Book Review: The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

Title: The Lying Game
Author: Sara Shepard
Pages: 307
Publisher: Harperteen
Source: ARC from publisher
Summary: Foster kid Emma Paxton has only just discovered Sutton Mercer, the wealthy twin sister she never knew she had, when Sutton drops off the face of the earth, asking Emma to cover for her at home, school, and with her friends—just for a few days. At first Emma enjoys trying on her sister’s fabulous life: her fiercely loyal friends, her adoring boyfriend, her close-knit family. But as Emma is drawn deeper into Sutton’s world she finds the friends are not so fabulous, the boyfriend is not who she wants to be with, and the family is clinging to long-buried secrets and a veneer of functionality. And worst of all, Sutton may not be coming back. In fact, someone may have made sure she never could…and that someone knows Emma is not who she claims to be. Emma will need all her wits to survive The Lying Game

Review: I loved Sara Shepard's series Pretty Little Liars so I decided to read this book. It was really good! I loved it.

Emma tries to meet her twin sister that she never knew she had. While waiting for her twin, Sutton, Emma meets Sutton's friends and family. The problem is that everyone thinks Emma IS Sutton! She never met Sutton because Sutton is dead. Emma gets a note that says "play along or you're next." Emma decides to play along and pretend to be Sutton. She realizes that Sutton has a pretty crazy life. Along the way, she tries to figure out what happened to Sutton and save herself from being the next victim.

When Emma first stepped into Sutton's life, she met a boy named Ethan. Ethan was surprised that Emma (as Sutton) was talking to him. They soon became good friends. I really liked this part in the book. Emma was able to talk to somebody who wasn't already part of Sutton's life.

This book was filled with drama, mystery, and suspense. I finished this book quickly! I was very curious to find out what happened to Sutton and what was going to happen to Emma. The end was such a cliffhanger. I can't wait for the sequel! I really want to see how Emma works this out.

I would recommend this book to fans of Pretty Little Liars and anyone who wants a great, suspenseful read. I gave this book five coffee cups! Read this book!

Waiting On Wednesday (6)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Babe In Boyland
Author: Jody Gehrman
Release Date: February 17th, 2011

This book looks very interesting and funny. It reminds me of the movie "She's the Man" which is one of my favorite movies! Babe in Boyland looks great!

Summary: Natalie, a seventeen-year-old former drama club member who now writes a relationship column for her school newspaper, decides to go undercover as a student at an all-boys boarding school so that she can figure out what guys are really like.

Book Review: Crazy by Han Nolan

Title: Crazy
Author: Han Nolan
Pages: 352
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Source: Good Golly Miss Holly's ARC Tour

Summary: Fifteen-year-old Jason has fallen upon bad times—his mother has died and his father has succumbed to mental illness. As he tries to hold his crazy father and their crumbling home together, Jason relies on a host of imaginary friends for guidance as he stumbles along trying not to draw attention to his father’s deteriorating condition.

Review: I thought this book was pretty good. It was very different from most books i've read. The main character, Jason, his mom died and his dad has gone crazy. Living at home with his mentally unstable father is really hard for Jason. All he cares about is his father and he never wants to leave him alone. With the help of some friends, Pete, Haze, and Shelby, he deals with his father and starts a new life.

I really liked the characters in this book. Jason has imaginary characters that he talks to in his head. At first I thought that was a little annoying, but as I continued to read this book they started to fit in. He has different people who he talks to in his head: Crazy Glue, Sexy Lady, Aunt Bee, and Fat Bald Guy with a Moustache. Jason talks to these imaginary characters to keep him sane. I found it a little hard to relate to Jason since I have never had any family issues like he had.

There wasn't a lot of romance in this book, but there was some. Jason and Shelby liked each other from the beginning but wouldn't admit it to each other. Their romance growed throughout the book. I loved the very last part of the book. So cute!

I gave this book three and a half coffee cups. I would recommend reading this book if you like realistic fiction/drama books. At parts, this book was gripping. Other parts, it was just okay. Overall, this was a pretty good book.

2011 Challenge: A to Z Challenge

Whoo! I'm signing up for another challenge. It is the A to Z challenge.

How does this reading challenge work? Choose the option that works best for you...

Authors -- Read alphabetically by author. Commit to 26 books.
Titles -- Read alphabetically by title. Commit to 26 books.
Authors & Titles -- Commit to reading 52 books

I think I am going to go with titles. That seems a little easier. I will post my reviews here so check back to see how far I've gotten! To sign up go here.

Waiting On Wednesday (5)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Legacy (Ganzfield #3)
Author: Kate Kaynak
Release Date: January 28, 2011

Can't wait for this book! I absolutely loved the first two books in the Ganzfield series. I have no doubt this book is going to be just as amazing, if not more!

Summary: Maddie has more problems than the average seventeen-year-old:

A psychotic killer with superpowers wants her dead.

A serious medical issue makes a "normal" life impossible for her.

And she's about to be introduced to Trevor's grandparents.

Guess which one freaks her out the most? The Ganzfield series continues in this third installment.

Free eBook: Laura Kreitzer's Phantom Universe

Obsidian Mountain Publishing is offering a free *unedited* digital copy of Laura Kreitzer's Phantom Universe (Summer Chronicles, #1) on January 1st, 2011. The official release date is February 15, 2011. Anyone can sign up for a copy, you don't have to be an official blogger. Here is the form: http://bit.ly/dMefGg The rules are simple: read, review, and post it on at least two websites listed on the form.

Summary: Sold into slavery to pirates at the young age of four, Summer learns to survive the rough seas of subterfuge and thieves through silence. When the boat she’s lived on most of her life is destroyed, Summer finds herself washed up on the shore of a new world, a phantom universe full of the bizarre and extraordinary. She meets Gage, the one boy who understands the girl with no speech. But when their lives are put on the line, will Summer finally call out? Or will all be lost in the fathomless depth of silence?

Find it on Goodreads

Book Review: Adversary by Kate Kaynak

Title: Adversary (Ganzfield #2)
Author: Kate Kaynak
Pages: 238
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Source: Recieved from author

Summary: Things are more dangerous than they seem at Ganzfield, and not everyone will survive. Does Maddie have what it takes?
See what happens next in the sequel to Minder.

Review: It was amazing! I was pulled in from the very beginning. This book is never dull, and it is fast paced. I love all the characters, especially maddie and Trevor. Their romance is so cute! I loved how they developed a special "connection". It made it seem like they were meant to be together. This book had lots of action and a surprising ending!

In this book, the characters didn't stay at Ganzfield. In fact, most the book they weren't even at Ganzfield. Some of the students (Maddie and her friends) got together and went to save their friends and encountered an unfriendly foe.

I loved the first book, Minder, but this book was even better! More action and plot changing, this book kept me wanting more. If you haven't read this series, DO IT! You won't be disappointed. Kate Kaynak is a great author. She knows how to keep readers entertained.

I would definetely recommend reading this book. This is one of my favorite series. You never know what's going to happen in each book. It's great! I can't wait for Legacy. So excited!

Book Review: Jessica's Guide To Dating On The Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Title: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side
Author: Beth Fantaskey
Pages: 351
Publisher: Harcourt
Source: Library

Summary: The undead can really screw up your senior year ...

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

Review: I really liked this book! It was different than most vampire love story books I have read. That is a good thing! At first, before I read the book, I thought this would be a cute romance book. When I read it, I was a little disappointed since Lucius and Jessica didn't get together throughout the book (not saying they didn't ever get together..). This book made me laugh and almost cry. I felt Jessica's pain and joy.

I really liked Jessica's character. She is wise, unlike other girls, such as her friend Mindy. Jessica didn't drool over Lucius and want to be his girlfriend from the beginning. He was a stranger who just came and told her that she was his long lost fiance. She had to get to know him more before she showed interest in him.

I thought Jessica and Lucius's romance was kinda cute, but also a but annoying. If Lucius really loves her then he should have shown it. He should have treated her better.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. It wasn't the best romance but it was still a really good story. I think author Beth Fantaskey did a great job! I want to read her other book, Jekel Loves Hyde. I recommend reading this book if you like any kind of paranormal/ya books. This book was really good. I gave it four coffee cups.

2011 Debut Author Challenge

Next year is coming so fast! I am excited. 2011! I am going to do the 2011 Debut Author Challenge hosted by The Story Siren. Many of the books I chose were already on my to read list, so this is less of a challenge for me!

More details about this challenge are at her blog.

These are the books I plan to read:

• Unearthly by Cynthia Hand


• The Iron Witch by Karen Mahooney


• Wither by Lauren DeStefano


• Across The Universe by Beth Revis


• Haven by Kristi Cook


• Popular by Alissa Grosso


• Timeless by Alexandra Monir


• Entangled by Cat Clarke


• Entwined by Heather Dixon


• Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker


• Bad Taste In Boys by Carrie Harris


• Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

All these books look really interesting and I'm excited to read them! Join the challenge with me!

My Thoughts on Harry Potter

I wanted to dedicate this short blog post about Harry Potter. I have seen all the movies (except Deathly Hallows which i'm going to see today!) . I am not totally crazy about them, but they are entertaining.

So here's my thought that I feel strongly about.

Harry Potter and Hermione should have been together! They would be the cutest couple. Ron and Hermione? Not so much. I think I would like Harry Potter better if Harry and Hermione got together. They have been best friends since they were children and they care about each other! I never thought Ron and Hermione are a cute couple, nor Harry and Ginny.

Harry ended up with the wrong girl. Does anyone agree with me?

In My Mailbox (7)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

The idea behind IMM was not only to put new books on your radar but to also encourage blogger interaction. IMM explores the weekly contents of my mailbox & books bought. And sometimes other fun goodies.

Anyone can participate in IMM and you are not limited to only sharing books that arrive via your mailbox. You can also share books that you've bought or books that you've gotten at the library

In my mailbox I got:

• I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore (thanks to Emilie at Emilie's book world!)
• Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
• Adversary by Kate Kaynak
• Pegasus by Robin McKinley (ARC tour)
• Crazy by Han Nolan (ARC tour)

Book Review: The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and Rina Oliver

Title: The Ivy
Authors: Lauren Kunze and Rina Oliver
Pages: 320
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Source: Library

Summary: Freshman year at Harvard--glamorous parties, blossoming friendships, steamy romances, and scandalous secrets. Skip the campus tour and get right to the good stuff: classes are for scoping guys (and their Facebook profiles), not taking notes. The library is for study dates (the medieval history stacks get a lot of action), not studying. And success is a 4.0 GPA... plus getting into the most exclusive parties. How will Callie--a California girl with brains, beauty, and big dreams--and her three roommates survive?

Review: I'll admit, I've never heard of this book before my friend picked it up. When I read the summary, I thought this might be a good book. She wasn't reading it at the time, so I decided to read it. As it turns out, I was hooked. I really liked it. Most books i've read are somewhat paranormal, but this is just about a girl who goes to Harvard and has many different experiences. It was really interesting.

It was Callie's freshman year at Harvard University. She didn't know anybody going there, so she wasn't sure what to expect. As it turns out, she makes some friends. I thought her roomate, Mimi, who is French, was really funny. From her ex, Evan, to the boy she hates, she finally finds the right boy. Or does she? This book ended with, well not really a cliff hanger, but I wanted more! The story continues in the sequel (which i'm excited to read).

I liked the main character, Callie. She was easy to relate to. If I knew her in real life, I think she would be easy to get along with. She seemed pretty down to earth.

The thing I was disappointed in was that there was a lot of mature content in this book. I would recommend this book to older teens. Besides that, I really liked it. I'm excited for the sequel. I gave this book four coffee cups.

Book Blogger Hop (11)

The book blogger hop is hosted by Crazy-For-Books.

This week's question: What are your feelings on losing followers? Have you ever stopped following a blog?

My Answer: I would hate to lose followers, but it is their choice. They don't have to follow my blog and I know that. I don't take it personally. I have not stopped following a blog. I haven't yet found a reason to. I love being in connection with other bloggers!

Happy Friday! Join the hop with me!

YA Love Triangle Week! Team Xander!

This is my post for the YA Love Triangle Week over at Down The Rabbit Hole. If you haven't seen it yet, here it is.

I am team Xander, or team best friend. When Cassia was matched with Xander a spark was set off. They both were extremely happy to know that the person they’ve known forever was to be their match. Xander is a blonde-haired, blue eyed boy. He loves Cassia for who she is and he wouldn’t change anything. He respects her and stands up for her. Little does he know it, Cassia goes behind his back and hangs out with Ky. She grows to love Ky and when Xander finds out, he is heartbroken. He loved her so much. Imagine if the boy/girl that you love goes behind your back and starts a relationship with someone else. How would you feel? Rejected, heartbroken, and utterly stunned. That is how Xander felt. If Cassia chose Xander and never fell in love with Ky, they could have a great relationship and grow old together. They would raise a family and talk about the day they were matched together. True love!

This song reminds me of Cassia and Xander after they got matched (before Ky). It is Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat.


This is the same song, but the Glee version sung by Chord Overstreet (who I think would be a great Xander!) and Dianna Agron. I personally like this version better.


Couldn't you see Cassia and Xander singing this with each other? It's so cute!

Along comes Ky and their sweet little love story is ruined. This song by Lifehouse reminds me of Cassia and Xander after Xander finds out about Ky. It is called "It Is What It Is".


Imagine Xander. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and the cutest smile.
Some actors that I think could portray Xander are:

Chord Overstreet

Sterling Knight

Chuck Hittinger

This is why I think you should be team Xander!

Waiting On Wednesday (4)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I loved Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series! When I saw this I got really excited! It looks like it will be really good if not better than PLL!

Title: The Lying Game
Author: Sara Shepard
Release Date: December 7, 2010

Summary:
Foster kid Emma Paxton has only just discovered Sutton Mercer, the wealthy twin sister she never knew she had, when Sutton drops off the face of the earth, asking Emma to cover for her at home, school, and with her friends—just for a few days. At first Emma enjoys trying on her sister’s fabulous life: her fiercely loyal friends, her adoring boyfriend, her close-knit family. But as Emma is drawn deeper into Sutton’s world she finds the friends are not so fabulous, the boyfriend is not who she wants to be with, and the family is clinging to long-buried secrets and a veneer of functionality. And worst of all, Sutton may not be coming back. In fact, someone may have made sure she never could…and that someone knows Emma is not who she claims to be. Emma will need all her wits to survive The Lying Game.

Can't wait for it to come out! So excited!

10 Days of Halloween Wrap-up!

Sadly, we have come to the end of our 10 days of Halloween. I hope you all enjoyed reading the interviews and guest posts.

If you haven't already, don't forget to enter these amazing giveaways on my blog and Book Infinity's!

10 Days of Halloween Multiple Choice Giveaway - INTERNATIONAL! - Ends TODAY.

Tyger Tyger ARC Giveaway - US ONLY - Ends TODAY.

Romeo & Juliet & Vampires Prize Pack - US ONLY - Ends 11/1, TOMORROW.

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side Giveaway - US ONLY - Ends 11/2/10

The Strangers Outside Ebook Giveaway - INTERNATIONAL - Ends 11/5/10

Over at Book Infinity's blog:

Infinite Days Giveaway - INTERNATIONAL - Ends TODAY!

Rot and Ruin Giveaway - US ONLY - Ends 11/2/10

Thanks so much for participating! I had a lot of fun interviewing these authors and hosting giveaways. I hope we'll be able to do this again next year. If you want to read the interviews and guest post I have them listed here.

Author Interview with Adam Selzer!

Today for the last day of the 10 days of Halloween, we welcome Adam Selzer (author of I Kissed a Zombie and I liked It).

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself
I live in Chicago, where I write books by day and work as a historian / ghost tour guide by night. I've never seen a ghost, but I've seen some weird stuff and uncovered some fantastic stories that never made the history books before. I have not given up my childhood dream of buying a van and painting it to look like The Mystery Machine.

2. What is your book, I Kissed A Zombie and I Liked It about?
It's my attempt to do the most realistic paranormal romance possible. There's nothing really paranormal in it - zombies were created scientifically to work as slave labor in a box box discount chain store stockrooms, and the vampires (whose powers come from protein mutation, not a deal with the devil or whatever) came out of hiding to stand up for undead rights. Now there are zombies and vampires in the world, and people just sort of live with it. But vampire teenagers tend to be jerks who mope around, acting all emo. Instead of PSAs telling girls not to use drugs, there are now PSAs telling girls not to become vampires just because their boyfriend is one. The only girl who doesn't like vampires is Alley, who falls for a guy who she thinks is a goth, but turns out to be a zombie (one who just hadn't decomposed enough it to be obvious). Falling for a dead guy forces her to take a hard look at herself and her values.

3. If you were stranded on a desert island, what are three things that you would bring?
Something shiny that would make the natives think I'm a god, a copy of Tristram Shandy (which would take me years to understand, so it'd be long-term entertainment) and, if at all possible, a raft.

4. Are you currently working on any books? If so, what is it?
Yes! For a long time I've wanted to take all the songs from a famous musical and build a new story around them. My next book is a follow-up to ZOMBIE, and is about a girl who is told by her "fairy godmofo" that if she doesn't get a vampire to kiss her at homecoming, she'll die (unlike all the girls who only THINK they'll just die if they don't get kissed at the dance). It's called EXTRAORDINARY, and it could be staged as a musical using songs from THE MUSIC MAN. Look for a book trailer soon! It'll be followed by a non-zombie book called TANGLED UP IN BLUE (or possibly DEBBIE DOES DETENTION) about a girl who gets over a crush by embarking on a "holy quest" with a couple of misfits who've invented their own religion. I also have a couple of cool Chicago history books coming out (and strangely enough, Rahm Emmanuel came into the coffee shop while I was typing that).

6. How would you survive a zombie attack? Or would you?
Rush to the nearest 7-11 and order up the biggest slushee I can get, so I can get a serious case of brain freeze. Zombies don't want frozen brains.

Thanks Adam for your time!

Author Interview with Brenna Yovanoff!

In honor of the 10 days of Halloween (ending tomorrow) we have young adult author Brenna Yovanoff (author of The Replacement) here! Welcome!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I really like dresses, and I have lots and lots of wild yellow hair. I'm like a very small lion. Wearing a dress.

2. Can you tell us about your book, The Replacement?
The Replacement is a dark, contemporary changeling story that is not-quite-horror. It's creepy, but with a heart of gold.

3. What inspired you to write this book?
I don't know that any one thing inspired me. It was an idea I'd been tossing around for a long time and one day, I just felt like the time had come to write it.

4. Can you relate to any of the characters in your book? How?
I think I relate most to Roswell. I've always been the kind of person who just goes along and kind of expects the world to be pretty weird. I have a hard time thinking of anything I've learned that I've found particularly shocking, and that's totally how Roswell operates.

5. Are you currently working on any books?
Right now, I'm working on a love story about demons. There are monsters and kisses and true love—it gets messy.

6. How would you survive a zombie attack? Or would you?
I am so glad you asked! I would totally survive a zombie attack because I am small and quick and have a long history of climbing things I'm not supposed to climb. I would wear my steel-toed construction boots and cut off all my hair so it wouldn't get caught on things. Also, my transformation would remind me that this is my new life. My weapons of choice would be my awesome all-purpose kitchen knife, and a crow bar, and a .22 rifle. I realize these aren't the most powerful weapons, but like I said, I'm very small. Also, I was raised in the middle of nowhere. In a tent. I know how to rough it.

Thanks for your time Brenna! I appreciate it.

Giveaway: Ebook of The Strangers Outside

Thanks to author Vanessa Morgan, you have the opportunity to win her ebook of The Strangers Outside! Enter below.
Summary: Two sisters, Jennifer and Louise, return to their remote holiday cabin after a day at the seaside. But little do they know they’re being surrounded. Soon after their arrival, the girls will come face to face with THE STRANGERS OUTSIDE. When the assailants make their intentions known, things take a shockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival will begin.

This is a short story, only 24 pages long. But trust me, it's great!


Official Rules
1. Open Internationally!
2. You can get extra entries by doing various things.
3. This contest ends November 5th.
4. When the contest ends ONE winner will be chosen by random.org
5. The winner will be contacted via e-mail, and will be sent the ebook
6. This is NOT a comment contest. Enter the form below.


Thanks for entering! Good luck!

Author Interview with Vanessa Morgan!

Today for the 10 days of Halloween we have author Vanessa Morgan here for an interview! Welcome!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a lucky 35-year-old girl who turned her passion for the horror genre into a fulltime activity. Drowned Sorrow and The Strangers Outside are my first books; new novels as well as movies are in development. Apart from writing, I’m also passionate about animals, good food, tea, movies, city trips and my cat.

2. When did you first start writing?
I began writing fiction about ten years ago. Before that I was mainly into journalism.

3. What inspired you to write your book The Strangers Outside?
A little over a year ago, my little sister Jennifer asked me to use her as a main character in my next book. I already had a vague idea for a story with a foreboding atmosphere and dark figures showing up at different places. I thought she was perfect for the story and so the Jennifer in The Strangers Outside not just resembles my sister, she IS my sister. Even the dialogue is based on things she actually told me. To blur the line between reality and fiction even more, I used a real house and setting in Belgium.

4. What are your thoughts about it being turned into a movie?
It’s exciting because it’s a whole new experience for me, especially because I had the chance to visit the movie set. If you’re interested in knowing more about the film, I’ve posted photos of the filming locations on my blog at http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.com/2010/08/strangers-outside-filming-locations.html and another set of photos of the film shoot at http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.com/2010/09/behind-scenes-of-strangers-outside.html. Also, it’s funny to see how the story changes along the road. If you’ve read the book and think you’ve figured everything out, then you’re in for a big surprise with the film.

5. If you could have any super/paranormal power, what would it be?
I’d like to have all of them: being invisible, reading people’s minds, talking with the dead… But I can only choose one, right? Then it’ll be talking with animals. I have a very special relationship with the animals in my life and I know that there’s so much more to them then what I currently know. Oh, and I’d like to be able to cure people and animals miraculously. Who wouldn’t?

6. How would you survive a zombie attack, or would you?
In zombie movies, the courageous people who fight back almost always get eaten, so I’ll probably barricade myself into my apartment with my cat. And if my cat were to turn into a zombie, we’d live happily ever after.

Thanks for your time! Check back tomorrow for a giveaway of The Strangers Outside!

Giveaway! Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

Thanks to author Beth Fantaskey, I am giving away a copy of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side plus some pins featuring cover art of Jessica's Guide and her other book Jekel Loves Hyde. It's a great giveaway! You should enter it!

Official Rules:

1. Open to US only.
2. You can get extra entries by doing various things.
3. This contest ends November 2nd.
4. When the contest ends ONE winner will be chosen by random.org
5. The winner will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to respond. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn .
6. This is NOT a comment contest. Enter the form below.


Thanks for entering! Good luck!

Guest Post: Beth Fantaskey

Today, for the 5th day of the 10 days of Halloween we welcome young adult author Beth Fantaskey! She wrote the book Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side. I am honored to have her on my blog. Here is her guest post:

Happy Halloween, everybody! I love handing out treats, so I’ve prepared this little “snack” for fans of Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side who are waiting for the sequel, Jessica Rules the Dark Side, to come out fall 2011. This “bonus chapter” – written from Mindy Stankowicz’s point of view – takes place between Jess and Lucius’s summer wedding (read the story at bethfantaskey.com) and the beginning of full sequel, which starts in December of that same year.
Have a fun, safe holiday – hopefully filled with vampires, ghosts and other good stuff!
Beth

October 31, 2010 – Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
“Mindy Sue, get the door now! If we get egg on our windows, you’ll be scraping it off tomorrow!”

“I’m going already,” I hollered up to my mom, who had dumped the whole “trick or treat” thing off on me while she took a nice shower. I mean, I understood that she’d worked late and deserved a bath, but I had stuff to do, too. I was already bombing Foundations of Renaissance Culture at Lebanon Valley Community College, and I had a quiz the next day on Botticelli, who might have been a painter or some kind of pasta, for all I knew.

The doorbell rang again.

“Mindy Sue...”

“I got it! I swear!” I slammed my textbook about Italian art shut and got up off the couch, grabbing the bowl of miniature Three Musketeers and Snickers – which I’d eaten half of already – while I schlepped to the door.

How had I ever liked this holiday?

It sucked.

It had sucked ever since my best friend, Jess Packwood – now Princess Antanasia Dragomir Vladescu – had gone to the Woodrow Wilson High School fall carnival with Jake Zinn, leaving me a million miles behind, socially. Jess got kissed that night, and totally made Lucius Vladescu jealous, too, while I’d sat home – like I was still doing, a whole year later.

What’s Halloween like in a Romanian castle?

Vampires HAD to celebrate.

Is Jess dancing at some big party with her hot prince?

I hauled open the door a little harder than I meant to, and a bunch of kids in costumes screamed, “Trick or treat!” so loud I almost dropped the candy all over the porch.
“Jeez, have some manners already,” I told them, ‘cause they pounced on the bowl the second I held it low enough for their little hands to reach inside. It was like a riot for that chocolate, and I started worrying they wouldn’t leave any for me. “One each, okay?”

Then I felt kinda bad when the world’s cutest werewolf looked up at me, his paw full of candy, and said, “Thanks, lady. Snickers is my favorite.”
I mean, I didn’t like being called “lady,” but who can resist a six-year-old in a furry wig?
“Yeah, I like ‘em, too,” I said. “You’re welcome.”

When they hopped off the porch, I saw there was hardly anything left to give out, so I turned off the light, even though it wasn’t even eight o’clock. And I turned off the lights inside, too, so it would look like nobody was home downstairs, at least, ‘cause I did not want to be scraping egg off windows the next day.

Then I sat down on the couch in the dark, put the bowl on my lap, and unwrapped the last Snickers, popping it in my mouth. I chewed real slow, trying to make it last, and even though I didn’t want to, I wondered, What do surf bum vampires who live on beaches do on Halloween? How do THEY celebrate...?

All of a sudden, the doorbell rang again, and I kinda froze up, ‘cause it should of been pretty clear that the Stankowicz house was closed for business. For a second, I didn’t even chew. I guess I figured if I didn’t move, the kids would go away and I could eat the last Musketeers, too.
But nope, the bell rang again – twice in a row, fast.

“Probably a VAMPIRE,” I mumbled. “They NEVER give up.” And I almost choked on a peanut when I suddenly thought, What if it’s a BEATNIK bloodsucker? ‘Cause it could be. Not that I want that...

Not even waiting for mom to yell at me, I popped off the couch, calling, “Coming!”
And when I hauled open the door, there was a vampire on my doorstep, and I wasn’t sure if I felt relieved or maybe a teeny bit... disappointed that it was just a kid in a costume. I should’ve felt totally treated, but it also kinda felt like I’d been hit by a big, raw egg.

I dropped the last of the candy into the mini-Dracula’s plastic pumpkin and watched him skip off into the night.

Would I ever stop feeling that way?

Thanks for the post! I appreciate it! Check back later for a great giveaway of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side!

Author Interview with Stacey Kade!

Today is the 5th day of the 10 days of Halloween. Young adult author Stacey Kade is joining us today! Welcome!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself
Oh, boy, I'm terrible at this! :) My characters are far more interesting than I am. Uh, let's see...The Ghost and the Goth is my first YA novel. I've been writing for about ten years or so. When I'm not reading or writing, I'm probably obsessing over one of my many favorite television shows--I'm a pop culture junkie! I'm married and we have three retired racing greyhounds.

2. What is your book, The Ghost and the Goth about?
Alona Dare is the most popular girl in school until she dies. Run over by a bus! :) Then she's stuck in between life and death and can't seem to move on. The only person who can see or hear her is Will Killian, this outcast-type, weird kid, someone she would have never spoken to when she was alive. But he has his own problems--a principal who wants him kicked out and a psychiatrist who wants to lock him up.

The two of them have to figure out way to help each other. :)

3. What inspired you to write this book?
You know, I'm not sure except that one day I just heard a phrase floating through my head, "Staring up at the undercarriage of a bus is no way to spend your afterlife." And it all started from there.

4. How would you survive a zombie attack? Or would you?

Hmm. Normally, I would say that I didn't like my chances, but I've been brushing up on my zombie survival skills. I've watched Zombieland several times this year and taken the lessons to heart.

The question is, how much advance warning do I have and is my goal to hunker down and stay safe or to get the heck out of zombie-Dodge? Once I had that information, I could probably formulate a decent survival plan. Would have to learn how to shoot. Have never done that before! :)

5. If you could have one super/paranormal power what would it be and why?
I'd love to be able to heal people just by touch, like Max on Roswell. Though, I'm pretty sure a gift like that usually comes with a pretty steep price, so I'm not sure that I'd really want any supernatural power at all! :)

Thanks Stacey for your time! Check back later this week for some awesome giveaways!

Romeo & Juliet & Vampires Prize Pack Giveaway!

Thanks to author Claudia Gabel, I have a fantastic giveaway! Enter to win a signed copy of Romeo & Juliet & Vampires along with a "Vampire" chocolate bar, red lipstick and nail polish. Doesn't that sound awesome?! I wish I could enter! Now all of you have the chance to win this.
Official Rules
1. Open to US only.
2. You can get extra entries by doing various things.
3. This contest ends November 1st.
4. When the contest ends ONE winner will be chosen by random.org
5. The winner will be contacted via e-mail, and will be given 48 hours to respond. Otherwise, a new winner will be drawn .
6. This is NOT a comment contest. Enter the form below.



Thanks again Claudia for this amazing giveaway!! Good luck everyone!

Author Interview with Claudia Gabel!

Welcome to the 10 days of Halloween day 3! Today we welcome Claudia Gabel (Author of Romeo and Juliet and Vampires) to my blog. I am excited to be featuring an interview with her.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself
When I was in second grade, my teacher read A Wrinkle in Time aloud in class-- that’s the moment I fell in love with books. I loved going on this adventure in my mind and how fun it was to use my imagination. I remember telling myself then that I wanted to be a writer, and throughout my childhood, I wrote stories in Mead notebooks and gave them to my friends to read. When I grew up, I began pursuing a career as a book editor and helping other writers get published. However, I always hoped that I’d see one of my own novels on bookstore shelves. In June 2007, my hopes turned into reality! My teen fiction series, In or Out, was published by Scholastic/Point. I’m also a Senior Editor with Katherine Tegen Books, and a creative writing instructor with MediaBistro.com.

2. What is your book, Romeo & Juliet & Vampires about?
Set in Transylvania in 1462, ROMEO & JULIET & VAMPIRES is a mash-up novel based on Shakespeare's play, featuring a new version of the love story between Juliet Capulet, the daughter of two notorious vampires, and Romeo Montague, who was born into a family of vampire slayers. Most of the book stays true to the tragic romance we’ve all grown up with, but there are definitely a few surprises in store for readers.

3. What inspired you to write this book?
Honestly, I had a lot of difficulty reading Shakespeare when I was first introduced to his writing in high school. I loved to read, and not being able to understand his plays really broke my heart. I must confess: I relied on lots of SparkNotes back then. But when the mash-up trend started getting popular, I found myself thinking of how much it would have helped me to have some fun, interesting takes on the classics to read along with the originals. Hopefully teens who dip into this book at home won’t be as intimidated by Shakespeare’s work when they are reading it in the classroom.

4. Can you relate to any of the characters in Romeo & Juliet & Vampires?
I actually related to Romeo the most. Even though he was born into a family of vampire-slayers, he is more of a lover than a fighter (at least at first). He has so much love in his heart and it’s totally unconditional and knows no boundaries. I’m just as much of a romantic as he is.

5. Can you tell us a little bit about what you are working on now and what we should expect from you next?
My WIP is taking over my life right now because it involves so much research! The book is a supernatural mystery that’s rooted in American spiritualism, and I’m hoping that the story will be so rich, I’ll be about to turn into a series. I don’t want to say too much more because I’m still fine-tuning the concept, but it’s something that I’m very excited about!

6. How would you survive a zombie attack? Or would you?
I think I might be able to outrun a zombie, but that’s probably about it. My fighting skills are pretty lackluster. I’d give myself a couple of days of survival, but that might be optimistic of me!

7. If you could have one super/paranormal power what would it be and why?
I would love to be able to time travel. I know, it’s such a geeky choice, but I’d love to see how humans lived in the past and how we evolve in the future!

Thank you for your time Claudia! We appreciate it! I encourage all of you to pick up a copy of Romeo & Juliet & Vampires!

Check my blog later for a great giveaway of Romeo & Juliet & Vampires!