1. Your YA debut book Shade was a huge hit (and one of my all-time favorite books!), what surprised you the most once you stepped into the YA world? Thanks, Jessica! I was honestly surprised by the excitement people showed over SHADE. I mean, I loved it, of course, since it was my book, but I’d never experienced that kind of massive swell of enthusiasm for a novel before. I’ve been really touched by tales of how it made readers cry and how they could relate to Aura. 3. If you had the ability to see ghosts, like Aura and others born after the Shift, how do you think you would handle it?
I would probably try to block them out as much as possible, using any means necessary. I’d probably always have my earbuds in so I couldn’t hear them, and whenever I wasn’t in a BlackBoxed building to keep out ghosts, I’d wear as much red as possible to repel them. Then again, that’s coming from the perspective of someone who would be tossed into that world as an adult. The “post-Shifters” in SHADE don’t know any other kind of life. They’ve seen ghosts ever since they were born. So I think they take a more blasé approach to them. They’ve learned ways to blot them out, but they also refuse to let ghosts run their lives. They’re not scared of them at all (except the really creepy ones, and shades, of course, who can hurt them).
4. Do you have any other YA projects in the works other than the Shade series? I have a YA vampire short story coming out in November in an anthology called ETERNAL: MORE LOVE STORIES WITH BITE. “Thief” takes place in the same world (with the same vampire rules) as my adult vampire series, but with completely different characters and setting. The four young adult characters are Irish Travellers from South Carolina, who Since I always get attached to my characters, it might be fun to turn that into a series one day. I also have one of those Super Sekrit projects in my head, for a big stand-alone YA. Hopefully I’ll have more details on that next year. It definitely needs a few months to percolate before I start writing. It’ll be that long before I find room in my crazy deadline schedule, anyway! 5. I, like many others, am really excited for the release of Shift next May. Can you tell us a little about the book, and what else to expect from this series? In SHIFT, we’ll find out the answers to a lot of Aura’s questions about her parents and their connection to the Shift. But of course those answers will lead to more questions, as answers often do. On the personal side, the love triangle will be settled, but not until after it gets much more complicated (a love pentagon?). After that, I’m not sure how many books there’ll be. Originally I thought there would be a total of four, but after writing SHIFT, the number 3 keeps coming up as significant. So think it would be better as a trilogy. But I need to start writing Book 3 before I can be sure. I know what the main event is, but I’m not sure how far-reaching its effects will be. Which is a fancy way of saying I don’t know how it all ends.; -) But seriously, I used to know how it ended but after writing SHIFT I’m getting some new ideas, so… we’ll see. I’m very excited to start writing Book 3 and to find out how it all unfolds.
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready Publisher: Simon Pulse (May 4th, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Series: Shade, book #1 Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.
Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.
Well, sort of.
Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.
It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding--and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.
As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart… and clues to the secret of the Shift.
USE GOOGLE to read my review of SHADE To find Jeri Smith-Ready: Jeri Smith-Ready / Twitter / Facebook / Blog / Goodreads
Purchase Shade: Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble
Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready Publisher: Simon Pulse (May 3rd, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 384 pages Source: ARC from Publisher Series: Shade #2 Rating: 5 of 5 stars Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to. Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift. As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets… and her heart. Review: I will try not to have spoilers in this review. I have to say that this series will always have a spot in my heart. Shade was the book that gave me inspiration to start my blog. I feel like I waited forever to see what happened next, in Shift, and it was absolutely worth the wait!
I mentioned this to Jeri, but this series makes me feel like I have multiple personalities. Yes, it's true. One minute I am all about Aura getting with Zach, and the next I want her with Logan. THEN, Jeri manages to bring in someone else that I think"ohhh, that might work". How does she do this, you might ask. By being freakin-fantabulous! Simply put, Jeri writes hot stuff. That hot stuff, and hot guys, leads to fireworks and chemistry that leaps off the page. I don't know how she does it. It's crazy-good stuff!
Aura is such a strong character and she seems so real. I never question any aspect of her personality. Although she lives in a world of daily paranormal phenomena, I still picture her enjoying shopping and hanging with her friends. She doesn't pout all the time like some characters do. She just does what she needs to do and goes on with life. It's refreshing to see that courage and strength from a young character.
Then we have Logan. Oh lovely Logan who will just steal your heart and sing sweet music to it. How can you not love a hot ghost? It's impossible. Logan continues with his outspoken personality that seems so different from Aura's in many ways, but at the same time, it fits perfectly. It brought tears to my eyes to see how much he cares for Aura throughout Shade and Shift. But we can't forget Zachary, who is nothing to sneeze at. I was glad to see his character explored more and his turbulent relationship with Aura made for some interesting twists in the plot. Fun times!
Shift answers many questions we have from Shade, but it all leads to more questions needing to be explored. The plot continues to amaze me and I'm not sure how I will ever wait for book 3. HOW?! Jeri is sneaky and has made me super curious as to what is in store for Aura.
I can't say enough good things about this series. If you haven't read Shade yet, DO IT! I promise you will not regret it. Jeri Smith-Ready has created a paranormal world beyond comparison. You will laugh, cry, blush, and beg for more once you're done. Guaranteed!
"Not only a page turner, but a 'stay-up-all-night-to-finish' book!" — Miss Remmers
From Amazon.com...
"Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart. Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.
Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.
Well, sort of.
Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever.Almost.
It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.
As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift."
Why I read this: The cover was definitely a "draw in" for me, plus the synopsis, and the author is amazingly approachable and funny — the recipe of a great read!
Plot: Set in "post-Shift", where anyone born after the Shift can see and communicate with the dead, "Shade" is a fantastically riveting read that intrigues readers from the beginning. The idea alone that the young are so separated from the older generation because of this "dis/ability" is alluring enough when you take into consideration how anyone under the age of 17 today assumes they are so disconnected from my generation or older. The plot was unlike anything I had ever read and I couldn't get enough of it.
Characters: I really connected with Aura's character; I can definitely see why she wants to get rid of her "ability" and I love how persistent she is to find the truth. This novel is so heart-breakingly honest, especially during the trial. My emotions throughout the novel ranged from "Oh my gosh are they really... " and "Oh he didn't... " (at the beginning), to mortification and embarrassment (towards the end), and finally settled at "I need the next book!" (the last page). These characters were so real to me that I felt like I had went on this journey right along with Aura, Logan, and Zach.
Speaking of Zach, he definitely gets my vote (can you say "sweetheart"!). His whole story line was definitely intriguing, page turning, and completely surprising.
Cover: This cover is SO eye-catching and alluring, before even meeting the author or reading the synopsis I knew I wanted to read this book due to the beautiful cover.
Random Thoughts: I'm just going to say... I need the next book.
Final Thoughts: I am so upset that I let this book sit on my bookshelf for seven months. It was so fantastic! Not only a page turner, but a "stay up all night to finish" book! I definitely recommend this novel to readers of all ages who are looking for an exciting read. I love this book so much it'll be my first classroom book talk for the New Year! Definitely read this novel.
Thanks to my Blogoversary, I have a few Guest Reviews to share! This weeks Guest Reviewer is Amber from Just Your Typical Book Blog.
**************************** Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart. Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.
Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.
Well, sort of.
Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.
It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding--and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.
As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart... and clues to the secret of the Shift.
Step aside werewolves, vampires, fairies, there's a new obsession in my reading pile and it's ghosts! Everyone loves a good ghost story. The unanswered questions of what happens when we all leave this world, but could you image what our lives would be like if ghosts were a normal thing to be around? In Shade we meet Aura, your typical music loving teenage girl who just so happened to be born into a generation of kids who can see and communicate with ghosts. It's not exactly a huge deal to these teens. Sure it gets annoying when you're out with friends and a random ghosts is standing in the middle of the food court table demanding you help her out. But Aura handles a lot of it like it's a piece of cake. Until her boyfriend, Logan the future rock star, becomes a ghost. The relationship between Aura and her boyfriend Logan is not only truly realistic but so heartbreaking. I didn't expect to tear up while reading this, but I did. I loved learning bits of pieces of how these two formed their relationship together. Aura is my type of female character. While most characters would be moping around, Aura takes it a day at a time. She's head strong, tough, but at the same time she sensitive. The plot to this story is fast paced which kept me glued. There are many hints of things that keep you guessing what's going to happen next. I was constantly wondering what Aura was going to do with Logan on the verge of turning into a Shade. Not to mention the new guy in town, Zachary. My alerts were going off like crazy when he was introduced. We all know how those new boys can be. My only dislike throughout this novel was how fast Aura and Zachary's relationship developed, but the two have a certain connection that has many unanswered questions — ones I'm very excited to see in the next installment. Jeri Smith-Ready writing is very addictive and wonderful. She knows how to hook a reader. If you weren't aware she's also a bit evil. Yes, you've been warned this one has a cliffhanger, a wonderful teasing evil one that has me dying to read more. I haven't read anything else by Jeri, but if this is just a taste of what her adult books are like, then consider me sold! *************************** Big thanks to Amber from Just Your Typical Book Blog! I bought my copy of Shade during BEA at the signing at Books of Wonder but it's currently under a large pile of "To Be Read" books so I really appreciate the review! This review definitely made me want to move the book up in the pile! Please visit Amber at Just Your Typical Book Blog and check out her original review. If you're interested in becoming a Guest Reviewer, please visit this page and email me at google at gmail dot com for more information!
"It's definitely a page-turner-my-palms-are-sweaty sort of book." — Miss Remmers
Release Date: May 3rd, 2011 Publisher: Simon Pulse Challenges: 100+ Reading Challenge and 2011 eBook Challenge Review of "Shade"
"Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.
As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart." I kept repeating "I need the next book" when writing my review of "Shade. " This mentality hasn't changed with the second story in this series. While the plot only takes place a short time after the first book, Aura, Zachary, and Logan have all matured tremendously. The added maturity made this book uniquely feel like the characters had matured right along with it's readers (unless, of course, you read these two books back to back). By this I mean, it's been five months since I've read "Shade" and in those five months a lot has happened — I've grown as a person. It's nice to read a novel where the characters have grown right alongside me.
I'm definitely still "Team Zachary" — but I very much appreciate Logan's maturity and his new attitude. It can't be easy to be him right now; a famous ghost who humiliated his (ex-girlfriend), a shade who can't "unshade," and a young male whose love is loving someone else. Now, does this mean he is completely innocent? Absolutely not. Even in "Shade" he still makes some pretty selfish and self-absorbed decisions that impact everyone around him. But I said his character grew, not became perfect. I'm glad that he still makes these mistakes, it's what shows that me that he's still the same person.
Zachary, surprisingly, made some serious mistakes in this novel. But he was the vision of (almost) perfection in "Shade" having waited patiently for Aura to make up her mind all those months; you can't blame him for getting frustrated.
The one thing that sort of still bothers me about these stories is the perception of love (prepare for a tangent). Yes, I was "in love" when I was a teenager and no, he is not the man I'm marrying almost a decade later. In retrospect, when I was sixteen I had no idea what real love was and I had assumed that love was meant to hurt rather than run smoothly (overall). I don't deny that some people are extremely lucky to find their "Prince Charming" at the playground, but I struggle with how absolute Aura's love for these two gentleman are. It seems that she believes that if she likes someone she loves them and if she loves them that she's going to marry them. What about dating? What about, oh I don't know, getting to know each other? Why does it have to be so absolute?
But that's just me.
Overall, for any reader who loved "Shade," "Shift" is a fantastic sequel. Some questions get answered. New questions arise. It's definitely a page-turner-my-palms-are-sweaty sort of book.
-Visit Jeri around the web here: Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter -BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook
Shine by Jeri Smith-Ready Publisher: Simon Pulse (May 1st, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 399 pages Source: Publisher Series: Shade, #3 Rating: 4 of 5 stars Life can change in an instant, and no one understands that better than Aura. It’s been almost a year since her boyfriend tragically died. She’s finally letting go of Logan’s violet-hued ghost, but not her search to uncover the truth about her past.
As the first in a generation that can see ghosts, Aura is convinced she has a connection to the Shift. She’s trusted Zachary, ever patient and ever by her side, with all that she knows. But when the government threatens his life in an attempt to learn Aura’s secrets, she will stop at nothing to protect herself and the one she loves… even if that means betraying her own heart.
Review:
Reading this series has been such a journey for me. I first read Shade when it was just released and it was the book that helped me decide to be a blogger. It just grabbed me so quickly and I was blown away by Jeri Smith-Ready's talent. I'm sad to see this series end but I can't wait to read more from her.
If you've read the first few books, you know that Logan has been gone for a while, but not really.: ) I enjoyed when he would reappear. It was hard to finally let him go. Many, many tears were shed!
Aura has grown so much throughout this series. She seems much better prepared to deal with drama and the craziness of her existence. She seemed ready to face things head on and really figure out what created the shift that caused people to see ghosts. Her and Zachary visit Newrange in Ireland in order to see why it was significant that their parents happened to be there during such a critical point in time. The time that lead to their births and the shift.
I loved seeing where this plot ended up. I never felt like I knew what was coming. It was so well thought-out and explored. Shine really gave Aura her moment where she fought for what she knew was right, no matter who ended up by her side. Yes, we do get the romance but it doesn't interfere with the reason behind the plot. It was just a bonus to it all. It did take me a bit longer to get into the story, compared to the first book, but that's sort of typical for the end of a series.
I really hate seeing these characters go. It's hard to find a series where you really connect with everyone on some level. Jeri Smith-Ready is fabulous in every way and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. This series was build upon such a unique premise, I'm sure she has something else surprising up her sleeve.
Fabulous author Suzanne Young is here today to talk about her new book A Need So Beautiful.
I have read this book and if you don't have it on your to-read list… what the heck are you waiting for?!? It is unbelievably good!
1. A Need So Beautiful is a shift from your previous titles; what made you want to write this story and was it more difficult to write than The Naughty List series?
It was definitely more difficult to write because it was something I really needed to invest in and concentrate on. It wasn’t something I could talk through. I had to dig deep emotionally to capture the fear, the sadness, the love. It was a great journey to write this book and the scope was much larger than The Naughty List, which was a fun project, but less heartbreaking.
2. Charlotte has a very unique ability. Where did this idea originate what were your goals in creating the main character of this story?
The gold on her skin was one of the first elements of the story. I write in layers, and with each pass through, I added more. The Forgottens were the last piece of the puzzle. In the beginning, I thought of this girl who doesn’t know what is happening to her, and she may think it’s awful and try to keep it secret, but to everyone else… it’s beautiful.
3. Charlotte's boyfriend Harlin is very swoon-worthy. Very! Can you tell everyone how you would personally describe him?
I love the idea of my characters being in a relationship at the start of a book. I think the way the couple interacts is a great way to show the characters personalities. And what I loved most about Harlin was how he treated Charlotte. He wasn’t perfect, but I felt that he was real. In my head I pictured him as a younger version of the lead singer of Kings of Leon, but now I’m not sure who I’d compare him to. He’s just Harlin in my head. Riding a motorcycle and wearing a leather jacket.
4. This book is very emotional and brought me to tears a few times. Are you surprised by the emotional impact of this story or was it something you hoped to create. C'mon, be honest, you wanted to make us cry, right?
I cried so much writing it, I’m glad it’s being felt by others. I didn’t really think about the readers as I was drafting the story, it just seemed so personal and private. But I’m very happy, yes happy! to make people cry! Haha. It means readers are investing in the characters, and as an author that’s very important to me. 5. A Need So Beautiful deals with some very intense issues that Charlotte has to face. Do you plan to write more stories with similar elements, or do you enjoy mixing it up and trying out different things with your books (ex: comedy, paranormal, contemporary).
I definitely like to mix it up. There is a sequel to A Need so Beautiful, called A Want so Wicked. But after that I’m switching it up to a contemporary, The Program, which will be out in Spring of 2013. It deals with suicide, so it’s an emotional rollercoaster. But I like to shift genres to help keep my writing fresh. Otherwise I might get bored and fall into similar writing patterns.
A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young Publisher: Balzer & Bray (June 21st, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 252 pages 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.
There have been others before who’ve felt the Need, but they’re gone—erased from the memories of everyone whose lives they had touched. It's as though they never existed. This is the fate that awaits Charlotte. But the last thing Charlotte wants to do is disappear, to be Forgotten. She wants to stay with her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend’s arms forever. She wishes she could just ignore the Need, but she can’t. And as everyone important in her life begins to slowly forget her, she has to decide if she’ll fight the Need in order to remain herself—no matter how dark the consequences.
Find Suzanne Young Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook
Purchase A Need So Beautiful Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
I am "stealing" this from The Story Siren. If you want to find out more about it clickhere. Anyway, these are books I got this week at the bookstore, library, and in the mail, of course.
Since I'm back at school, I've decided to do this post on Saturdays. Sundays is my Salon day (my favorite meme) and I don't get any mail on Saturdays because the Post Office at school isn't open.:)
For Review:
Thanks to the publisher, I received an ARC copy of "On the Bluffs" by Steven Schindler. Thank you! Check out my review here!
From Amazon.com...
"SOMETIMES THE BIGGEST LIES ARE THE ONES WE LIVE.
While Brian DeLouise was working the graveyard shift at a conspiracy theory-crazed radio station his wife was alley-catting around Washington, DC. But a cheating wife and a dead-end job no longer made him angry or depressed. He was just numb. It took a daring brush with death to awaken his senses and a few clicks on Google to begin a journey to recapture a love he believed was gone forever. Brian finds his lost lover in a rundown mansion on the windswept bluffs of Cape Cod, where he must confront a fast approaching evil while he risks losing everything he now cherishes."
And thanks to Bancroft Press I received two ARC copies of "Thanksgiving at the Inn" by Tim Whitney. Thank you!
From Amazon.com... "Ever since his mother left, life has't been easy for Heath Wellington III. Between his father's (Junior's) bouts with alcoholism and literary rejection, and Heath's own wrongful suspension from school, there hasn't been all that much to be thankful for. But following the tragic death of estranged grandfather Senior, father and son alike stand to inherit a life-changing fortune... with one catch. Heath and Junior must spend the next three months managing Senior's bed and breakfast, located in the same Massachusetts home Junior has spent the last eight years trying to escape. Upended from his everyday life and relocated to a town where everyone knew and loved the grandfather he can't even remember, Heath finds an inn full of some of the strangest people he's ever met, such as: * Winsted, the old, wise Jamaican man who used to lead the prayers in Senior s factory; * Mrs. Farrel, an elderly woman giving away her late husband's fortune letter by letter; * Mustang Sally, the muscle-bound, tattooed grease monkey who doubles as a children's author; * And Carter, the silent TV news junkie and secret Harvard graduate. And, at a nearby school is Savannah, Junior's first love, and her adorable, autistic daughter, Tori. But most of all, there's Junior himself, vinegar to Heath's oil. As Heath adjusts to his new world, what he needs most is to start anew with his father, to understand that Junior, too, is dealing with loss, and to realize that, even in the most tragic of times, there's a lot in life to be thankful for. Thanksgiving at the Inn is a beautiful story of family and forgiveness, and a sure holiday classic. Tim Whitney's fantastic, heartwarming debut is one you'll want to read with the whole family for years and years to come."
Thanks to the author, I recieved a copy of "Frozen Tears" by Mary Ann MacAfee. Thank you!
From Amazon.com...
"In Alaska's stunning but brutal interior, where white and Native cultures clash, Kale Weaver struggles to survive a devastating tragedy that becomes the genesis for her allegiance to wolves and the circumstances making her target of a primitive superstition. Aided by her best friend, a worn-out helicopter pilot, and the bond shared with a wolf shaman, she then struggles against what follows: the bigotry and rejection imposed on her and her half-breed son,until she is challenged by the ultimate ordeal. Whatever the risks, she must fulfill a wish for her young son that she had never imagined for him. But above all, Kale's page-turning journey shows that love can triumph over life's most dire challenges and painful losses." To Giveaway:
I received directly from the Author, Barry Lyga, a signed copy of "Boy Toy" to give away.
From Barry Lyga's website...
"Five years ago Josh’s life changed. Drastically. And everyone in his school, his town—seems like the world—thinks they understand. But they don’t—they can’t. And now, about to graduate from high school, Josh is still trying to sort through the pieces. First there’s Rachel, the girl he thought he’d lost years ago. She’s back, and she’s determined to be part of his life, whether he wants her there or not. Then there are college decisions to make, and the toughest baseball game of his life coming up, and a coach who won't stop pushing Josh all the way to the brink. And then there’s Eve. Her return brings with it all the memories of Josh’s past. It’s time for Josh to face the truth about what happened. If only he knew what the truth was... "
Won:
I haven't won anything recently — but I figure I'm due.:)
You can win a few books here too! Currently I am giving away a copy of "My Name is Will", "Boy Toy", and "Dancing with Ana".
From the library:
"Eighth Grade Bites: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod"
"Ninth Grade Slays: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod"
I am very excited to read these books. What did you find in your mailboxes this week?
According to local lore, an old butcher once lived in the woods off Holland Road in Western New York, near the railroad tracks. He liked his privacy, and to frighten would-be tormentors, he cut off the heads of pigs and put them around his property on stakes — that's how he earned his nickname. Well, one night, a few boys decided to ignore the warning and give old Pigman a scare. Instead, the butcher caught them, decapitated them, and put their heads on stakes, jammed into the ground near the old covered bridge.
And Pigman was never seen again… at least, not while he was alive.
Don don don don… don!
Fast forward 60 years. I was 19 years old, and I just got my license. My first car was a 1985 Celica GT 5-speed with 130,000 miles on it, a rusted bumper, and a hole in the gas tank that prevented you from filing it more than 1/4 up. Not bad for $500, right? It took me a while to master the art of stick shift, but I didn't let a little bucking and stalling stop me from escaping my parents' house any chance I got. And rusty or not, that car could MOVE.
One summer night, my friends and I decided to investigate the notorious legend of Pigman for ourselves. We didn't have any high-tech ghost-hunting gear or infa-red goggles, but we did have that 1985 Celica GT, a full (well, as full as it could be with that hole) tank of gas, and the kind of courage you usually find in a group of bored suburban teens with lots of free time and some major Superman complexes.
The rules of Pigman Road, as it was then called, went something like this: You drive down Pigman Road, stop your car under the covered bridge, and turn off the engine. Then, in the pitch black night, you're supposed to call out the name"Pigman" three times, and try to start your car. If your car doesn't start, you die. It's that simple. Party time, right?!
(What can I say? We didn't have the Internet back then. We had to make our own fun.)
We all piled into a couple of cars and headed out toward the tracks. My best friend, her boyfriend, her brother, and I were in the Celica with me behind the wheel. Everyone else was ahead of us in the other cars. We all drove onto the middle of the dark bridge. Killed the engines and removed the keys. Sat in silence for a few minutes to amp up the dramatic tension. And then, the chanting began.
"Pigman," we called in one voice."Pigman. PIGMAN!"
The other two cars started up and took off. From behind the wheel of that old Celica, my whole body shook as I jammed the key back into the ignition. Pushed in the clutch. Turned the key, praying it would start, praying we'd survive this ridiculous rite. The car started, and the four of us let out a collective nervous giggle as we started to roll. And then, poof. The car bucked and stalled. I tried to start it again, but it wouldn't turn over.
"Go! Get the hell out of here!" My friend screamed in my ear. My hands were slippery and shaky. My legs didn't work. I couldn't get the car to start — I just couldn't do it. Four young people in the prime of our lives were all going to die at the hands of some age-old legendary psycho butcher ghost, and it was all my fault. Seconds-that-felt-like-hours later, my friend's boyfriend crawled over to the front seat and shoved me out of the way. He pushed in the clutch, started up the engine, and squealed out of there as fast as we could possibly go in the ol' rustbucket, which, as it turns out, was over 110 miles per hour (kids, do NOT try this at home). None of us could speak. We kept waiting for a train to hit us, the car to skid and careen down the embankment, or a half-man half-pig monster to appear in the back seat with a big meat cleaver, sharpened for the kill.
Minutes passed, the tires rolling down the old dark road, finally slowing to a safer speed. Certain we were out of immediate danger, we pulled over and met up with the rest of our friends at the other, non-Pigman end the railroad tracks. We tried to laugh with them at our own expense, but it's hard to laugh when you're not even sure your heart's still beating. Eventually, encouraged by the friendly taunts and the safety-in-numbers thing, we relaxed. It looked like we might just survive the night after all. Pigman? What a silly little game for silly little kids! Eat me, Pigman! Ha. Ha. Ha.
Ha!
That's when we saw the flashlights bouncing out of the woods. Faster. There were footsteps. Shouts.
"Don't move," a deep voice ordered. A tall man approached the tracks, bright white flashlight blinding us to his appearance."IDs. All of you. Get 'em out."
Another man joined him, bathing us in light. It was one of the few times in our short, trouble-making careers that we were thrilled to be harassed by cops. We tried to explain what the hell we were doing out on the railroad tracks on Pigman Road in the middle of the night, alternately screaming and laughing. We tried to tell them about the legendary butcher and the stalled car and how we almost died, just moments before. It didn't look like they were buying it. But we weren't drinking or anything, and fortunately they hadn't clocked us speeding out of there, so the cops just returned our IDs and shooed us away. I figured they were used to that sort of things — chasing away stupid kids who come to test the Pigman legend for themselves.
Later, I learned that Pigman Road was not only the supposed property of the murderous butcher, but the actual site of a heinous train wreck in the 1860s in which 50 people were burned alive in a flaming train car. Apparently, police monitor the area constantly, many claiming that supernatural activity is rampant under the old bridge. Some think it's the ghosts of the people who died in the train accident. Others — perhaps the officers that tracked us down — believe that the legend of Pigman is real.
Pigman or train passenger ghosts, we survived the night. And the one after that and the one after that. We went back to college, back to work. On to marriages and kids and jobs and real life. And soon the legend of Pigman faded into our collective memories of the best of times, the worst of times, the creepiest of times.
As for the old Celica GT? Well, Pigman's curse or not, that car finally did die a painful death a year later when my friend tried to race it up the side of a mountain to impress a girl.
And now I drive an automatic, just in case.: -)
Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (December 1st, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 320 pages Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart.
She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her"boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.
Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?
Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (June 1st, 2009) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 290 pages "Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it." "Okay." "Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?" "Don't worry." I laughed."It's our secret, right?"
According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.
Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a signed copy of Fixing Delilah OR Twenty Boy Summer. Winner picks!
Rules:
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 November 13th.
Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
The form must be filled out to enter.
- Thanks so much Sarah for the book donation and story! Find Sarah Ockler Sarah Ockler / Twitter / Blog / Goodreads
Pre-Order Fixing Delilah Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository
Purchase Twenty Boy Summer Amazon / Barnes & Noble / 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.
While Brian DeLouise was working the graveyard shift at a conspiracy theory-crazed radio station his wife was alley-catting around Washington, DC. But a cheating wife and a dead-end job no longer made him angry or depressed. He was just numb. It took a daring brush with death to awaken his senses and a few clicks on Google to begin a journey to recapture a love he believed was gone forever. Brian finds his lost lover in a rundown mansion on the windswept bluffs of Cape Cod, where he must confront a fast approaching evil while he risks losing everything he now cherishes."
There was a lot of story to this book — and it got to be a bit much. There was just so much going on. There was the first part, with Brian in his dead end job with a cheating wife. I think this alone could have been a great plot with a bit of personalization. Then there was the part with finding his long lost love and winning her back. With some originality, this would make another great plot. And finally, there's the suspense (or 'evil') part.
Character development in Brian is awesome, but the supporting characters are lacking... character, I guess. I think this could be because of how much story Schindler tries to fit into the one book. I think that if the book were to focus on one plot, rather than three, the characters would be stronger.
I did like how all the characters were named after Shakespeare characters (yes, I picked up on that!). Richard, Portia, Juliette.
But overall, I was slightly disappointed. The synopsis had real promise — I was so excited to see what 'evil' was conspiring. Like I said, I think if this story would have been broken down a bit and... filtered, I think is the best word, we could have potentially had three concrete plots.
It's an Adult Book Prize Pack Giveaway!! Two winners for this one. Each will receive 5 books and some swag. Want to know what you have a chance to win? Well, look no further.
Prizes:
2 winners will receive an adult prize pack with 5 books and swag.
Prize Pack #1
Includes: Time for Eternity (Da Vinci Time Travel, #1) By: Susa Squires Truly, Madly (Lucy Valentine, #1) By: Heather Webber Shift By: Rachel Vincent Cold Dawn By: Carla Neggers (ARC) Sins of the Heart (Otherkin Trilogy, #1) By: Eve Silver + some swag!
Prize Pack #2
Includes: Time for Eternity (Da Vinci Time Travel, #1) By: Susa Squires Truly, Madly (Lucy Valentine, #1) By: Heather Webber Bride of the Wolf By: Susan Krinard The 3rd Secret By: Tara Taylor Quinn (ARC) Kiss of Death By: P.D. Martin + some swag! Rules:
You must be at least 17 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 24th.
Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
The form must be filled out to enter.
* NOTE: THIS IS THE SAME FORM TO ENTER THAT IS ON LISA'S BLOG. ONLY ONE ENTRY WILL COUNT.
Good luck everyone! *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.
Rachel applied the last stroke of mascara and turned the power off on the stereo. The music that pumped from the speakers stopped and silence fell around her. This was the first time in her life she’d lived on her own without roommates and getting used to the solidarity was taking longer than she expected.
A loud bang sounded behind her and she jumped. Darkness filled the hallway behind her and she stared into the shadows. Chills ran down her spine as the hairs rose on the back of her neck, and she crept forward.
“Hello?” she asked, but naturally there was no answer. Her bare feet pressed into the carpet as she stepped closer to the edge of the hall. The silence was a weight bearing down around her and she jumped as something moved in the shadows. A dark blur slid from one room across to the other, and she shivered. Rachel swore the chill wasn’t just in her bones, the room was colder now.
As she came to the opening of the hallway she reached for the light switch but hesitated. The thought of dipping her hands into the shadows for even a moment had her on edge. Images of a rotting hand with sores and callouses pulling her into the darkness flashed through her mind and she pulled her hand back.
Cool air tingled along her neck like someone was blowing against her skin and Rachel flinched, quickly flicking the light switch up and turning around, but there was nothing there. She rubbed the side of her neck and found her skin cool to the touch. She shivered again and stared down the now well-lit hall.
This wasn’t the first time she’d had a strange feeling about this place, but the rent was cheap and cheap was what she could afford. Not having roommates was a little harder on her bank account. “This is ridiculous. Get yourself together,” Rachel said, storming down the hall and flicking on the lights to each room. With the exception of the bathroom and her bedroom, all the other rooms were empty. No furniture and definitely no corpses that roamed in the shadows.
She turned the lights off and went back to the kitchen, slipping on her high heeled shoes. A loud horn honked from the street outside and her pulse leapt again. A checkered yellow cab idled on the street, waiting to take her to the party.
Tucking a loose strand of hair that dangled around her face behind her ear, she adjusted her outfit in the mirror. After a quick once-over of her ensemble she gave a silent nod of approval. She took a few items out of her purse and transferred them into a small clutch, taking only what she needed for the night and snapped it shut. Smoky, her poised black cat leapt onto the table, rubbing against her arm and pawing at the clutch. A single white tuft of hair formed a triangular patch on her chest and she meowed in protest.
“I’ll be home soon, baby,” Rachel whispered, scratching Smoky just under her chin. The purring response was immediate.
The horn sounded again and Rachel sighed. “I’m coming!” she yelled, as though the driver could hear her scream from inside. “You be good.” She smiled and gave Smoky a long, smooth stroke along her back before moving towards the door.
As she walked past the mirror she’d just spent hours in front of something moved in the reflection. She took a few more steps and then stopped, debating whether or not to take a second look.
After getting herself worked up in the hallway she refused to be pushed around by her own imagination and she gave into her curiosity. Stepping back in front of the mirror she found a long couch and a single painting of the ocean looking back at her.
“I told you,” she said, looking herself in the eye.
She tore her gaze away as Smoky meowed again. The cat sat perfectly poised on the table, studying her face with vibrant green eyes. The horn honked again and Smokey released another meow. “I’ll be home later,” she said, trying not to sound annoyed and turned back towards the mirror.
The couch and painting were gone, blocked by a mass of decrepit faces and bodies that filled her living room. Solid white eyes stared back at her, while flaps of skin dangled from their faces. Green rot and blood-stains filled in the gashes along their skin, and they stood silent, staring into the mirror. Rachel screamed and ran into the kitchen. Her heels clacked twice along the tile before she slipped.
One shoe folded out sideways beneath her and her leg twisted hard and fast to the side. She lost her balance and pain split across her ankle. She fell to the ground and hit the kitchen table with her hands, pushing it a few inches in the opposite direction.
Adrenaline pulsed through her veins and her heart palpitated like it was going to be torn from her chest. A gut-wrenching pang twisted in her stomach and she turned onto her back, skittering backwards across the floor. But to her surprise, nobody was after her. In fact, her living room was empty.
Heavy pants slipped through her freshly painted red lips and her eyes panned the room. She could hear a pounding in her ears as her heartbeat raced. Smoky stood between her and the living room and hissed at the air. Goosebumps trickled down Rachel’s shoulders and she trembled.
She took a few deep breaths before recomposing herself. She slipped her shoe back on and climbed to her feet. Her ankle hurt, but not enough to cancel a night of fun with the girls. She’d been waiting far too long for this, plus, it was her favorite night of the year: Halloween. Nothing was keeping her down. Not tonight.
She cautiously approached the mirror and the goosebumps prickled up and down her arm with each step. She looked into the living room, then took another step forward and peeked into the mirror. A sign of relief filled her as the painting and couch were back in the reflection or a near-empty room.
She let out a deep breath. “What’s gotten into me?” She asked, looking down at Smoky. “I need this night out more than I thought.” She grabbed her clutch and disappeared out the door towards an impatient and aggravated cab driver.
After hours of dancing, drinking, and laughing with friends, Rachel returned home feeling renewed, exhausted, and more than a little off balance. She fiddled with her keys and stumbled into the doorway, kicking her shoes across the floor. Smoky meowed, awaiting her arrival on the kitchen table.
“Hey kitty,” she said, the words somewhat slurred from her mouth. She threw her clutch and keys on the table and ran her fingers through the cat’s fur. Opening the fridge she grabbed a cold bottle of water and flicked off the kitchen light. “I may have had one drink too many,” she said, pausing to stare blankly at the cat. After a moment she snapped out of her daze and smiled. “Bed time, Smoky, let’s go.”
Drinking half the water bottle in her first gulp, she screwed the cap on and placed it on the bedside table. She tore her clothes off piece by piece and left them strewn about the room. While pulling back the purple and red duvet on her bed, a strand of crispy hair fell from its place on her head and danced along her shoulder.
“Dammit. I can’t go to sleep with all this crap in my hair.” Rachel sighed and ran her hands through the sticky hair-sprayed locks.
The bathroom was already full of steam as she dropped her underwear to the floor and stepped into the shower. Hot water nipped at her skin while her body adjusted to the temperature, and all the warm feelings of her evening began to wash away. She tilted her head back and water splashed over her face and hair, breaking down the product she’d invested hours of time putting into it.
As the buzz of alcohol began to run down the drain, images of what she’d seen in the mirror flashed through her mind. Both of her eyelids shot open and tension crept into her shoulders. Hard streams of water beat against her skin as the fear returned and she felt something slide over her shoulders.
She paused, standing still in the water, telling herself it was all in her head. She tried to picture something else, remembering the tray of shots they’d had at the club. When that didn’t work she pictured the young kid who still appeared to be in his ‘awkward’ phase hitting on her. One cheesy pick-up line after another echoed through her head, but even that memory was overrun with anxiety when she realized the feeling wasn’t leaving.
The water seemed to tighten its hold, squeezing her skin. That gut-wrenching pain filled her stomach again and her breath caught in her throat. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. This isn’t happening, she thought to herself. It can’t be. She slowly lifted her eyes and glanced down at her shoulder, but there was nothing there. The water continued to splash against her skin, and although she couldn’t see it, she could still feel something squeezing against her skin.
The feeling vanished as Rachel turned in the shower, and her fear faded. She was looking at a tile wall littered with drops of water that looked back at her — there was nothing in there with her. “I’m having serious issues tonight?” She shivered and let the water rush over her face, but even in the heat of the shower, the chill didn’t leave her bones. It ran down her arm and along the sides of her body, only to find its way back up to her neck.
She stayed in the water until after the hot had turned cold. She let the stream snap her back to reality and sober her up. When she finally summoned the courage to move, she leaned forward and turned off the water.
Pulling back the shower curtain in a rush, she stepped onto the fuzzy bathmat and turned on the ceiling fan. The steam drifted upwards and as the room cleared, she saw what looked like hand prints in the foggy mirror.
She tried to ignore them. It was nothing. She didn’t know what she’d seen earlier. Maybe it was just the hype from Halloween. She was excited, she’d had a few pre-party beverages and now, after more drinks than she could count, she was over-tired and intoxicated.
Living on her own had her imagination running wild and tonight, she was letting it play tricks on her. She’d lived here for four months and every once in a while she got these strange feelings. So far, she’d just chalked it up to the adjustment. No roommates, no boyfriend, just her and Smoky; the way she wanted it to be. It was a big change and all of this was just part of it. As she got used to being alone, it would fade. At least that’s what she kept telling herself.
As she crawled into bed, the duvet felt cool against her skin. Rachel squirmed against the silky white sheets and let them wrap themselves around her.
“Come on, Smoky,” she called, but the cat didn’t come. Strange, she thought. Smoky is always waiting in bed for me. She waited a few moments and called out again, but still, nothing. “Suit yourself.”
Rachel turned in the bed, spreading out along the cool sheets and stirring as she tried to find the perfect position. She tried her left side, then her right, and finally her back, but she couldn’t get comfortable. It was like there was something bulging from her mattress that refused to allow her comfort.
Using her shoulders and feet, she lifted her body up and dropped it against the bed. Over and over again her body hit the mattress until she was certain she’d broken in her spot and found a way to get comfortable.
She pulled the blankets up to her chin, glanced at the clock, and closed her eyes. It was after three in the morning and the house was silent. She fought to keep her eyes closed, hoping she could bask in the quiet and fall asleep, but when the bed creaked, the stillness of the room became overwhelming. She waited to hear the footsteps of Smoky crunching across the duvet, but they never came.
The creak came again and the muscles in Rachel’s shoulders tensed. Deep breaths in and out were all that kept her from jumping out of bed. This is all in my head. I’m getting myself all worked up, and thinking about it is only amplifying everything. She flipped onto her back and repeated those thoughts again and again.
The bed squeaked and this time she felt something putting pressure on the far end of the mattress — more pressure than a cat could manage.
That’s it. I can’t do this. She tried to sit up, but her body wouldn’t comply with the demand. Cold air brushed her feet as the blanket lifted slightly and her pulse became thick in her throat. She wanted to pull her feet back but she couldn’t. She couldn’t move at all.
Chills shuddered across her shoulders as something trickled across her ankle. With the panic that lunged in her chest came the pain of twisting it in the kitchen all over again. She gasped and tried to scream, but all that came out was air.
The blankets moved again and more cool air washed over her legs. She could feel the weight of something… someone, moving up the bed beneath the covers. The blankets shifted and moved and she felt fingers sliding up the outside of her ankle.
This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening.
The fingertips walked higher, moving along both sides of her legs.
This is just a dream. No, it’s a nightmare.
The fingers’ pressure increased as they scaled her body, digging into her flesh. Her heart flung from one side of her chest to the other, ready to burst at any moment. Sweat had gathered on her brow and she realized she was moving, but it wasn’t in the way she wanted. Her body trembled and shook violently as beads of salty sweat ran down her face.
On three, I’m going to wake up.
She winced in pain as the fingers turned into full-on grabs.
One.
Fingers nipped at her hips and tore themselves up her torso.
Two.
The duvet moved again and the cool air touched her skin as another set of hands joined the first. Three! She shouted in her head, but nothing happened.
The second set of hands squeezed against her calves and Rachel cried out silently, her voice ensnared in her throat.
Stop. Please stop.
The mattress shifted as something climbed higher up the bed.
Smoky! She screamed the name in her head. Smoky where are you?
The first set of hands pulled at her breasts and moved higher over her chest. She could feel the invisible intruder’s fingers reaching for her throat. Tears streamed down her face as her body convulsed. She was sobbing uncontrollably but there was still no sound escaping her lips. Cold, unseen fingers wrapped around her throat. She screamed silently for Smoky again. Please come. Please help me…
The hand began to squeeze and the air was slowly stolen from Rachel. A loud hiss came from the door way and the hand around her throat pulled away. The cold fingers slid down her body and across her stomach before they vanished. Another hiss came, this time it was louder, and the mattress moved as something heavy moved across it.
Smokey jumped onto the bed and the duvet crunched beneath her paws. It was too dark to see, but Rachel could feel a strange energy coming off the feline. She was so close and the cat gave off an aura of protection. The mattress shifted and something retreated as Smoky stalked across the bed until eventually, Rachel felt whatever it was slip off the edge.
“Oh god, thank you, Smoky!” she said, and the words managed to spill from her lips. She tore her body up from the mattress and covered her face, crying so hard it hurt.
Smoky meowed and crawled up the blankets, nuzzling her head against Rachel’s chest. “Thank you, baby, thank you,” she whispered, pulling Smoky close. Her limbs were still shaking and her heart hammered inside her chest, but as the cat began to purr, it pushed calmness inside her.
Rachel didn’t move from her bed for the rest of the night. She sat perfectly still, gripping Smoky against her body. She watched as the red digits on the clock changed every so often until sunshine crept through her blinds, breaking away the cold energy of the room. Only then did she have the nerve to pull the blankets back and move.
When she finally managed to coax herself out of bed, she found red scratches, swollen skin, and finger-shaped bruises that covered her from her neck to her feet. A chill had instilled itself inside her bones and no matter what she did, she couldn’t shake it.
She called her friends later that day and tried to explain what had happened, but naturally, nobody believed her. They claimed she must have had too much to drink, or perhaps it was a nightmare. One of them even asked if she’d taken any drugs that night. Rachel wasn’t surprised by their reactions, but she knew it was none of those things. It was something in this house and if it wasn’t for Smoky, well, she didn’t like to think what might have happened if Smoky hadn’t been there. One thing was for certain, whether her friends believed her or not, she wasn’t staying here. The next day was the first of November and the perfect time to find a new place to live.
Shift by M.R. Merrick Published: February 1st, 2012 Reading Level: Young Adult Series: The Protector, #2 Devastated by a terrible loss, Chase is trying to balance the life he’s been left with, a family he’s still getting to know, and power he never thought he’d have. He doesn’t understand why the Goddess has named him the Protector and granted him two gifts: the Mark, a tattoo that now covers his back, and the ring. But between getting interrogated by the Circle and psychic attacks from Riley, the Mark is the least of his concern. There’s a demon inside Rayna that’s fighting to be released, and it’s not her inner witch. It’s something else—a monster threatening to tear her apart.
As Chase struggles to control his magic, his enemies are closing in. Everyone has staked a claim on his ring, and destroying it may be his only chance to stop Riley. But Chase must decide if stopping him is worth risking the lives of everyone he cares about, or if protecting the ring will be enough to save his world.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a n ebo ok of Exiled (book #1).
Rules:
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 International and ends November 16th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
The form must be filled out to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Website | Goodreads | Twitter
Amazon | Barnes & Noble 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. Don't forget to check out Lisa's Haunted Halloween post for today!
April 2011 Wrap Up During April 2011 I decided to participate in the RAK and received two great books — "Across the Universe" and "The Lost Saint." I also created the BEA 2011 Blog Feed for BEA participants — only a few days away now! I interviewed Hannah Moskowitz, author of Invincible Summer. And I filmed three vlogs for new BEA 2011 participants: What to Bring, What to Wear, and Questions Answered. Books Read:
Shift
Invincible Summer
The Goddess Test
Bumped
Stay
Challenge Updates Dystopian Challen ge — 7 of 15 (+1) Audiobook Challenge — 2 of 12 (-) iChallenge — 5 of 10 (-) Off the Shelf Challenge — 9 of 76 (+1) 100+ Reading Challenge — 23 of 100 (+5) eBook Challenge — 9 of 12 (+3) Top YA Challenge — 5 of 25+ (-) Debut Author Challenge — 3 of 12 (-)
April 2011 Stats 6,233 Page Views 545 Followers Favorite April 2011 Read
My favorite April read was hands down THE GODDESS TEST by Aimee Carter.
Radiance by Alyson Noel Publisher: Square Fish (August 31st, 2010) Reading Level: Middle Grade Paperback: 192 pages Series: Radiance, book #1 Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunited with her parents and are just settling into a nice, relaxing death when she's summoned before The Council. They let her in on a secret—the afterlife isn't just an eternity of leisure; Riley has to work. She's been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a curious boy she can't quite figure out.
Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup return to earth for her first assignment, a Radiant Boy who's been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But he's never met Riley…
Find out more about Alyson Noel Alyson Noel / Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads
Purchase Radiance Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository
Book Trailer
Mistwood by Leah Cypess Publisher: HarperCollins (April 27th, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 304 pages The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwod.
But when she is needed she always comes.
Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.
Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty--because without it, she may be his greatest threat.
Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court.. until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.
Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart.. and everything she thought she knew.
Find out more about Leah Cypess Leah Cypess / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads
1 winner will receive a SIGNED copy of Radiance by Alyson Noel, a Radiance and Dark Flame bookmark, and a SIGNED Mistwood bookmark.
Rules:
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 17th.
Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
The form must be filled out to enter.
*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.
Apollyon by Janenifer L. Armentrout Published: Spencer Hill Press (April 4th 2013) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 343 pages Series: Covenant, #4 Rating: 5 of 5 stars Summary: Fate isn’t something to mess with… and now, neither is Alex.
Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back.
The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex’s power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex’s connection to Seth isn’t the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole “an Apollyon can’t be killed” theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.
Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer… or she might become the God Killer herself.
Review:
Ah, this series continues to amaze. Apollyon is a very intense addition to this series. When it starts Alex is in a haze of emotions. Her connection with Seth has created some tension and it is clouding her thoughts. She isn't the Alex we've come to know and love. But no matter how bad things get, Aiden never gives up on her. He is determined to help Alex get back to herself and fight the connection with Seth even though he seems to be constantly grabbing Alex's attention and focus.
After a while there is a shift and this is where I really got back into the story. Alex was able to better piece together what was going on and her feelings for Aiden come back to the surface. Aiden continues to blow me away. He's so darn… wonderful!!! I loved seeing their relationship grow and seeing how they were able to get through so many obstacles. This book finally allows the couple to just be together for a bit without all the secrecy.
Plus, never fear, this book is full of action. We do get some answers and pieces filled in but there's still so much to figure out.
Apollyon is really a good set up for the final battle that's sure to come in Sentinel. I'm really curious to see what happens and see how Alex deals with this battle. I can't help but love Seth but he's put Alex through so much. I still hope he gets his happy ending.
I'm Not Her by Janet Gurtler (Sourcebooks Fire 5/1/2011) Shift (Shade #2) by Jeri Smith-Ready (Simon Pulse 5/3/2011) Bite Club (The Morganville Vampires #10) by Rachel Caine (NAL Hardcover 5/3/2011)
Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth (Katherine Tegen Books 5/3/2011) Everfound (The Skinjacker Trilogy #3) by Neal Shusterman (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing 5/3/2011) So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti (Viking Juvenile 5/3/2011)
But I Love Him by Amanda Grace (Flux 5/8/2011) Bitter End by Janenifer Brown (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 5/10/2011) What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen (Penguin Young Readers Group 5/10/2011)
Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs (Walker Books for Young Readers 5/10/2011) Tighter by Adele Griffin (Knoph Books for Young Readers 5/10/2011) The Lucky Kind by Alyssa B. Sheinmel (Knoph Books for Young Readers 5/10/2011)
Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott (Simon Pulse 5/24/2011)
Moonglass by Jessi Kirby (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing 5/3/2011) Die for Me (Revenants #1) by Amy Plum (HarperTeen 5/10/2011) The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski (EgmontUSA 5/10/2011)
Flawless by Lara Chapman (Bloomsbury 5/10/2011) The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux 5/10/2011) Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 5/23/2011)
Starcrossed (Starcrossed #1) by Josephine Angelini (HarperTeen 5/31/2011) Blood Magic (The Blood Journals #1) by Tessa Gratton (Random House Books for Young Readers 5/24/2011)
If you know of any other new releases for May 1st-31st feel free to add them in the comments so others will know about them!
It has been FOREVER since my last post! Wow! 12.31.10! This is my first Last 20 of the year! I just can't believe it! Keeping track of what I'm reading and where I got the books from has become an important aspect of reflection for me. If you're interested in analyzing my stats (although this is mostly for me) here are my prior posts.
Last 20 — December 2010
Last 20 — Februar y 2010
Last 20 — April 2010
Last 20 — Augus t 2010
Glass Houses — Audiobook from Library
Speak — Audiobook from Library
The Maze Runner — Audiobook from Library
The Power of Six — ARC from Publisher
The Beginning of After — Galley from NetGalley
The Iron Knight — Galley from NetGalley
Entwined — Audiobook from Library
All Together Dead — Audiobook from Library
The Giver — Audiobook from Library
Forever — ARC from BEA 2011
Wintergirls — Audiobook from Library
Eragon — Audiobook from Library
Spellbound — Galley
Summer's Crossing — Free Nook Book
Between Here and Forever — Galley
Mercy — Galley
Shift — Galley
Invincible Summer — ARC Tour
The Goddess Test — Galley
Bumped — Galley
8/20 — Library 2/20 — Review Copy 1/20 — BEA 0/20 — Bought 8/20 — Galley from either NetGalley or Galley Grab
You can definitely tell when my summer Audiobook Adventure started! I'm also fully utilizing the online galley resources that I am SO entirely thankful for! But, unfortunately, I haven't read a SINGLE book that I've bought recently. This makes me sad because my goal for 2011 was to read my own books. But then I got a Nook and all of these resources became available to me. Oh well, life goes on. The good thing is that I haven't bought a lot of books recently either. So it's kind of like a stale mate right?
What about YOUR last 20? Where do your books come from that you actually get around to reading?
Today readers could pick their own top 10. I have read a ton (A TON!) of New Adult books this year. I wanted to highlight som e of the best ones I've found so far.
Title: The Coincidence of Callie & Kayden Author: Jessica Sorensen Add to Goodreads There are those who don’t get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved.
Luck was not on Callie’s side the day of her twelfth birthday when everything was stolen from her. After it’s all over, she locks up her feelings and vows never to tell anyone what happened. Six years later her painful past consumes her life and most days it’s a struggle just to breathe.
For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence was the only way to survive life. As long as he did what he was told, everything was okay. One night, after making a terrible mistake, it seems like his life might be over. Luck was on his side, though, when Callie coincidentally is in the right place at the right time and saves him.
Now he can’t stop thinking about the girl he saw at school, but never really knew. When he ends up at the same college as Callie, he does everything he can to try to get to know her. But Callie is reserved and closed off. The more he tries to be part of her life, the more he realizes Callie might need to be saved.
Title: Easy Author: Tammara Webber Add to Goodreads A girl who believes trust can be misplaced, promises are made to be broken, and loyalty is an illusion. A boy who believes truth is relative, lies can mask unbearable pain, and guilt is eternal. Will what they find in each other validate their conclusions, or disprove them all?
When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.
Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night--but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.
When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.
Title: In the Band Author: Jean Haus Add to Goodreads When family problems push Riley Middleton into giving up a percussion scholarship in another state and attending college from home, her friends push her to try out for a local rock band. Of course, Riley makes the band. She rules at the drums.
Riley soon finds out rock bands have a different dynamic than marching bands, especially when each of her male band mates has a major ego and is a major player. Two of them relentlessly flirt with her. The other—a dark, sexy rock god she can’t help being attracted to— is a total jerk and pushes her to quit. She becomes determined to ignore his rudeness and his hotness. Even if she was interested in jerks, a hook up would probably get her booted out of the ego-ridden band, and playing keeps her sane. Behind the drums, the world and its troubles evaporate.
If she wants to stay in the band, Riley needs to ignore the growing sparks between her and her band enemy. But as she gets to know the man behind the stage persona, ignoring him proves to be more difficult than flowing through a time sig shift.
Title: The Edge of Never Author: J.A. Redmerski Add to Goodreads Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett had always been one to think out-of-the-box, who knew she wanted something more in life than following the same repetitive patterns and growing old with the same repetitive life story. And she thought that her life was going in the right direction until everything fell apart.
Determined not to dwell on the negative and push forward, Camryn is set to move in with her best friend and plans to start a new job. But after an unexpected night at the hottest club in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, she makes the ultimate decision to leave the only life she’s ever known, far behind.
With a purse, a cell phone and a small bag with a few necessities, Camryn, with absolutely no direction or purpose boards a Greyhound bus alone and sets out to find herself. What she finds is a guy named Andrew Parrish, someone not so very different from her and who harbors his own dark secrets. But Camryn swore never to let down her walls again. And she vowed never to fall in love.
But with Andrew, Camryn finds herself doing a lot of things she never thought she’d do. He shows her what it’s really like to live out-of-the-box and to give in to her deepest, darkest desires. On their sporadic road-trip he becomes the center of her exciting and daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But will Andrew’s dark secret push them inseparably together, or tear them completely apart?
Title: Unlikely Allies Author: Tiffany King Add to Goo drea ds Eighteen-year-old Kimberly gets the shock of her life when she learns the father she thought was dead is not only very much alive, but never even knew she existed. Angry with her mother for lying all these years, Kimberly flies to Colorado to meet the father she knows nothing about before heading off to college in the fall.
Her father’s world turns out to be nothing like she expected. Rather than the typical nine to five lifestyle, Kimberly’s father runs a summer foster camp that teaches young children skills to build their confidence and self-esteem. The Colorado Rocky Mountains are a different world than the sunny shores of California, taking Kimberly completely out of her element, and causing her to second-guess her spur of the moment decision.
Never being one to quit anything, Kimberly is determined to show her father that a surfer girl can fit into this rugged mountain wilderness. That is if she can deal with Mason, an arrogant nineteen-year-old guy who has made it his mission to point out every mistake she has made since her arrival. While she would love nothing more than to rub it in his know-it-all face, Kimberly can’t deny the feelings he stirs up inside her, or the chemistry between them, even during their verbal assaults.
When a tragic accident leaves them stranded in the mountains, Kimberly must use her shaky skills to save Mason and survive the elements. Suddenly, fighting is the last thing on their minds as they must rely on each other if they want to live. In their struggle for survival, they realize what they thought they knew about each other isn’t true after all.
Title: Taking Chances Author: Molly McAdams Add to Goodreads Eighteen year old Harper has grown up under her career Marine of a father's thumb. Ready to live life her own way and experience things she's only ever heard of from the jarheads in her father's unit; she's on her way to college at San Diego State University.
Thanks to her new roommate, Harper is introduced to a world of parties, gorgeous guys, family and emotions. Some she wasn't expecting yet, and others she never knew she was missing.
She finds herself being torn in two as she quickly falls in love with her boyfriend Brandon, and her roommate's brother Chase. Covered in tattoos, known for fighting in the Underground and ridiculously muscled… they're exactly what she was always warned to stay away from, but just what she needs. Despite their dangerous looks and histories, both adore and would do anything for Harper, including stepping back if it means she's happy.
Her first year away is turning out to be near perfect, but one weekend of giving in to heated passion will change everything.
Title: The Secret of Ella & Micha Author: Jessica Sorensen Add to Goodreads
Ella and Micha have been best friends since they were kids. But one tragic night shatters their friendship and their lives forever.
Ella used to be a rule-breaker with fiery attitude who wore her heart on her sleeve. But she left everything behind when she went to college and transformed into someone that follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. But now it's summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home.
Ella fears everything she worked so hard to bury might resurface, especially with Micha living right next door. If Micha tries to tempt the old her back, she knows that it will be hard to resist.
Micha is sexy, smart, confident, and can get under Ella’s skin like no one else can. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. And he’s determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves back, no matter what it takes.
Title: Crush Author: Lacey Weatherford Add to Goodreads Cami Wimberley has a plan, and that plan includes no room for boys—especially the big time party animal, Hunter Wilder, no matter how handsome and charismatic he is. She’s beautiful, a senior, extremely talented, gets good grades, and is working her way toward her dream college to be a musical theater major. Everything is perfect.
Hunter Wilder does not want a girlfriend—that would complicate his life way too much right now. He especially doesn’t want this girl, Miss-Goody-Two-Shoes, so how come he can’t keep his eyes off her? He tries to keep her at arms length, but fate seems to keep pushing them together. Before long, it’s obvious to everyone they’re crushing on each other.
As sparks begin to fly, Hunter finds himself sinking deeper and deeper into hot water. Soon he’s scrambling to keep Cami from discovering his dark secret—one that can destroy their entire relationship.
Title: The Truths About Dating and Mating Author: Jaycee DeLorenzo Add to Goodreads Spunky Italian coed Ivy Rossini likes to talk and push the boundaries. She gets to do both as she co-hosts Riordan College’s radio program, The Truths about Dating and Mating, alongside her lifelong best friend, Ian Hollister.
Being the only girl who cares to see beyond Ian’s bad boy reputation has its advantages, especially when he’s scaring off the jerks who just want to nail the campus sex-guru. It’s when he’s “protecting” her from the advances she welcomes that she wants to lob him over the head and tell him to butt out. But Ivy feels like she’s the one who’s taken a hit when Ian almost kisses her at a party. She knows she should feel relieved when he pulls away, so why is she disappointed instead?
What’s worse, Ivy’s now getting aroused by Ian’s slightest touch and can’t stop entertaining thoughts of a romantic future. But Ian doesn’t do relationships, and she’s not interested in anything casual. In the end, Ivy decides it’s best to keep her growing feelings a secret and hope they’ll pass. However, when Ian begins hinting at wanting to take things to the next level, she’s forced to decide if a chance at something more is worth risking everything they’ve built.
With their friendship and her heart hanging in the balance, can Ivy follow the advice she and Ian give their listeners — to communicate, be honest, and trust in themselves — or will insecurity, stubbornness, and pride ruin any chance of their relationship getting off the ground?
Title: Tear Autho r: Rachel Van Dyken Add to Goodreads Life as a teenager is never easy. But for Natalee Murray, things have just gotten way more difficult. Bored with life, she can't wait to graduate high school and get out of town, especially considering the famous band members from AD2 suddenly start attending her school, making her once boring life, absolutely insane.
It starts with a pen. A single brush of fingers, and she is captivated.
But Alec and Demetri have a dark secret, one that could shatter their reputations and Natalee's heart. What do you do when one guy paints your life with color while the other infuses your soul with passion? How do you choose when your heart is divided?
Don't forget to share YOUR list in the Linky below!Today's giveaway is hosted by — Rachel from Fiktshun NOTE: This is the same Linky on ALL Co-Hosts Blogs.
