Interview & Giveaway- Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles


Release date: October 1, 2013
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Purchase Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / IndieBound

Synopsis:
After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek's counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else's family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain-people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek-someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

Author Interview

What inspired you to write Wild Cards?
I always wanted to be on the football team in high school. I was a sporty girl and I’m also super competitive but none of my friends who were girls would try out with me so I didn't do it, but I kind of always regretted that and so this is my way of being able to be on the football team but not.

Do you have a favorite scene from Wild Cards?
The pitchfork scene, where they meet. Also when Ashtyn tries to teach Derek to throw a football.

What made you choose Victor for the second book?
I've just gotten off of writing the Fuentes brothers and the Fuentes family so for me I love the Hispanic community and the sense of family and what it means and so I really wanted to write Victor in as the Hispanic guy on the team. I also wanted to make this whole series diverse. I like writing about diverse people.

How many books will be in the series?
For sure there will be four but I can always extend it if there is character that people are like I need to know what happens I may continue the series. I would like to do that.  And also because I did the reality show my fans are really excited about the actual actors that played the characters, so and kinda want to know what’s going on with those characters.

Do you have a favorite of all the books you have written?
No they are like my babies, like I can’t pick. My favorite right now is Wild Cards because it just came out, it’s my new baby, I’m so excited about it. I do love football even though the book isn't about football its about the players, its like a family. I also love that even though Ashtyn is a girl she is totally accepted on the team, instead of being ostracized.

Do you have a favorite character from all of your series?
Ashtyn because she is so kick butt! But the character that is most like me is Amy from How to Ruin a Summer Vacation. For me that character is very much like me even though she is kind of a brat, she is funny and I like to make fun of life.

What character was the most difficult for you to write?
The hardest female to write was Maggie from Leaving Paradise because she is like oh woe is me, I’m so depressed, and that is so not me. It was very difficult to write her.

What do you want your fans to know about this series?
What I want people to take out from the book in general is to have a good time. I want you to escape your life for right now. I want you to be immersed in this story, fall in love with the characters and have fun. I want you to laugh and I want you to cry.

If you could be a character from one of your favorite books, who would you be and why?
I would either be Britney from Perfect Chemistry because Alex would protect me, and love me forever. There is no better love than Alex’s love for Britney. He was going to die for her, he’ll die for anyone he loves,  that is just amazing. And she is so pretty who doesn't want to be pretty. But I do love that Ashtyn is so respected by the boys and that boys are her buddies and her friends. She protects them just as much as they protect her, and I love her for that. I also like that Derek and her are partners they are more like equals

Would you consider changing genres?
I've thought about it, I've thought about time travel but I don’t know if I could pull it off, but I think I will probably try at some point, but I don’t know when.

Now for the fun part of the post, we have a pretty signed ARC of Wild Cards and we want to give it away to one of you, Swooners. So just go ahead and have fun with the Rafflecopter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author
Simone Elkeles is a New York Times and USA Today best selling author of novels for teens. Simone's books have won many awards including being YALSA Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, being named to the YALSA Popular Paperbacks and Teens Top Ten lists, and added to the Illinois "Read for a Lifetime" Reading List. Simone also won the coveted RITA award from the Romance Writers of America for her book Perfect Chemistry. Simone is especially proud of the fact that the Illinois Association of Teachers of English named her Author of the Year.

Author Links: Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / YouTube

I want to take a moment to thank Simone Elkeles for taking the time to do this interview with us. For more information about the Wild Cards Series go to Wildcards.com

Review: Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2) 
By Veronica Rossi
Release Date: January 8, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Personal Copy
Reviewed by: Jenn
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / IndieBound

My rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
It's been months since Aria learned of her mother's death.

Months since Perry became Blood Lord of the Tides, and months since Aria last saw him.

Now Aria and Perry are about to be reunited. It's a moment they've been longing for with countless expectations. And it's a moment that lives up to all of them. At least, at first. Then it slips away. The Tides don't take kindle to former Dwellers like Aria. And the tribe is swirling out of Perry's control. With the Aether storms worsening every day, the only remaining hope for peace and safety is the Still Blue. But does this haven truly exist?

Threatened by false friends and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night? In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and sci-fi elements to create a captivating adventure - and a love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

      Through the Ever Night was a great follow up from the first book, Under the Never Sky. It is one of the few books that I feel like the sequel is better than the first. The problems that I had in the first book are all gone. Gone is the confusion of trying to guess which character was talking. Veronica Rossi did a great job in keeping her readers entertained and invested in the characters.

Roar and Perry's friendship is one my favorites ever and I always love the scenes when they're together. They know each other so well that they already know what the other is going to do without having to speak first. I think that this the first time that I enjoy reading about a "bromance" more than about the love interest.

Not to say that I don't like Aria, because I do. Aria has grown so much since Under the Never Sky and you can tell she is a lot more confident and knows how to defend herself. Her relationship with Perry, I like how they don't need to be together all the time to know how much they care about each other. All they have to do is share a look and you know that they share something special between them.

Now, you know I don't like love triangles, but I think that this series might be the only one where I wouldn't mind one. Aria and Roar just seem to understand each other so well and always have a great time together. However, I would never actually want them to be together. I just think they would be cute together and I would want Roar for myself.

Basically, Through the Ever Night just solidified my love for Roar and after that ending, I would gladly help him feel better. I can't wait to see what Into the Still Blue will bring to these characters. I'm excited to see how Veronica Rossi will end this series and I just hope she gives them the ending that they deserve.

Waiting on Wednesday (#32)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spinethat spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

Expected Release Date: November 26, 2013
Synopsis:
From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes and explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane.

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life - that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets form her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker - a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks - no how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

I'm super excited about this book. I really enjoyed Dare You To and I was in love with Isaiah so I'm hoping to see him get his happy ending.
What are you "Waiting on?"

YALLFest Author Interview: Jocelyn Davies

Happy Monday, Swooners.

I'm getting super excited since YALLFest is 2 weeks away and then it'll be time to meet all these authors we've had the lovely chance to interview. So, for today, I have the awesome Jocelyn Davies, author of the A Beautiful Dark series.
Here's what she had to say:

What one thing do you need to have when you write?
COFFEE! And a cocoon of silence.

Describe your book in 5 words:
Girl has angel blood, torn.

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

It differs from book to book--really, it's anyone's guess! Sometimes, the first line is hardest, because I'm just getting started and I'm not warmed up yet, and by the time I get to the end, I've got the momentum of an entire book to propel me into that last line. Then again, sometimes a first line just pops into my head, and the whole idea unfolds from there. Theres usually no way to know what is going to happen until it's happening, which is often the approach I take to writing.

Best writing tip you ever received?

“Create interesting characters, give them an excuse to meet, and the story will write itself.”

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself:
I'm a dog person--cats kind of freak me out.
I was a theater kid in high school. I used to dream of being an Oscar-winning actress.
I love everything about autumn.
I live a few blocks away from my best friend from high school.
In my day job, I'm also a children's book editor.

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?
I love magical realism—a novel that's set in the real world, but ever-so-slightly different.

At what point in the development of an idea do you know that it will become a full-length novel?

I usually have a pretty strong sense right from the moment the idea comes to me. I start writing knowing I’m embarking on a novel.

Thanks so much for passing by, Jocelyn! I can't wait to meet you!

For more information about YALLFest, visit their website: YALLFest.org

Review: Just One Year by Gayle Forman

Just One Year (Just One Day #2) By: Gayle Forman
Release Date: October 10, 2013
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Source: Borrowed ARC from friend
Reviewed by: Jenn
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / IndieBound

My rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
Just One Day. Just One Year. Just One Read.

Before you can find out how their story ends, remember how it began...

When he opens his eyes, Willem doesn't know where in the world he is - Prague or Dubrovnik or back in Amsterdam. All he knows is that he is once again alone, and that he needs to find a girl named Lulu. They shared one magical day in Paris, and something about that day - that girl - makes Willem wonder if they aren't fated to be together. He travels all over the world, from Mexico to India, hoping to reconnect with her.But as months go by and Lulu remains elusive, Willem starts to question if the hand of fate is as strong as he'd thought...

The romantic, emotional companion Just One Day, this is a story of the choices we make and the accidents that happen - and the happiness we can find when the two intersect.


The Plot:
- Just like in Just One Day, I found the plot to be a bit slow but also realistic. Both Willelm and Allyson go on a self-discovery journey which takes time.
- I guess because Willem was always traveling, it didn’t feel like it had the slow pace of Just One Day.

Secondary Characters:
- I love every person Willem meets while traveling and living at home.
- I just love how they all made an impression on him and how he grew as person because of it.
- He may always be traveling and never settled down, but he has people who really cares about him and who want to help him and in doing so, pushes him into action.
- Meeting Yael, his mom, really was a great way of learning about Willem. He’s so closed off, even to the reader, but meeting his mom helped me understand him better.

Willem:
- Early on the book, I noticed how little we knew of him in Just One Day. He mentioned some people, who we later learned that it was his parents, but I realize that he told Allyson so little about himself that it was like I wasn’t reading part of a series.
- He may feel alone since his father and grandfather died and his mom is so far away and they don’t really talk but he does have a family: his friends. He hasn’t realized it yet but his friends are his family since they pushed him into searching for "Lulu".
- When he went to India, it saddened me a bit at how his relationship with Yael was so severed. However, I loved that they managed to reconnect and are working trying to be in each other life.
- My favorite scene was the end when he realized that Allyson’s and his relationship “beginning” is just like his parents. Their missed connections and how they got to that point. Weeks later, I still get the fuzzy feeling of that scene.

I loved Just One Year a lot more than Just One Day and I hope that Allyson and Willem got their double happiness. But I like to think that they did ;)

Quotes (#32)

Basically, I'm Stewie and Brian is the Monday that I'm trying to hit.

"I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library." - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice.

"You want me as much as I want you. And all I want is you."
My tongue warred with my mind. "Today," I whispered.
Noah stood slowly, his body skimming mine as he rose. "Today. Tonight. Tomorrow. Forever." - Michelle Hodkin, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.

"And then Adam Wilde shows up at Carnegie Hall on the biggest night of my career, and it felt like more than a coincidence. It felt like a gift. From them. For my first recital ever, they gave me a cello. And for this one, they gave me you." - Gayle Forman, Where She Went.

"Thinking something does not make it true. Wanting something does not make it real." - Michelle Hodkin, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.

"You're distracting," I said truthfully.
"I won't be. I promise," Noah said. "I'll get some crayons and draw quietly. Alone. In a corner." - Michelle Hodkin, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer.

"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice.

"Is it possible for home to be a person and not a place?" - Stephanie Perkins, Anna and the French Kiss.

As you can see, I'm a bit in the mood for Michelle Hodkin and Jane Austen. I think a reread in the new year might be in order. 

Have a good week!

YALLFest Author Interview: Lisa McMann

Hi lovelies!

Today I have the lovely Lisa McMann stopping by the blog. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Wake - The Dream Catcher series, The Unwanted series, and her new Visions series with books Crash, and Bang already release. 
Here's what she had to say:

What one thing do you need to have when you write?
Silence.

Best writing tip you ever received?
“Think of the one thing your main character would never, ever do. Now make her do it.”

What are you working on now?
We’ll be ramping up the releases of books 5, 6, and 7 in the Unwanteds series, so I’m working on Unwanteds book 5 right now.

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?
I really enjoy writing in a variety of genres, from realistic to paranormal to dystopian fantasy. At the moment, fantasy is winning, but that could change at any moment. My favorite genre to read is memoir.

At what point in the development of an idea do you know that it will become a full-length novel?
As soon as I have a one line concept that gives me a little shiver.

Thanks so much for passing by, Lisa!

For more information about YALLFest, visit their website: YALLFest.org

Review: Beautiful Player by Christina Lauren

Beautiful Player (Beautiful Bastard #3)
By Christina Lauren
Expected Release Date: October 29, 2013
Publisher: Gallery Books
Source: ARC gifted by publisher
Reviewed by: Jenn and Nahomi
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / IndieBound

*This ARC was provided by the publisher but it did not influence this review in any way.*

Jenn's rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 stars
Nahomi's rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 stars
Our overall rating: 4.5 stars out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
A bombshell bookworm. A chronic Casanova. And a lesson in chemistry too scandalous for school.

When Hanna Bergstrom receives a lecture from her overprotective brother about neglecting her social life and burying herself in grad school, she's determined to tackle his implied assignment: get out, make friends, start dating. And who better to turn her into the sultry siren every man wants than her brother's gorgeous best friend, Will Sumner, venture capitalist and unapologetic playboy?

Will takes risks for a living, but he's skeptical about this challenge of Hanna...until the wild night his innocently seductive pupil tempts him into bed - and teaches him a thing or two about being with a woman he can't forget. Now that Hanna's discovered the power of her own sex appeal, it's up to Will to prove he's the only she'll ever need.


Jenn:

If there’s anything I learned about reading Christina Lauren’s Beautiful Bastard series, is that there will be some (read: a lot) sexual tension, plenty of smexy times, a swoony guy and a feisty, know-what-she-wants girl. And while there were some modifications to Hanna in regards to what she wanted, Player lived up to its predecessors.

It was really fun getting inside Will’s head and learning about the man who “schedules his booty calls.” He’s a hot nerd, who knows his way around a woman’s body. And holy crap is Hanna a lucky girl. He’s a nice and confident guy but I love how patient he is with Hanna and how he’s willing to help her in discover what she wants. He never rushed anything but he just knew what needed to be done in order for her to be comfortable.

Hanna is a really fun character and it always made me giggle when she would ramble away when talking with Will. Out of the all the girls in the series, I feel like I relate more with Hanna by how naive and inexperienced she is. She is the lucky girl who gets to hang out with her childhood crush.

Will and Hanna are definitely something. Their time together left me in need of a cold shower and/or blushing. Like I said before, Will is very patient with Hanna and he let her control the pace but he was the one who took charge. And because of her inexperience, Hanna always asked him to “teach her.”

My only complaint of this book and of the previous two novels is that the conflict always ends up being the same: miscommunication. The guy end up lying for whatever reason or something happens that get him in trouble and then the girl find out or overhears about said secret and then takes off without talking. They won’t confront the situation until after someone tell them that they’re wrong. I feel like the miscommunication bit starting to get a bit old and I expect better from the characters.

I do love the ending, though. I love when authors give me epilogues. I think it ended in a wonderful place that could be easily be picked up in Beautiful Beginning. Beautiful Player certainly lived up to the hype and Will now has a place in heart, right along with Max. I can’t wait to see how Beginning will end this wonderful series.

Nahomi:

To say that I enjoy this series is an understatement. From the beginning, Christina Lauren captivated my attention with their great characters, witty dialogue, and their creativity. I feel like I’ve said this before but it must be said again: Christina Lauren outdid themselves with Beautiful Player, I really enjoyed reading this book.

The characters have a way of pulling me into the story. All I want to do is camp out and see what’s happening with them. I love that Hanna is a nerd workaholic, and that she has not filter when she speaks. Will is totally swoon worthy! He is attentive, sweet, pays attention to detail, and is a HOTT bad boy nerd. I love how we got to see the guys hang out as well as the girls in this novel. And there were definitely twist I wasn’t expecting.

There were a few things that I didn’t like, and it’s the same in almost all of the books. The lack of communication when things “go wrong” is a little upsetting. I feel like Hanna just labeled Will and was unable to look beyond that. And for all she can talk, she wasn’t talking to the right person about what she needed to do. Will was very upfront and honest about his relationships but he could have been more assertive and direct with Hanna about what was going on. With that said, let’s move on to my favorite part: the sexy scenes.

After having read the other books, I figured that the sex scenes would be different and steamy, but what I wasn’t prepared for was just how hot and sexy they actually are. I needed not just one cold shower but several long extended cold showers in order to get my “need” under control. I also felt a little exhausted in a good way because the scenes are really long and intimate. There were several but especially after the first scene at the party, and oh yea and Easter weekend. Curious? *winks* you’ll have to read the book and see.


All I have to say is: I want more Will and Hanna please.

YALLFest Author Interview: Michelle Hodkin

Morning Lovelies,

I am super excited about the author we are hosting today. I love the Mara Dyer trilogy and Michelle Hodkin has me hooked with her writing. I am anxiously awaiting the release of the last book of the trilogy, The Retribution of Mara Dyer which is slated to be release June 2014. It can't come soon enough. I hope I get to see her again when tours for The Retribution just like she did for The Evolution of Mara Dyer.
Here's what she had to say:

Describe your book in 5 words 
Romeo and Juliet meets Hitchcock

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last? 
I spend a lot of time thinking about my first lines. A lot of time. Too much time. Luckily the last lines usually come to me as I write.

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read? 
What I love about YA is that I don't have to choose a genre. I can blend elements and mess with conventions from all of them—horror, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, whatever. I'm not sure I could choose a favorite, if I were ever told that I had to. And my reading is all over the place, but right now I'm reading a lot of old school sci-fi and fantasy, with some literary fiction thrown in.

What one young adult novel do you wish you had when you were a teen? Why? 
The Magicians by Lev Grossman. It's not YA, but it is about a teenager who reminds me of my teen self. And maybe also my adult self. Anyway. I basically push the book into the hands of everyone I meet. It's just that good.

What are you working on now? 
A secret project that is secret. But I'm wildly excited about it, and I think my readers will be too.

Thanks so much for passing by, Michelle! I can't wait to finally get my hands on The Retribution come next year.

For more information about YALLFest, visit their website: YALLFest.org

Review: Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Onyx (Lux #2)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release date: August 14, 2012
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Source: Personal Copy
Reviewed by: Nahomi
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / AudioBooks

My rating: 5 stars out of 5 stars

Summary:
Being connected to Daemon Black sucks...Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon's determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I've sworn him off, even though he's running more hot than cold these days. But we've got bigger problems.
Something worse than Arum has come to townThe Department  of Defense is here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I'm a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who's got a secret of his own. He knows what's happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard. 
But then, everything changesI've seen someone who shouldn't be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he's never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them-from me?
No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies.


        Oh the feels... This book had me turning pages all night just to see what happened next. I was useless the entire time I was reading this book. Just a heads up… This review will contain massive amounts of swooning over Daemon so please beware there is major swoonage coming up ahead.
Onyx is the second book in the Lux series and the one that solidified my love affair with Daemon Black. I will say this: I liked him in Obsidian but Onyx had me melting into big piles of mush over Daemon for several days. There is a lot more action and tension in Onyx than there was in Obsidian. I love love love Onyx! The characters are more developed, there is more action and swoonage. Especially when there were certain moment that had me saying, “Oh My God. That did not just happen.”
Here is what I liked:
Obviously everything mentioned above but even more than that, I feel that we got to see a different side of Daemon that we were cut off from in Obsidian. There were so many part that I found myself wishing Daemon Black were my boyfriend. Besides the fact that he brings Kat her favorite treats, among other things, between chapters 15 and 16 I turned into big piles of mush. I was rendered useless by my coworkers and friends due to long periods of time where I would zone out and daydream of Daemon.
Dinnerware and glasses came from several opened drawers. Mom’s wine flew out of the fridge, pouring into two crystal flutes while Daemon stood in the middle of everything. It was like a scene straight out of Beauty and the Beast. I kept waiting for a teapot to start singing.
“And after dinner, I have another surprise for you.”
“You do?” I whispered.
He nodded. “But you’ve got to join me for dinner first.”
I shuffled to the table and sat, watching him with eyes that were blurry. He made me a plate and then sat beside me. I cleared my throat. “Daemon, I…I don’t know what to say, but thank you.”
“Thanks aren’t necessary,” he said. “You didn’t want to come over, which I understand, but you shouldn’t be alone.” p. 117
There are sections of the book that had me laughing out loud this made people look at me funny. Some of the dialogue between Daemon and Katy is just hilarious. Take a look:
“My eyes focused on the pale light peeking through the curtains. “Maybe one day I can be just as lazy as you and turn off lights without moving.”
“That’s something to aspire to.”
I relaxed a fraction of an inch and smiled. “God, you’re so modest.”
“Modesty is for saints and losers. I’m neither” p. 121
Or for example Kat describing a good book, “The Hidden Circle is a forget-your-homework, don’t-feed-your-kids, and quit-your-job one-sit read—” p. 104
Bottom Line:
I loved this book so much I wanted to hug it all the time. Please go out and read the Lux series!
Until next time…

Waiting on Wednesday (#31)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spinethat spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

Expected Release Date: November 18, 2013

Synopsis:
An Exasperated bride who just wants to elope. A determined groom whose only focus is getting to the wedding night. And-of course-a whole lot of name calling.

It's no secret I am a big fan of the series, so this is bittersweet for me; Beautiful Beginning is the last book of the Beautiful Bastard series. I'm excited to see how Christina Lauren ends the series but sad that it's ending. 

So, swooners what are you "Waiting on?".

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Character Names I Love / Unusual Names

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful girls at The Broke and The Bookish. Every week the girls come up with a subject and we have to answer them.

Morning lovelies,
Here are some of the names we love or caught our attention because of their uniqueness:

1. Aria  from Under the Never Sky Series
2. Perry (Peregrine) from Under the Never Sky Series

3. Hermione  from Harry Potter Series

4. Mia from If I Stay

5. Echo From Pushing the Limits


7. Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice

8. Etienne St. Clair from Anna and the French Kiss

9. Liv (Olivia) from  Roar and Liv & Olivia Twisted 

10. Karou from Daughter of Smoke & Bones

Hey swooners, what are some of your favorite book character names?

Review: Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Crewel (Crewel World #1) by Gennifer Albin
Release Date: October 16, 2013
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR)
Source: Borrowed ARC from friend
Reviewed by: Jenn
Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / IndieBound

My rating: 4 stars out of 5 stars

Synopsis:
Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That's what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: She wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she's exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen to work the looms is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to manipulate the very fabric of reality. But if controlling what people eat, where they live, and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn't interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and used her hidden talent for a moment. Now she has one hour to eat her mom's overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister's academy gossip and laugh at her dad's jokes. One hour to pretend everything's okay. And one hour to escape.

Because tonight, they'll come for her.

        I'd been hesitant to start this book but once I heard that Gennifer Albin was doing the Fierce Reads Spring 2013 Tour and was stopping in Miami, I had to start it. Once I got over my initial "what the hell is happening?" confusion that always overtakes me when starting a new book, I was sucked in and finished within the week. I haven't read anything quite like it. The plot is so unique and I'm so curious about the world of Arras and how the Guild works. I found myself so immersed into what was happening to Adelice and beyond, that I realized I was reaching the final chapter fairly quickly.

I found Adelice, the main character, to be an okay heroine. I like her but there's something that just stops me from loving her. However, I am curious to see how she fairs with the Guild. My only complaint is that there seems to be a bit of a love triangle. We all know that love triangles is one of the kisses of death for a book for me and it a very hated tool used in books that I wish weren't around so often. So, there is a hint of a love triangle but not really at the same time. But I can overlook it since it not all the book is focused on.

Crewel has such a unique story line and world and I can't wait to start Altered, which I got at BEA back in May. With the way Crewel ended, and it was very good, I'm curious to see what the repercussions of Adelice's actions will be.

Quotes (#31)

#Truth

Morning Swooners! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. 

"Charm is the ability to make someone else think that both of you are pretty wonderful." - Kathleen Winsor

"The pleasure of all reading is doubled when one lives with another who shares the same books." - Katherine Mansfield

"It's actually very difficult to make something both simple and good." - Paul Simon

"You don't write about the horrors of war. No. You write about a kid's burnt socks lying in the road." - Richard Price

"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart." - Confucius

"Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish." - Euripedes, Bacchae

"Historu, like love, is so apt to surround her heroes with an atmosphere of imaginary brightness." - James Fenimore Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans

I hope everyone has a good week!


Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...