Teen Book Scene: Around the World in 80 Kisses Smooch Stop (International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams)

Hey everyone! Today is my stop for The International Kissing Club blog tour organized by the fabulous folks over at Teen Book Scene. One of the characters in the book, Shellee Roberts will share some odd facts about her. Check it out below!

Odd Facts About Me: Shellee Roberts

1. I love, LOVE to travel. Anywhere. I inherited the travel bug bad from my globe-trotting parents, and for fun I sometimes spend hours online (when I should be writing) planning trips that I have neither the time nor means to afford. And not just web surfing pretty pictures, I mean down to flight schedules, hotels and itineraries. This is why writing all the travel scenes in The International Kissing Club was so much fun! All of the places that Cassidy visits in Sydney, I’d actually been to. The caveat to all this is I hate, HATE to fly. Just the thought of getting on an airplane makes the nerves in my stomach start jumping around like a kindergarten class on Mountain Dew. It’s a testament to my burning desire to see the world that I’m actually willing to get on one of those tubes of death.

2. I am severely nyctophobic, meaning I’m really frakkin’ scared of the dark. I cannot walk across my own house without a light on. Which means on nights when I’m up late writing in the office at the front of our house, I sometimes have to call my husband on the telephone in the bedroom at the back of the house to come walk me to bed. Yes, I am a grown woman.

3. I totally, absolutely believe in ghosts. My grandmother has been visited by ghosts her whole life, and going to stay with her when I was a kid was creepy cause there was always some weird stuff happening there. This may also explain #2 above.

4. My husband and I have a goal of skiing all 34 major US ski resorts before we die. So far we’ve hit nine. But since we live in the middle of Texas (means it’s tough to get out of the state quickly or cheaply) and we both have bad knees from past skiing accidents, we’re going to have to step it up from going only once a year if we’re going to make it before we’re too old.

5. My first job was working the gate at a living history farm in my hometown. I was fifteen and seriously in love with history, so I thought it would be super fun to work there for the summer, in the Texas heat. I wore a full on 1870s era costume—long skirt, petticoat and bonnet—with not even a fan (cause there was no electricity). This is when I realized that really living in the past is romantic only in books. In reality it was hot and sweaty and really, really hard work all day long.

Thank you for hosting us today!

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Got any weird phobias? Tell us in the comments (leave your email so we can contact you) to be entered to win the Around the World In 80 Kisses daily and weekly prize and also become eligible to win the Grand Prize, a Kindle Fire. For a list of all our Smooch Posts you can visit and earn more entries to win, visit us here.

The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams is the story of four best friends: Piper, Cassidy, Mei, and Izzy--the misfits of Paris, Texas. Their whole lives, they’ve dreamed of escaping small-town life and seeing the world. So when Piper is the victim of an embarrassing prank that goes viral online, she gets the idea that the girls should escape via the school’s international exchange program, in search of fun, love and internet redemption.

Emily McKay, Shellee Roberts and Tracy Deebs write under the pseudonym Ivy Adams. They shop, gossip and watch movies in Austin, Texas.

[Teen Book Scene] Existence by Abbi Glines Interview

Today is my stop on this fab tour! I have the author, Abbi Glines on the blog today for a short interview!

Why write about Death?

I've always loved books that personify death. Instead of it being an event I like it when it gets more personal. Like Dank says in the book:

“It’s pretty impossible to hurt what Death protects.”

If Existence is to be made into a movie, whose your pick to play Pagan and Death?

Jennifer Lawrence as Pagan
and
Josh Hartnett as Death (Dank)

Can you tell us something about Existence cover? Is it the way you imagined it to be or would you want to change it? If you do, then what kind of changes will you make?

Existence cover is better than anything I could have imagined. When I found the cover artist who created it, Stephanie Mooney, and gave her a few suggestions I never expected to be blown away. I knew the eyes were important for the cover and I told her that and wow did she deliver. I wouldn't do anything differently. She nailed the cover. Completely.

If you knew your time on Earth is about to come to an end, what will you do?

I'd go sky diving, rocky mountain climbing, two point seven seconds on a bull.. Oh wait that's a country song. Um… what would I do? Take a trip to Ireland with my family. I've always wanted to go to Ireland. I think a long family vacation would be perfect.

Do you have any quirks or habits you have developed while writing?

Yes I talk out loud to my characters and unlike Pagan I don't have the excuse of talking to a soul no one else can see. I am literally talking to myself. I also eat mass amounts of Twizzlers.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I read A LOT. Like a book a day most of the time. I also plan Disney World trips. We go yearly and we would go more if I could convince my husband of this idea. But he limits me to once a year so I obsess over the planning of the trip instead.

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Great choices for the cast! I know we're all looking forward to seeing Jennifer Lawrence next year as Katniss, but I'm pretty sure she can also pull off Pagan if Existence becomes a movie! Thanks Abbi!

Existence by Abbi Glines

What happens when you are stalked by Death? You fall in love with him of course. Pagan Moore doesn’t cheat Death, instead, she falls in love with him.

Seventeen year old Pagan Moore, has seen souls her entire life. Once she realized the strangers she often saw walking through walls were not visible to anyone else, she started ignoring them. If she didn’t let them know she could see them, they left her alone. Until she steps out of her car on the first day of school and sees an incredibly sexy guy lounging on a picnic table, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Problem is, she knows he's dead. Not only does he not go away, when she ignores him he does something none of the others have ever done; he speaks. Pagan is fascinated by the soul. What Pagan doesn’t realize is that her appointed time to die is drawing near and the wickedly beautiful soul she is falling in love with is not a soul. He is Death and he is about to break all the rules.

[Teen Book Scene Blog Tour] Kane Richards Must Die author Shanice Williams' Book picks!

Why hello there! Today is my stop on the Teen Book Scene blog tour, and we have the awesome Shanice William telling us about her favorite books!

Well, there’s so many books that I’ve read and have absolutely loved but just couldn’t remember the name of :(

But the ones that I can remember, are actually ones that I read through highschool.

Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah. Absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful book. The fact that it’s a true story just adds to the heartache but there’s also times when you can’t help but laugh at the cuteness of the main character. The scene with her Pet duck made me cry though! :(

The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot. I love, love, love Cabot’s books. I once remember spending my Easter holidays just reading 12 of her books in one go!

Girls in love by Jacqueline Wilson, and The story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson. Actually, most books by Jacqueline Wilson! I love all of her books. They deal with real life emotional situations such as adoption, divorce and mental illness but she writes in such a subtle way. Her stories are just amazing.

Can’t think of any more at the moment! But I assure you, there’s millions!

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Kane Richards Must Die
Lands Atlantic Publishing, LLC

After an unexpected transfer to the States for her senior year, Suranne's new friends give her just one instruction: stay away from Kane Richards. According to everyone, he's a heartless playboy concerned only for himself. With one glance, it's easy to see why he gets away with it. But things aren't always what they seem- especially when he sets his sights on her and whispers that she's different.

Despite all the red flags, Suranne considers whether or not his intentions are genuine or if she's simply another name on his list. In the process, she may just uncover the real Kane Richards. But, when it comes down to it, the real Kane Richards may not want to be found.

Filled with raw emotion, Kane Richards Must Die explores relationships, trust, love, and what can happen when life takes an unexpected turn.

I love Meg Cabot's books! Since I've read Avalon High, and then the Princess Diaries, I've been a fan! Great picks, Shanice, and thank you for stopping by our blog! And, watch out for my review of Kane Richards Must Die this week!

[The Teen Book Scene Blog Tour] Cracked by K.M. Walton Guest Post: Bull Mastrick (This or That)

Hey everyone! Today is my stop for the Teen Book Scene Cracked Tour! We have Bull to answer a few questions for us! I had a lot of fun reading his answers :)

First, thank you to Kai for hosting me here at Amaterasu Reads!

Friday Nights or Monday Morning? Monday morning, so I can get the hell out of my apartment and away from my Pop.

Christmas or Halloween? Holidays don’t mean anything to me. My mother barely functions enough to get to work. And you think she’d be able to buy a Christmas tree or Halloween candy? What are you insane?

Small Town or City? I live in a medium sized town so I’m going with medium sized town. I really don’t care where I live or hang out. I’m usually hanging in the cemetery anyway.

Purple or Orange? Neither. Black. Like my heart. I know that sounds all, like, deep and poetic, but my heart is black and dirty and ripped and every other crappy word you can associate with it.

Past or Future? Future all the way. My past sucks. My life sucks. I don’t have any good memories of the past. I’m serious. Zero.

Spaghetti or Lasagna? Both. You have no idea what’s it’s like to have empty kitchen cabinets. I know what it’s like and it blows. It blows chunks, and if you put both of those things in front of
me I’d scarf them down before you turned your back.

Baked Potato or French Fries? Again with the food. I’m going with both because I can’t tell you how many nights my “dinner” was a stale end of bread and water. More nights than I had a
baked potato or french fries, that’s for freaking sure.

Ice Cream or Cake? Are you trying to torture me or something? The only time I had cake and ice cream was in kindergarten when it was my teacher’s birthday. The other teachers brought it in
and gave us each our own piece of cake and scoop of ice cream. I can still see the white fluffy frosting when I close my eyes.

Noisy or Total Silence? Total silence. I guess that’s why I like hanging in the cemetery so much. No drunk grandfathers tossing crumpled beer cans at your head or coming at you with closed
fists.

Twitter or Facebook? I was on Facebook for a second and then clicked out of it. I don’t have a computer at home so the only way I’d be able to check stupid Facebook would be from some public computer. Who the heck would want to be friends with me on there anyway? Certainly not Victor Konig—that turd. He’s probably on Facebook day and night trying to rise out of his dork status. Good luck, Victoria.

Movie or Book? Book, but if you ever tell anyone that I read, I’ll…crap, I don’t know what I’d do to you but it would be bad. Trust me. I read and no one knows it. Let’s keep it that way.

iPhone or Blackberry? I wish I had an iPhone, but I have the dumbest phone in the history of phones – the kind you pay for as you go. You know, the ones that ten year olds have. I pay for it myself from working at Salvation Army, and I’d rather spend my money on books than some rich-kid-phone. I’ll bet Victor has an iPhone4 that his loaded mommy and daddy bought and paid for. He can shove his iPhone up his— Sorry, I don’t want to curse or anything, so I stopped myself. And hey, thanks for asking me these questions. No one since my therapist has paid this much attention to me in a while.

- Bull Mastrick

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Believe it or not, I've had fun, Bull. Thanks for letting me host you on my blog!

And if you haven't gotten the chance to read Cracked yet, get a copy once it hits the stores next year!

Cracked by K.M. Walton
January 3rd 2012, Simon Pulse

Sometimes there's no easy way out.

Victor hates his life. He has no friends, gets beaten up at school, and his parents are always criticizing him. Tired of feeling miserable, Victor takes a bottle of his mother's sleeping pills—only to wake up in the hospital.

Bull is angry, and takes all of his rage out on Victor. That makes him feel better, at least a little. But it doesn't stop Bull's grandfather from getting drunk and hitting him. So Bull tries to defend himself with a loaded gun.

When Victor and Bull end up as roommates in the same psych ward, there's no way to escape each other or their problems. Which means things are going to get worse—much worse—before they get better….

[The Teen Book Scene Blog Tour] Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout Into the Past Guest Post

Hey guys!

I'm back with another tour post for all of you! It's my turn to post something for The Half-Blood tour and we have Jennifer over in the blog to tell the books she was reading back then.

What I was reading? And What I wish I was reading.

Age 5
What I was reading? I have no idea what I was reading at age 5, but I’m sure it involves a lot of pictures and rhyming phrases.
What I wish I was reading? Well, I don’t know about me but I know my parents wish Go the F**K to Sleep was available then.

Age 11
What I was reading? Goosebumps and Fear Street.
What I wish I was reading? Wouldn’t change a thing. Those books were awesome.

Age 16
What I was reading? Over the top historical romances. I went through this phase with historical. I swear to you I had over 200 books.
What I wish I was reading? I wish I was 16 when Twilight or the Mortal Instruments Series came out. It would be pretty cool to get caught up in the fandom at the age.

Age 20
What I was reading? College textbooks and reading requirements. Yawn.
What I wish I was reading? Anything other than what I was reading.

Thank you for having me!

Half-Blood (Covenant #1)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

Don't forget to buy a copy of Half-Blood when it comes out!


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I wish I was reading the Vampire Academy series, Immortals series, Evernight series and House of Night series back when they first came out. I think I'm out in the loop most of the time because these books/series are popular and I haven't read them at all! *hangs head in shame*

[The Teen Book Scene Blog Tour] Teenage Garage Sale: Brooklyn, Burning by Steve Brezenoff

Hi guys! Today is my designated stop for The Teen Book Scene tour for Steve Brezenoff's Brooklyn, Burning and I'll be posting interesting stuff Steve will put up for a garage sale of things from his teenage years, if he's to have one.

Let’s start in the front. If you’ll just kneel down right here, you’ll find a cardboard box full to the brim of GI Joe action figures. I think it’s about time I got rid of these, as I’ve hardly touched them in years and honestly it’s pretty embarrassing how many I still have. I’ll let them go for fifty cents a pop, or take the whole box for—let’s say—twenty five bucks. If you’re interested in some GI Joe vehicles, they’re lined up on the table to your right, priced as marked.

Over on this table, my CD collection. It’s impressively huge, I know, but my tastes are changing pretty quickly nowadays, and I have to make room. So here you’ll find everything from the first CD I ever bought—the Best of the Glenn Miller Orchestra; I practiced madly until I could play the trumpet solo from “String of Pearls” right along with the recording—to my Grateful Dead Collection, which is most of what you see here. In fact, this is only about a quarter of it. The rest is in that giant box in the corner. A dollar each takes ‘em away! But don’t touch anything from SubPop records. It’s not for sale.

Back here, on this rolling clothes hanger thing, is my collection of Batman T-shirts, and my jean jackets. I painted those jackets myself, and yes, they are now Batman jackets. They’re also collectors’ items. Probably. I’ll sell each jacket for fifty, but the shirts are a buck each. For the record, Michael Keaton is still the best Batman.

And that brings us to the end of our garage sale . . . unless you’re interested in a 1981 Honda Accord hatchback? I’ll even clean all the Taco Bell wrappers out of the backseat, no extra charge.


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Steve has so much boy stuff! I'd actually be interested in that 1981 Honda Accord hatchback. Without the Taco Beel wrappers, please :) So what do you think? Will you buy some of Steve's stuff if he puts all of these in a garage sale?

[The Teen Book Scene Blog Tour] Betrayed by Ednah Walters Guest Post: Teenage Garage Sale

Hi everyone!

Today's my designated stop for Ednah Walter's Betrayed, the second book from her The Guardian Legacy series. Ednah will be taking out some things for her own Teenage Garage sale. I find some things of her interesting, personally, so you might want to check out her list yourself ;)




I wonder if I’d remember. It’s been years. Anyway, here does:

1. Platforms shoes - $10

2. Flaring jeans (bell bottoms) - $20

3. Early editions of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys books - $80

4. Walkman - $15

5. Large headphones - $2

5. Cassettes of Madonna -$5

6. Cassettes of the Jackson Five -$7

8. Cassettes of ABBA - $7

9. Cassettes of disco music - $5

10. Adult socks with lace - $1

11. Jackets with shoulder pads - $10

13. Floral dresses with pads, flared hem and puffy sleeves - $8

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Thank you Ednah for sharing some items for your Teenage Garage Sale!

I haven't seen a floral dress with pads in a long long time. I think my mom has some of hers hidden somewhere in the house, together with her leggings, with rings you can hook your feet on at the bottom. And my dad listens to ABBA and Jackson 5. I grew up listening to some of their songs too! :)

So what do you think? Will you be buying any of these items?

[The Teen Book Scene Blog Tour] Clean by Amy Reed Character Interview: Olivia

I'm one of the stops in the Clean tour organized by Teen Book Scene. Today I have Olivia in the blog, to answer some questions about herself.







I know you must hate doing this but can you tell us something about yourself?
There’s not a lot to say really. I’m the unremarkable one in a family full of geniuses. I work harder than everyone else, I practically kill myself trying to be perfect, but it’s never enough. Sometimes I wonder if it’s even worth it.

Did you ever consider anyone as your friend in rehab? No? Who's the closest one you think you would be able to talk to?
Definitely not at first. I’m not good at being close to people. Plus I was really scared, and I guess I kind of took my fear out on everyone else by being a bitch. It’s not like I want to be alone, but I always end up pushing people away. But I think I’m starting to change. I’ve been able to let people in a little, especially Kelly. Maybe it’s because she was my roommate and the most persistent, or maybe because we’re the most alike in a lot of ways--we’ve lived our whole lives trying to be someone we’re not.

Did doing what Shirley wanted you to do help a bit? Didn't it even feel nice, even for a bit, to just let it all out?
As much as I acted like I hated Shirley, I think deep down I was always grateful for her attention. She could be a little rough around the edges, but I always knew she cared, and that’s more than I could say for the other adults in my life. She was hard on me because she actually gave a shit (excuse my language--it’s hard not to swear when everyone around you is). I was so tense for so much of my life, I was carrying so much pain, it really felt good to finally let go and let other people hold it for a little while.

Do you like the Olivia you see now?
I’m definitely getting there. I think I’m finally starting to get to know who I really am and what I want, not what everyone else wants me to be.

Did you ever wish you weren't who you were? Or someone entirely different?
My whole life, I’ve wished I was someone else. I hated myself. I couldn’t stand being in my own skin. I think that’s a lot of the reason why I became an addict--to escape myself. Only now am I starting to figure out what it feels like to actually be OK with who I am.

If you had another chance to go back to a certain time in your life and change it for the better, would you?
I wish I wouldn’t have wasted so much of my life trying to be someone I’m not.

Is there anything you want to say to those who are reading this interview?
I hope you don’t have to go through what I went through. I hope you can follow your heart and be who you really are, not who you think people want you to be.

[The Teen Book Scene Blog Tour] Review: Clean by Amy Reed

I've had a different perception when it comes to addicts. But that changed entirely after reading this book.

Title: Clean by Amy Reed
Pages: 288
Release Date: July 19th 2011
Published by: Simon Pulse
Source: S&S Galley Grab
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary (from Goodreads):

You’re probably wondering how I ended up here. I’m still wondering the same thing.

Olivia, Kelly, Christopher, Jason, and Eva have one thing in common: They're addicts. Addicts who have hit rock bottom and been stuck together in rehab to face their problems, face sobriety, and face themselves. None of them wants to be there. None of them wants to confront the truths about their pasts. And they certainly don’t want to share their darkest secrets and most desperate fears with a room of strangers. But they'll all have to deal with themselves and one another if they want to learn how to live. Because when you get that high, there's nowhere to go but down, down, down.

There are two things that Olive, Kelly, Christopher, Jason and Eva have in common. They're all addicts and are currently in rehab, which was the last place on earth they want to be right now, trying to get back up on their feet after going so far gone into using and abusing all the substance they can get their hands on. One is a drunkard, one is addicted to diet pills, another to meth. They came from different walks of life. Christopher was from a religious family, Jason had a father who sleeps around, Olivia came from a "perfect" family, Eva had a dad who could care less about her, and Kelly had a family busy caring for sick sisters.

Clean is one of those books that will open the eyes of people who thinks less of addicts. To be honest I'm one of them. But reading through this and laying out in the open the lives of five different people was very enlightening and emotional. In some ways, I understood. By no means did it justify what they did, but reading of different people, their different lives and their different reasons why they became who they are brought some sense to it. Whether these people like it or not, at some level, they knew they needed help, that's why they're there. It was a path to healing. And it was the start of a long, harrowing journey to get back into a society.

Clean is a very honest, unflinching, moving novel. One doesn't need to be an addict to be able to relate to this. It's a vivid portrayal of one's struggle to get that second chance on life. To pick up from where they left off after making all the choices that took them to a downward spiral to addiction. I appreciated life more by seeing it through the eyes of five tormented souls. I felt like I was there alongside them all throughout their journey, forging the most unlikely of friendships and finding help from each other. Passing through different stages, denial, struggles, facing their problems, admitting they had a problem, asking for help and finally finding strength to change.

Clean will break your heart and put back the pieces, one by one, step by step. You will be moved by the realizations, the situations each of the teens are in, and most of all, their bravery to face the world, head high, a place they once all shunned at one point, and learn how to heal themselves. They realized that. They can take control of their life and heal, stand back up on their own two feet. And I think that's just what makes this book very beautiful.

Not everyone might like this book as it deals with a heavy theme, but I suggest you read it, and when you do, read it with an open mind.

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[The Teen Book Scene Blog Tour] Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademetriou: Will's Book PIcks

Hi everyone! How's your weekend so far?

Today is my stop on the Siren's Storm Blog Tour and I have him here to say something about the books he likes to read! A guy who reads... how cool is that?

Age 5:

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day: I was never a very cranky kid, but we all have a bad day once in a while. This book made bad days better and made good days rock. It’s funny, and I always loved the illustrations.

Incredible Cross Sections: This book is really amazing. It shows you the insides of different kinds of structures. It’s perfect for kids who like to see how things work, or who wonder what goes on inside the hull of a ship.

A Street Through Time: I was really interested in history as a kid, and this book shows a specific place change over hundreds of years. It’s amazing.

Age 10:


Frindle: I always liked funny books as a kid, so I read a lot of Andrew Clements. This book is about a kid who tries to irritate his teacher by calling a pen a “frindle.” I guess I liked the idea of getting on your teacher’s nerves, but doing it in a way that can’t get you in trouble.

Hatchet: This book is about a boy that has to survive after the small plane he’s in crash lands. It’s really intense, and I love how the boy stops feeling sorry for himself and figures things out.

Island of the Blue Dolphins: I don’t know why I love this book, but I do. I guess it’s another survival story, and I love how smart the heroine is. She’s tough, too. And I love how much she loves her brother.

Age 16:

The Chocolate War: I didn’t read this for a long time because the title made it sound lame. I imagined people throwing chocolate at each other. But it’s actually a gritty, realistic book that can tell you a lot about human nature.

Monster: This is about a boy who is accused of murder. He claims he was just the lookout for a robbery gone wrong, but the prosecution says otherwise. It’s told in journal and screenplay format, which makes it different to read, and the main character is really fascinating.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius: This is kind of dated, I guess. I found it on the shelf recently and picked it up. Anyway, I still thought it was funny, and I really loved the relationship between the brothers, even though it’s nothing like me and my brother.

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Nothing has been the same for Will ever since what happened last summer. One day, on an ordinary sailing trip with his brother, there is a strange accident. When Will wakes up, he learns his brother has disappeared, presumed drowned. Worst of all, Will can't remember what happened—his family finds him unconscious, with no memory of the accident.

Now Will and his best friend and neighbor, Gretchen, are starting a new summer. Gretchen seems troubled—her sleepwalking habit is getting worse, and she keeps waking up closer and closer to the water. Will is drawn to Asia, the exotic new girl in town. Nobody knows where she's from—all Will knows is that her beauty and her mesmerizing voice have a powerful effect on people.

Then there is another mysterious drowning, and Will and Gretchen begin to wonder: Is Asia just another beautiful, wealthy summer resident? Or is she something entirely more sinister . . . and inhuman?

Add to your Goodreads shelf!

[The Teen Book Scene Blog Tour] Review: The Light of Asteria by Elizabeth Isaacs

I am glad and honored to be able to have the chance to read such a wonderful book!

Title: The Light of Asteria by Elizabeth Isaacs
Pages: 380
Release Date: March 22nd 2010
Published by: iUniverse
Source: Teen Book Scene
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary (from Goodreads):

If Nora Johnson hadn't been on campus that day she would have never known her true destiny. Helping her friends move into the dorm that she wanted to call home, Nora accidentally collides with mysterious stranger, Gavin Frey. His very first touch sends flames through her heart. The world seems different-something within her has changed. She tries to resume her mundane life, but she is now consumed with the one whose very presence ignited her soul, the one with eyes of emerald. Nora soon learns that an energy buried deep within has been unleashed. She now wields unimaginable power and has become Gavin's source, his strength. Her newfound joy is shaken when she discovers that Gavin is not who he appears to be and she has been thrust in the middle of a war of mythical proportions. Negativity allows all things evil to flourish, the earth is under siege. The fate of creation hinges on the power within her heart. Will she be strong enough to survive? A gripping tale of unbounded love and ancient power, The Light of Asteria will take you on an epic adventure filled with war, treachery, and demons, as well as unimaginable delights.

Love. Love. Love.

The Light of Asteria is such a beautiful novel. Read the first page and you'll immediately be greeted with an intriguing background story. And then we are introduced to Nora and Gavin, our two protagonists. I will sum up their relationship using one word: Intense. From the very first moment they've met up to the end, both Gavin and Nora are emotional characters and readers won't be able to help themselves and be emotionally invested in them. I was overwhelmed with the almost instantaneous attraction between the both of them.

What's "in" today are faeries, vampires, werewolves. In The Light of Asteria, we are introduced to Elves. I for one have not read of any book featuring Elves as extensively as in this book. And the idea of being able to project emotions and affect people just by showing off your emotions is such a fresh concept to me. Elves from Alfar survive because of the emotions they feel. I haven't read of anything like this before!

Kailmeyra is a wonderful land you'd wish was true.

The Light of Asteria has such dynamic supporting characters, readers will be occupied reading not just about Nora and Gavin but also of Edna and her ill-fated love with Michael, Rena and Tark. There were moments in the book that was just so heart breaking I couldn't help but tear up. Edna is such a strong support, a beacon of love and hope for Nora. It's one of my favorite parts of this book. You see love in all it's different forms. The love of a parent to a child, the love between two people who are destined for each other. You get to read the best of it.

A combination of intense action and emotions, The Light of Asteria is such a great read. It will be worth every moment you'll spend reading, I promise! The secrets surrounding Gavin and Nora's identity is worth finding out! I love how romance, mystery and action balances very well in this story.

The Light of Asteria is fantasy and romance at its best! Definitely, definitely a recommended read for everyone! Grab a copy of this book now!

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Stunning: Worthy of a Goddess' Praise!

Book Cover:
This cover is pretty cute as it ties well with the jewels mentioned in the book, but I still like the violet cover better than this one!

[The Teen Book Scene Blog Tour] Songbird by Angela Fristoe: This or That Guest Post

Hey everyone! Today is my stop for Angela Fristoe's Songbird Tour.

I'll be posting my review end of this week so watch out for that! For now, enjoy's Angela's guest post and see her answers for the weirdest and most random questions I asked. :) Enjoy!

There are defining moments in life when everything changes. For Dani Mays, it was the day she witnessed her father kill her brother. Now seventeen years-old, she still hasn't put it behind her.

After Jace's death, she bounced between her alcoholic mother and foster homes, until she found a permanent place. And a reason to stay: Reece Tyler. He's her best friend, yet Dani wants more from Reece.

Faced with possibly losing Reece, Dani struggles to define his place in her life and escape the memories of her brother's death and the influence it has over her choices. Even as she weaves the pieces of her heart back together, the past becomes more than a memory when a former foster brother reappears and Dani begins receiving threatening phone calls.

BUY: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

This or That
(Angela Fristoe)

Skirt or Jeans?
Jeans all the way! I love the idea of skirts, but somehow I always feel self-conscious wearing them.

Go to a party or read a book?
Read a book. Unless it's a reunion, then I'm all for the party.

Beach or Pool?
Beach. I'm not really a lay in the sun kind of girl, but I love walking along the beach and collecting shells.

Morning or Evening?
Evening. It's when I do most of my writing and feel the most inspired.

E-books or Paper copies (Hardcover/Paperback)?
Paper copies. Nothing can replace the feel of holding the book, the smell of it, and especially seeing it sitting on my shelf.

Spring or Winter?
Spring. Growing up in an area with 7 months of winter, Spring was always the signal that hours of shoveling were gone for the year.

Car or subway?
Car. I hate waiting around, and I've had some unpleasant experiences on the subway.

Pepsi or Coke?
Pepsi. Well, diet Pepsi. The regular stuff is too sweet for me.

Kisses or Hugs?
Hugs. I love big bear hugs that squeeze the breath out of me.

Chocolate or Candies?
Chocolate. I'm an addict.

Weird or Normal?
Weird. I like things that are just a little off, maybe because I'm so normal.

Tattoos or Piercings?
I'd have to go with tattoos. But keep it simple, tasteful and meaningful.

Pizza or Spaghetti?
Pizza, in particular pepperoni and mushroom.

Teacher or Student?
Teacher. Teaching has always been a passion of mine and I currently teach third grade.

Writer or Artist?
Both. Writing is an art, but beyond that I love drawing with graphite.

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Thanks so much, Angela! I hope you guys had fun reading her answers, because I sure did! Grab a copy of SONGBIRD today!

Check out the book trailer as well!

[The Teen Book Scene Blog Tour] Legacy by Cayla Kluver Review + Giveaway!

I think the title was very appropriate, considering the length of this book. I felt like I was reading the legacy of Cayla Kluver, and I don't mean it as a bad thing. Legacy was long, but the length satisfied my hunger for more!

Title: Legacy by Cayla Kluver
Pages: 496
Release Date: June 21st 2011
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Source: Publisher (Thanks, Tashya!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary (from Goodreads):

I noticed his eyes. They were blue, sharp and intense. Despite the youthful glows of his suntanned face, his eyes were cold and unfriendly, suggesting he had great experience in the world and was now expecting the worst.

In her seventeenth year, Princess Alera of Hytanica faces one duty: to marry the man who will be king. But her father's choice of suitor fills her with despair.

When the palace guard captures and intruder—a boy her age with steel-blue eyes, hailing from her kingdom's greatest enemy—Alera is alarmed…and intrigued. But she could not have guessed that their clandestine meetings would unveil the dark legacy shadowing both their lands.

In this mystical world of court conspiracies and blood magic, loyalties will be tested. Courage won't be enough. And as the battle begins for everything Alera holds dear, love may be the downfall of a kingdom.

Princess Alera of Hytanica's eighteenth's birthday is fast approaching, and as the Crown Princess, she has duty to fulfill as the future Queen, and that is to marry someone worthy to rule and defend the kingdom against Cokyri. Her father wants her to marry Steldor, the Captain of the Guard's son but Alera's heart is not with him. As Alera fights off his advances, a Cokyrian boy was captured, and Alera's life became a lot more complicated when their paths crossed and she fell in love. The Cokyrian boy, Narian, turns out to be a Hytanican, of noble blood, and as Narian discovers his true heritage, the Cokyrians want him back. Years before, fourty nine Hytanican infants were kidnapped. Fourty eight of them were returned dead. Narian was the fourthy ninth child, and the reason why he was kept alive was to fulfill a dangerous prophecy that will bring Hytanica's downfall.

Cayla Kluver has a great way with words. Hytanica and its surrounding kingdoms were easy to love because of her ability to describe them in detail. I can visualize the River, Koranis's summer mansion, the Royal palace and even the distant Cokyri, with Cayla's writing. She provides great imagery to readers, making it easier for us to feel Alera's world. What I enjoyed the most while reading Legacy was that I get to experience royal life through Alera's eyes, her responsibilities, her everyday life, which weren't so easy. Glamorous, maybe, but also tiring and requires dedication.

Alera, as a character, was confusing at first glance. I did not appreciate her character at all at the start as she comes off as a princess who is too carefree, too sheltered and too rash. Her childishness led her to do a lot of mistakes. But what I liked about its entirety is that Alera matured and eventually grew up, finally acknowledging and embracing the role she has to fulfill, even if it means sacrificing her happiness to do what is right. It's always nice to read about a person's transformation from a feeble princess to one who is ready to rule, who has a voice and continue to fight for what she thinks is right, and Alera, no matter what she has done has managed to do just that.

Narian is an enigma, a puzzle still yet unsolved, considering how long Legacy is. It felt like it was his story and was not at the same time. Though younger than Alera, Narian is wise beyond his years, headstrong, stubborn and fearless. Reserved, highly suspicious and deadly, who would have thought that the Crown Princess has what it takes to break down his defenses? To the end, I felt that Narian's story is very tragic. Taken from his home, his family, only to come back years later and have them afraid of him because of his life as a Cokyrian, which also earns him scorn from some people. The real tragedy is that despite knowing his true heritage, Narian feels alone. Receiving no love from his family, stuck between Cokyri and Hytanica, he's a pawn in an impending war.

The love story, though I appreciate so much, was so complicated. It felt like Alera and Narian's relationship was doomed from the start as there are a lot more at stake should they be together. A Hytanican noble, raised in Cokyri and a Crown Princess? There were a lot to consider, mostly politically and it was sad to think of how much they have to overcome. It was also frustrating, as I never liked it when the person I was rooting for do not get his happy ending.

Legacy has a wealth of vibrant supporting characters that breathes life to the story. London, for one, is a character I am most looking forward to reading more. I believe there's more to his youthful facade than he likes us to believe. Cannan, Tadark, Destari were great, faithful Royal Guards. Miranna and Semari were interesting characters as well. There were a lot of characters that pushes the story forward, and there was never a dull moment because of them.

Legacy is a wonderful addition to the ever growing historical Young Adult fiction genre. It has a mix of everything, romance, intrigue, politics, royalty, friendship and family, all  of which can be found in the  dazzling world of Hytanica. Cayla Kluver's easy writing, combined with great characters weaves a wonderful story that readers will easily fall in love with!

Content (plot, story flow, character):

.5

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
Alera is so gorgeous!

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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GIVEAWAY!

This is the seventh tour stop of the Teen Book Scene Legacy Tour!

Follow along on the LEGACY Blog Tour for a chance to win an iPod Nano! 

For every one, legitimate comment made on the tour posts you will receive an extra entry in the giveaway. The final giveaway form will be posted on the last stop of the tour. Good luck!

http://theteenbookscene.weebly.com/legacy-tour-details.html

iPod nano 8GB (6th Gen.)

Color: Graphite

Remember to leave your comments to increase your chances of winning this lovely iPod nano with Legacy Skin!

[The Teen Book Scene Blog Tour] The Light of Asteria Character Interview: Nora + Giveaway!

Hello everyone! Thanks for dropping by our blog, and I'm happy to tell you all that today, we have on our blog, Nora, the female protagonist from Elizabeth Isaac's book, The Light of Asteria. She's here for an interview, so please welcome her!

Can you tell us something about yourself? (Maybe something that even Gavin doesn’t know about you?)

Gavin knows my thoughts, my dreams, and so it’s hard to tell what he’s already seen. But two completely random things about me is I’ve always wanted to learn to play the piano, and I hate the smell of pear trees in the spring.

Do you miss your friends, Kate and Holly? Your life before discovering who you are?

Kate and Hol sat at my lunch table my first day of fifth grade. We made our own rock band in middle school, and even in high school we accepted each other, poor decisions and all. I treasured their friendship and miss them terribly, but I’ve always known that we would one day have to say goodbye. Holly dreamed of California, and Kate’s life-long ambition was to be a pediatrician and work in the mission field. I knew they’d never come back home, and I’d resided that I would never leave.

As for my old life … I do miss Waynesville, but I wouldn’t want to go back. I’ve finally found the place where I belong.

I loved Edna, and I’m sure you do too. Can you share with us something, a memory, one of the sweetest things Edna has done for you?

I could recount endless stories of her compassion, humor, and love, but the one that comes to mind is the night of my sixteenth birthday. The tradition was that we’d eat at the steakhouse, and after a chorus of happy birthday from the waiters she’d pull a gift from her purse. But this night was different. Ed was fidgety all through dinner, and a smile never left her face. After the dinner plates were cleared the manager came to our table and said that someone wanted to see me outside. Edna’s eyes twinkled with mischief as she followed me to the front, the waiters followed behind singing all the way. I opened the front door to find a jeep wrapped in a big pink bow. Even though the top was faded and ripped in a few places and the hinges were covered in rust, I wouldn’t have traded it for the world. Edna had given it to me. It was symbol of her unwavering belief in me, and I always tried to honor her by taking care of it.

How much are you willing to sacrifice for Gavin?

When you truly love someone, there is no sacrifice. Everything I do for him and he does for me is willingly given. Even if I had to give my life to save his, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

What’s the thing that captivated you most in Kailmeyra (aside from Gavin, of course)?

Kailmeyra is still the same as the day it was created. It hasn’t been marred by pollution and greed. The Alfar don’t harm the land for personal gain. Instead, they work with it for the good of all. I wish everyone could experience one day there … just one day.

More info:

The Light of Asteria is the first in a series of three. The Secret of the Keepers, Kailmeyra's Strength is slated to be released in the fall of 2011.

Follow Elizabeth on: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Thanks Nora! I'm in the middle of reading The Light of Asteria and it's so good! And guess what? We're giving away an e-book copy to ONE lucky winner!

The Light of Asteria: Kailmeyra's Last Hope (Kailmeyra, #1)

Summary:

If Nora Johnson hadn't been on campus that day she would have never known her true destiny. Helping her friends move into the dorm that she wanted to call home, Nora accidentally collides with mysterious stranger, Gavin Frey. His very first touch sends flames through her heart. The world seems different-something within her has changed.

Nora tries to resume her mundane life, but she is now consumed with the one whose very presence ignited her soul, the one with eyes of emerald. Nora soon learns that an energy buried deep within has been unleashed. She now wields unimaginable power and has become Gavin's source, his strength.

Her newfound joy is shaken when she discovers that Gavin is not who he appears to be and she has been thrust in the middle of a war of mythical proportions. Negativity has allowed all things evil to flourish, the earth is under siege. The fate of creation hinges on the power within her heart. Will she be strong enough to survive?

A gripping tale of unbounded love and ancient power, The Light of Asteria will take you on an epic adventure filled with war, treachery, and demons, as well as unimaginable delights.

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