Feature and Follow Friday: Love Poem

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: Book Spine Poetry! Take a picture of your book spine spelling out something epic.

You against me

Perfect Chemistry

If I stay

Love me tender

Forever

Review: Heartbeat

"If there were something I could do to Dan that would hurt him, I'd do it."

Emotions are raw in Elizabeth Scott's latest novel Heartbeat.

Emma's mom died from a complicated pregnancy (over 40) -- a baby that Dan, her stepfather, desired more than anything. It isn't surprising that given the option, Dan would choose to keep his wife on a breathing machine until the baby is ready to survive on its own. 

But Dan fails to understand Emma's internal struggle. How can she accept her mom is gone when she sees her everyday at the hospital. The womb moving as the baby grows. No wonder Emma is angry and filled with resentment. 

Most of the book takes place in the first thirty days following the mother's death, making this quite an emotional read. Bad boy Caleb provides a well needed distraction. And even though Emma is desperately in need of some chemical balance, her attraction to Caleb builds up slowly. 

Love-o-meter theme: Sweet, shows the benefits of straying away from instalove.

Top Ten Tuesday: Switcheroo

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP CHARACTERS I'D NEVER TRADE PLACES WITH

Surprisingly, this list was easy to make. There seems to be a lot of characters I would never trade places with, no matter if it meant I'd get to keep the hot male lead.




10. Cassia from Matched

Sure Cassia got Xander as a match -- but who would I get? I don't think I want to take the chance to live in a society where your soul mate is chosen for you.

 9- Violet from The Body Finder

Having a sixth sense can be helpful, unless your sixth sense is communicating with dead bodies. No thank you!

 8- Tana from The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

This book gave a depressing view of vampires. They were mean, ruthless and extremely unsexy. Wouldn't want to walk around among them.

 7- Lena from Delirium

 Two words: Forced Lobotomy.

6- Mary from The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Zombies aren't my thing.

5- Katniss from The Hunger Games

Self-explanatory.

4- Mia from If I Stay

Losing your entire family in a car crash, and seeing it happen is something I don't wish to anyone.

3- Alva Jane from Keep Sweet

Growing up in a cult, and forced to marry an old man when you are in love with someone else. Yucky!

2- Piscine from Life of Pi

No way! I'd rather be in the Hunger Games than be stuck at sea with a lion for so long.

1- Rhine from Wither 

The entire population in Rhine's world dies at 20 to 25 years old. Gah! I'd be dead.

Review: The Dead-Tossed Waves

Bolt down the doors, the Unconcecrated are back!

It's been years since Mary escaped from the Forest of Hands and Teeth, leaving behind love ones without a second thought. She moved inside a lighthouse, where she raised her teenage daughter, Gabry, to fear the zombies that invade the village. But when Gabry and her friends break the boundary everything comes crashing down.

 

It felt awkward at first to see a YA character like Mary grow up in terms of responsabilities, but not within. This time we needed a lead that was going to take the story in a different direction. Thank you Gabry for showing us a conscience at work.

A bitten boyfriend, a secret cult and a weapon against the virus -- Carrie Ryan packs a lot of punch in this sequel. If only it hadn't been stretched out to the max in order to push for a trilogy. 

  

Top Ten Tuesday: Pick my brain

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP THINGS ON MY READING WISHLIST

Ah, Inspiration!! Lately, this school mural keeps my mind active, as I picture all the possible worlds books can take us.

Here is my wishlist of crazy things I would like to read about.

1. Cursed Superheroes

Not everyone wants to be different. How would the MC deal with superhuman powers that can create more harm than good?

2. Paranormal Activity Stories

Centered around YA. 

3. Road Trips

I really need this. Winter, here in Montreal, is too long.

4. Books with tears all over them

The ones where I cry but not the characters. No one wants a whiner.

5. Break-up Stories with Karma

He/She treated the MC like crap -- they should pay.

6. Evil Sororities with a serial killer clown

There is something weird about clowns. Think about it, under all that make-up ...

What is on your wishlist?

                                                 

Author Spotlight: Introducing Hank Kellner

I'm pleased to welcome author Hank Kellner today to promote his YA novel, I Don't Want to be an Orange Anymore!

Growing up in the fictional town of Meadowview, young Willie Watson objects to being required to play the part of an orange in the school play when he is nine and in the fourth grade. But that's just the beginning of his problems. As he continues through elementary school and into junior high school, Willie has to deal with Brucie Schultz, the town bully; Christmas with his relatives; the death of a schoolmate; the loss of his girlfriend; the theft of a fountain pen, and his broken eyeglasses.

But that’s not all. Willie doesn’t want to eat his peas; take the garbage out; deal with his troublesome kid sister; try to climb the ropes in gym class while his gym teacher harasses him, or have to stay after school until he’s “…old enough to grow a beard.”

Readers will discover how Willy becomes a member of Brucie’s gang; what happens in the old movie house on Main Street; how feisty old Grandma inspires Willie, and much, much more.

I Don’t Wanna Be an Orange Anymore contains a wealth of humorous and often touching descriptions of a young boy's fantasies and life experiences as he grows up in a small town many years ago. Written from the point of view of an adult, this coming of age book is suitable not only for young adults, but also for readers of all ages

                   Find it on Smashwords                                               

Hello Hank, thank you for being with us. Please do tell, what inspired you to write this book?

I  felt that many people would be interested in reading about the coming of age experiences of a young boy from the time of World War II until the Korean War.

If you could host a diner party with two writers who would you pick and what would you serve?

If I were to host a dinner party, I would invite Ernest Hemingway and George Orwell to dine with me. I've always admired Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea and Orwell's 1984.

Any advice for aspiring writers?

If you are an aspiring writer, you should read everything you can get your hands on regardless of genre. Wide reading is one of the keys to successful writing. You should also master the rules of grammar, study your market, and zero in on your audience. Be sure to set aside a time to write a few hundred words each and every day. And above all, never give up no matter how often editors reject your writing.

What are you working on now -- or would you rather surprise us?

I am working on a satirical novel that will poke fun at all levels of society.

You can find Hank Kellner:

Website




Thank you for being with us Hank, and good luck on all your future projects.

Feature and Follow Friday: Only the persecuted know how I feel inside

Parajunkee / Alison Can Read

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY

Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back

Q: Who is your blogger BFF? If not tell us why you need or don't need a blogger BFF.

With society today and books such as: 

10 Ways to Kill a Cupid

Satan is the New Cupid

The Day I Shot Cupid

makes it incredibly frightening for this BookCupid to socialize at will. Oh, but what I wouldn't do to meet fellow book bloggers and play character Scrabble :( 

 

Review: Roomies

Going to college is always a rush. You feel accomplished and in control of your future. But moving in with a roommate can easily remind you of just how vulnerable we all really are.

Elizabeth (EB) grows tired of living alone with her absentee mom and looks forward to move in with Lauren. The problem is Lauren has a panoply of younger siblings and for her, college, meant freedom and alone time. As the girls try to cope with their personal baggage everything comes crashing down. Suddenly, EB realizes her mom is an adulterer and risks jeopardizing her relationship -- and Lauren understands that family is not something one can run away from. 

Both Zarr and Altebrando gave us two distinct voices easy to relate to. EB and Lauren dealt with their problems selfishly at times due to the stress of the situation making it impossible to see them as fictional characters. The emails sent between one and the other were kept short, allowing the story to breathe. Don't be scared -- lots of dialogue was included.  

Prepare for a big twist at the end. 

Love-o-meter theme: is farewell sex a good idea, adultery and how kids suffer.    

Caught my arrow # 28

Caught my Arrow is a meme similar to In my mailbox and  Stalking the Shelves featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.

Starting my 2014 Resolutions Book Challenge! I vow to do something different every month and read a book that relates to it. Can't wait! This week I:

Bought

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Borrowed from Library

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor and The Elite by Kiera Cass

What are you reading this week?

Review: Fangirl

Rainbow Rowell tackles the emerging topic of Fanfiction: is it imaginative or simply plagiarism?

Cath can't seem to do things on her own except for writing. She doesn't want to leave the room or go to the cafeteria. And forget parties -- you are better off reading than drinking yourself into a coma. It isn't illogical why her sister Wren decides to share a college room with someone else. But for Cath -- this decision means betrayal. They are twins, abandoned by their mother at a young age, and were made to support each other. How can Cath face life alone with only Simon Snow by her side?

Rowell's dialogue flows on the pages, both extremely realistic and easy to visualize. The love story she created between two unlikely personalities (introverted Cath and extroverted Levi) is reminiscent of great romance novels such as Anna and the French Kiss. The character's growth alone is worth reading. 

Looking forward to another masterpiece from Rainbow Rowell. 

Top Ten Tuesday: It's all about planning

 

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

TOP BOOKISH RESOLUTIONS

Time to begin those wonderful resolutions. Without further ado, here is my list:

1. Go through with my resolutions
This one is super important, since I sometimes tend to forget my resolutions. Guess that's why we are writing them down.

2. Read More of the Best Books Ever list on Goodreads
Just finished number forty two on the list and wish to keep going. It kind of forces me to read the classics.

3. Finish series I started

4. Improve my reviews
Perhaps add a love meter?!?

5. Connect more with fellow book bloggers

6. Embark on a 2014 reading challenge

What are your reading resolutions this year?

                                                 

Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Hard Luck

Although endearing, Hard Luck is missing that fascinating spark the previous seven books shared.

Once again the faithful readers of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series are left with a mere glimpse of Rowley -- who replaces Greg's friendship with a girl -- and Rodrick another character who goes MIA. Instead, Kinney concentrates on Greg's yearning to belong. The 8th ball Greg finds enables him to have a guide through this discovery process, as he understands that in life friends come and go, but family is forever. 

Prepare for some great laughs and one of the best Easter family scenes that proves the Heffley's still got it going on. 

Caught my arrow #27

Caught my Arrow is a meme similar to In my mailbox and  Stalking the Shelves featuring books that were purchased, borrowed or received that week.

Welcome 2014! This year is all about letting go of the past, and starting anew. Except when it comes to reading. This BookCupid is quite determined to finish the series I've been postponing. Therefore, I am glad to be receiving the sequel to McGee's trilogy. 

Received from Publisher

(Thank you Booksneeze!!)

Luminary by Krista McGee

part two of the Anomaly Trilogy

Netgalley

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

What are you reading this week?

Adrenaline Junkies in YA: What exactly are they teaching us?

The dictionary defines adrenaline as a hormone secreted each time our pulse races -- thus increasing our physical performance in great moments of stress. Addicted to this crazy rush, I've decided to look back into YA novels and see who else has fallen victim to adrenaline. Perhaps we can learn a thing or two.

Rock Climbing

Maya Delaney loves rock climbing with her friends on Vancouver island. One of the many advantages of adrenaline, is the level of concentration it provides you. Therefore allowing Maya to remain alert and cautious while going up the rocks.

BMX

Josie Peters might not have to deal with heights -- but let's not kid ourselves -- racing through various jumps and obstacles isn't easy at all. One false move and you can injure yourself. One awesome move and you feel golden.

Getting a Tattoo

Due to the nerves and pain when receiving a tattoo, the body releases adrenaline as well. Many tattooed friends claim to become addicted to this rush, and always go back for a third.

Outdoor Sex

The fear of getting caught, especially when one is making out can create an explosive rush. Too bad Meg gets caught by a cop (or maybe it was a good thing since he is described as extremely hot.) Adrenaline going up!

Karaoke

Don't want to wind up in jail for an adrenaline rush? Not a problem. Just get up on stage and sing your heart out for all to hear. If you want to pump the adrenaline higher, be sure to record it and post it on YouTube.

Cliff Jumping

Since ending a relationship lowers your endorphin, thus making you hormones imbalanced, why not raise them back up by jumping off a cliff. Bella certainly did. If, by any means, you don't have a supernatural pal waiting for you on the other end, and wish for a more secure fall, then I suggest the last adrenaline rush on our list.

Flying Trapeze

You get to dive twenty five feet while being securely attached with a harness. Believe me (right there in the blue shirt), once you cross your legs at the bar and release your hands the adrenaline rushes through at an incredible speed. Repeat ten times.














Feel free to share your adrenaline rush stories.