Follow Friday (63)

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

So I'm going to have to stick with my one and only true book love, Dimitri from Vampire Academy. I honestly think that there is not one other book guy I would choose. I mean yes I have a few others I have a bit of a fictional crush on like Four from Divergent, Jack and Nick from Dark mirror, Adrian from VA. None will take Dimitris place though...ever. :) 

Who's yours?
You can either follow by my GFC or by email.

Some stuff I've done the past week or two:
Review: Never eighteen
Giveaway: Immortal Rules (Ends saturday)
Q & A with Julie Kagawa
Discussion: Fifty Shades Trilogy

Book Review: Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

AUTHOR: Megan Bostic
PUBLISHER: HMH Childrens Books
PAGES: 200
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Stand Alone
SOURCE: Bought
GENRE: Contemporary
PUBLICATION: January 17, 2012

OUTLINE:
I had the dream again. The one where I’m running. I don’t know what from or where to, but I’m scared, terrified really.

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. But in the short time he has left there’s one thing he can do: He can try to help the people he loves live—even though he never will.

It’s probably hopeless.

But he has to try

IN MY WORDS
Austin Parker knows he doesn't have long to live what with his illness, but he wants to make sure he lives his life to the fullest. He wants to make sure everyone around him lives their lives to the fullest also. So one weekend he gets his best friend Kaylee (his secret crush) to drive him around to places that have meaning to him and to see people he believes he can try and help. A mother who lost a son, a girl in a bad relationship, a kid he bullied, a friend who has a secret, and others. Even if he doesn't break through their shells at least he put in the effort and gave them something to think about. If you ask me that's all that he could ask for.

IN A NUTSHELL
If you want a read that will tug on your heart and show you that even the simplest story can have a huge impact then this one is for you. Never eighteen can be seen as a bit of an inspirational story. It makes you think..what if you knew you didn't have long to live? What would you do? Who would you want to make peace with? Who could you try and impact/give hope to? After I read this it made me think of my fiance, Ryan. Although he's not sick he has a rare disability (for some it's fatal). He told me that the doctors said he wouldn't live past being a teenager, but he here is 2 years away from 30. I thank god for giving him his life and the strength he has because without him my life would suck.(I know that sounds cliche after being with him only 7 months, but if you were to know me before I met him you'd understand.)  I know some days for him are difficult to get out and he's in pain, but he still tries.  Like Kaylee I think I would do anything for him and vice versa. Sorry I got a bit off topic.

CHARACTERS
I really enjoyed Austins voice as a male protagonist. It's rare (although it seems like it's happening a little more now...so I guess not to rare) that you see a male protag in any YA. Then for one to be as genuine as Austin. To care for people in the way he does. It's nice to have characters like these. :) It's nice to know that not all guys have to be stalker-ish/overbearing idiots. That some can be shy about the feelings they have for certain people.
Kaylee was also another great character. Although I loved Austin more Kaylee was the kind of best friend that anyone would be lucky to have. Austin asked if she'd drive him to places without any question and she did. She let Austin take care of his business, and when he did need her she was there for him to lean on (and puke on..lol)
As for the other characters we briefly met like their friends it was nice to learn about them. To see them interact with Austin when he came around to talk with them about their lives. They weren't to overshadowing of the main characters, but they had just enough background to weave the story together nicely.

ALL IN ALL
It's fair to say that I truly loved this story. The characters, storyline, the writing, everything. I have to admit the ending was what really did it for me.






*****SPOILER-Y ALERT ****
When I read Austins letter at the end telling Kaylee what do now that he had passed I pretty much started crying.

Giveaway: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

It's giveaway time!
The people at Harlequin Teen have graciously allowed me to give away one copy of Julie Kagawa's latest book The Immortal Rules.

"In a future world, vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity."Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of "them." The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked--and given the ultimate choice. Die...or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend--a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what--and who--is worth dying for.

----------------------------------------------
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Q & A with Julie Kagawa

A few months back I received The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa. I finished reading it back in May. I'm just now getting around to doing a giveaway for it, posting my review, and also I was sent this Q & A to post. (Sorry I haven't done it sooner. Life's been kind of busy for me here lately.)
A Q&A with
New York Times Best Selling Author Julie Kagawa

After writing the Iron Fey series for so many years, how difficult was it to
immerse yourself in a futuristic world filled with vampires, rabids and an
enslaved human race?

It was...very different. I think the hardest thing for me was the fact that this
story does take place in the real world -- a futuristic, vampire-infested world, but
the real world nonetheless. Things had to make sense, for example: how far can a
large group walk in a single day if there were no roads, they were going through
thick woods, and there were children in the group? I had to have logical reasons for
everything; I couldn't just make something work "because of faery magic," lol.

Just like Meghan Chase in the Iron Fey series, the main character in The
Immortal Rules, Allison Sekemoto, is a “take charge and kick butt” kind of girl.
Is this intentional? What woman – real or fictional, alive or deceased – do you
look up to or admire?

Yes, Allison comes from a very different world than Meghan Chase. Meghan's
upbringing was pretty normal; Allison grew up among vampires and monsters,
where every day was a fight to live, so she couldn't afford to be weak. While Meghan
had to learn to "take charge and kick butt," Allison's first impulse is stab first, talk
later.

As for female role models, the first that comes to mind--when it comes to
kicking vampire butt, anyway -- is Buffy Summers. Thank you, Joss Whedon, for
making me love feisty, snarky, heroines who can dust all sorts of nasties but who
also look good in a cheerleading outfit. ;)

You mention in your acknowledgements in The Immortal Rules that at the
beginning of your writing career you promised yourself you wouldn’t write a
vampire book. What changed your mind?

Well, there were already so many really good books about our favorite
bloodsuckers, so many stories and ideas, I thought I didn't have anything new to add
to the masses. I was actually toying with a post-apocalyptic YA novel when my
agent mentioned I might want to try writing a vampire series. I wasn't intrigued
with the idea at first, but then I thought about combining vampires with the post-
apocalyptic novel and then rest sort of fell into place.

Allison claims she hates vampires and believes they are monsters yet when
faced with a choice of die or become one, she becomes a vampire. Would you
have made that same decision?

Me personally? No. I'm like Zeke in the belief that there is something better
waiting for me beyond this life, and I just have to do my best until it’s time for me to
go. Besides, I love pizza and Mountain Dew too much to give it up.

Who do you think the most complex character is in The Immortal Rules?

Probably Kanin, Allie's sire. He's a vampire who has made his peace about
being a monster, yet chooses to live by his own set of moral rules. He warns Allison
about getting too close to humans, yet he does not kill unless he absolutely has to.
He is tormented about something in his past that he refuses to share with anyone.
He is certainly the most mysterious of all the characters, if not the most complex.

How many books will be in the Blood of Eden series? When will the next book
be coming out?

At the moment, there are three books planned, with the second coming out
sometime next spring, after the release of the new Iron Fey series this fall.

Before you starting writing full time you were a professional dog trainer. Do
the professions share any similarities?

Lol, well you have to think on your feet a lot. And some of the small dogs
could be compared to tiny snapping goblins, but writing requires less dodging skills,
though perhaps the same amount of creativity and problem solving.

When starting a new series, like Blood of Eden, do you have the entire series
mapped out in detail or do you let the story develop book by book?

I have a high point that I write toward in each story; I know this and this has
to happen, but getting from point A to point B usually develops as I go along.

And for the speed round:
What book have you read and re-read, and read yet again?
Any of the Harry Potter books.

Favorite song to play when writing a fight scene?

My "favorites" change daily. Right now its "Awake and Alive" by Skillet.

Worst job?

Working a kiosk in the mall during Christmas. It sold glass figurines, and the
maneuvering space around the hundreds of very breakable merchandise was quite
small. I was like a bull in a china shop.

Best vacation spot?

Walt Disney World

Sweets or salty?

Sweet.

One thing most people don’t know about you – and would never guess!

I used to play the flute when I was a kid. I was really good at it too, but my
instructor stopped teaching to have a family, and I never went back to it.

------------------------------------------------------------------
That's all there is. I hope you enjoyed.

Books I'd quit support group for (2)

Books I'd quit support group for was inspired by Ashley's Books I want so badly I could pee posts.

Have you ever just browsed though good reads, or typed in one of your favorite books and gone over to the "Readers also enjoyed section" and scrolled through those. I think that's one of the reasons I find so many books that I want to read. These usually are books that have yet to be published which makes it that much harder for me because I'm like I want it. So here is where some of those books will go.

 
AUTHOR: Jeanne Ryan
EXPECTED PUBLICATION: September 13,2012
PUBLISHER: Dial Books (Penguin)
OUTLINE:
A high-stakes online game of dares turns deadly

When Vee is picked to be a player in NERVE, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game knows her. They tempt her with prizes taken from her ThisIsMe page and team her up with the perfect boy, sizzling-hot Ian. At first it’s exhilarating—Vee and Ian’s fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn when they’re directed to a secret location with five other players for the Grand Prize round. Suddenly they’re playing all or nothing, with their lives on the line. Just how far will Vee go before she loses NERVE?

 
AUTHOR: Stephanie Thomas
EXPECTED PUBLICATION: November 13,2012
PUBLISHER: Entangled Teen
OUTLINE:
My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings. And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t been the same since.

The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me.

The enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I'm falling in love with him. He says they're coming. He says they're angry. And I think I've already helped them win.

 
AUTHOR: Melissa west
EXPECTED PUBLICATION: October 16,2012
PUBLISHER: Entangled Publishing
OUTLINE:
In the future, only one rule will matter: Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed--arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know--especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war.

 
AUTHOR: Lisa M. Stasse
EXPECTED PUBLICATION: July 10,2012
PUBLISHER: Simon and Schuster
OUTLINE:
As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway

 

AUTHOR: Jeanne Ryan
EXPECTED PUBLICATION: October 31st 2012 PUBLISHER: J. Taylor Publishing
OUTLINE:
What eighteen year old Mac Thorne doesn’t know will probably kill her.

In exactly eight months, five days, three hours and thirteen minutes, Mac has to choose what she’ll be for the rest of her life.

She has no choice but to pick. As a Changeling, it’s her birthright. To Mac, it’s a birthchore. Like going to school with humans, interacting with humans, and pretending to be human during the pesky daylight hours.

Once darkness descends, Mac can change into any supernatural form that exists — which makes her as happy as she can be. That is, until Winn Thomas, the biggest geek in her senior class figures out there’s more to what hides in the dark than most are willing to acknowledge.

So what do you guys think? Any of these sound interesting to you?

Sharing with the group (1) (IMM)

This is my new book show and tell inspired by the IMMs from Kristi.
I get so behind on doing the videos and trying to upload every week that I think from now on I will probably do one of these per month.

Starters by Lissa Price (RAK from April)
Dark parties by Sarah Grant
Fracture by Megan Miranda
Crossed by Ally Condie
The Savage Grace by Bree Despain
The Statistical Probablitity of love at first sight by Jennifer E. Smith
The fault in our stars by John Green
Shattered Dreams by Ellie Dreams
Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows (RAK from Jasmine in April)
Bumped by Megan Mccaferty
The tension of opposites by Kristina Mcbride
Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Goddess Interrupted Aimee Carter
Exile by Rebecca Lim
Pure by Jennifer Armentrout
Lexapros and Cons by Aaron Karo (Won from Amy)
Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
Insurgent by Veronica roth
Under the never sky by Veronica Rossi
Wild Ink: Success Secrets to writing in the YA market

Book Review: All Hallows Moon by S.M Reine

AUTHOR: SM Reine
PUBLISHED: September 9,2011
PUBLISHER:
PAGES: 316
SERIES/STAND ALONE: Series Book 2)
SOURCE: From Author
CHALLENGES: None

OUTLINE:
Rylie survived becoming a werewolf at great cost. She moves to her aunt’s ranch in the hopes she can enroll in a new high school and quietly continue her life... with a few distinct changes. She transforms into a beast every new and full moon and struggles to control her murderous urges.

Without many werewolves left, it’s hard to stay in hiding. A family of hunters -- Eleanor, Abel, and Seth -- recognize the signs and follow Rylie to her new home. They want to stop her before she murders someone, and the only way to do it is with a silver bullet. Seth soon realizes the werewolf is Rylie, the one monster he failed to kill. Worse yet, he’s still in love with her.

Torn between family and love, Rylie struggles to reconcile her feelings and control the wolf within while Seth fights to do what’s right. But what is right-- obeying desire or duty?

MY THOUGHTS:

I absolutely adore this series. Why it took me so long to read the second book I don't know. Maybe, it's because it was on my kindle and for some reason I have a hard time committing myself to reading things on the kindle. I know that's a stupid reason, but it's true. I'm one of those readers who enjoys the actual book in my hand. I did go ahead and buy the third one on my kindle as well so I would be up to date when the fourth is released this year.

For Rylie living in the city wasn't going to work out after becoming a werewolf so she moves to the country where her aunt lives in hopes that she doesn't attack anyone. Still changing into a beast every new and full moon and controlling that thirst is harder than expected, and things turn up dead. When things turn up dead and it looks like a werewolf is the cause that brings the hunters in town and Rylie is no longer safe and she can no longer hide her secret.

I was really glad that Seth got a bigger part in this book because I adore him. He's not that overly, protective guy. He has a kind heart and I enjoy seeing that in the male characters.

Believe it or not I actually enjoyed Seth's family members as well. Okay, yes they're set on killing Rylie but still I have a soft spot for them....mainly Abel.

Rylie was still an awesome main character and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book which I need to start reading.

Waiting on Wed: The Program by Suzanne Young

Waiting on Wed is hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine and spotlights the new and upcoming books that we can't wait to get our hands on.

This week my pick is The Program by Suzanne Young

Expected Publication date: April 30th, 2013
Publisher Simon Pulse
Synopsis:
Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone.

With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in.

And The Program is coming for them.

Why I chose this:
So it would seem lately that I've had a soft spot for dystopians which is weird because last year I didn't really care to much for them, but with all of them that are coming out lately it seems that its maybe the new craze. Vampires...who? Societies bent on controlling everyone..Check! This sounds a bit different then most of them, and I enjoyed the authors previous work A Need so Beautiful. I'm hoping I'll enjoy this one just as much. :)

This has nothing to do with the books, but I'm pretty excited about it. My engagement ring I got from Ryan on Sunday. I think we've come to agreement that the wedding will probably be in November of next year. I'm nervous and excited all at the same time.

Discussion: Fifty Shades Trilogy-Yes or no?

I've been thinking about getting this and reading it to see what the big deal is. I've read on other bloggers sites that the refuse to read it just because, but I have a co-worker who said it's normally something she wouldn't read, but she enjoyed it. Then a few of us got into a discussion about it. My problem with listening to her is I'm not sure what kind of books interest her other then that. I wanted to turn to my readers and followers to see if you all have read this, or just to see what your thoughts are about it. I'm more inclined to listen to you guys just because I know what ya'lls interest are (sorta). It's also funny because a few weeks back I was listening to one of our local radio stations, and they were talking about it, and how they could read it on air a clean version of course. Wanna see them reading it. (Video below) or go to Kiddnation.com. I also see that it might turn into a movie. I'm just curious.

What are ya'lls thoughts on it?


If you haven't watched this yet. Do so! They use movie titles in places where it gets a little explicit.