Review: Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

I had the absolute delight to get a signed copy of the novel, through a goodreads giveaway. So, when I started reading the book I had somewhat high standards for it, as a lot of you guys told me how lucky I am to have it signed, and how just amazing the book is. I have to back all of you guys up and say that you are 100% correct. :D

I heard about Libba Bray when I first got into the entire YA books. She's very popular among the YA readers, and I'd like to imagine her, Maureen Johnson, John Green, and Scott Westerfield being the best English teachers and authors anyone could as for. Beauty Queens is not a quick read at all. It took me several sittings to get through the novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The novel is written in third-person with some epistolary documents sporadically spread about. I just enjoyed the humor of pretty much everything.

Having a bunch of beauty contestants is difficult to remember each and everyone of the characters, but I think because of how the novel is kind of written in pieces of the girl's personality, it showcases them one at a time. Because this novel is pretty much satire of the pageant world, it was like having an argument with my best friend about how stupid and brain-washed those girls are.

One of my favorite things about this novel is, as a teenage girl, you look and see Hollywood starlets looking 'beautiful' because they do this, and do that and look like a certain way, when they aren't nearly as awesome as you are. I guess what I'm trying to say is, not every teenage girl is going to look like a size zero, 5'8 model straight out of the runway, and we as teenage girls should take that in stride, because I don't want to be as skinny as a stick, and be hairless like mole rate, just because the tv says I should be. So this book is pretty much a f*** you, media, and your idea of what makes a girl beautiful.

Uhh...I hope this review made sense, and the weird part is the day I'm writing this review, is the day I got a letter by National American Miss asking me to go to their casting call. Somehow they got my name and address, even though I don't do pageants. If some of you guys have gotten a letter from them too, and you don't do pageants please let me know. I'm really freaked out that they even have me in their database. Oh well, I give Libba Bray's Beauty Queens a head nods, thumbs up. (4 out of 5)

Interview with Missy Fleming Author of Happily Never After

Hi guys! I got a chance to interview a Missy Fleming, and even though I am not interested in her novel, I'm sure some of you are.





Happily Never After


There's no such thing as happy endings.

Savannah, Georgia is rumored to be the most haunted place in America. Quinn Roberts knows it is. She's felt the presence of spirits her entire life, investigating and photographing them with her best friend. Only none of those encounters ever turned violent, until now. The menacing darkness feeding off her stepmother has promised she won't live to see her eighteenth birthday.

After a chance meeting Quinn reluctantly allows actor Jason Preston into her life, which has complications of its own. She's not used to letting people get close. Falling for him while fighting for her life, and her family's legacy, only complicates things more. Jason shows her exactly what she stands to lose, especially when she's being attacked by the mysterious entity. Each attack is more violent and terrifying than the last.

With Jason's help, she dives into the Roberts' family history, searching for a link between a woman who went missing a hundred and fifty years ago and what's happening now. What they find is a brutal murder and that the ghost doesn't just want to hurt Quinn, it wants revenge.

It wants her life.

from goodreads


Did you always want to become an author?

Yes. I started with poetry pretty young, then it morphed into ideas for stories. I have to say it probably took me like five years to finish that first book. Happily Never After is the second novel I ever finished. I began writing thinking I’d do adult romance because it’s what I enjoyed reading. Once I ventured into YA and paranormal, then fantasy, things took off from there. For some reason, it’s easier making worlds up then setting something in reality. Don’t know why that is!

How did Happily Never After start as an idea?

I’m a huge fan of shows like Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures. I had in my head I wanted to do a ghost story, set in a great historic city like Savannah, and it grew from there. Quinn is an amateur ghost hunter who’s always sensed the presence of spirits, so when building her backstory it somehow picked up more and more aspects of Cinderella. So, I figured, why not? I imagined a southern, gothic Cinderella and I really think I’ve accomplished it. Happily Never After is a special story to me. I have the characters cast, a soundtrack fitting the mood and setting, and launching into the sequel I’m exploring a new frontier.

Advice for inspiring young authors?

That’s easy. Do not give up. And find a critique partner, a fellow writer who is similar to you and who understands your style. So much has changed in the publishing world, making it more important than ever to understand who you are as an author. Are you happy self-publishing? Is it the best you can offer? Don’t write for the market, for what you see selling. Write for yourself. I always said if no one sees my writing, I won’t feel like I’ve failed. I’ll have these stories which mean so much to me and finishing them is one of the greatest feelings in the world. I’d be completely happy with that.

What was the hardest part in writing Happily Never After? Easiest?

I’d say the hardest was capturing the essence of Savannah, Georgia because…wait for it…I’ve never been there. I studied maps and history, immersing myself in it. I’ve been to Georgia, was born there, but never to this fascinating city. It’s hard to bring a place to life when you’ve never walked its streets. I also struggled with mixing in the Cinderella elements. Was there too much similarity? Was there not enough?

The easiest part was Quinn, the main character. Her struggles and her abilities were the center of the story, the part I had in my head from the beginning. I knew where I wanted her to go, the girl I hoped she evolved into. And she’s still evolving. There are big tests coming up for her.



Favorites:

Color?   Black, purple. I also love earthy tones like browns and greens.

Sport?  Football, hands down. LOVE the NFL. Also having roots in the south, NASCAR has always been popular in my house.

TV Show?  I am a huge, huge fan of Lost. Still watch the seasons over. Once Upon a Time has really got me hooked as well, obviously. Others include Big Bang Theory, Scandal, Game of Thrones. And of course Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures.

Movie?  It’s always impossible to pick one. I’m a proud geek so I love stuff like Avengers, Dark Knight, Star Trek, The Hobbit. To be honest, my favorite movie of the last couple years, the one I can watch over and over is the reboot of Star Trek. Gone With the Wind is up there as well. Basically anything J

Book?  Another impossible pick. I reread a lot of books, but the one I read the most is The Host by Stephanie Meyer. Which is strange because I’m not the biggest fan of Twilight. It just pulls an emotional response from me every time. Of course, Pride and Prejudice is another. I LOVED all the Game of Thrones books. The new Bloodlines series by Richelle Read. City of Ashes. There are just too many to list.

Author?  For YA: Richelle Read, Cassandra Clare, Suzanne Collins   For Adult: Nora Roberts, Kristin Higgins, Sherryl Woods, JRR Martin. There is never enough room for me to mention favorite books or authors. I read A LOT.

Where can we find you online?

Right now, only at fireandiceya.com.  I’m still working on getting a website and facebook page. I spent so much time getting the book ready and lost in my others that I’m way behind on the times. I’ll get there, but I can be reached through my publisher’s website for now.

Blog Tour: The End of the World As We Know It by Iva-Marie Palmer Review and Giveaway

The Breakfast Club meets The War of the Worlds in The End of the World as We Know It, the latest release from Alloy Entertainment (The Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars, 666 Park Avenue, Gossip Girl)

They wanted to party like it was their last night on earth. They just might get their wish….

Meet the four most unlikely heroes ever:

Teena McAuley: Queen Bee, first-class problem solver, resident heartbreaker.

Leo Starnick: UFO conspirator, pizza delivery boy, all-around slacker.

Evan Brighton: Baseball all-star, extreme virgin, Teena-worshipper.

Sarabeth Lewis: Straight-A student, weekend hermit, enemy of the color pink.

When Teena locks Leo, Evan, and Sarabeth in the basement during her biggest party of the year, she doesn’t plan on getting trapped in the Loser Dungeon herself. She can barely imagine a night with these dweebs—let alone a lifetime. But when an alien invasion destroys their entire Midwestern suburb, it looks like these unlikely friends are the last people on earth. Now, it’s up to them to save the world….

from goodreads


I would first like to say I am sorry about this being late for the blog tour. I never meant it to be late, but life happens. 

Moving on, The End of the World as We Know It is definitely on the list that you want to read this coming up year, if you have not already. It is an extremely funny novel, and it was over all a great quick read. 

Iva-Marie Palmer writes like how it is. In my opinion, she nails the characters, and how actual teenagers react and do. It's something that I've heard many authors have trouble doing, and sometimes they are terrible at it, but Palmer does it gracefully. I admire honest writers that don't try to change how real teenagers are to fit their story. 

The thing I love most about this novel is that it has sprinkles of funny everywhere. It really is one of those books where you can get a real laugh out of it in one sitting. While reading other's review on the novel, many people have said it is like The Breakfast Club, and War of the Worlds. I feel ashamed that I have seen neither of the movies, and am unable to give you my full opinion. From what I have heard and know about the movie, it's true enough. 

Something I had trouble with were how the characters were introduced. I'm very picky at things like that, because they were introduced one at a time, right after the other. It is that kind of novel where the four main characters would never really hang out with each other, but I wished there was a different approach to introducing the characters to the read. I knew going into the novel that there were going to be some real issues with the main group of characters. It was all really light, and refreshing to read. Though, the stereotypicalness-yes, I know that's not a real word- of it sometimes threw me off, but I enjoyed it none the less. 

So in the end, I'm going to give my best friend a heads nod, thumbs up, and smiling like there's no tomorrow, if she asked me what I thought about the book. (5 out of 5)

If you want to win this book just leave a comment below, and I will choose someone randomly. :D

The Thing About Series.

So, here’s the thing about series. I, personally, start out reading series whether I want to or not. It’s really rare, lately, to find a single book. I can count on one hand how many books that I've read this year, that doesn't have a sequel, or counterpart. It’s quite obsessive to me how authors want to write so much of the same characters. I could never right a nine book series about the same people, and setting. It’s just too much of the same thing for me to write about, and sometimes it’s too much for me to read.

Series can be difficult. Recently I've read a lot of debut author’s first novel in a trilogy, or series. I know that I’ll have to wait a year, or maybe two to read the second novel. That’s quite difficult, and I've learned to not think about books, so I don’t get disappointed when I do read the sequel. That, there, is what scares me. I want to read a novel, and have it in my thoughts, and what I think about when I go to bed, but when I know there’s going to be a sequel to a novel, my mind shuts that off so I wait. I think that I’m the only one that does that, but please tell me if you do too.

The plus side of series, is that you don’t have to be introduced to a completely different cast of characters, and their setting. It’s like a family reunion, you see them every year, and have an adventure. Then sometimes, I think that authors write novels just to keep a committed fan base to only read their series. I can understand that some stories need that extra four novels, but then there are series that are just published to be franchised. Can someone explain to me why publishers would do that when they know readers are pick, especially in the young adult community. I know I’m generalizing, and you may be not one of those picky readers, but most people I know are.

I just want to get this golden age of paranormal romance series out of the way soon. That sounds really arrogant, but I can’t stand anymore of those books. It’s great once in a while, but when the only young adult novels that are being published are those, it’s down right awful. Again, I have to say that this is all my opinion and you can respond or not, but please be nice to one another.

In My Mailbox (#8)

This week I didn't get any books for review, but I did get a book from a giveaway I won on goodreads. If you haven't gotten a goodreads yet, you should. It's totally free, and it's the facebook of books only, basically. Btw I'm not promoting goodreads.com.

As I mentioned I won Libba Bray's Beauty Queens, I was very excited when I got it on Friday, and even more delighted when I found out that it was signed. 

Review: Of Light and Darkness by Shayne Leighton

I received this novel very unexpectedly because you may know this novel will be a movie, coming out in 2013. For me that's already a warning sign on how good this book will be. Usually novels, that turn into books-which means every movie out there these days- are either incredibly amazing, or down right sad and pathetic of a book, not trying to be harsh, but that's my opinion. So I'm on the later side of things for Of Light and Darkness. I'm someone who can't keep reading a book when they've made up their mind about disliking it. I read up to page 77, and was like "No, nope, no more, I can't handle this." 

I write honest reviews, and I don't get paid to do this either from the recent news about authors paying reviewers. So when I looked up the author of this novel, my thoughts weren't particularly joyous. It maybe a Hollywood actor, who is writing an album, and a ya series, but you have to have flaws in what you do, especially with that much you do. I wouldn't say that her writing was bad per se, but I just didn't enjoy the story. It felt like everything else on the shelves at my local B&N ya section. Some supernatural bimbo falling desperately in love with something that is totally wrong for her.

Characters were a big part of what made me stop. I couldn't keep reading from whoever the red-headed human girl was. She is one of my least favorite characters because of her willingness and self-proclaimed soul mate to her guardian. For me that's incest. I couldn't keep on reading without having my walls up on incest and other things in that area. I just couldn't.

Review: Hotblood by Juliann Whicker

Hotblood by Juliann Whicker lingers in my mind and I hope I don't forget the wonderful and magical characters. All 298 pages have made me felt pain, sorrow, hope, and giddy in all then less than 24 hours. I can tell you I spent the night reading through morning, and I don't regret it. When I found out about this novel, I thought that it was just another paranormal romance, cheesy, not really well thought out, and a fairy tale sort of charm to it. Boy was I wrong! This novel was nothing that I expected, and something more, I dare say.               

Juliann Whicker's writing made me really happy reading whatever she wrote. The way she wrote the novel just flowed smoothly and realistically on the screen in my mind. I read that I should be open minded about this novel, and I didn't have to because it opened my mind for me without me noticing. Weird, right? I loved and hated the different point of views from the two main characters. I love how the author created this whole different paranormal aspect of what we expect from today's young adult novels. I honestly loved the dark, and deathly frighting scenes and couldn't get enough. 

 Dari, or Dariana was a very interesting main protagonist from the get-go. She didn't bore me, or maybe because of the wide span of lovable characters made it seem so. I can't say this to every novel, maybe The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, but Hotblood in particular I had no problems with any characters. I love all of them "good" and "bad". They all contributed something, and had a soul of there own. I of course love Lewis with all of his faults and mystery that shrouds the outcome of the novel. I don't think there could be a more enjoyable love interest for Dari.

In My Mailbox (#1)

He stole a kiss from the wrong girl…
Left without a soul, 17-year-old Dariana Sanders waited to die. There was nothing left to live for, nothing to feel besides the aching cold that never stopped. Her parent’s marriage was in shambles, and her brother, the only one who understood, the only one who knew how to make the cold go away, was gone forever. The only thing Dariana knew with absolute certainty was that nothing could possibly be right again. Enter Lewis Axel Nialls. Luckily for her, impossible is right up his alley. He can save her from the forces that wish to destroy her. Of course who’s going to save him, from her? 

 from goodreads

Clio Kaid may be 17 and just beginning the last summer before her senior year, but her life is anything but typical.

She's just discovered she was genetically altered before birth and is now headed to a top-secret Army campus to explore the surprising results of the experiment.

Follow Clio and the other teens as they develop fantastic super-abilities, forge new friendships, find love, and uncover a conspiracy along the way.

from amazon

Interview: Claudia Carozza author of The Twenty

A few weeks ago I was introduced to a Claudia Carozza's debut novel The Twenty. I wrote a review of it here, and I love it so much. I can't wait 'till the next installment comes out! In the mean time I asked Claudia Carozza a few questions:


Tell us about yourself and what you like to do besides writing.
I’m 28, married and mother to a very lovable three year old. I have a B.A. in writing and am currently a graduate student. I love to travel and Italy is my favorite travel destination. Growing up, I spent many summers there and attended college in Rome for a while. I also love to bake, spend time with family and friends, and curl up with my kindle to read a great book.
 When did you start writing The Twenty?
I started writing the book about eight months ago. At first it was something I picked up every once in a while to work on. I became really attached to the story and the characters and I found myself wanting to write more and more. Towards the end, I was writing in twelve hour stretches.
 What was the most difficult part about writing The Twenty?
The most difficult part was finding the time to write. Between family and school, it can get a bit hectic.
 Was there something specific ei. idea, scene, character that started the novel?
Random ideas pop into my head all the time so I carry a notepad and pen in my purse with me. I try to write them down and then go back to them later. The idea for The Twenty stuck with me and it was the idea I kept going back to.
 Many authors write what they know and their experiences. What were your own experiences you added to the novel?
I think Hazel feels like she has so much responsibility on her shoulders that she finds it hard to find time for herself to figure out what she wants. I can relate to that feeling of being overwhelmed at times.
 Do you ever get paranoid about someday our world will be like Hazel's?
Not paranoid but there’s always that thought in the back of my head of what if? It’s always helpful to imagine what kind of world we would live in if these things actually happened. I think it adds to the realism of the story.
 If you were in Hazel's shoes, would you work at the Antioch Center or find other ways to make a living?
The job at the Antioch promised so much hope for Hazel so I know I would have done the same and taken the job. When you’re that desperate to take care of your loved ones being picking isn’t an option and Hazel understood that.
 What can you tell us about the second installment?
I’m very excited about it! There are going to be new characters introduced and we’ll see Hazel go through a big transformation. It’s going to be interesting to see how she handles the tug-of-war she’s found herself in and how far she'll push herself and the people around her. A few crazy secrets are uncovered that will reveal more about the characters and their lives before the Antioch.
 Do you have any advice for writers that are currently working on their novel?
Don’t give up! Some days, the words come pouring out while other days I stare at the computer screen and…nothing. Writing is a rollercoaster ride and I think the relationship between an author and a novel is love-hate. Read as much as you can, write as much as you can, and believe you can tell a good story.
Where can we find you online?
www.claudiacarozza.com
https://twitter.com/claudiacarozza
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Claudia-Carozza/109974752471235
http://www.goodreads.com/ccarozza