Thursday, June 30, 2011

Review: Love Story

Erin used to have money - but since she rejected her grandmother's offer to run the family horse farm - she's been cut off. She's making her own way in the world, including paying her college tuition.

She works at a coffee shop and lives on peanut butter crackers. While it's not the ideal situation, she's not interested in majoring in business. She wants to be a writer.

Her romance story is the first story discussed in class. She wouldn't be so nervous except the boy she based the hero on just walked into the classroom. There's no way she can watch him read and critique her story.

When another boy tears into her story - saying that Romance isn't a real genre, Erin can't help but fight back. With her life so drastically changed, she just needs one person in her corner.

Could Hunter be that person, even given their past history?


My Thoughts: I love how this is YA book about college - maybe this trend will slowly develop! I LOVED Hunter. I loved how Hunter and Erin spoke to each other through their stories. I loved watching their past unravel and uncovering the details of their relationship. I loved learning more about the horse business. As always, another great love story from Jennifer Echols.

Cover Thoughts: Cute! I love how soft and romantic it looks.

Source: From the author!

Release Day: July 19th

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Review: My Life Undecided

Trouble follows Brooklyn. It might have something to do with the horrible decision she makes. After her arrest and her parents pick her up from jail, she has plenty of time to start thinking of how to make her life better because she’s grounded for eternity.

To make matters worse, her BFF pretends the last five year didn’t exist. Brooklyn, once a girl in the spotlight, becomes a wallflower.

She starts a blog where her readers will make her decisions for her. Should she tryout fro the rugby team? Should she join the debate team? Should she continue to eat lunch in the library or try the cafeteria? She refuses to make a decision until polling her blog readers.

Can she live with the choices her readers make?

My Thoughts: MY LIFE UNDECIDED is a super cute funny read. Brooklyn constantly makes the wrong decisions, but it ultimately leads her to discovering her true self. I love the blend of technology and modern day. I loved the friendship angle between Brooklyn and Brian and between Brooklyn and Shayn. I can't wait to see what Jessica Brody comes up with next.

Cover Thoughts: Cute - but I think I like the ARC cover better.

Source: Macmillan Children's Publishing Group

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Author Visit: Tera Lynn Childs

Tera and I have been chatting online since I read Oh My Gods - which I LOVED. Since then, I've read all her YA books (I need to read her chick lit books!) and LOVED each of them. I was so excited to have her come to the library for a program!


The room set up:

A teen volunteer Allie drew and painted this awesome mermaid!!!!!

A sparkly castle - just right for Lily!


The Food Table: with cupcakes and mint Oreos (because they are both delicious and Vegan!)
The Favors:
Bookmarks, Buttons, Rose Bath Salts, book postcards


Mermaid Buttons, toenail polish, and these amazing foot scrubs.

Tera speaking:


Here are the secrets I learned:
*Tera used to consider herself a math/science girl and not a reading/writing girl
* Her mermaid books came from daydreaming at the beach about a merman coming out of the water and kissing a woman - transferring power to the woman with a kiss
* The original cover of Oh My Gods (featuring an ancient statue - which I LOVED) wasn't carried by the two major booksellers. Instead, it gained recognition with librarians through a starred review in PW
* The last book that Tera adored and thinks everyone should Love, is The Hunger Games
* When she read the Baby-Sitter's Club book: Logan Likes Mary-Ann, she though that every book should have a happy ending (I do too!)
*Her character Gretchen from the upcoming Sweet Venom came from E. Lockhart's Fly on a Wall


Some Fun Pictures:

A goofy picture of me swimming with Lily
(That was for you, Jess!)


Me, Tera, and Jess (who was caught eating during picture time)

Here's Allie (the mermaid artist) and Tera!



Everyone had a great time - I heard so many people commenting to me about the visit! It was So great to meet Tera. She's so sweet and lovely.

Tween Tuesday Review: Storm Runners

Chase and his father travel across the country chasing storms. His father, a master carpenter, works hard to protect buildings from hurricanes and tornadoes. After the storm, he helps rebuild.

Chase and his father settle in Florida. A hurricane is fast approaching land. No one knows where it’s going to hit. Chase’s father has a good idea and he heads to Saint Petersburg.

He leaves Chase behind with friends, who have a daughter his age. Chase enrolls in the school.

All day the news swirls about when and where Hurricane Emily will land.

As the sky darkens, Chase isn’t sure he wants to get on the bus. He tries to stop the Principal from sending everyone home on the bus. He isn’t successful.

The storm is just beginning and it’s going to be a wild ride.

My Thoughts: STORM RUNNERS is a fast paced addicting read. With short chapters, tons of action, and danger around every corner, I couldn’t put this book down. I can’t wait for the next installment.

Cover Thoughts: AWESOME!

Source: reviewed for www.teensreadtoo.com

Up Next: Out it September

Monday, June 27, 2011

Fins Are Forever Week!

Tomorrow is the release date for...
Tonight it also the BIG author event with Tera at the Otis Library. I'm SUPER excited to meet Tera and for the event!!!

I'm working on decorating the room and putting out the cupcakes:


If you want to know how awesome the book is, I gush about it here.

Plus you can watch the book trailer I made here:

If you're in the area, come meet Tera tonight!!!! It's going to be an awesome event. There will be prizes!

Did you see those cupcakes?!

If you can't make it, I'll spill all the secrets I learned and post a bunch of pictures tomorrow :)

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Adult Review: It Happened One Season

One wounded war hero returns to the season of London - unhappily searching for a bride. He's rather be in seclusion than anywhere near society events. Circumstances change when he spies one girl, past her debut. She makes him curious. When they meet - sparks fly.

My Thoughts: 4 novellas with the same theme. I really liked this book, but by the third and fourth story, they blended too much together and became repetitive. I would have liked to seen interwoven characters amongst the tales. Still it was quite the enjoyable read. I need to add these authors list of books to read!

Cover Thoughts: Gorgeous.

Source: My library.

Similar Read: The authors return with It Happened One Night

Friday, June 24, 2011

Review: The Slice

Toby, Annabel, and Strobe have been invited to New York City for a training session for promising workers of Killer Pizza at their headquarters. KP is actually a front for an organization of monster hunters. The three co-workers have been invited to join the KP ranks.

As soon as they arrive, Harvey sends them out on a job. They’re asked to bring in a dekayi monster who needs protection from her own kind.

However, not much information about the dekayi exists. They’re supposed to find a dekayi girl, who looks human in Central Park and bring her to headquarters.

Things don’t go according to plan. Someone doesn’t want the dekayi girl to escape. They’re hot on her trail.

After a huge fight, the team finally escapes with the dekayi girl. They return to Hidden Hills and their normal lives.

Then Harvey calls with news that Calanthe only wants to talk with them. She’s not ready to spill any secrets unless she’s under their protection. Harvey comes up with a plausible story of a foreign exchange student. Calanthe arrives to stay with Annabel.

The three not only have the job of protecting her, but also trying to acclimate her into the human world. Everything goes smoothly until they uncover that the dekayi will do anything to get Calanthe back.

My Thoughts: THE SLICE picks up four months after KILLER PIZZA ends. I love the idea as a pizza joint being a front for fighting monsters. I love the names of the pizzas. I love the banter between the three friends and the co-workers. THE SLICE includes lots of action, danger, and suspense.

Cover Thoughts: I like the combined monsters and pizza - but it's not as good as the first cover (Hardcover)!

Source: reviewed for www.teensreadtoo.com

Librarian comment: Killer Pizza is a book I recommend all the time to reluctant boy readers

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Review: Withering Tights

Georgia’s younger cousin with long legs, knobby knees, and no corkers is off to the Yorkshire moors for the summer at a performing-arts school. Tallulah can’t wait to show off her stuff.

She meets a great group of girls after she does a bit of Irish Dancing during the introductions. Tallulah becomes close to the girls who talk about boys, snogging, and daily drama.

Tallulah’s nervous that she won’t make the summer cut and be invited back to the school for the fall. She can’t sing, her dancing tends to be a bit wild, and her acting is suspect. Nevertheless, she’s having the time of her life and hopes that the final production of Withering Heights will push her over the edge of consideration for permanent place at the school.


My Thoughts: Louise Rennison starts out a new series that’s quite similar to the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series. Georgia and Tallulah both have body issues. They both have a bunch of great friends. They both are boy crazy. Tallulah lives with a family that rivals Georgia’s crazy family. The quirky school provides the main difference between the two heroines. While it was a cute and funny read, I wish it had been more different instead of just more of the same.

Cover Thoughts: Cute!

Source: reviewed for www.teensreadtoo.com

Release Date: June 28th

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

If You Like: Fairy Tales and Mythology books

If You Like… is a feature highlighting blogger recommendations for books, authors, TV shows, movies, and music based on the things you already know and love. This week’s post features recommendations based on fairy tale, folklore, and mythology originals as well as retellings.

Check them out!

Review: Abandon

Pierce's life changed when she died.

Luckily, she came back to life a few minutes later.

It tore apart her family. She and her mother moved back to her mother's hometown. Pierce tries to fit it at school. Her cousin is annoyed when she tries to make friends. The popular friends she makes want to use her for her house for the annual Coffin Night.

The only thing that's constant in her life is John. John finds her everywhere she goes. Pierce isn't sure what to make of John. He's so familiar that he starts making her feel safe, but could he be dangerous?

My Thoughts: I devour every Meg Cabot book that comes into the library because she's one of my favorite authors! I love how this book is so special for her - check out why. Here's a page from Meg's school notebook.

I like how this book is based on the Hades/Persephone myth. It was super cute and I can't wait to read more. I loved the tension between Pierce and John. I love the mischief Pierce can't help fall into. It has romantic tension, mystery, drama, and trying to fit in - a fabulous start to a new trilogy.

Cover Thoughts: I LOVE it - especially how it wraps around.

Source: my library

Similar Read: Goddess Test

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Tween Tuesday Review: Book of Tormod

Tormod runs home to grab the box of tinder for lighting the Beltane fires. Never mind that he traded jobs with his brother. If the fire doesn’t light on time, he’s going to be in trouble.

Unfortunately, a Knight’s Templar needs a message delivered as soon as possible to the Abbot. Abandoning his task, Tormod runs to the Templar encampment. There he delivers the message, but there are already men with the Abbot.

He’s forced to deliver the message. The men swiftly leave intent on hunting down the Knight. Tormod has a vision of their encounter. He begs the Abbot to allow him to intercept the Knight and lead him across a different path.

Tormod never guesses that his journey to help the Knight will lead him far away from home and on an adventure he never imagined.

My Thoughts: BOOK OF TORMOD starts the beginning of an adventure that crosses several counties. Danger always follows the Knight Templar and his companions. Tormod has hidden talents creating a blend of religion and supernatural elements. He will need to understand in his talents order to remain alive.

Cover Thoughts: I like it - it draws me in.

Source: Reviewed for www.teensreadtoo.com

Similar Read: Youngest Templar: Keeper of the Grail

Monday, June 20, 2011

Have you seen the possibilities from Pottermore?


Check out some ideas about J K Rowling's upcoming announcement. I really hope it's #2!!!!

What do you hope it is????

Review: Royal Treatment

*Second book in the Princess for Hire series - some spoilers*

Desi has a unique ability of magic, which lead her to a job at Facade.

After her jobs at the first level, Desi must become complete her BEST (Betterment of Elite Sub Training). She must become competent in classical music, courtly dances from the 18th and 19th century, history of French royalty, 18th century art and architecture, and public speaking. After she masters these skills before she can become a level 2 substitute.

Her first assignment after her promotion relieves a 13 year-old Princess of a social obligation. Millie has no desire to attend any function where Lord Gavin also in attendance. Things don't go according to plan and Desi's forced not only in talking with Gavin, but also dancing with him. Desi hopes the Princess won't be to unhappy with her.

As Desi performs more BEST, she learns more about Facade. She's not sure agrees with Facade's stand. Desi can't argue with the perks of the job. As the company's rumored to go through a massive transition, she can't help but wonder what direction the company will take and who will be left standing.

My Thoughts: I LOVE this series, which starts with Princess for Hire. I Love the magic. I love the Princesses and how Desi has to insert herself into their lives. I love Facade and learning more about this awesome company. (Do they have any openings?). I love Desi and how she changes her world (and often gets into trouble). I love the romance. I wish the ending hadn't just ended - because I want more!

Cover Thoughts: Cute! I really like it! It looks older and I'm a sucker for girls in pretty dresses

Source: My Library

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Adult Review: Turn in the Road

Bethanne's life turned upside down when her husband announced that he wanted a divorce and moved out to live with his mistress. That was years ago and she still recovering.

When speaking with her ex mother-in-law, Bethanne agrees to travel with her across country so Ruth can attend her 50th high school reunion.

Bethanne never imagines that her daughter Annie will want to join them. Annie thought her boyfriend was going to propose, but instead he tells her that he's leaving for a year long trip to Europe - tomorrow. After her day, she comes to realize that a trip away might be just the thing.

Together the three women take off an an adventure that will change their lives. Bethanne meets a man who stirs up emotions she thought she's never feel again. Her ex-husband also makes it no secret that he's like to reconcile. The option of two men leave her torn. Annie must come to terms with her parents' decisions and to figure out her own love life. Ruth desperately wants to see her old friends, but she especially wants to see her first love.

My Thoughts: Sadly, I read this is the last book in the Blossom Street series. I LOVE this series. I love how each book focuses on a woman from a knitting group. I love reuniting with other characters from previous books and seeing new developments in their lives.

I LOVED Max. I loved Bethanne and Ruth. I really didn't like Annie because she kept pushing her parents together. I could sympathize with her, but I just didn't like her. I hated Grant - Bethanne's ex-husband. An excellent emotion read, a classic Debbie Macomber tale. I can't wait to read her next book!

Cover Thoughts: LOVE it!

Source: My Library

Friday, June 17, 2011

Review: Ghost Town

**9th book in series**

Morganville isn’t the same since Ada and the computer system failed. Claire and Myrnin have been trying to fix the problem.

Claire gets herself into Trouble.

Eve attends a party in an abandoned warehouse and she’s in danger. Claire, Shane, and Michael run to her rescue. A fight ensues between the vampires and the locals. Claire ends up killing a vampire. According to town law, the punishment for killing a vampire is death.

Amelie gives her a choice: fix the town’s problem or hang in a cage in the town square. Claire chooses to fix the problem. She can’t rest until the problem is solved.

She completes the device.

However, in the days to follow, she realizes that something drastically wrong when people begin losing chunks of their memory. The town becomes deadly once again – even in the daytime. Claire doesn’t know what she can do, but she realizes it’s up to her to fix the machine before it’s too late.

My Thoughts: I LOVE this series. It's super addicting. I LOVE the characters, especially the romances. Ghost Town delivers another amazing installment of this dangerous, action packed series about loyalty, friendship, and love. So looking forward to Bite Club (which just came into the library for me!)

Cover Thoughts: Nice and a little creepy!

Source: Reviewed for www.teensreadtoo.com

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Trailer Thursday: Larry Crown

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. This looks super cute - funny - and sweet. I love the ending of the trailer!



Thoughts?

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Books I'm Dying to Read: August Edition

Circle of Fire: I can't wait to see how this trilogy will end. It's simply an amazing Gothic tale of good vs. evil between sisters. Plus I LOVE Michelle Zink (She came to visit my library with Jessica Verday) GoodReads - out August 1st

Ingenue: I liked Vixen and am interested to see where this is going to go. Plus the cover is gorgeous! GoodReads - out August 9th

Want to Go Private? Girl meets boy on-line. Girl and boy meet. Then she goes missing. Sounds intriguing - plus I LOVE this author. GoodReads - out August 1st

Dear Bully: A collection of 70 stories about author who've dealt with bullying. Sure to be an emotional read. GoodReads - out August 31st

Always a Witch: Sequel to Once a Witch. Tamsin is forced to follow her enemy into the 19th century - where she becomes stuck, but hopes to break free from the family curse. GoodReads - out August 1st

Cleopatra's Moon: This is being described as Luxe in the ancient world - a world of Rome and Egypt at war. I loved Luxe and books set in the ancient world. Plus I LOVE the cover! GoodReads - out August 1st

Epic Fail: A modern day Pride and Prejudice!!! Enough said. GoodReads - out August 2nd

Populazzi:Cara has never been popular - until junior year when she changes schools. Suddenly she can start with a fresh popular slate. GoodReads - out August 1st

Blood Ties: Part of the Blood Covern series ( I still need to read Night School, but I love this series) GoodReads - out August 2nd

Bloodlines: The spin-off series of Vampire Academy. I have the ARC and can't wait to read it!!! GoodReads - out August 23rd

Edda: I really liked Epic. Saga was ok. Curious about Edda. GoodReads - out August 4th

Medusa Plot: The first in the next series for 39 Clues. I have an ARC of this and can't wait to read what comes next for the Cahill family. GoodReads - out August 30th

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Review: Whatever Happened to Goodbye

Mclean's family has been torn apart. Her parents went through a nasty divorce. Her mom has a brand new family. Mclean wants nothing to do with her.

She lives with her dad who moves frequently due to his job. Mclean's become a different person with every more - starting off with a clean slate.

With the latest move, it seems she's becoming more like her old self. She still doesn't play or talk basketball. Mclean's been running from her old life and her old self for so long. Now shes finding it hard to become herself again.

Dave just might be the person to help her become the person she's meant to be, not the person she's been trying to hide.

My Thoughts: I LOVED this book - I'm such a huge Sarah Dessen fan. I Loved how other characters popped up from her previous novels. I'm so intrigued by Jason after disliking him so in Truth About Forever. I loved the journey of Mclean - how she held back from people and how she finally let people past her walls. I felt for Mclean - sad, heartbroken, and hopeful. Sarah Dessen is a master of writing teen contemporary romances. It's impossible not to fall in love with her books and her characters.

Cover Thoughts: I love it. I really like the addition of the pink curtains.

Source: My Library

Happy 103rd Birthday to Anne of Green Gables


Read how this book came to be published.

I ADORED these novels and the first two movies. I know that Gilbert is big on the fictional crush scene. How can you not love him? I loved Anne because she's fierce, loyal, has a great imagination, and is so very clever.

Would you rather be dazzlingly clever, divinely beautiful, or angelically good?


Monday, June 13, 2011

If You Like...Twins


If You Like… is a feature highlighting blogger recommendations for books, authors, TV shows, movies, and music based on the things you already know and love. This week’s post features favorite twins (and other multiple births). Identical, fraternal, or conjoined. Creepy and mysterious or charming and cute. All kinds of twin stories are welcome here. Stop by and share your favorites!


If you like twins, you might like…

Author Night at RJ Julia's

Thursday Night, my friend Mary and I battled our way through a massive rain storm, complete with thunder and lightning to meet Sara Shepard, Sarah Mlynowski, and Maureen Johnson.

They were HILARIOUS - from the moment they were introduced to the moment we left. They perched upon stools and each read from their books.

The Last Little Blue Envelope
Ten Things We Did and Probably Shouldn't Have
The Lying Game

I can't wait to read ALL of them. I bought copies there so I could have them signed.



After the readings, Maureen Johnson became the new Oprah and wandered through the aisles with a microphone allowing people to ask questions.

There was lots of laughter and a lot of truth telling:
Sara S used to create small fires with her friends and LOVES writing about other people's dirty little secrets.
Ten Things We Did... was based on Sarah M's experience in high school. She also got a speeding ticket during her book tour for HOW TO BE BAD. Fitting no?
Maureen Johnson color codes her sock drawer and dropped her phone in the toilet during BEA this year

Mary and I met up with fellow YA Librarian (and blogger) Jessica talked about books and TV series until the line dwindled down and then we had our books signed.

We met two of the women working for RJ Julia's - an EXCELLENT bookstore.

Jessica asked Maureen Johnson to write #YASaves in her book and I confess I copied her excellent idea (Copying a brilliant idea goes with the territory when you're a YA Librarian). We all had a few extra minutes talking with the authors - more like gushing over their works. We posed for pictures, thanked them profusely, and then left.


It was a GREAT night!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Sunday Matinee: Covert Affairs

COVERT AFFAIRS: is a TV series on USA from a producer of Bourne Trilogy. I saw an ad in Entertainment Weekly and thought it looked good. I LOVE the Bourne movies. I love spy/CIA shows. I couldn't see how this could be bad. Unfortuanately, the ad was for Season 2. So I turned to Netflix.

It's about a girl, Annie Walker, who joins the CIA because of a broke heart. She's still nursing her lost love. She's great at langauges and they bring her up early from training. She befriends Auggie , a former special operative. He was blinded during a mission. He gives her all the dirt on the missions and other people in the agency. Annie starts to make a name for herself within the agency.

I really enjoy this series for the action, the witty banter, the danger, and the characters.

On the first mission


Learning Intel

Friendly Banter

Have you seen this show?

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Mysterious Saturday Review: Flowerbed of State

Just before her presentation to the First Lady making gardens Casey tempts fate by pulling a few weeds in the flower beds. Before she knows it, she is lying face down in the mud and doesn't remember much of the attack.

When a man comes over, she attacks him with her home-made pepper spray. Unfortunately, Jake Turner's part of the elite branch of Secret Service. After securing Casey, they are enroute to the White House for a debriefing when the uncover a body of a young woman

She's involved with the big bank deal going on at White House. Casey's co-worker admits to dating her. He begs Casey to help figure out the murderer. Casey's willing to help, but she doesn't have many details from the attack. Still she does her best to put two and two together. What information she doesn't have, she digs up.


My Thoughts: I loved this book. I loved the gardening aspect at the White House. I loved the relationship between Casey and her housemate. I Loved the relationship between Casey and Jake - it was snark, sarcastic, full of tension, and has the potential to turn into an amazing romance. I loved learning more about the White House. The puppy was an adorable touch. My heart pounded through all the danger scenes. A wonderful start to a new series and I can't wait to read more.


Cover Thoughts: I really like the cover, especially the damaged flowers.


Source: Inter-Library Loan


Fun Cross Over: I had a giggle when Casey mentioned the White House Chef as it made me think of White House Chef mysteries (starting with State of the Onion)

Friday, June 10, 2011

Ten Things: Summer




Summer is almost here. Summer reading is kicking off in just a few weeks. The sun is beating down upon us. So here are some of the reasons that I LOVE summer

Ice Cream
Watermelon
Strawberries and Blueberries in cereal
Flip flops
Summer reads
Swimming
Flouncy skirts
Summer blockbuster movies
Driving in the car with the windows down blasting music
Teens flocking to the library programs

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Trailer Thursday: Monte Carlo

This looks pretty cute. I'll be putting this on my netflix list for sure! Love the bits from Paris!


Thoughts?

review: Uncommon Criminals

*2nd book of the Heist series*

Kat's pulled off the greatest heist ever.

She's out of the family business -again.

Although she's still a thief, she's just stealing back items for people.
After a job in Russia, a woman stops her on the streets. She asks Kat for help - using a famous name to help make her case.

She wants Kat to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald - the same emerald that Uncle Eddie failed to steal years earlier. Can Kat and her crew pull off the impossible? Or will her ego get in the way?

My Thoughts: I didn't think it was possible to be better than Heist Society - but I was WRONG. It was amazing! I loved the heists. I loved the planning of the heists and the questions of which heist would work best. I'd love a list of heists and their explanations.

I loved how Kat came to understand herself better. I loved the relationship development between Kat and Hale. I LOVE Hale. He's dreamy. All the action, the drama, and the crazy plans exceeded my expectations - which were already pretty high. I can't wait for more of this series.


Cover Thoughts: I LOVE it! I love the details, the emerald in the glasses.

Source: BEA - signed by Ally Carter!!!

Random Question: Are the names of the heists real? They seem so clever.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Chatting with Myra McEntire

Myra McEntire's here to chat with us. Her debut novel Hourglass comes out June 14th and it's amazing. I really enjoyed it. Everyone was buzzing about it and the buzz isn't wrong.

Welcome Myra and thanks for chatting with us!!!
What made you choose to write YA? I love the freshness of it – everything is new!

Where do you write best? In my office on rainy days.

How do you get your ideas? Do you use real events in your novels and if so, can you describe one? My mind is full of ideas! A real event, no, but a real town, yes. Ivy Springs is based on Franklin, Tennessee.

I've actually been there :)

How did you come up with your title? For a long time it was called THE ESTABLISHMENT. My agent and I knew it was wrong, but we couldn’t think of what was right. And then one day … poof.

Can you tell us a little bit about Hourglass?

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

If you had your way, how many books will there be in the series? I think four. But I have spinoffs in mind.

Oh -that's EXCITING!!! I really Loved the book - if you missed it, read my review

What’s your favorite R&B song? Oldie: Try a Little Tenderness by Otis Redding. Modern: I really like Usher!

How did you come up with Friday in the Fort your awesome blog meme. Another writer suggested it!

What will you/did you do on your release day? I’m not sure yet. I didn’t think I was having a release party but I might be now!

What was the last book you’ve read that you’ve been recommending to everyone? There are lots of books coming up, but for books that are already out, Rachel Hawkins HEX HALL series.

Oh I LOVED these books! So looking forward to #3

Do you have a book crush?
Mr. Darcy. Oh, Mr. Darcy.
*swoons* YES

Do you have a favorite library experience? Sitting in the stacks choosing which Nancy Drew book I was going to re-read!

Love!

Are there any authors you’d love to meet? Definitely J.K. Rowling. I’d love to sit down and have a conversation with Holly Black. She’s so amazing when it comes to world building; I’d like to pick her brain!

Do you have a favorite literary quote? I can’t think of one!

Listing of your favorites:

Candy: Hot Tamales
Cake/Cupcake Flavor: Red Velvet Cake
Ice Cream: Cookie Dough
Pizza topping: Black olives and mushrooms
Genre of books: Young Adult! Paranormal and Sci-fi!
Singer and/or Song: I love Miles Davis everything.
Restaurant: A local place called Joey’s.
TV show /Movie: Doctor Who!
Color: Green
Shoe: Converse
Video Game: Mirror’s Edge

Thank you so much for having me!!!!!!!!