Blog Tour Interview: Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories by Stephanie Perkins

Today I'm participating in the blog tour for Stephanie Perkins latest anthology Summer Days and Summer Nights!  We are all HUGE fans of Ms. Perkins and it is an absolute honor to have her on the blog today!

1. In the first anthology, I thought the overarching theme was hope. How does Summer Days and Summer Nights compare?
That’s a wonderful interpretation, and it’s apt for these stories, too. I wanted the two anthologies to feel connected, and the easiest way to do that—when you have so many different authors and genres—is through theme. So we have love, and we have hope.
Several characters in both anthologies are actually going through some pretty dark times, which surprises some of our readers, but I think hope often shines the brightest out of darkness. It’s important to show both sides of it.

2. On your blog you say that there’s a little bit of you in each of your characters. Does this typically help or hinder the editing/revision process?
This is such an interesting question! I don’t have a satisfying answer—it’s probably both, with a slight edge to helping. Putting more of myself into the characters usually (though not always) leads to more honesty in my writing, which is the ultimate goal: to tell the truest version of each story that I can.

3. How do you come up with the names for your characters?
North and Marigold both have purposeful, plot-related names. North’s parents are the proud owners of a Christmas tree farm, so he and his siblings were all cursed with Christmas-themed names—Nicholas, Noelle, and North (as in North Pole). And Marigold Moon Ling was raised alone by her very independent, Chinese-American, hippie mother. So she has a hippie name to match.

4. What can we expect to see from you next? Are there any plans of releasing a new full-length novel soon?
My next novel is a teen slasher, which hopefully (if I finish it on time!) will be published next year. I’m having such a blast writing in the horror genre. And it’s honestly not as big of a departure as it seems. There’s still an attractive boy, an intriguing setting, and quippy friends. It just also contains a lot of murder.


Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories by Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: May 17th, 2016
Publisher: St. Martins Griffin's
Purchase: Amazon

Maybe it's the long, lazy days, or maybe it's the heat making everyone a little bit crazy. Whatever the reason, summer is the perfect time for love to bloom. Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories, written by twelve bestselling young adult writers and edited by the international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins, will have you dreaming of sunset strolls by the lake. So set out your beach chair and grab your sunglasses. You have twelve reasons this summer to soak up the sun and fall in love.

Featuring stories by Leigh Bardugo, Francesca Lia Block, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Brandy Colbert, Tim Federle, Lev Grossman, Nina LaCour, Stephanie Perkins, Veronica Roth, Jon Skovron, and Jennifer E. Smith.

About the Editor

 

Stephanie Perkins has always worked with books—first as a bookseller, then as a librarian, and now as a novelist. She's the author of the international bestsellers Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door, as well as Isla and the Happily Ever After. My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories is her first anthology. Stephanie and her husband live in the mountains of North Carolina.

“This title is a sizzling must-have that will be too hot to keep on shelves.”

-STARRED School Library Journal

“An intelligent beach read with heart, soul, and sizzle.”

-STARRED Kirkus Review

“Offering a sampling of many different genres, bright and distinct narrative voices, and a generous portion of tender moments, this book has something for everyone who has loved or longs for it.”

-STARRED Publishers Weekly

“These stories are perfect for a lazy day at the beach or a hot summer night.”

-Romantic Times Reviews

“Yep, this one’s a beach read, so throw it in in the bag in its well-earned spot between the sunblock and the sandals.”

- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Blog Tour: The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

Today on WinterHaven Books I am participating in the blog tour for Roshani Chokshi! Her book The Star-Touched Queen just released and believe me you won't want to miss it!!  On my stop I am sharing with you an fun Q&A with the author!  Questions were provided by the publisher.
 

1. What/Who were your biggest inspirations for the characters in The Star-Touched Queen? Which character in The Star-Touched Queen did you personally relate to the most and why? 
For Maya and Amar, they were inspired by the Hades/Persephone. But I imagined those two mythological characters a little more differently. In Maya’s case, I knew that ambition was her defining trait, but I wasn’t sure whether that would manifest as seeking emotional or material fulfillment. Turns out, it was a bit of both. Kamala was inspired by my love of fiendish side characters like Mogget from Garth Nix’s SABRIEL and is probably the character I relate to the most. Her sense of humor can be a little abrasive. But she’s fiercely loyal to her friends. Other people in TSTQ were inspired by a collection of people whom I met/knew/heard of growing up.

2. Have you always been drawn to Mythology and what are some of your favorite mythological tales? What myth specifically inspired Star-Touched? 
Always! I was raised on mythology. It was one of the most important outlets for me to connect to my Filipino/Indian heritage. My favorite Indian myths are Shakuntula, Nala and Damayanti, and Savitri. My favorite Filipino story is the Igorot tale of the Sky Maiden. My favorite Western myth is Hades and Persephone. TSTQ was specifically inspired by Hades & Persephone.

3. Let's talk inspiration. What Indian folklore inspired The Star-Touched Queen and where could someone who might be interested in reading and learning more about it and other Indian stories (cough, me, cough) learn more? 
The main Indian folktales/myths that inspired TSTQ or particular scenes were: Shakuntula (plays on the idea of memory and forgotten loves), Savitri & Satyavan (bargaining with Lord of Death, wily females!) and Narasimha (the fourth avatar of Lord Vishnu who defeated the demon king Hirayankashipu). Honestly, most of these were stories I heard growing up with my family. But my favorite thing to read when I was younger were the Amar Chitra Katha comics! They’re these illustrated tales from Indian mythology and I love them so so so much.

4.What scene in THE STAR-TOUCHED QUEEN was your favorite to write? 
Definitely the scene where Amar and Maya are working together in the constellation room. I think it’s an important scene about interpretation, which, to me, is a major theme in TSTQ.

5. Did you listen to any music while writing this book? If yes, what would you say was your MOST played artist or song? 
Sometimes I listen to music when I write. It just depends on whether the song is distracting me or fueling some weird atmospheric part of the scene. Sometimes it’s just one song on repeat. I listen to a lot of hip hop. And when I pretty much rewrote TSTQ in February 2015, I felt furious. Not with anyone. But just with the story. Like it was itching to be told right and I was failing it. I think the songs I listened to the most with TSTQ was either Kid Ink’s “Show Me” or Kendrick Lamar’s “Poetic Justice.”

6. What is your dream movie cast for STAR-TOUCHED? 
LOVE this question. I’ve always envisioned Lakshmi Menon (the Sri Lankan model) as Maya-esque. Amar has some definite Arjun Rampal undertones (swoons forever). Gupta is kinda cheeky and nerdy, and reminds me of Imran Khan (actor not Pakistani cricket player). Gauri is cheeky, but fierce, so definitely Preity Zinta or Deepika Padukone. Nritti: Aishwarya Rai. And Mother Dhina: Rekha.

7. What is the most exciting part about publishing your first novel? 
Interacting with readers. Talking to the YA community gives me so much life.

8. How did you build your world and keep everything straight for STAR-TOUCHED? 
Flashcards, charts, webs, etc. I know everyone has their own tricks! Flashcards, backs of receipts, corners of napkins. Which is to say, I did not keep things straight at all. This is why you have beta readers. To throw virtual tomatoes at you and point out that given the rules of your world, you cannot do the thing you just did.

9. What is your next project? Is it in the same world as STAR-TOUCHED? 
I just finished the companion novel to TSTQ! So, I’m hoping to get started on edits soon. I can’t wait for y’all to read it. I love it so much.

10. What is the one thing you want readers to walk away from STAR-TOUCHED with? 
I hope readers see a little of how fairytales and folklore celebrate our shared experiences across cultural spectrums. And I hope their dreams are a little star-touched and that they close the book thinking they’ve tasted fairy fruit and walked through more than one life.

 Find Roshani

Website / Twitter / Goodreads

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: April 26th, 2016

Purchase: Amazon

Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you're only seventeen?

Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father's kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran's queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar's wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire...

But Akaran has its own secrets -- thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most. . .including herself.

A lush and vivid story that is steeped in Indian folklore and mythology. The Star-Touched Queen is a novel that no reader will soon forget.

Review: The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release date: April 26th, 2016
Purchase: Amazon

Fate and fortune. Power and passion. What does it take to be the queen of a kingdom when you're only seventeen?

Maya is cursed. With a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, she has earned only the scorn and fear of her father's kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her whole world is torn apart when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. Soon Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Neither roles are what she expected: As Akaran's queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar's wife, she finds something else entirely: Compassion. Protection. Desire...

But Akaran has its own secrets -- thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Soon, Maya suspects her life is in danger. Yet who, besides her husband, can she trust? With the fate of the human and Otherworldly realms hanging in the balance, Maya must unravel an ancient mystery that spans reincarnated lives to save those she loves the most. . .including herself.

A lush and vivid story that is steeped in Indian folklore and mythology. The Star-Touched Queen is a novel that no reader will soon forget. 

My thoughts:
I've been sitting on my thoughts for this book all day and the strangest thing happened.  I started out thinking this book kinda wasn't for me, but then the more I thought about it and the more I contemplated what I was going to say in my review I grew to not only like this story, but I actually kinda loved it.  This has never happened to me so bare with my while I try and get all my thoughts together for this review.

The Star-Touched Queen was nothing at all what I thought it was going to be and I think that's one of the reasons I had a hard time connecting to it in the beginning.  I would read a chapter and then put it down because it wasn't the gripping Game of Throneish plot I thought I was getting, but in it's defense I don't think it ever claimed to be this.  I have no idea where I got that idea, but I did and it stuck so right off the bat I was left with a meh feeling unfortunately. What kept me going in the beginning was the amazingly beautiful writing.  I think this book has to be one of the more eloquently written books I have read this year and I loved every minute of it.  If it weren't for the writing I don't think I would have finished this and I would have seriously missed out on something amazing.

The story is a complicated one because it changed about halfway through.  At the turning point is when I truly fell into the story.  I thought the whole concept was really unique and interesting and I really wish the beginning had included this new world that was introduced.  It was dark and well everything that I like in this type of book.  It kinda felt like a cross between Melissa Marr and A.G. Howard and if you know me then you know I love these two authors above all else so this was a very good thing for me.   So to say I was hooked was an understatement and at this point I couldn't put the book down.  I read 70% of the book in one sitting.

I really enjoyed the characters in this story as well.  Maya was determined and fierce and I liked her devotion to her people.  I also really liked that she didn't back down from what she thought was right.  She had very tough decisions throughout this book and it was nice seeing her make thoughtful choices.  I also have to give a huge shout to Kamala. This horse was AMAZING!  If I didn't like anything about this book I would have still loved Kamala.  You will have to read to see why this horse is so amazing, but I will tell you she is my favorite character of the whole book!

My reasons for walking away thinking not for me are quite simple. 
1) I really needed a glossary.  There are a lot of words thrown at you and if you aren't familiar with this Indian culture and mythology then you will be lost just as I was.  In the beginning I looked everything up, but that got to be too much because it felt like every other page I had to stop and look something up so I stopped.  Which of course means I missed key things and that saddened me.  Footnotes would have been an amazing addition that would have helped the authors readers immensely.
2) As much as I loved the world in the second half it was not built very well.  I wish the author would have spent a bit more time building her world because I felt lost and disconnected so much of the story.  At times I couldn't grasp what was going on and it felt very fantasical if that makes any sense.  Kinda of like trying to read a Tim Burton film.  I know this author has the ability to build a world so I feel let down that I didn't get to read it.
3) And lastly I would have loved a few chapters in Amar's POV.  I understand why so many things were hidden regarding him, but in the beginning I would have loved to have heard his thoughts regarding Maya.  I think I needed that to buy his love for her in the beginning.  He was a complete mystery and yes I did like that, but I still wanted to be let in on a few of his secrets.

See these things are quite simple. but all added up I'm left walking away feeling meh not for me.  Like I said though the more I thought about the story the more things made sense I really fell in love with Maya and her story.  I thought it was a very whimsical yet dark story and I after thinking on it I think it was rather brilliant.  The author has created something that is definitely unique and not something I will soon forget.  I'm glad this turned out to not be what I expected and I am very thankful that the authors writing kept me going.  I will even say this is in my top 10 books of this year which is so strange!  It's just really that good! 

4 snowflakes

Blog Tour: Invision (Chronicles of Nick #7) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Today on WinterHaven Books I have am participating in the blog tour for Invision by Sherrilyn Kenyon!  For my stop I have a fun excerpt to share as well as information about a fun scavenger hunt!

Invision (Chronicles of Nick #7) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Publisher: St.Martins Griffin
Release Date: May 3rd, 2016
Purchase: Amazon

Think there’s a lot of pressure on your shoulders? Nick Gautier was born to bring about the end of the world . . . it’s not easy being the heir of a demon overlord.

But Nick is determined to thwart his destiny and get into a good college. To be more than his genetics and prophecy foretell. No one is ever going to tell this stubborn Cajun who and what he really is. Or how to live his life.

Not even the Fates of the Universe. But now that he and his team of ancient gods and demons have claimed the Eye of Ananke and he sees the missteps of the future, he has to battle the demons within that are far deadlier and more treacherous than any he’s battled before. All the while his arch nemesis is back and determined to reclaim his place as the harbinger for Armageddon. Even if it means killing Nick and barbecuing everyone he loves to do so.

EXCERPT

Hanging his head, he pushed his chair back to face her. “What do you want me to say, Kode? You saw what I did. It’s hopeless. I’m going to end this world. Whether it’s tomorrow or a thousand years from now. I’m going to lose it all. Break bad and tear humanity apart. . . . Don’t matter what we do. Whatever we try. We just delay the inevitable outcome. So I’m going to sit here with my eats. And just . . .” he let his voice trail off as the full horror of his future played through his mind for the five millionth time.
He was the end of everything.
Everyone.
All he loved.
The entire world would one day fall to Nick’s army of demons.
Yeah, there was something to put on his college applications. That ought to have schools lining up to accept him. Who wouldn’t want that as their alumnus? We have graduated senators, presidents, movers-and- shakers, and the Malachai demon who ate the world whole…
It was the one reality Nick wanted to deny and couldn’t. Everything eventually came back to that one inescapable fact he wanted to runaway from and couldn’t.
I’m only sixteen. Too young to deal with this crap.
He was supposed to be worried about his grades. About keeping his girl happy. Staying out of trouble. His mom finding his friend’s porn magazines stashed in his room. Getting to work on time. Making curfew.
Not hellgates and demons coming for the throats of his family and friends. Definitely not about the fact that his birthright was to bring on the destruction of all humanity.

 Book Trailer

Scavenger Hunt!
Be sure to click the image at the very top of my post!  This will take you Griffin Teen which will then take you where you need to go to enter to win a signed backlist set of The Chronicles of Nick!

 About the Author:

New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon is a regular in the #1 spot. This extraordinary bestseller continues to top every genre in which she writes. With more than 40 million copies of her books in print in more than one hundred countries, her current series include The Dark-Hunters, The League, and Chronicles of Nick. Her Chronicles of Nick and Dark-Hunter series are soon to be major motion pictures.

Facebook / Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Website 2

Other books in the Chronicles of Nick series

Review: Tell the Story to it's End by Simon

Tell the Story to its End by Simon P. Clark
Publisher: St.Martins Griffin
Release Date: October 20th, 2015
Purchase: Amazon

In this beautiful, haunting debut, a boy is whisked away to the country in the wake of a scandal, and finds a captivating creature in the attic whose attention comes at a sinister price.

"Tell the story to its end," says Eren with a grin.
His yellow eyes are glowing like embers in the night.
"When I reach the end," I say, "what happens? You'll have the whole story."
"Hmm," he says, looking at me and licking his lips with a dry, grey tongue. "What happens then? Why don't we find out?"

People are keeping secrets from Oli. His mum has brought him to stay with his aunt and uncle in the countryside, but nobody will tell him why his dad where his father is. Why isn't he with them? Has something happened? Oli has a hundred questions, and only an old, empty house in the middle of an ancient forest for answers. But then he finds a secret of his own: there is a creature that lives in the attic…

Eren is not human.
Eren is hungry for stories.
Eren has been waiting for him.

Sharing his stories with Eren, Oli starts to make sense of what’s happening downstairs with his family. But what if it’s a trap? Soon, Oli must make a choice: learn the truth—or abandon himself to Eren’s world, forever.

Reminiscent of SKELLIG by David Almond and A MONSTER CALLS by Patrick Ness, EREN is richly atmospheric, moving, unsettleing, and told in gorgeous prose. A modern classic in the making.

My thoughts:
This was certainly a strange little book.  The summary sounded really interesting and I thought hmm this could be super creepy.  If I look at it one way it is creepy, but if I look the other way I just don't get it.

Oli and his mom have moved to the countryside for the summer and are hoping Oli's dad will join them sooner rather than later.  What Oli finds out though is that the reason behind the move isn't a good one and he seeks solace in the attic with a monster who just wants to hear Oli's stories.  Or so he thinks.

So the thought of a story eating monster intrigued me.  I knew this monster would only grow stronger with every story he was told and become creepier and creepier. I was right to a point, but I found out that creepier came with a side of strange.

I think what threw me off was that this book talked in riddles and in circles.  At some points it even sounded like a deranged Cat in the Hat from a Dr. Seuss book.  I kept tripping up on the strange lingo and punctuation.  I didn't know going in that this was written from an English author and normally I don't have any trouble settling in to the Englishesque storylines, but man this one really threw me for a loop. I've never seen so many exclamations points and "yes"'s thrown around.  I think the story probably would have still been a strange one but adding in the strangeness of the writers flow just increased the oddness.

The story itself was yes strange, but I felt bad for Oli.  He was kept in the dark about his father and then when the cat jumped out of the bag (a reference you will totally get if you read the book) he fell apart.  He didn't understand why things were kept from him and I have to agree.  The adults were not very adult and didn't see what was happening to Oli.  I ended up being frustrated and when the end happened I wanted more from the adults point of view.  I wanted to know what they thought and what they were doing.

One extra chapter would have been great because the story is left so open and well I just didn't get it.  I got the scary part of it, but I didn't get the overall point.  Well I guess that's not true I got what happened I guess it's more accurate to say I didn't get all the why's of each character.  If someone could please let me know all the why's I would be forever grateful.

2 snowflakes

Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Publisher- St. Martin's Griffin

Released- Oct 6th 2015

Purchase- Amazon / B & N / Chapters

Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen.
That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.
Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Baz would be having a field day with all this, if he were here—it’s their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon’s infuriating nemesis didn’t even bother to show up.
Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story—but far, far more monsters.

My Thoughts:

To be honest, I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this book. I adored Fangirl but I was so obsessed with Levi and Cath that I overlooked the Baz and Simon pieces. But I was curious about this world so I picked it up and dame, I'm so glad I did! Carry On, turned out to be one of the most entertaining books I've read all year. It's magical, adventurous and so freaken adorably romantic.

I really loved what Rainbow Rowell did with this book. Sure, I guess it reminds me of HP but at the same time it's completely her own. I love Rowell's writing and I specially love all the little cozy details she gave this world. From the wondrous school building's and grounds, the subjects themselves and even the food they eat, it's those little things that gave this book so much soul. I even loved the quirky-yet-common spells they used, like; "Scooby-Dooby-Doo, where are you!" and "These aren't the droids you're looking for", are just a couple of my favorites. The flow and pace of the story is perfectly pitched. This book combines the back-story, history and memories of multiple characters but it's done in a way that was always interesting instead of overwhelming. It was effortless to lose myself in this enchanting and charming world.

But really, it was all of these wonderfully put together characters that own this book for me. Simon, Baz, Penny and even Agatha have such personalities that come alive when ever they interact with one another. They have the greatest voices that drip with humour and sarcasm and the endless banter and sexual tension was deliciously applied. 

Simon is the hero of our story. He's the Chosen One, the most powerful Mage who is destined to stop the war and the insidious Humdrum from sucking the Magickal world dry. Never mind that Snow botches most of his spells or he can't use his wand very well or has Penny at his side to help him rather then actual luck or talent. But Simon Snow can kick some serious ass. 

Penny is the kind of sidekick that everyone needs. Smart, insanely loyal and doesn't try to outshine or take over. She's Simon's best friend and I adored her endless support and sharp wit. 

Agatha was the only one I didn't seem to crazy about despite how everyone in this book refers to her as perfection. She's lovely, sure, but she also seems so lost and self absorbed and made for conflict more then anything else. 

And last, but never least, my favorite character was Baz! My gawd, what an amazing character! What is it about brooding vampires that I love so much anyway!? Baz is complicated in the best way possible. It's almost like he's mad at the entire world but he can't seem to part with it or the people who drive him to his madness. He can be driven to be this cruel and calculating person but underneath all his angry and hatred is this warm and vulnerable side that makes him more diverse and real then the other characters.

The romance in this book, the tension in this book, the angst and drama, the love and hate? My. Gawd. This was some of the sexiest, sweet as hell and crazy adorable that I've ever read. Seriously, I could live in those moments forever!

Bottom line, Carry On, was an amazing and entertaining experience. This was imaginative, creative and just solid fun and good times. I had everything I could possibly want in an escape. Daring adventure, action and intrigue, outstanding writing and unforgettable characters that were charming, enchanting, affectionately loveable and absolutely easy to invest in and connect with from minute one. I know this is a standalone, but I'm actually so sad to see this end. Rowell is an amazing contemporary author, but she can do fantasy like no ones business. I'm gonna need more! If your a fan of Fangirl or just want a new spin on fantasy fun, then this book goes out to you! Instant favorite!

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                                 5 Snowflakes!

Review: What We Knew by Barbara Stewart

What We Knew by Barbara Stewart
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: July 14th, 2015
Purchase: Amazon

When a local myth starts to seem like a dangerous reality, two girls are set on a path that could change their lives forever

"When I was little, I imagined a monster: Scaly hands. Pits for eyes..."

When Tracy and her best friend, Lisa, were kids, stories about a man—a creep who exposes himself to little girls—kept them out of the woods and in their own backyards. But Tracy and Lisa aren't so little anymore, and the man in the woods is nothing but a stupid legend. Right?

But someone is in the woods. Someone is watching. And he knows all their secrets, secrets they can't tell anyone—not even each other.

"Monsters don't exist."

Lisa's just being paranoid. At least that’s what Tracy thinks. But when a disturbing "gift" confirms her worst fears, it sets the girls on a dangerous journey that takes them beyond the edge of the woods. But reality is more terrifying than the most chilling myth, and what they find will test the bonds of friendship, loyalty, and love.

"Once upon a time, two girls were lost in the woods."

In Barbara's Stewart's What We Knew, Tracy and Lisa can't destroy the evil they'll face, but can they stop it from destroying each other?

My Thoughts:
This really didn't work for me and I am honestly half blaming the synopsis.  I've found lately that with several books the synopsis given does not in fact match the book at all.  This is the case with What We Knew.  The synopsis in my opinion promises creepy stalker craziness and what this book delivers is actually troubled teenagers who have been abused.  Sooo not the same thing at all and I really wonder who writes those synopsis'!

I'm not saying this would have worked more for me if the synopsis actually matched the book, but it is hard for me to switch gears when I settle in to read something.  I am a mood reader so I pick my books based on what I want at the moment and I think I would have chosen to read this at a different time if I had known it was going to be incredibly heavy.  My previous book left me wanting something creepy and a palette cleanser and this just wasn't it.  It is a very heavy book that deals with very heavy issues.  Yes there is a creep factor sort of in it but it really takes a back seat to what's really going on with Tracy and her friends.

Like I said the whole going in and switching gears wasn't the only reason why this didn't work for me.  I found each and every character to be annoying.  Tracy was whiny and yes I know she went through something very traumatic, but she was just not somebody I could root for.  She ended up being very hypocritical by the middle of the book and when that happened I lost respect for her.  There was no reason to do what she did and she didn't even really feel bad about it until the blow up happened.  I just really couldn't connect with her.

The other characters weren't any better.  Lisa was mean and grouchy which again I now know the reason for her mood swings, but I just can't forgive some of her actions.  Gabe, Trey and Adam weren't likeable at all either.  They just seemed like your typical stoner high schoolers and while I am on the subject there is a lot of drinking and drugs in this. I was honestly appalled at how much substance abuse was used through this book.  Where were the parents??!  These activities actually happened in someones home!  That to me is a plot hole I would have liked explained more.

I think the author chose to focus too much on teenage drama in the beginning and lost me by the middle. The end of the book was actually brilliant and really made me wish the beginning would have been just as brilliant.  Looking back I can see clues to where the story was ultimately going, but the execution just stunk.  I adore Barbara Stewart and this won't be my last book by her, but man this was a let down.

2 snowflakes

Review: Delicate Monsters by Stephanie Kuehn

Delicate Monsters by Stephanie Kuehn
Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin
Release Date: June 9th, 2015
Purchase: Amazon

From the Morris-Award winning author of Charm & Strange, comes a twisted and haunting tale about three teens uncovering dark secrets and even darker truths about themselves.

When nearly killing a classmate gets seventeen-year-old Sadie Su kicked out of her third boarding school in four years, she returns to her family’s California vineyard estate. Here, she’s meant to stay out of trouble. Here, she’s meant to do a lot of things. But it’s hard. She’s bored. And when Sadie’s bored, the only thing she likes is trouble.

Emerson Tate’s a poor boy living in a rich town, with his widowed mother and strange, haunted little brother. All he wants his senior year is to play basketball and make something happen with the girl of his dreams. That’s why Emerson’s not happy Sadie’s back. An old childhood friend, she knows his worst secrets. The things he longs to forget. The things she won’t ever let him.

Haunted is a good word for fifteen-year-old Miles Tate. Miles can see the future, after all. And he knows his vision of tragic violence at his school will come true, because his visions always do. That’s what he tells the new girl in town. The one who listens to him. The one who recognizes the darkness in his past.

But can Miles stop the violence? Or has the future already been written? Maybe tragedy is his destiny. Maybe it’s all of theirs.

My thoughts:
My first thought after finishing Delicate Monsters was I don't get it.  And I really don't.  I've read one other book by this author and I remember being completely blown away and honestly Charm & Strange has stayed with me so I know what Stephanie Kuehn is capable of.  Now I do remember Charm & Strange having a say what moment and being slightly confused, but it all came together at the end and made sense.  This book though I am just at a loss with.

So I knew going in this book would be deep.  Stephanie Kuehn doesn't shy away from the hard stuff so I settled in with tissues within reach.  The whole time I was reading I kept thinking there is a reason why she is making me repulsed because I was indeed repulsed by her characters.  Each and everyone of them with the exception of Miles were just disgusting.  But I kept reading hoping that things would be made clear.  Well things were not made clear and I honestly don't really understand what the point of this story was.  Was it to show mental illness?  Was it to show that Sadie really did care in the end to some extent?  I get the mental illness part, I can see it woven in throughout the story but I don't think it was woven in strong enough.   I don't even know how to describe this story other than to say it was about three very messed up teenagers each messed up in their own way.  We get to see thru the eyes of each individual and yes it was painful at times, but the author made her characters so destructive that I couldn't feel compassion for any of them.

I loved in her previous book how the big bomb was dropped in the end and I expected it to happen again since this book seemed to be following the same formula, but when it was dropped I didn't get it.  I know I keep going back to I don't get it but I really don't. I think I get what was happening to certain characters, but I am completely baffled by the ending.  What in the hale happened??

I guess I can look at this in three ways...1. My mind just doesn't think outside the box enough and I didn't read between the lines as much as I should have or 2. This open ended last chapter was on purpose and the reader is supposed to think of their own ending or 3.This book is just not up to par to other one I read and the author tried too hard to be out there and expected too much of her readers. I am not sure which way I will go, but those are my thoughts at the moment.

2.5 snowflakes

Review: Don't Stay Up Late by R.L. Stine

Don't Stay Up Late (Fear Street Relaunch #2) by R.L. Stine
Publisher: St. Martins Griffin
Release Date: April 7th, 2015

Ever since a car accident killed her father and put Lisa and her mother into the hospital, Lisa can't think straight. She's plagued by nightmares and hallucinations that force her to relive the accident over and over again in vivid detail. When Lisa finds out that a neighbor is looking for a babysitter for her young son, she takes the job immediately, eager to keep busy and shake these disturbing images from her head.
But what promised to be an easy gig turns terrifying when Lisa begins to question exactly who — or what — she is babysitting.

R.L. Stine makes his triumphant return to Shadyside in the new Fear Street book Don't Stay Up Late.

My thoughts:
Oh how I used to love Fear Street as a teen.  I remember curling up with a blanket and reading a book a night just to reread them all the next month.  This was my first jump into thrillers and I will forever love R.L. Stine for introducing me to this genre.  Okay all that being said this installment did leave me wondering if I have finally grown up.

For those who don't know Fear Street has always had strange things happen to the people who live or visit there.  The street is pretty much cursed and Don't Stay Up Late brings us right back to Fear Street.  Lisa having just lost her Dad to a car accident is having trouble coping.  She was in critical condition and the doctors think she started having hallucinations due to her extreme concussion. After her therapist suggests she take on a new job to help get back to normal everyday life Lisa starts her new babysitting job on you guessed it Fear Street.

I remember Fear Street being super creepy and I know I had nightmares from a few of the books because I still remember them.  So I don't know if Stine has just gotten a little softer with his horror or if the thriller stories today have pushed that genre envelope and things are way scarier now.  I can't say its because this is middle grade either because I don't think they are supposed to be. The characters are sixteen so I am assuming this is still considered young adult.

I know I was supposed to be creeped out, but the overall storyline just didn't do much for me.  I thought Lisa wasn't a great main character because she snapped way too easy and yes I know no one believed her, but even before certain things happened she just seemed kinda rude and selfish,  especially with her parents.  The secondary characters I really didn't feel anything for either because they just didn't have enough page time.

I will say that there was a pretty interesting storyline after the reveal that I would have loved to of known more about. I felt like things got cut extremely short at the end and I was really bummed about it.  I wanted an explanation and we don't get one really at all.  I can't help but wonder why things were left that way.  I thought I remembered some sort of an explanation being presented at the end in previous installments, but maybe I am remembering wrong.

That last page was pretty creepy though.  After reading that I did get chills, but it was a little too late in my opinion.  I wanted way more thrills and chills from Don't Stay Up Late so I am guessing I am just growing as a reader and my tastes are just evolving.  I am going with 2 stars..1 for that last page and 1 for Harry who made this book bearable.

2 snowflakes

Review: Twist by Karen Akins

Twist by Karen Akins

Publisher-St. Martin's Griffin

Released-March 31st 2015

Pre-Order-Amazon / B & N

The unbelievably thrilling sequel to the time-travel YA novel Loop.Bree Bennis finally has it all—a non-comatose mother, an uber-hot (albeit anachronistic) boyfriend named Finn, and a newfound mission to protect the timeline from those who would skew it for their own gain. But when she leans over one day to smooch said boyfriend, her lips meet those of her arch-nemesis Wyck instead. The timeline has been altered, and Bree is caught in the crosshairs. But when she goes back to repair the damage, she is stopped by none other than her Future Self, who delivers an urgent message: Someone is kidnapping Shifters from the distant past. It’s up to Bree to stop them. But first, she has to figure out who…and why.To follow the trail of chronocrumbs, Bree reluctantly accepts her new undercover gig as Wyck’s girlfriend. Everything goes spiffy until Finn shows up in the 23rd century on the eager arm of a gorgeous fellow Shifter. Blark. Even as Bree struggles with jealousy, she battles the nagging dread that Finn might be better off with someone less chronologically complicated. Her worst fear is confirmed when Finn becomes the kidnapper’s next victim. As Bree zeroes in on the culprit, they unravel her life one timeline-change at a time. She realizes that she alone has the power to save herself and everyone she loves. But to do that, she may lose Finn forever.

My Thoughts:

Karen Akins debut novel, Loop was one of my favorite book in 2014 and my favorite time travel book ever so needless to say I couldn't wait to make grabby hands for the next installement, Twist! I didn't think it was possible but I think I loved this one even more. Filled with non-stop action and pure entertainment from the first page right, intill the end.

Between the spontaneous time travelling, the responsibility of the reverter and trying to maintain a cross-century relationship, Bree is a busy girl, but she's finally happy with the way things have been, but all that changes one night when someone decides to change their timeline and changing Bree's in the process. Shifters are being kidnapped, her once friend Wyck is either the good guy or the bad guy and her boyfriend Finn is the next victim in ICE's plans. It's a race against time and an inevitable fate to save the ones she loves the most, but Bree may end up losing more then she's willing to give up.

Wow! What a mind-bender! Akins really knows how to write some awesome time travelling craziness. Man, my mind is still whirling with everything that's happened. There is so much going on here plot wise I wouldn't even be able to sum it up even if I wanted to, but one things for sure, I could not stop reading this page turning adventure. Time travel books has always been a hard sell for me, I adore the concept mind you but couldn't always get into them till now. I think it's the way Akins tells this story, it's incredibly exhilarating and a heart stopping adventure combined with humor, hug-worthy moments and a passion for the space-time continuum. I was always connected and invested with each character and while I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't a little confused at one point or another, I was still completely aware with everything happening. So in short, there was a lot to process but dame if it wasn't a blast doing it.

I adore Bree and Finn! Seriously, they're one of my favorite  couples evah. They give a whole new meaning to complicated long distance relationship, but they make it work. I love their humor and little quirks, I love how they take mundane activities or everyday sayings and jumble it up in such an amusing and adorable way. It's those little things that made me fall more in love with them throughout the story. Bree is amazing in this book, she takes charge, doesn't give up and tries with everything she has while Finn is still the steady, strong, protective and fun loving guy we meet in the first book. Their love story is so dame sweet and it makes my heart happy just thinking about them. The ending is truly bittersweet but when I think of a different way it could have been I realize that Akins really did deliver a perfectly fitted ending that ties up the story in a satisfying and hopeful way. 

Bottom line, I loved this book. It has everything I love in an escape, from rip roaring time travel goodness, to head spinning-heart aching romance. This was such a solid sequel and so much fun to read. Loved! I can't wait to see what Akins does next, I'll follow her anywhere.

Find the author:

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Review: The In-Between by Barbara Stewart

The In-Between by Barbara Stewart
Publisher: St.Martins Griffin
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

When Elanor’s near-death experience opens a door to a world inhabited by bold, beautiful Madeline, she finds her life quickly spiraling out of control

Fourteen-year-old Elanor Moss has always been an outcast who fails at everything she tries—she's even got the fine, white scars to prove it. Moving was supposed to be a chance at a fresh start, a way to leave behind all the pain and ugliness of her old life. But, when a terrible car accident changes her life forever, her near-death experience opens a door to a world inhabited by Madeline Torus . . . Madeline is everything Elanor isn’t: beautiful, bold, brave. She is exactly what Elanor has always wanted in a best friend and more—their connection runs deeper than friendship. But Madeline is not like other girls, and Elanor has to keep her new friend a secret or risk being labeled “crazy.” Soon, though, even Elanor starts to doubt her own sanity. Madeline is her entire life, and that life is drastically spinning out of control. Elanor knows what happens when your best friend becomes your worst enemy. But what happens when your worst enemy is yourself?

With her debut novel, The In-Between, Barbara Stewart presents a bold new voice in teen fiction.

My Thoughts:
Wow just WOW!  This book is so real that's scary.  I have several books that revolve around the same thing as this one but I have never felt the way I feel right now.  My heart is in shambles and I'm not sure how long it will take it to mend.

The story, oh my this story.  Ellie is trying to start over.  She is in middle school and to put it nicely she is a social outcast.  After her attempted suicide her family picks up everything and moves.  Then the unthinkable happens, when Ellie wakes up her new beginning isn't the one she was prepared for and things quickly start unraveling.

This whole story was a mind twist and very creepy.  In the beginning I just wanted to figure out what was going on and then when Ellie woke up for the second time I was like OH I get it!  Yeah I wasn't even close to figuring everything out.  By the end I was almost in tears and if you know me then you know that I am not a crier so this was huge.  I cried not only for Ellie, but for her mom and Madeline.  You honestly have no clue where things are going until the very end and let me tell you they explode at the end.  Everything comes together in a very crazy way, but it makes perfect sense.  In any other story I am not sure I would have bought the ending, but Ms.Stewart has a wonderful way with words and she created such indepth characters that you just have to believe it.

Normally in YA books the parents aren't ever really around, but Ellie's mom was there from the beginning and I really loved her role in this.  Yes she said some things that weren't called for, but in the end she just wanted to help her daughter the best way she knew how.  She wasn't perfect but at least she held her ground and kept to being a parent rather than a friend to Ellie.  Her role could have gone downhill very fast after learning about a certain life altering situation, but she just really took it in stride and never looked back.  Major props to the author for letting this character be just a mom.

This book fits onto my must read shelf nicely.  It is creepy with an insane reality added on that will definitely leave you thinking.  This will not be my last book by this author I promise you that!

4 Snowflakes

 

Review: Fall for Anything

Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: December 10, 2010
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

From the author of Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are comes a gripping story about one girl’s search for clues into the mysterious death of her father.

When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

Thoughts:
Fall for Anything is one of those few stories that kept me up all night until I finished the book because I just had to see how this car crash would end. It’s by no means a feel good escapist book. It’s about parental suicide and learning how to cope with the aftermath of unanswered questions and a quest for the truth.

Courtney Summers creates a flawlessly broken, angry, confused teenage girl in Eddie and as before with Cracked Up to Be, the main character has my compassion from the first FU she spews. She honest, angry and hurting, there’s no way I could turn my back on her struggle and not care. I felt horrible for her with that whole motel incident and even though in my head I knew! I just knew! Like with any close friend, I’d never say it out loud, I’d just be there for them and that’s it.

Open ending with no conclusive answers, but very signature as other books I’ve read on suicide,... it’s not about closure or getting answers… it’s just not.  Crazy, dark read that may not be for everyone, but if you open the book and begin Eddie’s journey, I’d be surprised if you didn’t feel just a little bit spent by the end.

                                                            4 Snowflakes

                                              
                                     
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Double Review: This is Not a Test

This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: June 19, 2012
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes & Noble

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self.

To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live.

But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside.

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

Thoughts:

 This book is insanely good. It was creepy, dark, terrifying, intense and just amazing.

Put simply this is about six teenagers who get stuck in a school after zombies take over the town. It is not clear where these zombies came from or even if the town was aware of them. Simple story not so simple characters. Each character has his/her own side story and not one of them is anywhere near happy. Sloane the main character has had a very hard life. Her father is abusive, her mother is gone, and her sister has left her alone with their father. Sloane is about ready to take her own life when the unthinkable happens and zombies invade her town. Left with no other option than to run from the house she somehow gets caught up with 5 other teenagers on the run for their lives. They all end up in a school that they barricade up and are lucky enough to have food and running water inside. At one point I did have a flashback to The Breakfast Club but that quickly changed to a Lord of the Flies vibe after several plays for power are thrown out. This book takes place mostly inside the school but don’t let that fool you into thinking there is no action.. There is plenty of drama, action, and mystery woven into this story and I am so glad that it did take place inside somewhere safe because if I had to deal with several zombie attacks I would have seriously lost my mind. I was trembling and glued to the pages as it was.

So much of what happened in this book shocked the poo out of me. After reading so many books that is very hard to do, but I found myself open mouthed at more than just one point throughout the story. Do not go into this thinking you will get a hea or that there will be rainbows by the end. This is Not a Test is a very dark and disturbing book. Ms. Summers is fearless with her characters and takes no shortcuts when it comes to the hard stuff. I even had nightmares from this book *shudders* If you have read my other reviews you know that I am loving the scary creatures and this book brought back the terrifying zombie. I hope she writes more in this genre.
Never Too Late by Three Days Grace
                                                            5 Snowflakes
                                          
                                 

                                                                      

Thoughts:

Well I’ve read a couple of books by Courtney Summers, including Cracked Up to Be and Fall for Anything; and if I’ve learned anything about this author it’s that she doesn’t go light on her subject matter. With Summers, you’re going to get an emotionally charged book that includes characters on the verge of collapse because of some pretty intense experiences.

Her stories are contemporary novels that hit some heavy subjects head on… pretty clear cut. So when I heard her new release This is Not a Test was about zombies I was a bit taken aback to say the least and I don’t think I’m the only Summers fan that felt that way. What a stretch from her typical style! Part of me was put off because of the zombie bit… not a fan really. But then again I recall being drawn in by this author’s writing so I gave it a try. So glad I did!

Now, I’m definitely not going to be the first one to say this is a book about zombies, but it’s really not about zombies. Don’t worry, I was perplexed when I read that too. But it’s so spot on! This book is about six teenagers that come together in the most unlikely of circumstance. They are trying to survive the demise of society that has fallen victim to a zombie attack. They take shelter in the high school and baracade themselves from the outside world in the hopes that help will soon come their way. All of them are fighting to survive… except for one.

Sloane’s life fell apart long before the zombie epidemic. She comes from a highly abusive family and her only hope for survival (her sister) escaped the clutches of their brutal father six months prior which left Sloane to fend for herself. So, she has no reason to survive, but every hope to end her life. However, when she stumbles upon this group, she finds a reason to hang on just one more day… just one more day.

I’m not sure what grabbed me so profoundly with this book. Possibly the writing, the shocking events, the fragile world building that kept me curious of how this all happened and how it would end, the continuously moving plot… it all blended perfectly together to have me hooked to the pages of this book. I have to say again, the zombie factor was such a miniscule part of this reading experience. There wasn’t a ton of gore, but watch out because those zombies just don’t quit… not for one moment.

This book really left an impression on me, but I can’t say that’s the first time Courtney Summers has done that, and I’m sure it’s not the last.

Well here’s my playlist song. I went with this one because Sloane was the focal point of this book and her agony really shook me in a way I wasn’t expecting. To me this book was more about Sloane fighting the pain within her rather than the threat surrounding her.
Dear Agony – Breaking Benjamin

                                                                  4 Stars

                                               
                                                                         

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