Review - Swoon At Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter

Swoon At Your Own Risk by Sydney Salter


Released: April 2010
Publisher: Graphia
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 368
Source: Around the World Tours


Rating: ♥♥♥

It’s the summer before senior year and Polly Martin has sworn off boys. Who needs the hurt and confusion? Five recent breakups have left her with an unnatural knowledge of NASCAR, the ultimate hiker’s outfit, a student council position, the sixth highest score on the Donkey Kong machine at the mall, and a summer job at Wild Waves with ex #2 Sawyer Holmes.


Success seems a sure thing when Polly’s grandmother, the syndicated advice columnist, Miss Swoon, moves in for the summer. Polly almost doesn’t mind sharing a room with her little sister, Grace. Think of all the great advice she’ll get!


Everything is going according to plan except... Miss Swoon turns out to be a man-crazy septuagenarian! And then there’s Xander Cooper. If only he wouldn’t keep showing up at Wild Waves with his adorable cousins every afternoon — and what is he writing in that little notebook?


No advice column in the world can prepare Polly for the lessons she learns when she goes on a group camping trip (with three too many ex-boyfriends). Polly is forced to see people for who they are — a blend of good and bad qualities that can’t be reduced to a list or a snappy answer in a Miss Swoon column.

---

I'm not even for sure how to start this review. I liked this book, but it had its flaws. I think it should have possibly went through another round of edits before being released. One minute I would find myself completely engrossed and the next minute, I'd be struggling to get to the next chapter.

While slightly annoying at times, Polly was overall a character I grew to love. Sometimes she would crack me up and other times I just shook my head. She's a girl who really doesn't have her own path. She only does things that all her current boyfriends like. I hate seeing girls that can't even tell you what they like to do when suddenly they don't have a boyfriend. But I was gung ho that the book was mainly focused on her trying to change over the course of the summer.

The book sometimes got confusing because Polly sure did like the boys and this ex and that ex seemed to run together a bit when discussing them. But the family dynamics in the book were pretty hilarious. I loved seeing her mom, sister, and grandmother all in a room together. They all bounced off each other nicely. Xander was a good mix of boys to throw into Polly's life. He was probably my favorite because he didn't try to push Polly in a direction she never wanted to go in the first place. I also really liked reading the advice from Miss Swoon, the blog posts, and the poetry so to say. I just wished all three weren't sometimes jammed in at the end of each chapter. It was kind of distracting, but overall it was a pretty good read. I'd recommend it to people who like a more up beat and chick lit type of read.

♥amber

Rock This! Thursday Interview with author Rachel Caine

Yes, you read that right. The awesome Rachel Caine is hanging out with us today to discuss her series, Morganville Vampires, and music!

When writing Morganville Vampires series, did you know how many books were going to be in it? Or did the number grow after so many had already been released?

Truthfully, as a writer, you NEVER know what the life of a book or series is going to be like. I've had things that I really loved just have a heart attack and die on the shelves, never to be seen again ... ! I knew that Morganville was guaranteed originally for three books, and it was a bit of a tough start with GLASS HOUSES, because I was a new name in the field ... but by the time I was working on the third book, my publisher came back and asked for three more. And then three more on top of that. And now we're at twelve, so something must be going well. :)


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

It's more like that Verizon commercial with the crowd of people following you ... not just one song! But hmmm, if I had an "essential song," I think it would probably be "Hallelujah" by Jeff Buckley.


Normally I ask for five music suggestions, but sometimes I like to switch it up by asking an author's characters. What five songs would Shane and Michael want us to listen to?

Oooooh, GREAT question! Michael's all about artistry and guitar, so I'd have to say he'd be all over "Woke Up Dreaming" by Joe Bonamassa" (or anything by Joe B., honestly), as well as the amazing work of the California Guitar Trio (trust, me, they do a crazy "Bohemian Rhapsody" and will even play "Freebird" on request. On acoustic. It's hilarious.). He'd probably also love Muse, particularly "Supermassive Black Hole." (He's taking up all the spots here, but Shane agrees with that last one anyway.) Shane loves "The House Rules" by Christian Kane, and "Suzie Silver Wings" by CAUTION CAT. Well, today he does.


Who is your favorite band/artist? Why are they your favorite?

I honestly have a lot of favorite bands, but my constant for at least 10 years now is Joe Bonamassa. In addition to being an amazingly nice person, Joe is one of the single most musically gifted people I've ever known. He's a genius, quite simply, and he can play absolutely anything he wants. Turns out he wants to play blues rock, which is just fine with me, but I've heard him do flamenco and hard rock and country and intricate, beautiful stuff ... I love someone with that kind of power and versatility to their art. Also, he puts on an incredible live show.

You've been given a golden ticket to go to ANY concert from any era. The only catch is you have to bring one of your characters with you. Who are you going to take and who are you two going to go see?

I am totally bringing Eve, and we are totally going to see The Who in the '70s, when Keith Moon was still alive. Because why not? Eve would be barrels of fun no matter where you took her.


I know it is probably hard to choose favorites out of your characters, but is there any one you like writing more?

Honestly, it's a dead heat between Shane and Myrnin, at this point. I love writing both of them way too much. :)

And I love reading about Shane *big grin*. Do you ever base characters off anyone you know?

I usually don't, but every once in a while, I will (with permission). I do sometimes auction off for charity the right to use someone in a book -- the last one chose to be a Djinn in one of my Weather Warden books, and it turned out great!


Do you ever make playlists to go along with your books? If so, could you share a few songs with us?

Oh dear, I'm ADDICTED to playlists. It's the first thing I do when I get ready to start a book -- I must have at least 10 songs in the playlist before I start writing.

Here's the playlist for GHOST TOWN, which is the book I just finished:

Bad Romance - Lady GaGa
Hero/Heroine - Boys Like Girls
Unbreakable - Fireflight
What's in the Middle - The Bird and the Bee
Oogie Boogie's Song - Rodrigo y Gabriella
Unconscious Thoughts - Absolution Project
Can't Treat Me That Way - Kate Earl
Blood On My Hands - The Used
The Big Sleep - Oliver Future
Lust for a Vampyr - I Monster
Enter Sandman - Metallica
Kill Your TV - Photoside Cafe
Blue and Evil - Joe Bonamassa
Maybe Tonight, Maybe Tomorrow - Wideawake
Late Nights and Street Fights - Steven Smith
Black Heart - Photoside Cafe
The House Rules - Christian Kane
Fire It Up - Thousand Foot Krutch
Death of Me - Red
When She's Gone - Slang
Suzie Silver Wings - CAUTION CAT
Out in the Real World - Stream of Passion


If Morganville was made into a movie or TV show who would you like to see cast as Claire, Eve, Shane, and Michael?

I'm terrible at this game, mainly because anybody I choose is probably going to be the wrong age by the time something happens ... but I keep hearing Alex Pettyfer as Michael, and I really like that idea. I also like the idea of Spencer Treat Clark for Shane, mainly because of this picture.



That picture does remind me of Shane, though I've always saw Garrett Hedlund as Shane when I was reading :) Next question, What song do you think would make a good book?

"The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" seems to me to be an incredibly good template for a book. But then again, it probably already IS!


Have you had any 'rock star' writing moments?

Just about every time I do a signing these days, I feel like a rock star. My readers are AMAZING. But I do have to say that having a PRIVATE CHAUFFEURED CAR in Los Angeles was pretty rock-star like. As was staying at the Beverly Hilton. :)

HUGE thanks to Rachel for taking the time to do this. If want to learn more about Rachel's series, don't forget to swing by her website.

Waiting on Wednesday

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan 


Release Date: June 2010

Seventeen-year-old Bronwen Oliver doesn't just want a family. She has one of those, and there's nothing terribly wrong with them apart from bickering grandparents, an image-obsessed mother and a brother she describes simply as Jesus. But there's no natural sense of connection between Bronwen and her family, leaving her with the belief -- and the hope -- that she was switched at birth, that she was never supposed to be Bronwen Oliver but someone else entirely.

When she begins dating college senior Jared Sondervan, she finds herself thoroughly embraced by the loving family she has always wanted and does not hesitate to say yes when Jared proposes on her 18th birhday. Plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her junior year of college become plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her freshman year of college. And a wedding so soon isn't exactly what Bronwen wants. But Jared is. And his family is. Or so she thinks.

Before Bronwen can determine what she truly wants, she must first determine who she truly is, and the answer, she discovers, is only partially what she thought it was. She wasn't switched at birth, but she's also not Bronwen Oliver and hasn't been for a very long time.

----

First, the cover caught my eye. It makes me wonder what this book would even be about. Second, I love reading about older teens. Yes, I know it's young adult, but being 24 I need some older teen reads. Third, I love family books. But what I love more is a crazy family, and this one sounds like it could be packed full of nuttiness. .

On a side note, if anyone can recommend a darker read or a read that just really kind of punches you in the gut with life, I'd love you forever. I'm in the mood for something on those lines.

♥amber

Review: Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus


Release Date: July 13, 2010
Publisher: Egmont USA
Genre: Young Adult - Paranormal
Pages: 400
Source: Around the World Tours


Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.


After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.


But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

---

I knew there were a lot of good debuts coming out this year, but this is one you're not going to want to miss. Anastasia Hopcus really brought a refreshing and fantastic read for the paranormal genre.

Phe is the type of main character I like to read. While she does have her own mix of flaws, she's no one's doormat. The girl has a strong personality. She isn't afraid to break a few rules, and is very determined to find the answers to the mystery of her sister's death. Because she is such a strong character, the suspense that builds up in this story will keep you turning the pages right from the get go.

When Phe lands in Shadow Hills, you know something about the town isn't right. There are so many questions that play out nicely throughout the book. I never felt it got boring. Yes, sometimes a bit predictable, but for the most part, I was wowed! I cannot praise the idea of this town enough. I wanted to know more and more about it every time I turned a page. Coming from someone who can barely stand any sort of history, this is saying a lot.

What isn't a book without some romance? I, for one, love it. The character of Zach drew me in from the moment he was introduced. He was a well developed character who did have the mysterious side to him, but it wasn't an over-done sort of thing. All of the characters in this story, whether they're role is small or large, really stood out. What I liked it how easily I could see this group of teens together at the school living in this odd town packed full of secrets.

Basically if you are a lover of the paranormal then you'd be silly to even think about passing this book up in July! Go pre-order it now!

♥amber

In My Mailbox

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






For Review:


Around the World Tours

Shadow by Jenny Moss
Beautiful Dead by Eden Maguire
Winter Longing by Tricia Mills
In A Heartbeat by Loretta Ellsworth

Traveling ARC Tours

Everlasting by Angie Frazier

Yeah, this week was crazy for tour books! But that's kind of what happens if you're like me and sign up for a ton of them, lol

I also got a Sea postcard from Heidi Kling. When I was at Wal-Mart the other day, I stumbled across the 2 Disc edition of The Outsiders for 5 dollars!! I was all sorts of hell to the yeah about that. I've seen the movie tons of times but wanted to get this edition because of the different intro it has - which I like better, btw.

So yeah, that's it for me. What did you guys get this week?

♥amber

The Stillburrow Crush by Linda Kage

The Stillburrow Crush by Linda Kage


Released: February 2010
Publisher: Climbing Rosebud
Genre: Young Adult - Romance
Pages: 202
Source: Around the World Tours


Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Sixteen year old, Carrie Paxton, isn't the most popular girl in her small town of Stillburrow. But that's never concerned her before. Her life revolves around her writing, and she loves her job as the student editor of the school paper.


But when she gets assigned to interview the football team's beloved quarterback, she takes one look into Luke Carter's blue eyes and is a goner. Suddenly, she doesn't like her lowly rank so much. Then her dreamy, popular crush surprises her when he starts to act as if he likes her in return. But there's no way Luke Carter could possibly ever like a nobody like Carrie Paxton. Is there?

---

I think The Stillburrow Crush will be one of those reads most people overlook. I know I did the first time I saw it on a tour site, but I decided to give it a try. I'm a sucker for a small town story. I can't help it. I'm from one. Some people might find things in books about small midwestern towns cliché, but all those clichés are pretty accurate. Stillburrow had the hometome vibe going on throughout the whole story, and I really enjoyed it.

Carrie has got to be the most strong willed, stubborn headed, sarcastic, foot in mouth character I have ever ran across. Linda Kage writes her with so much spunk though she never becomes annoying. She's brutally honest and doesn't care who you are, she'll tell you like it is.  Just about everything this girl said made me smirk. The relationship between her and hunky quarterback Luke (don't you dare call him Lucas) was cute and a sweet one. I liked how they were in a way common characters, but they had so much heart they developed very nicely throughout the story.

While pretty predictable, The Stillburrow Crush is actually had some surprises. At one point in the story, my jaw actually dropped. I love when an author can write a shocker, and make it not so out of place. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised how much I did enjoy this book. If you're not a romance fan, I don't recommend you picking this one up. But if you're like me who loves a good guilty romance pleasure read, give this one a shot.

♥amber

Rock This! Thursday with author Mandy Hubbard

This week I'm excited to have Mandy Hubbard hanging out with us to discuss books and music. Mandy was a 2009 debut author and has another book coming out this year. Did I mention she just became an agent as well? Yeah she's pretty awesome. You can also check out my review of Prada & Prejudice here.

I've been following your blog for a while now and you've become quite the busy lady! With being an author under two different pen names and now being an agent, is it hard juggling all of it?

It certainly can get hectic and crazy, but man, I can't complain! I feel like I'm living the dream. So if that means sometimes I dont get to bed before midnight or I have three weeks of my favorite shows sitting on the DVR, it's a small price to pay.

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

This sounds lame, but I love La La Land by Demi Lovato. The opening, "I am confident, but I still have my moments..." I ♥ cheesey pop music.

You're definitely an author that really inspires other writers to never give up. With only one book officially out in book stores, you also have many others coming out in the next two years. Can you tell us about a couple of them?

I am SO excited about my August release, YOU WISH. It's about a cynical teen who gets every wish from past birthdays, one at a time, including a life-sized My Little Pony, A real-life Ken who thinks she's his barbie, and a year's supply of gumballs. She's desperate to stop the wishes before it gets to the last one-- a kiss from Ben Mackenzie. Becuase Ben is her best friend's boyfriend.

Another I'm DYING to share with the world is SHATTERED (the title is up for change) which is a super dark book about a girl in an abusive relationship. It's so different from my other books, and I'm eager to see how people react to that. It's still a year away, though!


Do you ever make playlists for your novels? If so, care to share a few songs?


Shattered, the above book, is the only one I've done a playlist for. Included: HATE ME by Blue October, Face Down by Red Jumpsuit Aparatus, My Immortal By Evanescence, Angry all the time by Tim McGraw.....

Who is your favorite band/artist? Why are they your favorite?


Probably Taylor Swift. No matter what my book is about, there's always a Taylor Swift song that fits it. I'm also a pop music junkie, so Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, Backstreet Boys.... I could go on.

Do you ever base characters off anyone you know?


No. I do steal their names, though. The three main girls in YOU WISH are named after my cousins: Kayla, Nicole, Janae.

You've been given a golden concert ticket to see ANY band from any decade. The only catch is you have to take one of your characters with you. Who is it going to be and what concert are you attending?


Oh lord. Can I take Kayla from YOU WISH to see The Backstreet Boys? "Cus she'd think its torture. That might be fun.

Then again, I've always wanted to hang out with a Duke....

Out of all your novels, is there one that is a little more special to you then the others?


Prada and Prejudice will awlays be special. I dont think I'll ever go through 9 drafts of something again. I know that book like the back of my hand. Nowadays things are written, edited, and copyedited in under a year.

We're always up for new music. Tell us five of your all time favorite songs.

My "favorites" change constantly, though my all time will always be "The Change" by Garth Brooks.
But the next 5 songs on shuffle are:
Save Tonight ( Eagle Eye Cherry)
I'm not that girl (Wicked Soundtrack)
Take a bow (The Glee Cast version)
Bring on the rain (Jo Dee Messina)
Real World (Matchbox 20)


Save Tonight is one of my all time favorite songs :) Have you had any 'rock star' writing moments?


HA. Crazy, but someone just told me today I was a rockstar and they freaked out that I commented on their blog. An I was like, HUH? Really? Some people make me feel like I'm made of awesome and it is SO flattering and sweet!

Thanks so much for hanging out with us, Mandy! I don't know about you guys, but I'm very excited for all of her upcoming releases over the next two years :) Wanna know more about Mandy? Check out her website!