Find You in the Dark Blog Tour: Character Interview

Find You in the Dark
Author: A. Meredith Walters
Genre: YA/New Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 10, 2012

Description:

Maggie Young had the market on normal. Normal friends, normal parents, normal grades...normal life.

Until him.

Clayton Reed was running from his past and an army of personal demons that threatened to take him down. He never thought he had a chance at happiness.

Until her.

Maggie thought their love could overcome anything. Clay thought she was all he needed to fix his messy life.

That together, they could face the world.

But the darkness is always waiting.

Sometimes the greatest obstacle to true love is within yourself.  

Today I have Maggie, the main character of Find You in the Dark, here with me to answer some questions!

Me: Are you a morning person?  

Maggie: Not really.  I hate mornings.  The whole getting out of bed, rushing around to get ready.  It sort of sucks.  Though I'm not a night person either.  I can't stay up passed midnight to save my life.  I guess you could say I'm a "mid day" sort of person.  That's about the time I've fully woken up but before I get tired and want to go to bed, LOL.

Me: What are your hobbies or interests? 

Maggie: I've always enjoyed cooking.  Though I don't get much of a chance to try anything out.  When I was younger I used to love to help my mom make dinner.  It's probably one of my favorite memories.  I do make a mean chicken parmesan.  

Me: What grosses you out? 

Maggie: People who don't blow their nose when it's super obvious that they need to.  All that sniffling and wiping makes me want to throw up.  Our vice-principal, Mr. Kane, is a perfect example.  He's always stuffed up but NEVER BLOWS HIS NOSE!  I mean, can't he feel all that snot up there?  Ugh!  It makes me shudder even thinking about it.

Me: What was your most embarassing moment?  

Maggie: Do I have to pick just one?  Well, I guess it was this time in middle school.  It was school picture day, I think.  I had gone to the bathroom and when I came out, I guess I tucked my skirt into my underwear.  I walked around for a good thirty minutes with my knickers on display.  And they were these humiliating Christmas theme panties with little candy canes and everything!  It wasn't until Rachel told me that my butt was hanging out, that I realized I had done it.  You'd think I would have felt the breeze on my backside.  But nope...I guess I understood why everyone seemed to be laughing at me.

Me: How would you describe your relationship with Clayton? 

Maggie: Complicated.  Intense.  Amazing.  When it's good, it's fantastic.  When it's bad, it rips my heart out.  I would give everything and anything to that boy.  I know this sounds incredibly cliched, but he's sort of like that missing piece.  When we're together, it's easy to forget everything else.  And that's why it's easy to forgive the crazy things he does.  Because of those good times.  I try to make myself believe that they make up for everything else.

Me: Do you have an embarrassing habit?  

Maggie: Um...well I don't know if this is embarrassing...but it grosses Rachel and Daniel out. I tend to dip everything in chocolate pudding.  Chips, fries, chicken nuggets.  It sounds nasty, but I swear it's really good.  People tend to get a little green when they see me do it.

Me: Do you have a lifelong dream or aspiration?  

Maggie: I used to want to be a meteorologist.  Strange, I know.  But I used to be obsesses with watching The Weather Channel.  I would come home from school and be glued to Jim Cantore...the guy is HOT.  But now, after everything that's happened recently, I think I'd like to be a counselor.  Someone who can help other people and maybe find a way to make life a little easier for those who suffer from trauma and mental illness.

Me: When was the last time you cried and why?

Maggie: The day I received Clay's letter in the mail.  That was a really bad day.  Before that I seemed to cry all the time.  And this from someone who never used to cry at all.  I was in a very dark place.  But since the letter, I've made a conscientious effort to put the tears aside.  Crying doesn't solve anything and I'm determined to find happiness again.  However I can.

Me: What's the last book you read? 

Maggie: I just finished reading Evermore by Alyson Noel.  I'm a sucker for a story where love conquers all.  If only real life were that simple.

Me: What music are you listening to right now?  

Maggie: I've been channeling my inner Emo girl lately and have listened to everything by Death Cab for Cutie.  I love their song, "Follow You into the Dark."  Seems really appropriate right now.

Thank you Maggie for stopping by and chatting with us today!

AND - Don't forget to stop back on December 20th to read my review of Find You in the Dark! 

Links:

Amazon

Facebook

Troll or Derby Blog Tour: Review

 

Troll or Derby
Author: Red Tash
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: June 14, 2012

Description:

In Troll Or Derby, fifteen-year-old Roller Deb is singled out by town bullies for both her skates, and for being different. When her popular homecoming queen of a sister is kidnapped by a scuzzy drug dealer, Deb must flee the trailer park in which she's grown up, and rescue her. Along the way, Deb becomes enmeshed in the magical realm of trolls and fairies, and the blood-thirsty version of roller derby at which these beings excel. But spending too much time among the fairies comes with a price. Will Deb choose to save her sister, with the aid of a mysterious troll? Or will she be lost to the lures of roller derby, and the blonde temptress April, forever?  

Buy Link:
Amazon 

 

Troll or Derby is an interesting young adult fantasy novel that follows main character Deb, who is a roller derby player and a bit of an outcast, as she embarks on a mission to save her sister who has been kidnapped by a drug dealer. Along the way, Deb becomes intertwined in the magical world of both fairies and trolls, as well as the vicious version of roller derby that they excel in playing. Deb must decide whether to accept the help of a mysterious troll to save her sister or lose herself in the alluring world of roller derby and the tempting April instead?

This book had a lot of interesting and unique aspects that made it really stand out from most other novels in the genre. I liked the topic of roller derby being a big part of the book. It gave it an intriguing twist and also shedded some light on the sport itself. The mix of trolls and fairies in the story was refreshing, as there aren't that many books dealing with trolls out there. The storyline was a little flat and seemed to lack any depth below Deb's obvious quest to find her sister. The characters also felt a bit fake and lacked any real dimension or personalities - they felt like stereotypes instead of actual people. The writing itself was solid and had great description and detail. The idea behind the book was original and mixed the genres of fantasy and some romance with contemporary issues like drug abuse, bullying, family issues, and the sport of roller derby. Overall, this book was different than most in the genre and was an interesting read.

  

Middle Ground Blog Tour: Katie's Playlist

 

 Check out Katie's Playlist for Middle Ground!

Playlist: MIDDLE GROUND

1. Human… The Killers

2. Kontact Me… Boys Noize

3. Help, I’m Alive… Metric

4. Amber… 311

5. Swimming In The Flood… Passion Pit

6. Trail of Lies… Jedi Mind Tricks

7. Where Is My Mind?... Pixies

8. Pursuit of Happiness… Kid Cudi

9. All The Night Without Love… Elvis Perkins

10. Hide and Seek… Imogen Heap

11. Kids… Sleigh Bells

12. Dem Na Like Me… The Qemists

13. My Night With the Prostitute from Marseille… Beirut

14. Electrolite… R.E.M.

15. Fight Test… Flaming Lips

16. Darlin' Do Not Fear… Brett Dennen

17. The Cave… Mumford and Sons

18. The Dog Days are Over… Florence and the Machine

19. She Will Have Her Way… Neil Finn

20. The Love Song… K-OS 

What do you think of Katie's Playlist? Don't forget to check out my review of Middle Ground and enter my giveaway here!

Middle Ground Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway!

 

Middle Ground (Awaken #2) 
Author: Katie Kacvinsky
Genre: YA Science Fiction/Fantasy
Release Date: November 20, 2012 

Description: 
In this provocative cautionary tale for teens, the sequel to Awaken, seventeen-year-old Maddie’s rebellion against the digital-only life grows dangerous. Maddie is in Los Angeles, trying to stay out of trouble. But one night, a seemingly small act of defiance lands her in the place she fears the most: a detention center. Here, patients are reprogrammed to accept a digital existence. Maddie is now fighting for her mind, her soul, and her very life. Once again, Katie Kacvinsky paints a disturbing picture of our increasingly technology-based society.  

 

Middle Ground is the sequel to Awaken, a young adult science fiction fantasy where people are constantly plugged into technology and rarely do anything in "real life" any more. The heroine of the story, Maddie, finds herself staying with her brother in L.A. - attempting to stay out of trouble. After causing some trouble at a high-end dance club, Maddie finds herself in the place she always feared - a detention center where they brainwash the patients to accepting a completely digital lifestyle. Maddie must find a way to escape before all she has been fighting so hard for is taken from her.

This is a really interesting and unique story that captures the descent of our society into technological oblivion. It's set in the future and it's easy to imagine that we will be in that state of digital reliance before then. The characters are very realistic and easy to identify with, which makes rooting for their cause easy. I liked the romance between Maddie and Justin - it feels honest and heartwarming without being overly sappy. The plot was full of action and adventure, with twists thrown in to keep readers on their toes. It was a fast paced page-turner that I couldn't put down. The narrative was fresh and original, and I think it brings something new and different than the other books in the genre. This is a well written series with lots of potential and intriguing concepts, and I'm eager to see what the next installment will bring. 

 

 

The publisher has generously offered 1 copy of Awaken, an ARC of Middle Ground and a copy of First Comes Love for my giveaway. US only please!

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Be sure to stop back on October 31st for a peek at Katie's playlist! 

Stalk Me. Tour: Review & Giveaway

 

Stalk Me. (The Keatyn Chronicles #1)

Author: Jillian Dodd

Genre: YA Contemporary

Release Date: September 1, 2012

Description:

Gossip Girl meets Hollywood in this new series by That Boy author, Jillian Dodd.

Keatyn has everything she ever dreamed of. Her life is following the script she wrote for the perfect high school experience. She’s popular, goes to the best parties, dates the hottest guy, and sits at the most coveted lunch table.

She’s just not sure she wants it anymore.

Because really, things aren’t all that perfect.
Her best friend is threatening to tell everyone her perfect relationship is a scam.
Her perfect boyfriend gets drunk at every party they go to.
It’s exhausting always trying to look and act perfect.
And deep down, she isn’t sure if she has any true friends.

To add to the drama, her movie star mom’s long-time fan has turned stalker.
An older man is flirting with her and telling her they should make a movie together.
And she’s crushing on an adorable surfer. Dating a guy like him would mean committing social suicide.

So she writes a new script. One where all the pieces of her life will come together in perfect harmony.
But little does she know, there’s someone who will do anything to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Review:

Stalk Me is the first book in a new young adult contemporary series that focuses on popular high-schooler Keatyn, whose mom just happens to be a famous actress. Keatyn is living the high school dream she always fantasized about - being popular, dating a former child star, and partying it up with her friends. Something changes though, because Keatyn doesn't feel like her life is all that wonderful anymore. She's dating someone she doesn't like, is crushing on a guy who sees her as just a friend, and she fears that she's turning into a real mean girl. On top of it all, her mom now has a crazed stalker. 

This is a fun and really entertaining first book in the series. It easily details the life and mind of a high school teenager, along with the added glitz and glamour of being rich and living in Malibu. Keatyn's problems are easy to relate to for the most part - dealing with high school problems and guy troubles. The characters overall seemed a bit cliched, but were well written in the snotty rich girl roles they played. The romance aspect of the book felt very realistic and it was easy to empathize with Keatyn along the way. Overall, I found this to be a great first book in a fun new YA contemporary series.

 

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