Prag

Thank you Prag, you were great! Tomorrow Leipzig:-) Sleep well! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Spring Fling Giveaway Hop!

Yay! ^_^ Spring is finally truly in full swing, and that means we have another giveaway hop being hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Eve's Fan Garden!

So, shall we?

For my stop, you can win a preorder of Kiersten White's Endlessly. I know what an anticipated summer read this is!

Read my Giveaways page before entering.

Good luck, darlings!

Lovelovelove,

Oh, and while you're here, go ahead and check out the rest of the blogs!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL LIST OF PARTICIPATING BLOGS

Magic Monday (5)

I love Magic Mondays, I really do.

I'm actually thinking about making this a meme. I think it would be great to do a Magic Mondays linkup, don't you? With a bunch of blogs doing their own Magic Mondays giveaway. It's something to think about, certainly.

But for now, let's begin today's giveaway!

This week, I am featuring Carrie Jone's Endure. Even though I admit that I'm actually unsure as to how i really feel about this series, this is the last book and I will be reading it. (I actually have an ARC I still haven't cracked.) I'm really excited for it, though, I admit it! And I know it's highly looked forward to, so here's the giveaway!

Three words. He gave me three sort of positive words.

Read my Giveaways page before entering.

Good luck!

Lovelovelove,

Covermance! (14)

Cassia faces the ultimate choices in the long-anticipated conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Matched Trilogy.


After leaving Society and desperately searching for the Rising—and each other—Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again: Cassia has been assigned to work for the Rising from within Society, while Ky has been stationed outside its borders. But nothing is as predicted, and all too soon the veil lifts and things shift once again.

In this gripping conclusion to the #1 New York Times bestselling Matched Trilogy, Cassia will reconcile the difficulties of challenging a life too confining, seeking a freedom she never dreamed possible, and honoring a love she cannot live without.


PREORDER REACHED!
  

It all began with nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorians—who scattered on Earth and went into hiding. They look like ordinary teenagers, but they have extraordinary skills. The Mogadorians killed Number One, Number Two, and Number Three. They tried to kill Number Four ... and failed.

Number Four (aka John Smith) has now teamed up with Number Nine, while Six has gone off to find the others. With the Mogadorians hot on their trail and time running out, they must find a way to come together, before it's too late. Power in numbers will save them all.

PREORDER THE RISE OF NINE!

  

Emmeline Thistle has always had a mysterious bond with cows, beginning on the night of her birth, when the local bovines saved the infant cast aside to die in the forest. But Emmeline was unaware that this bond has also given her a magical ability to transform milk into chocolate, a very valuable gift in a kingdom where chocolate is more rare and more precious than gold or jewels. Then one day Owen Oak, a dairyman’s son, teaches Emmeline to churn milk into butter—and instead she creates a delicious chocolate confection that immediately makes her a target for every greedy, power-hungry person in the kingdom of Anglund. Only Owen loves Emmeline for who she truly is, not her magical skill. But is his love enough to save her from the danger all around her?
In a departure from her contemporary teen romances, Suzanne Selfors crafts an irresistible re-imagined fairy tale that will tempt readers with a delicious story of love that is sweeter than the richest chocolate.

PREORDER THE SWEETEST SPELL!

  

A perfect day

Today we've had the first perfect day on the whole tour:-) It's been just me, nemo and Johan out in a summer warm Wienna with playing in the big playground, meeting other nice parents and children, eating good ice-cream, walking in the city just seeing lots of people, looking at beautiful buildings as the Dome, the opera house where they showed the opera Don Carlos live on a big screen, eating wiener schnitzel, cosiness in our room and me being there for nemo's goodnight song;-) This was well needed for me at this moment! Now I just long for my dear Seth - but soon;-)





Sleep well everyone and see u in Budapest tomorrow! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

All the Earth, Thrown to the Sky: REVIEW

***FINAL RATING: 2.65 STARS***

CATVHALL
Oddly enough, this book touched me. I put off reading it for a long time, a really long time, but by the time I really got around to reading it I was pleasantly surprised. It could have been better, but it could have been far worse. I really only had one major problem that kept this book from getting a higher rating, but I'll get to that later. And check out that title; it's gorgeous!

THE HERO
JACK
It took me a while to connect with Jack, actually, but once I did the connection was inseverable. He was a completely human character who suffered and felt real pain, and had it hard but didn't complain. It wasn't something tho be whined about, it simply was. And that was the way he treated it. He wasn't irritating, just a kid with a run of bad luck, trying to survive.

THE COMPANIONS
JANE
She was, to say the least, an odd character. But then, she was supposed to be. Wild, free, untamable. Jane's the type of girl who needs to move around, who needs to be free to do whatever strikes her fancy. She's admirable and brave, not ready to stand aside in the fare of danger when there's something she can do.
TONY
He was a plucky, brave boy who wasn't about to be left behind, and yet he comes into the story and becomes a character all in his own right, smart enough to make his own decisions and really a role model to children today, who, forgive me, are somewhat lazy. His drive to survive is intense, and he answers it.

THE VILLAINS
"PRETTY BOY FLOYD"
He turned out to be not so much of a villain, and I actually found myself liking him. He was very nice and was always ready to be helpful, even at his own expense. He had a good heart to him, and turned out to be very different than expected.
"BAD TIGER"
As a gangster name, it kind of sucks. It made me giggle every time I read it and I simply could not take it seriously.
TIMMY
Timmy was also ruined as a tough-guy type because I know this Timmy and so I kept picturing him and it just didn't work. I actually would have liked to hear more of Timmy's story, though, because it felt like there was something there in the background, just waiting to be discovered.

THE PLOT
While it seems a bit far-fetched to me, I suppose I don't know a whole lot about gangsters and the Great Depression, so it could be that that's how things really were.

The childrens' mission fit in with the coming-of-age theme, and they really learn to embrace who they are.

The plot moves along at a rapid pace, a bit predictable but also really fun at the same time. I enjoyed the way it progressed, bumps in the road and all.

There were real challenges overcome with a little help from friends, and things to deal with, but the children ultimately come out on top, it seems. Yet somehow this is believable. Plausible, even.

ROMANCE
Romance is almost a staple in coming-of-age novels. But it isn't intense, heavy romance or true love; just young love, finding its first wings. It's sweet and strikes a real chord. There's jealousy and conflicting wants and the feeling that some things might not work out, but over all that there's an underlying romance to it all, that young, sweet love forming for the first time. Lansdale captured that really well.

THE WRITING
Here is my main issue, you see. Perhaps, even likely, Lansdale is actually an extremely eloquent writer. Unfortunately, for this book, he tried to use period-speak, which frankly got on my nerves and made me want to pound my head against the nearest wall. (Dude, this book took me like two and a half months to finish.) Some of it was completely dated and other parts' grammar had me positively cringing. And, oh, God, punctuation. Periods were invented for a reason.

THE ENDING
I usually hate open endings, because I like to know how everything ends and don't like to make it up myself necessarily. But this one worked for me. It fit into the characters and it fit into the book, and really it couldn't have been better. The ending suited everything and made sense, but was also a clear choice for everything, and I really loved that.

WRAPUP
I suppose I might read more of Lansdale's works if I run into them at the library, but I probably won't purchase them or actively seek them out. If the writing wasn't so horrific, I might have, but as it stands I unfortunately cannot. Still, though I wouldn't recommend this to everyone I'd definitely recommend it to some people.

FINE.

just a little faith....

Happy Friday! :)

This week has been a full one, one full of worries, happy birthday wishes, quiet time...

My baby boy celebrated his 13th birthday on Wednesday.

I cannot believe that 13 years ago, he was a little bundle I'd carry in my arms, staring in awe at how I had been blessed. He was such a good baby, too. Happy-go-lucky, inquisitive, a genius...the kid would pop open things his daddy didn't want him to...LOL....

This week has been a test on my Faith as well. Someone I love dearly has been hospitalized with something serious...I thought I was going to lose them. They're doing better now, progressing slowly. You know what I learned?

If I have faith just like hers, anything is possible. You should hear her go into prayer warrior mode. She doesn't look like someone who could be authoratative (sp?), but if you listen in on one of her prayers...the way she speaks, with such authority!  I know God listens to all prayers, but I think this little one REALLY catches His attention when she starts talking to Him! Just makes a momma proud.

Illuminate: REVIEW

*****FINAL RATING: 4.70 STARS*****

CATCHALL
Every once in a while I take a chance in bookstores, grab a random book with a gorgeous cover, and read the blurb. If it sounds good, I'll buy it. That's exactly what I did with Illuminate, and I could not have been happier with the results! It far surpassed even my expectations and left me wanting more. It kept me out of the dark but still managed to surprise. Both heartbreaking and terrifying, it irrevocably drew me in and still hasn't let me go. It was absolutely incredible, and it made me ridiculously happy, the in best way possible! This book left me with a giddy, high feeling that still hasn't entirely gone away.

THE HEROINE
HAVEN
Haven was a fantastic and completely relatable heroine who I was instantly drawn to. Intelligent, but not over-geniusy, she was shy and sweet but had a good head on her shoulders and a good heart. I fell in love with her instantly. Sometimes, I was irritated by her constant self-depreciating remarks, but these came less frequently as the book continued on and were generally understandable, not pointless whining. Haven was admirable and strong but she had weaknesses that made her real. She was the ideal heroine.

THE LOVE INTERESTS
LUCIAN
Damn, authors are really learning to capitalize on my gray eyes fetish. I cannot freaking resist gray eyes, so of course I loved Lucian. He was unbelievable hot and absolutely charming. I love how haunted and determined he was, but also his defiance and his valor. He was an incredibly complex character, leaving me completely reeling most of the time, but in a good way! I loved trying to figure him out, see what it was that he was really up to. His final act in Illuminate is remarkably touching and left me crying my freaking eyes out. I really hope to see more of him, because I feel that Lucian and I have not gotten to know each other too well yet. But I really, really, really, want to know him better, because Agresti has already managed to make my completely in love with him.
LANCE
Lance was so sweet, and really adorable. Such a nerd, too, but in such a cute way! His character, too, developed slowly, but steadily. I felt a bit frustrated at this slow character development, especially because sometimes I could figure things out long before they were explicitly told to us. I loved how he could sometimes be bold, but at other times lacked that confidence, yet he was still essentially the same person inside. Lance was also extremely intelligent and considered to be the "architect" of their little project. Naturally, as an aspiring architect, I was absolutely drawn to this in him and am eager to hear more about him soon.

THE BEST FRIEND
DANTE
Poor Dante. We don't get too much of his full story, but we get enough. He really gets in over his head, but is smart enough to get himself out with a little bit of help from his friends. He's fiercely loyal and most times he will do anything to protect Haven. We don't know much about his past, but I suspect that much of it will be revealed later on. I founded Dante to be an inspiring and lovely character, who was achingly real and so relatable it almost hurt.

THE MENTOR
AURELIA
She fascinated me. I'm sure she wasn't always the way she is in this book, but I really was interesting in learning how she ended up the way she did. I was eager to learn more about her and her ways, and how she was drawn into the world of demons and monsters and hatred and souls that she's entangled herself in hopelessly.

THE DEVIL
THE PRINCE
He was portrayed so artfully that I could hardly find any fault with the way Agresti used him at all. Cold, cruel, and calculating, he ruthlessly goes after what he wants without any regard for the consequences. He was true to his character, never showing any vulnerability and remaining intact and a being to be feared.

THE PLOT
Agresti has created a beautiful world with a fantastic plot to go with it. I fell instantly in love with both. The world is gorgeous, terrifying, haunting, remarkably real, beautiful, horrid, lovely…I could go on and on and on.

Sometimes, I felt it moved to slowly, but this was only once or twice. For the most part, it moved along steadily, palpably dripping with anticipation. I could not wait for what would happen next. I eagerly sat at the edge of my seat, wondering what twist would be thrown in next.

I also thought that some things were glaringly obvious but weren't treated as such. However, I understand that as a reader it's easy to excuse this kind of thing because in general readers know more than the characters. Still, at times, I did feel myself getting frustrated.

However, Agresti threw in enough twists and extremely unexpected events and confessions that made up for everything. Even when I thought I finally knew everything, she proved me wrong. The most gorgeous and intricate plot twists changed everything, in an amazing way!

I especially loved Haven's advice-giving book, which almost seemed as if it had a life and personality all its own. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of it, and I'm looking forward to learning more about it.

It was completely original, and an angel story told right. I completely adored it, everything about it. There was really nothing not to love.

THE ROMANCE
LUCIAN AND HAVEN
This romance, despite all odds, struck me as something undeniably real. Instead of being surface-level and shallow, which it easily could've been, it really felt like they honestly connected on a deeper level. The way Lucian treated her didn't hurt, either. He was always sweet. At first I actually wasn't so sure as to how it was going to work out, but I was pleasantly and pleasingly surprised. Even though it developed relatively quickly, it somehow reached touched me, and there was real and definite chemistry between the characters, which always helps.
LANCE AND HAVEN
This romance develops a lot more slowly, but is so very sweet. Haven and Lance really do somehow work together. They're good together, in the way that some people just are, people who were meant to be together. Lance and Haven never suffer awkward silences; they don't need to be talking to be comfortable, but fall quickly into a steady rhythm. The romance is definitely one to keep an eye on, and I really loved them together.

THE WRITING
First, a note on typography: I absolutely am in love with the font that writes in Haven's book. It is scripty, beautiful cursive, which I am conceited enough to pretend is my own writing (my writing is slightly messier). But it's gorgeous, and I really honestly think it adds to the effect the book has. And even the few notes Aurelia writes to Haven are in a third scripty font, further embracing this typographical difference in a good way, setting it apart and making it more important.

As for the writing itself? Beautiful! The description is lush and gorgeous, and Haven's voice is mature, intelligent, and real. She sounds like a normal girl for her age, yet manages to get enough information across. The style is truly admirable, and made my experience with Illuminate that much more enjoyable. I was very happy with the writing, which was additionally of an extremely good caliber. Clearly, this is a real author.

However, I did notice several typos in the book. I realize this is probably not the author's fault. But still. Not even one or two, but four or six.

THE ENDING
Oh my goodness. I literally had no words when I finished this book. It was absolutely incredible all the way through and the ending was no different. There were some not altogether unprecedented surprises that took place and both thrilled and haunted me. It could not have been better. It's sweet and yet there's an underlying tension to it all, not all the work done. One small conflict down, a million more huge ones to go. It excited me greatly. The ending was obviously well-thought-out and probably agonized over until it was perfect. That was labor well done. There is a huge cliffhanger that left me hungry, absolutely aching, for more.

WRAPUP
Before you even ask, of course I am reading Untitled, the next Gilded Wings novel. As a matter of fact, I will probably read every single future novel Agresti publishes. It was that good. I may never get over this book (in a good way!) and I am absolutely looking forward not only to future installments from this series, but future releases from Agresti.

FINE.

Red Roses GIVEAWAY!

You may or may not have gathered that red roses are my absolute favorite type of flower.

I'm gonna go with may, since if you missed it...well, then I really can't help you.

Kidding. ;)

So, today my boyfriend surprised me with a bouquet of the most gorgeous red roses I have ever seen in my entire almost-seventeen years of living.

(Also, did, you know, my birthday's in just a few months?)

These are not them. Those are for me. ;) But these red roses, my darlings, are all yours!

So, because my boyfriend is amazing and generous, I have decided to be amazing and generous too. So, I have a no-strings-attached giveaway planned for today! And it's gonna last until May 19, 2012, which is exactly a month from my birthday!

So, guess what you get to win??

Really, guess.

No? Well, okay. I suppose I could just tell you.

You can win a copy of whatever book you want!

But not just one book. You get to choose three! And there won't just be one winner. There will be seven winners! (Because I can. And I don't care if seven is a clichéd and overused number. I like it.)

Edit: I've gotten some questions on this so let me clarify: they can be ANY books. Paperback or hardcover. While there's no price limit, please be reasonable and don't choose like some super-special-extended-limited edition that costs like a thousand dollars. You know.

And, even though you won't get bonus entries for sharing this giveaway via Google, Facebook, Twitter, etcetera, it would be so cool if you would do that for me anyway.

I impress myself. :)

Read my Giveaways page before entering.

Yay! ^_^ Good luck!

I love you so much!

Lovelovelove,

Milan

Hi all!

Finally - Milan!!!!

Wow, this is the place I have longed for all tour and you didn't disappoint me yesterday;=) Grazie!!!

Today I´ve done some exercising here in the gym and now are soooo beaten in the body but ready for shopping! I so know what I want and I hope I find it;=)

My dear ones- enjoy this day and enjoy life! To short to waist on smaller thing;=)

Love and hugs!

Waiting on Wednesday (4)

Another Waiting on Wednesday, courtesy of the lovely Jill over at Breaking the Spine!

This week, I am featuring Underworld by Meg Cabot, the highly-anticipated sequel to Abandon.

Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead.

Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it’s for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they’ve come back as Furies, intent on vengeance…on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there…and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.

And unless Pierce is careful, this time there’ll be no escape.

Since reading Abandon, one of my life goals has been to get my hands on Underworld as soon as is humanly possible. I really, really, really want to read this one, and the cover is absolutely, beyond any doubt gorgeous! I am insanely, ridiculously excited to read this one!

Lovelovelove,

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop!

I just love giveaway hops, don't you?

Of course you do.

This one is hosted by the dedicated Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and vvb32 reads.

This giveaway hop is a little special, did you know that? I got to interview author Jessica Day George! Unfortunately, however, that interview isn't going up yet. But fear not. I do not leave you empty-handed.

I'm gonna tell you who my all-time favorite fairy tale character is.

Are you ready?

Good!

My absolute all-time favorite fairy tale character is Belle. You know, from Beauty and the Beast. One, because she is a brunette, unlike so many other blonde princesses I could name. Also, she's pretty darn brave, giving herself up to save her father. I mean, who wouldn't admire that, you know? And of course, she sings, which is awesome. Well, not in the fairy tale, but they made a musical, which I actually was in at a local theater as a dancer. Belle also can totally pull off yellow, which is enviable, and she's strong and brave, not whiny and annoying. She's actually a really good heroine, although I can't seem to recall reading any contemporary YA featuring her. But anyway, I completely love her.
Loyal followers and new followers of mine! Read any good YA lately featuring a retelling of Beauty and the Beast? If so, please let me know in the comments!

Here's what I am giving away, darlings!

Oh yes.

Three gorgeous books, all for one lucky winner, including a preorder of the as yet not released Princess of the Silver Woods.

Read my Giveaways page before entering.

Good luck, my darlings!

Lovelovelove,

Oh, and do be sure to check out the giveaways the other blogs are hosting!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL LIST OF PARTICIPATING BLOGS

A Million Suns: REVIEW

****FINAL RATING: 4.35 STARS****

CATCHALL
I didn't enjoy A Million Suns quite as much as Across the Universe, but I still really, really, really, loved it. I couldn't put it down. There was action and romance on every page, leaving me wanting more. It was extremely good and while I think it was a bit slow at some points, in general it was perfect.

THE HERO
ELDER
I thought Elder progressed and degressed (I think I made that word up) in equal measure in this book. He can be patronizing sometimes, which can be real irritating and got on my nerves a lot of the time. I thought he tried very hard to be a good leader, which was admirable, but he didn't always know what the right thing to do was, which was realistic.

THE HEROINE
Amy was stronger in this book, which I really admired. She was a better person in general, I think, too, and also much more relatable. She has struggles that are really reflected in her character but she comes through them very well and becomes a force to be dealt with. Amy is more than just the outsider on the ship now. She's fierce and ready to stand up for what's right.

THE SECONDARY CHARACTERS
VICTRIA
Her story saddened me. She has such conflicting desires, an it's really heartbreaking to see that in her. She tries to be a good person, I think, but has a difficult reconciling that with herself and her beliefs. i would have liked to know more about her.
DOC
We don't actually physically see a whole lot of him in this book, but he is clearly and definitely there. He's a dynamic character, definitely, and a lot of what we learn about him I would have never seen coming.
BARTIE
He was an extremely intriguing character. I was always looking forward to what move he was going to make next, what he was going to say. In the end, he wasn't so difficult to understand, not at all. In fact, he's an extremely relatable character.

THE PLOT
The plot was freaking intense.

Every single page had a new twist or a new but vital scrap of information.

The entire book was thick with anticipation, eagerly awaiting the next radical event.

It was hardly boring, and only flawed but what I felt were a few pointless scenes that didn't progress the story at all, but I concede that they may become important later. Still, I absolutely loved it.

THE ROMANCE
The romance in A Million Suns is more prominent than in Across the Universe, but is still traditionally sweet and smooth, not instalovey or rapidly moving. It really develops in a beautiful way and the chemistry between the characters is really palpable. The romance is definitely one of my favorites.

THE WRITING
Revis' writing has only improved since Across the Universe. Her imagery is both haunting and provocative, inspiring me immensely. It could hardly have been better. Revis really expands on a lot of the things that were previously unclear in a lovely way, and both Elder's and Amy's voices have grown and matured.

THE ENDING
Once again, we have been left with a remarkably cruel cliffhanger and have to wait months to find out what will happen next. It is a wonderful, perfectly-utilized way of closing the novel. It is so very signaturely Revis and I adored it absolutely. The ending left me freaking out, but also many conflicts were resolved or at least partially resolved. The ending was a bit rushed, but overall nearly amazing.

WRAPUP
Of course, I am reading Shades of Earth. I have to! That huge cliffhanger doesn't allow for anything less! I am ridiculously excited to read it and am already wondering what is next!

FINE.

Magic Monday (4)

Hello, darlings, hello! Welcome to my fourth Magic Monday!

This week, my feature is on Arise by Tara Hudson.

The last time this happened, I'd opened my eyes to what I was pretty sure was an entirely different country.

SEE MY GIVEAWAYS PAGE BEFORE ENTERING.

I do wish you all good luck, my loves!

Lovelovelove,

Tour

Hi all,

So, time to write some words about how the tour is going after these first shows:=)

Well, it has been so great seeing so big audiences everywhere and even if every crowd is different you all have made us so happy and energized, which is needed when you do so many gigs and travel so much.

For me the tour has started good but I got the finger injury and also have had a bad flu that Tuomas had and I got it quite fast after starting this leg. I feel better now so thats good;=)

Being on tour always makes you tired and ill here and there and for me, as the singer, I of course feel a bit more stressed when I get a bug or get really tired and exhausted. Being on stage for 1h 45 min singing almost every night is a hard job and if you then have a bad throat or something that affects the voice, it makes it an ever harder job. But when you go out on stage and are feeling ill, just hearing you in the audience scream and sing along makes it much easier so just so you know - keep on screaming and sing - we love it!!

Tonight its Frankfurt and not the biggest crowd, like tomorrow in Zurich, but sometimes the smaller crowds actually are louder than the bigger crowds so we´ll see tonight;=)

Now I´ll rest and eat, I always meditate before a show to relax my mind and fill my energy levels. Then I put on my outfit, start doing make-up and 45 min before the show I start to warm up the voice. I sing all day to keep it open but the real warm up happens 45 min before.

We play at 20.45 most nights but some nights it´s 21 or 21.15 and I like the earlier nights more cause that makes me get more sleep before we need to travel to next place. Tomorrow its about 5,5-6 hours of drive so a bit early wake-up for me. I am that kinda person that needs at least 8 h of sleep to sing well and not be all cranky;=)

And this week we have our off-day in Milan and thats the off day I´ve longed for cause I´ll do some shopping there;=) Fashion mekka;=)

Ok, now you got a little update. Keep on rocking´and see you soon!

Trier

We've spent our off day in Germany's oldest city, Trier. Beautiful city and we arrived when they are having lots of pilgrims coming since Jesus robe is shown in the big Dome. I went and saw it yesterday and it was really a nice time in the Dome and being there for this occasion:-) Now to Frankfurt! See u there tonight!





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Covermance! (13)

When Petunia, the youngest of King Gregor’s twelve dancing daughters, is invited to visit an elderly friend in the neighboring country of Westfalin, she welcomes the change of scenery. But in order to reach Westfalin, Petunia must pass through a forest where strange two-legged wolves are rumored to exist. Wolves intent on redistributing the wealth of the noble citizens who have entered their territory. But the bandit-wolves prove more rakishly handsome than truly dangerous, and it’s not until Petunia reaches her destination that she realizes the kindly grandmother she has been summoned to visit is really an enemy bent on restoring an age-old curse.

The stories of Red Riding Hood and Robin Hood get a twist as Petunia and her many sisters take on bandits, grannies, and the new King Under Stone to end their family curse once and for all.

PREORDER PRINCESS OF THE SILVER WOODS!

  

Coming down from the mountain to a new life in the city seems a thrill beyond imagining. When Miri and her friends from Mount Eskel set off to help the future princess Britta prepare for her royal wedding, she is happy about her chance to attend school in the capital city. There, Miri befriends students who seem so sophisticated and exciting . . . until she learns that they have some frightening plans. They think that Miri will help them, that she should help them. Soon Miri finds herself torn between loyalty to the princess and her new friends’ ideas, between an old love and a new crush, and between her small mountain home and the bustling city.

Picking up where Princess Academy left off, this incredible stand-alone story celebrates the joys of friendship, the delight of romance, and the fate of a beloved fairy tale kingdom.

PREORDER PALACE OF STONE!

  

Is death the end . . . or only the beginning?

Ethan Wate has spent most of his life longing to escape the stiflingly small Southern town of Gatlin. He never thought he would meet the girl of his dreams, Lena Duchannes, who unveiled a secretive, powerful, and cursed side of Gatlin, hidden in plain sight. And he never could have expected that he would be forced to leave behind everyone and everything he cares about. So when Ethan awakes after the chilling events of the Eighteenth Moon, he has only one goal: to find a way to return to Lena and the ones he loves.

Back in Gatlin, Lena is making her own bargains for Ethan's return, vowing to do whatever it takes -- even if that means trusting old enemies or risking the lives of the family and friends Ethan left to protect.

Worlds apart, Ethan and Lena must once again work together to rewrite their fate, in this stunning finale to the Beautiful Creatures series.

PREORDER BEAUTIFUL REDEMPTION!

  

Author INTERVIEW: J. Meyers

Hi, all of my very favorite people!

I'm sure you've read my review of Intangible, darlings, haven't you? No matter. You can go and read it now. I'll wait :)

And now that you've done that, you can read my interview with J. Meyers, the brilliant woman who wrote the book to begin with! It was so much fun and she wrote amazing responses. Enjoy, my dears!

• When did you know you wanted to write books for a living, and how?

About three years ago I fell in love with YA lit and knew I’d found my genre. I’d already co-authored a couple of parenting books, and had decided I wanted to write fiction instead, but I hadn’t stumbled upon the right idea nor the right genre for me until I found YA. I read a ton of YA books as the idea for Intangible steeped in my mind, to get a sense for what was different about YA, what made me love it so much, what made it so good. And then I crafted the story, feeling completely compelled to write it even though I had absolutely no time to do it. (I have four kids—one was a newborn at the time—and we home school. No time!)

• Where do you get your ideas for your characters?

The characters each are part me and part people I know or people I’ve seen on the street or in a store, at the library, or people I’ve imagined. They are not based on any one single person, but I’ve borrowed things from people I know. I live within each of them, in a sense, because I stepped into their shoes and looked at their world through their eyes to feel their reactions, see their movements, understand their feelings. But they are truly unique creations, in and of themselves. 

• What inspired the worlds the Intangible takes place in, a modified version of ours and the Realm?

I wanted to set the story in our world in part because I really enjoy stories that are set in our world. (I also enjoy books set in other worlds, but it doesn’t always work.) Plus it’s easier because I can place it in a real location (Burlington, Vermont, is very real, as are many of the places they go there, including Muddy Waters, their favorite coffee shop). Okay, so really, I did it because it was the easy way out. ;-) And I honestly don’t know what made me add another world, the Realm. It just evolved into being as the story line evolved into being. It certainly wasn’t a part of my original plan. 

• Is there really a legend about the seventh son of a seventh son?

Yes, there is! It’s funny. I’d already decided that Sera was a healer and Luke a seer when I thought that maybe Luke could be the seventh son of a seventh son because I knew there was something folklorishly special about it. (I am pretty sure I just made that word up. I do that sometimes.) And since my twins were special, maybe the 7/7 could explain their specialness. I started researching it only to find out that the 7/7 was believed to have special powers of healing and seeing the future! It was perfect. Kismet! And so Luke became the seventh son (and older twin to claim the birth order) and Sera got to share the powers with him since they were born together. 

• What was it like to write in the fantasy world? Do you feel like there’s more freedom?

I think there is more freedom because I get to employ magic, change the rules of reality, characters get to disappear or be super strong or heal people, and that’s incredibly liberating and fun. There are a lot of what-if’s in fantasy, and you can make things happen because you want them to, even if it couldn’t happen in the real world, as long as it obeys the rules of the world you’ve created. Of course, there’s a lot to keep track of in fantasy as well. I have lists of what each paranormal can and can’t do so there’s consistency throughout. 

• What’s up next for Luke and Sera? Any spoilers you can tell us?

Oh, I’m not sure I can give you any spoilers because I’m just working on it now and things can change, you know? But I will say that life is not dull for them in the next book. Not at all. ;-)

• Short stories are generally difficult to write because you have to get a lot of information across in a lot less space. Tell us what it was like writing Intuition, your short story companion to Intangible.

You know, I’m not a short story writer. (I’m not a short story teller, either, as my family will attest.) But I wanted to put out a bonus short story that would always be free and would introduce readers to Sera, Luke, and their gifts. “Intuition” doesn’t even hint at the full worlds of Intangible in part because it would have been impossible to do and keep it short, but it does give a feel for Sera and Luke’s bond which is at the heart of the novel. I spent a lot of time polishing it up and had beta readers give me feedback about it because I knew it had to be my best work. Each piece of writing I put out there has to be my best work. :-)

• What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Read, read, read, and read. Drench yourself in your genre. And write the book that you want to read.

• Will we learn more about Luke and Sera’s family?

I’m thinking we’ll have to!

• Are Marc and Jonas going to be prominent characters in future installments?

Jonas, absolutely. And Marc is going to come back. (He has to, you know, because he owes Sera an apology at the very least. Plus there’s a way for him to cause really big trouble, unknowingly, and it’s gotta happen.) He may not reappear until the end of book two, and then feature more prominently in book three, but I’m really excited to have him come back. I really loved Marc. I didn’t plan to write him that way. He was supposed to be a bad guy (and I know some readers certainly see him that way) but I just loved how funny he was, and he was tormented and tortured by his predicament. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens when he comes back. 

• Intangible has such a gorgeous cover! I love the colors and the picture.

Thank you! I did the cover myself, and was lucky enough to be able to pull it off. I wanted to give it an otherworldly feel, which is the reason for the colors. And I cannot tell you how excited I was when I found and bought the font, too! Instant love. 

• Why did you choose to tell the story from so many different points of view?

I told the story from so many points of view because the reader gets *more* of the story that way. You get to understand Marc’s motivations, his internal struggle, and maybe understand he’s not a bad guy, he’s just in an awful spot. You get to feel Luke’s panic and relief. You get to understand all of what Sera can do. You get a feel for why Fey has withheld information. You get a glimpse at Jonas’s complicated moral code. There is so much to the story that would be missed if it were only told from one point of view. I did worry that doing it this way would let the reader know too much, not be surprising enough, but I think the twists that do happen and surprise are perhaps more powerful because the reader is so much in the know, and perhaps it actually helped to build more intensity for what was going to happen. (At least, I hope that’s what happened.)

• One of the most unique things about Intangible are the powers gifted to the characters. Will we ever learn more about where these come from?

Yes. As soon as I decide why they are gifted. ;-) (A part of me wishes I were kidding.) I actually have two theories as to why the teens are gifted, I just haven’t decided which is the real reason. I really do need to figure that out soon…

• My 25 y.o. boyfriend read this book, and not only did he love it, but he actually admitted to loving it, which is pretty much the highest compliment he can give a book. What was your intended audience when you wrote Intangible?

Wow! That is SO cool, and thank you for telling me that. I’ve been really surprised that men have liked this book because they were not my intended audience at all and I really didn’t think it would appeal to them. My proofreader is a 50 year old man and he loved it. There was a retired army guy who read and reviewed it, and he loved it too. I’ve honestly been shocked by this. As to who my intended audience is, it’s women, from their early teens and on up. But at the same time, I will say that though my intended audience was women, I did in fact try to *not* write a girl-only book. My original idea only included Sera and I ended up giving her a twin brother because I wanted this book to appeal to my sons as well, when they get old enough to read it. (My oldest, who’s 9, read it already and loved it.)

• Completely unrelated, but just one more question: are you in any way, shape, or form, a dancer? Either way, what is your favorite type of dance?

Yes. Or at least I used to be. I was a singer/actor/dancer for a while there, trying to make it in NYC. And my favorite? My husband and I took a ballroom dance class when we were dating, and I *loved* it. I’d never danced like that before, so I have a place in my heart for ballroom dancing. But I’ve always loved jazz and tap—I learned tap when I was in college, and could never stand still after that. I was always moving my feet in rhythm. I still do that now sometimes and just love watching the old tap masters in movies or see shows that combine rhythm and dance, percussion and tap. I’m actually a total sucker for old song and dance movies like Singing in the Rain and White Christmas. And I occasionally do a pirouette or two in my kitchen just for fun. (Okay, it’s possible I do that on a weekly basis.) Oh, wow, do I love dance…Are you a dancer? Is that why you ask? 

Indeed, I am a dancer! A ballroom dancer, to be exact, in fact! And a good one, too ;) And I love random questions, so, my lovely readers, be prepared, by prepared.


Lovelovelove,