Friday, March 29, 2013

Spring Cleaning Giveaway #2: Finished Copy Edition

Welcome to the second and final Spring Cleaning Giveaway!  This giveaway will feature all the finished copies for review that I've recieved over the course of the 17 months I've been blogging and have never read.  Just like the previous giveaway, the winner will have to pay shipping via PayPal, but that allows me to make this giveaway INT.  So, anyway, let's get to the books!


Prize Pack #1


The Madman's Daughter / The Fire Horse Girl

*Note: The Madman's Daughter is actually in ARC format.  I added it in to make the prize packs even


Prize Pack #2




Prize Pack #3




Prize Pack #4




Prize Pack #5



THE RULES:
~There will be 5 winners
~Giveaway ends on April 10, 2013 @ 12:00 A.M.
~This giveaway is INT
~Winner must pay shipping via PayPal



a Rafflecopter giveaway

THANKS FOR ENTERING AND MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOR!
That's funny because as I make this post I'm watching The Hunger Games and they literally JUST said that quote!

Thursday, March 28, 2013

{Review} Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality
by Elizabeth Eulberg
Pages: 272
Release Date:
by Point (an imprint of Scholastic)

Goodreads / Purchase
A hilarious new novel from Elizabeth Eulberg about taking the wall out of the wallflower so she can bloom. Don't mess with a girl with a great personality! Everybody loves Lexi. She's popular, smart, funny...but she's never been one of those girls, the pretty ones who get all the attention from guys. And on top of that, her seven-year-old sister, Mackenzie, is a terror in a tiara, and part of a pageant scene where she gets praised for her beauty (with the help of fake hair and tons of makeup). Lexi's sick of it. She's sick of being the girl who hears about kisses instead of getting them. She's sick of being ignored by her longtime crush, Logan. She's sick of being taken for granted by her pageant-obsessed mom. And she's sick of having all her family's money wasted on a phony pursuit of perfection. The time has come for Lexi to step out from the sidelines. Girls without great personalities aren't going to know what hit them. Because Lexi's going to play the beauty game - and she's in it to win it.


*A copy was provided by Scholastic for review purposes*


Wow, this was a pretty interesting read.  When I first started reading this I thought it was going to be a very dark, sad, heartbreaking book, but it turned out to be kind of a fluffy coming-of-age story, and I kind of would have liked it better if it had stayed sad.  I don’t really feel like the whole “girl who everyone thinks is ugly” and “becoming popular and learning about yourself” really fits together.  The writing was really awesome, and I loved the humor that was added in.  The story line was okay.  The little things that Eulberg threw in to try and add to the story (like how Lexi wants to design clothes, the big “moment” back then) were totally see-through and annoying.  I can see that Eulberg tried to make this an inspiring, “believe in yourself” book, but I gotta say, it didn’t really work very well…at least for me.  The ending was kind of blah, I didn’t really like the way Eulberg decided to go with the story.  But I think there might be a possibility of a sequel because the ending was very open.

I wasn’t really a huge fan of Lexi in this book, and I actually like the supporting characters better than the main character.  Lexi felt like she was ugly, so she tried to change to make everyone else notice her and like her, and I know that Eulberg was making a point with this book that you shouldn’t do that, but it annoyed me to no end that Lexi kept on changing to please people.  She came across as petty, weak, had no self-esteem, and let people walk all over her.  And, funnily enough, she really didn’t have much personality, she just sat around cracking jokes that put herself down.  The supporting characters had more personality than she did!  Benny was gay and proud of it.  Cam was confident and didn’t care what people said about her.  Lexi needs to learn a thing or two from them.

I really, really wish I could have liked this book more, but for me it came across as a coming-of-age story fail, and a bad combination of ideas.  While the supporting characters were awesome, Lexi was really pathetic, and I like my books to have strong main characters, especially in a book like this.  Also, I don’t really get the title for this book, because Lexi isn’t malicious or anything, and she doesn’t try to get revenge.  Ummmmmmmm?????????


3 pink flowers

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday #59



This is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlites upcoming new releases that we're highly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis


Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: September 10, 2013


Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water. 

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.


What are you guys waiting on this week?

Link me up!!!

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

{Review} Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Going Vintage
by Lindsey Leavitt
Pages: 320
Release Date: March 26, 2013
by Bloomsbury

Goodreads / Pre-Order

When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List: 1. Run for pep club secretary 2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree 3. Sew a dress for Homecoming 4. Find a steady 5. Do something dangerous But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.


*A copy was provided by Bloomsbury for review purposes*


What a cute, fun read!  Seriously, am I the only one who thinks this book would make the perfect movie?  I absolutely loved the idea and how Leavitt proved a point with this book.  The writing was funny, witty, and entertaining, and the story line was awesome.  I really loved all the different components of the book, especially the characters and how Mallory grew over the course of the story.  The romance was so sweet and cute to read about, and I really loved the twists and the ending in this book.

Mallory was really the perfect main character in this book.  I really respect several of her decisions throughout the book and I’m glad that Leavitt wrote her like she did.  I loved how Mallory grew over the course of the story, and how she was strong and independent, and sometimes funny as well.  Oliver was pretty awesome as well, and I really loved that he was such a sweet, nice guy and didn’t mess with Mallory.

This book was an awesome coming-off-age story that I thoroughly enjoyed.  The only reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars was the few boring parts with the grandma and sewing, but other than that this book was pretty awesome and exciting!


SMALL NOTE: Sorry my past couple reviews have been really short.  It’s been a while since I’ve written a review and I’m kind of out of practice, but I’ll try to improve in the future :)


4.5 pink flowers

Monday, March 25, 2013

{Review} Escape Theory by Margaux Froley

Escape Theory
by Margaux Froley
Series: Keaton School #1
Pages: 288
Release Date: March 12, 2013
by Soho Teen

Goodreads / Purchase
Sixteen-year-old Devon Mackintosh has always felt like an outsider at Keaton, the prestigious California boarding school perched above the Pacific. As long as she’s not fitting in, Devon figures she might as well pad her application to Stanford’s psych program. So junior year, she decides to become a peer counselor, a de facto therapist for students in crisis. At first, it seems like it will be an easy fly-on-the-wall gig, but her expectations are turned upside down when Jason Hutchins (a.k.a. “Hutch”), one of the Keaton’s most popular students, commits suicide.
Devon dives into her new role providing support for Hutch’s friends, but she’s haunted by her own attachment to him. The two shared an extraordinary night during their first week freshman year; it was the only time at Keaton when she felt like someone else really understood her.  As the secrets and confessions pile up in her sessions, Devon comes to a startling conclusion: Hutch couldn't have taken his own life. Bound by her oath of confidentiality—and tortured by her unrequited love—Devon embarks on a solitary mission to get to the bottom of Hutch's death, and the stakes are higher than she ever could have imagined.


*A copy was provided by Soho Teen for review purposes*


Escape Theory really reminded me of Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday, which you guys may or may not know is my favorite mystery book ever.  The dialogue was very funny and entertaining and the best friend was absolutely nuts and had tons of personality.  I really liked Froley’s idea, and I loved the setting and how she described it.  The set-up was absolutely perfect, and the circumstances were written flawlessly.  In some mystery books I feel like the solution comes too easily, but in this book it smoothed into the answer with ease and finesse, and it all made sense.  The staging and story line was absolutely perfect, and the ending summed up the whole story line effortless and thrilling way.  Really, I can’t believe that this book is Margaux Froley’s first.

This cast was a rather large one, but since each character had such a great and different personality, it was easy to keep track.  I liked how each character played a part in the mystery and the solving of the mystery.  I really liked Devon and how she was persistent in her beliefs and didn’t give up on Hutch.  Her best friend, Presley, was an absolute riot, and I loved reading about how they interacted.

If this is Margaux Froley’s debut mystery book and it was this freaking good, I can’t even imagine how awesome her next books are going to be.  Her grasp on writing, staging, and complex settings is just amazing…gah, this book was so awesome!


5 pink flowers


CHECK OUT DEADLY COOL - TRUST ME, YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!


Sunday, March 24, 2013

In My Mailbox #54




In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we spotlight the books that we've received for review, swapped, or purchased that week.


FOR REVIEW:



The Last Academy by Anne Applegate (from Scholastic)
The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher
Vengeance Bound by Justina Ireland
(from Simon & Schuster)


BOUGHT:



Sever by Lauren DeStefano
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi


Huge thanks to Scholastic and Simon & Schuster for the awesome books this week!


What did you guys get this week?
Link me up!!! :)

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Guest Review: The Diviners by Libba Bray

Hello everyone!  So today I'm going to be doing something a bit different.  Today I will have one of my bookish friends do a guest review!  So please, by all means, read on!!! :)



Intro:

Hi! My name is Hailee. I am blessed to serve as a Youth Services Librarian in a public library. I LOVE MY JOB! I'm currently in grad school to get my Masters in Library and Information Sciences and am looking forward to a long career as a Youth Services Librarian. Even though I'm not a teenager anymore, YA books are still my passion and my favorite genres to read are horror, suspense, supernatural (though not so much Vampires and Werewolves), dystopian and realistic fiction.



The Diviners
by Libba Bray
Series: The Diviners #1
Pages: 578
Release Date: September 18, 2012

by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Goodreads / Purchase

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies." When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.



The Diviners is told in alternating points of view from a rich cast of characters including a numbers runner by day, poet by night in Harlem and a glamorous Ziegfeld dancer with a dark secret. Bray does a fantastic job of building a complete backstory for each character, who all have secrets or supernatural powers of their own, without weighing the story down or making the story daunting for the reader. Each is fully fleshed and easy to connect with.

Evie is a marvel of a heroine, strong-willed, sassy and intelligent to boot, she sure is one "Sheba" of a girl. She craves the spotlight, but not in a pretentious way that might make you dislike her. There are simply so many glamours things happening that Evie has to be a part of, and she can't help it if she sometimes steals the show! Her yearning for fame does not make her a shallow character, in fact she is completely multi-layered and three-dimensional. Still grieving the death of her brother and questioning whether her mother wishes she were the one dead instead of him make her authentically real. Her insistence to urge shy, demure friend Mabel out of her shell and into the eyes of Museum Assistant Jethro (whom Mabel is sweet on) as well as clandestine meetings with a sketchy news reporter create relatable flaws and present problems for those closest to her, but Evie always seems to fix things in the end.

Printz award winner Bray brings the world of 1920s Manhattan to life while weaving a mysterious and scary tale sure to stick with you long after you’ve read the last page and many are sure to eagerly anticipate the sequel. You can tell this is a novel that was meticulously researched and the 20s historical references are inserted so effortlessly that you are completely immersed in the setting, slang and all. Fans of historical fiction and paranormal will find a lot to like here and returning fans of Bray will not be disappointed.




THANKS FOR STOPPING BY HAILEE!!!!

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday #58


This is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlites upcoming new releases that we're highly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:


Imposter by Susane Winnacker


Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: May 23, 2013

CAN TESSA POSE AS MADISON . . . AND STOP A KILLER BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE? Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again. Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.


What are you guys waiting on this week?
Link me up!!!

Monday, March 18, 2013

US vs UK #10






US vs UK is a meme hosted by Book Passion for Life.  In this meme, I will post a US and UK cover from the same book, and you guys will vote which one you like best.


_________________________________________________

The Score:
US: 7 UK: 0 Draw: 2

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

  VS   

My Vote:


Gosh, this is a hard choice.  I really like how the US cover looks with the dragon and old city, but the UK cover is more eye-catching...honestly, for me, it's a draw.


Links: Goodreads / Purchase

Which cover do you like best?
Leave a comment to vote!

__________________________________________


Last week's winner was...US!
Click here to view last week's covers!!!


Sunday, March 17, 2013

In My Mailbox #53 + Emily's Ramblings Update



In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we spotlight the books that we've received for review, swapped, or purchased that week.


FOR REVIEW:


In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters (from Amulet)
Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt
Stung by Bethany Wiggins
(from Bloomsbury)


Huge thanks to Amulet and Bloomsbury for the awesome books this week!


What did you guys get this week?
Link me up!!! :)
 
 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So yesterday I asked everyone if every Friday they would like me to do a rambling post about - well - random stuff, and everyone said yes!  Since I think this is a really cool was for me to express myself and for you guys to get to know me, I have decided the first Emily's Rambilngs post (yes, that is what I'm going to call it.  Doesn't it just scream cool?) to be a Q&A.  So comment below any questions you have for me (if they're too personal or anything I won't answer them) and I'll answer them all on Friday.  Sound good?  I'm so excited for these posts!!!!!!

Saturday, March 16, 2013

{Review} Shadows in the Silence by Courtney Allison Moulton

Shadows in the Silence
by Courtney Allison Moulton
Series: Angelfire #3
Pages: 469
Release Date: January 29, 2013
by Katherine Tegen Books (an imprint of Harper)

Goodreads / Purchase
Your strength in heart and hand will fall. . . .
Ellie knows that the darkest moments are still to come, and she has everything to fight for:

She must fight for Will.
The demonic have resorted to their cruelest weapons to put Will in mortal danger, and Ellie makes an unlikely alliance to save him and to stop Lilith and Sammael, who seek to drown the world in blood and tear a hole into Heaven.

She must fight for humanity.
As the armies of Hell rise and gather for the looming End of Days, Ellie and her band of allies travel to the world’s darkest and most ancient regions in her quest to come into her full glory as the archangel Gabriel.And Ellie must save herself.

And Ellie must save herself.
Her humanity withers beneath the weight of her cold archangel power, but Ellie must hold tight to who she is and who she loves as she prepares for the ultimate battle for Heaven and Earth.

In this final installment in the Angelfire trilogy, Courtney Allison Moulton brings her dark world of epic battles and blistering romance to a blazing bright conclusion.


I AM SO FREAKING SAD!  THIS SERIES IS OVER! *cries in a corner*.  This is the bad thing about absolutely loving a series: it ends.  This book was amazing, and this series really couldn’t have ended a better way.  I absolutely loved this book!  After the cliffhanger at the ending of Wings of the Wicked, I wasn’t sure what Moulton would do with the beginning of this one, but she picked up right where book two left off, which I really liked.  The beginning kind of irritated me because I couldn’t understand why Ellie didn’t have a huge sense of urgency (if you’ve read the book you’ll know what I’m talking about) but after that this book was a thrill-ride.  Moulton’s writing was absolutely flawless as usual, and the story line was fast-paced, with the ending a groundbreaking thriller.  Moulton is a freaking magician!

One of the reasons I’m so sad to see this series go is Will.  That man – OH MY GOD!!  Words cannot describe how awesome he is – as in hot, sexy, smoking, smoldering…and just perfect.  He was so kick-ass, sweet, and nice to Ellie, and really I would love a guy like him.  I also really liked Ellie in this book.  I remember in Wings of the Wicked I was really annoyed with her for messing with Will, but she completely redeemed herself in this book.  I still had a bit of a problem with her being selfish (those of you who have read this will know what I’m talking about) but that was only a minor thing.  She was fierce, strong, kick-butt, and a very strong character, and I really liked how she and Will acted around each other, and the romance in this book.  I don’t think it’s possible to talk about the characters in this book without at least mentioning Caden.  In a word, I really respect him.  He is such a cool guy, so nice, and he’s in a really painful position but he handles it very well.  He is so sweet and nice you can’t even describe how sweet and nice he is.

And now that I’ve written this review, my life is over.  Because there isn’t another Angelfire book coming out.  And no more Will.  Haha just kidding I own the entire series so I can read about Will whenever I want to.  But this series was just so amazing, each book action packed, fast-paced, and romantic, with a lot of kick-ass fighting going on in between.  I highly recommend this series!


5 pink flowers


The Angelfire series:

Check out my review of Angelfire, here.
Check out my review of Wings of the Wicked, here.





Sorry, I couldn't resist posting some pics! ;P

Friday, March 15, 2013

Updates, Announcements, Randomness

Hello everyone!  So I don't think I've ever done one of these posts before, when I just write about anything and everything, but I decided to give it a try today.  It should be fun!

I'm sure you all are aware of the upcoming movies-that-were-actually-books that are coming out, or have come out, soon or recently.  Here's a list (of the ones I've heard of at least):


  • Warm Bodies - February 1
  • Safe Haven - February 14
  • Beautiful Creatures - February 14
  • The Host - March 29
  • Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters - August 16
  • The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones - August 23
  • The Hunger Games: Catching Fire - November 22
Would you guys kill me if I told you that I've only read The Sea of Monsters?  I know, I know, I should have read these books, but I just haven't had time.  And it really sucks because I don't want to see the movies until I've read the books...and I don't know when I'm gonna have time because my blogging schedule is absolutely CRAY!  And I've become completely movie-obsessed lately because I have no life and nothing better to do so me and my mom just curl up on the couch with some ice cream and watch a movie on the weekends.  And, of course, my brothers are not present ;P

Also, some super-cool things that have happened recently!  I'VE GOTTEN 900 FOLLOWERS!!! *happy dance*  That actually happened a while ago, but right now I have 924 and I love every single one of you awesome people.  I've also done almost 130 (whaaaattttt?) reviews!  And I've almost gotten 85,000 total pageviews.  SERIOUSLY, LIFE COULD NOT GET ANY BETTER!  But of course I had to ruin my happiness by twisting my ankle (again!) so now I can't run :/ But that's okay because I can work on my blog and read lol :)

So, an announcement!  As a blogger I got a TON of books, and sometimes I don't like them and don't want to keep them.  If they're ARCs I usually give them away, but finished copies I've been saving because I want to sell them.  So I've finally made a page on the blog (find it here!   ) and I hope you guys will do me a favor and go check it out.  I think I have pretty reasonable prices.  Also, I've been an Amazon affiliate for a while now!  You guys know how in my posts I put a link that says "Purchase" right?  Well, if you click that link and buy a book off Amazon, I get a kick-back which I will then use to host awesome giveaways!  So if you guys were planning on buying a book anyway, could you just click on a link on my bog (THERE'S ALSO A LINK IN THE SIDEBAR WHERE YOU CAN SEARCH ALL OF AMAZON) and help everyone because seriously, who doesn't love a giveaway right?

Soooooooo, I hope you guys liked that post, and please forgive me for any typos because I don't like proof-reading, and also for the rambling - I'm a teenager, I'm gonna ramble!  Anywhooo, what movie(s) are you most excited about coming out this year?  They don't have to be book related lol!  And by the way, WHO ELSE IS SUPER EXCITED FOR THE MOVIE HANSEL AND GRETEL TO COME OUT?  I AM!!  My man is in there lol!

Anyway, have a nice dayyy!!!!! :D

YADP Post: Come Back To Me by Coleen Patrick

Young Adult Debut Promotions (YADP) is a post I do to help out debut authors, and to get them noticed.  My posts will definitely include a feature of the book, a feature of the author, and a giveaway, with an interview, guest post, or excerpt optional.  If you would like more information about YADP click here and scroll down until you come to the section talking about it.

Today I am featuring...


Coleen Patrick
And she will be doing an interview, excerpt, and giveaway!



~The Book~

Come Back To Me
by Coleen Patrick
Release Date: March 4, 2013
by Self Published

Whitney Denison can’t wait to start over.

She thought she had everything under control, that her future would always include her best friend Katie… Until everything changed.

Now her life in Bloom is one big morning after hangover, filled with regret, grief, and tiny pinpricks of reminders that she was once happy. A happy she ruined. A happy she can’t fix.

So, she is counting down the days until she leaves home for Colson University, cramming her summer with busywork she didn’t finish her senior year, and taking on new hobbies that involve glue and glitter, and dodging anyone who reminds her of her old life.

When she runs into the stranger who drove her home on graduation night, after she’d passed out next to a ditch, she feels herself sinking again. The key to surviving the summer in Bloom is unraveling whatever good memories she can from that night.

But in searching for answers, she’ll have to ask for help and that means turning to Evan, the stranger, and Kyle, Katie’s ex-boyfriend. Suddenly, life flips again, and Whitney finds herself on not only the precipice of happy but love, too, causing her to question whether she can trust her feelings, or if she is falling into her old patterns of extremes.

As she uncovers the truth about her memories, Whitney sees that life isn’t all or nothing, and that happy isn’t something to wait for, that instead, happy might just be a choice.




~Author Interview~


1.Why did you decide to become a writer?
The idea of being a writer took on great importance in the fourth grade. J That’s when my teacher read a short story of mine to the class. She also gave me a pin that said, “I am an author.” I still have it. But, it wasn’t until five years ago that I decided I really wanted writing to be more than a hobby. I lost my brother the year before, and that was a reminder for me that life’s too short—I had to go for my dreams.

2. Who were your biggest influences?
Reading has always been one of my favorite things. When I was younger, I read every teen book or series I could find at the library, and spent a lot of babysitting money at the bookstore.  Judy Blume probably influenced me the most. Now, I am also inspired by John Green, Sarah Dessen, Laurie Halse Anderson, Susan Beth Pfeffer…I could go on!
3. Where do you like to write?
I have an office. I don’t sit at my desk, though. Instead, I have a  comfy chair in the corner that faces a window. Sometimes I have to close the window shade so I don’t start staring outside, but I put a big dandelion decal on the inside of the shade to remind me what I’m doing. Underneath the dandelion, it says, “Wishes.”
4. Do you have a special routine you like to do before you write?
Drink coffee, and then turn off the internet.
5. When and how did you get the idea for COME BACK TO ME?
The idea first came to me more than two years ago. I was driving (this seems to be an idea generator for me), and Pink’s song, Sober, was on the radio. I pictured a guy and a girl in a car. All I knew in that moment was that she was confused, but projecting a tough exterior—and this guy, who seemed to be a stranger, calls her out, gets her to think about things she’d been avoiding. The story evolved over the next couple of years, but there is an important scene between Whitney and Evan that takes place while he’s driving. It’s a nod to that first glitter speck of idea.  

6. Is there another book in the works? If so, what can we expect?
Yes! My next book is already with my editor.  I’m hoping it will be out by the end of the summer. The main character’s name is Grace. She’s almost sixteen, and the great thing about writing her story is that she’s funny. The book is about friendship, family, and how she deals with falling in love with her best friend.

THIS OR THAT


1. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?
Dark.
2.Cats or dogs?
Dogs, probably, but I don’t have furry pets. Yet. J
3. Hardcover, paperback or ebook?
I think I still prefer a hard copy, but ebook is a very, very close second.


WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE...


1. Movie?
So hard to choose! I will go with an older one, When Harry Met Sally, because I find myself quoting it a lot.
2. Ice cream flavor?
Vanilla with peanut butter and chocolate mixed in.
3. Animal?
Any baby animal.
4. Book?
Paper Towns by John Green
5. Actor and actress?
I will see any movie that has Reese Witherspoon in it.
6. Fictional character?
Quentin Jacobsen from Paper Towns.



~Excerpt~





55 days.
What if Colson isn’t the answer?
I ignored the thought and continued to face the liquor cabinet, the bottles shifting into pairs as my vision glazed over.
A tiny frisson of cold moved from my heel and up my spine to prickle at my scalp.  I pictured my newly short hair standing on end, like hundreds of tiny spikes framing a carrot-orange cartoon sun. 
I froze, avoiding my reflection in the mirror-backed wall of the cabinet.  The tingling returned. Was someone behind me?
I dropped my head.  My heart pounded under my chin.  My bangs curtained my face, but I took in my shoes, the floor, the craft store bag, fur . . . wait, fur?
I turned around and sighed.  “Bug.”
She stared at me, still, as if she too saw a ghost.  Her fur stood up in tufts and shocks around her head, but that was just Bug.  Imperfect breed, imperfect hair.  Not that Bug knew that.  According to her, she was a purebred.  She didn’t seem to know that the pretty auburn and dark brown coat around her head faded to an almost dirty white on her back and legs, or that her slim build didn’t match her squashed up face, or that she had a funny name, or that she was the result of a full pedigree/mutt hook up.  She’d never believe any of it.
I shook my head, pushing my fingertips into my eyebrows. 
“What are you doing, Bug?” My mom wasn’t home. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen her without my mom. 
Bug walked to the craft bag and sniffed.  She sat down in front of it. 
“There’s nothing for you in there.”  I picked up the bag and headed for the stairs.  Bug’s tiny but imperious steps followed.
I turned around.  “Do you need to go outside?”
If a dog could roll her eyes, she would’ve.  I swore she looked insulted, as if she didn’t have a paper-lined crate in the laundry room. 
“Are you hungry?”
Bug ignored me, pushing her nose into my bag.  She wouldn’t come to me for food anyway.  My mom’s culinary skills were what turned her from my shelter rescue into my mom’s sidekick.  Whatever.  Glitter was the only thing on my agenda right now.
            The air conditioning turned on, and I jumped, catching my reflection in the mirror again. I frowned and moved to close the liquor cabinet doors.
            A crazy but funny idea popped into my head—me covering all the bottles with glue and glitter.  I looked at Bug.  As if she could read my mind, she cocked her head.  “I’m just saying it would be hilarious to see their reaction.”
            I imagined my dad pouring himself a drink out of a sparkly, fuchsia Jameson bottle—right into a matching bejeweled highball glass.  Except the enjoyment would only last for a split second, just like the first hit of alcohol.  Yes, I wanted that initial sense of relief, the momentary lapse in emptiness.
Until tomorrow, when I’d have to start all over again. 
I swallowed.  Glitter.  I shifted all my focus to glitter. 

 



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~Get to Know Coleen Patrick~


Bio:
Coleen Patrick grew up in New Jersey, Virginia, Michigan, Louisiana, and Indiana. Always being the new kid, she learned that books and friends are precious—and dessert. She never met a dessert she didn’t like (except for flan).

When she’s not writing, reading (or avoiding flan), she enjoys TV, arts and crafts, quoting movies, and trying to take cool photos.

She lives in Virginia with her husband and two kids.





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Thank you so much Coleen for stopping by today!  It was a blast to have you on the blog!!!

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