Rock This! Thursday with Michelle Zink

Rock This! Thursday is a weekly feature which focuses on books that are centered around or are about another thing we love: music! (And once in a while a concert story, a song, or a band we think everyone should be listening to.)

This week we have author Michelle Zink with us to share some musical insight. Don't forget, her debut novel, Prophecy of the Sisters, will be hitting stores August 1st!



What are five songs we should be listening to right now?

-Guernica and Luca by Brand New (you HAVE to listen to their lyrics! the best in the industry, in my humble opinion!)

-A Rush of Blood to the Head and Lost by Coldplay (preferably the version with Jay-Z).

-Beautiful by Eminem.


Tell us the most guilty pleasure song or band you have on your iPod, MP3 player, etc.

I don't feel guilty about any of them! Music is art, and I need all kinds to be happy!

What was the first tape or CD you bought?

Oh, my God, this is going to be embarrassing! Probably something with Sean Cassidy when I was about six years old. I loved music enough to pay for it even then.



If you could hang out with one musician - living or dead - who would it be and why?

Gah! Just one?! Okay, Bono of U2. SUCH an interesting, enigmatic, intelligent, and caring human being, and a truly amazing singer/songwriter besides. Though Eminem would be a close second for his authenticity and the very real stories he has to tell.


What was the first concert you attended?

Fleetwood Mac. My mom took me when I was nine. It was one of the best nights of my life and was a huge push to my lifelong love of music. Plus, she bought the tickets when we really couldn't afford them because I wanted to go so badly. She surprised me with them, and it's one of the best memories of my childhood.

What is the one thing you love most about music?

It's ability to transcend time, place, age... everything. Much like a book, it takes you away to a different time and place while also having the ability to connect us to the deeper meaning in our own lives. It's as necessary as air!



Note: If you're an author who loves music and would like to be featured on Rock This! Thursday, just shoot us an email: justyourtypicalbookblogblog@hotmail.com

♥amber

Book Request(s)

I really need to kick my reading up a major notch because I keep stumbling across so many books that sound really, really good. I think these two are very drool-worthy:


The Naughty List by Suzanne Young
(Feburary 4th, 2010)

Junior class president Tessa Crimson is the captain of the Smitten Kittens—the Wildcats cheerleading squad. But when Washington High experiences a break-out of make-outs, Tessa and her girls create a secret snooping society to catch the cheaters in the act. The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?













The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
(January 7th, 2010)

Seventeen-year-old Colt has been sneaking out at night to meet Julia, a girl from an upper-class neighborhood unlike his own. They've never told anyone else about their relationship: not their family or friends, and especially not Julia's boyfriend. When Julia dies suddenly, Colt tries to cope with her death while pretending that he never even knew her. He discovers a journal she left behind. But he is not prepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship, nor to pay the price for the secrets he's kept.





♥amber

Review - City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Book One in the Mortal Instrument Series

You can read the entire book online right now! It's only available until August 10th.

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . .

---

I've heard a lot of different opinions on this series. I'll admit, the first time I picked this book up months and months ago, I just wasn't really interested in reading anything paranormal. I thought the writing was great, but it didn't really grab me. Here lately I've been reading of this genre. So I picked the book back up and started all over again. And I'm thankful that I did because I devoured it.

There are werewolves, warlocks, vampires, faeries, demons, and most importantly there are Shadowhunters. More importantly than that, there is a hot one named Jace. I'm sure most of you that have read this book and enjoyed it are probably swooning just by his name. (I know I still am!)

The characters in this story are great. There are so many of them whether they are main or minor ones, but they all work smoothly together. Sure Clary is a little reckless with decisions, but I really liked her. I felt as if I were right there along the way finding out this whole world with her. (Personally, I would have have ran the away way with my arms stretched out in the air in a mad scream if this was my life.) Luckily Clary does have her best friend Simon (who is quirky and hilarious) when she's prepared to do whatever it takes to save her mother. I loved how these two completely different sets of "people" and their worlds clashed together. The book is constantly moving in plot and dialogue. I personally loved the tiffs between Simon and Jace. And Isabelle and Alec's disapproval of mundanes.

Cassandra Clare has a wonderful imagination and has opened up a whole new world within this series. It doesn't matter what age you are. If you enjoy paranormal genre that has a great plot line, secrets, and excellent twists - you will want to pick this book up ASAP!

♥amber

Look At My New Book Bag!

I ran to Wal-Mart earlier to grab a few things, and I noticed something Johnny Depp out of the corner of my eye. Since I love me some Depp, I instantly ran to it and saw it was a bag. I thought hhmm...I should pick that up when I get paid this week. Then my sister ventured down an isle and yelled out, "Amber, look!"

Low and behold, the coolest bag EVER was hanging out on a hook:

And bonus, it was only twelve dollars! Now I'm off to finish reading City of Glass by Cassandra Clare - seriously, why didn't I read this series earlier? It rocks.

♥amber

Rock This! Thursday

The Vinyl Princess by Yvonne Prinz

Release Date: December 22, 2009

With a summer job at Bob & Bob Records in Berkeley, California, teen music junkie Allie is ready for anything. She’s poised to fall in love, catch a thief, and make a mix that’ll break your heart. And when she blogs as The Vinyl Princess, Allie is the sort of mystery girl you can’t resist tuning into. Get ready for the vinyl revolution!

Author Yvonne Prinz, cofounder of Amoeba Music, the world’s biggest independent music store chain, brings readers into the inspired, obsessive, irrepressible heart of a teen who is head-over-heels in love with music. Like a great record, this read will rock your soul and rattle your bones.

---

I saw this over at The Story Siren's To Pine For post. I've never read anything by this author before, but this book is just screaming Read Me Amber, Read Me!!

♥amber

Who Wants to Win a Bookcase?

Yep, that's right, we're giving away a bookcase courtesy of

CSN specializes in a wide variety of Office Furniture. Instead of us picking out which one someone can win, we've decided to let you choose which suits your room/living room/office/etc the best!

Here's what you do to enter:

1. Click right here and browse the selection of bookcases. Choose ANY one you want with a retail value of 80 dollars or less.

2. Leave a comment saying which bookcase you picked and include your email address. Just so there is no confusion, you have to leave BOTH things in your entry or it will not count. If you do not feel comfortable leaving your info here, just shoot us an email: justyourtypicalbookblog@hotmail.com

For extra entries:

+2 for becoming a new follower

+5 for already being a follower prior to this post. (Thanks!)

+2 for each place you link this contest to. (Please post the links on here too.)

The contest will end August 13 at midnight central time. It is only open to those living in the United States. One winner will be chosen and will have 48 hours to contact us with their info. Thanks and good luck to all who enter!

CONTEST ENDED! WINNER HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED!

In My Mailbox - Cheryl's Mailbox

I have been MIA for some time now, and I'm trying to catch up to the blogging world. :/ These following books came within a weeks time. Some are from authors and the rest are from contests I won.

In Too Deep

If you don't belong here— you just don't belong...The Bramford building's newest resident and small-town transplant Casey McCloy is adapting to life in the Big Apple and loving it. She's got the look, the attitude, and a delish new boyfriend, Drew Van Allen. But she's starting to have second thoughts as to whether the "New York" Casey is the real Casey. And she's not so sure she likes herself much anymore. She's not the only one.

Madison Macallister has always had her Manolo Blahniks firmly planted on the top rung of the social ladder—until that corn-fed cow Casey stole Drew away from her and made her look the fool. So what if Madison wasn't exactly dating Drew at the time? She wanted him. And everyone knows that Madison gets what she wants, like Drew—and a little revenge.





Undying

The Kahill vampire clan has lived among humans for hundreds of years in Delaware's peaceful village of Clare Point. In Undying, V.K. Forrest introduces readers to Arlan, a fierce member of the clan who must fight his desire for a love most forbidden.

Undying

As part of the Kahill clan's special operations "kill team," Arlan is devoted to ridding the world of its most depraved human members. He's been asked by fellow clan member and FBI Agent Fia Kahill to assist in one of her investigations: the notorious Buried Alive Killer case. Arlan agrees to meet with one of Fia's key informants, Macy Smith, but he's completely unprepared for his response to the young woman. Blond, petite, and achingly beautiful, Macy is everything Arlan could want in a woman-and it's clear the attraction is mutual. Although Arlan once vowed he would never again let himself fall in love with a human being, he surrenders to his overpowering desire for Macy.

Soon, Arlan and Macy keep mysteriously crossing one another's paths, even in Clare Point. In Macy, Arlan can sense a loneliness that reminds him of his own and a vulnerability that tugs at his soul. But Macy is a drifter with a past far darker than even Arlan can imagine. And when the Buried Alive Killer strikes again, he learns that Macy has a deep connection to the case-one that will put her in the crosshairs of the killer if Arlan can't find a way to protect her.




Stealing Margo

When Margo Capolini is abducted to West Virginia by a fan who hears secret messages in her song lyrics, she is plunged back into her unfinished life as an 80's singer- a stormy world of rock music, insatiable characters, and a daughter she has never known. Stealing Margo will quicken your pulse, keep you wondering, and never let you know what's next. If you can relate to a strong-willed character who faces adversity and adventure the way you would, Stealing Margo is for you. Author Chad Peery draws from his Steppenwolf years to paint notably vivid music scenes and pack powerful emotions into "Stealing Margo."





Two Years, No Rain

An earnest journey from heartache to heartthrob and all the emotions along the way; at once an old-fashioned love story and a cautionary tale of self-reinvention.

In San Diego County, it hasn’t rained in 580 days. But for weatherman Andy Dunne, everything else is changing fast…Only a few weeks ago, he was a newly divorced, slightly overweight meteorologist for an obscure satellite radio station, hiding his secret love for a colleague, the beautiful—and very much married—Hillary Hsing. But nearly overnight, Andy has landed a new gig, flying a magic carpet in a bizarre live-action children’s TV show. So what is affable, basically decent Andy Dunne going to do now that he can do practically anything he wants? With a parade of hot moms begging for his autograph and a family that needs his help more than ever, Andy has a lot of choices. First, though, there’s this thing with Hillary, their heated text messages, a long-awaited forecast for rain – and a few other surprises he never saw coming…




Undone

When Kori Kitlzer, the “dark angel” of the 8th grade, tells Serena Moore that they are more alike than she thinks, Serena is instantly intrigued. As their friendship solidifies and their lives entwine, Serena tries to become more like the fearless, outspoken, and ambitious Kori. Soon Serena doesn’t know where she begins and Kori ends. But when a twist of fate yanks Kori away from Serena, she will need to find a way to complete her best friend’s life left undone.

Undone is a striking debut novel about friendship, family, and the secrets we keep from the people to whom we are closest.






I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti


In the early '90s, Giulia Melucci moved out of the Brooklyn home where she was raised full of romantic hopes and her mother's excellent Italian cooking. She dreamed of finding the perfect guy, but fresh ingredients were scarce. After nearly twenty years of New York City dating she had nothing more than a slew of broken relationships under her belt. Well, that and a heap of delicious recipes, which she shares along with stories of her doomed amorous adventures.


An affectionate alcoholic, a classic New York City commitment-phobe, a hipster aged well past his sell date, and not one but two novelists with Peter Pan complexes - no matter what their fatal flaw, Giulia has cooked for them. She suffers each disappointment with resolute cheer (after a good cry) and a bowl of pastina (recipe included), and has lived to tell the tale so that other women may find a better recipe for love - or at least go to bed with something good to eat.


You will laugh along with Giulia as she manages to find the lighter side of each disappointment as you swoon over her irresistible culinary creations. Mix one part humor, a dash of sarcasm, and lots of heart - then devour this story of a woman looking everywhere for love . . . and finding it on the stove.

cheryl