The Best Reader [Search results for Pure] 

Julianna Baggott, the author of Pure, is here today to talk about the book and one lucky winner will get a signed copy!

1. Can you give us 5 words that you would use to describe Pressia and Partridge?

Haves and have-nots collide.

2. Can you share with us a few of your favorite lines from Pure?

There's a character in the novel who only has the ability to echo, more or less, what's been said. There's a term called"echolalia" in which people can say anything they want to but often repeat things they've said or someone else has said — directly after. I love writing his dialogue because it's never a simple repetition. What Helmud decides to repeat and how are the key to understanding him. What he says can be loaded.

3. Pure involves such a unique and dangerous world, what was the most difficult part of the writing process? How did you build upon the world we see in the book?

I have to see the landscape — when in the world of PURE — before I write it. This isn't true of other books I've written where sometimes the words arrive and the setting takes hold. So it's dream first, write second.

4. You've accomplished a lot in the writing world. What would you say is your biggest accomplishment?

PURE exist because of all of the things I've written in the past. Those works have led me here — as disparate as they seem. And the blurbs for PURE mean an awful lot to me. The range is incredible — from Pulitzer Prize Winner Robert Olen Butler to the producer of the Paranormal Activity Franchise, Steven Schneider (who's also an author). I don't want to namedrop anymore than I already have — but I admire the writers who've commented on PURE so damn much — I'm truly thankful and humbled by their endorsement.

5. Fox 2000 bought the film rights to Pure! Congrats! What did you think when you heard the news and do you have any new details about the deal?

Honestly, I was relieved. There'd been a lot of action and talk and bustle and huge anxiety for a week or so … and then they swooped in and took it. I knew the producer already and knew immediately that I was in good hands. Deets? I have no idea. My job at present is to keep my fingers crossed.

Pure by Julianna Baggott
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (February 8th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 448 pages
Series: Pure #1
We know you are here, our brothers and sisters..

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers.. to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash..

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

Prize:

• 1 winner will receive a SIGNED copy of Pure by Julianna Baggott.

• You must be at least 13 to enter.
• Name and email must be provided.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US only and ends February 25th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

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Pure by Janenifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (April 3rd, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 329 pages
Source: ARC from publisher
Series: Covenant #2
Rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is need. And then there is Fate…

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's"other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon… and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude… or killing her. When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

Review:

I will try to avoid spoilers. I will start by saying that Alex is one of the best, most kick-butt, amazingly genuine heroines of YA literature. Her courage, determination, and strength is beyond comprehension. She has been through so much but she remains herself through it all. She is what really makes this series shine. Although she may have a life and destiny we may not be able to imagine, there is so much about her we can relate to. In many ways, she is just a young girl trying to find her place. But, what makes it even better is that her feisty personality lets everyone know she is not to be messed with.

Then we have Aiden. Oh poor, sweet, hunk of a man Aiden. Aiden can be intense, but Alex is always able to get to his soft side — rather he likes it or not. Seeing his reactions to Alex is always entertaining.

Now, we have Seth. Much, much, more Seth in this book! Seth can be infuriating but he is one of those guys people may act like they hate, but they would miss him if he wasn't around. I think that's something Alex realizes as well. We get much more of a build-up in the relationship between Alex and Seth, which was super nice! I have been a Seth fan since the beginning so I was eager to see where Janenifer went with this relationship.

I gotta say, I cracked up so many times during this book. I seemed to either be laughing, blushing, crying, or gasping during most of it. Yes, there was lots of blushing! Janenifer knows how to write steamy scenes. The connections between Alex and Aiden, and Alex and Seth, were so surprisingly different but they each felt honest and real. That can be a hard task for writers to achieve but Janenifer did this to perfection.

Next, the plot. I won't go into too much detail but I will just say that we get a lot more action and information about the inner-workings of the council. There are a ton of twists and turns going on and unexplained daimon attacks. All of that is combined with the frictions among the Pures and half-bloods. So to summarize, we have more action, drama, suspense, and romance… could we even handle any more?!

Jennifer L. Armentrout is the new hero of young adult novels. She is able to flawlessly create a world that is visually appealing, with compelling characters and a action-packed plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Recommended: EVERYONE. You don't have to be a paranormal fan to love this series. If you want something that will rock your world, pick up Half-Blood and Pure.

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You can follow the tour by clic king here.- http://www.stuckinbooks.com/p/pure-blog-tour.html

There are two giveaways that will be going on through the remainder of the tour. You can sign up by going to Stuck in Books and A Cupcake and a Latte. You can get extra entries for both giveaways by commenting on the tour posts. But wait, there's more!

You guys are so lucky today because I have a highly coveted ARC of Pure for one lucky reader! If you haven't read Half-Blood yet, DO IT NOW! You won't regret it.

• Just leave a comment WITH your email address!
• Must be at least 13 (or have permission) to enter.
• US mailing addresses only.
• Contest will close April 13th.

I'm thrilled to be part of the Half-Blood tour. I just finished this book and it is incredible! One of my favorites of this year. My review can be found here.

You can follow the rest of the tour, hosted by The {Teen} Book Scene by clicking here.

A lot of people have asked what exactly is a Hematoi and how in the holy Underworld do you pronounce it. Good question. I, myself, have a hard time pronouncing it. So let’s break out the nifty pronunciation key.

Hematoi — HEM-a-toy
A Hematoi, also known as a pure-blood, is a descendent of two demigods. They are not the child of a god and a mortal, which is a demigod. And don’t let their comfy, elitist sort of life fool you. They do use half-bloods, a child of a Hematoi and a mortal protect and serve them, but they are not defenseless by any means. Most, but not all, just feel that fighting is kind of below them.

Being a child of a two demigods, they’re chalk full of aether—the essence of the gods. A Hematoi can wield control over one of the elements: air, water, fire or earth. They can be just as fast and as strong as a half-blood. Their compulsions pack a powerful punch. If a Hematoi suggested that you go play in a street? You’d happily go play in the street.

Why are the Hematoi in such a position of power? Well, it can be summed up pretty easily: their blood is pure. Relationships of any kind with a half-blood, besides a professional kind, are absolutely forbidden. There is no ands, ifs or buts there. The half-blood usually bears the brunt of punishment if they break the big no touchie policy. And we aren’t talking a smack on a wrist or shame. We’re talking indentured servitude.

So in the world of gods and their many offspring, Hematoi are at the top of the food chain. Well, there is one exception but that’s a story for a different day.

Half-Blood by Janenifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (October 18th, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 281 pages
Series: Covenant #1
The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

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Book Trailer

Half-Blood by Janenifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (October 18th, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 281 pages
Source: Publisher
Series: Covenant #1
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.
Review: Half-Blood completely blew me away! I could not put it down and stayed up till 4am just to finish it. It's one of the rare books I've added to my"must read again" list! I've even went back to certain parts already because they were just that incredible! I already know Half-Blood will be making an appearance in my top 10 of 2011 list.

Where do I even start?! First, this book involves mythology, which some people either love or hate. I usually tried to avoid books with mythology but I have been lovin' some of the new releases! The mythology aspects of this book created the perfect background and really made me interested to see what happens next.

Alex is a half-blood and her and her mother escaped the Covenant (a training type school) in order to live a semi-normal life. But they learn that they can't escape for long and soon Alex ends up back at the Covenant. As a half-blood, she could easily be made into a servant but Alex wants to be a Sentinel and hunt Daimons. In order to have a shot at that, she must catch up to her peers by allowing Aiden (a Pure) to train her. Ahh, Aiden. *mind wonders* Aiden is beyond swoon-worthy. He's a tough fighter with a sensitive side that it seems only Alex gets to see. But a relationship with him would be forbidden. Pures and halfs can not be together, period.

Even with that complication, things get even crazier when a new person comes to the Covenant and Alex learns more about her own fate. I won't spoil what happens, or who shows up, but I will say that by the middle of this book I think I could have ignored a hurricane outside. I was that into this story! This new character was so captivating and alluring… and sexy. ahhh… love it!

What Janenifer was able to create with this story is one that you won't be able to forget. Alex is an amazingly strong heroine. Those can be rare to find in YA novels. But there is no doubt Alex could kick butt. She never lets someone take control of her life and she knows exactly what she wants. Aiden is complex. He's a little older than Alex and much more mature than other Pures his age. He has been through a lot and he doesn't see Alex as less than him just because she's a half-blood. He sees her strength and determination from the start.

Not only did Janenifer deliver some fabulous main characters, but she has woven in multiple minor characters that help build this world. One of my favorites is Caleb. He's Alex's best friend and he was just adorable. As I read this story I felt like I was there with the characters. Janenifer flawlessly described the setting, emotions, and atmosphere in the story. I always say it's rare if a writer is able to describe a romantic moment in a few words and it makes me swoon, but that happened… often! Any time Aiden brushed up against Alex or.well, spoke… I was blushing!

Half-Blood exceeded my expectations on every level. I'm not sure how I will make myself wait for the next book, Pure. Janenifer L. Armentrout created a world that will easily grab readers. If you are a fan of Vampire Academy, and books that will leave you breathless, pick up Half-Blood!

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Book Trailer

"So why am I super excited two watch Season Two of True Blood and pick up the second novel? Because it's a good story. Pure and simple. It's a fast-paced, exciting, "guilty pleasure" sort of read." — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"Sookie Stackhouse is just a small-time cocktail waitress in small-town Louisiana. Until the vampire of her dreams walks into her life-and one of her coworkers checks out...

Maybe having a vampire for a boyfriend isn't such a bright idea."

I'll admit it. I tried reading this book last summer and didn't make it through the first chapter. I then watched the first season of True Blood on DVD and realized it wasn't the writing that I disliked, it was the character Sookie (more on that later).

But then, literally a couple days ago, a friend of mine said, "Reagan, let's read this series together this summer." I gave him a bit of a head start, and when I said he was actually enjoying it I finally went to Target to buy my discounted copy. I started reading (read way too late into the night) and finished it while waiting for my flight to leave for Louisville.

My thoughts?

I still disliked the same things. First of all, the cover. I am not a fan of these covers (at all). If I wasn't so against purchasing the movie (or in this case television) cover, I would have preferred that one! These covers deter me from this series.

Second, I don't like Sookie, at all. I think she's too innocent, pure, and naive but then she's got this "I'm going to save the world" and kick-butt attitude. I just find her entire character unbelievable and contradictory. This is true for the television show as well.

So why am I super excited two watch Season Two of True Blood and pick up the second novel? Because it's a good story. Pure and simple. It's a fast-paced, exciting, "guilty pleasure" sort of read. I can't really put my finger on exactly what I like about this book (despite very clearly being able to define what I didn't like) — but it was a good read and I'm glad I brought it on the plane.

Because I watched Season 1 first, I am very excited to pick up the second novel since I will hopefully not know "who done it" this time.

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 8/10
Plot: 8/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 8/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 1/10
Overall: 83/100 B

To the FTC, with love: Bought

"Students pick these novels up for quick reads during DEAR or for pure enjoyment — but they almost always end up learning something." — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"How on earth did 'with bells on' come to express enthusiasm? Why is good health compared to a small stringed instrument? ('As fit as a fiddle.') And what do pickles have to do with quandaries? Let's not beat about the bush: despite the fact that we have all used these phrases at one time or another, and even enjoyed expressing them, they are in truth — when you take a moment to consider them — completely senseless and utterly fantastical. We all know what somebody means when they use these phrases due to our common knowledge of them, but it wouldn't be surprising if, when asked to explain them, you found that the cat had got your tongue, or you simply clammed up! "Spilling the Beans on the Cat's Pyjamas" provides us with the meanings to these well-worn and much-loved phrases by putting these linguistic quirks in context, and explaining how and why they were first used. Absorbing, diverting and fascinating — as far as Christmas gifts go, "Spilling the Beans" really is the bee's knees! "

Why I read this: I have found that my students really enjoy this quirky "for your information" novels ("I Used to Know That, " "A Certain 'Je Ne Sais Quoi' "). They pick these novels up for quick reads during DEAR (drop everything and read) or for pure enjoyment — but they almost always end up learning something. I love having these novels in my classroom for students to explore. "Spilling the Beans on the Cat's Pajamas" is no different; students are amazed to find out where common phrases that they use come from. We now do a different "Where Did It Come From" activity each day and then I show off this novel. It's a great opening activity and something that the students are very much interested in.

Cover: The one downfall to this series of books are the covers; unless I direct students to these novels, they won't pick them up simply because the covers are boring. I think if they spiced up the covers a bit more people (my students included) would be more apt to explore the knowledge inside.

Random Thoughts:A few of my favorite sayings covered in this book are: another nail in the coffin, baker's dozen, and see a man about a dog. Actually, a couple years ago I was working with someone who didn't know what a baker's dozen was; he sincerely thought I was making it up. I remember laughing so hard I thought my spleen would burst! After reading the explanation, I couldn't help but email him:

"Sam,
My students and I are currently talking about where common phrases come from and one that we discovered was "the baker's dozen." I remember a bit of confusion a couple years ago and immediately thought of you. Here is what we found:

"A baker's dozen is 13, one more than the standard dozen. This phrase is widely held to date back to medieval England. Henry III instituted a reign called the Assize of Bread and Ale that called for the severe punishment of any baker's caught shortchanging customers. English bakers developed the habit of including an extra loaf of bread when asked for a dozen to ensure that if one were stolen, dropped, or lost, they wouldn't be accused of shorting their customers."
I'm not sure why the term stuck around or why the thirteen of us continued to discuss it for so long, but it's something that I remember laughing about.

I hope all is well! Stay warm!"
Final Thoughts: Despite the lacking cover, I love having this book in my hands and can't wait for the next in the series of novels — you never know what knowledge you'll uncover.

Originality: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 9/10
Style: 5/5
Cover: 5/10
Overall: 29/35 B

To the FTC, with love: Received from Publisher

"The story, the message, and the love are so real and pure. My students are going to devour this book!" — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"Still haunted by nightmares of her mother’s death, fifteen-year-old Sienna Jones reluctantly travels to Indonesia with her father’s relief team to help tsunami orphans with their post traumatic stress disorder—something Sienna knows a lot about. Since her mother’s plane went missing over the Indian Ocean three years before, Sienna doesn’t do anything if it involves the ocean or planes, so this trip is a big step forward.

But the last thing she expects is to fall for Deni, a brooding Indonesian boy who lives at the orphanage, and just so happens to be HOT. When Deni hears a rumor that his father may be alive, Sienna doesn’t think twice about running away with him to the epicenter of the disaster. Unfortunately, what they find there could break both their hearts."

"Sea" was one of the books I most excited for at BEA that I hadn't heard a lot of — I just absolutely adored the cover (a bit shallow, I know). So when I won it I was ecstatic!

Besides a fantastic "I want this now" cover, the story behind the cover is just as mouth-watering. I found that I could not put this book down and read it in only two sittings. It took me a bit longer to actually get into it simply because the love interest (sweet and innocent love interest) disappears just when I think I can't handle any more suspense. But then as soon as Sea begins her journey, I just had to find out what happened!

Parts of this book were a bit predictable, but as soon as I began to get "bored" a new fantastic twist took place and the whole story changed — it really kept me on my toes. So much so that we had just sat down at the best seats in the Jim Patterson stadium and I just had to finish the last few pages. Rude, I know.

Like "Before I Fall," I fell in love with how innocent and real the love interest (preferably #1 — in my opinion) of this story is. The whole time I was reading I was texting my own love interest gushing about how sweet Spider was. I may also have text him the most romantic line in the whole movie — "It's always been you."

Now that I can almost smell your saliva escaping your open mouth — that's all that you get!

Really, this book is fantastic! The story, the message, and the love are so real and pure. My students are going to devour this book!

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 8/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 8/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Overall: 96/100 A

This book will be released on June 10th, 2010.

To the FTC, with love: Won from TAC (Teen Author Carnival) during BEA 2010

This year we have 23 authors that I'll be featuring over 7 days and each day you'll have a chance to enter to win! There's also a scavenger hunt going on, so be sure to check out The Crossroads Tour Post to see what questions will be asked, what blog you'll be able to find the answer on and enter to win!
Today I am featuring Christine Fonseca, Dawn Dalton, and Amanda Ashby. Be sure to check out the rafflecopter giveaway, too!

1. Can you tell us 3 little-known facts about Nesy, from your Requiem series?

Three facts about Nesy? Sure…
1) Nesy loves classical choral music. She often visited churches when she was a younger warrior, sitting in the back just listening to the music. Something about it felt so sacred, so pure. She said it was the way humans remembered their angelic nature.

2) Nesy often wishes she choose a different order. I know, shocking considering how much she loves being a Sentinal. But, she tires of the pressure at times, the need for perfect control of her feelings. In those moments she fantasizes about being like Cass, one of the Anointed, healing others instead of killing them.

3) Nesy may be great with a sword, but she is even better with her bare hands. In fact, she’s disarmed many UnHoly with nothing more than her hands. She is pretty bad-ass.

2. If you could have one super power, what would it be and why?

I’d totally want to be an empath. Absolutely. I mean, being able to feel another’s emotions, know what they are hiding deep in the dredges of their soul—THAT is pure power. And like any power, it can be used for good… or evil.

1. Of all the characters you have written, which one has been the most challenging for you to write?

Probably Emma Jones from Fairy Bad Day. She had a lot of rage and it took me a long time to calm her down and stop her from arguing with everyone she came across in the book! Thankfully she also had a big sword and some killer fairies to do battle with, which helped with some of her anger issues!

2. Celeste and Cassidy are two very different characters in Demonosity. Are they based off of any of your high school acquaintances?

None of my characters are ever based on real people but Cassidy was definitely influenced by my time in college. It was the mid-eighties and there were a lot of cool gothic punks walking around the campus! As for Celeste, I basically wanted to make Cassidy’s job as hard as possible so having to be the guardian for a girl who was such a snob, seemed pretty funny! Well, funny to me, I’m not sure that Cassidy would agree with me!!

1. Can you tell us a little about the school Hope enters in Killer’s Instinct?

It’s awesome. That is all.

Just kidding. The monsters in Killer’s Instinct are different than your typical pop culture fare, which means our young hunters require some additional skills. At Le Manoir, the recruits are put through a series of mental and physical drills to help hunt – and if necessary, take down – 52 of the most wanted baddies, including the likes of Frankenstein. But as Hope and her crew find out, not everything is what it seems at Le Manoir.

2. If you were to have a chance to enter any special school like that, what skills would you want to learn the most?

Glamour immunity! I know myself, and if I ever met a handsome vampire in a back alley, I’d be easily seduced by his charm. Especially if he looked like Alexander Skarsgard. All of that acrobatic, ninja, weapons training stuff is cool and all, but if I didn’t have the ability to deflect some vampire seduction, I’d be hopeless as a real monster hunter.

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"For some reason I am able to forgive the one dimensional characters and "too fast" of pace because of the end result: a book I couldn't put down." — Miss Remmers

Release Date: November 15th, 2011
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Challenges: Dystopia Challenge, 100+ Reading Challenge, eBook Challenge

"In the violent country of Ludania, the language you speak determines what class you are, and there are harsh punishments if you forget your place—looking a member of a higher class in the eye can result in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina (Charlie for short) can understand all languages, a dangerous ability she’s been hiding her whole life. Her only place of release is the drug-filled underground club scene, where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. There, she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy who speaks a language she’s never heard, and her secret is almost exposed. Through a series of violent upheavals, it becomes clear that Charlie herself is the key to forcing out the oppressive power structure of her kingdom…."

I began "The Pledge" with knowing nothing more than the synopsis and that it was a "pretty big deal" on Twitter when it was released via the Galley Grab; this was basically a "blind read" for me. Let me start with my initial reaction: complete and pure love. I read almost the entirety of this novel on Sunday when my husband was watching football and after our Sunday night family dinner with the in-laws we went to see "Real Steel" in theaters and I was still thinking about this book. As an exhausted new teacher, there are very few books that I "stay up for" (because, seriously, I'm usually in bed by 9:30) so when I told Dan that I wanted to stay up and read while he watched the days football highlights, he was completely shocked. An hour and a half later I finished "The Pledge" and couldn't wait to tell everyone about it.

I loved the pacing, I loved the plot, I loved the entire concept! I absolutely loved all the parallels to society today and loved analyzing the book in comparison to immigration and language barriers; I found several wonderful quotes that I have written down below to tease you. I mean, the power of words is unmistakable but Derting does such a fantastic job of highlighting and illustrating that power. I loved the twits and I loved how I never really knew which characters to trust. My initial reaction to this book was pure and complete adoration.

But within a days time I was online and reading reviews and one particular review (compliments of April from Good Books and Wine) has kept me thinking. This review brought up tons of different points that I realized I agree with but had just never thought about. I realized, after reading this thorough and fair review, that the characters aren't multidimensional — I can't tell you why I like Max or what makes Charlie so special (besides for being "plain" — which I guess has become synonymous with "the girl next door" that every protagonist lately has become). I don't understand why Max is "intrigued" by Charlie and I don't understand Charlie and Aron's relationship.

April's points about pacing also rang true for me. I couldn't put this book down because I was never bored but that probably has a lot to do with the fact that the entirety of this story really takes place in a very small time frame. Now that I think about it, I'm a bit flabbergasted that the entire plot took place in the span of a few days and that one girl's life could change so completely. But while I was reading, none of this bothered me or even occurred to me.

I think the power of the review is astonishing. April's review of this book has kept me thinking and comparing my thoughts to hers and how we agree on so much but our feelings at the end were so different. Even with all of these points, this book was still amazing for me. For some reason I am able to forgive the one dimensional characters and "too fast" of pace because of the end result: a book I couldn't put down.

Favorite Quotes:
"That was when the class system was first imposed. It was designed to discourage future uprisings, to keep people living apart so ideas of rebellion could not be co-mingled. Language became a tool, a way to complete that division... words had become the ultimate barrier" (144 — according to my Nook in the Galley).
"These Outcasts who spoke only one shared language, seemed happier than those... who were segregated by words and ruled by fear" (225 — again, my Nook in the Galley).

-Visit Lisa around the web here: Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter
-BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook

To the FTC, with love: eGalley from NetGalley

BRIDAL BONES

(a juvenile ghost story by Linda Joy Singleton )

THE SCAVENGER BRIDE

Magician's Muse by Linda Joy Singleton Publisher: Flux (October 1st, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Series: The Seer, book #6 The Final Book in Linda Joy Singleton's Popular Paranormal Series, The Seer

A whisper, too soft to swirl wispy candle smoke, carried across time, beyond life and death—and was heard."Our bargain is sealed. My secrets will be yours-when the girl dies."

In the thrilling climax to The Seer series, Sabine's psychic abilities, sleuthing skills, and courage are pushed to a dangerous edge as she deals with the mysterious disappearance of her ex-boyfriend Josh, a new threat against her boyfriend Dominic, evil magicians (both living and dead)—and a coldblooded murder.

- Thank you so much Linda for allowing me to share your short story on my blog.
To find out more about Linda Joy Singleton Linda Joy Singleton / Blog / Goodreads / Twitter

Purchase Magician's Muse Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

*Reminder: If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry! Please read full entry rules here.

Wow! BBRAW has officially come and gone! Thanks to everyone who participated or stopped by! I've had a great time getting to know some new bloggers and reconnecting with old friends.

You've made it through the week! Thank people for stopping by, thank new readers and old readers, wrap up your giveaway (if you had one), tell who you nominated for as MVR and why (if you feel comfortable), wrap up the first BBRAW experience, and basically celebrate your readers in any way that you like!

Kimberly @ Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer

Kimberly always stops by my blog and checks out my facebook posts. She is so sweet and always takes time to read basically anything I post. She always puts a smile on my face. She is probably the biggest supporter of my site and I really appreciate it. She is so awesome and kind.

I enjoy her comments, we share in many cases very alike reading tastes, she has recommended wonderful books and audio to me — and probably most influential is that her Check Point meme she started this year inspired me to start Team Kickin It. Her advice and encouragement is valued.

She is the very best commenter ever... and I pretty much think of just talking to her when I'm writing my blog posts.

Ryan has become a blogging buddy of mine who not only leaves me thoughtful comments, but also encourages me to try new authors with his great reviews! He's been a longtime follower/reader/friend and the blogging world is a better place because he's in it!

She is one of the most faithful readers of my blog, nearly since the beginning. I'm proud to call her a friend as well, even though we've never met! Her book preferences are so insync with mine, we often joke that we are sisters from different mothers. She's a wonderful lady!

Mindy is always leaving thoughtful and wonderful comments on my reviews and posts. Her comments never fail to make me smile. We all know that when you run your own blog you can get bogged down and not find time to visit other people's blogs and comment, but she is always taking time to connect and comment on other peoples reviews and to reach out positively on twitter.

She always stops by my reviews and leaves thoughtful comments. I see her around at tons of blogs even though she has her own awesome blog to run! She is full of pure awesome!

Giselle is everywhere, leaving comments. Her name caught my eye because of how many times she commented on my blog especially when I didn't have many Followers. As I do my best to comment in the blogiverse, I see her name and cute smile everywhere. She makes socializing a goal and really shares the warm fuzzies of Comments!!!

Winners, look for an email from me before Wednesday (things are a bit busy right now with the trip we're going on tomorrow and picking up Prim on Monday).

Release Date: July 12th, 2011 (TODAY!)
Publisher: Scholastic
Challenges: iChallenge, Off the Shelf, and 100+ Reading Challenge

"then. When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their love moved from a curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives. now. That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is the wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be killed in one final, spectacular hunt. forever. Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment — a moment of death or life, farewell or forever."

I feel like I should have reread "Shiver " and "Linger " before picking up the anticipated finale — "Forever." I found myself relying on Twitter and my book bff Button for help on remembering who was who and what their role in Sam and Grace's lives were. While I remember the "big" plot elements, many of the minor (or even somewhat minor) characters were forgotten. For instance, I remembered something between Isabel and Cole but I couldn't remember the big falling out. I forgot about Olivia and I couldn't remember why Rachel was important.

In the beginning, I remember telling Button that I wished the perspectives were merely limited to Sam and Grace because Cole and Isabel were confusing (and, I'll be honest, I may have added inconsequential). Boy, by the end of "Forever" did my perspective change. I began to feel closer to Cole and Isabel than Sam and Grace (once I remembered their story line) and I couldn't help but root for their success.

Random Rant — I felt like I was stuck in this never ending cycle during the beginning of the novel. You'll see what I mean.

Over all, I enjoyed "Forever" but I somehow lost the enthusiasm for the characters and the plot. Maybe this is due to it being about a year since reading "Linger" — but I just didn't feel the urgency or the connection that I had hoped I would. "Forever" is definitely a must read for anyone who enjoyed "Shiver" and "Linger" but I would recommend at least reviewing the stories if it's been a while.

-Visit Maggie around the web here: Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter
-BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook

To the FTC, with love: Received at BEA 2011

Over the last couple of weeks, you’ve heard us talking about the upcoming #daemoninvasion and we’re so excited to finally share with you what is going on.

Really excited.

The beautiful and uber cool models, Pepe Toth and Sztella Tziotziosz, who grace the Lux covers, will be joining us in the United States! You heard right. They are flying here, from Hungary to spend a few days as Daemon and Katy! While they are here, they will be working with Vania, from VLC Productions (the team behind Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments, Melissa de La Cruz, Kimberly Derting, Moira Young, Kami Garcia and Margret Stohl, Hillary Duff, Lauren Destefano, and many, many more authors’ book trailers), to film book trailers for the Lux Series.

During the filming in Atlanta, they will be accompanying us on tour! What does that mean? You get to meet them. In the flesh. They will be participating in the signings and events. At those signings, we’ll be giving away signed posters, photos, and other swag. There will also be meet and greet events you can join in on.

At each signing, there will be advanced copies of Onyx given away!

And to top things off (as if this isn’t enough, but we don’t do anything small), there’s something very, very exciting in the works! It involves advanced copies of Opal, water, and a little destination known as the Bahamas.

I am not kidding.
This will be epic.

Are you excited? I am! This tour is going to be so, so much fun, and I’m so thrilled that Pepe and Sztella are a part of it. We owe them a huge thank you and a giant welcome making the 16 hour flight to meet the readers of the Lux Series. You!

Daemon Invasion Signing and Event Schedule

June 8th
FoxTale Book Shoppe
Woodstock, GA
3:00pm

June 10th
Barnes and Noble
St Johns Town Center
Jacksonville, FL
3:00pm

June 13th
Barnes and Noble
Waterford Lakes Town Center
Orlando, FL
3:00pm

June 14th
Barnes and Noble
The Palladium at City Place
West Palm Beach, FL
4:00pm

There are several #daemoninvasion street teamers out there and if you want to join a team to win exclusive prizes, search down the #daemoninvasion hashtag to join one of the teams!

Don’t forget to visit Janenifer L. Armentrout’s blog to win a signed set of Half-Blood and Pure (insert direct link: http://jenniferarmentrout.blogspot.com/2012/04/tempting-best-man-and-contest.html in celebration of her adult romance release, Tempting the Best Man, under pen name J. Lynn. It can be purchased here.

A few weeks ago I received an email that brought tears to my eyes. Tina from Book Couture had wrote me just to tell me how much she enjoyed my blog. It blew me away that, not only did someone really enjoy my blog, but would take time out just to write me to tell me. Wow! Those comments and emails will always mean the world to me. Thank you so much Tina for making me feel like I am doing something right: )

Today Tina will be discussing The Seven Deadly Sins!

Hi! I'm Tina, an Aussie teenage book blogger who spends a great chunk of her time at Book Couture, where I write book reviews, participate in memes, and aim to spread knowledge of blogger through my tutorials.

My primary goal for Book Couture is to recommend good books to other people. The most fulfilling thing for me would be if someone decided to pick up a book I recommend, and enjoy it as much as I did. The thought that someone else out there could be as moved as I am through reading the same story, experiencing the same magic that it evokes, is what moved me to create my own blog.

I'm also the founder and co-moderator of the Book Contest Directory, a listing of book contests across the blogosphere. Feel free to check it out for contests galore!

My favourite genres are fantasy (Harry Potter), paranormal (Vampire Academy), science fiction (Ender's Game, The Hunger Games), historical (The Luxe), and contemporary/chick lit (think Meg Cabot). Although I started my blog initially to read more reviews about books, and record my own opinions, I have found something more — a lively community of bloggers that share stories and listen to each other's thoughts.

Sometimes, I'll even find the special blogger out there who is willing to help out a newbie. You know who I"m talking about — Jess @ Confessions of a Bookaholic, of course! Thank you, Jess, for featuring me today.

Guest post: The Seven Deadly Sins
The Seven Deadly Sins, also known as the Cardinal Sins or the Capital Vices, dates back to as early as the 14th century. The Catholic Church needed a classification of common immoral human vices to educate people against sinning, and as 7 was seen as a number of power, the Seven Deadly Sins was formed.

This theme is commonly used in art, sculpture, scripture, and literature. Think of the Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix, where Arthur Penhaligon battles seven Demesnes of the House, each possessed by a deadly sin. Or Star Trek: Seven Deadly Sins, where each deadly sin is linked to a Trek race.

Sometimes, the Seven Deadly Sins are also related to other themes with 7 concepts. For example, the seven angels that fell from grace by rebelling against God, becoming demons, were associated to the Seven Deadly Sins by Peter Binsfeld.

What are the Seven Deadly Sins?

Pride/Vanity

Pride or Vanity is the love of oneself, and the belief that one is superior to others. It is the desire to be better, greater, or stronger, and is considered to be the greatest of all sins. It is associated with the demon Lucifer.

Greed/Avar

Greed or Avarice is one of the three sins of excess (the other two being Lust and Gluttony), but greed pertains to the idea of desiring more wealth, status or power than required. It is associated with the demon Mammon.

Lust

Lust is also one of the three sins of excess, and is applied to those who have excessive sexual thoughts and desires.

It is associated with the demon Asmodeus.

Gluttony

Gluttony, the final sin of excess, is the sin of over indulgence and consumption of food or alcohol to the point of waste. It is associated with the demon Beelzebub.

Envy

Envy is the strong sin of desiring what is not yours, and resenting others for having what you do not have. It is associated with the demon Leviathan.

Wrath

Wrath is pure hatred or anger towards something/someone. It is uncontrolled, and leads to violence or self-destruction. It is associated with the demons Satan and Amon.

Sloth

Sloth is the sin of being lazy and apathetic towards something. It may also mean that one's gifts or talents are not utilised. It is associated with the demon Belphegor.

All the beautiful Seven Deadly Sins art is by Marta Dahlig (blackeri) on Deviantart.

Personally, I think my Deadly Sin is Sloth — I procrastinate way too much. Whenever I settle down in front of the computer to do some homework, I will inevitably end up on Book Couture, or I'll be surfing around on other blogs. Then there's Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.
In the blink of an eye, it's midnight, I haven't done any work, and I'm cursing myself for getting distracted. So I'm definitely a sloth. But don't tell anyone *winks*.

Q: Which deadly sin do you have?

"This will be a novel that I will insist my students read and a novel that I continue to rave about online, in school, and with friends and family." — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"What if you had only one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: the world's most crush-worthy boyfriend, three amazing best friends, and first pick of everything at Thomas Jefferson High—from the best table in the cafeteria to the choicest parking spot. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life.
Instead, it turns out to be her last.

Then she gets a second chance. Seven chances, in fact. Reliving her last day during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing."

This is a book I'd been debating over purchasing since it came out. Every time I'd go into a bookstore I would see it and it would call to me in stereotypical fashion: "Reagan, buy me! Buy me!" Then I would think to myself, "Self, you came in here with a direct purpose to purchase to buy "X" book. If you walk out of here with "Before I Fall" you are a complete failure." Failure at what? I'm not really sure... it was my self conscious speaking to me and it has a tendency to be crazy.

So anyway, you can imagine how utterly surprised and excited I was first to MEET Lauren Oliver and then to find out that along with signing copies of "Delirium" Lauren was also signing copies of "Before I Fall." If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I have more than once claimed that my "pride and joy" of BEA was getting a signed copy of "Before I Fall." This is also the only novel I had signed directly to me and not to my students.

Here's the kicker: I hadn't even read the novel yet.

Have my feeling changed at all towards this book?

Absolutely. Before I was just able to rave about how great Lauren is and how much I love the premise, now I can tell absolutely everyone I know how much I love this book — and I have. I started out with Twitter:

Tweets via @Miss Remmers:

I'm in the mall reading Before I Fall and I may burst into tears at any moment

"You're worse than the hot lunch." This is the most amazing book! @oliverbooks

@mindfulmusings oh my goodness it's amazing! I can't put it down but I so have to use the restroom!

Before I Fall is one of the most amazing books ever. I will definitely be purchasing more copies for my classroom. Review soon @OliverBooks

Then I of course called Travis, Dan, my mom, my dad, and I even called my best friend and left a message since she's out of the country on her honeymoon! And now I'll tell all of you.

This book, if you can't already tell, was amazing. When Lauren was talking about her book at TAC she mentioned that it was hard to write a character she didn't like. Lauren succeeded in this endeavor. I hated Sam, not at first but towards the middle when I realized how mean she really was. In the end she won me over (obviously), but it was so refreshing to meet a protagonist that I did not like.

Each of the characters had their own story and voice — another amazing aspect of the novel. Each character was different and I liked and disliked them each for their own purpose and reason. Kent, however, was by far my most favorite character of the week (and that's saying a lot as that week I read "Dead Until Dark," "Sea," and "Hush Hush.") And quite possibly of the entire summer! My heart ached and broke for Kent throughout this novel. I was rooting for him the entire time. The descriptions of all of the characters were fantastic, but it was Kent (in my opinion) whose description was so fantastically pure and lovable. In the end, it was Kent that made this story (for me).

The plot, along with characterization, was another amazing part of this novel. The premise of this story was so strong and real — my ninth graders are going to devour this book. I loved the theme of love, friendship, suicide, and death. The theme of suicide is something very near and dear to my heart, as an RA for three years I dealt with at least eleven severely depressed young college students who either attempted suicide or who were talking about suicide (thankfully, they all have began counseling and are moving in the right direction). But that doesn't mean everyone at that college is safe, or at any college. It takes a powerful novel, much like "Thirteen Reasons Why," to bring up the tender issue of suicide so emotionally correct.

This will be a novel that I purchase a couple more copies for my classroom (this beloved copy will stay at home on my beloved bookshelf). A novel that I will insist my students read and a novel that I continue to rave about online, in school, and with friends and family.

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: 5/5
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 9/10
Overall: 99/100 A (almost +)

To the FTC, with love: Received from BEA10

Please read: The post you are about to read is 100 % **Role Play
All the characters represented here ( @The_Omega_ ) with the exception of Lisa and myself are **Role Players from a group on twitter. They have agreed to role play with us to help celebrate not only our Halloween Event, but also to help share our love for the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by author J.R. Ward, as these Role Players are also huge fans of J.R. Ward's works.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT NO ONE with this site/blog, Lisa's site/blog nor the role-playing group — which you can find with the list of twitter accounts provided — is in any way, shape or form connected to or affiliated with J.R. Ward. No one present or represented here is J.R. Ward, nor is the role playing intended for any purpose other than the personal enjoyment of the Role Players involved.

The following story contains some strong language and mature themes. The Favor by @The_Omega_
What is that spiteful b**** up to now?” I reached over to one of my pets, a strange mixed breed, part dragon, part cockatrice, all malevolence and anger. There are a total of six in existence. I bred them especially for aggression and protection, not that I really needed protecting or anything. But they come in handy when I need to intimidate my lessers. Or others. As I ran my arm over his bumpy scales, I thought back to the day the Scribe Virgin came to ask me a favor. It seems one of her precious warriors needed to be taught a lesson. He was a strong bastard and she had nothing with which she could impress upon him the lessons she felt he was in sore need of learning. I knew it was a sharp blow to her pride to have to come to me for anything. She had always been favored, in everything, and was loathe to have to ask me for help of any kind. In this it was no different. She entered my domain with a gust behind her, carrying that cursed scent from her Fade with her. “ Could I possibly borrow one of your dragons? I wish to curse one of my warriors, to teach him how to control himself and as I can think of nothing more out of control than your creatures, one of them would work nicely to punish him,” she asked without a hint of humility. She was asking me a favor and didn’t even have the decency to bow before me. I just looked at her, not saying a word. I could tell she was becoming impatient as she began to explain very quickly. “Rhage is impulsive and quick tempered. He’s also very strong and could take out many of your army before they even realize he’s there. It would be in your best interest for this warrior to be tamed.” I was hesitant to trust anything she said. I’m probably the only one who knows her truly. When our Father made us, it was assumed that she got the light while I got the darkness. We are supposedly two halves of a whole — she the positive and I the negative. Quite inaccurate. Our Father was mostly darkness and while it’s true all I got was that, it is also true that my dear sibling, while getting mostly goodness, also got a hefty dose of evil to go with it. She had a wicked mean streak that even her favorite monsters couldn’t escape. I would have said no out of hand, but I thought this would be an excellent way to dispatch of the Brotherhood immediately. I decided I would allow her to take the meanest, most out of control dragon I had, fully expecting that it would eat every vampire in the Brotherhood and make the rest of my job easy. There was no way, I thought, the Brother could possibly wrangle this monster.

“ You may have my favorite pet, but I have some conditions that must be met,” I said to her after a very long silence. “This isn’t something I do without great trepidation, knowing how horrid you are.” She waved her hand, as if to dismiss my concerns about her motives. She was always so dismissive of me and it drove me insane. “ No, sister mine, I will not be brushed off,” I growled in an ominous tone only I can pull off. “If you won’t agree to my demands, you shall not be allowed the use of my pet.” As I began to outline my requirements, a small smile played on her face. No one could tell me that the Scribe Virgin wasn’t sadistic. She was in absolute agreement that she borrow the most aggressive dragon, the one who would take the most work to control. She was happy to curse her warrior for 200 years, which I demanded to ensure the beast would have ample time to do its job. The only stipulation she balked at was my presence at the insertion. She didn’t want me there and I couldn’t understand why. “ I can’t be seen with you,” she said, aghast at the thought. “You can’t come to my sanctuary. You can’t be anywhere near me in any place where people might see us.” I put aside the insult. She had long since ceased to hurt my feelings with her obvious disgust at my very existence. “ Sorry, no deal. If I can’t be there to witness my pet, my baby, being implanted in that disgusting brute of yours, then you can’t have him,” I said as I turned away, fully prepared to send her away empty handed. I knew that would get her. One thing my darling sister couldn’t stand was being denied a chance to hurt another soul, even if was one that she had created. She liked to hide in her white world, where everything looked pristine and pure. However, anyone who looked closely at her behaviors, the things she did, the things she required before being willing to grant any favor, they would have seen the cruelty in her acts. “ I will agree to whatever you ask, brother,” she practically spat the word at me. “As you have asked a price for this, you must make sure the monster you give me will be the most difficult trial a warrior could possibly have to endure. If you don’t, I will find a way to make up the difference, and that will be most unpleasant for you. Of that you can be sure. Oh, and I shall have to hide you with a mhis. I wasn’t being facetious when I said I couldn’t be seen with you.” So the deal was struck. Within the blink of an eye, we were in front of the warrior, who had his head bent awaiting his punishment. I noticed the dead owl lying by the tree and I knew this vampire was in for more pain and suffering than he could possibly survive. My sister loved her birds and there was no way she was going to let this pass without extracting her pound of flesh. The Brother was larger than a typical vampire, but he was nowhere near big enough to contain my beast without a great struggle, and getting him into the vampire wasn’t going to be anything short of torturous. He was shaking a bit, perhaps in fear. Or maybe it was remorse, as he did seem to genuinely feel bad for whatever act had ended in the death of the owl. If he was smart, he would have been terrified. Whatever he felt, he kept his head bowed in shame and awaited his punishment with bravery. My sister, in her flowing black robe, was standing in front of the male. She reached down and grabbed him by his long, blond hair, yanking his head back until it looked like it was going to wrench from his neck. Looking into his face, she roared at him, “You have taken one of my most precious possessions.” The male just gaped at her, his eyes wide with surprise at her indignation. Tears were rolling down his face now as he stammered out a weak apology. His whole body was wracked with sobs. He blubbered about how he didn’t mean to do harm, how he hadn’t thought of the repercussions of giving his weapon to someone untrained. The words were coming out of his mouth so fast I had to struggle to understand what he was saying. I guess the male wasn’t stupid after all. He was petrified. From out of her robe, the Scribe Virgin pulled a large dagger. It was bone handled and looked like something with which a human would disembowel large game. Still looking directly into the vampire’s eyes, she took the knife and stabbed him in the throat. It made a sound of a stone dropping into wet cement, a slurping noise that would have caused a mortal to vomit. The male’s eyes did the impossible. They became even wider than they had been, taking up so much of his face that it appeared eyes were all he had.
Pulling slowly, she dragged the blade down through his neck, his chest. The sickening sound of his sternum cracking was loud enough to startle the birds still left in the trees in this very twisted sanctuary. The strength she wielded to break through his rib bones one by one was impressive. My sister was watching the line of damage as she created it, her gaze not wavering from her bloody task for a moment. She didn’t stop until she had cut him all the way to his pubic bone. As intestines and entrails spilled out of the gaping hole my sister had gouged in this pathetic creature, she looked as if she was in ecstasy. Her head was tilted to the sky, the look on her face one of rapture. My sister had lost her mind in that moment. I was sure of it. The male looked as if he was screaming, though no sound was coming out. His eyes were wide but not seeing. His face was contorted in pain that most would be unable to live through, draining of color as the blood poured from the wound in his torso. There was so much blood, running in rivers down the hill, into the fountain, turning the water a deep hue of red that was terribly out of place in this sea of white. The vampire’s essence was leaving quickly as my sister was lost in her own private rampage. She actually seemed unaware of the harm she had done. As the warrior seemed to finally grasp the severity of the situation he was in, he resigned himself to the fate that would be conferred upon him. Any fight he may have had inside his large body left, just as the vital fluid was doing. Snapping out of whatever twisted reverie she was lost in, the Scribe Virgin captured my dragon by his barbed tail and set about the onerous task of forcing a very round peg into a very square and much smaller hole. Inch by inch, she pushed and shoved that 12 foot dragon into the opening she had created when she eviscerated the vampire. The sound of bones crunching was almost more than I could bear. Almost. The warrior’s face was a study in tortured agony. Sweat was pouring from his brow. His mouth was agape in a silent wail. His eyes were rolled back in his head, and still my sister continued her almost methodical invasion of the body she had laid open. When the dragon was finally well seated, crammed really, in the small space, she held her hand out, a light emanating from it, and she sealed the wound she had earlier created. She unceremoniously dropped her warrior, using that dangerous hand to clean up the mess she had made. The vampire curled into a ball then very violently splayed his body out, knowing that whatever was inside was too large for his shell to hold. Finally he found his voice and the silent screams became deafening shrieks and had my sister not covered her heinous act with a mhis that not only hid me from sight, but this entire gruesome scene, all of her innocent Chosen would have fled her presence in absolute terror. But the Scribe Virgin was nothing if not smart. She wasn’t going to let anyone see her madness. With another wave of her hand, she wiped the memory of what she had done from her creature’s mind and made sure the dragon was well ensconced inside his body, making them one. It was almost as if the male came awake, he startled and awareness returned to him. “ You will carry with you a curse, for two hundred years, to remind you of what you have done here. No more will you be able to think only of yourself, acting impulsively as only a young child should be wont to do,” she whispered into his face, so close to him it made even me shudder. “And you will be reminded every time you get even slightly out of control, because you will be visited by a beast so savage even those you love won’t be safe.” I left her garden impressed, and a little hopeful that perhaps she and I had come to some sort of understanding. Perhaps we would be able to work together in the future, not always be at odds. She had, after all, just brutally attacked the warrior race she claimed to love so much. Of course that isn’t what happened. Instead of being able to break free of its warrior prison and devour the Brotherhood, my sister enchanted the beast, protecting her vermin, and instead my dragon chose to eat my lessers. In the 99 or so years he’d been inside of that Brother, he hadn’t eaten a single one of the noxious rodents he should have preferred. That certainly should be a hint as to how slimy those freaks are, when even a dragon won’t eat one. My sister, the malicious Scribe Virgin, irritates me to no end. My life's mission has been to eradicate the disgusting species she created and she is seriously screwing that up. Everything she did is in direct opposition to me. Every single thing. And it is beginning to piss me off. She really is a spiteful b****.

If you would like to follow along with the Role Players that @The_Omega_ is part of, please USE GOOGLE to easily follow each character within the group. And trust me, you don't know what your missing! So hurry and follow today!

Find @The_Omega_ Online:

Twitter | Facebook

@FritzDoggen_BDB Online: (updates, notes and information on the Twitter Role Playing Group)

Website | Twitter

Order All 8 books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and Preorder book 9 Online here:

Amazon | Borders | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository

Reference:

**Role Play

–verb (used with object)
1. to assume the attitudes, actions, and discourse of (another), esp. in a make-believe situation in an effort to understand a differing point of view or social interaction: Management trainees were given a chance to role-play labor negotiators.
2. to experiment with or experience (a situation or viewpoint) by playing a role: trainees role-playing management positions.
–verb (used without object)
3. to engage in role-playing.

Thank you so much to @The_Omega_ and all the other characters from the Black Dagger Brotherhood Twitter Role Play group for all the time and effort they have been putting in to help us celebrate not only Halloween and our event, but also our love for all that is the Brotherhood and J.R. Ward. * Check out Lisa's Haunted Halloween post with Sara Bennett Wealer and a giveaway for a signed copy of Rival.

*Reminder: If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry! Please read full entry rules here.

A Familiar Darkness

By: J.W. Crawford It was dark, but no darker than a normal night. A perfect night for a walk. The noises in town were distracting from the peaceful quiet, so we decided to head out past the train tracks, where we would be surrounded by nothing but the evening quiet. No traffic, no groups of late night merrymakers, just the moon, the crickets, and the soft sounds of our own feet through the grass beside the road. As we neared the highway, the warning light blinked ominously, illuminating a herd of grazing elk in short bursts no more than twenty feet ahead of us. Being that close to the large animals was unnerving enough in the daytime, let alone at night, so we figured it would be a good idea to take another route. Turning back, we made our way back towards town. Just before we reached the train tracks, we found ourselves standing at the foot of a rough warden’s road that led through the trees. We weren’t satisfied with the walk, so we decided that it would be fun to extend it. As we entered the road, I felt the first tiny prickle of uncertainty float over me like a light breath in the wind. I hardly noticed it, thinking it to be little more than a light chill from the crisp night air. The chill got worse as we continued down the road. My friend noticed a sudden change in my composure; her hand clamped on my arm as we walked, growing tighter as my own body started to tense up. That strange feeling was quickly growing, and there was something else about it… something familiar. I could feel a presence behind me, a strangely familiar one. Part of me wanted to turn around, but something told me that wouldn’t be a good idea. The further we walked, the stronger that feeling grew. I could feel the tension in my friend growing as my own body trembled slightly, fighting the urge to just bolt the rest of the way down the road and never look back. As we approached a building just to the side of the warden’s road, the feeling became it’s most dangerous. I could feel ever hair standing up on my neck as we approached the building; the soft whisper of the wind seemed to carry a hint of sinister intention, despite the fact that I had no doubts anymore about the familiarity of the presence behind me. Whatever it was… whoever it was… it was close. I could almost feel it inches away from my skin, just waiting for me to turn; almost daring me. Fighting the urge, we continued past the building, not looking back until we were clear from the road and nearly back in town. The silence between us was deafening as we walked, unable to put the strange feeling into words. After a quick, dry goodnight, we went our separate ways. The next day plagued me with curiosity. Whatever had happened, it had somehow been connected to that building we had walked to. Deciding I needed to know, I made my way back to the road, protected by the bright, happy sunshine of mid-afternoon. The building turned out to be a storage warehouse, likely used for old RCMP equipment. Staring up at its giant white walls, I waited for that feeling to come over me again, but it was gone; my hair stayed flat, my nerves untouched, as though it had all been a dream. For a few minutes, I couldn’t understand what had happened. The building did seem familiar, but I couldn’t place where I had seen it before. It came to me in one slithery rush. My breath caught in my throat as I looked up, my mouth dry, my heart starting to pound. I knew where I had seen that building before. It had been years ago, 1995—my graduating year—while a gang of my classmates had been flushed out of a creek party by the RCMP. We had all meandered down that road, talking happily about past amusements and summer promises. A fun night, and one I remember well, though not for the good times and high spirits. It was the last place I had spoken to a classmate before he had been killed in a violent car crash at the end of that summer. As we walked past that building, I had been beside him, chatting away. He was a popular young man with the world ahead of him, and a short time later, all of that had been taken away in a crash that ultimately left two people dead. To this day, I have no doubt that the familiar presence behind me was my friend, the boy who had died long before his time should have come. A haunted spirit angry at the life he had lost, and the lonely eternity ahead.

Dreamshaper by J.W. Crawford Publisher: Black Rose Writing (October 1st, 2009) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 238 pages Orson Bailey is used to trouble finding him. He has spent his young life ridiculed and bullied by his peers and tormented by his baby sister. Unfortunately, things are about to get a whole lot worse. At night, strange happenings have begun to creep into Orson's mind: vivid dreams and nightmares so realistic and frightening that they start to affect his already sour relationship with both his classmates and family. His entire world is thrown into upheaval when his darkest wish is granted and his sister disappears, stolen into the world of dreams. Through the darkness, Orson unexpectedly develops a bond with a few of his classmates. Together, they must find a way to survive a world filled with magical creatures of pure and dark origins, a world of dreams where anything can happen and where Orson must discover his destiny as the one true Dreamshaper in order to save his sister.

Prize:

• 1 winner will receive a copy of Dreamshaper.

• You must be at least 13 to enter.
• Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US ONLY and ends October 31st.
• Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

Find J.W. Crawford J.W. Crawford / Facebook

Purchase Dreamshaper Amazon / The Book Depository

* Check out Lisa's Haunted Halloween post.

*Reminder: If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry! Please read full entry rules here.

Wow! The Spring Blog Carnival hosted by Candace’s Book Blog, Reading Angel, Pure Imagination, and The Book Swarm is almost at a close!

As I promised last week, today I am hosting the "It's a Bad World" Booth Challenge! We've all at least heard the somewhat annoying yet catchy "It's a Small World" tune that depicts the perfect world with everyone from all different races and backgrounds getting along famously well; where no matter the language, the tune and unity is still strong. In case you would like to walk down memory lane (or experience something all new) — here's a video of the "It's a Small World" ride.

However, lately it seems that life is not so "good." Yes, we've had the Royal Wedding, Osama has been found, and schools getting out (that last one is more for me than anyone else), but our world is still in turmoil. We aren't all singing together in unison and holding hands. We are partaking in polygamy and selling the prettiest girls off to the highest bidder in hopes of impregnating them, we are promoting teenage pregnancies by paying girls to "bump," and at the other of that spectrum we have society telling us that love is a disease and that any kind of emotion will make you crazy! We are sending people into space to fix our societal problems and as a result we have digressed into a social class hierarchy! It almost seems as if we are living in a Dystopian Society!!

dys·to·pi·a

1. Write a post explaining why you think Dystopian fiction is so addicting. Why is everyone reading it? What does it say about our society that we want to read about WORSE societies? Are there any implications dystopian fiction's popularity has on our own society? What say you!!
2. What is your favorite dystopian novel to date? Why did you like it? How does it stand apart from all the other countlessly recent dystopian novels? Why would you recommend it above all others in this genre?

Yes, this Challenge is therefore INTERNATIONAL.

Also, anyone have any guesses as to the four dystopian novels mentioned at the beginning of this post?

This year we wanted to add to the excitement of Top 10 lists by making it an event! Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Rachel from Fiktshun & Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and and I are hosting a top 10 week where everyone can join the fun! You can check out this post for more information. Each day you add your top 10 list to the linky (below), you get an extra entry into the giveaway for a $50 amazon gift card! Just remember, each day will have a linky for THAT Top 10 topic and your list has to be for that top 10.

Today is Top 10 Book Boyfriends of 2011!

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Katherine Tegen Books (May 3rd, 2011)

Who: Four
Why: Four was absolutely incredible! He was so strong but you could really see his gentle side come out with Tris. He made her a better character, which is always a nice touch!
Read My Review
Add it to Goodreads
Summary: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.
During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

Brightest Kind of Darkness by P.T. Michelle Patrice Michelle (June 27th, 2011)
Who: Ethan
Why: Ethan is not a typical character at all. He was always there for Nara without being too forceful playing games with her. She could depend on him and their connection was deep and powerful! Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate… until she dreams a future she can’t ignore.

After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.

Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past.

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young
Balzer & Bray (June 21st, 2011)

Who: Harlin
Why: I loved Harlin because he seemed so realistic. This was one of the rare books where a romance already existed before the story starts. I think that really made him stand out he was a very sweet character.
Read My Review
Add it to Goodreads

Summary: We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten…

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

Descended by Blood by Angeline Kace Accendo Press (August 26th, 2011)
Who: Mirko Why: Cause he's hot! He's strong, wise, and can kick major butt. He's also gentle and sweet when it comes to Brooke and her well-being. But yeah, he's hot! Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: Brooke Keller is a high school junior who has never spent much time living in one place. She is finally in a town long enough to almost snag the boy of her dreams, until her life is threatened after killing a fanged man in his attempt to kidnap her. Brooke begins a dangerous journey in an effort to find out who is after her and how to stop them. In a world with powerful and prejudiced vampires, Brooke must tap into the side of her that she never knew existed at the risk of losing her life in order to save it.

Cross My Heart by Katie Klein
Kindle Edition (March 14th, 2011)

Who: Parker
Why: Wow, Parker! He was just, wow.I'm not sure how to describe Parker. He was quiet, the bad-boy without really trying to be, but mostly he was sensitive, smart, and very sexy! I think it would be pretty impossible to read this book and not fall for him.
Review Coming Soon
Add it to Goodreads

Summary: True love can blossom in unexpected places. This is Jaden pretending not to notice..

Jaden McEntyre and Parker Whalen are a wrong fit from the start. Jaden is driven and focused, Harvard Med School within reach. Parker has a past-a reputation-and the rumors about his mysterious habits abound. So there's no reason why, when they're assigned to work together on a project in English, they should discover they have anything in common, or even like each other, and they definitely shouldn't be falling in love.

As they bond over Edith Wharton's tragic novella, Ethan Frome, the"bad boy" vibe Parker plays begins to dissipate. Soon, Jaden finds herself shedding her own"good girl" image: sneaking around to be with him, confiding in him, and ultimately falling hard for this leather-wearing, motorcycle-driving loner who plays into the rebel stereotype.

Still, Jaden can't shake the feeling that there's more to Parker than he's letting on. He's hiding something from her, and discovering the truth means reconciling the Parker she's grown to love with the person he really is. Because it's possible that his life inside the classroom-everything Jaden knows-is one, massive lie.

Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins Hyperion Books (March 22nd, 2011) Who: Cal Why: Cal is another quiet guy, but one with a ton of power hiding behind his exterior. He is a character I can't wait to read more about! Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.

Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.

But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

Half-Blood by Janenifer L. Armentrout
Spencer Hill Press (October 18th, 2011)

Who: Aiden
Why: Does this even need an explanation?? Aiden is super-duper hot! He's a kick-butt instructor, he's hard on her but he also knows when to stop. He"gets" her more than anyone else. He's just flippin' perfect!
Read My Review
Add it to Goodreads
Summary: The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

Seers of Light by Janenifer DeLucy Omnific Publishing (February 10th, 2010)
Who: William Why: William and Lily had incredible chemistry! The romance was scorching hot and no one could deny their intense attraction. I think a lot of people would kill for that type of romance! Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: Lillian Hunt has never truly lived. Always sensing more to the world than is easily perceived, she fears that her instincts are stubborn flights of fancy, or worse, mental instability. But some things disappearing strangers, tangible dreams, and visits from malevolent creatures cannot be ignored. Before it's too late, Lillian is ripped from the only existence she s ever known and thrust into a reality that she always suspected, but could scarcely believe. She must learn the truth about who she is, the powerful beings that wish to destroy her, and the two men who would die to protect her.

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
HarperTeen (January 4th, 2011)

Who: Tucker
Why: Goodness, I love me some Tucker! Who doesn't love a guy who starts off by picking on the girl? That love/hate vibe made their connection even more wonderful. Plus, he's a freakin' cowboy!
Read My Review
Add it to Goodreads
Summary: In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees..

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.
As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

Ten Things We Did by Sarah Mlynowski HarperTeen (June 7th, 2011)
Who: Hudson Why: I don't know if any male character has been as sweet as Hudson. He started out as a friend and his kindness towards April always made her feel better. I want to read this book again just for him! Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: 2 girls + 3 guys + 1 house – parents = 10 things April and her friends did that they (definitely, maybe, probably) shouldn't have. If given the opportunity, what sixteen-year-old wouldn't jump at the chance to move in with a friend and live parent-free? Although maybe"opportunity" isn't the right word, since April had to tell her dad a tiny little untruth to make it happen (see #1:"Lied to Our Parents"). But she and her housemate Vi are totally responsible and able to take care of themselves. How they ended up"Skipping School" (#3),"Throwing a Crazy Party" (#8),"Buying a Hot Tub" (#4), and, um,"Harboring a Fugitive" (#7) at all is kind of a mystery to them.
Tomorrow's Topic — Top 10 Characters!
Don't forget to link each day! Signing up & then linking your Top 10 posts early you EXTRA entries into the $50.00 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway. The last day to share your posts is January 8th, 2012. The winner will be picked using Random.org and announced during the week of the 9th, 2012. Good Luck! NOTE: this is the SAME Linky on each of the Co-Hosts Blogs, so please only enter your Name, Blog Name and URL once. Thanks!

The 2nd annual Authors are Rockstars tour has started! You can see the stops by going here.

I am lucky enough to feature Janenifer Castle. I adore her! I read her book The Beginning of After and was completely blown away. it was such an emotional story and I fell in love with Laurel and David. You can read my review of the book here.

Now, Janenifer has more awesomeness out in the wild! You Look Different in Real Life was released in June and Playing Keira (a novella) was released in May. I haven't had a chance to read these yet but I will be very very soon!

Today, as part of the rockstar tour, I have Janenifer here for an interview about her book You Look Different in Real Life. Don't miss the giveaway below for a signed copy of the book!

INTERVIEW WITH JaneNIFER CASTLE

What made you decide to write about teens involved in a movie of their lives?

I’ve always been fascinated by what happens to reality TV and documentary film subjects after the cameras go away. Do they live their lives differently, like someone’s always watching? Does the way they’re portrayed on screen change the way they see themselves in real life? The possibilities of character and story seemed so juicy, I couldn’t resist. Then I started thinking about how the rise of blogging and social media has allowed pretty much everyone to make themselves the “stars” of their own documentary. Every time we post a status, a photo, check in at a location… we’re building a narrative of our own lives. I think it’s scary-easy to share so much of ourselves, to think so obsessively about what we’re putting out there for the world to see, that we lose track of who we really are.

So the documentary film premise seemed like it was relevant on a couple different levels, and something I could really have fun with. After many years of working on THE BEGINNING OF AFTER, I needed some fun. I was ready to do something where nobody dies. That might have actually been the first note to myself about this book: “Dear Jane: Please don’t kill anyone.” You have to start somewhere.

2. What's one word you'd use to describe each character (Justine, Rory, Nate, Felix and Keira)?

I love you for this question, and also I hate you for this question. This was tough. But the good tough.
Justine: Lost
Rory: Found
Nate: Underestimated
Felix: Overlooked
Keira: Who?

3. With so many reality shows out these days, would you ever agree to have a portion of your life taped?

It’s funny, because while I was writing YOU LOOK DIFFERENT IN REAL LIFE, I spent an afternoon carrying around a small digital video camera, shooting everything that went on in my house. I just wanted the experience of choosing which moments to record and being conscious of this extra eye observing us. I only lasted a few hours, because it freaked me out that our family’s craziness, the absurd stuff that happens with me and my husband and my kids and my pets every day, was actually being saved for posterity. But maybe it would be cool to have strangers see this absurdity and say, “Yup, we are like this too. You’re normal, because there is no normal.” In the end, it would probably come down to whether or not I had to clean the house and put on something besides ripped sweatpants.

Do you have a favorite line from YOU LOOK DIFFERENT IN REAL LIFE?

Love/hate question! Again! I have many favorite lines, but most of them are in the later part of the book and might do some spoiling. I do have a soft spot for this early passage where Justine describes her connection to the others, because it’s generally how I feel about my own long-term friendships:
Sometimes I think of an invisible cord connecting Nate and Keira and Felix and Rory and
me. It’s made of something thin and deceptively powerful, like the stuff Spider-Man squirts out
of his wrists. Then I wonder who spun it. Was it Lance and Leslie? Was it everyone who’s ever
watched the Five At documentaries? Or maybe it was me. All I know is that it’s always there. It
stretches and winds but will never break.”

5. Can you share with us what you are currently working on?

With both THE BEGINNING OF AFTER and YOU LOOK DIFFERENT IN REAL LIFE, I loved writing the romantic storylines. Especially the kissing. Is there anything better than writing about kissing? Ah…

I’m sorry. Where was I? Oh yes. So my current project (which is still untitled, because I suck at titles) is a romance, pure and simple. It’s about what happens when a killer crush actually leads to something, and you have to navigate that intersection of fantasy and reality. It’s about figuring out what love actually is, when you don’t have any good examples in your life to base it on. And it’s got a cute guy who is amazing but not flawless, craveable but problematically complex, because “perfect” boys in YA lit really bug me. I’m hoping it will be done in time for an early 2015 release. Until then, I plan to squeeze out one or two digital short stories or novellas, like I did with PLAYING KEIRA. I like mixing up the long projects with shorter ones. It’s like creative snacking.

You Look Different in Real Life by Janenifer Castle
Published: HarperTeen (June 4th, 2013)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 355 pages
Summary:
For the rest of the world, the movies are entertainment. For Justine, they're real life.

The premise was simple: five kids, just living their lives. There'd be a new movie about them every five years, starting in kindergarten. But no one could have predicted what the cameras would capture. And no one could have predicted that Justine would be the star.

Now sixteen, Justine doesn't feel like a star anymore. In fact, when she hears the crew has gotten the green light to film Five at Sixteen, all she feels is dread. The kids who shared the same table in kindergarten have become teenagers who hardly know one another. And Justine, who was so funny and edgy in the first two movies, feels like a disappointment.

But these teens have a bond that goes deeper than what's on film. They've all shared the painful details of their lives with countless viewers. They all know how it feels to have fans as well as friends. So when this latest movie gives them the chance to reunite, Justine and her costars are going to take it. Because sometimes, the only way to see yourself is through someone else's eyes.

Smart, fresh, and frequently funny, You Look Different in Real Life is a piercing novel about life in an age where the lines between what's personal and what's public aren't always clear.

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