Rock This! Thursday Interview with Laurie London + GIVEAWAY!

Through the wonderful site that is Twitter, I've gotten to talk to debut author Laurie London a bit. She's super sweet and I'm very excited about her debut novel, Bonded by Blood! Today she's hanging out at the blog and answering a few questions about books and music.


How does it feel being a debut author?

Exciting and a little frightening, actually. I still pinch myself that a big publisher liked my story and story world enough to want not just one book, but the series. Other than the few contests I entered and the handful of agents I sent the manuscript to, this will be the first time people I don’t know will be reading what I’ve written. My published author friends tell me that you get used to it, but for now it’s all pretty surreal.

Can you tell us a little bit of what gave you the idea for Bonded by Blood?

Although I’ve always been drawn to vampire stories, both on the screen and in fiction, I didn’t consciously set out to write one. The first scene, set in a cemetery, just came to me and it created a lot of questions in my mind. Who is this man and how did he become injured? Why is he hiding under a pile of leaves and branches? Who is this woman? Why does he attack and almost kill her if he’s not the villain? The answers to these questions form the basis of the book.

Given my obsession with the movie Fright Night as a teenager and my romance reading habits (chances are, if there’s a vampire in the book, I’ve read it or have it in my TBR pile), it was an obvious conclusion to me that the guy in the cemetery was a vampire. A really hot one.

As I was going through my playlists, I noticed that two of my favorite songs have tie-ins to vampires, but they didn’t when I bought them. The first is Jace Everett’s Bad Things. I’ve had it on my Ipod forever, so when it became the song for the opening credits of True Blood, I thought it was perfect. The second song is Are You Afraid by Rooney, my favorite band. I’d been listening to it for awhile when they made the music video. In it, they’re all vampires trying unsuccessfully to live normal lives with human girls. It’s really funny. http://tinyurl.com/ckjqm6

So, see? I’ve got a thing for vampires.

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?

I’m in love with Magic by B.o.B. featuring Rivers Cuomo. I first heard it when someone made a tribute video for the amazing racehorse Zenyatta, a mare (yeah, girl power!), and now it’s a song on my running playlist. It puts me in an instant good mood.

If Bonded by Blood was made into a movie, who would you cast for it?

What a fun question! For Dom, I’d have to say Rodrigo Santoro in this picture, because he served as my inspiration. Just looking at him makes my heart beat faster. For Mackenzie, I’d cast Stana Katic.

I know some authors like to make playlists to their novels. Did you have one for yours? If so, can you share a few songs with us?

Although I can’t listen to music with lyrics when I write—I get too caught up in the stories of the songs—I listen to playlists for my books when I run. Here is the playlist for BONDED BY BLOOD.

Violet Hill – Coldplay
It’s About Time - Barcelona
Back in Your Head – Teagan and Sara
Come Back When You Can - Barcelona
I Will Follow You into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie
Nothing In My Way – Keane
Satellite - Guster
When We Die – Bowling for Soup
Easy Way Out – The Pink Spiders
Believe in Me – Rooney
A Glorious Day – Embrace

Can you think of a song that would make a good book?

Sometime Around Midnight by Airborne Toxic Event because the music has an epic feel to it and the lyrics are descriptive like a scene from a book. I want to know what happens to the guy and the girl at the end. He loves her, but I don’t think she loves him.

What are some of your favorite books?

I’ve got so many, it’s hard to single them out. Here are few off the top of my head.

The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Lover Awakened by JR Ward
Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Highland Sinner by Hannah Howell
Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

What was the publishing process like for you?

I’ve written middle grade fiction, YA, and contemporary romance, but it wasn’t until I started writing paranormal romance that I guess you could say I found my groove. I read a lot of YA and paranormal romance, so it makes sense that my writer’s voice would be stronger in those areas. Things happened fairly quickly after I finished writing BONDED BY BLOOD. It did well in the few writing contests I entered. In a roundabout way from one of those contests, I found an agent and within a few months, the series sold.

Is there a song out there that instantly just makes you tear up?

Yes! Show Me What I’m Looking For by Carolina Liar “Save me, I’m lost. Oh Lord, I’ve been waiting for you.” I’ve written a few chapters of a YA ghost story with this as the theme song. Makes me teary-eyed just thinking of it.

Have you experienced any 'rock star' writing moments?

I’ve had so many ‘rock star,’ ‘pinch me this can’t be really happening’ moments that it’s hard to pick just one. From one of my author-idols, Cherry Adair, shoving her phone number into my hand with instructions to call her the minute I sold my book to my agent texting me that she’d closed my book deal at a cocktail party. Oh, and my first fan letter. I totally cried when I read it.

GIVEAWAY

One winner will get:


- Signed copy of Bonded by Blood
- Revlon Lip Balm of Just Bitten

- Must be 13 years or older to enter
- Must have a US or CANADA mailing address
- Giveaway will run until February 10th 

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER!

Waiting on Wednesday #28

Wake Unto Me by Lisa Cach 
Release Date: March 2011

A haunted castle, a handsome young man dead for four hundred years, one heck of a scary portrait of a witch, and a treasure hunt -- not to mention a princess for a roommate! -- all await 15 year old American girl Caitlyn Monahan when she earns a scholarship to a French boarding school.


There are secrets behind the stone walls of Chateau de la Fortune, buried for centuries along with the mystery of who killed Raphael, the charming ghost who visits Caitlyn at night. But as Caitlyn unearths the history of the castle, nothing scares her as badly as the secret she learns about herself, and the reason she was chosen to come to the Fortune School.


And nothing breaks her heart as badly as falling in love with a dead guy


Sounds a bit dark and mysterious - I'm game!

♥amber

News for the Blog

I GOT AN APARTMENT TODAY!!

It was one of those things that just kind of happened, and I'm like holy crap I have to start packing! Plus somehow finish all my homework and write a paper for school.

So I'm putting the blog on a small hiatus for about a week or so. I don't know when I'll have the net set up in my new place, but hopefully it'll be sooner than later. I have a few posts scheduled for the rest of the week, but after that tumbleweeds will be passing through here. 

If you need to get a hold of me through email, please allow me a couple days to get back to you. ALSO I'm taking blogger participants for my Rock This! Thursday feature. Here's what it's about:

1. You MUST be a book blogger.

2. You MUST have a love for books and music.

3. I can either send you interview questions or you can write a guest post.

4. Guest posts can be any topic you want as long as they somehow involve music. 

Examples:

- You can tell about your favorite book that was about music or centered around music.

- Got a favorite character who was a musician in a book and you want the world to know about them? Tell us!

- A concert story

- How a book has influenced your life

Really, anything goes! If you'd like to participate, shoot me an email: justyourtypicalbookblog(at)hotmail.com

See you guys in a week or so when I'll be playing massive catch-up with comments!

♥amber

Giveaway: Win a copy of Coffee and Fate

Coffee and Fate by R.J. Erbacher

Val is just a regular college student, with a unique ability to save people's lives, having a drink in a coffee shop. Bud is an elderly gentleman who knows certain things that will happen to certain people and he knows something about Val's future.

When he sits down next to her and holds her hands it will start a friendship that both of them are desperate for. It will also set off a chain of events that will dramatically change both their lives, from the gunshot that's just seconds away to a heroic battle with fate and death.

Giveaway Information:
- R.J. has donated 2 copies to win!
- This giveaway is only open to those with a US address
- Must be 13 years or older to enter
- Giveaway ends February 8th at 11:59 pm central time
- Winner will be contacted via email

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

Vixen by Jillian Larkin

Vixen by Jillian Larkin
(Flappers Book One)


Released: December 2010
Publisher: Delacorte Book
Pages: 421
Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary - Historical
Source: Star Book Tours


Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Jazz . . . Booze . . . Boys . . . It’s a dangerous combination.


Every girl wants what she can’t have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle—and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she’s engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago’s most powerful families, Gloria’s party days are over before they’ve even begun . . . or are they?


Clara Knowles, Gloria’s goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch—but Clara isn’t as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she’ll do anything to keep hidden. . . .


Lorraine Dyer, Gloria’s social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria’s shadow. When Lorraine’s envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone’s going to be very sorry. . . .

---

You may have noticed on my blog that I do not review historical fiction. Well, that's about to change. I have fallen in love with at least an era, and that era would be the 1920's. I found it so interesting to see how much society's views have changed especially in women from then and now. There is definitely no way my fat mouth would have been welcomed to any sort of high society back then.

Jillian Larkin's writing was so wonderful and captured it perfectly. I seriously cannot wait to read more from this time period! The way she weaved in the three lives of Gloria, Clara, and Lorraine seemed like it was practically effortless.

Gloria was the main focus of the book, at least to me. She's the type of girl who you look at and know she has had it all. As you read, you realize that this girl isn't just another pretty face desperate to be some up and coming rich man's trophy wife. When the rebellious side in her decides to make an appearance, everyone, including the reader, needs to watch out. Gloria's character really took me by surprise! Especially when she sets her eyes on a black (gasp!) musician at a speakeasy in Chicago.

Clara, better known as Country Clara was probably my favorite character out of the three girls. She's got a flapper's past that is so sealed shut, it takes about the whole book to find out what this girl did while she was in New York. She uses her time in Chicago to try and reinvent herself. When Gloria's best friend, Marcus, sets his eyes on her, you definitely see a relationship sparking. I really loved the charm Marcus had. You can tell he's a playboy, but he's also got this sensitive side to him. The growth in Clara throughout the book was very realistic!

Then there was Lorraine. Lorraine is that friend who is always wanting more and more in their life. While I understand why she feels the need to be jealous of her best friend, I couldn't really sympathize with her. This girl definitely has some issues. She is one hot mess! Sometimes she did annoy me, but she brought a lot of turbulence to herself and everyone around her which of course made for a good story.

For the most part, the story flowed nicely. As I mentioned before, the lives of all three teenage girls weave together perfectly.  But there were a few snags here and there where I felt the story slowed and got a bit boring. Besides that I really, really did enjoy this book. It's the first book in the series so there was a lot of build-up, but Larkin did answer a bunch of questions I had from the get-go, but still left it so open I am DYING to know what is going to happen next. Let's just say the three of these girls certainly know how to get the gossip mill flowing, and I doubt it will be slowing down anytime soon.

♥amber

In My Mailbox #43

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Review

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (Amazon | Goodreads)

The Girl in the Green Raincoat by Laura Lippman (Amazon | Goodreads)

Won

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers  (Amazon | Goodreads)
- Also got a bag of swag and Halloween goodies from Katie's Book Blog

Paperback Swap

The Confident Woman Devotional by Joyce Meyer (Amazon | Goodreads)

Beauty Sleep: A Retelling of Sleeping Beauty by Cameron Dokey (Amazon | Goodreads)

Bought

How Not to Make a Wish by Mindy Klasky (Amazon | Goodreads)


That's it for me! What did you guys get this week?

♥amber

Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison


Released: January 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary
Pages: 208
Source: Around the World Tours


Rating: ♥♥♥

Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don't worship as attentively, teachers don't fall for her wide-eyed "who me?" look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she's always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.
When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she's wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she's inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget's about to learn that, sometimes, saying you're sorry just isn't enough...

---

I have no problem ever reading about a character who is not likable. To be honest, I LOOK for those type of characters. Bridget definitely falls under that categorary. Nothing about this girl is nice. She's rude, obnoxious, and a spoiled brat. When a new girl named Anna shows up at school, threating her popularity and catching the eye of her ex-boyfriend who she is not over, she gets pissed. Instead of pulling a prank or trying to spread a rumor, Bridget decides to take her anger out on the road where she spins her car out of control.

Did she mean to do it even though she kept thinking 'what would happen if I died right now?' Well, no. Right when she thinks she's dead, she's all about taking it back. Tough for her though, she's got to face five people who she has burned which basically includes everyone in her life.

Going into this book, I kind of thought it might be a little more dramatic and even maybe somewhat funny at points. I just got that kind of vibe from the synopsis and the cover, but instead it was more of a quick read that didn't have a lot of substance.

The first half of the book shows Bridget and her wicked ways, and the second part of the book kind of takes Bridget back to the parts you've already read and get her new outlook on it. I wished the author would have maybe brought up new memories. I liked seeing Bridget's eyes opening to how big of a snatch she was, but I found it repetitive to read the same scenes over again.

What made really made this just an 'okay' read for me was the quick transformation Bridget had. I would have liked to seen the book with more character growth rather than the 'snap of the finger's type of deal.

Website | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads

♥amber

Waiting on Wednesday #27

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Release Date: May 2011

How do you defy destiny?


Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.


As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.


Sounds great to me!

♥amber

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
(Book 3 in The Iron Fey Series)


Releases: January 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Genre: Young Adult - Paranormal - Fey
Pages: 384
Source: Around the World Tours


Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

My name is Meghan Chase.

I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.

This time, there will be no turning back.




---

This is the third book in The Iron Fey series and right when I thought it couldn't get any better - it did. I've said it before that I'm not a huge fan of the fey genre, but Julie Kagawa writing is so engaging and brilliant, there is just no possible way I couldn't NOT love this!

We're brought back to Meghan, one year after the first book has started. Now her and Ash have been banned from the other world, they're trying to adjust to living in the mortal one. While they made their decision, not everyone is on board with it. Like any adventure Meghan goes on, there is going to be obstacles and a whole lot of butt-kicking.

What I really enjoyed about the Iron Queen was the insight on Ash and Meghan's relationship. If you've read my previous reviews, I've never seen the complete appeal to Ash. I thought their relationship was just kind of thrown together, but now I see how strong of a couple they really are together. The love they have for one another is a heck of a lot bigger than I thought it was. I'm so glad Kagawa had moments between the two because I needed to see they both sacrificed so much to stay together.

Of course I wasn't let down at all when it came to my man Puck. Oh brilliant, swooping in and always kicking some major bootay,  Puck always seems to shine through in this series. I still don't want him and Meghan to ever be together. They work better as BFF's than anything else. If Kagawa wanted to write a stand-alone novel with just him, I would be the first in line to buy it! He's such a vibrant character!

The plot was such a page-turner though I had no doubt it wouldn't be anything less. I saw a few reviews say they cried through this book, and I didn't come close, but it does have some emotional scenes that were written wonderfully. I am so anxious to see where this storyline is going especially after that ending! I'm not for sure how I'll be able to stand waiting, but I know it'll be worth it!

Website | Amazon | Twitter | Goodreads

♥amber

Read the 1st chapter of What Happened To Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

SQUEE!!

Sarah Dessen posted an expert of her first chapter of her upcoming novel. You better believe my Dessen fangirl self was FREAKING OUT! Normally I don't read any sneak peaks of upcoming books because I'm way too impatient, but there was no way I was passing this chapter up. I'm so excited for it to come out!

Click here to read it!

In My Mailbox #42

I apologize for the quality of the photos. They were taken on my phone because my camera is MIA at the moment.

Won

The Lighter Side of Life and Death by C.K. Kelly Martin (Amazon | Goodreads)

One Lonely Degree by C.K. Kelly Martin (Amazon | Goodreads)

I Know It's Over by C.K. Kelly Martin (Amazon | Goodreads)

--I am spacing on what blog I won these from, but I was super excited when I did! I haven't read anything by  this author yet, but I've heard amazing things!

Review

Publisher:

Bitter Melon by Cara Chow  (Amazon | Goodreads)

Teen Book Scene:

The Opposite of Amber by Gillian Philip  (Amazon | Goodreads)

The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder  (Amazon | Goodreads)

That's it for me guys! I just got into my second semester this week, and let me just say: School is going to start kicking my butt! I'm hoping I can find a happy medium between school and blogging. Don't be surprised if you don't see many IMM posts for the next couple months. I've gotta slow down on tours and accepting books to review.

*In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren. 

♥amber

Trapped by Michael Northrop

Trapped by Michael Northrop



Released: January 2011
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 224
Source: Around the World Tours


Rating: ♥♥♥.5

The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. That for those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive....


Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision....



---

I don't usually read books or watch movies like this. Why? Because I am naturally an anxious person. My nerves get rattled easily, and seven kids locked into high school for a week trying to survive while the snow keeps piling up outside sounds like it'll rattle me a lot.

Scotty is an average teenage boy with an easy-going voice. He is the one telling you the story in the way that it had already happen. While sometimes his voice could get a bit repetitive, I really liked his narration. He dropped suddle hints that really kept the story moving along.

Don't think this is some snowed in version of Lord of the Flies. This is a mild intense book, but for someone like me, this was a good thing. All the characters were very easy to vision and the plot moved along nicely from day to day. Usually I'm all about learning so much about characters. You do get to know some of Scotty along with some of the other students, but with this type of story it was way more fitting without having to hear everyone's back story. I really enjoyed how smoothly Michael Northrop's writing flowed throughout the pages.

The ending though...I liked it. I really liked how the book came together, but when I hit that closing paragraph, turned the page, and realized that was the end, I thought: What?! I needed more details. I just felt like it was ripped right from me, but at the same time due to how the story was written it did fit. I'm still torn on it.

Overall, I really enjoyed Trapped. I haven't read anything else by Northrop, but I plan on changing that.

♥amber

Waiting on Wednesday #26

Displacement by Thalia Chaltas
Release Date: June 2011

Home is supposed to be a place you belong. It’s supposed to be parents who are there and siblings who bug you and a life that feels comfortable. It’s not supposed to be an absentee mother or a drowned sister. But that’s Vera’s reality, and she can’t stand it anymore. So she runs.


She ends up in an old mining town in the middle of the California desert. It’s hot, it’s dusty, and it’s as isolated as Vera feels. As she goes about setting up her life, she also unwittingly starts the process of healing and—eventually—figuring out what home might really mean for her.


This has an Amber Read written all over it! I love a good growth story within characters.

♥amber

It's My Blog's Birthday! + Giveaway

I didn't even realize my blog was turning two until I saw that little reminder at the bottom of my page. And even cooler - my blog turns two on 1/11/11. I love dates like that!

Time has really flown. I'm still just amazed this blog made it two years! There were a couple times (okay, more than a couple) where I wondered if I should even keep doing this, and I'm so glad I've stuck with it. Books are my world, and being able to talk to so many bloggers, becoming friends with a lot of them has just been flat out AWESOME!

The writer in me still squeals every single time an author writes me an email or talks to me on twitter.

I thought I would have some big speech to deliver when this baby turned two, but the only thing I can think to say is this:

Thank you! Thank you person reading this post right now. Thank you person who leaves comments. Even though every blogger says they do this for the love of reading - WE LOVE COMMENTS! Comments make us feel special so THANK YOU! Thank you guys for coming back to the blog, reading reviews, reading Rock This! Thursday. For all the feedback, suggestions, and every other little thing. You guys are awesome, and I'm so glad to be apart of this wonderful world of books.

I'm attempting to move at the moment so money is super tight. I still wanted to do something to celebrate the big 2 so I'm going to be giving away a couple of ARCs.

I think most of you may have heard of these two titles.........

• There will be 2 winners! (One person for each book - you can enter for both!)
• Open to EVERYONE!
• Runs until January 31st
• Winner will be contacted via email

CLICK HERE TO ENTER!! 

♥amber

In My Mailbox #41

I'm STILL on the sickly side which is why I haven't been posting many things or commenting. I cannot concentrate while on cold medicine. This funk needs to get out of my system ASAP especially since I have many reviews to write and other stuff to post.

Without further ado, here's what I got this week:



















For Review:
Like Mandarin by Kristin Hubbard (Teen Book Scene)
Trapped by Michael Northrop (Around the World Tours)
Vixen by Jillian Larkin (Star Book Tours)

All You Get Is Me by Yvonne Prinz (Publisher)

Paperback Swap:

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

The Mediator by Meg Cabot

Bought:
Fishbowl by Sarah Mlynowski
Milkrun by Sarah Mlynowski
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Something funny...okay, maybe not funny but definitely a WTF?! moment happened to me when Like Mandarin came in the mail. Apparently it survived some sort of weird fire because this is how it showed up at my house:

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren and was inspired by Alea from Pop Culture Junkie.

♥amber

Waiting on Wednesday #25

He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott

Release Date: June 7th, 2011

Ally Ryan, come on down to the Jersey Shore and forget your troubles!

Have you recently been humiliated in front of your friends and family at your former best friend's birthday party? Was your almost boyfriend partly responsible for that humiliation by withholding some vital information about where your estranged father is? Did you come home to find said estranged father sitting on your stoop?

If so, then it sounds like you could use a vacation! The Jersey Shore is the place to be. Your mother may be living with her boyfriend of only a few months, but at least the stunt Shannen pulled has put some of your friends back in your court. Even so, you're still angry and what better way to get over Jake than to blow off some steam with local guy, Cooper? People will hardly recognize your new attitude, but the old one wasn't getting you anywhere, so who cares!

Jake Graydon, an exciting opportunity is waiting for you in the service industry!

Are your grades so low your parents have grounded you for the summer? Did you the girl you really like unceremoniously leave you behind? Would you rather eat dirt than see your friends again? Then a job at the local coffee shop is just the ticket! Surprisingly, Ally's father is the new manager so you get to be reminded of her nearly every day. Maybe it's time to start flirting with your best friend's ex or even taking school a bit more seriously. Especially when you finally see Ally and she's hanging around with some loser and it's couldn't be more clear that she is over you.

Have a great summer!


Guys. GUYS! I am so pumped about this book! This is the sequel to She's So Dead To Us - one of my favorite books of 2010. (You can read my review here and an interview I did with Kieran here.) I cannot wait to find out what's been going on in Ally and Jake's life, and more importantly what will happen between the two! I'm really hoping Ally gets some revenge on that snatch Shannen.

Thanks to the lovely Sab for pointing out that this had a cover now. She knows me so well :)

Contemps Challenge: Post Your January Reviews

Let's try this again! If you submitted your reviews to my last post - please re-submit them on THIS post. I don't know why Mr. Linky wasn't working correctly, but Linky Tools does. Sorry for the short inconvenience!

What is the Contemps Challenge? Click here to find out more details!

Remember: This challenge is ONLY for the 20 books released by The Contemps. Click here for a full list of all 20 books. You can also post any reviews you made in 2010 :)

Prize: 3 surprise books and/or ARCs and swag!

Open to US addresses only! There is no official sign up so no need to worry about that - just link those reviews up!

Please post your Contemps reviews in Mr. Linky like this:

Title of Book (Blog Name) 

Example: Fall For Anything (JYTBB)

The Contemps Challenge - Part Deux!

I am SO excited and honored to be hosting the The Contemps Challenge – Part 2!

What is the Contemps Challenge you ask?  20 young adult contemporary authors put together a challenge of reading 18 of their books. For 2011, they decided not to let the party stop! Why? Because they're awesome!!

From January 2011 through September 2011, Just Your Typical Book Blog (aka ME!) will be hosting monthly roundups where participants can post links to reviews of Contemps novels for the opportunity to win a SUPER AWESOME PRIZE PACK that includes 3 surprise books/ARCs and swag!

In addition to these monthly drawings, those who complete the challenge by reading AND reviewing 18 or more of our 20 titles can also be entered to win a Grand Prize of a hundred dollar gift certificate to the winner's bookstore of choice to be awarded in October 2011!

How it’s all going to work:

1. Your reviews may be published on blogs, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, LibraryThing, Shelfari, etc, but you may submit only ONE review per book as your entry in the monthly drawing.

2. You may review as many Contemps books as you would like in any given month

3. Contemps novels that you read in 2010 are eligible and reviews that you’ve written for those books may be used as entries for the prize packs in 2011.

4. Prize packs are open to US addresses only, except for the month of August 2011, when we'll open up the monthly drawing to international addresses as well.

5. Contemps titles for this challenge are as follows (please note that one book got bumped to 2012, so we now have 20 books total):

Losing Faith by Denise Jaden
The Duff by Kody Keplinger
Girl, Stolen by April Henry
Freefall by Mindi Scott
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
Fall for Anything by Courtney Summers
Trapped by Michael Northrop
Rival by Sarah Bennett Wealer
Sean Griswold’s Head by Lindsey Leavitt
Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard
Family by Micol Ostow
Back When You Were Easier to Love by Emily Wing Smith
Saving June by Hannah Harrington
Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott
The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder
Pearl by Jo Knowles
Small Town Sinners by Mellisa Walker
Sharks and Boys by Kristen Tracy
Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

6. There will be an official post where you will link up your reviews every month. PLEASE DO NOT POST THEM IN THE COMMENT SECTION OF THIS POST. You will find the correct place to post your reviews by looking on the top right of my sidebar. Also, please note that The Contemps is an official site ran by the 20 authors listed above. I cannot add any books to this list.

7. There is no official sign up! Just link up your reviews for your chance to win!

If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail. Have fun everyone!!

♥amber

My New Years Resolutions

I hope everyone had a safe and fun New Years! I know there is a superstition that whatever you're doing at midnight or the day of the New Year is how your year will be. I'm glad I'm not a superstitious person because I didn't even make it till midnight due to this lovely chest cold that I think is going to be the death of me. So if it ends up NOT being the death of me, here are some goals I have for JYTBB in 2011.

1. Read 100 books. I know there are some super bloggers out there that surpass this number like crazy. In 2010, I only ready about 60 books, and was MIA from the blogging world a lot.

2. Be more social. I used to love scouting out new blogs and commenting like crazy. We all know comments make us happy! I plan to leave more comments on people's blogs and stop just reading the posts. Everyone enjoys feedback :)

3. Keep up with Rock This! Thursday. I love my music/book feature, but sometimes there are weeks that it doesn't get posted. I'm really going to work on this so every week!

4. Start doing discussions. I love reading discussion posts on other blogs, and in a recent survey I had posted, other people had commented that I should give it a try. I think discussion posts really show off a blogger's personality! I still have that survey up if anyone wants to give me their input: clicky click here!

5. Putting for 'me' in my reviews. I've never been the type of reviewer who attacks an author or their writing. Sometimes I shy away from certain parts of a book because I hate writing a bad review. Other times I try to sound more 'professional', and ya know what? I'd rather just sound like me.

Are you doing any New Years resolutions or goals? Tell me about them in the comments!

♥amber