Never Cry Werewolf Contest

My blogoversary is in two days. So there are going to be five contest this week, with some awesome books. Today's giveaway is Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis. Here is what it is about:
Moonlight can totally change your life.
And it all starts so simply.
You. Him.
The moon.
You're toast.
Okay, so maybe Shelby has made a few mistakes with boys lately (how was she supposed to know Wes had "borrowed" that Porsche?). But her stepmother totally overreacts when she catches Shelby in a post-curfew kiss with a hot senior: Suddenly Shelby's summer plans are on the shelf, and she's being packed off to brat camp. It's good-bye, prom dress; hello, hiking boots.
Things start looking up, though, when Shelby meets fellow camper (and son of a rock star) Austin Bridges III. But soon she realizes there's more to Austin than crush material—his family has a dark secret, and he wants Shelby's help guarding it. Shelby knows that she really shouldn't be getting tangled up with another bad boy . . . but who is she to turn her back on a guy in need, especially such a good-looking one? One thing's for sure: That pesky full moon is about to get her into trouble all over again.
To enter the contest: How would you react if someone you like turned out to be a werewolf?
Extra entries:
1. New or Current follower. +5
2. Re-post it in any social network or blog. +3 each
3. +1 for each referral and +1 on being referred.
This Contest is open till September 21st at midnight. International is okay, just indicate it, because only two of the prizes can go to international winners.

In My Mailbox(Week of August 30th)

In My Mailbox was started by the Pop Culture Junkie and memefied by The Story Siren.

For Review:

The Monster Variations by Daniel Kraus
This fast-paced read will keep readers on the edge of their seats!Someone is killing boys in a small town. The murder weapon is a truck, and the only protection is a curfew enacted to keep kids off the streets. But it’s summer—and that alone is worth the risk of staying out late for James, Willie, and Reggie. Willie, who lost his arm in the first hit-and-run attack, finds it hard to keep up with his two best friends as they leave childhood behind. All of them are changing, hounded by their parents, hunted by the killer, and haunted by the “monster,” a dead thing that guards the dangerous gateway between youth and manhood. But that’s not all: shadowing the boys everywhere is Mel Herman, the mysterious and brilliant bully whose dark secrets may hold the key to their survival. As the summer burns away, these forces collide, and it will take compassion, brains, and guts for the boys to overcome their demons—and not become monsters themselves. In this chilling and poignant debut novel, Daniel Kraus deftly explores the choices boys grapple with and the revelations that occur as they become men.
This book sounds really good.

Marni by Marni Bates

Marni pulls. Pulls her hair, that is. Unable to deal with the mounting stress at home, in school, and with friends, Marni's compulsion to pluck out her eyebrows, eyelashes . . . even the hair from the top of her head, helped her to quiet her mind and escape the pressures of the world around her. Marni first began pulling the summer just before entering high school, and she was immediately hooked. Unfortunately, by the time she discovered that her habit was an actual disorder—trichotillomania or "trich"—it was way too late. "When I stared at the mirror and tried to recognize the girl without eyebrows, eyelashes, and bangs as myself and failed, I knew something had gone horribly wrong." Because Truth Is More Fascinating Than Fiction.

Chelsey by Chelsey Shannon

Chelsey was dealth the unthinkable. When Her Only Surviving Parent, her beloved father, was violently murdered days before her fourteenth birthday, Chelsey's life was forever changed. As she was forced to come to terms with a new home life, a new school . . . a new identity as an orphan, Chelsey struggled to make sense of her personal tragedy. Yet she found a way to flourish despite all the odds. "I thought of myself in a new light: a girl, newly fourteen, standing in her dead father's study, all in black, a single tear streaming down her cheek. I was alone. My family told me again and again I was not, but without him, I was. I was no longer anyone's child." Because Truth Is More Fascinating Than Fiction.

Emily by Emily Smucker

Emily's the sick one . . . all of the time. Plagued with some sort of cold or fever or bizarre aches and pains for much of her life, Emily thought the dizziness and stomachaches at the start of her senior year were just another bout of "Emily flu." But when they didn't go away, she knew something was seriously wrong. Eventually diagnosed with the rare and incurable West Nile virus, Emily watched her senior year and the future she had planned for go up in smoke. "I want a normal life for a teenager. I want to ache from a long day at work. I want to be so busy that I don't have time to post on my blog. I want to run the race of life instead of being pushed along it in a wheelchair. I want to be on the ride of my life, you know?" Because Truth Is More Fascinating Than Fiction.

I added these on Goodreads and got an @reply from the editor on Twitter. She asked if I have got them for review, and I hadn't. So, she had the publisher send me some. I really excited to read these books.

Everything Sucks by Hannah Friedman

When everything sucks,change everything . . .
And that's exactly what Hannah Friedman set out to do in an ambitious attempt to bust out of a life of obscurity and absurdity and into an alternate world of glamour, wealth, and popularity.
Being dubbed 'That Monkey Girl' by middle school bullies and being pulled out of sixth grade to live on a tour bus with her agoraphobic mother, her smelly little brother, and her father's hippie band mates convinces Hannah that she is destined for a life of freakdom.
But when she enters one of the country's most prestigious boarding schools on scholarship, Hannah transforms herself into everything she is not: cool. By senior year, she has a perfect millionaire boyfriend, a perfect GPA, a perfect designer wardrobe, and is part of the most popular clique in school, but somehow everything begins to suck far worse than when she first started. Her newfound costly drug habit, eating disorder, identity crisis, and Queen-Bee attitude lead to the unraveling of Hannah's very unusual life.
Putting her life back together will take more than a few clicks of her heels, or the perfect fit of a glass slipper, in this not-so-fairy tale of going from rock bottom to head of the class and back again.

I am really excited to read this. It looks really good.

Lady Macbeth's Daughter by Lisa Klein

In alternating chapters, ambitious Lady Macbeth strives to bear a son and win the throne of Scotland for her husband, and their daughter Albia, banished due to a deformity, tries to deny her supernatural abilities as she is raised in the woods by three weird sisters, in this tale based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

I got this for a Traveling to Teens tour. I am really excited to read it. Since I really enjoyed Ophelia.

The Sky Always Hears Me: And the Hills Don't Mind by Kirstin Cronn-Mills

Sixteen-year-old Morgan lives in a hick town in the middle of Nebraska. College is two years away. Her mom was killed in a car accident when she was three, her dad drinks, and her stepmom is a non-entity. Her boyfriend Derek is boring and her coworker Rob has a very cute butt that she can't stop staring at. Then there's the kiss she shared with her classmate Tessa...
But when Morgan discovers that the one person in the world she trusted most has kept a devastating secret from her, Morgan must redefine her life and herself.

I have already read this and I really liked it. It isn't excaltly how it sounds.

I also got a repeat of Thanksgiving at the Inn by Tim Whitney.

The Bought:

Strange Angel by Lili St. Crow

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Interview with Suzanne Young

Suzanne Young is an author, wife and mother of two. Originally from Utica, NY, Suzanne moved to Arizona to pursue her dream of not freezing to death. After nearly eight years in the desert, she and her family moved to Oregon where she continues to live a completely random life. Suzanne writes novels for teens and earned a BA in Creative Writing before becoming a middle school Language Arts teacher. She is the Author of The Naughty List, which comes out February 4th, 2010. You should preorder it today, it is so cute.

1. Have you ever considered spying on boys like Tessa does, as a teen?
No, I don’t think I went that far…. at least not that I’d be willing to admit here. haha But I think a lot of us were guilty of hang ups and lighter stuff like that.

2. How many books are planned in The Naughty List series, so far?
Three right now. The next book is due out in the summer of 2010 and it’s called SO MANY BOYS…

3. In The Naughty List, Tessa doesn't swear, but uses the cutest phrases ever using food. Where did you come up with these?
Honestly, I have NO IDEA! Haha. I was writing in Tessa’s voice when all of the sudden she said her and boyfriend were so strawberry smoothie… after that. I was hooked on all of her quirky phrases.

4. What is your favorite and least thing about writing?
I love writing new stuff. I’m totally addicted to it. Probably the hardest part for me is the patience needed. I think a lot of people would be amazed at the lag time between a manuscript being bought to when it’s on the shelves. If it were in Suzanne-time, it’d be about a week. Lol. But for me, it was more like a year and a half.

5. What is it like being a tenner? Does it come with secret powers?
If it did, I think my secret power would be blogging. I do it like it’s my job. Haha. Being a Tenner is fantastic. I get to meet and hang out with an awesome group of writers. It’s like our own Secret Society… only without the wall scaling.

6. Other then writing and reading, what do you like to do?
I love to go camping. I’ll hook you all up with some toasted marshmallows. But beware, I like mine totally burnt.

7. Is there anything that you would like to add?
Just that I have been overwhelmed at how positive all the bloggers have been! It was like I was allowed into the coolest online club! So I thank you and all of the other bloggers out there.

The reason that I am posting my interviews, so close together is that next week is my Blogoversary is next week and I have a few post pre-planned.

Signing with Richelle Mead and Lili St. Crow

So, on Tuesday, I went to a signing for Richelle Mead and Lili St. Crow. It was at University Bookstore. Here is a huge stack of both their books, which is amazing.

Lili St. Crow did an amazing reading, she was really funny and her reading was awesome.

Richelle Mead did an amazing reading. I am really excited to read Blood Promise.

They had one of the funniest Q&A that I have ever been to. It was great.
Here, I am with Chelsea Campbell. She is really awesome and we met in the line. Woot for Tenners!

Here is picture of Lili St. Crow, Richelle Mead, My sister Elizabeth, and I.

Interview with Kimberly Derting

Kimberly has loved writing since Juinor High. Her book, The Body Finder will be coming out in March 2010 and you should totally preorder it soon. Her second book, Desires of the Dead, will be released in 2011 She lives in the Pacific Northwest, which is the ideal place to be writing anything dark or creepy...a gloomy day can set the perfect mood. She live with my husband and our three beautiful (and often mouthy) children, who serve as an endless source of inspiration for my writing. If you want to learn more about her, visit her site here.

1. Violet can sense who has been murdered and the murder. Where did you get this idea?
The idea actually came from my husband one day while we were driving. He’s always throwing around ideas, and he looked at me and said: “What if there was a person who could find dead bodies.” Of course, in his head it was a Middle Grade boy, but for me it was something else entirely. My brain went into overdrive, and by the time we got home I was practically racing through the front door to start making notes. That was how Violet (and her creepy ability) was born.

2. What was it like writing about murders so close to home? Did that help with the setting?
I loved writing about the Pacific Northwest, especially the scenes that involved Mount Rainier or Lake Tapps, because they are such a huge part of my daily life. For me, the setting became almost like a character in my book…an old friend that I was very comfortable with.

3. You are both a Deb and a Tenner. What is it like having dual citizenship?
Oh my gosh, it’s so much fun! I love them both equally, and even though they’re sister groups (formatted very similarly), the personalities of the members make them completely different. I’ll admit that I was hesitant about the Tenners at first, because I was so ensconced in the Debs when I was told my book was being moved to 2010. I think I even resented the Tenners a little at first, like they were replacing the Debs (only in my head, of course). But now that I’ve gotten to know them, I absolutely love them! It’s like having a huge extended family…one that understands what you’re going through in this crazy world of publishing!

4. What are some of your favorite books?
I have been so fortunate this past year to read an abundance of fabulous books, thanks to both the Tenners and the Debs, but I have to say that some of my all-time faves are still books like To Kill A Mockingbird (which everyone says, but it’s true!), The Shining (which is the complete opposite of TKAM, but I’m a rabid Stephen King fan), The Kite Runner (because I cried), Night by Elie Weisel (because I was appalled) and The Golden Compass (because Philip Pulman created an amazing world). Wow, what a crazy list!!!

5. You have wanted to write since Junior High. What was it like getting the call about The Body Finder?
Intense. That’s almost all I can say about it. It was the most intense and surreal experience of my life. You can dream about it forever, but when it actually happens it’s almost impossible to believe.

6. You admit on your website that you love TV. What shows do you like the most?
HAHA! I do like TV, which I feel almost guilty admitting out loud. But my TV taste is like my book taste, I like a little bit of everything. I love HOUSE, IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, MEDIUM (Oooh, I love Medium!), BONES, HEROES, 30 ROCK, THE OFFICE, and I totally wish they’d bring back ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (sick and wrong is my favorite combination!).

7. Is there anything that you would like to add?
Just thanks for having me. Oh, and for those of you who don’t know already, Sarah was the first reviewer to read The Body Finder, the first book blogger I met in person, AND the first person to ask me for my autograph (although it was for Kelsey, but I’m still counting it!). So pretty much, Sarah rocks!!!

Waiting on Wednesday (Week Twenty Three)

Title: Captivate
Author: Carrie Jones
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Release Date: January 5th, 2010
I can't find a summary for this, but it has a lovely cover and it is the squeal to Need. To say that I want it, is an understatement. I am so excited for this book.

Ash by Malinda Lo

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 18/20
Originality: 17/20
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 17/20
Overall: 88/100 or B
Ash is throw into indentured servitude for her stepmother, after her father dies and leaves a huge amount of debts. She is pushed into the City and away from the Wood, where old magic lingers in the air. Her only joy in her life, are stolen walks in the woods with the dark and dangerous fairy, Sidhean. Sometimes, she hopes that he will steal her away as fairies are said to do.
But one day, Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, and her whole heart starts to change. She no longer wants to chase Faeries, instead she learns the art of hunting and how to ride and track. Their friendship begins to be something more and Ash is reawaken with a desire to live.
Ash isn't an ordinary fairy tale retelling. It was a original take on a classic fairy tale and full of romance. Cinderella is one of my favorite fairy tales, and I love to see retelling of it. Lo is an amazing writer. She twisted a magical and entrancing tale with a lot of beautiful language and imagery. Ash is a strong character. She is really sweet and grows up a lot. Kaisa is an amazing character. She is lovely and her relationship with Ash was so sweet. I liked how instead of falling in love with a prince, instead she falls in love with a woman. I recommend this to anyone that likes fairy tales.

Snap by Carol Snow

Rating:
Characters: 17/20
Plot: 16/20
Originality: 17/20
Writing: 17/20
Recommendation: 17/20
Overall: 84/100 or B
Madison Sabatini had a plan for her future, then it is crushed suddenly by one conversation. Madison is stuck in the strange, sleepy beach town of Sandyland, after her parents become bankrupt and they have to sell their house. Instead of spending the summer with her friends at home, she's hanging out with pink-haired Delilah, an artist who works in a shop called Psychic Photo, and a skater boy named Duncan who's totally not her type. Except, maybe he is.
She throws herself into her true passion: photography. Suddenly bizarre figures start appearing in her pictures, people that for sure weren't there to begin with. The strange thing is that these people are later reported dead. With the help of Delilah and Duncan, she finds out the real truth of what is happening.
Snap was a really different book. It started off slow as all mysteries do, but quickly gained momentum. Madison was like any angst-ridden teen. It wasn't like she didn't have a reason to be like that. If I was surprised like that I would love it. Delilah was an interesting character. I loved her artsy and funky personality. I really wanted to be friends with her. Duncan was also sweet and cute. I though that Snap would be a bit scarier, but I was surprised. It was a fairly original book. Carol Snow is an amazing writer and I will have to check out Switch. I recommend this book, if you are looking for a quick and interesting mystery.

In My Mailbox(Week of August 23rd)

In My Mailbox is hosted weekly by Kristi and was created by Alea.


What I got:
The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson
The Goodbye Season by Marion Hale
Demon Chick by Marilyn Kaye
My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman
Thanksgiving at the Inn byTim Whitney
Little Black Lies by Tish Cohen
Candor by Pam Bachorz
Darklight by Lesley Livingston
Forget Her Nots by Amy Brecount White
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr
Leftovers by Laura Wiess
Sweetgrass Basket by Marlene Cavell
Dani Noir by Nova Ren Suma
Beautiful by Amy Reed
Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton
Never After by Dan Elconin
I got back, The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting and The Espressologist by Kristina Springer from Khy. A postcard from Liv. Also a new phone. I think that is everything...

Happy Birthday!

So I want to say Happy Birthday to one of my closest blogging pals. So Happy Sweet Sixteen to Hope. I hope that it is amazing. Also, I did a guest blog for her and you can read it here.
Love Sarah.

Intertwined Sweepstakes

Hold Still Trailer.

So, I read Hold Still by Nina LaCour recently and it was pretty good. Anyways, here is a trailer for it. So, check it out.

Interview with Amy Efaw

Amy Efaw graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1989. She is a mother of five. She has written Battle Dress and After. She lives with her family in Colorado. You can find more about her at amyefaw.com

1. Devon is in emotional turmoil. She did the unthinkable and denied that she was pregnant the whole way. She also doesn't want to be like her mother. How did you get to the emotions that she was feeling?
We all do things that we are ashamed of, things that we aren’t exactly proud of. Things we would never share with even our closest friends and family. We justify them away or simply refuse to think about them and pretend they didn’t happen. I think this is how we as readers can identify with or try to understand Devon’s denial. The average person doesn’t experience it to the devastating extent that Devon did, but enough so that we can start to relate to her on some level. Or at least empathize with her.
And, yes, Devon definitely didn’t want to end up like her mom. That’s an understandable and natural, sometimes even healthy, reaction. Most teens want to strike out own their own paths and not follow directly into their parents’ footsteps. I know that I did. So, I think that’s where I as a writer could tap into Devon’s emotions and make them real.

2. It took seven years to write After, and you did a lot of research. What was the most surprising thing that you discovered?
I guess the most surprising thing that I learned while researching the “Dumpster baby” phenomenon was the type of girl who would do it. My preconception was that the woman would be some kind of unsavory person – a drug addict or prostitute or even a sociopath. But I discovered I was completely wrong with that assessment. The typical young woman who makes this devastating choice could be my sister or my friend. It could have been me.

3. Dumpster baby stories caused a surprising media frenzy in the late 90's. What cases were you inspired most by?
I was first exposed to the “Dumpster baby” issue back in the mid-nineties. I had three little kids at the time (my youngest was only 6 months old), and one winter day the big news story in Philadelphia (where I was living at the time) was of an off-duty police officer who was out walking his pit-bull. They stumbled upon a live newborn baby stuffed into a trash bag and left at the curb.
Then nearly a year later, the Amy Grossberg/Brian Peterson story popped into the national spotlight. Two college students from privileged homes tossed their baby into the trash behind the Comfort Inn where Amy had given birth. And about six months after that was the infamous Melissa Drexler case. Melissa was dubbed the “Prom Mom” because she gave birth in the restroom at her high school prom. She suffocated the baby in a couple of trash bags before cramming it into the trash can. Then she returned to the dance floor.
But the story that finally pushed me to seriously consider writing a novel based on the issue was the case that my husband got to try. He was a prosecutor for the Army at Ft. Lewis, Washington, and the case was of a female soldier who had given birth in the barracks while her unit was out training. She collected all the bloody evidence – including the baby – into a trash bag and tossed it into the Dumpster behind her barracks. I was pregnant with my fifth child at the time, and my first young adult novel, BATTLE DRESS, had just come out. I was figuring out what my next book would be about. When my husband got that case, I just knew – I had to write a story about a girl who had thrown her baby in the trash. It was meant to be.

4. What made you decide to write a Young Adult Book?
I love writing for teens because I think they push me to be a better writer. Young adult authors have so much competition for teens’ attention – text messaging and music and video games and movies and MySpace (and book review blogs J). We have to write stories that pull teen readers in right away, or our books will end up tossed under the bed with the random dirty clothes and gum wrappers. And teens are a lot more open to new ideas; we as authors have the ability to affect the way teens look at the world and how they think about life.

5. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
First, read a lot. And when you read, choose good books, the award winners. That way, “good” writing will be in your head. Second, write . . . a lot. If you don’t have the confidence to plunge into a novel, start a blog. Or sit in a coffee shop or on the bus and write down the conversations that you hear. But find some way to practice writing as much as you can. Third, find a group of writers with whom you can eventually share your work. You’ll need their inspiration, encouragement, and feedback to keep you going. Fourth, attend writer’s conferences where you can sign up for workshops and meet other authors, both published and hopeful. And fifth (and probably most important), believe in yourself.

6. What is your favorite and least favorite thing about writing?
My favorite thing about writing is revising. I find the creative part kind of stressful. There, I’m just pulling stuff pretty much out of “thin air.” But once the story is basically done, revising is fun because the “bones” are all there. All that’s left is polishing, making what’s already written better. This doesn’t mean revising is easy, however. Just easier.
My least favorite thing about writing is starting a new book. That very first sentence of the very first paragraph? Really, really hard.

Waiting on Wednesday(Week Twenty One)

Title: Dirty Little Secrets
Author: Cynthia Jaynes Omololu
Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers
Release Date: February 2, 2010

When 16 year-old Lucy comes home to find her mother dead under a stack of National Geographics in their garbage-filled home, she hesitates as she starts to dial 911. She hardly notices the mountains of stuff that fill every available space in the entire house or smells the decay anymore - but she knows the paramedics will, and so will the news cameras that will follow. They’ll notice the garbage and the smell and wonder how anyone ever lived like this. Only freaks live like this.
As she stares at the cell phone, Lucy can already hear the echoes of “Garbage Girl” and picture the look of disgust on everyone’s faces. With a best friend, the perfect boyfriend and a normal life finally within reach, Lucy has to decide how far she’ll go to keep the family secrets safe.

So Punk Rock (And Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother) by Micol Ostow

Rating:
Characters: 16/20
Plot: 17/20
Originality: 18/20
Writing: 17/20
Recommendation: 17/20
Overall: 85/100 or B
Despite his dreams of hipster rock glory, Ari Abramson's band, the Tribe, is more white bread than indie-cred. Made up of four suburban teens from a wealthy Jewish school, their Mötley Crüe is about as hardcore as SAT prep and scripture studies.
But after a one-song gig at a friend's Bar Mitzvah—a ska cover of "Hava Nagilah"—the Tribe's popularity erupts overnight. Now, Ari is forced to navigate a minefield of inflated egos, misplaced romance, and the shallowness of indie-rock elitism. It's a hard lesson in the complex art of playing it cool.
So Punk Rock is one of the funniest books that I have read in a while. Ari is a sweet and naive person. I found his crush on Sari to be predictable. Jonas... really annoyed me. I loved Reena, she was funny and sincere. Yossi was entertaining and unpredictable. The plot was full of twist and turns. Overall it surprised me. Micol Ostow is a great writer. Her book was really original and had a special spark. David Ostow's comics were amazing and the simplicity was great. I really enjoyed this book and you'll love it, if you want a quick laugh.

After by Amy Efaw

Rating:
Characters: 19/20
Plot: 17/20
Originality: 20/20
Writing: 19/20
Recommendation: 18/20
Overall: 93/100 or A
Devon Davenport is a straight-A student, a soccer goalie with Olympic dreams, and more mature than her own mother. When the unthinkable happens, she does something that most people can't imagine doing. Now Devon's in a juvenile detention center, where she is charged with attempted murder. If she faces trial as an adult, all of her dreams could be crushed by the sentence of Life in Prison. Does Devon deserve that punishment? It depends if you believe that Devon's story, had no clue that she was pregant and acted totally in shock.
After is an intense story. Devon is presented as two very different people in After, the girl that did the crime and the girl that is shocked by what happened as result. Her strength is amazing. The plot of After was different, then any other book that I have ever read. It was a gripping page turner and a shocking story. I wasn't a fan of the ending and I wish there was more to the story. Efaw is an amazing writer. She made a well researched book on a topic that to my knowledge has never been touched by a young adult author. If you are looking for an intense and one of a kind book, make sure to check out After.

Alrightie...

I am not feeling so great today, but I am working on my review of After by Amy Efaw. Amy's interview is coming up on Thursday. I like to have the review up beforehand. So, I probably will post it later today. I have been napping all day and not feeling that well. Sorry! Anyways, see you later today hopefully?
Peace out, Sarah.

In My Mailbox(Week of August 16th)

In My Mailbox was memified by Kristi at The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. No vlog this week.

Girl on the Other Side by Deborah Kerbel
Tabby Freeman and Lora Froggett go to the same school, but they live in totally opposite worlds. Tabby is rich, pretty, and the most popular girl in her class. But behind closed doors, her 'perfect' life is rapidly coming apart at the seams. On the other side, Lora is smart, timid, and the constant target of bullies. While struggling to survive the piranha-infested halls of her school, she becomes increasingly nervous that somebody might discover the unbearable truth about what's been happening to her family. Despite their differences, Tabby and Lora have something in common - they're both harbouring dark secrets and a lot of pain. Although they've never been friends, a series of strange events causes their lives to crash together in ways neither could have ever imagined. And when the dust finally settles and all their secrets are forced out into the light, will the girls be saved . or destroyed?
I have read it and it was really cute. I love the cover and it sounded cute to start off with.

This week I also bought Frostbite and Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead for my mommy to read.

Winner for Kelley Armstrong Contest.

The winner for the Kelley Armstrong contest is.... *cues drum roll*
Zombie Girrrl.
Please send me with an e-mail with your address. Thanks for entering... the next contest will come up in early September. So check it out then.
Peace Out, Sarah.

Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 16/20
Originality: 17/20
Writing: 19/20
Recommendation: 17/20
Overall: 87/100 or B
Jumping Off Swings is the story of Ellie, Josh, Caleb, and Corinne. Ellie just wants to be loved. She has hooked up with quite a few boys. Each time, she is sure that it will be more then just sex. While Ellie is with them, she feels loved for a bit. Well, something that happened with Josh that wasn't suppose to happened, Ellie gets pregnant. Josh doesn't have a reaction, when Ellie tells him. He has a hard home life and feels shame and heartbreak. Caleb and Corinne deal with emotions, about Ellie and Josh. All four teenagers are forced to grow up a little faster, and make impossible decisions.
Ellie, Josh, Caleb, and Corinne are all amazing characters. I liked Ellie. She had a hard time accepting it as anyone in that situation would. It was good to see it in Josh's view. About the regret for how he acted and how he wish he could take it back. Caleb was so sweet and lovely. Corinne was strong and independent. Caleb and Corinne's relationship was sweet and similar to any teen romance. Jumping Off Swings didn't have a very fast plot, but it was still interesting and intense at times. It wasn't the most original novel on pregnancy, but it was presented well. Knowles is an amazing writer. I was well described and amazing. Jumping Off Swings was amazing and I would recommend it to anyone. You should definitely check it out.

Some blog-ish things...

I figured that I should write some sort of a policy post for my blog. So, here it goes.
I read anywhere from ten to twenty-five books a month and review 2 to 4 books a week. I love to read and find it really relaxing. I also like writing reviews, interviewing, and just plain lusting over books. I read mostly Young Adult novels. I like YA crossovers and the occasion adult novel. I am not a huge fan of Nonfiction, but if it is something that I want to learn about... I have random interest, so just ask.

Reviewing:
If you want me to review your book, please e-mail me. I would like to ask that if you do, please include your summary and any other details about the book, like a website or trailer. Sorry, I don't read self-published books. I will accept books from both large and small publishers. I can't do e-books, I have poor vision as it is and it gives me a huge headache.
About timing, I try to review books as close to their release date as possible. Sometimes, I can't get into a book and will have try to read it at another time. I am sorry that I can't guarantee a review. So far, I have read every review books that I have got. So, I have a good record at getting them finished.

Interview:
I love doing interviews. I do require reading your book ahead of time, so that I have the best knowledge about your book. Just E-mail me about it and we can set something up.

Guest Blog
Guest blogs are a great way to promote your book, when I haven't read your book yet. Just come up with an idea and e-mail me about it.

Contest
If you want me to host a contest for you for anything. Email me all the details. I'll need to know what the prize is exactly, the mailing restrictions, and the timeline for when the contest should end.

Stats
So here are the stats...
As of August 14th, 2009, I have 225 followers on blogger and 30 followers via Goggle Reader.
I get 100-125 visit a day, 700-800 visit a week, and around 2500-3000 visits a month.

Link Exchange
I would love to do an exchange with any blogger, just email me or leave a message in the sidebar. I'll get it done, soon after.

Contact
Email is Sarahbear119@hotmail.com
Skype is Sarahbear9789
Twitter is Sarahbear9789

Interview with Jennifer Jabaley

Born in New York and raised in Bridgewater, New Jersey, Jennifer Jabaley is a graduate of James Madison University and Southern College of Optometry. She began writing in 2006 and tries to manage optometry, writing and motherhood. She lives in Blue Ridge, Georgia with her husband and two children. Her first book Lipstick Apology, is now available.

1. Emily is plaugued by four words that her mother wrote. How did you find the inspiration and the emotions for writing it?
The inspiration for this story came from a phone conversation with my sister. She was leaving to go on a trip and it was the first time she was leaving her children. She was very nervous and kept calling me and giving me instructions 'in case the plane went down'. After the seventh or eighth call it became comical and I said to my husband, 'if the plane goes down she'll whip out her lipstick and scribble the kids' bedtime routines for me.' And suddenly it was like, 'wow, that's a good idea for a book - what if someone seriously DID have something they needed to say and their only option was a note on a tray table?'
Finding the emotions to write the story was a bit more difficult. I think my natural personality leans more toward the light and comical side. The original manuscript had a lot more grief at the beginning - but my editor (as well as several other readers) all agreed that the story really took off after the grief, once she arrived in NY and things could be a little lighter. So we chopped the first three chapters that were originally set in PA.

2. What was the most difficult thing for writing Lipstick Apology? What was the easiest part?
The most difficult, by far, was achieving the right tone. As I said above, my natural style tends to be light and breezy but this story required some sadness. It was difficult to balance. The easiest part, for me was the dialogue. I've been told I have a good knack for writing dialogue, which is such a nice compliment, but really, I think it's just because me and my best friends like to gab so much!

3. What was it like being a Deb?
Awesome! The Debs have been an amazing source of information, inspiration and friendship.

4. Do you have an advice to those that writing their first novel?
Persistance pays. Seriously - you just have to committ to the whole project - there are so many steps and so many opportunities to get discouraged (finishing the manuscript, finding an agent, having an editor buy your project). But you just have to committ to the whole experience and not get frustrated if one step of the process takes a lot longer than the other. One of my favorite quotes: "Many of life's failures are poeple who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." - Thomas Edison

5. What are some of your favorite Young Adult books?
It's so hard for me to select favorite books! How about authors - some of my favorite YA authors are Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot, Megan McCafferty and Sarah Mylnowski.

6. Other then reading and writing, what do you enjoy doing?
Most of all I enjoy my family and friends. I love to take walks - one of my favorite things to do is push the stroller at this beautiful park near my home and talk on the phone to my sister or friends. I love tennis, but haven't played on a competitive team since my son was born. I love to paint - oils, acrylics and watercolors - I've painted all the cute/fun paintings that decorate my kids' bedrooms. I love to travel (especially to the beach) but it's more difficult to do with two young kids.

7. Is there anything that you would like to add?
I would like to thank you and all the wonderful readers and bloggers who have given me and LIPSTICK APOLOGY so much promotion and support. It has made my experience as a debut author wonderful!

Upcoming Events in the Seattle area

For those that know, I live in Western Washington and I love going to signings. I am posting events in the YA World from authors websites. If you are an author and want an event added or a blogger that noticed one somewhere, email me please.

September 13th
Hot Shot Java in Poulsbo
Launch Party for Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfor 7PM

September 14th
Third Place Books in Seattle
Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black 7PM

September 15th
Borders in Redmond
Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black 7PM

September 18th
Queen Anne Books
Reading and Signing with Heather Davis 6:30pm

September 22nd
Third Place Books in Seattle
In Store Meet & Greet with Michelle Zink 5:30pm

September 26th
Alderwood Barnes and Noble in Lynnwood (I seriously think that we like to confuse each other in WA)
Official Meridian by Amber Kizer Release Party 7pm

October 12th
Third Place Books in Seattle
Scott Westerfeld and Sarah Rees Brennan 7PM

October 20th
Third Place Books in Seattle
Justine Larbalestier 7PM

October 23rd-25th
Steamcon

October 29th
Third Place Books in Seattle
P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast 7PM

Waiting on Wednesday(Week Twenty)

Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Author: John Green and David Levithan
Publisher: Penguin
Release Date: April 6, 2010
Two superstar authors join forces on a collaborative novel of awesome proportions One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical. Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both them legions of faithful fans.
I love John Green and David Levithan's books. So a book together... must be awesome. I just really want to read this book... too bad it is about six months out till the release date.

Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph

Rating:
Characters: 20/20
Plot: 18/20
Originality: 19/20
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 19/20
Overall: 96/100 or A
Teresa Adams is painfully shy. She dreads speaking to anyone in the hallway or answering a question in class. Teresa does have fun with having her ipod and making mock broadcast for Miami's hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up at The SLAM, Tere blossoms behind the mic as the sexy Sweet T and shockingly enough, she is a huge hit. Even Gavin, the only person that she talks to is raving about the mysterious DJ's awesome taste in music. But when The SLAM announces a songwriting contest and a prom date with Sweet T is the grand prize. Sweet T's dream could turn into Tere's worst nightmare....
Violet was amazing and I could relate to him a lot. I also loved Gavin, he was cute and I loved his interest in music. Shrinking Violet is a book for anyone that has ever felt shy. It was cute, funny, and relatable. The plot is a little predictable, but I still really liked it. It was original. It reminded me of Just Listen at points. Joseph is a great writer and I can't wait for more from her in the future. I would recommend this book to anyone that has a love of music and is or was shy.

Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley

Rating:
Characters: 17/20
Plot: 18/20
Originality: 18/20
Writing: 19/20
Recommendation: 18/20
Overall: 90/100 or A
When Emily Carson's parents die in a plane crash, she is left with nothing, but her mother's last words left on the tray table in lipstick: “Emily, please forgive me.”
Now it is fall and Emily is living with her makeup artist in New York City. She atracts two boys, the cute, popular Owen, and her quirky chemistry partner, Anthony. One makes her forget and the other one helps remember and find the truth to her mother's last words. So, that she can come to terms with the truth.
Lipstick Apology is full of quirky characters. Aunt Jolie and Trent were so funny together, I could read a book just about them. Emily was interesting and had depth like real teenangers. I also liked how Jabaley showed how easy friendship is and how complex romantic relationships are to have a real one. The plot was sweet, yet intense. The love story was a wonderful touch to the story of Emily finding herself. It was original. Jabaley is an amazing writer and I can't wait for more from her in the future. Lipstick Apology is great for an intense, yet fun read.

In My Mailbox (The Week of August 9th)

In My Mailbox was memified by Kristi at The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. Hope you enjoy the vlog.

Books and People:
The Center of the Universe... Yep That's me by Anita Liberty
The Cirlce of Friends Book IV... Mike by L. Diane Wolfe
Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis
Khy
Sister
Snap by Carol Snow
My Soul to Take by Rachel Vincent
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
Zoe
Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
I Can't Keep My Own Secrets Six-word Memoirs by Teens
The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland
The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy
Epitaph Road by David Patneaude
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

DupliKate by Cherry Cheva

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 16/20
Originality: 19/20
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 17/20
Overall: 88/100 or B
Kate Larson has wanted to get into Yale for years. She has been overworked, under-rested, and just stressed. One night, Kate thinks that she must be seeing double, when she comes face to face with Rina, her computer generated twin. Kate has no clue how she got here or how to put her back where she belongs. Either way, Kate doesn't have time to deal with this. Could this be her worst nightmare or a blessing?
This book is really bringing up all the future stress that I am sure is to come in my senior year. So, I think that makes it relatable to all teens. I liked both of the main characters. Kate was down to earth and a normal stressed out teen, that wants both a social life and do well in school. Rina is that girl that doesn't have to choose a social life or doing well academically. She reminds me of the mean girl in high school. Paul and Jake were both interesting boys. The plot was well done. It was a quick, funny, and great read. It was an original idea. Cherry Cheva is an amazing writer and I am going to have to check out, She's So Money. If you are looking for a cute and fun read, DupliKate is the book for you.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Rating:
Characters: 17/20
Plot: 18/20
Originality: 1820
Writing: 18/20
Recommendation: 18/20
Overall: 89/100 or B
For years, Grace has watched the wolves that live behind her house for years. A yellowed eyed wolf... her wolf has a chilling presence. Maybe it is the fact, that this wolf saved her life once. Meanwhile, Sam leads two lives. One in the forest during the winter, watching a girl. Another in the summer, where he has a few moments of being human until he gets turned back by the cold.
An another attack has happened again, but unlike Grace, Jack is dead and his family wants something to happen. A hunting party has gathered to kill all the wolves in the forest. Grace goes to stop them and on her back porch, she finds a boy with those same yellow eyes. It is her wolf somehow. Winter is near, so Grace and Sam have to find a way to stop him from changing.
I loved Shiver. It was a quick and cute read. I am not a huge fan of doomed love, but Grace and Sam were so cute. Grace's obsession with wolves was different, but in this book, it really fitted it. It is well known that I fall for fictional characters and Sam is in there. He is really sweet, honest, and cute. It doesn't hurt that he worked in a bookstore. The plot was also very fast and entertaining. I loved the new approach to werewolves. It was original. Stiefvater is an amazing writer and I need to check out her other books. If you are looking for a paranormal romance, this is a book for you.

Winner of Shiver

So, there were 70 valid entries and 574 extra entries. The winner is Lea of YA Book Queen. So Yay! For those that didn't win enjoy this video...

Also, can Eli and Book Reviews by Jess email me. I have bookmarks for you guys, since Eli had the most entries and Jess referred the most people. Thanks for entering to everyone.

Interview with Melissa Walker

Melissa Walker is the author of the wonderful Violet series: Violet on the Runway, Violet by Design, and Violet in Private and also Lovestuck Summer. She is super sweetheart and friendly. She has quite the online presence with her blog, readergirlz, and I Heart Daily. She also just got married. So Congrats Melissa!

1. Did you use Violet’s problems with her weight in the books, by using realistic situation that models and teens are experiencing?

Yes, I felt like I couldn't write about the fashion world without dealing with this issue somehow. It's rampant.

2. Quinn from Lovesturk Summer had a great love of music. What is some music that you love?

I love a LOT of music. Lately in heavy rotation are: Taylor Swift, Pinback, Band of Horses, Loretta Lynn and Journey.

3. Lovestruck Summer is a beach read. What do you consider a great beach read?
Something light and funny and heartwarming to make you smile as you lounge...

4. You have such a great online presence as a Readergirlz Diva and Co-founder of I Heart Daily. How do you balance it with writing?

I love blogging and being a part of I Heart Daily and readergirlz... I think it just enhances my book writing. Some days I do a little too much Internet surfing, but who doesn't? :)

5. What are some of your favorite Young Adult novels?

Too many to name! So I'll name the one I just finished: LOOKS by Madeleine George. It's about invisibility and friendship and pain and human quirks and I adored it.

6. If you could visit any era, which one would you like to visit the most? Why?

Probably the 1930s. I'd like to meet my grandmother back then.

7. Is there anything that you would like to add?

Just thanks for having me, Sarah! It's been a pleasure!

Waiting on Wednesday (Week Nineteen)

Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: February 2010
When sixteen-year old Meghan Chase's little brother is abducted by the Unseelie Court, it throws her for a loop; she never believed in faeries. But with her best friend Robbie Goodfell—who turns out to be the infamous Puck—by her side, she ventures into Faeryland to get him back, only to discover it wasn't the Unseelie fey who kidnapped her brother after all, but a brand new species of faery led by Machina, the Iron King. These fey, born from the dreams of technology and progress, are completely immune to iron, and are a deadly threat to the courts of Summer and Winter. In the search for her brother, Meghan discovers her own faery heritage, falls in love with a dark prince of the Unseelie court, and confronts Machina in his realm of iron, to save herself and everyone she loves.
It is about fairies. I love fairies. I really want this book. It is also a tenner book and Julie is so nice.

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

Rating:
Characters: 18/20
Plot: 19/20
Originality: 19/20
Writing: 20/20
Recommendation: 19/20
Overall: 95/100 or A
It has been ten years, since the dark days when the royal family was murdered. A curse was put on the kingdom of Lumatere, separating it from the outside world and trapping others inside. Finnikin of the Rock and his guardian, Sir Topher have been traveling in the surrounding lands, since then. They have been making the Book of Lumatere by visiting refuge camps. Finnikin is summoned to meet Evanjalin, a young women with an incredible claim: the heir to the throne of Lumatere, Prince Balthazar is alive. Evajalin also has an amazing power, she can walk the dreams of those in Lumatere.
Evanjalin is determined to return home and she is the only one who can lead them to the heir. As they journey together, Finnikin is affected by her arrogance . . . and her hope. He begins to believe he will see his childhood friend, Prince Balthazar, again. And that their cursed people will be able to enter Lumatere and be reunited with those trapped inside. He even believes he will find his imprisoned father.
But Evanjalin is definitely not what see seems. And the truth will test not only Finnikin's faith in her . . . but in himself.
The characters were amazing. Finnikin was smart and an interesting person to read about. Evanjalin was also very interesting. I liked the relationship that builds between them and how they weren't best friends forever in five pages. That their relationship took most of the book to fully work out. The plot has it's slow spots, but overall is a compelling and entertaining. I kept on looking at the map at the beginning of the book and trying to figure out, where in the blazes they were at times. The world of Skuldendore was original. The writing was phenomenal. I seriously wasn't sure if Marchetta would be able to write fantasy, but she was and it was amazing. I recommend this book to those that love fantasy and those that don't. You will not be disappointed.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

Rating:
Characters: 19/20
Plot: 20/20
Originality: 19/20
Writing: 20/20
Recommendation: 20/20
Overall: 98/100 or A

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick opened fire on their school cafeteria. Six were killed, many were injured, and a whole community changed in less then an hour. Val saves the life of a fellow classmate, but is still implicated in the shooting in the media. She helped make a list of things that Nick and her hated. The very list that Nick used to pick his targets.

After a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to go back to school for her senior year. She haunted by the memory of the boyfriend that she still loves. She also has to navigate the rocky relationship with her family, former friend, and the girl whose life she saved. Val must come to terms on what happened that day and make amends with those that she lost and those that are still there.

Valerie was an amazing strong character. She has a different personality then most people in that situation. I loved Jessica Campbell. It took a lot of courage to be friends with Valerie, but I think that she found that from being alive. The plot of Hate List is emotional. Full of anger, confusion, and at the end, hope. It was so hard to stop reading at points. Brown crafts an original novel. I liked how most chapters had a quote or a newspaper article in the front. Brown is amazing writer and someone to look for future books. I highly recommend this book, but be prepared to cry. Hate List comes out September 1st.

In My Mailbox(Week of August 2nd)

In My Mailbox was memified by Kristi at The Story Siren, who was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. No vlog this week.

For Review:

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest:

In the early days of the Civil War, rumors of gold in the frozen Klondike brought hordes of newcomers to the Pacific Northwest. Anxious to compete, Russian prospectors commissioned inventor Leviticus Blue to create a great machine that could mine through Alaska’s ice. Thus was Dr. Blue’s Incredible Bone-Shaking Drill Engine born.
But on its first test run the Boneshaker went terribly awry, destroying several blocks of downtown Seattle and unearthing a subterranean vein of blight gas that turned anyone who breathed it into the living dead.
Now it is sixteen years later, and a wall has been built to enclose the devastated and toxic city. Just beyond it lives Blue’s widow, Briar Wilkes. Life is hard with a ruined reputation and a teenaged boy to support, but she and Ezekiel are managing. Until Ezekiel undertakes a secret crusade to rewrite history.
His quest will take him under the wall and into a city teeming with ravenous undead, air pirates, criminal overlords, and heavily armed refugees. And only Briar can bring him out alive.

It is a YA crossover and sounds pretty awesome. I love alternative history books.

Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse by Kaleb Nation

Bran Hambric was found locked in a bank vault at six years old, with no memory of his past. For years, he has lived with one of the bankers, wondering why he was left behind- until one night, when he is fourteen, he is suddenly confronted by a maddened creature, speaking of Bran’s true past and trying to kidnap him. Bran finds that he is at the center of a plot which started years before he was even born: the plot of a deadly curse his mother created…and one that her former masters are hunting for him to complete. Haunted by the spirit of his mother’s master and living in a city where magic is illegal, Bran must undo the crimes of his past...if it's not already too late.

Sounds interesting. I am on a blog tour for this.

The Road from Home: A Novel of Hope and the Courage to Find Your Destiny by Nigel Hinton

Poland, 1870: Life is increasingly formidable for Leo and his family, with the threat of famine and war rolling over Poland. When Leo gets a job working at the manor of a local aristocrat, it looks like life might be getting better—until the aristocrat's son decides to take out his anger on Leo.
So begins Leo's journey away from home. From encounters with thieving soldiers in the war-torn countryside, to developing a dangerous friendship, to becoming a thief on the streets of a bustling city, Leo's life will never be the same. His mission now is to find a new place to call home, where he can work his way out of poverty and away from war. When he hears of a perfect place across the sea, he becomes determined to sail away to the promise of America.

I like historical fiction.

The Naughty List by Suzanne Young

Tessa Crimson: Cheerleader by Day, Spy by Night

As leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), Tessa’s mission is twofold: pep preservation and relationship salvation. That’s right, Tessa is a head cheerleader whose night job is catching cheating boyfriends in the act! Thank goodness her own relationship with Aiden is strawberry-smoothie purrfect—except for the fact that she’s been concealing her nocturnal habits for, oh, two years.

Aiden suspects something’s up, and his patience is wearing thin. But in the meantime, Tessa’s far too busy to deal with her own romantic roadblocks. The Naughty List is at maximum capacity; because so far, every single suspect on it is 100% guilty.

When sultry Chloe Ferril transfers to Washington High, things only become more catastrophic. Tessa knows this predatory vixen won’t stop hunting Aiden until her claws are planted firmly in his backside…

But Tessa’s in for an even bigger shock when Aiden’s name shows up on The Naughty List, and she’s finally forced to confront the unthinkable: is her own boyfriend just as naughty as all the rest?

I was so excited to get this book. I have already read it and love it.

For Borrow:

I got Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti and It's Not You, It's Me by Kerry Cohen Hoffmann from Lizzie. Thanks!

Books read in July

138. Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow
139.One Lonely Degree by C.K. Kelley Martin
140. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
141. Blue Moon by Alyson Noel
142. Wide Awake by David Levithan
143. Castration Celebration by Jake Wizner
144. Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors
145. Behind Every Illusion by Christina Harner
146. Finnikin of The Rock by Melina Marchetta
147. Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley
148. After by Amy Efaw
149. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Reviews posted from these books: 5 of these books so far, a few are planned to be posted later.
Books from Library: 1 books
Books for Review: 5 books
Books borrowed: 1 book
My Favorite: This is really hard, since I read a lot of amazing books this month. I am going with Coffeehouse Angel. Followed closely by After.
My Least Favorite: Behind Every Illusion, I felt some of the plot could have been edited down.
Update:100+ Reading Challenge: 149 read.
V.C. Andrews: Read Good Trash movement: 3 read. 8 to go
Debut Authors '09: 31 read