Character Interview: Immortals Series' Damen Auguste

I'm thrilled to have Damen Auguste, the gorgeous, exotic, and wealthy immortal from the NY Times Best Selller Immortals series with us today to answer some questions.

Please welcome Damen everyone!

What do you think the secret to true love is?
A true and lasting connecting of souls.
It’s so easy to get caught up in looks and image and stuff like that—trust me, I’ve done it myself! But when two people compliment each other, bring out the best in each other, learn and grow together, and are just overall meant for each other—well, after six hundred years of roaming the earth, I can honestly say that is the most beautiful thing the universe has to offer.

Do you notice how girls are constantly ogling at you, how does that make you feel?
Well, I try not to pay too much attention to it since it’s more about the outer me—you know, the hair, the clothes, the house, the car, stuff like that. It has nothing to do with who I really am—only Ever sees that.

When you first saw Ever, what was the first thing that came to your mind?
The very first time I looked into her eyes, back when she was working as a servant at a friend’s house in Paris, I knew my life would never be the same. And it wasn’t just her undeniable beauty and quiet inner strength that moved me, I felt connected to her—a strange familiarity that’s hard to explain. All I know is that from that moment on, I knew we belonged together, and it felt like my life had finally begun.

What do you love most about Summerland?

I love everything about Summerland—it is promise and beauty in its purest form. The representation of our very best side, all the good we have to offer as people. And if we could just find a way to overcome our prejudices, hatred, negativity, and fears, I’ve no doubt we could create our own Summerland right here on Earth.

What’s the craziest or funniest moment that you had with Ever?
Well, there was a little mishap recently at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles—let’s just say we had a close call that you can read about in SHADOWLAND. And while I’m not sure Ever thought it was nearly as funny as I did—or at least not at the time—after the fact we both had a good laugh!

What would you consider the perfect date?
Well, after six hundred years I’ve pretty much seen and done it all, but I have to say that being with Ever again makes it all feel brand new. Disneyland was fun, the racetrack was fun, and the fact that it’s all new to her let’s me see it in a fresh, new way too. I’m working on the perfect date for her birthday . . . but for now, it’s still just a work in progress . . .

I think all the girls want to know this, but you totally don’t have to answer – Umm... Boxers or Briefs?
The truth is, I’ve tried ‘em all through the years, but these days I’m partial to the boxer brief.

What’s next for you and Ever?
Well, we still have to break this curse so that we can touch each other again, and though we have an eternity to figure it out, I’m really hoping it won’t take near that long—it’s kind of driving me crazy!

Thanks Damen!

Want More?

Kim @ The Book Butterfly is featuring Ever Bloom today, please stop by to get the inside scoop on Ever here.

For more information about Alyson Noel and her books, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness (22): Shadowland by Alyson Noel

What is Monday Madness?

It’s the phenomenon affecting all book lovers as we count down the hours in hopes of getting our hands on highly anticipated books on release day. So, come join me throughout the week where I will be featuring Author Interviews, Reviews and Contests for great books.

Shadowland by Alyson Noel
Pub. Date: November 2009
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: Hardcover, 339pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Series: The Immortals Series, #3

Synopsis
Enter the realm of the Immortals—the #1 New York Times bestselling series that’s been acclaimed as breathtaking, mesmerizing, flawless and extraordinary.

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world’s darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just when their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen…one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into the Shadowland. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source…a surfer named Jude.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She’s always believed Damen to be her soulmate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them, Ever’s connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before…

Shadowland Book Trailer




Want More? Head over to The Book Butterfly on Tantalizing Tuesday for a special treat!

In My Mailbox (28)

Review

Magic Under Glass (ARC) by Jackie Dolamore
Pub. Date: December 22, 2009
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Format: Hardcover, 240pp

Synopsis
Nimira is a foreign music-hall girl forced to dance for mere pennies. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to sing with a piano-playing automaton, Nimira believes it is the start of a new and better life. In Parry's world, however, buried secrets are beginning to stir. Unsettling below-stairs rumors swirl about ghosts, a madwoman roaming the halls, and Parry's involvement with a league of sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. Then Nimira discovers the spirit of a fairy gentleman named Erris is trapped inside the clockwork automaton, waiting for someone to break his curse. The two fall into a love that seems hopeless, and breaking the curse becomes a race against time, as not just their love, but the fate of the entire magical world may be in peril.

Tangled (ARC) by Carolyn Mackler
Pub. Date: December 29, 2009
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Hardcover, 320pp
Age Range: 12 and up

Synopsis (Author's Site)
Paradise wasn’t supposed to suck.

Not the state of being, but a resort in the Caribbean. Jena, Dakota, Skye, and Owen are all there for different reasons, but at Paradise their lives become tangled together in ways none of them can predict. Paradise will change them all.

It will change Jena, whose first brush with romance takes her that much closer to having a life, and not just reading about those infinitely cooler and more exciting. It will change Dakota, who needs the devastating truth about his past to make him realize that he doesn’t have to be a jerk just because people think he’s one. It will change Skye, a heartbreakingly beautiful actress, who must come to terms with the fact that for once she has to stop playing a role or face the consequences. And it will change Owen, who has never risked anything before and who will take the leap from his online life to a real one all because of a girl he met at Paradise….

From confused to confident and back again, one thing’s certain: Four months after it all begins, none of them will ever be the same.

Bought

Betrayals by Lili St. Crow
Pub. Date: November 2009
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Paperback, 304pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
She's no angel. . .

Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she's just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn't entirely human. (So what else is new?)

Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England Schola for other teens like her, and there's a big problem— she's the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn't be so bad, but Dru's killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . .

Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart?

Shadowland by Alyson Noel
Pub. Date: November 2009
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Format: Hardcover, 339pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Series: The Immortals Series, #3

Synopsis
Enter the realm of the Immortals—the #1 New York Times bestselling series that’s been acclaimed as breathtaking, mesmerizing, flawless and extraordinary.

Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world’s darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just when their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen…one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into the Shadowland. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source…a surfer named Jude.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She’s always believed Damen to be her soulmate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them, Ever’s connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before…

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Pub. Date: December 2009
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover, 563pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.


In My Mailbox was created by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie

New Moon Party!

So, it's finally here and I'm so excited to get together with friends to go see New Moon tonight. We'll head back to my house to start the festivities with food and games. It's like a slumber party!

3 things not to forget for tonight's festivities:

1. Twilight Saga T- Shirts - Check


2. Tickets - Check


3. My girly scream - Check (It works - I practiced it)

If you didn't see them, here are the T-Shirts we'll be wearing tonight.

Win Betrayals by Lili St. Crow!

***Contest Closed***

This is your chance to Win...

A signed copy of Betrayals by Lili St. Crow

Rules: 1 Winner!
1. Comment on Guest Post here: +1
2. Comment on My Review here: +1
3. Link to blog: +1
4. Follow me on Twitter +1
5. Follower : +2

Total = 6 entries

Contest ends @ midnight (CST) December 3, 2009. U.S. Residents Only (Sorry!)

Review: Betrayals by Lili St. Crow

Betrayals by Lili St. Crow
Pub. Date: November 17, 2009
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Paperback, 304pp
Age Range: Young Adult

She's no angel . . .

Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she's just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn't entirely human. (So what else is new?)

Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England Schola for other teens like her, and there's a big problem— she's the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn't be so bad, but Dru's killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . .

Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart?

Betrayals picks up where Strange Angels left off with Dru and Graves arriving at a secret Schola – a school where Dru’s suppose to train and find out who set her up to die at Sergej’s hands. It’s never nice being the new kid at school or should I say the only girl amongst a bunch of boys who are dhampir or wulfen. When Dru finally starts to fit in, that’s when things get very interesting. You never know what’s lurking in the shadows or in Dru’s case, which friend or foe is waiting to get her out of the picture for good.

St. Crow did a wonderful job with Betrayals. She continues to impress me with her writing and the world that’s she’s created in Strange Angels. I love that Dru is a strong heroine and wants to be treated like the boys even though she’s special and supposed to be protected from all threats. I was happy to see a different side of Graves in this book. He’s still a sweetheart yet a fearsome one that any girl would be proud to have as a protector. I’m ecstatic that I got to know more about Christophe. We saw little of him in Strange Angels but I’ve found myself crushing on him in Betrayals – Yum apple pie! St. Crow did a brilliant job with creating the characters in the Strange Angels’ World and I can’t get enough of them.

I loved Strange Angels and I couldn’t wait to see if Betrayals would surpass my expectations after the heart-stopping events in Strange Angels. Well, I’ll just say Lili pulled out all the stops in Betrayals. There were some unexpected twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat and I swear you could have dropped a dime in my mouth because it was on the floor. Betrayals is a jaw dropping action packed experience that will have you begging for more or jumping at unexpected sounds thinking there actually are things that go bump in the night…

I can’t wait to see what happens in the next installment!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Guest Post: Lili St. Crow - Werewolves vs. Vampires

Lili St. Crow is the author of Strange Angels. She lives in Vancouver, Washington with her husband, three children, and a houseful of cats. Betrayals, the 2nd book in the Strange Angels Series is in stores today.

Vampires and Werewolves are among the most popular mythical beings of supernatural fiction amongst readers today. I'm thrilled that Lili will be sharing with us her thoughts on why these creatures are so fascinating.

How about you, which is your Favorite?

Werewolves vs. Vampires

There are millions of age-old questions. Peanut butter or jelly? Sandals or sneakers? Chicken or dumpling?

But the real question is, vampire or werewolf?

Both sides have passionate advocates and detractors. Both have things to recommend them.

I, for one, am perennially undecided.

Vampires are fascinating. They're a blank screen that deep cultural anxieties about sex, death, female sexuality, and parasitism play on over and over. The vampire is a shapeshifter. One moment he's a rotting corpse, the fear of contagion and being buried alive. The next he's a creepy-hot, razor-licking romantic antihero. He can be a Malkavian or a sparkling teenage dream. The vampire is most interesting not for what he says, but for what he says about us.

Female vampires have moved from being automatons under the sway of a princely master to interesting meditations in their own right. Wilhelmina Murray was passive British womanhood at risk of "foreign" contamination; the female vampires of today are more likely to be struggling with issues of sex and power as active agents.

And werewolves? Primal beast and thinking man in the same body? The tension between animal instinct and rationality makes for interesting and attractive characters. A werewolf can be a Noble Savage or a man not responsible for his beastly behavior, both things Western storytellers love. The lure of the werewolf is the chain it takes off our instincts. Animals don't doubt themselves, and a werewolf doubts him or herself only when they're not in the grip of the beast—and free of responsibility.

This is why I can't decide between werewolves and vampires. Two great tastes, not necessarily great together, but both, well, great.

I'm a little tired of pretty vampires—this is why I created scurf in Jill Kismet's world—but I can see the attraction. A tall, dark, rich (because all vampires invest, of course) immortal? Whether hero or villain, he's hitting all the right buttons. With all the benefits of vampirism (like superstrength and superspeed, not to mention becoming incredibly attractive) it's amazing so many vampire characters are so angsty. Then again, they are drinking blood. They are essentially parasites, and there's not a good way to prettify that dynamic. If there's a drawback to vampires, it's the angst—or the psychotic jerkwad factor, if we're talking about vampire villains.

As for werewolves, well, we've always suspected human beings are beasts at heart. Human history is full of humans doing things to each other animals would never dream of, things more "beastly" than the feathered and furred. Civilization and cooperation are the way we've survived, but they also require a lot of delayed gratification and compromise. Who hasn't seen the lure of turning into a huge hairy beast and running amok during, say, a boring business meeting? Who hasn't had nasty, ugly thoughts and fantasies? The werewolf is a safe place to repose all those things, because we are ultimately in control of any fantasy he stars in.

After all, we can turn off the television or leave the theater, close the book or turn off the radio at any time. These fantasies are dependent on us not just for blood or meat, but for existence itself.

To be honest, the werewolf has his own share of angst or jerkwad. But we forgive him like we forgive the vampire. After all, without us, they don't exist. Our blood, our breath, our stories give them life.

I think the ongoing fascination with werewolves and vampires comes from two things: the fact that they are both shapechangers, ready to serve our storytelling or anxious needs in a heartbeat; and from our need to make the world behave in a coherent fashion. The human brain is great at finding patterns and attributing causes to events, even if those patterns and causes aren't accurate. Senseless violence or disasters, or even plain bad luck, are all very difficult to find explanations for or healing from. With a myth of supernatural creatures bound by certain rules, we can take control of scary things. Draw their fangs, as it were.

Werewolves and vampires are both repositories of fantasies and anxieties we rarely speak aloud. Sometimes they work together, sometimes they cross-pollinate, sometimes they are depicted as enemies. In the end, though, they're our extraordinarily faithful servants.

Is it any wonder we have trouble choosing between them?

Thanks Lili!

For more information about Lili St. Crow and her books, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness (21): Betrayals by Lili St. Crow

What is Monday Madness?

It’s the phenomenon affecting all book lovers as we count down the hours in hopes of getting our hands on highly anticipated books on release day. So, come join me throughout the week where I will be featuring Author Interviews, Reviews and Contests for great books.

Betrayals by Lili St. Crow
Pub. Date: November 17, 2009
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Paperback, 304pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
She's no angel . . .

Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she's just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn't entirely human. (So what else is new?)

Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England Schola for other teens like her, and there's a big problem— she's the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn't be so bad, but Dru's killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . .

Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart?


Here's the trailer for Strange Angels, the first book in the series!


Want More? Head over to The Book Butterfly on Tantalizing Tuesday for a special treat!

In My Mailbox (27)

For Review (The Mark & Deadtown - you can visit the author's site to see the final version of the book covers)

The Mark (ARC) by Jen Nadol

Pub. Date: January 19, 2010
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Format: Hardcover, 240pp

Synopsis
Cassandra Renfield has always seen the mark—a glow around certain people reminiscent of candlelight. But the one time she mentioned it, it was dismissed as a trick of the light. Until the day she watches a man awash in the mark die. After searching her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person’s imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Armed with a vague understanding of the light, Cassie begins to explore her “gift,” seeking those marked for death and probing the line between decision and destiny. Though she’s careful to hide her secret—even from her new philosophy-obsessed boyfriend—with each impending death comes the temptation to test fate. But so many questions remain. How does the mark work? Why is she the only one who sees it? And finally, the most important of all: If you know today is someone’s last, should you tell them?

Deadtown (ARC) by Nancy Holzner

Pub. Date: December 29, 2009
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Format: Paperback, 336pp

Synopsis
First in a brand new urban fantasy series that's "fresh and funny, with a great new take on zombies" (Karen Chance) and "full of dangerous magic and populated with characters so realistic, they almost jump off the page" (Ilona Andrews).

If you were undead, you'd be home by now...

They call it Deadtown: the city's quarantined section for its inhuman and undead residents. Most humans stay far from its borders-but Victory Vaughn, Boston's only professional demon slayer, isn't exactly human.

Bought

Bleed by Laurie Stolarz
Pub. Date: April 2008
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Format: Paperback, 240pp
Age Range: Young Adult

Synopsis
Over the course of a single summer day, ten teenagers in Salem, Massachusetts, will discover important truths about themselves and each other.

There is Nicole, whose decision to betray her best friend will shock everyone, most of all herself; Kelly, who meets the convicted felon she has been writing to for years; Maria, whose definition of a true friend is someone who will cut her. Then there is Sadie, a chubby eleven-year-old whose mother forces her to wear a "please don't feed me" sign stapled to her shirt; while Joy, a fifteen-year-old waitress hoping for true intimacy narrowly escapes a very dark fate. Derik discovers that his usual good looks and charm won't help him hold onto the girl he wants, while nineteen-year-old drifter, Mearl, is desperately looking for a place to call home. Sean is torn between his loyalty to his girlfriend and the possibility of finding something more with her friend, while Ginger's single-minded pursuit to bring down her nemesis only proves that they may be more alike than she thought.

Seamlessly woven together, this incredibly powerful and compelling collection of stories chronicles the very real trials of today's teen experience.

I'm got t-shirts for my New Moon Party - What do you think?

Believe me, I would love to wear them all but only one belongs to me - I'll let you guess which one...

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie

Review: Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines

Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
Pub. Date: October 2009
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Format: Hardcover, 336pp
Age Range: Young Adult

It’s a fight to the death—on live TV—when a gladiator’s daughter steps into the arena.

Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through. Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family. Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator. Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him... For fans of The Hunger Games and Fight Club, Lise Haines’ debut novel is a mesmerizing look at a world addicted to violence—a modern world that’s disturbingly easy to imagine.

The first thing that made me want to read Girl in the Arena was the book’s cover. I absolutely adore the cover! I was also intrigued by the synopsis – A girl fighting her father’s murderer in a Gladiator Sports Arena to the death. Now that’s interesting especially when you tack on the fact that she has to marry him according to Gladiator Bylaws. And last but not least, the final straw in the hat that persuaded me to go ahead and move Girl in the Arena to the top of my reading list was the book trailer. It’s so addictive and I’ve watched it umpteen times, but let’s just say I know it by heart.

So, a friend of mine kept asking me two questions after watching the book trailer:

Did GITA Stun? Yes

*There were some scenes in the Glad Arena that were quite disturbing when you think about it in terms of the real world (Ultimate Fighting & Boxing).

* The whole set up of the Gladiator Sport was so interesting that I was intrigued enough to want to find out more.

Did GITA Impress? Yes

* This is the first book I’ve read by Lise Haines and even though her writing is totally different from what I’m used to, I totally dig her writing style. She uses dashes instead of quotations for dialogue but after the first couple of pages I had no problems continuing on.

* I loved the directions Haines took with GITA. I know everyone’s reading experiences are not the same with how we perceive a book. I mostly read because of the entertainment factor but this book had me thinking on so many levels - like how our pop culture is heavily influenced by mass media and encompasses the everyday lives of society. And take for instance, the craziness of the paparazzi when it comes to celebrities. So, all in all I couldn’t help but relate this book to what’s going on in today’s society.

I have to tell you that the ending left me wanting a little more, but it was satisfactory nevertheless.

I will definitely be reading more of Haines’s books.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

---

I’ll leave you with the book trailer that started it all…

Win Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Stolarz!

***Contest Closed***

This is your chance to Win...

Deadly Little Lies (ARC) by Laurie Stolarz

Rules: 1 Winner!
1. Comment on Author Interview here: +1
2. Comment on My Review here: +1
3. Link to blog: +1
4. Follow me on Twitter +1
5. Follower : +2

Total = 6 entries

Contest ends @ midnight (CST) November 26, 2009. U.S. and Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

Review: Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Stolarz

Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria StolarzPub. Date: November 2009
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Format: Hardcover, 304pp
Series: Touch Series, #2

Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, the mysterious new boy at school who turned out to have a very mysterious gift—pyschometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry, and experiencing her own strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow rubbed off on her. Can the power of psychometry be transferred?

Even once Ben returns to school, Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Despite the romantic tension between them, Ben remains aloof, avoiding contact. Then when an unexpected kiss leads to a frightening argument, Camelia makes the painful decision to let Ben go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at work, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. Adam is easygoing, and seems to really care about her.

But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events upturns secrets from Ben's past—and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who-before it's too late.

Deadly Little Lies is a suspenseful and thrilling page turner…

I love the whole aspect around psychometry in the Touch Series. It’s unique and spooky, which I guess is why I kept trying to convince myself while reading this book that I was the only one in the house at the time. With Camelia’s strange encounters with premonitions, I couldn’t help but to be psyched while reading this book.

In this installment, Camelia’s trying to grasp the meaning of this ability especially when it seems totally different from what Ben’s ability entailed. Stolarz did a great job at explaining why Camelia kept finding excuses not to tell her parents or authorities about the threats surrounding her. I guess it’s not as easy to explain when one might think she’s crazy. Ben’s also back in town but all’s not well in paradise, there’s a new guy knocking at the door.

I found myself laughing at the humorous dialogue between Camelia’s best friends, Kimmie and Wes. Every time something weird happened with Camelia, these two would put their two cents in whether it’s sound advice or not, but they always managed to get a laugh out of me.

Stolarz once again kept me guessing with the plot. Finally, when I think I've figured out who the perp. is, another wrench is thrown in knocking my guesstimations out the door. All I can say is Poor Ben, can this guy catch a break?

I can’t wait to see what Stolarz has in store for us in Deadly Little Game, the next installment in the Touch Series.

Rating: 4 ½ out of 5 Stars

Author Interview: Laurie Faria Stolarz

I'm thrilled to present a talented and amazing person today. I want to thank Laurie Stolarz for taking some time out to answer questions about her novels.

Laurie Faria Stolarz grew up in Salem, MA, attended Merrimack College, and received an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College in Boston. Some of Stolarz's other novels include, Blue is for Nightmare Series, Project 17, and Bleed. Deadly Little Secrets, the second book in the Touch Series is in stores today.

What was your inspiration behind the Touch Series?
I wanted to write a story where the main character has to struggle with the idea of falling in love with someone who could potentially kill her (and who’s already allegedly killed someone in the past). I also wanted to continue experimenting with the supernatural – showing how we all have our own inner senses and intuition, and how with work we can tap into those things and make them stronger. I worked on these concepts in my BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series, and I wanted to continue, but with new characters, plots, and challenges.

How do you conceive your plot ideas?
I get inspiration from all over. I check out the headlines, watch a lot of reality TV (probably more than I should), read teen magazines, eavesdrop in coffee shops, you name it. I start out with a plot idea that’s different in some way – something I can get really excited about. I’ll play the plot out like a movie in my mind, coming up with a character and his or her motivation. I tend to see my ideas as movies before I start writing. I’ll also map out the entire plot on paper before I start to draft.

You have written several novels, how do you keep your plots fresh? I try to keep my writing fresh by keeping it interesting for me. So, even though I write in the same genre, I try to constantly challenge myself by coming up with new ideas or new ways to build suspense. If I feel like something isn’t fresh in some way, I’ll scrap it, even if it can feasibly work. I’m really excited about both DEADLY LITTLE LIES and DEADLY LITTLE GAME. There are some really big twists in both of those books that I got really into writing.

How many books can we expect in the Touch Series\Blue is for Nightmare Series?
So far there are five books planned for the TOUCH Series. BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS will be the fifth book in the BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARE series.

What do you consider your best accomplishment?
Probably BLEED. It was such a challenge to get into the minds of all of those characters. I rewrote those stories more than any other work I’ve done. I must have rewritten Derik’s story at least 40 times trying to get the voice just right, and the motivation to come through. Also, because BLEED takes place over the course of a single day, I wanted each character to have the ability to learn something, and have that lesson be achievable/believable in such a short period of time.

What other projects are you working on?
I’m currently working on DEADLY LITTLE GAME, the third book in the TOUCH Series. I’m also writing the third book in the AMANDA PROJECT.

Is there any additional information that you would like to add?

I’m launching the release with a really exciting contest, the winner of which could have a minor character in DEADLY LITTLE GAME, the third book in the TOUCH series, named after him or her. Be sure to check out all the details on my website: www.lauriestolarz.com/news.html.

Thanks Laurie!

For more information about Laurie Stolarz and her books, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness (20): Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz

What is Monday Madness?

It’s the phenomenon affecting all book lovers as we count down the hours in hopes of getting our hands on highly anticipated books on release day. So, come join me throughout the week where I will be featuring Author Interviews, Reviews and Contests for great books.

Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Pub. Date: November 10, 2009
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Format: Hardcover, 304pp
Series: Touch Series, #2

Synopsis
Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, the mysterious new boy at school who turned out to have a very mysterious gift—pyschometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry, and experiencing her own strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow rubbed off on her. Can the power of psychometry be transferred?

Even once Ben returns to school, Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Despite the romantic tension between them, Ben remains aloof, avoiding contact. Then when an unexpected kiss leads to a frightening argument, Camelia makes the painful decision to let Ben go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at work, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. Adam is easygoing, and seems to really care about her.

But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events upturns secrets from Ben's past—and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who-before it's too late.

Want More? Head over to The Book Butterfly on Tantalizing Tuesday for a special treat!

Guest Post: Melanie's Musings - Young Adult vs. Adult Books

I want to thank Melanie a.k.a Melanie's Musings for stopping by to discuss Young Adult vs. Adult Books.

Please welcome Melanie everyone!

It has only been in the last two years that I've spent much time reading YA. After moving beyond older children's books in the fifth grade, I basically jumped into adult literature. The majority of my middle school years were spent reading a bunch of the classics as well as newer adult books. Then, when I was in the eight grade, the school librarian introduced me to a very popular YA series, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I was hooked. Since then, I've been basically splitting my time between YA and adult books, and I've come to a couple conclusions.

YA is amazing. One of the reasons I completely fell in love with The Sisterhood was that they were teens just like me. Granted, their lives were a lot more interesting (I want to go to Greece!), but I could still relate to them. That was one of the reasons I asked the school librarian for recommendations. Although I was enjoying the books I was reading, I couldn't quite connect to the characters. I can't imagine what it would be like to get married and divorced, but I can imagine to what it would feel like to get your heart broken. I haven't come to the point where I've felt the stress of wanting to get a promotion at work, but I have worried about how I did at my first job interview.

On the other hand, Adult books can be great too. Although I may not be able to relate to exactly what a character is going through, all human emotions are the same. Love is love, hate is hate, so on and so forth. And sometimes, it can be fun to imagine what it would be like to find yourself in a predicament like Nanny in The Nanny Diaries, or take a more serious turn to what it must have been like for those in Under this Unbroken Sky.

I think the most important thing to remember is that both genres are full of great reads. So whether the majority of your reading time is spent reading YA or Adult, make sure you've got a bit of both.

Winner of Mirrorscape!

The Winner is...

Mirrorscape by Mike Wilks

throuthehaze @ Throuthehaze Reads

Please email me your address within 48hrs

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Guest Post: Krissi Dallas - Backstage Pass To The Teenage Boy’s Mind

I would like to thank Krissi Dallas for stopping by today. Her debut novel PHANTOM ISLAND: WIND is the first book of an epic series. Today, Krissi will be sharing her findings with us on the working's of the teenage boy's mind

Please welcome Krissi everyone!

Backstage Pass To The Teenage Boy’s Mind

WARNING: What you are about to read contains the deep and [sometimes disturbing] thoughts of a select group of teenage boys who agreed to be completely honest with me on the condition of total confidentiality… So, naturally, I am here to expose their deep, dark secrets to all of cyberspace! No, seriously, I did tell my informants that I would protect their top secret identities. (But, girls, if you find one you want to know more about… send me a private message. We’ll negotiate.)

I teach Pre-AP English and Language Arts for 7th and 8th grade, and thankfully, I have been blessed to have great relationships with the students (girls AND boys) that have come through my classroom. It is from these continued relationships that I began conducting my research about boy readers. And somehow, I received what most girls would give anything to have, if only for a few minutes – a backstage pass into the mind of a boy. And by that, I mean that I wanted to know what guys really think when they’re not “acting.” When there is no audience (usually made up of fellow guys) to perform for, what do they really think and believe about books?

I confess that the teacher (and new author) in me was shocked when I attended a Writer’s Conference this summer and heard a popular literary agent make the statement that “[teenage] boys just don’t read.” This was totally NOT my experience in the classroom and it made me wonder what other myths/misconceptions are out there in the publishing world (or anywhere for that matter) about boys and reading.

So I polled 36 different boys (12–18 years old), presented some common “beliefs” out there about boys and reading, promised confidentiality, and then instructed them to educate me on their thoughts (restricting them to ONLY let me in on subjects pertaining to books – there are other things about a boy’s mind I just DON’T need to know). Before I go further, I do want you to know that these are some of the coolest boys I know… most all of them are goal-driven, intelligent, and typically good readers. I interviewed every type of guy… from the star quarterback to the brooding musician to the socially-awkward genius in the front row. And here is what I discovered… take a deep breath.

Myth #1 – Boys Don’t Like to Read
Every single guy disagreed with this statement – some to the point of being offended. One 8th grade boy remarked, “That’s totally stupid. I know a lot of boys in my grade that love to read.” While each guy felt that the AMOUNT of reading and the TYPE of book chosen varied from guy to guy, they all said that reading was worth their time – even something they enjoyed. “It is true that other media has begun to take the place of literature. I used to read all the time… before I got a high-end PC and gaming console,” another 8th grade boy admitted. One of my 7th graders said, “I like to read when I’m at home because I learn a lot of new things. Reading can make a guy’s personality awesome, and fiction helps our imaginations.” I thought this was interesting… from an 8th grader: “Boys read. However, if books are written with the author thinking that boys don’t, the target audience can only be set for girls. Perhaps that is why some books are read more by girls.” Several others said that even if they didn’t prefer to read all the time, they would if a book was good enough… which brings us to our next myth.

Myth #2 – Boys Only Read Nonfiction or Action/Adventure
“Totally false.”
“A guy can read more than just nonfiction and action.”
“A good mystery is probably next in line!”
“Guys read love stories, too.”
Wait… what?! We’ll get to the topic of romance in just a sec. Not so shockingly, every boy did agree that they were typically drawn to action and adventure – something that keeps them guessing and keeps the plot moving. But aside from that common factor, their individual tastes ranged just as much as any other reader. One senior in high school gave me this insight: “The kind of books I enjoy are the ones I can (or want to) relate to. Adventure stories are the ones that are going to reach out to guys the most. We have to have some consistent action scattered throughout the book, otherwise we lose interest very quickly.” A junior boy added to that… “If you can imagine climbing up the side of a cliff while someone below is chasing you, that's pretty awesome. (Mainly because you probably wouldn't get a chance to do that in real life and, in a book, you can’t get hurt so you can do whatever you want.) Fiction just gives a guy's imagination a chance to let loose. Anything with action, suspense, and adventure seems like a good book to most guys.” I had very few guys consider themselves “nonfiction” readers.
So what about this topic of romance? Can boys genuinely dig a good love story, too?

Myth #3 – Boys Don’t Like Love Stories
Let me start with this – I had only ONE boy adamantly state that he wants nothing to do with romance in a book (middle schooler). Every other guy polled said that love stories were okay with him. Most of the middle school boys said that the one stipulation to enjoying a love story was that it had to include some kind of action/adventure scenes around the romance. The older guys seemed to be more receptive to romance, as one senior stated, “We're probably neutral with love stories as long as they have a good plot and do not get WAY too mushy.” A few of the boys suggested similarly that there should be a two-page limit on love scenes before including some kind of action-filled plot twist. But here are some of the most interesting quotes… straight from their mouths…
“To tell you the truth, a little romance in a story helps the plot flow and it makes the story more realistic. I just don’t like it being the main genre of the book.” -8th grader

“Romance happens every day in real life and is normal and natural, correct? So, yes. Romance has a place in books.” -8th grader

“Honestly, I believe that the romance factor in books is an important one, even for dudes. We like the idea of the ‘damsel in distress’ and being the knight in shining armor that rescues her, and I think we get to vicariously live through books that have romance mixed in with adventure and action.” –Senior in high school

“I think romance really completes a good book. Love stories help you know how to get the girls, if you know what I mean. Plus it goes well with the hero archetype – and can help the hero make a good decision in the end.” -7th grader (Can you tell we’ve been studying hero archetype in literature and movies in my class?)

“Some romance novels are actually pretty good (and if you pay attention, guys, you can sometimes pick up tips on how to impress your lady.) It doesn't always have to have mystery or adventure or action to keep my attention, although it doesn't hurt to throw in some action here or there. If you think about it though, most romance novels have plenty of 'action' to keep a guy interested… if you get my drift, and sorry if it seems inappropriate, but it's true.” –Junior in high school

“I don’t think it really matters if romance is in a book that I read – if it’s in there, then I will read it and probably enjoy it. But I’m not going to tell every boy in my class unless I want to be made fun of everyday. So, it’s not that boys hate romance – it’s just that their friends hate it when you admit it. You won’t find a lot of guys with confidence to admit it.” – 8th grader

And there you have it. I wonder if boys would stop making fun of each other if they knew that they ALL just admitted to liking romance in a book…? But, no, they have a part to play onstage in front of their audience. So these rare, honest glimpses with the actors backstage become very telling. I want to say thank you to the boys who participated in this research – you know who you are! I am so proud of each of you and consider it an honor to be your teacher. As an author, I thank you for being such a great audience… you inspire me!

Krissi Dallas
Author of Phantom Island: Wind
http://www.krissidallas.com/
phantomislandbook@gmail.com