Interview with Lauren Baratz-Logsted!!!

Lauren Baratz-Logsted is the author of the upcoming YA novel, Crazy Beautiful. It will be released in September of this year. She is also the author of many other books including the YA novels: Angel's Choice, Secrets of my Suburban Life, and Me, In Between. You can pre-order Crazy Beautiful here.



KBB: What inspired you to be a writer? Was there a certain person or event?

LBL: When I was 12 years old, my English teacher read a story I wrote to the class three days running. For the first time in my life it occurred to me that I had stories to tell that others might want to hear. It took another 20 years for me to walk out on my day job to take a chance on myself as a writer. It was just time.

KBB: Do you have a best and worst moment in your career and if so, what were they?

LBL: I can't think of a worst although I've definitely had my share of bad moments. As for "best," most of those are somehow tied to my daughter Jackie. For example, when she was three years old, a carton of books arrived with my first published book in it, The Thin Pink Line. Jackie had seen the jpeg of the cover on my computer. She pulled a copy out of the box, then looked at me and said, "Mommy's book."

KBB: What do you consider the best thing about writing?

LBL: Writing. Seriously, I just love the actual writing, getting to explore ideas and tell my stories the way I want to tell them.

KBB: Is there a genre that you particularly like writing?

LBL: I love everything I do: both comedy and drama for adults, books for teens, tweens, and even younger kids. I do find YA to be particularly rewarding. It's just so exciting how much you can explore in that area.



KBB: How did you come up with the idea for Crazy Beautiful? I know it says that it is a contemporary retelling of Beauty and the Beast but how did you transition the story to this time period?

LBL: Two years ago I was in New York doing a round of editor meetings. One night we took Jackie to see "Beauty & the Beast" on Broadway and I started thinking how it's the one Disneyfied fairy tale that's most successfully been translated onto stage and screen so that it really does appeal to all ages. I further started thinking that that's because it's the only one where the male lead is more than just a Ken doll there to make the female look good. If anything, he's by far the more complex character. Before I knew it, I began thinking of a contemporary story involving teens where the boy's physical affliction, by which the world judges him harshly based on his appearance, was somehow the fault of his own making and the emotional journey he would need to undergo to make himself whole again.

KBB: Is Beauty and the Beast your favorite fairytale? If not, what is and is there any chance that you might possibly do a retelling of that in the future?

LBL: It's definitely my favorite fairy tale right now! But who knows what the future might bring? I do love taking classics and playing around with them to give them a modern spin. One of my adult books, How Nancy Drew Saved My Life, is one part Nancy Drew, one part Jane Eyre and one part Chick-Lit. I call it my comic gothic. I'm also working on something that plays with Little Women.

KBB: Do you have a favorite character from Crazy Beautiful or maybe just a character you can relate to?

LBL: Aurora's librarian father maybe is the most like me? Seriously, I've never had the problems Lucius has and I've certainly never been as gorgeous as Aurora. In terms of favorite characters, I am rather partial to Lucius. Like the Beast, he's just so complex, plus he shoots a mean game of pool. I love shooting pool.

KBB: How did you come up with the title Crazy Beautiful? Were there any other possibilities?

LBL: Crazy Beautiful, the title, comes from the two main characters: the reputation of Lucius is that he's crazy while Aurora is so obviously beautiful. I didn't even know at the time that there was a Kirsten Dnst movie with the same name! The only other title I ever considered was Aurora Belle.

KBB: Are you currently writing or planning on writing any more YA books?

LBL: My next YA novel is called The Education of Bet and is due out in spring 2010. It's set in Victorian England and is about a 16-year-old girl who impersonates a boy in order to get a proper education.

KBB: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

LBL: I always say the same two things. Read, read, read - everything you can get your hands on, because you can't be a good writer without being a good reader first. And always remember: the only person who can ever really take you out of the game is you.

KBB: Thanks again, Lauren! I can't wait for Crazy Beautiful to be released and I actually just bought a copy of Angel's Choice so I will have to read that sometime soon. Readers if you would like to know anything else about Lauren you can visit her at her website: www.laurenbaratzlogsted.com.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Everafter

Book: The Everafter by Amy Huntley

Release Date: September 29

Summary from Amazon:

Madison Stanton doesn’t know where she is or how she got there. But she does know this — she is dead. And alone in a vast, dark space. The only company Maddy has in this place are luminescent objects that turn out to be all the things she lost while she was alive. And soon she discovers that, with these artifacts, she can reexperience — and even change — moments from her life.
Her first kiss.
A trip to Disney World.
Her sister’s wedding.
A disastrous sleepover.
In reliving these moments, Maddy learns illuminating and frightening truths about her life — and death.

I was drawn to this book just from the cover but once I read the summary I was hooked. I cannot wait for this to come out but there are still quite a few months to go. Oh well I guess that means I can catch up on all the rest of my reading before then! =]

Teaser Tuesdays

* Grab your current read.
* Let the book fall to a random page.
* Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
* Share the title of the book that you're getting your teaser from... That way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!
* Please avoid spoilers!

From page 277 of Eyes Like Stars

Ariel made no move to touch her again, though his words were a caress. "Don't make promises you won't be able to keep."

I am in love with this book. It definitely wasn't what I expected from reading the back cover, it is way better. I should have the review for it posted tomorrow. Sorry it has taken me so long. It seems like I haven't had nearly enough time to read this past week. Hopefully that will all change soon.

Also, check back tomorrow for my WOW post followed by an interview with Lauren Baratz-Logsted!

100th Post Giveaway!!!

According to my recent poll of which book you would like to see in the next giveaway Evermore won. So, for my 100th post I am going to be giving away one brand new copy of Evermore by Alyson Noel.



This contest is for US residents only. Sorry international readers. So for the rules:

-Leave a comment here telling me that you want to be entered!

For extra entries:

+1 become a follower
+2 already a follower
+3 blog about this contest(sidebar is fine)

Don't forget to state everything that you have done in your comment! This contest will be open until May 11.

In My Mailbox 13

In my mailbox was started by The Story Siren and is a list of what you received in books over the past week either through the mail, library, or a bookstore.

The Received:
(From Contest)



The Bought:
Dream Factory by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler
Fragile Eternity by Melissa Marr
Deadline by Chris Crutcher
Wild Roses by Deb Caletti
Girls On Film by Zoey Dean
Angel's Choice by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
My Big Nose (and other natural disaasters) by Sydney Salter

That's it. I bought a lot of good books but I really need to stop. I don't have anymore room for them and I don't know what to do. My floor has become littered with books. =]

So, how about the rest of you? What did you get this week?

Poll Results

The results for my Best Vampire Series books were as follows:

1- Tie between Twilight and Other

2- Vampire Academy

3- Blue Bloods

4- House of Night

So, my question is: what is the other series that you like? I know I didn't list all the vampire series but I can't think of that many others so I would love to know your favorites.

Circle of Friends: Sarah

Book: Circle of Friends: Sarah by L. Diane Wolfe

Rating: 4 Stars

Release Date: May 5

Summary:

No awards for second best... A student at Georgia Tech, Sarah Martin is bold, intelligent, and appears destined for a career in biochemistry. But her poor self-image has been masked by behavior unbecoming to a young lady brought up in an affluent Southern family. Estranged from her father, envious of her best friend's perfect life, Sarah feels inadequate and unable to measure up to expectations. When a friendship suddenly turns romantic, Sarah questions herself even more. A future NFL receiver, Matt's joyful spirit and social status appear beyond her reach. Yet beneath his eager smile and playboy antics lies a young man hiding in shadows and desperate to trust again. Faced with challenges, they must help each other come to terms with past disappointments before insecurities and doubt threaten to sabotage their future. Described as "encouragement personified", Wolfe's five-book Southern-based series portrays love and friendship overcoming all obstacles.

Overall:

Sarah Martin has never been in a truly stable, loving relationship. That is, until she gets to know her roommate's best friend, Matt. Matt is one of the many playboys of the college campus and Sarah can't seem to see why he would want to be with her but as their relationship progresses he proves in so many ways that he truly loves her.

As the year goes by, things between them start to get complicated. Sarah begins to feel threatened by all the girls that want to be with Matt and she begins to lose her self confidence. Once again she wonders what Matt sees in her. After their first major fight she decides to break it off so that she doesn't end up getting hurt when he leaves her.

Matt has no idea why Sarah broke up with him but he does know that she is the best thing that has ever happened to him and that he has to get her back. After just a day or so without her, he knows that he has to have her back and not just for the time being. He wants her for the rest of their lives. And he knows just how to get her.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. It was the first I had ever read by L. Diane Wolfe and I was pleasantly surprised. Not only is the story line very realistic it is very inspirational. It shows both the joys and the many pains of young adults in today's society trying to fit in but still be true to themselves. Sarah and Matt have to learn how to accept themselves before they can accept each other and how they learn to do this is very well written.

This book is the second in the five book series but I never read the first and I felt perfectly fine going into it without knowing what happened in the first book. There is enough background information to let you know what happened in the first book but not too much.

You can pre-order this book here.

Similar books:
Chicken Soup for The Teenage Soul (short stories)

Winner!!!

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway for A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson!

The winner is:

Katie

Congratulations! I just emailed the winner and if she doesn't get back to me within 48 hours I will have to pick another winner.

If you didn't win this contest don't worry. I will be starting another one within the week so keep checking back!

Reminder!!!

If you didn't notice the reminder at the bottom of my IMM post here is another one. My giveaway for A Countess Below Stairs ends tonight at midnight and I will hopefully have the winner posted tomorrow night. If you haven't entered yet go HERE.

Another reminder for giveaway related things. Voting for the next book for me to giveaway will also end tonight at midnight and I will hopefully start the next contest tomorrow after the winner for the first one is posted. So go vote HERE if you haven't yet.

That's it for today! Happy Sunday night everybody!

One Lovely Blog Award!!!

Thanks to A.K. of Black Rabbit Ink for nominating my blog for the One Lovely Blog Award!! If you haven't been to her blog before you should totally check it out. She has some great reviews and some of the cutest kitties.




According to Black Rabbit Ink:

This award is given to new blogs and blogging friends.

The rules to follow are:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I'm not sure I actually know of 15 new blogs but I can nominate 15 new blogs to me so here they are:

1) Book Junkie

2) Zoe's Book Reviews

3) Young Adult Romance Reveiws

4) The Sunday Book Report

5) The Book Blogger

6) Reviewabook123

7) Silvia_Pi's YA Books

8) Princess Neve Reviews

9) PikeAlicious Books

10) One Reader's Trash Is Another Reader's Treasure

11) Nocturnal Reviews

12) Lost In Literature

13) Laurel's YA Book Reviews

14) Imperial Beach Teen Blog

15) Bri's Book Reviews

And there they all are. Boy that seemed to take forever but it was totally worth it. Thanks for all the awards guys and keep checking back for more reviews, contests, and some new author interviews!

Same Difference

Book: Same Difference by Siobahn Vivian

Rating: 4 Stars

Release Date: March 1

Summary:

Emily is ready for a change. She's been in the same town with the same friends for a long time...and none of them really understand her art. But when she goes to Philadelphia for a summer art institute, she suddenly finds like-minded people. One in particular, Fiona, intrigues and challenges her. But there are some things Emily is going to have to find out for herself -- like what the balance is between life and art, and which is more important when push comes to shove.

Overall:

Emily is searching for something: her true self. Summer in her hometown of Cherry Hill isn't as fun as it used to be since her best friend, Meg, got a boyfriend. Every time they hang out Emily feels like the third wheel. Finally, she finds something just for her. A two month summer art program at a nearby college in Philadelphia. She has always seemed to excel at drawing so she decided to give it a try.

Little did she know that all the kids attending are way ahead of her. Most of them know exactly what they want to do with their lives after high school and most of their choices involve their art. The only reason Emily really liked art was because it was the one thing she was good at.

As Emily is drawn deeper into her art and the lives of the students in her art class she starts to discover that she isn't the same person she always was. But is the new Emily the real Emily, or even the girl she wants to be?

Sadly, I was a little disappointed in the main character of the book. The story was amazing but it seemed like Emily was lacking in maturity and her own sense of self. As the book begins Emily seems to be imitating her best friend Meg and as the book progresses she seems to begin to imitate her new friend, Fiona. She never really seemed to develop her own personality.

I did enjoy this book and I would still recommend it because I still really liked the story. It's a very real portrayal of how you can get caught up in what others want you to be and put aside your true self to be something you're not.

You can order Same Difference here.

Similar books:
Art Geek and Prom Queens by Alyson Noel

In My Mailbox 12

In my mailbox was started by The Story Siren and is a list of what you received in books over the past week either through the mail, library, or a bookstore.

The Received:


SIGNED!!!

The Bought:
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Cupidity by Caroline Goode
The Fortunes of Indigo Skye by Deb Caletti
And tons of cheesy romance novels that are too many to list. I hit all the garage sales in town this morning and found so many cute reads!

So, once again this was my week! I was so excited to get One Butt Cheek At A Time and was even more excited when I opened it and it was signed!

Also, don't forget that my contest ends tomorrow at midnight so if you haven't entered then go here! And as soon as this one ends I will be starting my next one and you can vote for which book you would love for me to giveaway next here!

And last but not least Amy from Addicted To Books gave me my second Zombie Chicken award. So, thanks Amy! She has a great blog so if you haven't seen it yet then you should definitely go check it out!

Now, how was your week in books?

Interview with Susane Colasanti!!!

Susane Colasanti is the author of the upcoming YA novel, Waiting For You. It will be released on May 14. She is also the author of two other YA novels: When It Happens and Take Me There which will be released in paperback this May. You can pre-order Waiting For You here.



KBB: What inspired you to become a writer? Was there a particular person or event?

SC: I started thinking about possibly writing a book after reading S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. I didn’t like most of the books we had to read for school, so when I was assigned that book in seventh grade it was such a sweet surprise. I was also obsessed with the movie, which I’ve seen so many times I can still recite a lot of the dialogue. The story identified feelings I never knew how to express, and I felt really connected to those characters.

Creative visualization is a powerful thing. After I read The Outsiders, I started writing a sequel. I never finished it (which was a good thing, considering how massively it sucked), but I stared imagining what it would be like to write books for teens. I wanted to help teens feel better about their lives the way that book helped me feel less alone. I held that image in my heart and never let it go. Now The Outsiders sits next to When It Happens on my bookshelf, both published by Viking. It’s an awesome example of how creating your ideal life is absolutely possible.

KBB: Did you ever consider any other careers, in case writing didn't work out? If so, what was your next choice?

SC: I was a high school science teacher for almost ten years. I knew that being an author would be difficult, while the shortage of science teachers is a huge problem that I could help improve right after grad school. I actually knew I wanted to be a science teacher when I was 12 years old, so I wasn’t sure how writing would fit in. I just knew that my purpose in life was to help teens in some way. When I had the opportunity to be a full-time author, I was excited to take it. I resigned from teaching in 2007. I loved teaching, but now I’m able to reach more teens through my books.

What’s interesting is that you don’t have to be just one thing. You can have several different careers, or stick with one career your whole life. It all depends on what makes you happiest. If I weren’t an author, I would probably be a closet organizer. I am an organization freak. We’re talking hardcore organization skills over here. A fun time for me is cleaning out a friend’s closet and restructuring it. Seriously.

KBB: You currently write YA novels. Have you ever considered writing anything else? What would be your next choice and is there any possibility of you branching out anytime soon?

SC: Teens are my people. My life is dedicated to improving their lives. Whether that’s by a reader feeling like they can escape their problems for a while with one of my books or someone relating to my characters in a way that helps them work out their own issues, I want teens to know that they’re not alone. Being a teen was the hardest time of my life. My books are a way for me to express that we are all connected, we’ve all survived horrible experiences, and if you just hold on you will get to the good part of your life.

That said, I think writing about characters in college would be fun. I know teens would love to read about college life, so that’s a possibility down the road.

KBB: Do you have any crazy fans or any crazy fan moments?

SC: No, just awesome fans and excellent fan moments! Meeting my readers is the best part of my job. Of course I love writing books, but my readers are why I write, so getting to meet them at readings and signings rocks my world.


KBB: How did you come up with the idea for Waiting for You?


SC: In high school, it felt like I was always waiting for something to happen. I was waiting for a boy to fall in love with me, waiting for my real life to start, waiting for the bad times to finally come to an end. So I knew that I wanted to incorporate the sensation of endless waiting into my book. Teen time is so much different from grownup time. In teen time (at least my teen time), one minute was equivalent to approximately one year. Now that my life is the life I want to be living, time zooms by at an alarming speed.

Since all of my books involve soul mates, I knew that the one thing my main character would be waiting for the most is a boy to love. And that’s how the main plot began to take shape.

KBB: Do you have a favorite character from the book or maybe one you can really relate to?

SC: I’m all about the totally geeked out lifestyle, so I do admire Nash a lot. But I definitely can relate to the main character, Marisa, the most. We have some important things in common. Marisa thinks that all of life’s problems can be answered in a John Mayer song. I couldn’t agree more. Love her! Also, she writes on her wall, just like I did in college. With washable charcoal sticks, of course.

KBB: Are any of your characters based on people you know or are they just ideas that came to you?

SC: The characters in When It Happens are inspired by actual people. That’s because the story is based on events that took place during my senior year of high school. I love letting readers know that Tobey was inspired by a real boy because it makes them hopeful that they can find their own Tobey. Smart, sensitive, caring boys are out there! However, the characters in Waiting for You were all created without any actual person in mind, although I know them just as well as the characters in When It Happens.

KBB: How long did it take you to write Waiting for You? Is there a usual amount of time it takes you to write a book or does it vary from book to book?

SC: This book took me about a year to write. Now that I’m writing full-time, that’s basically the schedule I’m working with. I really want my readers to have at least one new book available from me every year.

KBB: How did you come up with the title? Were there any other possibilities?

SC: After I established that the waiting theme would play a big part in the book, I knew that “waiting” would be part of the title. All of my titles contain three words, so from there it was just a matter of figuring out which title would best reflect the tone of the book. I’m sure there are much better titles out there! I usually find deciding on the title to be the hardest part of the writing process. Once I had the title, I was a bit worried that the sales and marketing teams might want to change it, but thankfully they liked it, too.

The titles of my first two books were drastically changed, though. When It Happens was originally called Trust, and Take Me There was originally My Way Home. I loved My Way Home, but the powers thought it wasn’t catchy enough. Everything worked out, so I feel good about my titles.

KBB: Are you currently working on any novels or planning any? If so, can you tell us anything about them?

SC: I totally am! My fourth book is called Something Like Fate. I’m revising it now and it should be released around this time next year. Also, I’ve begun writing my fifth and sixth books. For some reason I’m kind of switching back and forth between them at the moment, but soon I’ll have to focus all of my energy on book five so I can actually finish it.

KBB: Anything else you would like to mention?

SC: I love connecting with readers! Here’s where you can virtually find me:

Website: http://www.susanecolasanti.com/

Blog: http://windowlight.livejournal.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Susane-Colasanti/678479550

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/susanecolasanti

Twitter: http://twitter.com/susanecolasanti

KBB: Thanks again Susane! I can't wait for Waiting For You to be officially released. Readers if you would like to know anything more about Waiting For You, you can visit any of Susane's sites or read my review here.

Teaser Tuesdays

* Grab your current read.
* Let the book fall to a random page.
* Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
* Share the title of the book that you're getting your teaser from... That way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given!
* Please avoid spoilers!

From page 118 of Same Difference by Siobahn Vivian:

I shift my eyes from the sky to the ground and watch the colored light dance along the grass and against the backs of the people sitting in front of us, and fight off the lonely. I want to memorize the way the light looks for my sketchbook. My fingers twitch. I wish I was drawing.

The review for this should be up around Thursday. So far it is pretty good. Not exceptional, but definitely a good book. Also, check back tomorrow for an interview with Susane Colasanti!

Book Survey!

I have seen this on a couple different blogs lately so I thought I would fill it out. It's pretty fun to see what everybody prefers when buying or looking for books!

Hardback, trade paperback or mass market paperback?
Paperback. It is cheaper and easier to carry around, which I do with all my books, no matter where I plan on going.

Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Barnes and Noble. I have always liked their selection better. I don't know why.

Bookmark or dog-ear?
Bookmark. I actually usually use post-its for my bookmarks but I hate dog-earing pages. I like my books to stay pretty!

Amazon or brick-and-mortar?
Brick-and-mortar. I just can't get into Amazon. I love being able to look at all the books and flip through the pages before I buy them.

Alphabetize by author, or alphabetize by title, or random?
I organize by size usually. I tried alphabetizing once but all the different sizes bugged me.

Keep, throw away, or sell?
Keep, mostly. Some of my little paperback romances I will sell but hardbacks and all my YA books, I keep.

Keep dust jacket or toss it?
Keep. Why would you get rid of it? It makes the book look pretty!

Read with dust jacket or remove it?
Remove it. It always seems to slide around and just generally annoys me.

Short story or novel?
Novel. I never got into the whole short story thing even after taking English 1.

Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
Harry Potter, definitely. I tried reading the Lemony Snicket books but I just couldn't get into them.

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
Both. I am OCD about not stopping in the middle of a chapter so if I am really tired I will read to the end of the chapter and then stop.

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”?
Either. I have always been a more "dark and stormy" girl but lately I am getting into the "once upon a time" stories.

Buy or borrow?
Buy, always. I like having a book and not having to read it on a certain time line before I have to return it. Plus, I can always re-read!

Buying choice: book reviews, recommendations, or browse?
All. I love reading the reviews to see if it is something I will like but I also love to browse and find books that nobody ever really talks about. And then there are some recommendations from friends.

Tidy ending or cliffhanger?
I hate all the cliffhangers at the end of series books, especially the Private series. I can understand why the author does it but I really just want to know NOW!

Morning reading, afternoon reading, or nighttime reading?
Whenever I have free time!

Stand-alone or series?
Either. I like stand-alones because you don't have to rush out to buy the next one but series are definitely good too.

Favorite series?
Harry Potter. These were the books that really got me into reading and I have to stick with them.

Favorite children’s book?
Green Eggs and Ham. This was the first book I ever read and I still have it.

Favorite YA book?
Too many to choose from. Some of my favorites are: The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen, Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, and it goes on and on!

Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
I don't know what everyone else has heard of so that is kind of hard to say.

Favorite books read last year?
There were too many. I can't remember. I really liked Last Christmas by Kate Brian.

Favorite books of all time?
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen. That is one book I will never get tired of!

What are you reading right now?
Same Difference by Siobahn Vivian.

What are you reading next?
Circle of Friends 2: Sarah by L. Diane Wolfe.

Favorite book to recommend to an 11-year-old?
I don't know. I guess it would depend on what reading level the 11-year-old is at.

Favorite book to re-read?
I would say, once again, The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen.

Do you ever smell books?
Yes. I love that smell!

Do you ever read primary source documents like letters or diaries?
Only when forced to for a class.

So, that is what I prefer. What about you guys?

Book Lookalikes!

So, this is totally random but as I was browsing Amazon I noticed that The Secret Life of Prince Charming by Deb Caletti and Flirting With Boys by Hailey Abbott both have the same photo, one is just a little more zoomed in. Take a look:




I just thought I would mention that. I wasn't sure if anyone else had noticed. I always find it funny when I see two books with the same pictures.

Ideas for my next giveaway???

So, I have a couple extra copies of books that I would love to giveaway but I don't really have any ideas about how I should do it. I would love to hear what you guys think I should do about this and which book you think I should giveaway next...

And the choices are:

(ARC)



(Final version)



(Signed)




So, what do you think?

Bad Girls Don't Die

Book: Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

Rating: 5 Stars

Release Date: April 21

Summary:

Alexis thought she led a typically dysfunctional high school existence. Dysfunctional like her parents' marriage; her doll-crazy twelve-year-old sister, Kasey; and even her own anti-social, anti-cheerleader attitude.

When a family fight results in some tearful sisterly bonding, Alexis realizes that her life is creeping from dysfunction into danger. Kasey is acting stranger than ever: her blue eyes go green sometimes; she uses old-fashioned language; and she even loses track of chunks of time, claiming to know nothing about her strange behavior. Their old house is changing, too. Doors open and close by themselves; water boils on the unlit stove; and an unplugged air conditioner turns the house cold enough to see their breath in.

Alexis wants to think that it's all in her head, but soon, what she liked to think of as silly parlor tricks are becoming life-threatening--to her, her family, and to her budding relationship with the class president. Alexis knows she's the only person who can stop Kasey -- but what if that green-eyed girl isn't even Kasey anymore?

Overall:

Alexis Warren is not your typical teenager and it's not just her pink hair that sets her apart from the rest. Her little sister is being possessed by a demon that is out to get her.

Alexis has never fit in with the girls at her school but it never bothered her until recently. For some reason, she can't seem to ignore the weird looks and shadowed glances thrown her way in the halls. And the girls aren't the only ones she can't seem to ignore.

Carter Blume, vice president of the class, won't seem to go away no matter what Alexis says. But just maybe Alexis doesn't really want him to go away. As things at home start to deteriorate, Carter seems to be the only good thing left for Alexis. That is, until Kasey starts targeting students.

With the help of her arch-enemy, Megan Wiley, and the paranormal section of the town library Alexis will have to stop Kasey before Kasey stops them, forever.

Bad Girls Don't Die is Katie Alender's debut novel. Full of mystery, the paranormal, and romance, this is the book for any teen girl looking for a fun read. I was amazed at how well written and detailed this book was, especially for a debut novel. I am definitely going to be on the lookout for more books from Katie Alender in the future!

You can pre-order this book here.

Similar Books:
Darkest Powers Series by Kelley Armstrong

In My Mailbox 11

In my mailbox was started by The Story Siren and is a list of what you received in books over the past week either through the mail, library, or a bookstore.

The Received: (all from contests)



Second copy!! (contest for this on sometime soon)

Summary from Barnes and Noble:
Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste…

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.



SIGNED!!!

Summary from Barnes and Noble:

Out of the blue, Ruthie has fallen in love with the boy next door, Perry. He's suddenly grown up and made her heart go thwang, and Ruthie has no idea what to do about it.

Then a new girl shows up at school, and Ruthie realizes she has to do something, and fast. Jenna is perfect, from her perfectly straight hair to her perfectly manicured toes. Perry's noticed her, too, and worse, Jenna has noticed him right back. Ruthie knows she has to call her aunt, New York's "Goddess of Love." If Aunt Marty, romance columnist and woman of the world, can't turn Ruthie into a perfect girl, no one can . . . but she might also turn Ruthie's entire world upside down.



SIGNED!!!

Summary from Barnes and Noble:


That's what I am. A funny girl. A friend. Nobody's girlfriend. The girl with the pretty face.

Hayley wishes she could love living in Santa Monica, blocks from the beach, where every day—and everybody—is beautiful and sunny. But she just doesn't fit in with all the blond, superskinny Southern California girls who have their plastic surgeons on speed dial. Hayley is smart and witty and has such a pretty . . . face. Translation: Don't even think about putting on a bikini, much less dating superhot Drew Wyler. A bikini will never be flattering, and Drew will never think of her as more than a friend.

Just when Hayley feels doomed to live her life in the fat lane, her parents decide to send her to Italy for the summer—not for school, not for fat camp, just for fun. It's there, under the Italian sun, that Hayley's vision of herself starts to change. She's curvy, not fat. Pizza isn't evil. And life is so much more than one-size-fits-all. Who knows? Once Hayley sees herself in a new light, maybe the girl with the pretty face will finally find true amore.



SIGNED!!!

Summary from Barnes and Noble:
One summer day, Libby and her best friend hatch a plan: Before their freshman year is over, they will each have a serious kiss. Libby even has the boy picked out. But Libby's too-crazy-to-believe parents have another plan: They're moving. To the middle of nowhere. Far from Libby's friends, all hope of a normal life, and kissing, serious or otherwise.

Just when things are completely falling apart, Libby starts to wonder, Is being happy really about a perfect plan? And if she stops planning, could that be the key to happiness -- and to a perfect, incredible, wonderful, serious kiss?



SIGNED!!!

Summary from Amazon:
Susanna Barringer, celebrity reporter, is off to Hollywood for the Academy Awards. She’ll parade down the red carpet, schmooze with the stars, and land a leading story for Scene magazine. But when her ticket to fame is lost on her first day in Tinseltown, Susanna concocts a high-stakes plan to get back on the inside. And in a sea of celebrity reporters, she is determined to rise to the top. Leave the Pulitzer to the pros–Susanna is after the Academy Award for Gutsiest Teen Intern!



SIGNED!!!

Summary from Amazon:
SUSANNA BARRINGER'S INTERNSHIP at Scene magazine is a dream come true. She'll scoop the latest celebrity stories and be the youngest journalist to rub elbows with the stars.

But her first real celebrity sighting is a disaster. And her second. Then her third. Her boss can't remember her name. And her co-workers are mocking her interview skills along with her fashion sense. Is Susanna out of her league? Or can she reach the stars to get the scoop of the summer?



SIGNED!!!

I couldn't find the summary for this one but it is the third one in the Susanna series.

The Bought:
Not Like You by Deborah Davis
Thanks for the Memories by Cecilia Ahern
The Pretty One by Sheryl Klam
The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti
Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
Ransom My Heart by Meg Cabot

So even though I didn't get any books from authors or publishers I still had a pretty good week. Hopefully this week I will post a couple of reviews and don't forget to enter my contest for A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson. It ends in 8 days!!!

Interview with Tricia Mills

Tricia Mills is the author of the upcoming YA book, Heartbreak River. It will be released on April 16 and you can visit her at her website.



KBB: What inspired you to become a writer?

TM: I've always had an active imagination and have been creating stories, at least in my head, since I was very young. It just seemed natural -- especially since I didn't have a burning desire to become a biologist or mathematician. :)

KBB: Do you have a best and worst moment in your career?

TM: Best -- two things: when I got the news that I'd sold my first book and when I saw my first book for the first time.
Worst -- Probably the summer before I sold. I was depressed after 10 years of trying to sell to a publisher, and I seriously considered quitting. I'm so glad that I didn't!

KBB: What would you say is the best thing about being a writer?

TM: I love that my job is creating fun stories for people to read, and that I am my own boss and can make my own work hours.

KBB: Did you have another career picked if writing didn't work out and if so, what was it?

TM: I've actually worked since the mid 1990s as a journalist, first at a newspaper and then at a magazine. I still do contract work for the magazine part-time. So also writing related, just a different kind of writing.

KBB: How did you come up with the idea for Heartbreak River?

TM: It was a combination of factors. First, I rode Amtrak's California Zephyr train to California for a business trip, and for about 200 miles in Colorado it meanders along the Colorado River, where lots of people take rafting trips. It seems to be great fun for the rafters to wave at the train and, yes, sometimes moon it. :) I wondered what it would be like to run one of those rafting outfitter businesses, especially if you were a teen and it was your family's business. Then I added in my own fear of the water, which is something the heroine struggles with for a particular reason.

KBB: Are any of your characters based on people you know?

TM: All characters are sort of a mishmash of myself, people I know, characters traits I've seen portrayed on TV or in movies, and stuff I'm just dreamed up.

KBB: Do you have a favorite character from Heartbreak River? If so, why?

TM: Alex, the heroine, because she has to face a lot and comes out stronger on the other side. I find that very empowering, and I hope readers do too.

KBB: Are you currently working on or planning any more YA books? If so, do you have any ideas of summaries?

TM: I'm currently working on revisions for my second YA novel, Ice and Desire, which is due out in the summer of 2010. Here's the blurb:

Marissa Craig finally gets up the nerve and tells her long-time friend Spencer that she likes him as more than a friend. The best part? Spencer likes her as more than a friend too. With the perfect boy to love and be loved by, she begins her senior year at her small Alaska school and indulges in the dream of becoming a costume designer for the movie industry. Life is perfect — until tragedy strikes. Marissa’s perfect life turns upside down as she deals with an unbearable loss, doubts about her future, a best friend whose home life is getting worse by the day, and unexpected feelings for an unexpected boy.

KBB: Thanks again Tricia! I can't wait to read Heartbreak River and I'll be looking forward to reading Ice and Desire next year! Readers check back for a review of Heartbreak River later this week!

Waiting On Wednesday: Heartbreak River

Waiting On Wednesday was created by Jill at Breaking The Spine.

Summary from Amazon:

Once a carefree river rafter in her small town in Colorado, Alex, 16, spends the summer after her dad’s drowning feeling scared of the water and overcome with sorrow and guilt. After Dad came home severely depressed from serving in Iraq, should Alex have spent more time with him instead of hanging out with gorgeous Sean? Why did she tell Sean that her father’s death was his fault? If only she could make herself apologize. There is too much going on in this first novel, with its big cast of teens who Alex supervises at her grandparents’ rafting business. But Mills builds suspense in both the romance and the moving drama of family secrets and loss. The fast talk and Alex’s first-person narrative are right on, especially in the quarrels. Best of all is the setting, which is powerfully described in scenes of Alex struggling to overcome her phobia and return to the wild rushing river she loves.

I am looking forward to reading this so much. I was lucky and received a copy from Penguin last week but I haven't had a chance to start it yet. It will be officially released this month on the 16th. I will also be posting an interview with the author later tonight so come back and check it out!

Spring Breakup

Book: Spring Breakup by Stephanie Hale

Rating: 4 Stars

Release Date: March 3, 2009

Summary:

Twisted Sisters's Aspen Brooks can't catch a break-even during spring break . . .

Aspen Brooks trades in sand between her toes for shopping on The Strip when she agrees to go to Las Vegas for spring break with her boyfriend, Rand, her bff, Angel, and Angel's bf, Lucas. Their hotel is hosting the Miss Teen Queen Pageant and surgically enhanced beauty contestants are everywhere. But when Miss Illinois goes AWOL, it's up to Aspen to represent her home state and find out what's really going on. Even if it means putting down the suntan lotion and ignoring Angel's meltdown over breaking up with Lucas . . .

Overall:

Aspen Brooks is back and once again in trouble. In the third book in the Aspen Brooks series Aspen and her boyfriend Rand head off to Las Vegas for spring break with their friends Angel and Lucas and the trip seems doomed from the start.

Aspen's luck just seems horrible. First, Angel gets plane sick and throws up all over Aspen. If that wasn't bad enough, the airline then loses her luggage which means no clean clothes. After that things just spiral downhill.

On their first night in Vegas, Angel gets overly jealous of Lucas' old friend, Emerson, who just happens to be in the Miss Teen Queen Pageant that is being hosted at their hotel. Aspen and Rand manage to get Angel and Lucas out of that disaster but Aspen gets food poisoning from the buffet they went to later. Things couldn't seem to be any worse but then Emerson goes missing.

As luck would have it, Emerson was representing Illinois, the same state that Aspen is from. Aspen decides that the only way to find out what happened to Emerson is by taking her place in the Miss Teen Queen Pageant with the help of Emerson's mom, Mona. As Aspen starts digging, she becomes absolutely positive that Emerson didn't just walk away for no reason. The only problem is, she has no proof and the police are not exactly willing to help. So, with the help of her old friends and some new ones, Aspen goes undercover to solve the case.

Once again Stephanie Hale has created a wonderful story full of romance, comedy, and, of course, some mystery. I was a little skeptical at first but once I got into the book I couldn't put it down. If you are looking for a quick, fun read this is the book for you. Also, if you are looking for more Aspen, her first two books are, Revenge of the Homecoming Queen and Twisted Sisters.

You can order Spring Breakup here.

Similar books:
Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter

In My Mailbox 10

So, this is a day late but my internet was down again! Here are all the amazing books I managed to get this week.

In my mailbox was started by The Story Siren and is a list of what you received in books over the past week either through the mail, library, or a bookstore.

The Received:



Summary from Barnes and Noble:
What happens in Paris . . .

Secrets-
PJ's deep blue eyes and angelic long blond hair conceal a truth that's anything but. Will her dark past stay where it belongs in the backwoods of Vermont, or haunt her in the city of light?

Passion-
Always the good girl, Olivia plans to twirl her way to the top of the Parisian ballet scene. But that's not supposed to include dancing on a table all night . . . or stumbling into the arms of the wrong boy.

Lies-
With his emo-trendy bedhead, hilarious comebacks and Southern drawl, Zack could win over anyone. Too bad he's after the only one who's forbidden . . .

Scandal-
All Alex wants from Paris is to nab that berry-red Dior coat and seduce the perfect penny-loafer-wearing boy - and Alex always gets what she wants. But will her scheming pay off? Or is she risking more than she knows . . . ?

Alex, Olivia, Zack and PJ are spending a year at the prestigious Lycée de Monceau in the sparkling city of Paris. This is their chance to sip cafe au lait in Le Marais, throw secret parties in their host families' Versailles-size apartments, and have the time of their lives. But when the secrets they thought they left behind come out, everything could be ruined . . .



Summary from Amazon:
Chloe-Grace can’t help it—she’s spectacular. How could she not be with celebrity parents who have been the queen and king of Hollywood for years? And Chloe is a celebrity all unto herself as well— she’s the first celebrity-adopted kid in Hollywood. But now Chloe’s sixteen, and she is tired of every undesired moment of the world’s attention. She wonders what it would be like to be a “normal” kid in a regular school. To really understand it, though, she would need to go undercover. So after getting a “make-under” at the hands of her mother’s fabulous stylist, she enters the “real” world. But she soon finds out that there is just as much drama there as there is in Hollywood….



Summary from Darlene Ryan's website:
D’Arcy’s desperately wants her father’s death to have been an accident. Then she learns the truth. Why would her father choose suicide? Why didn’t she see the signs? How will she manage alone? Then D’Arcy becomes friends with Seth. Now will things get back to normal or will she have to call on strengths she didn’t know she had to make a new kind of normal, five minutes at a time?



Summary from Barnes and Noble:

Hailey Abbott's Summer Boys takes a weepy turn in this story of one girl's attempt to tell her childhood friend how she really feels about him.

Alex thought she'd be spending the summer focused on her family's rafting business, burying the memories of her father's death last year, and leaving behind all the messes she made in its wake.

But when Sean returns to town, she is forced to reckon with her mixed-up crushy feelings for him-more powerful than ever before. It takes another tragedy to make Alex realize Sean has loved her, and forgiven her, all along.



Summary from Amazon:
Being an heiress in 1920s Austria with nothing but a broken-down castle to your name and nary a penny in your purse could be frustrating for anyone but the Princess Theresa-Maria of Pfaffenstein. “Tessa,” however, is thrilled with her situation, as it allows her to concentrate on her love of the arts—and no one in the Viennese opera company need know that their delightful and charming under-wardrobe mistress is really a princess. But when the dashing self-made millionaire Guy Farne arrives at the opera in search of suitable entertainment for his high society guests, Tessa realizes that there may be more to life—and love—than just music. But while the attraction between them in undeniable, Guy’s insufferable snob of a fiancée only solidifies Tessa’s determination to keep her true identity a secret. Yet, after a chance meeting with the handsome Englishman, Tessa’s reserve begins to melt, and she starts to wonder if it’s not too late for a fairytale ending…



Summary from Amazon:
Sometimes a good-bye is just the beginning…

When Emily Carson’s parents die in a plane crash, she’s left with nothing but her mother’s last words scrawled in lipstick on a tray table: “Emily, please forgive me.”

Now it’s fall and Emily moves to New York City— where she attracts the attention of two very different boys: the cute, popular Owen, and her quirky chemistry partner, Anthony. With the help of some surprising new friends, Emily must choose between the boy who helps her forget and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately heal.

Debut author Jennifer Jabaley has written a wonderful, feel-good romantic comedy with real emotional depth. Full of lovably wacky characters, Lipstick Apology is a heartwarming story about the true meaning of forgiveness.



Summary from Barnes and Noble:
A modern girl's comedic odyssey in a school filled with the descendants of Greek gods.

When Phoebe's mom returns from Greece with a new husband and moves them to an island in the Aegean, Phoebe's plans for her senior year and track season are ancient history. Now she must attend the uberexclusive academy, where admission depends on pedigree, namely, ancestry from Zeus, Hera, and other Greek gods. That's right, they're real, not myth, and their teen descendants are like the classical heroes-supersmart and superbeautiful with a few superpowers. And now they're on her track team! Armed only with her Nikes and the will to win, Phoebe races to find her place among the gods.



Summary from Barnes and Noble:
Q: HOW MANY ZOMBIES DOES IT TAKE TO RUIN A SOCIAL LIFE?
A: NOT MANY.

Megan Berry is a Zombie Settler by birth, which means she's part-time shrink to a whole bunch of semi-dead people with killer issues. All Megan really wants is to go to homecoming, but when you're trailed by a bunch of slobbering corpses whenever you leave the house, it's kinda hard to score a date. Let's just say Megan's love life could use some major resuscitation.

Megan's convinced her life can't get any worse - until someone in school starts using black magic to turn average, angsty Undead into scary, hardcore flesh-eating Zombies. Now it's up to Megan to stop the Zombie apocalypse. Her life - and more importantly, the homecoming dance - depends on it.

The Bought:

Brutal by Michael Harmon
Willow by Julia Hoban
Handcuffs by Bethany Griffin
Night World 3 by LJ Smith
Beach Blondes by Katherine Applegate
Something, Maybe by Elizabeth Scott
Blue is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz
White is For Magic by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Dead is the New Black by Marlene Perez

Once again, I had a great week! What did everyone else get?

A Map Of The Known World

Book: A Map Of The Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell

Rating: 5 Stars

Release Date: April 2009

Summary:

Cora Bradley dreams of escape. Ever since her reckless older brother, Nate, died in a car crash, Cora has felt suffocated by her small town and high school. She seeks solace in drawing beautiful maps, envisioning herself in exotic locales. When Cora begins to fall for Damian, the handsome, brooding boy who was in the car with Nate the night he died, she uncovers her brother's secret artistic life and realizes she had more in common with him than she ever imagined. With stunning lyricism, Sandell weaves a tale of one girl's journey through the redemptive powers of art, friendship, and love.

Overall:

Cora Bradley is lost. Ever since her older brother Nate died she hasn't known what to do with herself. Her family is falling apart and she can't seem to relate to her only friend anymore.

Cora and her older brother Nate didn't actually get along very well in his final years of life but now that he is gone it seems like he was the only thing holding their family together. Her father now drowns his problems in alcohol and her mother now spends all her time focusing on how to keep Cora out of trouble. That means strict rules and basically no life.

Cora doesn't really mind at first, but then she starts to get to know Damian. Damian was in the car with her brother the night he died. She and her parents both blamed Damian for what happened to Nate, not knowing that Damian also secretly blamed himself. But what Cora doesn't know and that Damian can show her, might heal some of the rifts in her family.

I fell in love with the book from the very first page. I had never read anything by Lisa Ann Sandell before this and I was just amazed. Sandell brilliantly portrays the grief, love, and hope in Cora's heart. The details used in the book were amazing. Everything was so intricately linked and just seemed to flow off the page.

I kept turning the page wanting to know more but never wanting it to end. I would recommend this book to anybody, really. I can't say that it wasn't sad at parts but it was also such a hopeful read it leaves you feeling kind of happy and grateful for the beauty of life.

You can order A Map Of The Known World here.

Just Another Girl

Book: Just Another Girl by Melody Carlson

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Release Date: January 2009

Summary:

Aster Flynn is stuck. She has to spend all of her "free" time with her younger sister, Lily, who, though fifteen, is mentally handicapped. At age seventeen, Aster should be hanging out with friends, dating boys, and working at a fun job. But her dad's MIA, her mom is always at work, and her older sister Rose is too self-centered to give her any help. It's not that Aster doesn't love Lily--it's just that for once she'd like to be able to be a normal teenager. So when a cute popular guy seems to take an interest in her, Aster hatches a plan. Somehow she has to get her workaholic mom and deadbeat dad to be the parents Lily needs so that Aster can have a life of her own. But can she ever get her parents to start acting like adults? Is this new guy worth the trouble? And, most importantly, will Lily get hurt in the process?

Overall:

Aster Flynn is pretty much a modern day Cinderella except without the evil step-mom and stepsisters. Instead she has Rose, the older sister who only cares about herself, her mom, who is mostly absent, and Lily, her mentally challenged younger sister.

Aster is basically Lily's caregiver. Every day she helps her get dressed, drops her off at the rec center, picks her up later, and then fixes dinner and helps her get ready for bed. With all this on her plate Aster has no time for a life of her own.

Aster never really minded this until she met Owen, the popular, handsome guy from school who seems to be showing an interest in her. The only problem is, with Lily around, there is no time for a date of any kind and nobody else is willing to take care of her.

Finally, Aster manages to persuade a friend to babysit while she goes out with Owen but Lily proves to be too much for anyone but Aster to handle. When Aster arrives home after her date she finds that things are chaos. The next morning when Aster wakes up her mom has already left, without a word about the night before.

As Aster tries to find her independence Lily gets worse. Aster finally decides to take control and make her mom take some of the responsibility for Lily so that Aster can have more time with Owen. But one thing is niggling at the back of Aster's mind. Is Owen really the person she wants to be spending her time with?

Just Another Girl was a good book. Not exceptional, not horrible. The story was actually great but most of the characters seemed a little underdeveloped. I would probably recommend this book as a quick, cute read. It was very insightful and shows a realistic life of someone dealing with a mentally challenged child but also with a happy ending. As a warning, this story is also a little bit religious so if that is something that doesn't appeal to you, this is not the book for you.

Just Another Girl can be ordered here.

What I Read: March 2009

This month seemed to be a slow book month for me. I have been in the middle of moving and trying to finish school so I guess that accounts for some of it. Hopefully this month will be a little more productive. I should definitely get a good start, though, because spring break is in two days. I can't wait.

Here's the list of what I read along with links to the reviews:

Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors

Betwixt by Tara Bray Smith

Generation Dead by Daniel Waters

Kiss of Life (Generation Dead 2) by Daniel Waters

Fairest Of Them All by Jan Blazanin

Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman

Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti

Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph

A Kiss In Time by Alex Flinn

Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

The Awakening (Darkest Powers 2) by Kelley Armstrong

So, not too bad but hopefully a little better this month!

Waiting On Wednesday: Willow

Waiting On Wednesday was created by Jill at Breaking The Spine.

Summary from Amazon:
Seven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen year- old Willow’s parents died in a horrible car accident. Willow was driving. Now her older brother barely speaks to her, her new classmates know her as the killer orphan girl, and Willow is blocking the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when one boy —one sensitive, soulful boy—discovers Willow’s secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the “safe” world Willow has created for herself upside down.

Told in an extraordinary fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl’s struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy’s refusal to give up on her.

I am so excited about this book. It is officially released tomorrow and hopefully I will be able to pick one up from Barnes and Noble. Also, if you would like to find out more about the book you can go to Getting To Know Willow.