The Forsaken trailer!

I recently came across Lisa M. Stasse's upcoming YA debut, The Forsaken, on goodreads and was passed along the new book trailer this morning! I figured I'd share it all with you!





Doesn't The Forsaken sound amazing? Definitely on my TBR list! A good dystopian novel can always tempt me :)

Follow Friday! (7)

Follow Friday is a weekly feature hosted by Parajunkee's View & Alison Can Read! It's a great opportunity to meet new bloggers and connect with fellow book lovers!!

Q: Birthday Wishes -- Blow out the candles and imagine what character could pop out of your cake...who is it and what book are they from?

Harry Potter, and if I'm allowed to have more than 1 character, I'll take the trio + Fred & George! You know, come to think of it, I wouldn't mind spending some time in their world at Hogwarts--learning spells and potions, learning how to fly and getting lost in a secret passageway, doesn't that sound amazing? Then visit Fred & George's joke shop, buy my own wand, take the carts down to a vault in Gringotts! Yes, I'm not in middle school any more, but I still think it'd be awesome! There's nothing wrong with a little magic! ;)

Who would you want to pop out of your birthday cake? Leave a link to your post so I can check it out!

Interview with Anita Hughes!

Joining us today at The Book Vault is Anita Hughes, author of Monarch Beach!

Hi, Anita! Why don’t you tell us a bit about your debut novel, Monarch Beach?
MONARCH BEACH is about a young San Francisco heiress who discovers her French chef husband wrapped around his (female) sous chef. She accepts her widowed mother’s invitation to spend the summer in the Presidential Suite of the St. Regis, Monarch Beach. There she tries to overcome her grief and plot a new path for her future.

Where did you get your inspiration for Monarch Beach?
I actually live (with my family) in a villa on the grounds of the St. Regis, Monarch Beach! It is so beautiful here, I thought: if you are really unhappy does being in a gorgeous place make you feel better, or do you carry your grief wherever you go?

What is your writing process like? Do you outline everything or just write and see where the story goes?
With MONARCH BEACH, I knew the final scene and some key scenes in the middle. In my next two novels (both coming out next year) I worked from an outline but the stories definitely veered off in new directions. Once you start writing, your characters do things and take you places you don’t expect.

What was your favorite scene to write?
One of my favorite scenes is when Amanda attends the Monarch Butterfly Release. The St. Regis holds this event every Saturday during the summer. They release dozens of butterflies and everyone makes a wish. It is the first time Amanda feels hopeful about her future.

Do you have a favorite place to write?
My favorite place to write is on the loveseat in my bedroom. It has a beautiful view of the garden and the golf course. It is very peaceful and I can watch the baby bunnies in our garden.

Any advice for aspiring authors?
Write the story you want to write, the story that excites you. If you do that, chances are your readers will love it too.

And since it’s summer, I’ll throw in a few summer-y question:

What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
Well, I am a huge frozen yoghurt fan! My favorite frozen yoghurt flavors are cake batter and chocolate malt.

Some beach reads you’d recommend for this summer?
I loved OVERSEAS by Beatriz Williams – it is the perfect romantic beach read. And I just finished WIFE 22 which will keep you laughing.

Thank you so much for taking the time out to do an interview with The Book Vault, Anita! I'm a huge fan of froyo too!! Definitely a yummy treat I love to enjoy, along with a good book!

Be sure to visit Anita's website or checkout Monarch Beach on goodreads! Happy reading!

Waiting on Wednesday

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian
(Simon & Schuster/September18, 2012)

BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY...
THEY GET EVEN.

Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.

Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.

Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.

I'm normally not very big on revenge, and I'm hoping this book isn't too catty, but it sounds intriguing and I've read other works by Siohban Vivan before so I'm game to give Burn for Burn a try!


What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly
meme hosted by The Story Siren!







For review:
Soulbound by Heather Brewer
Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot
Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

When these books came in, I was so happy!! I've been dying to read Tiger Lily and I had recently heard of Soulbound and so was really excited when it arrived in the mail! I haven't read anything by Meg Cabot lately but Size 12 and Ready to Rock sounds like a fun one!!

What did you all get in your mailboxes this week?

Waiting on Wednesday

Breathe by Sarah Crossan

(Greenwillow/October 2, 2012)

Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe . . .

The world is dead.
The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

ALINA
has been stealing for a long time. She’s a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she’s never been caught before. If she’s careful, it’ll be easy. If she’s careful.

QUINN
should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it’s also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn’t every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

BEA
wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they’d planned a trip together, the two of them, and she’d hoped he’d discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days’ worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

Such a terrifying thought--no oxygen, but it sounds good doesn't it? Can't wait for this one!

What are you looking forward to this Wednesday?

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine

BEA 2012!

This year I had the good fortune to be able to attend BEA (BookExpo America) again! After having to miss the expo for the past 2 years, I finally found time in my work schedule to attend day 1 and 2 of the expo! The night before, I was invited to an event at the Scholastic headquarters in NYC! I met the lovely publicists I had previously only known through emails, and I got to attend some pretty dynamic and hilarious readings by a bunch of authors!

Night @ Scholastic
Had an absolutely amazing and entertaining night! Thank you to all the lovely people and authors at Scholastic! Looking forward to all the books featured that night! The authors featured are such wonderful, hilarious and down to earth people!
At the end of the night I got a really nice little totebag and some great books!

Thank you, Scholastic!

BookExpo America
I finally got to meet in person so many bloggers I've spoken with, followed, and interacted via goodreads!! I met the lovely Brianna (aka the Book Pixie), Taschima Cullen (Bloody Bookaholic) and Sandy (Pirate Penguin's Reads) in person at last! Brianna is such a sweet person and Tasch has a hilarious sense of humor--had a blast at the expo with them, even when we were just waiting in line to get in to the exhibition hall! We were pleasantly surprised by the appearance of two rather good-looking (shirtless) guys who were promoting the fourth book of Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush Hush series, Finale! Needless to say, it was a rather nice beginning to day 3 of the expo!
I didn't get to meet Sandy in person until the end of the 2nd day but she's a lovely person! She had the cutest little penguin plushie keychain on her lanyard!

Luckily for me, I got to see Lenore of Presenting Lenore again! She is possibly one of the sweetest bloggers I know; she always says hi to all the bloggers and stops to make conversation! Her debut novel, Level 2, is also coming in 2013! Doubly lucky for me, I manage to snag an ARC of it! Squeee!! Can't wait to read it!

Another blogger I had the pleasure of getting to know is BC Haysel of The Tattered Page! We bonded over trying to reach the ARC drops and standing in the crazy lines for the authors who were autographing! So glad I got to get to know her better--she's so funny and just a genuinely nice person!
Bloggers are just such funny, sweet, great people--so glad I was able to connect with more of the community at the expo!

And now the books & swag I got!:

Day 1

Books:
Falling Kingdom by Morgan Rhodes
The Diviners by Libbra Bray
Zom-B by Darren Shan
Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans (squeee!)
Wake by Amanda Hocking
Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers by Dan Pilkey
Undead by Kirsty McKay
Pinned by Sharon G. Flake
Summer and Bird by Katherine Catmull
Eve and Adam by Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate
Ten by Gretchen McNeil
Black City by Elizabeth Richards
After Hello by Lisa Mangum
Beautiful Lies by Jessica Warman
In a Glass Grimmly by Adam Gidwitz
A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
The Ruins of Lace by Iris Anthony
Prodigy by Marie Lu
The Shadow Horses by Susanna Kearsley
Amber House by Kelly Moore and Tucker Reed
Beta by Rachel Cohn
The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano by Sonia Manzano
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Venom by Fiona Paul
The Lost Prince by Selden Edwards


Swag:
Some bookmarks (including a signed one for Venom!), a frisbee for The Lost Dogs, a magnet and playing cards from 2 children series and a mask that I got along with an ARC of Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr!

Day 2

Books:



Thank you to the wonderful Taschima of Bloody Bookaholic for the copy of Alice in Zombieland! Sooo excited for that book!!

Swag:
Got a nifty little water pouch from Disney-Hyperion, some post cards of upcoming Poppy Titles, a Croak magnet, book marks and stickers, a couple of pins (Love the Keep Calm and Pray for Dawn one especially!), a read tattoo, a whoopee cushion and a neat little measuring stick and a cupcake recipe!

------------

I had an absolute blast at Scholastic and BEA this year! I'm very grateful I got the chance to go! I managed to snag a few extra ARC's so keep an eye out for some giveaways soon!!
Wish I was able to list out all the bloggers I met, but I'm drowning in business cards and still trying to visit all your blogs! I'm glad I got a chance to meet you all and look forward to reading your reviews!

However, since the line for Veronica Roth's signing of Insurgent was too long and got cut off, I didn't manage to get a copy of Insurgent. So if anyone has an extra copy they don't want, I'd be willing to swap an ARC or two for it! ;)

Lies Beneath by Anna Greenwood Brown

Release Date: June 12, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Pages: 303
Source: Copy provided by publisher for review

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.

"I hadn't killed anyone all winter, and I have to say I felt pretty good about that."
With a first line like that, how could I not want to find out what happens?! Just like the mermaids this book is about, the story is alluring and quickly drew me in! Lies Beneath paints a completely different picture of what mermaids are; dispel all the images you have from Little Mermaid of happy mermaids swimming along and singing! The mermaids in this novel are vengeful monsters who are more than willing to kill to get what they want! It was an interesting alternative to the happy mermaids I grew up with, but since it was pretty well developed in the novel, this dark alternative wasn't so hard to accept!

Lies Beneath was well written and had me hooked in. However, while it's a well-told story, it was not anything new or different than how many of the YA novels go these days. The storyline itself was not anything out of the ordinary and seemed to follow the basic formula most YA novels go by these days; boy meets girl, they fall for each other. But boy has secret and tries to keep it from girl. Of course girl finds out and they must make it through the storm together. While it was relatively ordinary, I still found the novel quite enjoyable to read. It might not be anything new, but it was still well-written.

Another point of the novel that was disappointing was the romance. It wasn't as strong as I had hoped it would be. Calder and Lily fall for each other relatively quickly and it was not as developed as I thought it would be. It felt almost like love-at-first-sight but then the author tried to also have them fall for each other in the more realistic (to me, at least) way: after talking, hanging out and getting to know each other. It wasn't quite developed enough either way, and consequently, just fell flat after being caught in the in-between the two.
Additionally, while I understand that Calder is a hot, delectable merman, his way of wooing his lady friend got rather creepy at some points! Spying on your love interest from the bushes? I'm sure Calder didn't mean it quite that way, but it sounds like amateur stalking to me!

I would have liked to learn more about Calder's sisters! They're such villains, but they were so interesting! Wish they had gotten the limelight a little more often and wish there were more snippets from their pasts! They were definitely dark creatures that I wish I had more insight to--how did they all develop such drastically different, yet essentially similar personalities? How was their interaction with their parents? I would have liked to learn more about their mermaid mother as well! We don't get to learn that much about her in this novel, but it sounds like she definitely had a story to tell as well if her children felt so strongly for her!

It sounds like Lies Beneath is the first book of a new series so I have high hopes for its sequel! Definitely hoping for more character development and another adventure!


Overall: 3.75 out of 5
Plot: 3 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Writing: 4.5 stars
Cover: 3.75 stars

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly
meme hosted by The Story Siren!






For review:

Orgin by Jessica Khoury
3 Below by Patrick Carman
Monarch Beach by Anita Hughes


& My BEA posts will appear soon as well! I got plenty to read from the expo as well and my poor bookcase is taking quite a strain right now with the addition of all those books!

What fabulous books did you get in your mailboxes this week? And if you went to BEA, what did you manage to snag? :) Leave a comment with your post(s) so I can return the favor!