The time I reviewed a book -- 6

Susan Bishop Crispell has always been a huge supporter of this blog, so when she emailed me to ask if I would be interested in reading her book and doing a review for the blog tour, I jumped at the chance to support her. 

But before we get to the review, let's check out the book, yes?

For Jaclyn “Jack” Pace, sensing what sweets people crave is as easy as breathing. But it’s not enough to keep her cupcake bakery in the black.

So, when her estranged sister Harper comes back to town with an affinity for making art out of icing—and a past full of secrets—she reluctantly gives Harper a job and a place to crash.

As their sisterly relationship begins to thaw, the one with her business partner Graham starts to heat up. Given the legend that says Hollingsworth men will recognize their soul mates at first touch, Jack’s always been resigned to the fact that she’s not his.

But when she starts sensing desires that are decidedly not dessert-related, it’ll take all of her magic to set things right with customers and make her own desires come true.

Love and Cupcakes is a delightfully sweet and sensual romance from Susan Bishop Crispell.

Sounds good, right?  Now for the review....

**Thanks to my pretty prancy PA AKA Christina from The Book Hookup for letting me steal borrow her review format**

Rating & First Reaction:

4 stars. I love the idea of a person who can sense what people want in flavors and cupcakes are a win-win in my book. Throw in a sort of BFF-to-more situation set in the south and I'm in.

MCs:

Jaclyn: I really liked Jack.  She's been in love with Graham pretty much her entire life, but hasn't really done anything about it.  She's an every day type of person, aside from her magical ability [which only gets a vague description as to how it all started] and loves cupcakes.  Her idea to start a business formed quickly and it has become quite a passion.

What really sold me on her, was the scene where she names an oven.  I name pretty much all of my electronics and cars, so seeing her do something that I do all the time made me really relate to her.  I also wanted to hug her a lot.

Graham: He's a baker. Do I need to say more? Okay...fine. He's been raised to believe that the men in his family will know their soul mate upon touching them for the first time, so he's hesitant to believe anything he feels.  We don't really get a lot of details on this phenomenon of sorts and even though we do get some Graham POV, he seems to be just as confused about it as I was.

His attentiveness to Jack is adorable and their mounting attraction [and his struggle] was interesting to read. I absolutely loved the requisite big brother talk between Graham and Hutton, even though there were times I wanted to throw some punches myself.

There were swoons sprinkled about in the story, but I'll leave those for you to find.  I will tell you that you should prepare yourself for an ungodly amount of UST, brief touches and across-the-room stares filled with longing. 

Secondary characters:

Harper: The baby of the family, she sarcastic, headstrong and adds a lot of levity throughout.  She's also hiding a few things herself. Harper's story is revealed to us in increments and I really liked it that way.  I enjoyed reading into every nuance and dissecting conversations to see if I could figure it out.

Hutton: As Jack's and Harper's older brother, he provides a lot of the conflict in the book. I don't want to say too much about him because I don't want to spoil anything.  I will say that he's exactly what I imagine a big brother would be like. 

Townspeople: Being set in the south, you know there's going to be a lot of nosy, fun characters and this book didn't disappoint.  I loved both Jack's and Graham's "mama" and the extra characters that I won't mention due to spoilers all made for a delicious assortment of personalities.

Plot & Pacing:

It was a bit of a slow burn for me.  There was a lot of build up with the past relationships of everyone involved.  And when we finally get the big reveal between Graham and Jack, the book is pretty much over.  I would have liked to have had more of their HEA, instead of the seemingly abrupt ending we got, but all in all, it was hopeful and happy.

Also, a little more of a background on both Jack's and Graham's abilities would have been good. We got brief explanations of both, but there was a definite opportunity to make it something more.  And of course, because I'm a greedy whore, an epilogue [or even one more chapter] would have been perfection. 

Rec It?

Yes.  If you're in the mood for a sweet, magical romance that's heavy on the sugar and cupcakes, this book is for you.

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Huge thanks to Susan for the invitation and to Swoon Romance for providing the arc! Make sure you're following Susan on Twitter, liking her Facebook page, subscribing to her blog and adding Love & Cupcakes to your GoodReads shelf.

The time it was about Landry Park

I was given an arc of Landry Park a couple of months ago and I absolutely loved it.  So, of course, when I saw that there was an upcoming blog tour going on for Bethany, I jumped at the chance to be a part of it.

But, before we get to her interview, let's check out the book, shall we?

Downton Abbey meets The Selection in this dystopian tale of love and betrayal

In a fragmented future United States ruled by the lavish gentry, seventeen-year-old Madeline Landry dreams of going to the university. Unfortunately, gentry decorum and her domineering father won't allow that. Madeline must marry, like a good Landry woman, and run the family estate. But her world is turned upside down when she discovers the devastating consequences her lifestyle is having on those less fortunate. As Madeline begins to question everything she has ever learned, she finds herself increasingly drawn to handsome, beguiling David Dana. Soon, rumors of war and rebellion start to spread, and Madeline finds herself and David at the center of it all. Ultimately, she must make a choice between duty - her family and the estate she loves dearly - and desire.

 Sounds good, right?

 

1. Where did the idea for Landry Park come from?

The short (ish) answer is that is came from the long days spent working at a local history museum, cleaning Plexiglass cases and staring at the old pictures inside.  The long(er) answer is that it came from more than a decade of loving Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte and King Arthur and Science Channel documentaries.  I think our brains are like crock pots.  Or percolators.  Or brewing vats...I'm not really sure where I'm going with this metaphor, but what I mean is that our brains are these vessels that things we love/wonder about/obsess over fall over into.  Our favorite movies and music and quotes and gifs--and then they all stew together and mix and reduce into a sludge from whence newly birthed ideas crawl shakily forth.  (Sludge sounds bad.  Goo?  Nectar?  Whatever it is, it's made of rainbows and angst.)

2.What do you like most about Madeline and David and why should we root for them?

I think my favorite thing about Madeline and David is that they challenge each other in a very dynamic way.  A lot of couples enjoy each other's company because they affirm and reassure each other; this is why so many (but not all) people marry inside their particular educational/cultural/class/political demographics, because it's very easy to be with someone who believes the exact same things you do. But somebody who forces you to examine your beliefs and your actions--that can be both very painful and very rewarding. I think David and Madeline demonstrate this well.

3. How did you go about building your dystopian world and the rebellion?

I started with the atmosphere, the set pieces.  Once I began spinning this world of balls and glowing nuclear charges, I knew there would have to be people who handled the nuclear waste.  I came up with a name for them--Rootless--out of nowhere, and from that name, I realized the didn't have money or capital or even real homes.  Once I realized what their lives looked like compared to what the gentry's looked like, a rebellion was fairly easy to imagine.  Systems of oppression are ultimately unstable because they rely on fear to crush every other feeling and need.  And luckily, that's not how people work.

4. What was the weirdest thing you googled while researching?

I am probably on so many FBI watch-lists right now.  I've googled bomb-making, how to load and fire automatic weapons and how to start fires.  The thing that made my husband go "Really? While I'm trying to eat?" was the time I was scrutinizing pictures of radiation victims (so I could accurately describe their wounds.)  It wasn't pretty stuff.

5. Describe Landry Park in 5 words.

Glowing, dancing, kissing, rebelling elegance.

Speed [ish] round:

1. You get the call/email/letter that says you're being published for the first time.  What happens next?

Screaming.  Hugging.  Frantic texting to critique partners.  Usually you'll get a congratulatory chat on the phone with your editor, and then it's on to waiting for that first edit letter.

2. What three tings would you take to a desert island?

An e-reader, a wifi connection and a bottle of scotch.

3. You can only read one book for the rest of your life.  What is it?

Jane Eyre.  Always.

4. Who are your favorite swoony boys?

Edward Rochester and Fitzwilliam Darcy, definitely. Also Max de Winter from Rebecca, Sebastian Flyte from Brideshead Revisited and Matthew St. Clair from A Discovery of Witches. The more tortured, the better.

5. Are there any authors that you fangirl over?

Too many to name! I would faint if I ever got to meet Elizabeth Wein or Laini Taylor.  I think on every level--technical and artistic--they are telling some of the best stories out there today.

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Huge thanks to Bethany for taking the time!  Make sure you're following her on Twitter, subscribing to her blog and adding Landry Park to your GoodReads shelf!

Click here to see the list of other blogs participating the tour and see what goodies they're doing. And...Bethany is hosting a giveaway, so go forth and enter!

**Good Luck!!**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The time it was about Bitter Pill

I signed up for Stacey Kade's blog tour for Bitter Pill because I really enjoyed The Rules and was really intrigued about this particular premise. Down below you'll find my review for the book as well as an interview with Stacey.

But before we get to all of that, let's check out the book, shall we?

The truth is a bitter pill...

Rennie Harlow is having a bad year. She had a handsome husband, a good job, and a renovated condo in Chicago. Now, thanks to one "exotically beautiful" paralegal, she’s divorced, faking her way through a writing career, and living above her hypochondriac mother's garage back in Morrisville, the small town she couldn't leave fast enough at eighteen. On top of all of that, she just found Doc Hallacy, the local pharmacist, dead behind his counter. And the worst part is, he's the third body she’s stumbled across this year.

Jake Bristol has lived in Morrisville his whole life. A former bad boy turned sheriff, he doesn’t believe it’s just Rennie’s luck or timing that’s the problem. He thinks she’s too nosy for her own good. The last thing he needs is her messing around with his murder investigation so that she can freelance for the Morrisville Gazette. But as they both delve deeper into Doc's death, they find that things don't add up. This isn't a robbery gone wrong or the work of a desperate junkie. Someone has a secret they're killing to keep. The only question is—who's next?

**Thanks to my pretty prancy PA, Christina from The Book Hookup, for letting me steal borrow her review format!**

Rating & First Reaction:

4.5 stars.  I really enjoyed this story.  It was a quick, entertaining read that left me wanting more.  No, really.  I hope there's more [and I'll be bugging Stacey about this] because the ending nearly had me screaming.  If it wasn't for the "The End" on the bottom of the page, I would have thought there was a problem with my e-book... 

MCs:

Rennie: Recently divorced, Rennie comes back to her small town home to live with her mom. She's quick to find trouble and whether she likes it or not, realizes that she has feelings for the very married sheriff. I feel like Rennie is the type of girl who would get arrested when she goes out with a group of friends, but not for anything serious.  It would be for something trivial law like wearing flip-flops while walking down a sidewalk on a Tuesday afternoon.  Does that make sense?

I loved being in her head.  She's hurting over the situation that she's in, but by the end of the book, I knew that she was strong enough to get through it all.  Even if we don't get anything else from these characters, I'm certain that Rennie is going to prevail in whatever she does.

Bristol: He is a good, strong man. A stand up man with convictions.  Bristol loves his job, the law in general, and seems to see most of his life in the same sort black and white. Except when it comes to Rennie, she's very much a grey area. The sparks between Rennie and him are very apparent and even if he's aware of the town whispering, he never shows it. I would have loved to have gotten even one chapter from his point of view [hint, hint], I'm very interested in the maybe history he and Rennie had...

There weren't swoons in the conventional way, but there were some moments where I gasped at what was happening.  But, as River Song says, spoilers.

Secondary Characters:

Max: Editor of the town newspaper and Rennie's sort of boss.  He's a Morrisville transplant and definitely gives off the vibe of "big, bad city guy".  But, under all of that gruff exterior, there's a bit of a gooey inside. His exchanges with Rennie are interesting.  His respect for her writing shows and sometimes it felt like there was a sort of father/daughter relationship, but it was the mood swings and erratic behavior that kept me curious.

The Rest of the Town: There's quite a mix of people in the small town of Morrisville and while we only got snippets of most of them, there are a few that I should have added to this.  However, I don't want to spoil anything, I want you to experience them for yourself and trust no one. Perhaps you'll be able to pick out the killer. ;)

Plot & Pacing:

Well, it doesn't get any faster than starting the book out with having the MC find a dead body. This book is fast paced from the get go.  There were several components happening all at the same time.  Not only is it a whodunnit, but there's a real exploration of different types of relationships that made for some interesting scenes.  There were some definite twists that I didn't see coming.  I spent the entire book thinking I knew who was behind all of it and I was way way off.

Rec It?

Absolutely. If you're looking for a fun murder/mystery with a sharp, trouble finding heroine and a smoldering, but straight laced sheriff, this one is for you.

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And now for the interview!

1. Where did the idea for Bitter Pill come from?

A couple of different places, actually. It's the only one of my books where a dream played a role. I woke up from a nap one day with the phrase "Pharmacists know all of our dirty secrets" running through my head. Then I had to figure out what that meant, in terms of a story.

But the idea for Rennie's personal life and her decision to go back home actually came from an incident in my newlywed days. My brand-new husband and I were arguing, likely over something stupid, like who emptied the dishwasher last, and I wanted nothing more than to walk out the door in a grand dramatic exit and slam the door after me. (No worries; the husband and I have been married form almost 15 years now!)

But I realized then, for the first time, that there wasn't a place for me to go. Once you're married, you've kind of tossed your lot in with someone else's...no matter how infrequently they unload the dishwasher. :)

So I gave that place to Rennie and tried to figure out what one does when one's life implodes, as hers had.

By the time my husband tracked me down in the downstairs family room, I was in full note-taking mode and not angry anymore! :D

2. What do you love most about Rennie and Jake and why should we root for them?

Jake Bristol is one of the most honorable men/characters I've ever written, I think. I both love and hate him for that. I want him to give in to temptation, but I know, as Rennie does, that it might change who he is, if he does. He's a total white hat but so very human and trapped in a bad marriage. To me, it was interesting to see which side of him would win out.

He needs Rennie because she is someone who sees him for who is is as a person, rather that a status symbol. And her wholehearted belief in his goodness/honor (vs. her lying, cheating ex) is what draws him to her and also makes things complicated. We all want someone who believes the best of us, you know? But if he follows through, then will Rennie see him as that good man? Will he be able to believe it himself?

Rennie is, I hope, one of those complicated people. She knows exactly how awful it is to have someone you love betray you with another person, and yet, she's dancing on the edge of being "the other person" and playing a role in the destruction of someone else's marriage. She's trying to figure out who she is and what she's capable of (good and bad). She's been battered and tossed around by her circumstances, and she has to figure out whether she's going to rise above and be the person who is worthy of Bristol, even if that means, rather contradictorily, that she can't have him.

You should root for them because they are two people who belong together. :) What remains to be seen is whether the world will cooperate with that idea.

3. What was the weirdest thing you googled while researching? 

I don't know that I googled anything all that strange, but I had a very detailed and awkward conversation with a lovely and obliging pharmacist about what kind of pills could be used to drug someone without their knowledge and how that might happen. It was one of those moments where I was pretty sure the phrase, "I promise, Officer, it's research for a book," was going to become very relevant to my life.

4. What was your favorite part about writing this book?

I loved writing this book. I cackled with glee every night when I settled in to write. It is almost an homage to all the mystery novels I loved as a kid (Rennie is my grown-up version of Nancy Drew) and I was writing it just for me, just for fun. I loved sticking Rennie in situations and then watching everything go wrong.

5. Describe Bitter Pill in 5 words.

A funny, small town mystery.

Speed [ish] round:

1. You get the call/email/letter that says you're being published for the first time. What happens next?

Does "shriek in disbelief and sheer joy" count as an action? :) Because that's exactly what happened.

2. What three things would you take to a desert island?

Short of a helicopter, an experienced pilot and a book to read on the flight of the island? I'd have to say sunblock, an iPad (with an endless battery and internet access) and an inflated air mattress. Sand makes me itchy.

3. You can only read one book for the rest of your life. What is it?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

4. What are you reading right now?

Parasite by Mira Grant

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Huge thanks to Samantha at CLP for providing the review copy and to Stacey for taking the time to answer my questions!  Make sure you're following her on Twitter, liking her Facebook page, subscribing to her blog and adding all of her books on your GoodReads shelves. 

Annnnnnnd?

If you head over to the CLP Blog tour page and leave a comment, you'll be entered to win all sorts of goodies.  You can also check out all of the other tour stops!

The time it was about Horde

Horde was one of the first arcs sent to me by Macmillan and I almost wept tears of joy when I got it.  I was so so so excited to finally read the ending of Deuce and Fade's epic story.  And oh man, it didn't disappoint.  So, of course, when I got the invite to be part of the blog tour for Ann Aguirre, I jumped at the chance.

But, as always, before we get to Ann's interview, let's check out the book.

The horde is coming.

Salvation is surrounded, monsters at the gates, and this time, they're not going away. When Deuce, Fade, Stalker and Tegan set out, the odds are against them. But the odds have been stacked against Deuce from the moment she was born. She might not be a Huntress anymore, but she doesn't run. With her knives in hand and her companions at her side, she will not falter, whether fighting for her life or Fade's love.

Ahead, the battle of a lifetime awaits. Freaks are everywhere, attacking settlements, setting up scouts, perimeters, and patrols. There hasn't been a war like this in centuries, and humans have forgotten how to stand and fight. Unless Deuce can lead them.

This time, however, more than the fate of a single enclave or outpost hangs in the balance. This time, Deuce carries the banner for the survival of all humanity.

Sounds good, right?

 

1. Where did the idea for the Razorland series come from?

 

First, I was a child in the 80s, when we lived with the constant fear from nuclear stockpiling and the cold war. In grade school, they actually showed us films on what we should do if the bomb dropped. As a result, I've always had some issue from that constant anxiety. When I'm afraid of something, I tend to work it into my books, so it was natural that I would, someday, write about the end of the world as we know it.

 

Before I wrote the Razorland trilogy, I hadn't read extensively in the genre, mostly because I intended to take a crack at it, and so I wanted to be able to say, honestly, that any similarity came from a collective zeitgeist. Before I finished the series, I had only read A Canticle for Leibowitz, which is post-apocalyptic but not YA and Lord of the Flies, which is more about the savagery that lurks close to the skin. Since completing the Razorland saga, I've discovered a long list of dystopian authors I cheerfully recommend: Paolo Bacigalupi, Veronica Rossi, Patrick Ness, Courtney Summers, Meg Rosoff, and more.

 

For me, every book starts in the same place -- with the characters. They tell me their names and then I listen as they share their stories. I write them down. So far, it's working really well.

 

2. What do you love most about Deuce and Fade and why should we root for them?

 

I'm really bad at this sort of thing. When I'm asked to pitch my books or describe my series, I usually give a quick tagline and then mumble. So I turned this query over to Twitter, and the readers have spoken.

 

"Deuce and Fade are awesome because they always have each other's back. They're perfect partners, fighting and more, and the tension between them is brilliant. You should root for them because they've been through so much and they deserve to be happy. Together."

 

3. The Freaks are quite creepy. Tell me how they developed as characters. Was there anything odd that you had to research for them?

 

I tried, but there's not a lot of information regarding genetic mutations due to biological and chemical warfare. In the end, I made a lot of it up, based on bits of science I could find, and then I extrapolated, given certain theories about how humans developed intelligence that separated them from animals.

 

They definitely have an arc, however, and I can't wait until readers read about it in Horde. I did my best to foreshadow, but it wasn't easy since I was locked into Deuce's head, and I couldn't show scenes from any other points of view.

 

4. What was your favorite part of writing this series?

 

Finishing it. That sounds a bit glib, but when I start a big project, a three book arc, I have all these ideas tangled up with the fear that I won't be able to do them justice. Is my ability equal to my vision? I have no idea. Until I power through and complete the series. Once I do that, it's the biggest rush and I just savor it. When I wrap up a book, that's a thrill, but when I write the final volume in a series, it's indescribably delightful.

 

5. Explain the series in five words.

 

The Walking Dead meets Fallout.

 

Speed [ish] Round:

 

1. What three things would you take to a desert island?

 

Kindle. Solar Charger. Emergency Kit.

 

2. What are you reading right now?

 

Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

 

3. Who are your favorite swoony boys?

 

Park -- from Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell.

Varen -- from Nevermore by Kelly Creagh.

Tom -- from When the World was Flat (and We Were in Love) by Ingrid Jonach.

Naji -- from The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke.

Matt -- from Flat-Out Love by Jessica Park.

 

4. Are there any authors that you fangirl over?

 

Not in person. I try to be cool when I'm meeting rockstar-famous authors. Then I do a crazy dance as soon as I'm alone. Frex: I just had breakfast with Rachel Caine! Charlaine Harris just talked to me! I've been idolizing Sharon Shinn for a really long time and I recommend her books to all and sundry. Her command of language is gorgeous.

 

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Huge thanks to Ann for taking the time and Macmillan for the invite!

You can find Ann on her website, Facebook and Twitter accounts.  Make sure you add her books on GoodReads and go see her on the Fierce Reads tour.

Now. 

Haven't been able to pick up a copy of Enclave, Outpost or Horde? I've got them for you. Well, I don't have them, but I have people who do. :D Winner will receive the books directly from Macmillan. 

Rules are listed under the "terms & conditions" on the Rafflecopter widget.

**Good Luck!!**

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

 

And be sure to check out all of the other tour stops for other goodies:

 

Horde Blog Tour Schedule

 

Monday 10/14

Rainy Day Ramblings

 

Tuesday 10/15

Supernatural Snark

 

Wednesday 10/16

Two Chicks on Books

 

Thursday 10/17

Almost Grown-Up

 

Friday 10/18

Alice Marvels

 

Monday 10/21

The Midnight Garden

 

Tuesday 10/22

PageTurners

 

Wednesday 10/23

Curling Up with a Good Book

 

Thursday 10/24

Birth of a New Witch

The time it was about The Fallout

I picked up The Compound and The Fallout on a whim and I enjoyed them both.  I don't normally read survivalist stories, but they came with a strong recommendation and both books kept me captivated the entire time.  So, of course, when Macmillan invited me to be part of the blog tour for The Fallout, I had to say yes!

Before we get to S.A. and her interview answers, let's check out the book, shall we?

In this long-awaited sequel to The Compound, Eli and his family can run but they can't hide. 

After barely escaping from the compound where Eli’s dad kept his family for six years, they’re learning to acclimate to “normal” life—whatever that is for them. It seems like the entire world wants to know what happened to this high profile family.

Slowly they begin to make their way back into the world, but Eli can’t escape the creeping feeling that they’re being watched everywhere they go. But by who?

Eli’s anxiety is heightened as unnerving information continually surfaces about Eli’s dad’s company. Not to mention the sketchy new friend his twin brother Eddy has. Nothing seems to be “normal” anymore. New people are entering their lives—but who can Eli and his family trust?

Sounds good, right?

1. Where did the idea for The Compound and The Fallout come from?

Growing up, my school had nuclear attack drills which involved everyone filing into the stinky wrestling room in the basement. Once a teacher remarked that we'd have to stay down there for twenty years if there really was an attack. That kind of stuck with me, and I became obsessed with post-apocalyptic books and movies. I wondered how people would survive after it happened, and when I read about the uber-wealthy who had their own shelters, I came up with the idea. I was never going to write a sequel, but so many readers asked me what happened next that I began to wonder myself.

2. Some female authors say it's difficult to write in a male POV.  Was Eli easy to work with?

I'd been having trouble separating my characters from myself, and choosing to go with a male POV was a way to fix that. And then when I got to writing, it was too late to turn back.

3. Excluding the twins, who was your favorite family member to write and would you ever consider writing something from another family member's POV?

I like Terese a lot. She is totally her own person, even though she is the little sister, and it was fun to saddle her with issues and see how she dealt with them. A story from Lexie's POV might be interesting...

4. What is the weirdest thing you googled while doing research?

The preppers! I got hooked on the shows about them. My fave was the dude who timed how fast he could load his doomsday see stash into a duffel bag. (He needs to practice more.)

Speed [ish] round:

1. What three things would you take with you to a desert island?

A campfire lighter. Carmex. A solar-powered e-reader with a gajillion books on it.

2. What are you reading right now?

Just finished This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales.

3. Who are your favorite swoony boys?

Daryl Dixon on The Walking Dead. It's hard to beat someone who can make you a meal out of freshly-caught squirrel. And Jon Snow on Game of Thrones. Do I need a reason?

4. Are there any authors you fangirl over?

Stephen King. I'd totally be an idiot if I ever met him.

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Huge thanks to Stephanie for taking the time and Macmillan for the invite!

You can find Stephanie on her website, blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts.  Make sure you add her books on GoodReads and go see her on the Fierce Reads tour.

Now. 

Haven't been able to pick up a copy of The Compound or The Fallout? I've got them for you. Well, I don't have them, but I have people who do. :D Winner will receive the books directly from Macmillan. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And be sure to check out all of the other tour stops for other goodies:

The Fallout Blog Tour Schedule

 

Monday 9/16

Live to Read

 

Tuesday 9/17

Word Spelunking

 

Wednesday 9/18

I Read Banned Books

 

Thursday 9/19

Book YA Review

 

Friday 9/20

The Book Monsters

 

Monday 9/23

The Midnight Garden

 

Tuesday 9/24

Adventures of a Book Junkie

 

Wednesday 9/25

MacTeenBooks

 

Thursday 9/26

That Artsy Reader Girl

 

Friday 9/27

Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf

The time it was about Sky on Fire

When I received the email inviting me to join Emmy Laybourne's blog tour for Sky on Fire, I had just finished reading the arc.  I enjoyed the story and was thrilled to be a part of it.  Even more so when I was able to send Emmy some questions for an interview.

But before we get to Emmy, let's check out Sky on Fire, yes?

The world hasn't ended...yet.

In this sequel to MONUMENT 14, the group of survivors, originally trapped together in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, has split in two. Most of the kids are making a desperate run on their recently repaired school bus for the Denver airport where they hope to reunite with their parents, be evacuated to safety, and save their dying friend.

But the world outside is dark and filled with dangerous chemicals that turn people into bloodthirsty monsters, and not all the kids were willing to get on the bus. Left behind in a sanctuary that has already been disturbed once, the remaining kids try to rebuild the community they lost. But when the issues are life and death, love and hate, who can you really trust?



Sounds good, right?

1. Where did the idea for Monument 14 and Sky on Fire come from?

 I think the seed of the Monument 14 series comes from two of my great loves: survivalist planning and superstores! I love to wander the aisles of superstores, checking out the goods and seeing how I would set up camp in the store, if I had to.

And I’ve always enjoyed “worst case scenario” thinking. It’s the worrier in me, but I’m always thinking of how I will save my kids lives if we’re in some terrible crisis...

I put those together and there was the central idea of Monument 14 -- fourteen kids stranded in a superstore while civilization collapses.

 

2. What sort of research did you have to do?

Google makes it so easy for authors these days. It’s hard to imagine how different research must have been for authors before the internet.

My habit is to write first, research later. If I let myself read too much, I end up changing the shape of the plot to accommodate the cool things I’ve learned. It’s better, for the books I’ve written, to write first and then go back and make sure everything works.

 

3. Was it easier for you to write from a boy's POV?

Dean’s personality made it easy for me to write as him. It’s weird, but the character Dean was just there when I started writing the book. Maybe I found it easy to write as him because he, himself, is easy to know. He’s such a truthful, upright guy. He’s doing his best, and sometimes he fails. Maybe that’s what makes him so accessible.

 

4. Describe Monument 14 in 5 words.

Torque. Danger. Love. Blood. Choose.

 

5. What's next for you?

Oooh, I’m torn between two ideas. One is a horror with a comic tone set on a cruise ship about the product launch of a new sweetener that goes terribly wrong. The other is a fantasy series about a girl who protects her divinely gifted brother from royals who seek to abuse his powers. What do you all think?! Help me pick!

  

Speed [ish] round:

 

1. What's your go to guilty pleasure thing to eat?

Fresh blackberries. Oh my god, are they delicious!

 

2. What are you reading right now?

I just read “The Giver” for the first time. It broke my heart. I’d like to start something new, but I think I need a few days just to absorb it.

 

3. Who are your favorite swoony boys?

I will watch Ryan Gosling in anything. He has such intensity – he’s like a smoldering volcano! I’m also big on Matt Damon (who’s more my age). But truthfully, the swooniest guy I know is my own husband, Greg Podunovich. Most of my boyfriends before I met Greg were the intellectual type. They all looked different, tall, short, black, white - but they had one thing in common – none of them knew how to hang a shelf properly. They weren’t builders. Well, my husband is a real mountain man. He can build or fix or lift just about anything. Our 6 year old son boasts that his Dad can pick up a Smart car – and I actually think Greg could! There’s nothing more sexy than a guy in a toolbelt!

 

4. Are there any authors that you fangirl over?

Omigod yes!!!!! I met Lish McBride last summer (Hold Me Closer., Necromancer) and I was like a giddy goofball. I also revere writers Kristin Cashore, Shanon Hale and Laurie Halse Anderson. I will totally flip out if I get to meet them.

I’d also give just about anything to meet novelists Kent Haruff, Tony Early and Ivan Doig. They’re not YA writers, but if you haven’t read them yet- get thee to a library post haste!

Also, I met Anne Lamott once and I burst into tears. Nice. Very classy, right? If I ever see her again, I’ll probably do it again.

 

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Huge thanks to Emmy for taking the time and Macmillan for the invitation!

Find Emmy on her website, blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts.  And add her books on GoodReads!

Now. 

Haven't been able to pick up a copy of Monument 14 or Sky on Fire? I've got them for you. Well, I don't have them, but I have people who do. :D Winner will receive the books directly from Macmillan.

Rules for the giveaway are on "terms and conditions" on the Rafflecopter widget.

**Good luck!!**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out the previous blog stops on the tour for all sorts of fun stuff...

Monday 5/20
Squeaky Books

Tuesday 5/21
Reading Teen

Wednesday 5/22
Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf

Thursday 5/23
Book Haven Extraordinaire

Friday 5/24
Chick Loves Lit

Monday 5/27
Jean Book Nerd

Tuesday 5/28
MacTeenBooks

Wednesday 5/29
Princess Bookie

Thursday 5/30
YA Romantics

Friday 5/31
Adventures of a Book Junkie

The time it was about an alien in high school

I picked up The Rules from the super secret back room at MGRB.  It looked interesting and I ended up really enjoying the story.  So, when I was contacted to be a stop on Stacey's blog tour, I jumped at the chance.  And Stacey was nice enough to answer some questions...

First off, the book:

1. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don’t get involved.

4. Keep your head down.

5. Don’t fall in love.

Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight at her high school from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules…

Sounds good, right?

1. Where did the idea for The Rules come from?

It was really a couple of things that acted as a trigger. I LOVE earth-based science fiction set in our world (X-Files, Roswell, Starman, etc.) And I wanted to explore this idea of an alien hiding in high school. I vividly remember feeling like a complete outsider in high school and the overwhelming sensation that if I did or said something wrong the secret of my "outsider-ness" would be revealed. I think a lot of people feel that way during those years. So, I wanted to play with that idea, only I wanted the stakes to be much, much higher for Ariane. If I said the wrong thing, I'd be outed as a dork (not a secret, trust me) but if Ariane does or says the wrong thing, she'll be taken back the lab, where a horrible fate waits for her. 
 
2. Ariane is an interesting character and I love how she loves expensive jeans. How did she develop as a character?

Actually, Ariane was a bit tricky. Obviously, her upbringing is spectacularly different from mine (and everybody else's, hopefully). Plus, I really wanted to make sure she didn't come across in the way aliens are typically depicted on TV shows (goofy and not understanding words and customs, which is then played for humor). I wanted the fear and seriousness of her situation to really come through. And the fact that she's not completely human. But it was my brilliant editor at the time, Christian Trimmer, who gently reminded me that she IS partially human and has been raised among humans. So, Ariane needed to be a mix of alien and human. And it was fun to figure out what elements of human culture she would take and make her own.

French fries, Superman movies, expensive jeans! All with a certain logic behind them. She'd never had fried food before in the lab. She relates to Superman's conflicted identity. And the jeans, well, creature comforts weren't exactly a big priority in the lab! 
 
3. You wrote The Rules from two different POVs. Which was easier for you?

Zane's, believe it or not. His initial scene, the one with him by the pool at Rachel's house, was the first one that came to me for the book, even though it's actually the third scene in the story! 
 
4. Describe The Rules in 5 words.

Hmm. That's hard! How about this: Conflicted hybrid girl must choose.

5. What can you tell us about book 2?

Oh, boy, I think I have to be careful here, so as not to spoil anything. :) I'm in the process of revising it now. And I have to confess, I had SO much fun writing this one.

I can tell you we're going to meet some new characters, some of whom were referenced in The Rules but never seen "on screen" (including a parent). I can also tell you that the second book picks up pretty much immediately after book one, just a few hours later. And sadly, no Rachel Jacobs in book two. I'm saving her for book three. :D 
 
Speed [ish] round:

1. What's your go to guilty pleasure thing to eat?

 Raw cookie dough. I know, I know, salmonella. But I can't help it! :)

2. What are you reading right now?

A.G. Howard's Splintered. It's fantastic!

3. Who are your favorite swoony boys?

Love Rachel Caine's Shane, Tammara Webber's Lucas, and Jennifer Echol's John After

4. Are there any authors that you fangirl over?

Oh, gosh, yes. Too many to name! :D I try really, really hard to keep myself contained because you never know when you might be on a panel or at a meal with someone, and I don't want to freak them out. Sometimes, though, I can't help but gush a little. I will say this, my ultimate, all-time favorite YA author is Meg Cabot. And I've never met her. If I do, I will probably set new records for fan-girl babbling and gushing.

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Huge thanks to Stacey for taking the time.  And of course, for the invitation!

Catch Stacey on her website or Twitter and add her books to your GoodReads.

Now. 

Haven't been able to pick up a copy of The Rules? I've got one for you. Well, I don't have one, but I have people who have one. :D Winner will receive the book directly from Hyperion. 

Rules for the giveaway are on "terms and conditions" on the Rafflecopter widget.

**Good luck!!**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The time it was a friend

I've had the pleasure of knowing Brighton for a few years now.  I've even been lucky enough to read some of her early stories.  So, of course when I heard she was getting published, I begged asked if there was any way to help promote it.  She graciously agreed to do an interiew.

But before we get to my fangirling her answers, check out the info on Plus One.


Olivia hates the singles scene, so when her best guy friend, Ian, offers to be her plus one to a series of weddings she has to attend, she agrees. Although she doesn't want to complicate their lifelong friendship, she can't pass up the chance to have a steady date without the dating drama. What she doesn't expect is to now find Ian so incredibly sexy.


When Ian sees his old friend Olivia dolled up for wedding #1, the boyhood crush he once nurtured transforms into smoldering attraction. It doesn't take long for their no-strings arrangement to turn physical. But as Olivia's desire to stay "just friends" becomes clear, Ian's feelings are deepening. In the time they have together, how will Ian convince Olivia that one plus one can make for a lifelong pair?


Sounds good, right?

1. Where did the idea for Plus One come from?

It came from the prompt "secret crush". I actually wrote it with the intention to submit it to a call for submission from a small publisher. When my critique partner read it, she encouraged me to skip the call and submit to some larger e-publishers. Thank God she's smart and I listen to her.
 

2. Olivia and Ian are great characters. Both are full of excellent traits. How did they develop?

 

Thank you! Ian's character came to me first because his was the first line in the book I'd thought of. I've always loved the friends to more storyline, and the idea that it was the hero that fell for the heroine instead of the other way around attracted me to his story. From there, I was sort of like a witch at a cauldron, just throwing in every trait I'd love to read in a hero. And voila! err...abracadabra! Ian was born.

Olivia came to me in bits and pieces. The idea that she was stuck on a bad date popped into my head and then the cat urine guy materialized. And then I started thinking about what other awful, awful men she must've gone out with and what that would do to a person's outlook. After years and years of bad dates, I knew she'd be a little jaded, a little cynical, but overall, I didn't want her too anything. She had to be smart and strong and confident and funny because, to be honest, as a reader I don't like reading heroines who aren't any of those things, so as a writer I refuse to write them. When it came down to it, I wanted to create a heroine I'd be friends with.
 

3. I love when we get POV from both characters [I especially love boy POV]. Was Plus One always planned as a duel POV?

 

Yep, from the inception. When a story idea first takes root in my mind, it always comes to me as one person's story first. In this case, it was Olivia's voice I heard, but based on the secret crush angle, I knew I'd need Ian's POV as well. And, plus, I really love guy POVs, too.
 

4. Were there any scenes that you had to cut that you miss?

 

I didn't have to cut a single scene. I'm a fairly compact storyteller. I like to get in and out and get to the good stuff (insert that's what she said joke here) without unnecessary distractions or meandering. Of course, that means my editor asked me to expand a couple scenes and flesh out a few more details, but no scenes were cut. 
 

5. You're a genius when it comes to building the UST. Why do you love it so much?

 

A genius?! Well, I don't know about that, but I do love to be called a genius so I'm not going to argue with you. I love UST because, frankly, the reward is so much sweeter when you've had to wait just a while for it. Of course, there's such a thing as too much UST, but I like to write with realistic pacing. It's against my religion to write a meet, greet and fuck. I want to build the yearning between the characters so the readers feel it, too. So when that first sex scene comes, they aren't giving me their wtf faces while reading and wondering where that came from but instead maybe a little giddy (and by giddy I obviously mean flushed and excited) at the fact that it's finally happening.
 

6. And the sexah scenes... Are they easy for you to write?

 

Extremely. If I could write a book with sex, sex and only sex, I could whip out, like, 50 books a year. Alas, see opposition to my religion in the previous answer.
 

7. What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

 

Typically, in the beginning, I get a plot bunny and I let it ruminate for a few days or a week or two. Characters always, always, always come to me first and the plot is the last thing that gets filled in. I play around with personalities, life circumstances, hero and heroine obstacles, etc. Then I fill out a character outline--this varies and I don't think I've used the same one for any two stories, but it's all basically the same, only some are more detailed than others. Once characters are fleshed out, I start outlining scenes. Sometimes these come to me as random, ridiculous one-liners or maybe a piece of dialogue to jog my memory. Or sometimes I write 500 words outlining a scene because it's fresh in my mind and I don't want to lose it.

Even with all that detail, I'd call myself someone of a plotser, I guess, more so on the plot than the ser. I've worked using both methods, and I've found I'm a much more efficient writer when I have a clear guide as to what needs to happen next. That doesn't mean I follow it to a T and won't deviate from it (especially if my characters are trying to get each other naked 3 chapters before I originally thought it should happen), but if I don't have a scene at least a little fleshed out, I will sit and stare at my blank document on my laptop and watch all the different scene possibilities play out in my mind like a movie until I've sat there for three hours and written nothing.

8. You get the very first letter/email/call that Plus One is going to be published. Tell me what you did immediately after.

 

It was a phone call. I went up to my bedroom to take the call because my husband and (then) three year old were just getting lunch in the kitchen and they were being a little obnoxious (don't tell them I said that). So, got the call, got an offer, did a whole lot of listening while doing a fish impression, then hung up and just sort of stood there for a minute waiting for it to sink in. I was...I don't even know that I can explain it. Giddy and excited and on the verge of jumping out of my skin--sort of like what I'd imagine it'd feel like to hang out of an airplane right before you jump--but I just stood there. And I cried (of course). And then I got over that, ran downstairs, jumped around the kitchen, and told my husband, "HOLY SHIT, I'M GOING TO BE PUBLISHED!" Except, you know, I sort of whispered shit because my kid was there eating his mac and cheese. And because I'm a lady.
 

9. What comes next for you?

 

Lots of amazing things, I hope. :) I've got a completed contemporary erotic romance novel I've just started querying to agents. That book is the first in a planned set of three companion series novels. I was also recently attacked with a wild and ferocious plot bunny, so book two that I'd been writing has been put on hold so I can flesh out a little of this New Adult plot idea. So, short answer: more writing.

Speed [ish] round:

1. What's your go to guilty pleasure thing to eat?
 

What's not my guilty pleasure thing to eat? I love food. But, for the sake of this, I'll say Salted Caramel Cake Pops from Starbucks.
 

2. What are you reading right now?

 

This will no doubt have changed five times over by the time this posts, but right now at this minute, I'm reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio with my eight-year-old son, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (for the first time!), and Saved by the Bride by Fiona Lowe. 
 

3. Who are your favorite swoony boys?

 

Oh, man. This is a toughie. Okay. I'm not going to over-think this; just gonna say the first ones that pop in my head (and in absolutely no particular order):

Lucas
Brady
Brian
Tyler
Shadow
Adam
Etienne
Nev
Jase
Van
Jack

Well. Hmm. I maybe like swoony boys a little?

4. Are there any authors that you fangirl over?

 

I'm not much for fangirling, but I am pretty excited to meet Jill Shalvis at RWA this year.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Huge thanks to Brighton for taking the time!!

Brighton Walsh is a storyteller at heart. Whether through words or pictures, she's been weaving tales for as long as she can remember. After decades of cultivating her writing, she finally decided to give life to the voices in her head and set forth to write her first novella. Love is her first love, and writing about it is a dream come true. When she's not overwhelmed by the incessant chatter in her mind, you can generally find her with her nose buried in a steamy book or partaking in some retail therapy. The setting of her life story takes place in the Midwest, characters including her very own real life hero she found in her supportive and swoony husband, and her two energetic kids who (fortunately) know nothing about the naughty things she puts down on paper.
 

Want to stalk find Brighton? Here are her website, Twitter, and GoodReads pages.

 

Go buy Plus One today: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Kobo. Want to win a copy? Check out Brighton's release day post and enter to win one of 3 giveaways!!

 

The time it was all about inspiration

My love for Elizabeth Norris knows no bounds.  This is common knowledge.  So, when I was contacted to be a part of the blog tour for Unbreakable [I got an email from someone saying they heard I was a "big fan"], of course I agreed.

Yesterday, Unbreakable was released.  Today, I get to share some of Elizabeth's inspiration behind the amazing series.

 

First off, Janelle. 

And Ben. [Back off, he's mine]

And some of the songs from the official Unbreakable playlist: Save the World. Save the Boy.

"Sober" by Kelly Clarkson The chorus opens, "Three months and I'm still standing... Three months and I'm still remembering" and that really captures what Janelle is feeling at the beginning of the novel.  Not only has the world undergone drastic changes, but Ben is gone and she's trying to pick up the pieces of her life unsure if she really will ever see him again.

"Shallow Life" by Lacuna Coil Janelle is seventeen.  She should be sitting in class, thinking about things like her schedule, homecoming, and what colleges she's going to apply to, but with everything happening to her in Unbreakable, she's being forced into a different kind of life.

"No Light, No Light" by Florence + The Machine This song is perfect.  It encompasses so many of Janelle's feelings.  She can't stop thinking about Ben.  She loves him, but at the same time she can't help be a little mad that he left her, and she really wants to do something to make him stay with her.  Only she's becoming a different person -- everything she's been through is having an impact on her and she wonder if he'll still love who she is.

"Blackout" by Breathe Carolina This song made this chapter happen: 03:11:05:00.  I listened to it in order to get Janelle out of a really tight situation.

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Huge thanks to Elizabeth and her publicity team for asking me to be a part of this!

If you haven't read Elizabeth's books, you need to go get them now. Click the pictures of the books above to be taken to the GoodReads page for each.  If you want to learn more about Ben, read my interview with Elizabeth here.

Here are some other places you can stalk get ahold of her:

About the Author: Elizabeth Norris is the author of Unraveling and Unbreakable, and the e-novella Undone. Visit Liz on the web at ElizabethNorrisBooks.com and LizNorris.blogspot.com, as well as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Goodreads and Pinterest.

And don't forget to check out the other blogs on the Unbreakable Spring Blog Tour:

April 16th -- Fic Fare
April 17th -- The Readers Lines
April 18th -- Confessions of an Opinionated Book Geek
April 19th -- Good Choice Reading
April 22nd -- The Book Monsters
April 23rd -- Ruby's Reads
April 24th -- Adventures of a Book Junkie
April 25th -- The Noctural Library
April 26th -- Reading Teen
April 30th -- The Book Smugglers