The Best Reader [Search results for perfect] 

Hey everyone! Today kicks off the Baby, It's Cold Outside blog tour! Aimee, Kate, Heidi and Amy have stopped by today to do a few fun"This or That" and Fill in the Blank questions. Be sure to check out the giveaway below for a $10 Gift Card! A new giveaway will be featured during each week of the tour.

FOLLOW THE TOUR

AIMEE CARSON
This or That List:

Hot or Cold: Cold! I grew up in Florida and I hate hot weather.
Hot Chocolate or Coffee: In answer to your question, I lugged my espresso maker all the way to last year’s Romance Writers of America conference in Anaheim. I’ll be taking it next year too.
Real Tree or Fake Tree: Real. You just can’t beat the wonderful scent of pine on Christmas morning.
Spending time by the fire or Spending time in the snow: I’m gonna be greedy here and say I want to play in the snow and then snuggle up in front of the fire afterward. The two kinda go together like peanut butter and chocolate.
Fill in the Blank:
My story is perfect for the holidays because_______ my feisty heroine has just suffered through the worst year of her life when she runs into the hero on New Year’s Day. ‘Tis the Season to be Tempted is all about new beginnings, and having the courage to start over.
My characters begin the story as (friends, enemies, strangers, etc.)_______ Hmm, this is a tough one. My hero is best friends with the heroine’s older brother. They grew up together, with the hero always being a little disapproving of the heroine’s questionable choices. She’s … ah, kind of a nonconformist. And there’s always been this lingering unspoken attraction. Of course, they were too different to consider a romantic relationship. So… friends? Sort of. Enemies? Sometimes. Strangers? In all the ways that really count. This book is about them revealing their true selves.
A perfect gift for the characters in my story would be_________ a gourmet set of kitchen utensils, but you’ll have to read the book to find out why! *insert evil laugh*
If I could spend Christmas with any celebrity it would be_________ Conan O'Brien, because he makes me laugh!

KATE HARDY This or That List:

Hot or Cold Cold — I can't sleep if I'm too hot!

Hot Chocolate or Coffee — Coffee (especially if it's a skinny latte — though after my one proper coffee a day I tend to drink instant whole bean decaf)

Real Tree or Fake Tree — I would love a real one, like the one we had when I was a child, but we have a fake one which is narrow and doesn't take up quite so much room

Spending time by the fire or Spending time in the snow — as long as I don't have to drive in it, snow (otherwise, please let me stay by the fire with a good book!)

Fill in the blank

My story is perfect for the holidays because _________ it's all about second chances and learning the true meaning of Christmas

My characters begin the story as (friends, enemies, strangers, etc.) ___________ total strangers

A perfect gift for the characters in my story would be __________ exactly what they get — each other!

If I could spend Christmas with any celebrity it would be _________ Antonio Banderas, because he's utterly gorgeous (as well as coming across in interviews as a really, really nice guy) and he dances the tango beautifully (see 'Take the Lead' for details): o) And as we're learning the tango in ballroom dance class next term, I would love to dance the tango with him. (Or the waltz. I bet he waltzes perfectly, too!)

HEIDI RICE
This or That

Hot or Cold: Cold (and snuggly)

Hot Chocolate or Coffee: Coffee with Skimmed milk when I'm being good, Hot Chocolate with cream when I'm being bad (I'm usually bad!)

Real Tree or Fake Tree: Real tree, gotta be, it's not Christmas if you can't smell the Norwegian spruce in our living room.

Spending time by the fire or Spending time in the snow: Time by the fire (after time in the snow!)

Fill in the blank
My story is perfect for the holidays because _______ it'll whisk you away to a luxury department store on Fifth Avenue where there are no queues, you can have anything you want without paying for it and there's a hunky guy on hand to rub your feet when you're done! And there's a really hot romance in there somewhere, too!

My characters begin the story as (friends, enemies, strangers, etc.) ______ strangers with misconceptions about each other.

A perfect gift for the characters in my story would be ________ Each other!
If I could spend Christmas with any celebrity it would be _______ Pierce Brosnan who would take me to Mauii. Why? Because I've heard he looks super cute in a sarong!

AMY ANDREWS
This or That
Hot or Cold — Hot
Hot Chocolate or Coffee — Hot Chocolate
Real Tree or Fake Tree — Fake
Spending time by the fire or Spending time in the snow — By the Fire (whilst watching the snow out the window)

Fill in the blank
My story is perfect for the holidays because _it’s about two strangers in a snowed-in cabin, perfect for long, lazy days snuggled up in bed!______
My characters begin the story as (friends, enemies, strangers, etc.) ___strangers.
A perfect gift for the characters in my story would be ___a super-size box of condoms!
If I could spend Christmas with any celebrity it would be _George Clooney because I couldn’t think of any other celebrity I’d want to kiss under the mistletoe quite as much as George!

Baby, It's Cold Outside by Amy Andrews, Aimee Carson, Kate Hardy, and Heidi Rice
Published: Entangled Publishing (November 19th, 2012)
Reading Level: Adult

Four novellas from four of the biggest names in romantic fiction!

Kate Hardy's 'TIS THE SEASON TO KISS SANTA

With the help of a sprig of mistletoe and some snow angels, a recently single pastry chef teaches a highly successful and sexy Scrooge the true meaning of the holidays on a snowy Christmas Eve that quickly heats up.

Heidi Rice's 'TIS THE SEASON TO GO SHOPPING

When a Christmas Day blizzard strands an up-and-coming marketing manager and her boss's very off-limits, very hot playboy son in his department store, the two toe the line between naughty and nice as they unwrap their holiday presents—and each other!

Amy Andrews’s ‘TIS THE SEASON FOR KISSING

A down-on-her-romantic-luck kindergarten teacher plans to drown her New Year’s Eve sorrows in a gallon of spiked eggnog, but the arrival of her best friend's sexy brother threatens to melt the snow piling up outside the tiny Vermont cabin.

Aimee Carson’s ‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE TEMPTED

After the worst year ever, a jilted music manager rings in the New Year alone, swearing off men forever. But things get complicated when her brother's best friend, the perfect man with the perfect body, tempts her to break her vow—if only for one hot night!

Follow Kate Hardy Website | Facebook | Twitter
Follow Heidi Rice Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Follow Amy Andrews Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Follow Aimee Carson Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

Each week of the tour will feature a giveaway! Remember to enter each week for a new chance to win a gift card! Just sign up below to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Just leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

By: Simone Elkeles

I’ve always been a complete wimp with a capital W, and I still am. My mom took me to a “stranger-danger” movie when I was seven and I freaked out. I used to hide behind trees if I saw a car drive by when I walked to my friend Dayna’s house.

I’m still afraid of rollercoasters, because they’re scary. When I was a kid I refused to go into the “scary house” and put my hand in the “eyeball jar” in order to get my Halloween candy. And in 5^th grade I threw up and had to go home early from Tracy’s sleepover party when everyone watched the horror movie Beyond the Door (seriously, the girl in the movie was possessed and her head turned completely around 360 degrees… can you blame me for puking?).

I called 911 last year when I heard noises in my basement, but then realized I forgot that my assistant was working in my house that day. To make a long story short, my life is full of scary stories… or maybe I just have an overactive imagination and freak myself out unnecessarily because I am, after all, a storyteller.

For research this weekend, I’m going to put on a bulletproof vest and ride with the undercover detectives from the Chicago Police Department’s Gang Homicide/Sex crime division. Wish me luck that I don’t barf on the detectives if I see some scary stuff! ~Simone Elkeles

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (December 23rd, 2008) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 368 pages Series: Perfect Chemistry, book #1 A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.
When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.
In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

Prize:

• 1 winner will receive a signed copy of Perfect Chemistry.

• 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 Simone for participating and for the donation!

Find Simone Elkeles
Simone Elkeles / Twitter / Myspace / Goodreads / Facebook

Purchase Perfect Chemistry
Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble

* 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.

From Amazon.com...

"When everything sucks,
change everything... And that's exactly what Hannah Friedman set out to do in an ambitious attempt to bust out of a life of obscurity and absurdity and into an alternate world of glamour, wealth, and popularity. Being dubbed 'That Monkey Girl' by middle school bullies and being pulled out of sixth grade to live on a tour bus with her agoraphobic mother, her smelly little brother, and her father's hippie band mates convinces Hannah that she is destined for a life of freakdom. But when she enters one of the country's most prestigious boarding schools on scholarship, Hannah transforms herself into everything she is not: cool. By senior year, she has a perfect millionaire boyfriend, a perfect GPA, a perfect designer wardrobe, and is part of the most popular clique in school, but somehow everything begins to suck far worse than when she first started. Her newfound costly drug habit, eating disorder, identity crisis, and Queen-Bee attitude lead to the unraveling of Hannah's very unusual life. Putting her life back together will take more than a few clicks of her heels, or the perfect fit of a glass slipper, in this not-so-fairy tale of going from rock bottom to head of the class and back again." I began and finished this book on a plane from Minneapolis to Texas. It was a quick and interesting read, I'd definitely recommend it. I loved that it was a memoir, as a future teacher I am always on the look out for a good piece of non-fiction. I will definitely be keeping this book for my students.
While I was not able to relate to Hannah in pretty much ANY way — I loved the voice and the tone of this book (which I can definitely relate too). I love how honest she is and how deliberate her wording is. I felt like I was given a first class seat at the premiere of her life — really. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for something new because this is the first book of it's kind that I've ever read.

"Courtney Summers has successfully created a universal character that anyone can relate to on some level." — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"Perfect Parker Fadley isn’t so perfect anymore. She’s quit the cheerleading squad, she’s dumped her perfect boyfriend, and she’s failing school. Her parents are on a constant suicide watch and her counselors think she’s playing games…but what they don’t know, the real reason for this whole mess, isn’t something she can say out loud. It isn’t even something she can say to herself. A horrible thing has happened and it just might be her fault. If she can just remove herself from everybody--be totally alone--then everything will be okay... The problem is, nobody will let her."

This book is a beautiful, heart breaking, honest read. The plot and the characters are flawless. I feel like I know Parker, Chris, Becky, Jessie, and Jake. I haven't felt so connected to the characters (all of them, even the secondary characters) for such a long time. The most impressive aspect of the book, in my opinion, is the distinct voice or tone. I loved the dialogue (especially in regards to Parker). Besides the dialogue, the overall tone of the novel is witty but real. Sometimes when characters are witty they lose the realness (who is ever really that witty anyway). But Courtney Summers successfully created a witty and real character.

The plot was catching, I had to find out what happened; I told myself one more chapter and then finally had to shut the book (in order to sleep) eight chapters later. I cried more than once and Parker's pain and I was able to follow her train of thought (scary, I know). I saw a lot of myself in Parker, not the suicidal part, but the "perfect"/anal retentive/ type A personality part. But the other part of her, the guilty and hurting part, anyone could relate to. It is precisely this, I think, that makes this book a phenomenal read. Courtney Summers has successfully created a universal character that anyone can relate to on some level.

I'm sad that this is a library book and that I have to return it. Despite the bit of foul language and the minute allusions to sex — I think this book would be a great book to inspire a non-reader to read recreationally. I will definitely be purchasing a copy for my classroom. And while I was going to wait a while to read "Some Girls Are" — I think I'll read it next!

Favorite Quote:
"I've never met a girl so content to be a growth" (124).

When I saw this cake on Pinterest, it looked simple enough (even for me!) to make! I only needed an occasion. The husband turned 25 on Tuesday (but it's been more of a marathon than a sprint). We've been celebrating since Monday! On Tuesday, when his family came over to celebrate, he asked for a Cold Stone cake. And, being the nonexistent often-try-to-bake baker that I am, I didn't argue. But I still really wanted to at least try, and if it didn't work out — oh well. So Thursday night was his first night back to work at the hospital and Button and I figured this would be the perfect surprise! It looks so easy (Pinterest Link) — it was basically as simple as baking any cake mix (I just used what I had in my pantry) in a round cake pan (I did have to purchase this at Walmart for less than $3) and then covering the cake with frosting (again, any type) and then placing kit kats around the cake, filling the top with M&Ms, and wrapping a ribbon around it. Easy right? But what about for... you know, me?

Well, I'm happy to say that this Pinterest baking adventure was a complete success!!

It really was as simple as it looks! If I can do it — believe me ANYBODY can do it (although, when I got to the bow tying — I did get a bit nervous) . I will let you in on a few "trial by error" tips however:

• I bought a round cake pan (wedding section from Walmart) that was 8in diameter and 2inch depth. This was PERFECT. But, know that if you make the cake from the box (you know, like me) the box says it should make TWO 8in round cakes. Because I'm not making a layered wedding cake and wanted something with a bit more substance, I put about 2/3 of the batter in and it was PERFECT. Otherwise I think it would have been too thing for the Kit Kats
• Speaking of Kit Kats, we bought four packages of the snack-size Kit Kats. You only need three packages for the 8in pan.
• One large bag of M&Ms is perfect for an 8in diameter, 2in depth pan.
• While transporting this cake I was SO nervous because I didn't want anything to go amiss between my house and the hospital (roughly ten miles). While nothing is wrong, I'd recommend NOT transporting this cake (I was so nervous) but if it is absolutely necessary — pray much.

I have the lovely and fabulous author of Article 5 here today. Kristen Simmons is a debut author and Article 5 is just incredible! My review will be posted later today.
So who does she want to play her characters? Look below to find out and don't forget to enter the giveaway for a signed copy!

My Article 5 Casting List

Chase Janenings – Channing Tatum?
I have a hard time deciding between the ever beautiful Channing Tatum and Mark Salling. I think Channing could be a perfect brooding/conflicted Chase. Plus he’s tall, and exudes that protective vibe that makes me a little wobbly in the knees.

Chase Janenings – Mark Salling?
I do think that Puck might be a little closer physical match to Chase though. He would be perfect for Ember’s flashbacks of the sweet, fun bad boy she fell in love with. I can totally see him on a motorcycle. What do you think?

Bookaholic ETA:"CHANNING, CHANNING, CHANNING FTW!!": )

Ember Miller – Sophia Bush
I also had a hard time choosing an actress to play Ember, but then someone pointed me in the direction of Sophia Bush, and I think she might be perfect. Ember lives in a world where women are forbidden from wearing makeup and dressing up, but she has a natural beauty that attracts those around her. Sophia easily captures Ember’s beauty, and her innocence, but definitely has a strength about her as well.

Tucker Morris – Kellen Lutz
Tucker is handsome — blonde with an athletic build. He’s arrogant, but is also bound by his role as a solider. I think Kellan could play the perfect bad guy.

Rebecca – Dianna Agron
In my second Glee choice of the evening, I nominate Quinn Fabray to play the part of Rebecca, Ember’s reform school roommate. She looks exactly how I imagine Rebecca looking, and can totally be both manipulative and fierce.

Sean – Alex Pettyfer
Like Rebecca, Sean also has to play a dual role at reform school – he’s a guard, but he also has a secret life the FBR doesn’t know about. I think Alex has both a serious and a playful side, plus we already know he looks good with Dianna Agron!

Thanks for letting me stop by and play Jess! This was fun!

Thank you Kristen for sharing your cast (and hot pictures!). A movie with Channing, Kellen, and Alex?? I'm there!!

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons Publisher: Tor Teen (January 31st, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 368 pages Series: Article 5 #1 New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Janenings… the only boy Ember has ever loved.

Prize:

• 1 winner will receive a SIGNED copy of Article 5.
• 4 winners will receive a bookmark.

• 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 15th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

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Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Have you guys met the Vincent boys yet? If not, you gotta check them out! Today I am participating in A November to Remember celebrating The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines. Be sure to check out the amazing giveaway below!

A NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER Brought to You By: THE VINCENT BOYS By Abbi Glines

If you haven't read The Vincent Boys yet, it is about two guys (Beau and Sawyer) in love with the same girl. I can't help it, I love love triangles! I mean c'mon, who wouldn't want two hot guys fighting over you?

Participants of this tour had to pick a guy who had stolen or broken their heart. I happened to pick the hottest guy of this year!

Channing Tatum! *swooooon*. How could you not love him? I know that our paths should have crossed at some point. I feel it!

He captured, and broke, my heart in Dear John. I had read the book before seeing the movie and Channing was the perfect John! The letters he wrote, how much he loved Savannah… ah, it was magical! But I wanted him to FIGHT more for her. Dang it! If the movie would have ended the same as the book, I would have shed many tears but I was glad to see that small glimmer of hope near the end.

We all have heartbreakers in our lives. Book lovers meet new ones with each turn of the page: ) But it's fun to picture someone like the hunk above and know that a happily ever after could be in the future.

Get seduced by a sizzling account of attraction and betrayal in this previously self-published phenomenon. Ashton is getting tired of being good, of impressing her parents and playing ideal girlfriend to Sawyer Vincent. Sawyer is perfect, a regular Prince Charming, but when he leaves town for the summer, it’s his cousin Beau who catches Ashton’s eye. Beau is the sexiest guy she’s ever seen, and even though he’s dangerous, Ashton is drawn to him. Beau loves his cousin like a brother, so the last thing he wants to do is make a move on Sawyer’s girl. Ashton is off-limits, absolutely. That’s why he does his best to keep his distance, even though he’s been in love with her forever. When Ashton wants to rekindle their childhood friendship in Sawyer’s absence, Beau knows he should say no. Ashton and Beau don’t want to hurt Sawyer. But the more they try to stay away from each other, the more intense their urges become. It’s getting way too hard to resist…

Getting a boy to fall head-over-heels in love with you isn’t easy. Especially when he’s been in love with your cousin for as long as you can remember.

Lana has lived her life in her cousin’s shadow. Ashton always made perfect grades, had tons of friends, and looks model-perfect. And she’s always had Sawyer Vincent—the only boy Lana’s ever wanted—wrapped around her finger. But now things are different. Lana has a chance to make Sawyer see her, and she’s taking it. If only he’d get over Ashton—because Lana is sick of second-best.

Sawyer’s heart is broken. He’s lost his best girl to his best friend. And then Lana comes to town. Ashton’s cousin has always been sweet and soft-spoken, but now she’s drop-dead gorgeous as well. Sawyer doesn’t know if Lana can heal his broken heart, but spending time with her might at least make Ashton jealous.

What starts as a carefree fling becomes a lusty game of seduction. Sawyer and Lana may have different motives, but their scintillating hookups are the same kind of steamy..

Prize:

• One winner receives: The Vincent Boys Date Night Kit · Makeup bag · Mints · Lip gloss · $25 Fandango gift card for the date night flick

• 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 December 8th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

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Visit Abbi Glines at www.abbiglines.com
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About the author Abbi Glines can be found hanging out with rockstars, taking out her yacht on weekends for a party cruise, sky diving, or surfing in Maui. Okay maybe she needs to keep her imagination focused on her writing only. In the real world, Abbi can be found hauling kids (several who seem to show up that don’t belong to her) to all their social events, hiding under the covers with her MacBook in hopes her husband won’t catch her watching Buffy on Netflix again, and sneaking off to Barnes and Noble to spend hours lost in the yummy goodness of books.
Finished with The Vincent Brothers? Check out the Sea Breeze eBooks from Abbi Glines! BECAUSE OF LOW WHILE IT LASTS JUST FOR NOW

Courtney Cole, the author of If You Stay, is here today for an interview. You can click the banner above to see her tour stops and be sure to check out the giveaway below!

1. I have to say that the cover for IF YOU STAY is amazing. It is perfect for the book. What did you have in mind for this cover and what did you think once you saw it finished?

Well, first I'd like to say thank you so much for having me here.: ) I really appreciate it.
And my cover… I love it too. Sarah Hansen did a beautiful job. This was exactly what I had in mind. I wanted Pax to be front and center- and I wanted his vulnerability to show. I think it comes through loud and clear in this cover. And when I first saw it… I was breathless. It was perfect.

2. Pax is very strong-willed and flawed, to say the least. Was it difficult writing from his point-of-view?

He definitely is. He's stubborn, he's opinionated and he lacks the ability to be cautious or afraid of anything. He doesn't care about himself or anything else, and he definitely doesn't care how his actions affect anyone else. At least, that's how he was in the beginning. Surprisingly, it wasn't that hard to connect with Pax. I knew exactly how I wanted his personality to be, so I just tried to think that way too. I have a husband and two teenage boys, so I've been schooled on how men really think sometimes. And the thing with Pax is that in the beginning, he didn't have a filter. He said and did whatever he wanted to do.

3. Developing a character that could steal Pax's heart must have been hard. What qualities did you know Mila had to possess in order to achieve this?

Well, it wasn't really that hard. I knew it would take someone who was his polar opposite, but I also knew I had to put them in a unique circumstance so that he could really see her for the beautiful person that she is. I knew he would need to see that she is much more than a pretty face. A mere pretty face wouldn't have swayed him.

After she saves his life, he sees her as a breath of fresh air, something light which is opposite of the dark that he considers himself to be. He was intrigued from the start, mainly because he couldn't fathom that she would actually give him mouth-to- mouth in that circumstance. In his world, someone wouldn't have gone out of their way like that. But Mila did it without a thought. And that fascinated Pax.

4. Can you share a few of your favorite lines from the book?

Yikes. This is a hard one. Hmm. Toward the end, there is a great scene."Love never fails, Mila. And I'll never fail you again. That's a promise." I love that one because Pax had come so far.
Another one that I like is a thought of Pax's, from the beginning part of the book."She's like a breath of fresh air. I may be the big bad wolf, but even wolves need to breathe."

5. Can you give us a hint to what you will be working on next?

Yes. I'm working on a companion novel to If You Stay. It is titled If You Leave and it will follow Madison Hill, Mila's sister. Maddy is a pretty fascinating character and I can't wait until you get to know her better.

Thank you again for having me here with you today. It's been a pleasure!

If You Stay by Courtney Cole
Published: Lakehouse Press (February 5th, 2013)
Reading Level: New Adult
ebook: 220 pages
Summary:
24-year old Pax Tate is an asshole.
Seriously.

He’s a tattooed, rock-hard bad-boy with a bad attitude to match.

But he’s got his reasons.

His mother died when Pax was seven, leaving a hole in his heart filled with guilt although he doesn’t understand why. What he does know is that he and his dad are left alone and with more issues than they can count.

As Pax grew up, he tried to be the kid his father always wanted; the perfect golden boy, but it didn’t work. His dad couldn’t overcome his grief long enough to notice and Pax couldn’t keep up the impossible perfect façade.
So he slipped far, far from it.

Now, he uses drugs and women to cope with the ugliness, the black void that he doesn’t want to deal with. If he pretends that the emptiness isn’t there, then it isn’t, right?
Wrong.

And it’s never more apparent than when he meets Mila.
Sweet, beautiful Mila Hill is the fresh air to his hardened frown, the beauty to his ugly heart. He doesn’t know how to not hurt her, but he quickly realizes that he’s got to figure it out because he needs her to breathe.

When memories of his mother’s death resurface from where he’s repressed them for so long, Mila is there to catch him when the guilt starts making sense. Mila is the one… the one who can save him from his broken troubled heart; from his issues, from the emptiness.

But only if he can stop being an asshole long enough to allow it.

He knows that. And he’s working on it.

But is that enough to make her stay?

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Today is the second day of"Indie Reviews", a feature where I give short mini-reviews of all the Indie/N ew Adult titles I've read lately. I'll have 3 days of books that received a 4 star rating from me.

Because of Low by Abbi Glines
Add to Goodreads

This is book 2 in the series but I haven't read the first one. I really enjoyed this story. Low was a wonderful character and I really felt bad for her. I loved her best friend Cage (hot!) and Cage's roommate Marcus. It was nice that these books all contain the same group of characters. I didn't feel lost even though I hadn't read the first story. I hope to read more from this series soon.
There were times when I was frustrated by some lack of communication going on, but overall it was a really enjoyable read.

This series was picked up for publication, I believe, so it has a new cover now.

Charade by Nyrae Dawn Add to Goodreads
This was an interesting story because the main character, Cheyenne, pays the guy, Colt, to be her boyfriend for a while. Cheyenne wants to get back at her ex and Colt just wants to be able to take care of the bills since his mother is sick. I enjoyed Colt the most in this story. No, he wasn't perfect, but he tried to do everything for his mother. He just didn't plan on falling for Cheyenne. Nothing really surprised me with this book but nevertheless, I enjoyed getting to know the characters and seeing where the journey took them.

Clash by Nicole Williams Add to Goodreads
This is another title that has a new cover because it was picked up for publication. This is book 2 but I skipped book 1. I tried a sample of the first title but it just didn't grab me. I ended up trying this one out and loving it. Jude and Lucy were a great, typically, teen couple. A few parts were frustrating because of miscommunication between the two but I still enjoyed following their romance. They are dealing with a long-distance relationship now and there is a bit of adjustment going on. I do hope to read the third book in the series soon.

The Perfect Game by J. Sterling Add to Goodreads
Loved, loved, loved the first part of this book. Cassie and Jack were amazing and had such a cute story. Both characters were likable and I enjoyed the sports angle the story had. This book really had a good college vibe. Then, near the end, Jack makes a hugely, stupid decision and it was just … odd. I didn't believe he would do something like that without much thought. Some parts after that were kind of predictable but it just really took a wrong turn for me. Prepare to be angry at these characters if you read this. Overall, I'm glad I read it and truly enjoyed the first half of the book beyond belief! Book 2, The Game Changer, comes out soon and I do plan to read it.

Down to You by M. Leighton Add to Goodreads
This is another title that has been picked up. Notice a trend here? Olivia was a nice character. She is far from perfect but I enjoyed her. Then we meet Cash and Nash. Cash is the bad boy, Nash is the good guy. She knows which one she should want to be with but that isn't the case. I will say that this book throws you quite a curveball. I didn't expect that twist. On the other hand, there were still a few things that just didn't make sense to me. Like, how do you end up in bed with a guy and you're not sure which twin it is? Hmm. Up to Me is the next book in this series. I'm honestly not sure if I will read it. I don't have a strong pull to do so (unlike some other series I read) so who knows. Either way, this one is a fun story with a crazy twist and I know a ton of people who really loved it.

V is for Virgin by Kelly Oram Add to Goodreads
This is such a funny story. Val"V" is a virgin who has dis aster strike as the entire school (and beyon d) start s giving her a hard time for her choice to wait till marriage. Instead of hiding away, she starts a campaign to supp ort her cause and she's pretty surprised by how many people end up helping her with it. Then, we throw in a rocker bad boy, Kyle, who is hellbent to destroy her plan and it all creates a wonderful ly, fan tastic read. The interactions be tween V and Kyle were amazing. I loved how spunky V was and how she never backed down f rom Ky le. It was a little rushed at the end, I wanted more! But regardless, I'd definitely reco mmend this one. Great story with terrific characters.

Bad Rep by A. Meredith Walters Add to Goodreads
Another great New Adult read. It may be based on the traditional set up we've seen 100 times — girl meets bad boy, falls for him, issues ar ise, blah blah. but it was well written and enjoyable. This story does involve some *gasp* cheating… which is kind of a turn off for me but it didn't ruin Jordan's ch aracter. He wa s a bit more"nice" than I expected from the cover and summary th ough. I didn't really get the bad boy vibe as much as we see in other stories. Maysie was what I'd vie w as the traditional college co-ed, trying to survive school, make money, and have some fun. This may not be one that sticks out to me a s a f avorite but I'm still glad I took the time to read it.

Rock the Heart by Michelle A. Valentine Add to Goodreads Who doesn't love rockers?? This is one of my all-time favorite rocker books. Lane broke up with Noel 4 years ago and, through her job, they end up reunit ing. Eventually, she has to go on the road with him and she learns that even though Noel has changed, he still wants only her. I loved this co uple. The whole"rock star" vibe is very much in this story as well. I am a sucker for books where we get to go on tour with the characters. HOT. T here were times where I was frustrated with the characters but all-in-all, I'd definitely continue with this s eries and see what happens to Noel's band m ates.

Foolish Games by Leah Spiegel Add to G oodreads This was a cute story about some friends following around a bad (yes, more ba nd guys) but it takes a huge twist. Joie is pulled into a plot to help the bands reputation and it ends up risking her life. Hawkins, the love interest, was wond erful. Joie and Haw k ins have a lot of chemistry together but they also were never afraid to speak their minds. T his book also involves a stalker and I loved the whole mystery of it. I thought it was very well-written even though there were times where I just wanted them to tell the frea kin' cop s! I do plan to read the next books in this series and I love that they are based on the same characters. I really want to see wh ere they end up.

ALL OF THESE BOOKS RECEIVED A RATING OF

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
Publisher: Random House Children's Books (February 14th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 272 pages
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

Review:

Lucy is searching, but it doesn't seem to be just a guy she's searching for. She is fascinated with the graffiti artist who creates wonderful works of art all over town at night. His name is Shadow and she just knows if she meets him, she will fall in love.

Ed is someone Lucy knows, and their history hasn't been a positive one. They went out once and it was a total disaster. I'm sure many teenagers can relate to that. Since that date Lucy and Ed have tried hard to avoid each other; however, under some strange circumstances involving a few of their friends, they end up thrown together on a journey to find Shadow.

Everyone will know immediately who Shadow is so this book wasn't based around that mystery. It simply involves these 2 characters spending a few hours together one night, both searching for different things. What really makes this book special is the way Cath Crowley writes the story. The writing truly captures the story like the artwork described in the book. I'm sure it is difficult to develop a story that takes place in such a short amount of time but Cath Crowley did that brilliantly.

Lucy and Ed were each realistic characters. They didn't have perfect lives and, in some ways, they focus on what's on the surface. Their night together forces each of them to think about things differently.

Another perk of this book for me was the setting — Melbourne, Australia. I've always wanted to visit Australia so this was the perfect book to dive into in order to get the feel of the area. There's so much more to this book but I don't want to spoil the surprises. A few parts of the book lagged a bit for me but it was still a highly enjoyable read.

Recommended: Contemporary fans who enjoy books with a unique setting, poetic style, and artistic edge.

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Release Date: June 2011
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Challenges: 100+ Reading Challenge and 2011 eBook Challenge

"Jane Austen: A Life Revealed" is the first YA nonfiction biography of my most beloved author, Jane Austen (obviously). At less than 200 page this book is paced well and presents information in an easy to read format without diluting the value of the information.

However, none of the information I read in this book was new information. It was almost as if all of the "facts" surrounding Austen were condensed into one small book — which I do agree is perfect for the YA audience. The downfall to this predicament, however, is that YA or not the readers who are going to actually sit down and read a biography on Jane Austen are looking for something (I think) with a bit more depth and "new information" than what this book gives.

I think that this book is perfect for the novice Austenite, but for anyone who has spent anytime studying Jane Austen, reading any of the novels, or even watching a film like Becoming Jane, I'm pretty sure you already know what's written in these pages. However, if you're looking for a fun "reminder" read, this book is perfect!

-Visit Catherine around the web here: Website | Blog | Goodreads
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To the FTC, with love: Review Galley

"Eternal on the Water" will be released on February 16th!

From Amazon.com...

"From the day Cobb and Mary meet kayaking on Maine's Allagash River and fall deeply in love, the two approach life with the same sense of adventure they use to conquer the river's treacherous rapids. But rivers do not let go so easily... and neither does their love. So when Mary's life takes the cruelest turn, she vows to face those rough waters on her own terms and asks Cobb to promise, when the time comes, to help her return to their beloved river for one final journey."

Beautifully written — "Eternal on the Water" is one of the most wonderfully sounding novels I've read. The words flow together like poetry. The dialogue and narrative draw readers in with almost a musical intonation.

It was the beautiful language that kept me reading this novel. I honored my Review Policy and read the first 100 pages, but at 101 I had to put this book down. While slow and overly descriptive, the plot was intriguing and, unlike other books I abandon, I do wonder what happened to Cobb and Mary. But the lack of character development or overall characterization really slowed the plot down.

The first flaw in characterization was the perfect characters. Neither Cobb nor Mary had a character flaw. Both characters are present as the epitome of gender perfection. Cobb always knows what to say and is the perfect boyfriend Mary is stunningly beautiful inside and out. The entire beginning of the relationship (obviously up until page 151) is picture perfect, flawlessly romantic, and utterly unrealistic.

Bottomline: As a result of said levels of perfection, the characters and overall novel were boring. As a reader, I was unable to relate to the characters or the plot.

However, like I said, "Eternal on the Water" was written beautifully; if you're looking for a wonderfully worded novel full of descriptors — check out this book.

Favorite Quotes:

"We have to be in a universe, on a continent, in a country, in a state, in a county, on a river, in a small yellow boat. Long odds... A thousand coincidences that arranged themselves so that we would meet. And then, of course, you have to be attracted to each other... . You never expect to see it, but you've heard it's out there and it might just be a legend. But you keep looking for it anyway" (34).

"This is who I want to live, with this woman, with friends, with food, and with fires" (49).

"It's a beautiful story. It makes me want to date you for another day at least" (53).

"Don't spit into heaven. Don't tell the gods your plans; they'll only laugh" (55).

"If the sun blew up and I had ten minutes to do live, I would do push ups because time passes really slow when you do push ups."

"A rich man is in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone — Thoreau"

"That's the whole thing with teaching, isn't it? You never know when you nudge someones boat if it won't change them in an important way."

Bite Club by Rachel Caine
Publisher: NAL Hardcover (May 3rd, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 340 pages
Series: The Morganville Vampires, #10
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
After discovering that vampires populate her town, college student Claire Danvers knows that the undead just want to live their lives. But someone else wants them to get ready to rumble.

There's a new extreme sport getting picked up on the Internet: bare—knuckle fights pitting captured vampires against each other—or humans. Tracking the remote signal leads Claire—accompanied by her friends and frenemies—to discover that what started as an online brawl will soon threaten everyone in Morganville.

Review:

Recommended: People looking for a long paranormal series. Perfect for people who enjoy watching characters mature and change over time. Morganville will grab you and refuse to let go!

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"This book was quite addicting once I gave up the need to 'know' and essentially 'control.'" — Miss Remmers

Release Date: April 12th, 2011
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Challenges: Dystopia Challenge, Debut Author Challenge, 100+ Reading Challenge

"New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters—or Freaks—who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight, in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs. As the two are guided by Fade’s long-ago memories, they face dangers, and feelings, unlike any they’ve ever known."

I'll be honest, "Enclave" did not grab me or demand to be read. I actually put it down once but then felt guilty about passing it on to the next reviewer without a review. So I picked it up again and "forced" myself to at least attempt 50 pages during on Recreational Reading Friday. The second time around I still struggled with this book for about the first four chapters. I was confused as to where the setting was and I had a hard time connecting to the descriptions, much like I struggled with "Inside Out. "

Despite struggling with the setting and the beginning of the plot, by second period I couldn't put this book down. I became addicted to the plot and characters and learned to be patient with the setting while I picked up on the setting bit by bit. I hope this book becomes a movie; that would greatly help me understand the parts of the setting that I'm still confused about. *Please remember, I am a small town Midwestern girl who, even when I went to BEA last year, has never been on a subway. So yes, I get the general idea of the setting, but as for the specifics — I'm completely lost.

The pacing of this novel was perfect, I felt that we were "down under" for just the perfect amount of time, "up top" in the city for the perfect amount of time, and so on and so forth. The plot moved along at a pace that I felt completely comfortable with. I loved Deuce and her strength but I fell completely in love with Fade and his "strong but silent" personality.

It's been a while since I finished the book, but when I think back what I strongly remember is the need to share this book with others. For those of you who don't know, every Friday in my classroom is Recreational Reading day. No matter what. And, like a good teacher, I model the behavior I expect of my students. I'm not grading and I'm not planning — I'm reading. On the Friday that I "forced" myself to read this book with each subsequent class I talked less and less. I, like a "bad teacher," forgot to greet my classes at the door because I was at a "good part." When a class would come in a little rowdy and see me reading at the center of the room I'd hear, "Shh! Miss Remmers' has a good book!" and the rest of the class would come in, sit down, and take out their own reads. The last couple minutes of one period a student asked me what I was reading, and I gladly shared.

This book, while it had a rocky beginning for me personally, was quite addicting once I gave up the need to "know" and essentially "control." Once I "went with the flow," "let myself go," didn't analyze, and just read the book for enjoyment (as it was meant) — this book turned out to be a complete winner. It's definitely a dystopia that I feel stands apart from the rest and I am already looking forward to book 2.

I will quickly add, I was completely confused as the front cover of the ARC says "Enclave" but in the acknowledgments and on the side binding it says "Razorland." Unless I missed it, Razorland was never specifically mentioned in the book. I hope this is addressed on the published version of the book.

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
My reaction/enjoyment: 8/10
Cover: 5/10
Overall: 49/60 B+

This book will be released on April 12th, 2011.

-Visit Ann around the web here: Website | Goodreads |
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To the FTC, with love: ARC Blog Tour

The Lucky Kind by Alyssa B. Sheinmel
Publisher: Knoph Books for Young Readers (May 10th, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 208 pages
Source: Publisher
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

High school junior Nick Brandt is intent on getting a girlfriend, and Eden Reiss is the one that he wants. He has exactly four semesters to get the girl, but when the phone rings on an otherwise ordinary Tuesday night, life for Nick and his parents will never be the same. What had been a seemingly idyllic home life has become something else entirely. But with this shake-up comes a newfound confidence for Nick; he's become a bolder version of himself, no longer afraid to question his parents, and no longer afraid to talk to Eden.Alyssa B. Sheinmel has written a powerfully gripping story about family secrets, falling in love, and finding luck in unexpected--and sometimes unwelcome—circumstances.
Review: This was my first time reading a book by Alyssa B. Sheinmel and it did not disappoint! I rarely get the chance to read a book from a boys point of view. This one pulled that off beautifully! It's from the point-of-view of Nick, a 16-year-old boy who seems to have a typical high school life. He has a best friend, a crush, and a loving family.

Nick slowly pursues Eden (the crush) and it's adorable to watch their relationship progress. They had that nice, romantic connection that helps the reader really get to know each character. I honestly loved Eden. She was a strong young girl, with a sweet personality and a fierce love for Nick. She honestly cared about him deeply and their relationship was more than puppy love.

Nick was a great character. Alyssa did a great job getting into the mind of a teenage boy. Nick was frustrating at times because he seemed to displace his anger, which is something most guys do. His anger stemmed from a secret he discovered his father was keeping. It wasn't something horrific, but it threw Nick's world upside down. Everything he thought he knew about his parents was then questioned.

I have to mention another character I absolutely loved, Stevie. Stevie is the best friend of Nick and he was perfect! Not perfect as in nothing was wrong with him, but he was the picture perfect representation of a great best friend. He was funny, interesting, caring, and a great addition to this story. He was able to give Nick some insight when he was unable to see past his anger.

This story was wonderful and although I felt the ending left some things hanging, it was a very well-rounded book. It really opened up the life of Nick and allowed us to see how one moment can change every other aspect of a life. The Lucky Kind is full of intense emotion, teenage drama, and a level of love from friends and family rarely seen in young adult novels.

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'When reading this book I never felt guilty about my "nasty" habits, instead I felt inspired to change my habits and more able to make educated food choices." — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"Michael Pollan, our nation's most trusted resource for food-related issues, offers this indispensible guide for anyone concerned about health and food. Simple, sensible, and easy to use, Food Rules is a set of memorable rules for eating wisely, many drawn from a variety of ethnic or cultural traditions. Whether at the supermarket or an all-you-can-eat-buffet, this handy, pocket-size resource is the perfect guide for anyone who would like to become more mindful of the food we eat."

This was a fantastic book that made me really reevaluate my eating habits. Written so that absolutely anyone can understand — this novel is perfect for the classroom. What was so perfect about this novel was that it successfully highlighted the downfalls to the food industry without making the consumer feel guilty. I am probably the epitome of bad eating habits, but over the past few months I've gradually made changes primarily thanks to Michael Pollan. When reading this book I never felt guilty about my "nasty" habits, instead I felt inspired to change my habits and more able to make educated food choices. This is the key to Pollan's novel(s).

I highly recommend this novel to absolutely everyone — it will open your eyes to what you "knew" but never really understood. I plan on purchasing several copies of this book for my classroom; it's a great read that I feel could really help educate students on healthy eating habits and hopefully have a positive impact on the obesity rate of students.

Originality: 10/10
Ending: NA
Characters: 10/10
Plot: NA
My reaction/enjoyment: 10/10
Theme: 10/10
Imagery: 10/10
Setting: NA
Voice: 5/5
Style: 5/5
Tone: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Overall: 75/75 A+

To the FTC, with love: Loved and Bought

The cover of Destined, House of Night book 9, was just released and oh la la, HOTNESS! I am still a fan of this series and even Heath (who is on this cover). I mean c'mon, he's HOT! This series lost me somewhere around the middle but don't give up! It does get better (in my opinion) so if you are thinking of picking these books back up, do it!

Destined (House of Night #9) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast Publisher: St. Martin's Press (October 25th, 2011) Hardcover: 336 pages Add it on Goodreads
In Destined, the forces of Light and Dark collide as their epic struggle focuses on Tulsa's House of Night. Zoey is home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side and preparing to face off against Neferet. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, he and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together if Rephaim can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow.

But is Zoey really safe? Does she truly know those who are closest to her? And will love win when it is tested by the very soul of Darkness? Find out what s destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.

Here is the cover for A Beautiful Evil, book 2 in the Gods & Monsters series by Kelly Keaton. Very spooky!

A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 21st, 2012) Hardcover: 320 pages Add it to Goodreads
A power she can’t deny. A destiny she’s determined to fight.

When Ari first arrived in the dilapidated city of New 2, all she wanted was to figure out who she was. But what she discovered was beyond her worst nightmare. Ari can already sense the evil growing inside her—a power the goddess Athena will stop at nothing to possess.

Desperate to hold on to her humanity and protect her loved ones, Ari must fight back. But Athena’s playing mind games, not just with Ari but with those she cares about most. And Athena has a very special plan for the brooding and sexy Sebastian.

Ari is determined to defeat Athena, but time is running out. With no other options, Ari must unleash the very thing she’s afraid of: herself.

And a section of this post I will title "Book I Just Want to Talk About 'Cause it Sounds Amazing"!
I picked up, and finished, Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles on Tuesday and Wow, it is awesome! The Perfect Chemistry series is one of my all-time favorites! I realized that I love that type of love story. When I went looking for more like it, I discovered KISS CRUSH COLLIDE by Christina Meredith. First, let's check out the cover.

*fans self* loveeee it! And now, the summary.
Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith Publisher: Greenwillow Books (December 27th, 2011) Hardcover: 336 pages Add it to Goodreads Leah has the life most high school girls would kill for—popularity, glowing grades, a rich, athletic boyfriend. So why does she feel like she can’t breathe? And why can’t she stop thinking about the boy from the country club? The one who isn’t her boyfriend, the one that her mother would never, ever approve of, the one that her perfect older sisters would never, ever look at twice. The one who is always looking back at her. Irresistible attraction, smoldering glances, the bad boy and the good girl—Kiss Crush Collide has everything that a steamy forbidden romance should, and then some.

With graceful and honest writing and an electric love story, this is a book about growing into your own skin. For fans of Perfect Chemistry ( <---THAT'S ME!), Sarah Dessen ( <--- THAT'S ME TOO!), and John Green (<--Haven't read anything by him yet).
Gotta love a good forbidden romance! So how many of you want to get your hands on this book???

Bookperk News

You all probably know I'm a huge fan of the Bookperk site from HarperCollins. I've purchased a signed (by the movie cast) version of I Am Number Four and a signed copy of Guy Fieri's cookbook from them already. They add new offers all the time and I just wanted to mention a few of the new ones.

You can USE GOOGLE to see the current deals going on. If you haven't signed up, you can use that link as well. It's good to at least be signed up because amazing deals pop up all the time and sometimes they have very limited quantities.

"Be prepared when picking up this addicting novel: it is the most honest and utterly raw novel I have ever read." — Miss Remmers

From Amazon.com...

"When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on... but are some questions better left unanswered?"

Why I read this: After adoring "Cracked Up to Be " and "Some Girls Are " and interviewing Courtney Summers, I knew I had to read "Fall for Anything."

Plot: The plot of this novel, like all Summers' novels, is fast moving and completely addicting. I couldn't put this book down. I found myself crying throughout the novel at it's realness (yes, I cried during 6th period). Even though you know the outcome, he's dead (right?), you will it to not be true — to have an alternate ending (much like "Before I Fall "). I kept willing the book to go faster in order to find the next nonsensical clue.

Characters: I think all of the characters in this novel, even the father, are extremely strong and real. Eddie and her mother's pain are honest and excruciatingly sad. I couldn't help but become curious about Culler Evans and found myself in love with his image — that sympathy card was so... perfect and honest. I adored Milo, Eddie's best friend, and couldn't help but want to date him myself (shh, don't tell Dan). But not everyone is who they seem in "Fall for Anything."

Cover: This cover is amazing! It's so dark and completely captures the tone/mood of the story.

Random Thoughts: The ending of this book was so honest and almost anticlimactic — it was perfect.

Final Thoughts: This book did not disappoint — it was absolutely perfect. I was surprised at the ending, almost foolishly so. After reading this book my school librarian and the student who begged me to email Courtney about an interview wrestled over the book to see who got to read it first (no student was harmed prior to reading this novel) and the librarian won (after promising to have it to the student in 24 hours). This teacher didn't like it because it was so heartbreakingly honest; the student adored it because of it's honesty. Be prepared when picking up this addicting novel: it is the most honest and utterly raw novel, fiction or non, I have ever read. With a topic like this, I would expect nothing less from Courtney Summers.

Originality: 10/10
Ending: 9/10
Characters: 9/10
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: 10/10
Overall: 98/100 A

To the FTC, with love: Received from the Author

"Fall for Anything" will be released on December 21st, 2010

Amplified by Tara Kelly
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (October 25th, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 304 pages
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
When privileged 17-year-old Jasmine gets kicked out of her house, she takes what is left of her savings and flees to Santa Cruz to pursue her dream of becoming a musician. Jasmine finds the ideal room in an oceanfront house, but she needs to convince the three guys living there that she's the perfect roommate and lead guitarist for their band, C-Side. Too bad she has major stage fright and the cute bassist doesn't think a spoiled girl from over the hill can hack it..
Review: I adored this book. I read it a few months ago and it singlehandedly brought me out of my reading slump. I even picked Jasmine as one of my favorite characters of 2011.

Jasmine was a kick-butt character. LOVED her! Even though she had a privileged background she didn't want that life anymore. She ran away with her savings and went off to pursue her dream to play music. She had no idea what was ahead of her but she was willing to jump in headfirst and take on all the obstacles.

As soon as she stars on her journey, she hits a roadblock. Her car breaks down and she has to deal with this guy who has a horrible attitude. He thinks he already knows all about her but Jasmine wants to show everyone that she is much more than what she seems.

She soon explores some ads for housing/bands and finds the perfect opportunity. She could live in an oceanfront house with the band members. But first she has to audition and a few of them have little hope of her impressing anyone.

Jasmine is a little afraid of playing in front of people but she soon shows them just how talented she is. And that guy she met at the body shop? Yeah, he may more a part of her new life than she would have thought.

This book was surprising in so many ways because I loved each and every character. They were so realistic and believable. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to bring a lot of major male characters to life in a story but Tara did an outstanding job! Each guy was so different and interesting. I wanted to live in that house!

Amplified is a perfect example of how characters can break free from stereotypes and show some spunk and personality. Jasmine is a girl so many people can relate to and she just may encourage some people to take a leap of faith on their own.

Tara Kelly, you rock!!

Recommended: Contemporary/music fans looking for a fun, exciting read with a lot of depth.

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Cross My Heart by Katie Klein
Published: March 15th, 2011
Ebook: 225 pages
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
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.
Review: This book simply blew me away! That's probably why it was featured in so many of my Top 10 of 2011 posts. It is incredible, brilliant, intense, shocking, and all other appraising words you can throw at it. I simply went browsing amazon one day and bumped into it. I was looking for a light, cute read. I got so much more than I bargained for.

Cross My Heart is from Jaden's point of view. Jaden is an amazing student. She has her sights set on Harvard and nothing can break her focus, until Parker comes along. Parker is quiet and already has a bad reputation. There are rumors swirling about his past and his current activities. Then, to Jaden's horror, she gets paired with him for an assignment. Jaden just wants to push through and get it over with. She is a bit blown away when Parker seems to care about his grade and is much more intelligent than he first seemed.

Slowly throughout the novel Parker's walls come down. He talks more with Jaden and helps her realize a lot about herself. Even though Jaden has the"perfect" boyfriend and everything in a nice place in her life, Parker helps her see the flaws in being perfect. In turn, Jaden helps Parker see kindness. Someone now cares for him and looks past the outside image.

They are the perfect-dysfunctional pair. Jaden was hilarious. Her interactions with Parker could not have been portrayed any better than they were. They didn't have"insta-love" or a relationship that was fake or forced. They slowly built a connection that grew into affection and, later, into love.

But love isn't the only factor in this book. There is a twist I wouldn't have seen coming if I had 10,000 chances to guess it. I'm not sure if a book has ever shocked me as much as this one.

I think I've only shared quotes from a book a few times in my reviews but I need to for this one!

Prepare to swoon…
(Sets scene) Parker is on Jaden's roof with a notebook in his hands.
“He turns another page, and I read:

I'M NOT ETHAN..
..AND I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP..
..UNTIL I CAN PROVE TO YOU..
..THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS.

He flips to the next page.

SO KEEP SENDING ME AWAY..
..BUT I'LL JUST KEEP COMING BACK TO YOU.
AGAIN..

He flips to the next page.

..AND AGAIN..

And the next:

..AND AGAIN.

Goose bumps rise to the surface of my skin. I shiver, hugging myself tightly.

AND IF YOU CAN EVER FIND IT IN YOUR ❤ TO FORGIVE ME..
..I WILL DO EVERYTHING IT TAKES TO MAKE IT UP TO YOU..

He closes the notebook and tosses it beside him. It lands on the roof with a dull thwack. Then, lifting his index finger, he draws an X across his chest.

Cross my heart.”
Ahhhh! For more quotes check out this page on Goodreads. But could anything be better than a guy doing that for you? FOR REAL! Reading this just makes me want to re-read the book! Do you ever read a book and then want to erase it from your mind so you can read it again without knowing what happens?? Am I the only crazy person who does that? It's rare, but it happened to me with this book. If I could tell people about 1 book from last year that was the most unexpected for me, it would be this book. Katie Klein's writing is not just incredible, but she was able to bring characters to life. I honestly cannot praise this book enough (as you can tell from this review).

Did I mention that Cross My Heart is only $3.99 on amazon!

Recommended: If you like a good romance at all, you have to get this book! Or, if you want something that will really shock you!

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