I'm featured: Cool Cat Chats with A Neverending Fantasy!

Hey blogger friends, just wanted to let ya'll know that I was interviewed over at A Neverending Fantasy and am having a giveaway! Thanks Gee for letting me participate in your meme and I hope you guys get a chance to check out her blog, which has only been around a few months, and enter the giveaway (a $10 GC).

In My Mailbox 34

Swapped:

Wicked by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

Bought:

Halo by Alexandra Adornetto

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

For review:

After the Party by Lisa Jewell

This is a weekly event hosted by The Story Siren

Book Tour: Review | Crush Control by Jennifer Jabaley

Title: Crush Control
Author: Jennifer Jabaley
Genre: YA - Romance
Publication: 06.09.2011 by Razorbill
Pages: 318
Source: Book Sparks

Summary: When Willow Grey was nine, her mom dropped the bomb of ultimate betrayal: they would be moving from their small town in Georgia to glitzy Las Vegas. Willow was devastated to have to leave her best friend, Max, behind. So she decided to take control of the situation: she told Max to relax, to let his eyelids droop and then she said: "Max Montgomery, for as long as we live, you and I will be best friends..."

Now, at seventeen, Willow and her mom move back to their hometown and Willow is determined to pick up where she and Max left off. But even though he's still her best friend, his heart now belongs to someone else—and Willow realizes that what she feels for him is so much more than just friendship. For the second time in her life, Willow finds herself using hypnosis to get what she wants. But what starts off as a harmless experiment soon spirals into chaos and Willow is forced to wonder: Is the heart really something you can control—with mind control?

Cover: I like the colors, but I wish Willow eyes looked the way they were described in the book.


Thoughts: I wasn't too sure what to expect when I signed up for this book tour because I must admit, I didn't remember if I read the summary or not. So when I finally got this in the mail, I was pretty excited to read it. I have not read Lipstick Apology like many others have, so this author was new to me. I was happy to find that Crush Control was a fun and sweet story that I really couldn't get enough of.

Willow and Max have been best friends since before they were born. Willow at nine years old, hypnotizes Max that they will be best friends forever before she and her mom move to Las Vegas to start a new life. Now, eight years later, Willow and her mom return home and Willow is ready to pick up things with Max where they left off and maybe even start something new. What Willow didn't expect was Max to have a new girlfriend and that all she would be was the best friend. Determined to win Max's heart, Willow thinks of a plan that only a teenage girl would be convinced of working: she hypnotizes the hottest guy in school to fall head over heels for her, to make Max jealous. Everything spirals out of control pretty quickly and Willow must figure out how to fix everything she's done.

Willow is a fun and wacky girl that I liked from the start and her different successful attempts at hypnosis had me laughing out loud. I got sucked into the story pretty quickly because of the ease the story was written in and the great relationships Willow has with her loved ones made me adore the characters. Not only does she have an awesome relationship with her mom, but she makes unexpected friends who care about her, and her relationship with Max is really sweet. And although we didn't get a chance to see the "real" Quinton, his part was pretty funny, if not a bit ridiculous.

The story moves along quickly enough and I was engaged the entire time. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next, and everytime Willow tried something new to change her situation, I was enjoying myself. I was pretty satisfied with the conclusion, and there were a few sweet surprises that I really liked. Overall, this is a great beach read that I'm sure many will enjoy. I definitely had a good time watching Willow grow as a character and even found some interest in hypnosis, which I am still not sure I believe actually "works". I will definitely be reading more from Ms. Jabaley and recommed Crush Control to all YA lovers out there looking for a quick, fun read!

Favorite Quote: "Maybe the more you try to mold and create something, the more likely it is to crack. Maybe, instead, we all had to find our individual best selves and that happiness would bond us together as a whole."

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about the author:

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

In My Mailbox 33

I got a buttload of books last week and I didn't even think I would have time to make this post, but I did. I didn't add pictures like I usually do because it would have taken up a lot of space, and made this a super long post, so here goes a small list :)

I want to thank all those who sent me books, I love them all and I can't wait to read them. I already read and finished a few, but I still have a bunch to go.

Borrowed:

Watchmen by Alan Moore

FLCL by Hajime Ueda

From the library:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Mars, Volume 1 by Fuyumi Soryo

Mars, Volume 2 by Fuyumi Soryo

Kare Kano, Volume 1 by Masami Tsuda

Burned by Ellen Hopkins

Swapped:

The After Life by Daniel Ehrenhaft

For review:

Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen

Arson by Estevan Vega

Clean by Amy Reed

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst

Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

In Trouble by Ellen Levine

Lyrotica by Rebecca Ammon

Missing in Mexico by Stuart Gustafson

Static by Tawny Stokes

The Eye of the Crystal Ball by T.P. Boje

Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz

Sunrise of Avalon by Anna Elliott

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

The Winters in Bloom by Lisa Tucker

Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue by Stephanie Laurens

What Happens in Vegas by Natasha Deen

From R.A.K.:

Emma by Jane Austen

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare
Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Bought:

Wish You Were Dead by Todd Strasser

NOOK :)

I am so excited to finally have an e-reader. Its so great! What did you get in your mailbox?

Random thoughts | I love Harry Potter but...

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was first published in 1997, re-titled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the United States when it was released in 1998. I started reading Harry Potter in 1999 when I was eleven years old. So Harry Potter and I pretty much grew up together. Every time a new Harry Potter book was released, I was approximately the same age. It was awesome.

I have been in love with him since the very first page of the very first chapter...The Boy Who Lived. So of course, I was just as excited as the next HP fan when the first movie was to be released. I went opening day with my best friend (we were thirteen by then) and I was really expecting a lot from the movie. I can't say I was too disappointed, but the movies didn't really leave me fascinated.

I enjoyed it, sure, but I couldn't help but pick at all the differences between the book and the movie. I didn't like all the actors, or the dialogue too much, and I figured the movies weren't going to be for me. That didn't stop me from watching every single one of the movies at the theatres. But I've only watched them once, and never again on opening day. I don't get too excited when I watch the previews and when others talk about the movies, I usually let them know that...well, I don't like them all that much.

I must admit that with all the hype the second part of the 7th movie has been getting, I have been a little more excited than I usually would have been. I feel a little bubble of excitement when I see a cool movie poster or watch a preview, but honestly, it is not because of the movie. It's because of the memories I have of how much I loved the books, how anxious I was to get the next book when I had been waiting for months to find out what would happen next, and how much I love Harry Potter.

Harry Potter brought me back to the reading world, when I had given up. I was a bookworm, a new kid in middle school, but because of Harry Potter, I didn't care about what the other kids thought about me. I would talk about the books endlessly, even when my friends weren't interested. I would tell my mom about what was happening in each book, sharing my thoughts and excitement with her. I have spent countless hours laying on bed, reading the books over and over again. I have all the books, and although now I wish I had taken better care of them, you can tell by looking at them, that they have been read, re-read and definitely enjoyed.

Harry Potter will always hold a special place in my heart and while I may not be one of the first in line tonight at the midnight screening, like many of you will be I am sure (or have already been), I know deep down that I am Harry Potter's biggest fan (as much as the next biggest fan of course.)

Review | FLCL, Volume 1 by Hajime Ueda

Title: FLCL
Series: FLCL, Volume 1
Author: Hajime Ueda
Genre: YA - Manga
Publication: 09.16.2003 by Tokyopop
Pages: 192
Source: Borrowed

Summary: Naota's life isn't simple: he lives with his eccentric father and grandfather in a two-story house above a family-owned bakery in a town marked by a gigantic factory at its heart. The factory looks suspiciously like a hand iron, replete with a steam release at the top -- not the most typical landmark. Life is already strange enough, but to top it off, his older brother's ex-girlfriend starts making extremely suggestive passes at him ... and an impish, playful alien smacks him in the head with a bass guitar and then infuses herself into his family.

Cover: I think its cute and simple, I like the color used.

Thoughts: I hadn't picked up a manga in quite a while, and felt the need to after seeing Alison's Manga Monday post week after week. I'm not sure if FLCL (pronounced Fooly Cooly) was the best place to start because...well its a weird story.

There isn't too much to say about the actual characters. There's plenty but they didn't really stand out too much, although they all seemed different in their own way. Naota was a quiet sort of boy, and I thought he was cute. The other characters are drawn simply and similarly, so at some points I got them a little confused.

Then comes the actual plot. If you read it, you won't really understand what the heck is going on because it jumps from past to present in no particular order and with no real explaining. So after a few pages you're all sorts of confused. The dialogue is kept simple, but like the plot it sort of seems to be everywhere as well, and it pretty much just adds to the confused.

To be honest, I can't really say what it was about it, but I did like it. The drawings aren't all that special or unique, the plot is terribly incomprehensible (really, the only way I knew what was happening and where the story was really going, was because of the summary at the beginning of the book,) but the characters all seemed unique, and I couldn't help but like the crazy girl who rides the Vespa and has a guitar for a weapon.

Thankfully, this manga only consists of two volumes, so I won't be terribly confused for too many books. Just one more and hopefully some understanding. I know it is based on the anime, which I have not yet watched, but I am excited to because the dialogue is different, although I've heard its just as difficult to understand.

Quote: "We're both falling from the sky together."

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Random Thoughts | To Facebook or Not to Facebook?

I have been debating lately whether to have a Facebook account for my blog. At one point, I did have one but in less than 10 minutes got fed up with it and deactivated. I love Facebook, in real life. I’m always on my account on my phone or on the computer, but I don’t know if I really want one just for this blog.


I know that social networks are important in getting noticed around in the blogging community, but I don’t know if I will keep it updated enough to make a difference. I mean, I have a Twitter and I rarely use it. Although lately I have been doing better in tweeting and interacting with other bloggers, and it’s been fun. That’s why I’m thinking of opening up my account again on Facebook.

But I can’t decide. What do you lovelies think…do you have a Facebook? Why or why not? If you do, do you use it often and does it help you interact with others? And should I have a whole separate account, the +Add as Friend kind, or should I have a Page that people can “Like”?

Review | Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Title: Delirium
Series: Delirium #1
Author: Lauren Oliver
Genre: YA - Dystopian
Published: 02.01.2011 by HarperTeen
Pages: 441
Source: Library

Summary: Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Cover: I love it. It's one of my favorite colors because of the color, the image and the beautiful writing.

Thoughts: I was really interested in what Delirium would be like. I'd heard great things about if from other bloggers, and I love dystopian novels, so I was sure I would enjoy it. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did and now I must patiently await the second novel in the series, because I want to find out what will happen next.

Lena lives in a world where love is a disease. At the age eighteen, everyone is cured, matched and married off to their partner to lead a normal, love-free and cured life. Lena anxiously counts down the days to when she will finally be cured, and can finally move beyond the past she has been haunted with all her life. Then, Lena meets Alex, a cured young man who causes a deep impression on Lena. After several encounters, Lena and Alex fall in love, and together they discover how to live in a world where feelings are forbidden and where love is the greatest danger.

I had a hard time liking Lena at first, because she was so brainwashed, following rules, never questioning her life and hoping to be cured as quickly as possible. Her best friend, Hanna, is the opposite and actually doesn't mind bending the rules every now and again. Their friendship has developed over many years, so when Hanna decides to sneak out to a party, Lena feels like she has no choice but to try and save her. Not only does Lena do the unthinkable, and sneak out, but she agrees to meet Alex the next day. And that is where Lena's life begins to change. Small lies, sneaking out, secret messages and hideouts begin to form Lena's new life and she begins to come alive. Quickly, she finds herself in love with Alex, a sweet and lovable character who cares, respects and appreciates Lena as a woman.

The first part of the book moves along a little slowly, introducing us to this new world without love. Not only does love between marriages not exist, but parents do not love their children, friends do not care to spend time with one another and people just live practically without any feelings. There are no hobbies to enjoy, no foods to savor, no music to love. Oliver was able to shape such a enthralling world devoid of any emotions, that I could not help but be sucked into the story. As the story unfolds, the pace quickens and we are able to enjoy the blossoming relationship between Lena and Alex. But we know that cannot last forever; the days for Lena's cure is coming quickly and somehow they must find a way to change what will happen or be cured of the love they have learned to live with.

I loved how Lena changes throughout the book, how different her thoughts are in the end compared to the beginning. I was a little disappointed in Hanna though, because I wanted her to remain a brave rebel as well. The ending and everything leading to it was so intense I could not put the book down. I was afraid of what would happen next and the ending left me shocked. It is such an unbelievable ending, such a cliffhanger that it will leave you speechless. Even after you have finished the book, you will be thinking of it for days, trying to wrap your mind around it all.

This is definitely a must-read for YA lovers, and dystopian lovers. Delirium is an engaging, intense and beautiful story about forbidden love and what one young girl will go through to keep the love she has found alive.

Favorite Quote: "...life isn't life if you just float through it."

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In My Mailbox 32

Another slow week for me, but I am still catching up to all the books I have to review so I am sorta glad its been slow...but not really. I always want more books :)

What's in your mailbox this week?

Book Jewelry: Harry Potter

Harry Potter is still one of my favorites, so obviously I decided to pick him as my first "real" subject on books. There is lots of stuff about Harry Potter out there, and I was able to find some neat jewelry on it. Definitely going to get me some of these things I found...

via KayleighM

If you're a Harry Potter fan, you'll know what these spells mean. Aren't these just so cool! This was one of my favorite spells, and I am now in like with these!

via mehaasp

This is just a gorgeous snitch, and one of my favorite finds. I love it!

via KayleighM

Those three little stars that can be found on every page of every Harry Potter book in a pretty little ring :)

via MadamePoindextra

I have debated with myself if to get this exact quote (or "Mischief Managed") tattooed on me. This is a favorite, I must get this :)

via MadamePoindextra

Sirius Black is my favorite character. I saw this and thought of him, the awesomest prisoner Azkaban has ever seen..

via trophies

I need this!

via GreekArt

A HP pendant is great any day :)

As you can see, there is plenty of Harry Potter stuff to find. These were all on the first page of searches that I looked at, so there is obviously lots more HP goodies out there. I am going to go continue searching now, and maybe get myself a thing or two :)

Author Interview | Brian Rowe

Books:

- Happy Birthday to Me (Happy Birthday, #1)
- Slate
- Townhouse

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When I first read the summary of Happy Birthday to Me, I instantly thought of the movie starring Robin Williams, Jack and it was even mentioned in the book! Did the movie inspire your idea for Happy Birthday to Me?

When I tell people the plot of Happy Birthday to Me, they always say, "oh, that sounds like that Robin Williams movie Jack!" I find it interesting that in over 100 years of cinema, the film closest in storyline to my novel is a pretty awful 1996 comedy directed by the once-great Francis Ford Coppola. No, the film didn't inspire Happy Birthday to Me, and I only added a line about it in the book because nearly everybody was bringing it up when I'd explain the plot to them. In Jack, Robin Williams ages four times faster than normal so when he's ten years old, he looks forty, and for the majority of the film, he stays the same age. In Happy Birthday to Me, Cameron ages from seventeen to eighty-five over the course of three months, aging a whole year of his life with each passing day. The two story-lines are actually pretty different from each other.

What was the process like for titling Happy Birthday to Me?

I've always tried to go with my gut when I title my projects, and Happy Birthday to Me just felt like the right title for this one. I knew I wanted the phrase "Happy Birthday" in the title, because of the main character's love for faking birthdays, and then in return having to, in a way, celebrate a birthday every single day leading to his potential demise. "To Me" felt like the correct other half of the title, given that everyone always sings "To You," and never "To Me." In this case, since the book is told from the first-person, it made sense to end the title with "To Me." Also, doing so made titling the second and third installments all the more easier. Book 2 will be titled "Happy Birthday to Me Again" and Book 3 will be titled "Happy Birthday to You."

Did you have a say on what the cover would look like? What was your reaction to the cover when you first saw it?

Yes, the cover went through a few initial drafts with a book cover designer, and I wasn't liking what I was seeing. So I went to my good friend Katie Bode, a graphic designer in Los Angeles, and asked her to help me make covers not just for Happy Birthday to Me, but for its two sequels as well. I sent Katie my thoughts on what the cover should be, along with a JPEG photo of that birthday cake, and she sent me back a gorgeous interpretation of my initial vision for the cover. We're currently working on the covers for Book 2 and Book 3, and there will be similar in tone to the first cover.


If you and Cameron could spend a day together, what would you do?

Cameron Martin and I would not have much fun together for a day. We're two different personalities, completely. He's a maniacal teenager with a love of sports and getting into trouble, while I'm a pretty introverted twenty-something guy with a passion for the arts and complete indifference toward sports. However, I am a big hiking and biking enthusiast, so maybe Cameron and I could go for a fun bike ride and then grab a bite to eat at the local Reno eatery Emerald Café, where I could ask him all sorts of questions about what it was like to age into his eighties!


What are three weird, fun or interesting facts your readers might not know about you?

Three weird, fun, or interesting facts about me? Let's see. A weird one is that I've been obsessed with Sandra Bullock for most of my life, to the point where I drove three hours to meet her at a film festival in Santa Barbara, and freaked out when she won her Oscar for the Blind Side. (Search Sandra Bullock Oscar Freakout on Youtube, and you'll see what I mean). A fun one is that I just got my first pet recently, a cute gray kittie named Cleo. She often sits on my lap and watches me type while I write my stories. And an interesting one is that I went to film school in Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University. While I took some English classes, I put most of my emphasis on film production and film history, with the intention of becoming a motion picture director. It wasn't until the last two years that I decided what I really wanted to do was be a writer.

I'd like to give a huge thanks to Brian Rowe for providing me with a copy of Happy Birthday to Me for review and for participating in my first interview ever! I reviewed Happy Birthday to Me yesterday and I really liked it, so make sure to check it out when you get a chance. Happy Birthday to Me Again and Happy Birthday to You, the second and third books in the Happy Birthday Trilogy will be out later this year (I can't wait!)

Buy Happy Birthday to Me:
Amazon | Barnes & Nobles | Smashwords

Happy Birthday Website

Review | Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe

Title: Happy Birthday to Me
Series: Birthday Trilogy #1
Author: Brian Rowe
Genre: YA - Paranormal/Romance
Published: 04.11.2011 by CreateSpace
Pages: 322
Source: From author for review

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Cameron Martin has a huge problem: he’s aging a whole year of his life with each passing day!

High school is hard enough; imagine rapidly aging from seventeen to seventy in a matter of weeks, with no logical explanation, and with prom, graduation, and the state championship basketball game all on the horizon. That’s what happens to Cameron, a popular pretty boy who's never had to face a day looking anything but perfect.

All Cameron wants to do is go back to normal, but no one, not even the best doctors, can diagnose his condition. When he finds love with a mysterious young woman, however, he realizes his only hope for survival might be with the one person who started his condition in the first place...

Cover: I like it! I like the colorful candles, and that there are so many of them. I also really like that the title and authors' name are formed by the smoke of the candles, it looks really cool.

Thoughts: As soon as I read the summary, I knew I wanted to review Happy Birthday to Me. Not only was it something totally different and unique, but it sounded like it was going to be lots of fun. I expected the laugh out loud moments, but not the events that made me tear up a bit. I thought it was going only to be a little mysterious, with the paranormal aspects thrown in here and there, but I was surprised at the heartfelt moments that kept me glued to each page.

Cameron has the perfect life. He's good looking, a star basketball player, has a beautiful girlfriend, and his family has money. His family life is a little less perfect with his father always working and his sister always practicing away on her violin, but Cameron is happy, confident and full of life. One day though, Cameron looks in the mirror and sees a man. Not the 17 year old boy that he is, but an older version of himself. He immediately freaks out and tries to find out what is wrong, but no doctor can tell him of a cure. Instead he must live each day carefully, and as he gets a year older with each passing day, Cameron finally begins to realize what really matters in life and how every moment that you spend with your loved ones is truly special.

Like many others have said before me, I did not like Cameron. At first. He's your ordinary, popular and good-looking jock. He's a jerk with a gorgeous snobby girlfriend and he only worries about his looks and when he'll finally sleep with his girlfriend. I sort read the beginning slowly because I was having hard time connecting with him or anyone else. So when he first started aging, I thought "that's what you get, butthead..." But Cameron starts to change, and as I continued to read, I couldn't help but become a little attached to him and feel sympathetic because of what his condition had him going through.

His family and friends, although at first a little odd in the way they treated Cameron, begin to change as they realize that Cameron isn't getting any younger and that he will quickly become an old man. Although they have a hard time accepting what's happening to him, they must face it and support him in any way they can. I enjoyed how each relationship blossomed as the days went by, and how their love became more apparent as Cameron became older. His changes in personality only helped each relationship grow stronger and that definitely helped in liking him more.

I loved that I didn't know how it would all end, and I must admit that I was a bit surprised with how the story concluded. Actually, I was a lot surprised, and it left me with lots of questions. I know the second book in the trilogy will be released in just a few months, but I cannot wait to read what happens next. The authors writing was great, and the book held a combination of humor and seriousness, that keeps the reader flipping through the pages until the end. I definitely recommend this book to YA and paranormal lovers; this is a fun, unique read that I'm sure many will enjoy. 

Quote: "But of all the horrors entering my daily life, what scared me most of all was something I hadn't foreseen happening for at least another week or two. A gray hair."

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"Waiting On" Wednesday: The Name of the Star

This sounds so mysterious and creepy! The cover is quite creepy too; I can't wait to get my hands on it :) What are you waiting for this week?

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine

In My Mailbox 31

I got only a few books this week, two of them for book tours. My TBR pile just keeps getting bigger, so I'm glad my last few IMM have been only a few books, enough for me to catch up on the books I need to be reading soon. Here's what I got:

What did you get in your mailbox?

This is a weekly event hosted by The Story Siren

Book Jewelry: Just Books



via HippieKender

I love this set, I think it's ridiculously cute and I wish I could buy it!

via Book Earrings

I found this website accidentally and I love the necklaces! They even have accessories for your hair (second image) Definitely adorable :)

via JewelryDeli

This is definitely one of my favorites, since I wear glasses also. And it's a locket too! :)

via FreshyFig

I love the colors for this one, and I'm not even too fond of gold! The little bird gives it a nice touch of color though. This one is also a locket :)

via anticovalore

A tiny leatherbound book, reminds me of my journals. I love the chain on this one, definitely unique :)

I loved finding all these this time, there is so much book jewelry out there! Etsy.com is definitely my favorite place to find stuff, but there are a few other places that have cool stuff too. Hope you enjoyed the stuff I found and can maybe get yourself something ;)