Tough question. After much consideration, it seems that the same reason I will watch a movie matches why I would pick up a certain book over another.
1- Craving: Insurgent, for example, was a craving I had to fulfill. You wait so many months to find out what will happen to beloved characters, that it is a crime against self not to read a sequel.
2- Genre: Life happens. Sometimes I need a little romance or a horror story.
3: Favorite Author: Everyone has authors that they trust.
4. Cover: If it looks delicious, the more reason to read it,
5. Reviews: A reason I host a blog is because I enjoy discussing books with others. Seeing fellow bloggers adore a specific book makes me eager to read it.
It's summer break, and Sophie is going to spend it with her Dad and Jenna in England. Which just happens to be where Archer is. Sadly, I didn't see the location switch. It felt like Sophie was in school again, with most of the book, taking place inside closed quarters.
A more fast pace rhythm would have come in handy. Sophie is such a rebellious and strong-willed character, that I was hoping she would get into a lot more trouble. Instead we meet a group of characters that will remain underdeveloped, like Nick and Daisy; hurt feelings without just cause; and an ending that will make your jaw drop and say ''she did not just do that!''
On the plus side, seeing Sophie try to establish a relationship with her Dad was bittersweet.
Hopefully, book number three heightens the stakes.
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Q: If Is there a question that reminds you of a book or vice versa? What is the song and the book?
If I were to produce the soundtrack of this book (wouldn't that be a swell job) I would include Trent Dabbs' Counting Sleep. Honestly, the lyrics should speak for themselves:
Maybe it's just me
Lately I've been counting sleep
I had a little talk with time
Till it turned its back on me
And I can't unwind
I can't unwind
Tell me everything it's on my mind
I'll fall in line again
Tell me everything will be alright
I'm worried about nothing
Tell me everything it's on my mind
I'll fall in line again
Is it me? Cause these days I've been counting sleep
These days I've been counting sleep
Sitting in this room
Wondering how to carry you
And all the voices they said
Just to uncheck tonight
So I figured out
When trying is done
Find out the wrong and make it right
Well tell me if you're afraid of the side by side
Yeah side by side
(sorry, the only video I could find was from the Vampire Diaries soundtrack. Shame on Dabbs for not having an official video)
Are vampire evil demons who only care about blood, destined to live an immortal lonely life? Allison's vampire creator tells her that she'll "always be a monster. There is no turning back from it. But what type of monster you become is entirely up to you."
Allison has such will power it's impossible not to join her team. I was put off reading this book due to its big volume (it's big, 485 pages). Surprisingly, the pages kept turning themselves with all the action and romance imaginable. The characters were versatile and interesting. Like Jeb who was always hiding something. And Zeke, a love interest, completely worth it. I couldn't get enough.
I'm trilled to be receiving author Brandon Ax today to promote his new YA novel, Elemental.
Sophia's mother disappeared when she was six, leaving behind a broken father and sleep disturbed by silent terrors. Now twelve years later, the nightmares that plagued her youth have suddenly returned. With dark creatures occupying her nights and a sense of restlessness consuming her days, all she wants is to finish school and get out of her small town as fast as possible. Everything changes when she is confronted with the realization that the shadowy beings from her dreams are real. The truth of this reality hits hard when someone she loves is killed. It would seem that anyone in their way is disposable. A mysterious boy named Aiden enters her life bringing with him all sorts of complications. They're drawn to each other, but their connection brings Aiden right into the path of her half-demon nightmares. With her father and several new friends put in the cross-hairs, Sophia must decide whether to let the shadows take her or stand her ground and fight. As the school year steadily moves closer to an end her decision may come with the cost of her life or worse -- the lives of those she cares about.
Hi Brandon, thank you for being with us. Please do tell, what inspired you to write this book?
It was a mixture of things really. I had been working on other projects when the idea of people who control the elements came to mind. I stored it as I often do with random ideas. Not long after that I had been thinking of writing a good female lead in a story, most of the prominent figures in my life were women which gave me a great respect for females in general. Somehow the ideas seemed to click together and I paired that with some things from my life, like my father leaving, you know all that good emotional stuff that makes us cling to some form of art later in life.
Did you listen to specific songs while writing?
Oh so many. I love music and have it around almost at all times. If I can think back to when I was writing my first draft... I remember listening to Lights a good bit, she has a song February Air that was for sure on a loop. I even referenced it in the book in a small scene that said "I'd forgotten my jacket in the car and the February air was cold on my arms."Other than that I love to find covers of older songs or new that are done slower or just slightly different like Ellie Goulding's version of Your Song. AWOLNATION Sail has been playing a lot during revisions. Sorry I can get long winded about music so I'll stop myself. Really it just depends on the story I have such an eclectic taste.
Any advice for aspiring writers?
There is so much good advice out there. I think one thing is find your favorite author and go to his/her blog or website and just pay attention to the things they say, they made it for a reason. Past that just keep at it. All art is a matter of the more you do the better you get. We all start at different levels of talent and skill and over time we can develop it. No short cuts in writing just a lot of work.
What are you working on now -- or would you rather surprise us?
I'd love to share. Besides working on my house and the two kids and three dogs(lol) I have two things in the works. One is the Follow up to Elemental titled Ashes which should be out later this year. The other has the working title The Alchemist Son. It's a story about the worlds first murder detective, set in an almost pre-Victorian era fantasy world, I'm having tons of fun with it.
Lacey stole a car and ends up in a juvenile detention center. Her Dad insists that leaving her there is for her own good. He doesn't visit or answers her calls. She's all alone until Taylor shows up. But who exactly is Taylor, and is he simply using her for his own ploy?
The book took off right away with lots of dialogue and no unnecessary narration. Despite knowing what Lacey did to get there, she seemed like a very sympathetic and sweet character. If life has taught her anything is that people shouldn't be trusted blindly, and it's good to see her doubt Taylor.
I would've like to see her struggle more. Everything always seemed to come to place too fast. As to why Lacey is their only hope -- the question wasn't really answered. Guess I'll have to wait for book two to find out.
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Chris Colfer
Q: If you could hang out with any author (living) who would it be and what would you want to do?
I would pick Chris Colfer. Think about it. I'd be meeting a writer and an actor That's like two for one. Not to mention we share a passion for music. We'd probably go karaoking with three pitchers of Sangria.
Catherine of Aragon may have been the princess of Spain, but she did not have an easy life. Or death, rumor is she was poisoned. We all know that she was betrayed by Henry VIII, but what brought on to this heartwrenching event in their marriage? Were Henry and Catherine ever in love? Well, that's where this book comes in.
A Love Triangle
Arthur, Catherine & Henry
It travels from the love triangle from meeting Arthur to meeting Henry. Catherine was no Mary-Sue and her determination to remain in the Tudor family is remarkable. I enjoyed her battles with Dona Elvira and was surprised with the treatment she received from Spain.
A few moths ago, I stepped on something sharp and ended up at the podiatrist. Ouch, is right. To make matters even more embarrassing, the Doctor was young, handsome and loved literature. I saw him earlier this week at the mall, and dedicate this choose your own top ten to him.
Can't wait to read your top ten. Feel free to leave your link. Also: BookCupid is now on Facebook!!
This is the last book of the Across the Universe trilogy and it did not disappoint. Elder and Amy finally get off the spaceship Godspeed and begin their quest on Centauri-Earth. Not only are our beloved characters attacked in the first scene, but the first thing Amy does when they touch ground is run into the ship and wake up all the frozen passengers from Earth. Couldn't she wait five minutes??
You can imagine their reaction to Elder being the leader. I can't say I blame them, specially since Elder hasn't been in charge for long. And if this duality isn't enough to keep us on the edge of our seats, there is a third group that wants to control the planet. They are not alone.
I really felt for Elder in this one. He is so brave and ready to lead his people -- ready to make Amy proud. Beth Revis put so many obstacles in his way. Here's hoping she comes up with another trilogy as gripping as this one. If you haven't all ready, make sure you read book one, Across the Universe.
