Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 137
October 3, 2017
YA Scavenger Hunt
Welcome to the Fall 2017 YA Scavenger Hunt!
Hey! I'm Taylor Fenner,Your Hostess for this leg of the hunt!
A few things about me:
- I am obsessed with Halloween
- I'm a bookstagram junkie.
- My favorite movie is Crimson Peak
You Are Currently Hunting On
Looking for my exclusive bonus content? You'll have to keep hunting.
Somewhere on this blog hop, I've hidden the exclusive playlist for my upcoming YA Fantasy / Fairytale Retelling, CurseBreaker. Before you go hunting for it be sure to check out the fantastic author I'm hosting.
A Little More About The YA Scavenger Hunt First...
This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are SEVEN contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the GREEN TEAM --but there is also a red team, a gold team, an orange team, a blue team, a pink team and a purple team for a chance to win a whole different set of books!
If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.
SCAVENGER HUNT HOW-TO & RULES
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the green team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
HINT: THE SECRET NUMBER IS HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN!
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by OCTOBER 8TH, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
I'm happy to be hosting...MADELINE DYER!
MADELINE DYER lives on a farm in the southwest of England, where she hangs out with her Shetland ponies and writes young adult books—sometimes, at the same time. She holds a BA Honors degree in English from the University of Exeter, and several presses have published her fiction. Madeline has a strong love for anything dystopian, ghostly, or paranormal, and she can frequently be found exploring wild places. At least one notebook is known to follow her wherever she goes.
The book Madeline is showcasing in this seaon's YA Scavenger Hunt is book 1 of the Untamed Series,
UNTAMED
About the Book **2017 SIBA Award Winner for Best Dystopian Novel**
In a world where addiction is encouraged, one girl must fight to stay clean...
As one of the last Untamed humans left in the world, Seven's life has always been controlled by tight rules. Stay away from the Enhanced. Don't question your leader. And, most importantly, never switch sides--because once you're Enhanced there's no going back. Even if you have become the perfect human being.
But after a disastrous raid on an Enhanced city, Seven soon finds herself in her enemy's power. Realizing it's only a matter of time before she too develops a taste for the chemical augmenters responsible for the erosion of humanity, Seven knows she must act quickly if she's to escape and save her family from the same fate.
Yet, as one of the most powerful Seers that the Untamed and Enhanced have ever known, Seven quickly discovers that she alone holds the key to the survival of only one race. But things aren't clear-cut anymore, and with Seven now questioning the very beliefs she was raised on, she knows she has an important choice to make. One that has two very different outcomes.
Seven must choose wisely whose side she joins, for the War of Humanity is underway, and Death never takes kindly to traitors.
"A fantastic dystopian tale. Highly recommended for fans of strong heroines and intriguing sci-fi worlds." Pintip Dunn, New York Times bestselling author of the Forget Tomorrow Series
EXCLUSIVE BONUS MATERIAL COMING RIGHT UP!
In my Untamed series, Three Sarr, the brother of my main character, is one of my favorite characters to write. He’s fiercely protective of his family, loyal, and intelligent, and I thought I’d share a little more about him for the YA Scavenger Hunt. And, so, here are the surviving extracts from his journal!
The Surviving Extracts from the Journal of Three Sarr
EXTRACT ONE
Went on a raid this morning. Stole this journal.
Rahn will be furious if he finds out. He’s always saying we shouldn’t write stuff down, that leaving a paper trail will lead them to us.
Going to use this book though for notes and thoughts. Untamed stuff and all that. Will also help to have an actual place to keep my diagrams and instructions for making the radios! I’m sure Rahn was taking them before—my notes kept going missing and he’d just say that I shouldn’t need to write them down in the first place.
Pity I couldn’t choose the cover for this notebook though. Flowers was all they had. Can’t be picky when you’re raiding.
Ah, just remembered we forgot to look for insect repellent on the raid. Marouska’s not going to be happy.
Get next time: - insect repellent - wire- another pen- safety pins- razor blade
EXTRACT TWO
I beat Finn at a fight today! First time that’s happened. Was kind of satisfying too.
Other stuff: - We’re low on wire still. Rahn says we’ll get some more in the next raid. We were going to go last week, but there were many Turnings in a row and Mum thought it was too risky. - Corin’s got toothache. His complaints are driving me mad. - my new circuit board still isn’t working. The new radio’s proving tricky too. Not to mention reception isn’t good here. Need to do some more designs on it. - Esther got stung by an unknown insect. Her arm’s swelling up.
EXTRACT THREE
Dad asked me what I thought it meant to be Untamed earlier. Got me thinking. Thought I’d write some notes.
So, what is it to be Untamed?
- it’s to be free- To be yourself—and not what they want you to be. - To be living out in the wild- To be hunted down- To be free of addiction - Having family - Being happy. Properly happy—not their artificial idea of it. - It’s being human. Having humanity.
EXTRACT FOUR
Esther’s arm seems to be better now. She got all feverish with it. It all swelled up, but Bea and Marouska made a tonne of poultices between them. So, yeah it took about a week. During that time I heard Keelie telling Esther all about when she and Elf and her sisters were traveling here and all the Enhanced Ones she killed. I can never tell with Keelie whether she’s making it up or not. None of her siblings ever correct her.
EXTRACT FIVE
Finn asked me today if I was going to convert to the Enhanced what I’d want my first augmenter to be. He said he’d want to have either Superiority or Immense Happiness. I’m not even sure those are real augmenters.
Then Sajo overheard and went mad at him. Glad I didn’t have to answer the question out loud. I think I’d want better memory. Be able to remember all this stuff, especially the circuit board diagrams. Isn’t that ironic that the augmenters I’d take would give me the qualities Rahn insists I need to naturally have to “successfully” remain Untamed?
EXTRACT SIX
Rahn found out I’m keeping this journal today. He’s not happy. Made me rip out a load of pages. Mainly all the ones about my family, like what Seven’s first words were and the stories that One and Two would tell me when I was really small. And the pranks they played on me.
Rahn says it’s too dangerous to write stuff down. Was furious when he found I’d taken this journal on the raids too. Said the Enhanced could’ve got it. He called me a “scrawny brat”. That made Keelie laugh. Oh and Mila then kept calling everyone a “scrawny brat” for hours. Keelie was trying to stop her, until she called Rahn it, then she just laughed some more.
He also ripped out clean pages too. Most of what was left. There’s barely any pages left now, and most of my work and writings have gone. So mad because I finally finished that radio work and had noted down all the frequencies. He said I shouldn’t rely so much on writing stuff down or my diagrams. Said I should know it all off by heart. Said successful Untamed make sure they know stuff.
Ifu hate Rahn. (Nearly swore there, Mum—I know you normally have a little look at my entries when I ask you to look up some technical note that I’ve made in here. So don’t worry. I listened to what you said. Also, tell Five not to read through my journal! She’s just being nosy. Not that there’ll be many entries after this one.)
Taylor here - I love that so many of the characters have numbers as names... I wonder if there is a lucky 13?
Add Untamed to your TBR list on Goodreads!
Are you dying to read this book?
Here's where you can grab a copy!
You can buy UNTAMED here!
Check out more on Madeline's Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads pages!
And don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of books by me, Madeline, and many more! Check out all the books on TEAM GREEN,
REMEMBER: To enter, you need to write down my favorite number (found above highlighted in green!), find all the other numbers on TEAM GREEN add them up, and you’ll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize!
Thank you so much for visiting my website! While you’re here don’t forget to enter the rafflecopter bonus contest I am running exclusively during the YA Scavenger Hunt. One lucky winner will receive an ARC of my upcoming YA Fantasy / Fairytale Retelling, CURSEBREAKER! Good luck everyone!
Enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win,a Rafflecopter giveaway Direct Link to Giveaway
CONTINUE THE HUNT
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author... AMALIE JAHN!
Tweet #YASH
Hey! I'm Taylor Fenner,Your Hostess for this leg of the hunt!
A few things about me:
- I am obsessed with Halloween
- I'm a bookstagram junkie.
- My favorite movie is Crimson Peak
You Are Currently Hunting On
Looking for my exclusive bonus content? You'll have to keep hunting.
Somewhere on this blog hop, I've hidden the exclusive playlist for my upcoming YA Fantasy / Fairytale Retelling, CurseBreaker. Before you go hunting for it be sure to check out the fantastic author I'm hosting.
A Little More About The YA Scavenger Hunt First...
This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors...and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize--one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours!Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are SEVEN contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the GREEN TEAM --but there is also a red team, a gold team, an orange team, a blue team, a pink team and a purple team for a chance to win a whole different set of books!
If you'd like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.
SCAVENGER HUNT HOW-TO & RULES
Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the green team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!).
HINT: THE SECRET NUMBER IS HIGHLIGHTED IN GREEN!
Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by OCTOBER 8TH, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
I'm happy to be hosting...MADELINE DYER!
MADELINE DYER lives on a farm in the southwest of England, where she hangs out with her Shetland ponies and writes young adult books—sometimes, at the same time. She holds a BA Honors degree in English from the University of Exeter, and several presses have published her fiction. Madeline has a strong love for anything dystopian, ghostly, or paranormal, and she can frequently be found exploring wild places. At least one notebook is known to follow her wherever she goes.
The book Madeline is showcasing in this seaon's YA Scavenger Hunt is book 1 of the Untamed Series,UNTAMED
About the Book **2017 SIBA Award Winner for Best Dystopian Novel**
In a world where addiction is encouraged, one girl must fight to stay clean...
As one of the last Untamed humans left in the world, Seven's life has always been controlled by tight rules. Stay away from the Enhanced. Don't question your leader. And, most importantly, never switch sides--because once you're Enhanced there's no going back. Even if you have become the perfect human being.
But after a disastrous raid on an Enhanced city, Seven soon finds herself in her enemy's power. Realizing it's only a matter of time before she too develops a taste for the chemical augmenters responsible for the erosion of humanity, Seven knows she must act quickly if she's to escape and save her family from the same fate.
Yet, as one of the most powerful Seers that the Untamed and Enhanced have ever known, Seven quickly discovers that she alone holds the key to the survival of only one race. But things aren't clear-cut anymore, and with Seven now questioning the very beliefs she was raised on, she knows she has an important choice to make. One that has two very different outcomes.
Seven must choose wisely whose side she joins, for the War of Humanity is underway, and Death never takes kindly to traitors.
"A fantastic dystopian tale. Highly recommended for fans of strong heroines and intriguing sci-fi worlds." Pintip Dunn, New York Times bestselling author of the Forget Tomorrow Series
EXCLUSIVE BONUS MATERIAL COMING RIGHT UP!In my Untamed series, Three Sarr, the brother of my main character, is one of my favorite characters to write. He’s fiercely protective of his family, loyal, and intelligent, and I thought I’d share a little more about him for the YA Scavenger Hunt. And, so, here are the surviving extracts from his journal!
The Surviving Extracts from the Journal of Three Sarr
EXTRACT ONE
Went on a raid this morning. Stole this journal.
Rahn will be furious if he finds out. He’s always saying we shouldn’t write stuff down, that leaving a paper trail will lead them to us.
Going to use this book though for notes and thoughts. Untamed stuff and all that. Will also help to have an actual place to keep my diagrams and instructions for making the radios! I’m sure Rahn was taking them before—my notes kept going missing and he’d just say that I shouldn’t need to write them down in the first place.
Pity I couldn’t choose the cover for this notebook though. Flowers was all they had. Can’t be picky when you’re raiding.
Ah, just remembered we forgot to look for insect repellent on the raid. Marouska’s not going to be happy.
Get next time: - insect repellent - wire- another pen- safety pins- razor blade
EXTRACT TWO
I beat Finn at a fight today! First time that’s happened. Was kind of satisfying too.
Other stuff: - We’re low on wire still. Rahn says we’ll get some more in the next raid. We were going to go last week, but there were many Turnings in a row and Mum thought it was too risky. - Corin’s got toothache. His complaints are driving me mad. - my new circuit board still isn’t working. The new radio’s proving tricky too. Not to mention reception isn’t good here. Need to do some more designs on it. - Esther got stung by an unknown insect. Her arm’s swelling up.
EXTRACT THREE
Dad asked me what I thought it meant to be Untamed earlier. Got me thinking. Thought I’d write some notes.
So, what is it to be Untamed?
- it’s to be free- To be yourself—and not what they want you to be. - To be living out in the wild- To be hunted down- To be free of addiction - Having family - Being happy. Properly happy—not their artificial idea of it. - It’s being human. Having humanity.
EXTRACT FOUR
Esther’s arm seems to be better now. She got all feverish with it. It all swelled up, but Bea and Marouska made a tonne of poultices between them. So, yeah it took about a week. During that time I heard Keelie telling Esther all about when she and Elf and her sisters were traveling here and all the Enhanced Ones she killed. I can never tell with Keelie whether she’s making it up or not. None of her siblings ever correct her.
EXTRACT FIVE
Finn asked me today if I was going to convert to the Enhanced what I’d want my first augmenter to be. He said he’d want to have either Superiority or Immense Happiness. I’m not even sure those are real augmenters.
Then Sajo overheard and went mad at him. Glad I didn’t have to answer the question out loud. I think I’d want better memory. Be able to remember all this stuff, especially the circuit board diagrams. Isn’t that ironic that the augmenters I’d take would give me the qualities Rahn insists I need to naturally have to “successfully” remain Untamed?
EXTRACT SIX
Rahn found out I’m keeping this journal today. He’s not happy. Made me rip out a load of pages. Mainly all the ones about my family, like what Seven’s first words were and the stories that One and Two would tell me when I was really small. And the pranks they played on me.
Rahn says it’s too dangerous to write stuff down. Was furious when he found I’d taken this journal on the raids too. Said the Enhanced could’ve got it. He called me a “scrawny brat”. That made Keelie laugh. Oh and Mila then kept calling everyone a “scrawny brat” for hours. Keelie was trying to stop her, until she called Rahn it, then she just laughed some more.
He also ripped out clean pages too. Most of what was left. There’s barely any pages left now, and most of my work and writings have gone. So mad because I finally finished that radio work and had noted down all the frequencies. He said I shouldn’t rely so much on writing stuff down or my diagrams. Said I should know it all off by heart. Said successful Untamed make sure they know stuff.
I
Taylor here - I love that so many of the characters have numbers as names... I wonder if there is a lucky 13?
Add Untamed to your TBR list on Goodreads!
Are you dying to read this book?
Here's where you can grab a copy!
You can buy UNTAMED here!
Check out more on Madeline's Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads pages!
And don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of books by me, Madeline, and many more! Check out all the books on TEAM GREEN,
REMEMBER: To enter, you need to write down my favorite number (found above highlighted in green!), find all the other numbers on TEAM GREEN add them up, and you’ll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize!
Thank you so much for visiting my website! While you’re here don’t forget to enter the rafflecopter bonus contest I am running exclusively during the YA Scavenger Hunt. One lucky winner will receive an ARC of my upcoming YA Fantasy / Fairytale Retelling, CURSEBREAKER! Good luck everyone!
Enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win,a Rafflecopter giveaway Direct Link to Giveaway
CONTINUE THE HUNT
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author... AMALIE JAHN!
Tweet #YASH
October 2, 2017
Book Review: The Evolution of Us by D. Kelly
The Evolution of Us by D. Kelly
Blurb:
They say most people meet the person they will marry while in high school. Balancing one another perfectly, Holly Ryan and Declan James were together through most of college—until their relationship blew up, leaving Declan with more questions than answers.
For the past two years, Declan has tried everything he can think of to earn Holly’s forgiveness, but even if he manages to help her let go of the past and give them another chance at happiness, she still has a secret. Not to mention, she can’t get over the revolving door of women he seems to have coming in and out of his apartment.
Declan is desperate to prove to Holly she’s the one for him and isn’t above using his celebrity status or enlisting the help of their friends to win her back.All’s fair in love and war, right?
My Review: In true D. Kelly fashion (at least from the books I've read by this author) this story flips back and forth between the present and the past. Holly and Declan went to school together, fell in love and were together through college before a drunken misunderstanding ruined everything.
Now Declan will do anything to get Holly back and makes a public declaration of love on his life stream YouTube channel. Holly misses Declan but she's not sure she can get past the parade of women in and out of Declan's apartment since they broke up or if she's able to forgive him for not hearing her out two years earlier.
When Declan makes a bet with her that they'll end up together and coaxes her into going on a series of dates with him Holly reluctantly accepts, making Declan promise that "when" things don't work out he'll move out of her building and leave her alone. But with the sexual chemistry still smoldering between them and Holly's feelings toward Declan growing once more, she's not sure she can resist her charming ex.
Can these two get a second chance at love? Or will the secret Holly's been hiding destroy them again - possibly forever this time?
I'll be honest: this was not my favorite D. Kelly book. The story seemed... lacking in a way and a little one dimensional. After reading about the Weston brothers in the Just An Illusion series I was expecting a male lead like Noah or Sawyer but Declan just didn't do it for me. He was so... agreeable and he kind of acted like a chick in the beginning. All the whining about wanting Holly back while Holly acted like she didn't care. And Declan's "celebrity status" didn't make much sense to me either. I know people make money making videos for YouTube but the blurb made me think he was a musician or an actor or someone legitimately famous and finding out what he really did for a living was a letdown.
I also couldn't get into the secondary characters, Baxter and Sage. Their interactions and humor just didn't jive for some reason.
I kind of predicted Holly's big secret just from reading the blurb so it didn't surprise me that I was right, although the circumstances were different than I expected.
I didn't care for how the story kept jumping back and forth between the present and the past. Usually I don't mind that, I love seeing backstories woven into the present, but it felt out of place in this book. I know it was meant to show the "evolution" of their relationship but seeing their teen selves went back a little too far for NA. And the ending of this book reminded me of others by this author.
Overall, this book was okay, if not a little cheesy on the romance. If you're looking for a quick romance this is your book, but it just didn't do anything for me.
My Rating:★★★3 of 5 Stars!
Blurb:
They say most people meet the person they will marry while in high school. Balancing one another perfectly, Holly Ryan and Declan James were together through most of college—until their relationship blew up, leaving Declan with more questions than answers.For the past two years, Declan has tried everything he can think of to earn Holly’s forgiveness, but even if he manages to help her let go of the past and give them another chance at happiness, she still has a secret. Not to mention, she can’t get over the revolving door of women he seems to have coming in and out of his apartment.
Declan is desperate to prove to Holly she’s the one for him and isn’t above using his celebrity status or enlisting the help of their friends to win her back.All’s fair in love and war, right?
My Review: In true D. Kelly fashion (at least from the books I've read by this author) this story flips back and forth between the present and the past. Holly and Declan went to school together, fell in love and were together through college before a drunken misunderstanding ruined everything.
Now Declan will do anything to get Holly back and makes a public declaration of love on his life stream YouTube channel. Holly misses Declan but she's not sure she can get past the parade of women in and out of Declan's apartment since they broke up or if she's able to forgive him for not hearing her out two years earlier.
When Declan makes a bet with her that they'll end up together and coaxes her into going on a series of dates with him Holly reluctantly accepts, making Declan promise that "when" things don't work out he'll move out of her building and leave her alone. But with the sexual chemistry still smoldering between them and Holly's feelings toward Declan growing once more, she's not sure she can resist her charming ex.
Can these two get a second chance at love? Or will the secret Holly's been hiding destroy them again - possibly forever this time?
I'll be honest: this was not my favorite D. Kelly book. The story seemed... lacking in a way and a little one dimensional. After reading about the Weston brothers in the Just An Illusion series I was expecting a male lead like Noah or Sawyer but Declan just didn't do it for me. He was so... agreeable and he kind of acted like a chick in the beginning. All the whining about wanting Holly back while Holly acted like she didn't care. And Declan's "celebrity status" didn't make much sense to me either. I know people make money making videos for YouTube but the blurb made me think he was a musician or an actor or someone legitimately famous and finding out what he really did for a living was a letdown.
I also couldn't get into the secondary characters, Baxter and Sage. Their interactions and humor just didn't jive for some reason.
I kind of predicted Holly's big secret just from reading the blurb so it didn't surprise me that I was right, although the circumstances were different than I expected.
I didn't care for how the story kept jumping back and forth between the present and the past. Usually I don't mind that, I love seeing backstories woven into the present, but it felt out of place in this book. I know it was meant to show the "evolution" of their relationship but seeing their teen selves went back a little too far for NA. And the ending of this book reminded me of others by this author.
Overall, this book was okay, if not a little cheesy on the romance. If you're looking for a quick romance this is your book, but it just didn't do anything for me.
My Rating:★★★3 of 5 Stars!
October 1, 2017
September Wrap-Up
Welcome October, my favorite month of the year; a month that promises spooky movies, cozy nights, and way too much candy. Fall is fully upon us and I'm so excited for this month. Last month was a challenging month personally while I got many things done creatively. Let's take a long at what I've been up to...
READING
Books I Reviewed In September:- Oblivion by Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Can't Hardly Breathe by Gena Showalter
- Because You Love to Hate Me edited by Ameriie
- Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco
- The Clue In the Trees by Margi Preus
- The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich (Reread)
- Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
- Play by Kylie Scott (Reread)
Books I Read In September:
- The Clue In the Trees by Margi Preus
- Because You Love to Hate Me edited by Ameriie
- Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
- The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich
- Play by Kylie Scott
- Whispers by Lisa Jackson
- The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
Books to-be-read in October:October is going to be a mostly re-reading month because I love rereading certain books that remind me of Halloween this time of year. Here are a few I hope to get through:
- The Hollow by Jessica Verday
- Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
- Lucky Break by Carly Phillips
- The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
New Reads:- War Cross by Marie Lu
- Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
- The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo
- The Great Pursuit by Wendy Higgins
WRITING In September, I completed two-thirds of my short story for Halloween, entitled Night of Terror. I'm editing the first chapter this weekend and Night of Terror will go live one chapter at a time on Wattpad starting Tuesday, October 3rd and continuing every Tuesday until finished. (Right now their are 8-9 chapters anticipated which will bring us into the week of Thanksgiving.)
I also outlined the first few chapters of Monsters & Mist and will continue outlining in October.
BLOGGING In September, I participated in 2 blog tours, 4 Release Day Blitzes, 3 Excerpt and Cover Reveals - including the one for CurseBreaker, and 1 Book-To-Movie Adaptation Review.
So far in October, I know I will be participating in the Fall 2017 YASH from October 3-8 (save the date! You could win a signed ARC of CurseBreaker!), as well as 2 release day blitzes that I know of so far.
PUBLISHING In September, I revealed the cover artwork of CurseBreaker on this blog with the help of other bloggers on their social media and blogs. I also got the preorders up for CurseBreaker on Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, and Kobo and ordered my print ARC copies which just came in the mail this past Friday!
In October I will be putting together a sign-up form for bloggers interested in reading an ARC of CurseBreaker. These ARCs will be in eBook format only unless you win one of the two copies I will be giving away during YASH. I'm going to aim to get the preorders up for CurseBreaker for Kindle on October 2nd, though it may not appear on site until the 3rd.
I'm also going to be working on some behind-the scenes marketing projects and possibly putting together a preorder incentive if my budget allows.
READING
Books I Reviewed In September:- Oblivion by Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Can't Hardly Breathe by Gena Showalter
- Because You Love to Hate Me edited by Ameriie
- Hunting Prince Dracula by Kerri Maniscalco
- The Clue In the Trees by Margi Preus
- The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich (Reread)
- Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
- Play by Kylie Scott (Reread)
Books I Read In September:
- The Clue In the Trees by Margi Preus
- Because You Love to Hate Me edited by Ameriie
- Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
- The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich
- Play by Kylie Scott
- Whispers by Lisa Jackson
- The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
Books to-be-read in October:October is going to be a mostly re-reading month because I love rereading certain books that remind me of Halloween this time of year. Here are a few I hope to get through:
- The Hollow by Jessica Verday
- Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
- Lucky Break by Carly Phillips
- The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
New Reads:- War Cross by Marie Lu
- Autoboyography by Christina Lauren
- The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo
- The Great Pursuit by Wendy Higgins
WRITING In September, I completed two-thirds of my short story for Halloween, entitled Night of Terror. I'm editing the first chapter this weekend and Night of Terror will go live one chapter at a time on Wattpad starting Tuesday, October 3rd and continuing every Tuesday until finished. (Right now their are 8-9 chapters anticipated which will bring us into the week of Thanksgiving.)
I also outlined the first few chapters of Monsters & Mist and will continue outlining in October.
BLOGGING In September, I participated in 2 blog tours, 4 Release Day Blitzes, 3 Excerpt and Cover Reveals - including the one for CurseBreaker, and 1 Book-To-Movie Adaptation Review.
So far in October, I know I will be participating in the Fall 2017 YASH from October 3-8 (save the date! You could win a signed ARC of CurseBreaker!), as well as 2 release day blitzes that I know of so far.
PUBLISHING In September, I revealed the cover artwork of CurseBreaker on this blog with the help of other bloggers on their social media and blogs. I also got the preorders up for CurseBreaker on Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, and Kobo and ordered my print ARC copies which just came in the mail this past Friday!
In October I will be putting together a sign-up form for bloggers interested in reading an ARC of CurseBreaker. These ARCs will be in eBook format only unless you win one of the two copies I will be giving away during YASH. I'm going to aim to get the preorders up for CurseBreaker for Kindle on October 2nd, though it may not appear on site until the 3rd.
I'm also going to be working on some behind-the scenes marketing projects and possibly putting together a preorder incentive if my budget allows.
September 30, 2017
#BookTag Saturday: The "Aside from Books" Tag
I'm way behind on my tags over on Bookstagram so this week I'm doing a book tag that I recently caught up on over there...
1. Favorite Hobby
Baking
2. Favorite Drink
Iced Tea
3. Favorite Food
Pasta of any sort
4. Favorite Color
Black & Lime Green
5. Favorite City I've Visited
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
6. Where Would You Dream Home Be
Somewhere in the south, maybe New Orleans?
7. Favorite Accessory
My Ouija board planchette necklace
8. Favorite TV Show
Vikings, Midsomer Murders, and Criminal Minds
9. Marvel or DC
Neither, I don't read comic books
10. Last Movie Watched In Theaters
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (yes, that long ago!)
1. Favorite Hobby
Baking
2. Favorite Drink
Iced Tea
3. Favorite Food
Pasta of any sort
4. Favorite Color
Black & Lime Green
5. Favorite City I've Visited
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
6. Where Would You Dream Home Be
Somewhere in the south, maybe New Orleans?
7. Favorite Accessory
My Ouija board planchette necklace
8. Favorite TV Show
Vikings, Midsomer Murders, and Criminal Minds
9. Marvel or DC
Neither, I don't read comic books
10. Last Movie Watched In Theaters
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (yes, that long ago!)
September 29, 2017
Book Review: Play by Kylie Scott
Play (Stage Dive Series #2) by Kylie Scott
Blurb:
Mal Ericson, drummer for the world famous rock band Stage Dive, needs to clean up his image fast—at least for a little while. Having a good girl on his arm should do the job just fine. Mal doesn't plan on this temporary fix becoming permanent, but he didn't count on finding the one right girl.
Anne Rollins never thought she'd ever meet the rock god who plastered her teenage bedroom walls—especially not under these circumstances. Anne has money problems. Big ones. But being paid to play the pretend girlfriend to a wild life-of-the-party drummer couldn't end well. No matter how hot he is. Or could it?
My Review: I previously read and loved Played by Kylie Scott in July 2015, so this is just an adding on to my previous review.
Anne is the type of person who always wants to fix other people's problems. She gave up her teen years to take care of her mother and raise her sister after her father died, she always takes on extra shifts at the bookstore she works at if her boss (and secret crush) Reece has a date, and she fronted her roommate money when she couldn't pay her half of the rent. How does that roommate repay her? By moving out while Anne is at work and taking half of their furniture.
When Mal Ericson - drummer for the famous band Stage Dive - overhears Anne's phone conversation at a party that his band-mate David and his wife Ev are throwing (that Anne can't believe she's attending to begin with) Mal devises a plan to help them both out. Mal needs a fake girlfriend, Anne need to save herself from getting evicted for nonpayment of rent.
It was just supposed to be a business arrangement. They weren't supposed to become a real couple. But Mal is wild and unpredictable and the closer Anne gets to Mal the more she wants to be with him, and the sexual chemistry between the two is scorching hot. Can this rock and roll fairy tale last? Or will her fear of commitment and his unpredictable ideas be the end of them?
Let me start by saying, I love Mal. He is my favorite book boyfriend of all time. He's funny, he's crazy, he's the life of the party. The first time I read this book I hadn't read Lick first so this time around I got to enjoy seeing Dave and Ev's relationship continuing in the background and their history makes sense.
Anne is a character I can relate to in many ways, so she's my favorite of all the women that get paired up with the men of Stage Dive. I loved watching Anne and Mal fall in love all over again. The reader also gets to see the groundwork for Lead - Jimmy and Lena's story, my only confusion is the timeline... the end of Play shows Jimmy and Lena's story toward the end of Lead, but perhaps it was meant to be that way.
Overall Play is the type of book, as well as the other books by this author, that you could read over and over multiple times and still love the story. A true favorite.
My Rating:★★★★★5 of 5 Stars!
Blurb:
Mal Ericson, drummer for the world famous rock band Stage Dive, needs to clean up his image fast—at least for a little while. Having a good girl on his arm should do the job just fine. Mal doesn't plan on this temporary fix becoming permanent, but he didn't count on finding the one right girl. Anne Rollins never thought she'd ever meet the rock god who plastered her teenage bedroom walls—especially not under these circumstances. Anne has money problems. Big ones. But being paid to play the pretend girlfriend to a wild life-of-the-party drummer couldn't end well. No matter how hot he is. Or could it?
My Review: I previously read and loved Played by Kylie Scott in July 2015, so this is just an adding on to my previous review.
Anne is the type of person who always wants to fix other people's problems. She gave up her teen years to take care of her mother and raise her sister after her father died, she always takes on extra shifts at the bookstore she works at if her boss (and secret crush) Reece has a date, and she fronted her roommate money when she couldn't pay her half of the rent. How does that roommate repay her? By moving out while Anne is at work and taking half of their furniture.
When Mal Ericson - drummer for the famous band Stage Dive - overhears Anne's phone conversation at a party that his band-mate David and his wife Ev are throwing (that Anne can't believe she's attending to begin with) Mal devises a plan to help them both out. Mal needs a fake girlfriend, Anne need to save herself from getting evicted for nonpayment of rent.
It was just supposed to be a business arrangement. They weren't supposed to become a real couple. But Mal is wild and unpredictable and the closer Anne gets to Mal the more she wants to be with him, and the sexual chemistry between the two is scorching hot. Can this rock and roll fairy tale last? Or will her fear of commitment and his unpredictable ideas be the end of them?
Let me start by saying, I love Mal. He is my favorite book boyfriend of all time. He's funny, he's crazy, he's the life of the party. The first time I read this book I hadn't read Lick first so this time around I got to enjoy seeing Dave and Ev's relationship continuing in the background and their history makes sense.
Anne is a character I can relate to in many ways, so she's my favorite of all the women that get paired up with the men of Stage Dive. I loved watching Anne and Mal fall in love all over again. The reader also gets to see the groundwork for Lead - Jimmy and Lena's story, my only confusion is the timeline... the end of Play shows Jimmy and Lena's story toward the end of Lead, but perhaps it was meant to be that way.
Overall Play is the type of book, as well as the other books by this author, that you could read over and over multiple times and still love the story. A true favorite.
My Rating:★★★★★5 of 5 Stars!
September 27, 2017
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #93
It's been a long, stressful few days for me both personally and creatively and that flowed over into my reading. I tried three books over the weekend before finally starting and loving...
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
Blurb:
Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic meets the Salem Witch trials in this haunting story about three sisters on a quest for revenge—and how love may be the only thing powerful enough to stop them.
Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…
Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.
Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.
Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.
Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.
But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.
Why I Chose This Book | What I Think So Far: I was so excited to get an ARC of The Wicked Deep! When I first heard about it, it went to the top of my 2018 TBR list. Initially, I was trying to make myself wait until October because I thought it would be a great book to read around Halloween, but I needed something I could sink my teeth into and get lost in for a while. Let me tell you, The Wicked Deep is definitely the perfect book to get lost in! The writing and worldbuilding are fantastic, the legend and history are well plotted, and I honestly don't want to put it down. But enough gushing, this is an ARC read and I don't want to give too much away! All I can say is - this is a book you NEED to read!
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
Blurb:
Hocus Pocus and Practical Magic meets the Salem Witch trials in this haunting story about three sisters on a quest for revenge—and how love may be the only thing powerful enough to stop them.Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…
Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.
Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.
Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.
Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.
But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.
Why I Chose This Book | What I Think So Far: I was so excited to get an ARC of The Wicked Deep! When I first heard about it, it went to the top of my 2018 TBR list. Initially, I was trying to make myself wait until October because I thought it would be a great book to read around Halloween, but I needed something I could sink my teeth into and get lost in for a while. Let me tell you, The Wicked Deep is definitely the perfect book to get lost in! The writing and worldbuilding are fantastic, the legend and history are well plotted, and I honestly don't want to put it down. But enough gushing, this is an ARC read and I don't want to give too much away! All I can say is - this is a book you NEED to read!
September 25, 2017
{Release Day Blitz} CHARM by J.A. Armitage
I am so excited that CHARM by J.A. Armitage is available now and that I get to share the news!If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by USA Today Bestselling Author J.A. Armitage, be sure to check out all the details below.
This blitz also includes a giveaway for a Cinderella Prize Pack courtesy of J.A. So if you’d like a chance to win, click on the link at the bottom of this post.
About The Book:
Title: CHARMAuthor: J.A. ArmitagePub. Date: September 26, 2017Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLCPages: 291Formats: eBookFind it: Amazon, Goodreads
You all know the story of Cinderella...
The kingdom needs an heir and Princess Charmaine is quite aware that the job rests solely upon her shoulders. The problem is, she has no intention of ever getting married, let alone pushing a child out of her ladyparts. When her elder sister dies, Charmaine has to take her place at the ball designed to find her a husband. The problem is, she doesn't want to choose between a hundred eligible bachelors. She just wants to live her life in peace and find love in her own time.
Cynder knows about the impending war between his people and those of his masters, but working as an underpaid servant in the palace kitchens leaves him with little power to do anything about it. On one hand, he's a staunch supporter of his own royal family, but he can't deny the attraction he feels for the daughter of the king and queen he works for.
Charm is the first in the Reverse Fairytale series by USA Today bestselling author J.A.Armitage. Take everything you think you know about fairytales and turn it on its head.
Excerpt: My mother smiled. Her smile had a way of putting people at ease. I’d seen her use it countless times on nervous subjects. That’s what made her a good queen. She flicked her eyes towards my father who just nodded and then she turned back to me. Reaching forward and taking my hand in hers she spoke softly to me. Another trick of hers to keep me calm. I wondered briefly what exactly she would need to keep me calm for.
You already know
The little voice was persistent.
“We cannot cancel the ball. Too much is at stake and, while it is unfortunate timing, it would be madness to stop it at this late stage. Your father and I have talked extensively about this and we have decided that you are to take Grace’s place.”
I opened my mouth in shock. We had only just begun the official mourning for Grace and here they both were, asking me to take her place at some stupid party.
“You mean dance with the men?”
“Not just dance with them. We need concrete ties. The country is in a period of great instability and we need a leader to take our place when we are gone. We need you to choose a husband.”
About J.A.:
Born in Leeds, I lived a very normal life until I got bored one day and decided to travel the world. Since then I've worked on a Banana Plantation, cleaned ACDC's dressing room and been a professional clown.
I climbed to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and the top of Kilimanjaro. Nowadays you'll find me being a climbing frame for my two young children, working in a school, and renovating my home.
Did I also mention I wrote some books?I hope you enjoy them!
For my free books, just sign up to my newsletter here http://www.subscribepage.com/v7o8k4 Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads
Giveaway Details:
*****CHARM GIVEAWAY*****
I'm giving away a Cinderella swag pack, print copies of Charm and a $20 Amazon voucher.
1st prize: Cinderella Swag Pack with NYT bestselling book, DVD and print copy of Charm
2nd Prize: $20 Amazon Giftcard and Ecopy of Charm
3rd Prize: Print copy of Charm
Just click the link below to take you to the entry form
GOOD LUCK :)
https://www.jaarmitage.com/giveaway
Book Review: Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler
Blurb:
A dazzling novel that captures all of the romance, glamour, and tragedy of the first flapper, Zelda Fitzgerald.
When beautiful, reckless Southern belle Zelda Sayre meets F. Scott Fitzgerald at a country club dance in 1918, she is seventeen years old and he is a young army lieutenant stationed in Alabama. Before long, the "ungettable" Zelda has fallen for him despite his unsuitability: Scott isn't wealthy or prominent or even a Southerner, and keeps insisting, absurdly, that his writing will bring him both fortune and fame.
Her father is deeply unimpressed. But after Scott sells his first novel, This Side of Paradise, to Scribner's, Zelda optimistically boards a train north, to marry him in the vestry of St. Patrick's Cathedral and take the rest as it comes.
My Review: Z begins with a wild, flirty, rebellious young girl living in a conservative household who falls for a man with big dreams.
During the first part of this book, I felt sorry for F. Scott because Zelda acts like a flighty girl just playing with his feelings. Zelda is wild and kind of crazy but she's accustomed to a type of living that at first F. Scott cannot financially provide for her so she won't marry him until he "becomes something." F. Scott is a piece of work in his own right as we learn as the book goes on.
At first Zelda's story about marrying F. Scott and their life together in the early days was interesting, but then it seems to just be repetitive as all they seem to do is drink, party, spend money, and get kicked out of places. Then things get just plain depressing as Zelda's mental state begins to crumble.
Overall I liked this book, but at times felt like it dragged. I thought it perfectly portrayed the era in which Zelda and F. Scott lived and it was interesting to see glimpses of the life of the man behind Gatsby and his fascinating wife, but in a way it made me lose respect for him, as well as other people of that era. The ending was probably my favorite part as we learn about F. Scott and Zelda's tragic end. They were two people who lived life hard, if not to the fullest and in the end it took a toll on them both.
My Rating:3.75 of 5 Stars
September 24, 2017
Book Review: The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich
The Dead House by Dawn Kurtagich
Blurb:
Three students: dead. Carly Johnson: vanished without a trace.
Two decades have passed since an inferno swept through Elmbridge High, claiming the lives of three teenagers and causing one student, Carly Johnson, to disappear. The main suspect: Kaitlyn, "the girl of nowhere."
Kaitlyn's diary, discovered in the ruins of Elmbridge High, reveals the thoughts of a disturbed mind. Its charred pages tell a sinister version of events that took place that tragic night, and the girl of nowhere is caught in the center of it all. But many claim Kaitlyn doesn't exist, and in a way, she doesn't - because she is the alter ego of Carly Johnson.
Carly gets the day. Kaitlyn has the night. It's during the night that a mystery surrounding the Dead House unravels and a dark, twisted magic ruins the lives of each student that dares touch it.
Debut author Dawn Kurtagich masterfully weaves together a thrilling and terrifying story using psychiatric reports, witness testimonials, video footage, and the discovered diary - and as the mystery grows, the horrifying truth about what happened that night unfolds.
My Review: I first read this book about two years ago when it first came out. At the time, reading it late at night gave me such unsettling vibes that I couldn't finish it but I loved the cover so much that I couldn't get rid of the book.
About a year ago I read Dawn Kurtagich's sophomore novel, And The Trees Crept In and loved it. Deciding that since I got through that book I'd give this book another try. One thing is abundantly clear after rereading The Dead House again: I clearly did not read the entire book the last time and the sections that terrified me I had read out of context.
Rereading The Dead House was a breeze. This book is easy to read because of the format it's written in - comprised of journal entries, video and interview transcriptions with plenty of creepy photos, illustrations, and notes.
This book is really more psychological than gory horror and it makes you think about what you believe as you read it. Is Kaitlyn the alter or is Carly really the alternate personality - or are they really what Naida believes: "two souls in one body." Are Carly and Kaitlyn really insane or is there something more sinister at work? Did Naida and the others help the situation or just make it worse; would any of it have even happened without the introduction of Mala?
I have my own opinions, I like to think Kaitlyn was the main personality (since we mostly see things in her perspective, not Carly's) and that the paranormal stuff was plausible, but I'm a fool who wishes to believe in the narrators of the books I read.
Overall, this book was much better the second time and I can truly say that I loved it! Once I got started reading it I kept telling myself, "okay you'll go to sleep after this chapter ends," but with such short chapters I knew I was lying to myself. I devoured all 400 pages in no time at all! Allow this book into your life, let The Dead House infect your mind I dare you - you won't regret it!
My Rating:★★★★★5 of 5 Stars!
Blurb:
Three students: dead. Carly Johnson: vanished without a trace. Two decades have passed since an inferno swept through Elmbridge High, claiming the lives of three teenagers and causing one student, Carly Johnson, to disappear. The main suspect: Kaitlyn, "the girl of nowhere."
Kaitlyn's diary, discovered in the ruins of Elmbridge High, reveals the thoughts of a disturbed mind. Its charred pages tell a sinister version of events that took place that tragic night, and the girl of nowhere is caught in the center of it all. But many claim Kaitlyn doesn't exist, and in a way, she doesn't - because she is the alter ego of Carly Johnson.
Carly gets the day. Kaitlyn has the night. It's during the night that a mystery surrounding the Dead House unravels and a dark, twisted magic ruins the lives of each student that dares touch it.
Debut author Dawn Kurtagich masterfully weaves together a thrilling and terrifying story using psychiatric reports, witness testimonials, video footage, and the discovered diary - and as the mystery grows, the horrifying truth about what happened that night unfolds.
My Review: I first read this book about two years ago when it first came out. At the time, reading it late at night gave me such unsettling vibes that I couldn't finish it but I loved the cover so much that I couldn't get rid of the book.
About a year ago I read Dawn Kurtagich's sophomore novel, And The Trees Crept In and loved it. Deciding that since I got through that book I'd give this book another try. One thing is abundantly clear after rereading The Dead House again: I clearly did not read the entire book the last time and the sections that terrified me I had read out of context.
Rereading The Dead House was a breeze. This book is easy to read because of the format it's written in - comprised of journal entries, video and interview transcriptions with plenty of creepy photos, illustrations, and notes.
This book is really more psychological than gory horror and it makes you think about what you believe as you read it. Is Kaitlyn the alter or is Carly really the alternate personality - or are they really what Naida believes: "two souls in one body." Are Carly and Kaitlyn really insane or is there something more sinister at work? Did Naida and the others help the situation or just make it worse; would any of it have even happened without the introduction of Mala?
I have my own opinions, I like to think Kaitlyn was the main personality (since we mostly see things in her perspective, not Carly's) and that the paranormal stuff was plausible, but I'm a fool who wishes to believe in the narrators of the books I read.
Overall, this book was much better the second time and I can truly say that I loved it! Once I got started reading it I kept telling myself, "okay you'll go to sleep after this chapter ends," but with such short chapters I knew I was lying to myself. I devoured all 400 pages in no time at all! Allow this book into your life, let The Dead House infect your mind I dare you - you won't regret it!
My Rating:★★★★★5 of 5 Stars!
September 22, 2017
Movie Adaptation Review: Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
Last weekend I watched three YA book-to-movie adaptations on Lifetime. The first two didn't do much for me: Ten: Murder Island (which was like a take off on And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie crossed with 13 Reasons Why although it is based on Ten by Gretchen McNeil) and Drink, Slay, Love (based on the novel by Sarah Beth Durst); but it was the third one I was looking forward to....
Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
Blurb:
Sixteen-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science. . .and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate.
There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship. . .and reality.
Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?
My Review of the Movie Adaptation: I haven't read this book, but I did put it on my Amazon books-to-buy-later list when I first saw the preview.
The premise of the Movie was appealing enough; a girl moves to an island to live with her estranged mother after her father's death. There she learns about the mythical Seawalkers (basically mermaids), grabs the attention of the local "it" boy and pisses off his popular girlfriend while herself being drawn to the mysterious boy she's not supposed to be with. (Though the movie sounds nothing like the book's blurb describes it as!)
So it should have been something I would like, right? Instead, the movie was a huge letdown. The first hour and fifty minutes were spent mostly on stuff that didn't matter while everything important was crammed into the last ten minutes of the movie.
The movie left more questions than answers. Was Miranda a seawalker? Did her father die because he stayed out of the water too long? Was T.J. a seawalker Hunter? Did Leo really die at the end? What was up with Amelia and the trident?!?!
I'm in no way blaming the book since I haven't read it yet. It just feels like a lot of the meat of the book might have been left out in the making of the movie.
Did I enjoy the movie? Sure, but I felt like I spent most of the movie waiting for something to happen then the ending was a rushed mess that let me down. Do I still want to read the book? I probably want to read it more now after seeing the movie to see what was left out.
My Rating:Movie Overall: 3.5 / 5 StarsActing: 4/5 StarsStory Adaptation: 2/5 StarsThe idea was there, the movie just didn't live up to it.
Sea Change by Aimee Friedman
Blurb:
Sixteen-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science. . .and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate.
There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship. . .and reality.
Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?
My Review of the Movie Adaptation: I haven't read this book, but I did put it on my Amazon books-to-buy-later list when I first saw the preview.
The premise of the Movie was appealing enough; a girl moves to an island to live with her estranged mother after her father's death. There she learns about the mythical Seawalkers (basically mermaids), grabs the attention of the local "it" boy and pisses off his popular girlfriend while herself being drawn to the mysterious boy she's not supposed to be with. (Though the movie sounds nothing like the book's blurb describes it as!)
So it should have been something I would like, right? Instead, the movie was a huge letdown. The first hour and fifty minutes were spent mostly on stuff that didn't matter while everything important was crammed into the last ten minutes of the movie.
The movie left more questions than answers. Was Miranda a seawalker? Did her father die because he stayed out of the water too long? Was T.J. a seawalker Hunter? Did Leo really die at the end? What was up with Amelia and the trident?!?!
I'm in no way blaming the book since I haven't read it yet. It just feels like a lot of the meat of the book might have been left out in the making of the movie.
Did I enjoy the movie? Sure, but I felt like I spent most of the movie waiting for something to happen then the ending was a rushed mess that let me down. Do I still want to read the book? I probably want to read it more now after seeing the movie to see what was left out.
My Rating:Movie Overall: 3.5 / 5 StarsActing: 4/5 StarsStory Adaptation: 2/5 StarsThe idea was there, the movie just didn't live up to it.
