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Q. If you could write yourself a part in a book, what book would it be and what role would you play in that book?

Given the opportunity, I'd write myself into The Secret Circle. I read the series growing up and fell in love with the story and the main character, Cassie. L.J. Smith's tale of witchcraft was a different world for me and I have to be honest and admit that the love story between Cassie and Adam had me on the edge of my seat. I remember not being able to get through the books fast enough!

So aside from the obvious benefit of magical powers, I guess I'd like to see what choices I'd make when confronted with such terrifying power and choosing between good and evil. Not to mention choosing between friendship and true love.

I heard the CW is going to be launching a TV series soon. Maybe I'll watch, but then again, maybe not. Hollywood has a way of diminishing great stories sometimes.

Happy Friday!

Say It Ain't So...

I never really thought of myself as the 'slacker' type, but I've been having a little trouble finding my motivation lately. Actually, it reminds me of a Green Day song! Anyway, between work and remodeling my kitchen (Oh, yeah. DIY all the way), I haven't managed to write much or find the time to *gasp* read! Appalling, I know.

Maybe it's the end of summer blues? None of the available titles on my TBR list have really got me ready to curl up with my Kindle. However, I was lurking in the blogosphere today and I found two great reviews that got my attention and went straight to the top of my TBR list. (Isn't it amazing how contagious one blogger's enthusiasm can be? So much better than a sterile blurb on Amazon!)

I'm also about halfway through the outline for my second manuscript, but I seem to be stuck on that one little pivotal point that requires me to rethink my logic. I wouldn't exactly call it writers block, but it's a definitely a puzzle I haven't solved yet. And it's giving me even more appreciation for the perseverance of the many wonderful authors I love as they frequently comment on the fact that writing the second book is more challenging than the first. For me, I'm taking it as a sign of personal growth which I hope will be reflected in my writing!

Just a few mores hours until the weekend so I think I'll go download Daimon and delve into Jennifer Armentrout's world of the Covenant.

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Q. How have your reading habits changed since you were a teen? or If you are still a teen what new genres are you in love with currently?

My reading habits have changed a lot over the years and I think it's fair to say I've come full circle! In my early teens I read a lot of Christopher Pike, R.L. Stine, Dean Koontz and Stephen King. Pretty much anything with a murderous or paranormal twist (although I never would have used the word paranormal at the time).

By the time I graduated,  I'd moved on to thrillers and mysteries. I absolutely fell in love with Iris Johansen, Stuart Woods, and Tami Hoag. If they wrote it, I bought it. These books had it all: romance, mystery, suspense. I stuck with these authors loyally for years until my sister introduced me to the world of Stephanie Plum (my first foray into chick-lit) which had me cracking up and catching up since I was late to discover the series.

Eventually though I came full circle and found my way back to paranormal with Kay Hooper's Bishop Special Crimes Unit series. When I ran out of my own favorite authors to read, I started raiding my younger sister's book shelf where I came across Twilight and a myriad of other YA novels. I was hooked from the start and haven't looked back since! In fact, I've got three of her books sitting in my book pile right now!

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Q. Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?).

I'm marginally embarrassed to admit this, but the series that most recently and most heavily impacted my life is Twilight. Not because I'm 'Team Edward' or 'Team Jacob' or even because I think they're the most amazing books I've ever read. For me, being handed a copy of Twilight brought me back to the world of YA literature and to a love of writing that I'd put on a shelf. Not only had I shifted away from YA literature to read more 'adult' books, I was spending more time attending to practical pursuits like paying the bills.

Twilight brought me back to the genre I enjoy most and has been a refreshing change which has also given me the courage to pursue my own writing further.

Review: Supernaturally



DESCRIPTION

 Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

REVIEW

Oh, bleep! I don’t even know where to start. At the beginning perhaps? Kiersten White has done it again! Supernaturally was a good read—fast paced, action packed, and filled with plenty of teen angst. Supernaturally picked up right where Paranormalcy left off (although, much to my disappointment, there wasn’t nearly enough of Tasey in book two!).  

One of the things I really enjoyed about Paranormalcy was Evie’s quirky and authentic teen voice which continued to shine through in Supernaturally.  And even thought it tugged at my heartstrings a little bit, it felt right that Evie struggled with the normalcy she so badly craved growing up and with the morality of exercising her rather unique gift. Because that’s the real world and part of growing up is discovering that the things we want most rarely turn out to be what we’d imagined. Besides, it’s impossible not to relate to Evie as she struggles to balance a semi-long distance relationship, the gym teacher from hell, faerie mischief, and college applications. All while trying to find her place in the world.

While Supernaturally delivered on the promise of a light and endearing story, there were a few things that left me wanting. First, there were some points where I felt like the story (and Evie’s emotional roller coaster) were being pushed forward at a break neck pace in order to bring the story to a close. Secondly, there was suspicion thrown on the staff at David’s diner that was left unresolved. It probably wasn’t anything heinous, but closure would have been nice as those loose ends keeps tickling at my brain. What were they up to??? Maybe it’s a sign of things to come in book three, but I hate to be left hanging!

All in all, a must read for fans of Paranormalcy. Up next? Endlessly. Which, by the way is an awesome title. I’d count the days, but alas, no release date yet.

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Q. Let's step away from books for a second and get personal. What T-Shirt slogan best describes you?

So many t-shirts so little time! If I have to play by the rules (for once) and choose just one, this is the one that describes me best! When I'm not working or reading, I'm blissfully lost in my writing. Of course, if this were really my t-shirt, I'd spice up that cover with some glitter or some other sort of eye candy!



So much for playing by the rules. I had to include this one too because I'm not much of a cook and in my house the word 'cereal' is synonymous with breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Review: Dead Rules

 

DESCRIPTION

Till death

Jana Webster and Michael Haynes were in love. They were destined to be together forever.
Do

But Jana's destiny was fatally flawed. And now she's in Dead School, where Mars Dreamcote lurks in the back of the classroom, with his beguiling blue eyes, mysterious smile, and irresistibly warm touch.

Us

Michael and Jana were incomplete without each other. There was no room for Mars in Jana's life—or death—story. Jana was sure Michael would rush to her side soon.

Part

But things aren't going according to Jana's plan. So Jana decides to do whatever it takes to make her dreams come true—no matter what rules she has to break.

REVIEW

Let me start by saying that Dead Rules had such amazing potential. I read a pre-launch interview with Russell and put this on my TBR list immediately. Between the blurb and the author interview, I was sure this was a book for me. I logged on to Amazon and downloaded it on my Kindle (at my own expense) within days of the release. My expectations? Fresh, witty, imaginative. And it was most of those things, but there were still some things that really irked me.

But let me start with the good stuff. The concept was original and well thought out. Although Dead School was a little confusing initially (by design), it all came together in the first couple of chapters. I loved the idea that it was located right here on planet Earth, but could only really be seen and experienced by the dead. I also liked the idea that the students had to figure things out for themselves and that the rules were cryptic. That’s what real life is like, so why should death be any different? And for the romantic in me, the budding relationship between Jana and Mars was the one thing that really hooked me and kept me reading. I felt more connected to Mars than any other character in the book and wanted to see if he would manage to change his status at Dead School and move from Slider (read: bad boy) to Riser. Of all the characters in the book, I felt Mars had the most depth, was the most likeable, and had the greatest sincere desire to change his circumstances. Ultimately, many of the characters felt flat to me. I honestly didn’t really care what happened to any of them, except for Mars.

Which leads me to my biggest issue with this book: I didn’t really like the protagonist, Jana. She was selfish in the extreme and to be honest, although Russell laid the groundwork for Michael, her boyfriend, to be the only support system in her life, I struggled to believe that she really thought killing him was the right thing to do. I know, I know. There are loves that twisted out there, but I just wasn’t buying it. In addition, she had some very annoying and repetitious sayings that just didn’t feel genuine. Seriously. How many teenage girls skip profanity in favor of phrases like ‘farts, fudge, and popcorn’? Also, I’ve never met a teenage girl (and I know plenty of them) who would introduce themself as ‘Webster, of Webster and Haynes’. Sounds like a law firm, right? I hate to say it, but I couldn’t help but think this was a middle aged males’ perception of teenage girls and it just didn’t resonate with me.

Other things that irked me (spoiler alert): There were apparently very few virgins among the teen population. Believe me, I understand that teens have sex, but the numbers felt extremely skewed. Lastly, when Michael finally showed up at Dead School (after killing his girlfriend – even if it was an accident – and after dying while attempting to kill her again) he was a Riser. I’m no expert, but it seemed like he should have been a Slider and the lame excuse that attempting to shoot Jana and her friends was self-defense didn’t make it any more plausible. The logic here just felt fundamentally flawed.

I know my review of this book is in the minority, but it just didn’t work for me. While it had some good points, I just didn’t connect with the storyline or the characters in the way I had hoped to. For those of you who have it on your TBR list, don’t let my review discourage you. I’ll be interested to see what you think!