Saturday, April 28, 2012

Review: Mockingjay

Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3) Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.
It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plains--except Katniss.
The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost.

My Review:
This final book follows Katniss as she is groomed to be the Mockingjay the rebellion needs.  It is full of plot twists, adventure, action and emotion.  
As I've said before, I'm usually clearly on one side of a love triangle.. this series has shattered that for me as well.  I honestly couldn't decide, until it started looking like it would not be one of the guys, then I realized how much I wanted it to be him!  I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book.  I smiled, I even cried often while reading this book, both tears of sadness and happiness.  There were so many different emotions running through me, especially during the last chapters.
Suzanne Collins paints such a vivid image that I realized I had started thinking of Katniss and the rest of them as people, not characters in a story.  The level of emotion invoked in me was a surprise I haven't had while reading in a very long time.  I believe the story ended very well.. she did a wonderful job wrapping things up, although, I would've liked to know about the future of some of the others.  I can't wait to read some more of her works, whatever they be about.  
I give this book 5 stars!!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Desperately Wanting Wednesday

6678961827 53a3b81485 o Desperately Wanting Wednesday: Novels Without Covers Yet


It's time again for the weekly post about books we desperately want to read, started and hosted by Parajunkee.  It's not too late!  If you want to be a part of it, check out her site!
This week's theme is books that don't have covers yet!

My selections are:

Nora is more certain than ever that she is in love with Patch. Fallen angel or no, he is the one for her. Her heritage and destiny may mean that they will always be enemies, but there is no turning her back on him. But now they face their biggest challenge. Can their love survive a seemingly insurmountable divide. And in the end, will there be enough trust left to rebuild what has been broken? The lines are drawn - but which sides are they on? 

I LOVE this series!! I can't wait to read this one and would read it if a cover was never decided for it!


Ok, so this may not count because it is only a "possible" book.. I don't think she has started writing it yet, but it is on Goodreads and says she "might" write two sequels to The Host.  If she does (and I believe she will, with the movie coming out), I will definitely read it! 

I don't have many for this post.. I actually had a hard time coming up with books I want to read, they all have covers so far!  Of course, if given a day or so, I will probably think of something and think "why didn't I include that one?!"

Happy reading everyone!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Review: The Chosen

The Chosen The Chosen by Sheenah Freitas
Kaia's entire life has erupted in flames after an assassin appears and burns her village down. She's rescued by a god from another planet who requests her help because she's the descendant of their last savior. Together with Reeze -- the only other survivor from her village and her appointed guardian -- they set off on a quest to find the treasures of the gods in hopes of preventing a dire prophesy. Kaia and Reeze quickly meet the Tueors, a group of people many thought extinct, who are searching specifically for Kaia. Their intention: to protect the truth. As Kaia discovers more about the truth and her family's past, she also learns of the Tueors' bloody secret. Will Kaia be the savior the gods have been waiting for? Or will she let the prophesy come true?



My Review:
I'm beginning to realize I may have to rethink what I'm "in to" as far as subject material of the books I read. I started this book, and again thought I wasn't going to really be all that into it. The characters and story just didn't seem to be what I am generally interested in (or so I thought).
The book is about Kaia, a young girl who had her simple, happy life turned upside down suddenly when her village was destroyed, along with the people in it. She's suddenly thrust into a life of danger and responsibility that just may be too much for her, but she gains some companions that, although she isn't fully convinced she can trust them, help her stay alive and attempt to fulfill the destiny she has recent learned was "chosen" for her.
The Chosen had me on the edge of my seat quite a few times. I found myself surprised even at some of the plot twists, and the writing was very good! Thank you, Sheena Freitas for reminding me that there are some great books out there, outside of the realm of what I thought was my preferred genre and subject matter!
I give this book a solid 3.5 stars!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Interview: Steven Novak


 Help me welcome author Steven Novak!  

AUTHOR BIO: Born in Chicago Illinois, Steven Novak has spent the whole of his life creating. After attending The Columbus College of Art and Design for four years he moved to California where he married his wife. The pair have been together for nearly a decade. He likes pizza. He’s sort of a nerd. He has terrible luck and worse personal hygiene. He also hates having to write bios about himself. He thinks bios are stupid. His work can be found online at www.novakillustration.com

Steven is the author of Goats Eat Cans, a wonderfully funny collection of stories about random events in his life. 

 Goats Eat Cans Volume 1
Remember the weird kid with the greasy hair and the odd smell you went to school with? You know, the one who never talked to anyone? That creepy little jerk who sat alone at lunch? The oddball who never took a shower in gym class? The one you imagined might one day go on a shooting spree?
Believe it or not, that kid grew up.
He grew up, he got married, he never shot a single person, he wrote a book, and he even started taking showers after his workouts – most of the time.
Goats Eat Cans is his story.
Follow along as Steven Novak recounts the sometimes hilarious, sometimes hilariously painful, and sometimes painfully hilarious moments that have made his life so wonderfully frustrating. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you might even vomit. No matter what, you won't be able to stop reading.
 Goats Eat Cans features 55 stories, 55 illustrations, 99 luftballons and enough nonsense to keep you chuckling and giggling for days on end – or hours – or at the very least a few minutes.

Brace yourselves for the humor of Steven...

1. Tell us a bit about Goats Eat Cans Volume 1, and your inspiration to write it.
I don’t know that I can really claim there was any sort of “inspiration” involved in the writing of Goats Eat Cans Volume 1. Inspiration is an awfully big word and it carries some fairly heavy connotations.
The book is far too stupid to live up to the word inspiration.
Kafka was inspired. I just like to tell poop jokes.
Basically, Goats Eat Cans Volume 1 is a collection of fifty-five stories about some of the annoying things that have happened to me over the years. You’ll get to read about the time I lost my virginity. You’ll get an extremely detailed account of my vasectomy. There’s a chapter in there about the time a childhood friend dumped a gallon of urine onto the head of his sleeping brother. And of course, the time I cracked open my skull in a bicycle accident. The time a hobo tried to urinate on me, and my wedding day, and I finish it all off with a glorious retelling of time blood started spraying from my anus.
Kafka never wrote a story about exploding polypus in his colon.


2. Where you really that weird kid the book blurb suggests?
I was weirder.
No, seriously. I was a lot weirder. I was Scary weird.
Believe it or not, I actually toned down that blurb quite a bit.
It wasn’t really a good kind of weird either. I wasn’t mysterious weird like all the emo vampires the ladies are into these days. I was weird like Jeffery Dahmer was weird. Housewives across the world aren’t squishing around in puddles of their own arousal over Jeffery Dahmer.


3. You're a funny person, how did your sense of humor affect your ability to make friends as a kid?
Honestly, I’m a lot funnier in writing than I am in person. In person I’m sort of an oddball. In fact, half of the stories in the book are about how incredibly awkward I am socially.
I’m a wallflower. I avoid parties. I abhor get-togethers. I suck at small talk and I’m even worse at big talk. Don’t even get me started on how bad I am at big and tall talk.
Needless to say, I didn’t have many friends as a kid. When I was a freshman in high school I shared a forty-seat lunch table with the gym teacher – and even he didn’t talk to me.


4. You seem to know a bit about the celebrity world, do you follow the gossips as inspiration for your humor?
Nope. I hate that stuff. Fortunately for me (or unfortunately) ’m married to a woman who loves it. She’s more than happy to keep me updated on all things Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, and to a lesser extent Michael Lohan.
A lot of my references are pretty dated, though.
There are twice as many Dom DeLuise references in Goats Eat Cans Volume 1 as there are Paris Hilton references, and no one remembers Dom DeLuise.
If Dom DeLuise were alive, Dom DeLuise wouldn’t even remember Dom DeLuise.


5. What are your favorite books or authors?
It’s sad to admit, but I don’t really read that much anymore. I think I finished one book last year. And it took me almost the entire year to get through it. And it was a pamphlet about the dangers of breast cancer.
There’s just no time.
When I was a kid I was obsessed with Science Fiction. I devoured Ray Bradbury stuff, and I was bonkers for The Time Machine. I also grew up reading comic books and continued reading them well into my adulthood.
I have a closet full of bagged and boarded issues here in the house - multiple closets, actually – much to the chagrin of my wife.
When it comes to humor stuff, I’m a big John Swartzwelder fan. Michael Ian Black has written some good books too. The list goes on and on.


6. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I’m not sure that I ever did.
Don’t get me wrong, I like writing and I was always doing it. As a kid I wrote, illustrated, and stapled up the side at least three hundred home made comic books.
The problem with me is that, while I really love coming up with stories, the actual act of transferring those stories from my brain into written form is mostly a pain in the ass. It’s tedious. It’s frustrating, and it’s annoying, and I can think of at least a hundred things I’d rather be doing.
One of those things is nibbling on the freshly clipped clippings from my toenails, so that should tell you something.


7. Tell us about your previous works, the Forts series and the Bad Guys web comic, etc.
Forts was a young adult/fantasy trilogy I polished off last year and it has almost nothing in common with Goats Eat Cans. It’s somber, it’s twice the size, it’s a heck of a lot more serious, and there’s not one single reference to Kim Kardashian’s posterior or Dom DeLuise’s goofy little hat.
 The Bad Guys is a mostly weekly webcomic that I write and illustrate and is really sort of a free time kind of thing. I love doing it, but I don’t think anyone is reading, or has any interest in reading.
I also work as a graphic designer and illustrator. I’ve done a lot of direct market school stuff, and some promotional web based things, and recently I began putting together covers for independent authors, which has been a lot of fun.


8. Tell us about The Literary Underground.
LitU (as we affectionately refer to it) is essentially a group of authors helping each other to produce and promote the most polished, professional work possible. Most of us shared a very bad experience with a traditional publisher and decided to band together soon after that. There’s actually a chapter in Goats Eat Cans dedicated to telling exactly what went down with the aforementioned “publisher.”
 It’s terrifying.
And it’s also hilarious.
We’re just a bunch of self-published/independent authors trying to make the most of our work. If you’re an author interested in coming on board you can check us out at: www.litunderground.com


9. What's next for you? Do you have any other projects in the works?
Before the year is out there are at least two more volumes of Goats Eat Cans set for release. In fact, the editor of Volume 2 informed me just yesterday that she would have things wrapped up by Monday morning. Volume 2 should drop some time in early July and Volume 3 around November or December. There’s a picture book I illustrated for Featherweight Press hitting the stores in a couple months and I also have another book titled, Fictional Jerks that should hit in early 2013 – if everything goes according to plan – which it so rarely does.


10. Tell us where all we can find you.
I’m all over the place. The main hub for all things me is: www.novakillustration.com
The main hub for all things Goats Eat Cans is http://www.goatseatcans.blogspot.com/
I’m also on Twitter @stvfoolery and I spend a fair amount of time putzing around on facebook.
I’m a much better putzer than I am a writer.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Desperately Wanting Wednesday: Cover Lust




6678961827 53a3b81485 o Desperately Wanting Wednesday: Cover Lust

It's that time again!  This week is about books we are desperately wanting, based solely on the covers.  These are some book covers that have captivated my interest!





Forbidden (The Guardian Chronicles, #1)












The Willows: Haven (The Willows, #1)






















This post was started and is hosted by Parajunkee.  Please stop by and check out this page!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Interview: Nicholas L. Maze



We are joined today by a great author, Nicholas Maze!  He's here to answer a few questions and get word out about his book, Exit.  

EXIT: How to Leave Debt Forever Exit: How To Leave Debt Forever by Nicholas L. Maze
What 12+ years of schooling never provided is located within this amazing literature. From basic instructions on saving to the reason for America’s current financial dilemma, we receive great advice in the world of finance. People across the globe are crying for relief that will never come. In EXIT, we learn that financial strain is planned and orchestrated. The more America suffers financially, the more successful certain individuals become. How do we eliminate a problem that has been in place for almost 100 years? We first learn how to exit, escape.

Here's what he has to say....

Tell us about your book, "Exit: How To Leave Debt Forever".

EXIT is a non-fiction/finance book. It focuses on eliminating debt and developing true wealth. Unlike the normal financial book that teaches you how to save and invest, this book goes outside the box and teaches about what debt is, what money is, and why the country is going in a downward spiral.

It's a bit different from your other book, "White Collar Woman", what inspired you to write this book?

I was led to write this book through a prophecy I received, before the release of my first book (White Collar Woman; fiction/romance). As I began to research and gather information, I was alarmed at what I was discovering and I knew that most Americans had no knowledge of this information. The prophecy combined with the alarming information was the inspiration for this book.

What are you working on now?

I’m not the average writer. I don’t have a particular genre. My first book was a romance/fiction. My current book is finance/non-fiction. My next book is religion/non-fiction. I believe a true writer can walk into any arena. So, I follow my heart. My religion work is a book that Churches have been in need of, for over 100 years, but has never been written. I believe this work will help restructure Churches and ministries.

Your bio mentions you renewing your relationship with God, do you care to tell us about that? And, how has it affected your writing?

Yes. In 2004, I rededicated my life to GOD. It initially began with me attending my Uncle’s new Church, to show support. After attending the Church for some time and gaining a real understanding about GOD, I wanted to dedicate my life to serving GOD and helping others build a relationship with GOD.
This transformation has everything to do with my writing, because I gain an understanding of where my life was suppose to be. Although I had wrote since the age of 12, it wasn’t until my prophecy, years later, that I focus on my gift and made writing a career.

It also mentioned a prophecy you had in 2009 about your writing, would you share that with us?

Yes. Once or twice a year, we will have prophets visit our Church. On this particular visit, in 2009, the prophet mentioned how he could see me writing books that dealt with finance. At the time, I had recently completed my romance book. So, I understood the writing, but not the finance, because money and love were two different areas. Instead of throwing the prophecy on the shelf, I pursued it and began to discover so many things about our country’s finances and why we’re in our current trap. I discovered the purpose of the prophecy and completed my work, in less than a year.

Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there? (on writing, getting published, etc)

You will NEVER please everybody. I promise. So when you write, write from your heart, because even your best critic can get offended. You are not writing to make people happy. You are writing to influence, inspire, and grow. Write from your heart.
When it comes to getting published, prepare for rejection. There are hundreds of thousands of people applying for the same position every day. If you seriously desire to write, then keep pushing. Some of the best was treated as nothing, in the beginning, but their passion prevailed and so can yours.

Please let us know where all we can find you and your works.

I try to enter every avenue:

My home is www.nicholasmaze.com

Amazon: http://amzn.to/ye4Z2I

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/whKpKF

iTunes: http://bit.ly/xR1hdO

LuLu: http://bit.ly/vChpbL

Twitter: http://bit.ly/HB9Ax7

FaceBook: http://on.fb.me/p8eP4g

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Review: Awaking

Cover for 'Awaking (The Naturals: Book One)' Awaking by Madeline Freeman
Morgan Abbey’s life is about to change.
Just weeks before her senior year is set to begin, a mysterious stranger approaches Morgan with information that has far-reaching ramifications. First, the psychic ability she believes she has just been pretending to have since middle school might actually be real.
Second, her mother, who disappeared abruptly and completely almost a decade ago, might still be alive.
Morgan finds herself in the drawn into a centuries-old struggle involving a group of people who quietly coexist alongside the common people of the world. This shadowy group believes it is time for them to reclaim their former positions of power—and they believe Morgan is the key.
But when the time comes, will Morgan be able to do what it takes to reunite with her mother and fulfill her destiny?

My Review
When I read the blurb for this book, I thought the story line sounded very much like something I'd like, but I honestly didn't have high expectations for the book itself.  I don't know why, I just felt like the writing would not keep me interested, I can't explain it.
I was very pleasantly surprised!  The first night I started reading, I had to force myself to put it down because it was 1:00 in the morning and I had to get up early, so I knew I had to get to bed.  The next day I picked it back up and didn't stop until I was finished!  
It is about a girl, Morgan, and her best friend, Ris.  Morgan is just good as reading people and she just thinks she's more perceptive than other people.  She and Ris run a little business of doing card and palm reading for the kids in her school, and she's very good at it.  Morgan's life changes suddenly when a mysterious older boy named Kellen walks into her life.  She finds herself in the middle of a world she never knew existed. 
I thought this book flowed nicely, the writing was really good.  It kept my interest the whole time and had me excited to discover what would happen page after page.  The ending was written well, and had me searching online, to no avail, to find out when the next in the series would be out.  It is definitely on my must-read list!  I will be searching for the sequel until I can get it!
I give this book 4.5 stars!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Review: Never Say Sorry

Never Say Sorry Never Say Sorry by Rose Edmunds
Claudia Knight is a straight-talking, feisty journalist hungry for her first big scoop. When she receives a tip-off that pharma giant BEP has suppressed a natural cancer cure she’s sceptical, until her source becomes the victim of a hit-and-run and his proof disappears.
Corporate financier Hugo Fleming likes the good life – but he’s broke. The promotion he desperately needs hinges on the successful completion of BEP’s bid to take over bio-software company IDD, run by glamorous and celebrated ethical businesswoman, Julia Fraser. But bulldog boss Stephanie is breathing down his neck, and somehow Hugo can’t seem to stay out of trouble.
When Claudia and Hugo’s paths cross by chance, they clash and sparks fly. But like it or not, their fates become entwined as they both hunt for the missing proof. In a search that takes them from London to New Jersey and Rio, the pair are plunged into a world of mysterious hedge funds, secret insider trading and unexplained killings. To what lengths will they go to find the truth? And how far will the dark forces at work go to keep it hidden?

My Review:
I have to say first that there were so many characters in this book, that it was hard to keep up with who was who..  at first, anyway.  The book jumps from one point of view to another.  
That being said, it had a very interesting concept, and was well written.  I really enjoyed the mystery and suspense of the story.  I felt invested in whether the relationship between Claudia and Hugo would work out, and at times wanting to smack both of them for their stubbornness and failure to understand one another!  I really enjoyed the cover-up story and the trip to solve it was filled with twists and turns and was quite exciting.  This book actually left me wondering.. what if it's got a basis of truth?  What if someone has found a cure for cancer and swept it under the rug?  After reading this book, I now see why someone would do it.. I wouldn't, but I can see it being possible.  I think a good book makes you wonder and almost believe, don't you?
I gave this book 3.5 stars

Sunday, April 8, 2012

And The Winner Is. . .

                                                                             
    
















 Happy Easter!!!  I want to thank those of you who participated in this blog hop!!  I really enjoyed reading your comments.  There weren't very many entries into my mini giveaway, I wish I could just split it up!  But I had to pick a winner, so...

             Shadowyou're the winner!!!!   I will be contacting you shortly so I can get your address and mail you the chocolate asap!  

Thanks again for entering and I hope everyone had fun with the hop!               

Friday, April 6, 2012

Interview with author Ada Adams

Enjoy a little time with a wonderful author, Ada Adams, as she answers questions about her new book!  I think this book looks like a great read and can't wait to dig into it!
 Revamped by Ada Adams
A simple mission turned deadly.
Nineteen-year-old vampire Dawn has led a sheltered life within the confines of her father’s presidential headquarters. Upon being sent on a mission to revamp four goofy misfits into guardians of a peaceful little town of Angel Creek, Dawn believes that all her dreams have finally come true. What starts off as a simple task, turns into something unexpected, changing Dawn’s life forever and leading the action-loving, thrill-seeking vampire teen on a path of mystery, danger and intrigue.
When a human girl is kidnapped by a group of rogue vamps, Dawn discovers that there is more going on in Angel Creek than meets the eye. And it all connects to Ethan, the cute newcomer who seems too perfect to be true, Sebastian, the mysterious vampire with a turbulent past, and even Dawn herself. Dawn must not only succeed in revamping the troubled recruits, but must also prevent the vampire race from being overtaken by a malevolent villain who has a strange and obsessive fascination with her. As threat escalates, romance blooms, and ghosts from her past begin to surface, Dawn is sure of only one thing: her life will never be the same.

Here's what all she had to say...

1. Give us a little synopsis of your debut novel, Revamped.

“ReVamped” is a YA Paranormal novel, with a little bit of romance, and a lot of action, adventure and humor. It tells a story about a vampire girl, Dawn, who is responsible for revamping a group of misfits and training them to become official protectors of a small town of Angel Creek. However, upon Dawn’s arrival in Angel Creek, things go awry. She must not only struggle to train the misfits (who are a far cry from strong, dazzling vampires in both capability and attitude), but she also has to deal with some very big mysteries surrounding her past. Throw in a couple of cute guys, and poor Dawn has a plate full of drama!

2. What is your inspiration for this book?

I wanted to put a bit of a humorous, pop-culture twist on a wonderful genre that we all love so much. There is no denying that in today’s society, vampires are idolized. I drew inspiration from that idea and decided to explore what would happen if vampires actually came out of the darkness and started coexisting with humans. We would treat them like celebrities, wouldn’t we? However, what if those vampires weren’t so perfect? What if they were a bunch of misfits who bore little resemblance to the vampires we so dearly love? From that, began a TV script about a strong vampire chick who was responsible for revamping these misfits. After writing the pilot, I came to the conclusion that the story would work better as a novel. At Dawn’s insistence (she often woke me up in the middle of the night!), I began writing.

I have a very long and detailed post on the birth of the book on the “ReVamped” Blog: www.revampedthebook.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/revamped-background

I also have an even longer post on how the Angel Creek setting came about:

http://revampedthebook.wordpress.com/2012/03/21/revamped-setting-angel-creek

3. Do you feel you are personally connected to any one character especially? Who and why?

I care for each of the characters (the non-villainy ones at least!) very deeply. Throughout the book, I have grown to love them all—even the ones that drive me crazy sometimes. I’m always rooting for Dawn, because she has not only been through a lot, but there is still so much that she needs to learn about herself. I’m really looking forward to watching her grow as the series progresses and truly come into her own (she’s doing pretty well with the kick-butt vampire part of her personality, so we’ll be working “Dawn - The Girl” aspect).

4. When can we expect the next installment of The Angel Creek Chronicles?

“ReAwakened”, the second book in the Angel Creek series, will be out in the summer of 2012. An exact date will be announced later this spring. I’m very excited about the story so far. We will get to learn more about the misfits’ pasts, as well as see the romance between Dawn and the boys develop on a much deeper and more exciting level. We will also meet a few new characters who are causing some havoc in Angel Creek!

5. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

I always felt drawn to creative fields like writing and acting. I have enjoyed writing ever since I could read. I have a great desire to express myself, especially when it comes to dealing with words. Writing is a wonderful way to create worlds that only exist in our minds, as well as bring unique characters to life. I love the power that writing provides me with. Even when I’m just writing for myself (and not intending to publish), I take great pleasure in creating stories. It’s almost like magic!

6. Have you ever, or do you plan to use your education degree to maybe teach others how to write?

I love to encourage children to express themselves through writing, so I do hope that I will be able to spend more time working with kids. I’m currently volunteering in a reading recovery program in an elementary school. It’s a wonderful way to learn about great new children’s authors. I recently spent some time teaching a unit on fairytale writing to a grade two class, and they wrote such incredible stories! Kids are so imaginative, so I enjoy cultivating that creativity.

7. You’ve been writing for a long time, is there more projects currently awaiting publication?

While I do have other written work, as well as tons of new ideas in my head, my main goal at this point in time is to tell Dawn’s story and finish the “Angel Creek” series. This comes from my own experience as a reader—I get so antsy while waiting a year or two for a new book in a series to come out, so I have chosen this route in order to not make my readers wait too long. I’m already getting threatening emails about the fact that summer is too far away for some! :)

8. What is the idea you would like your readers to most get from your writing?

Ideally, I hope that they enjoy the story and have fun while reading it!

9. What is your favorite way to write? (place, typed vs. hand-written, etc).

I like to brainstorm ideas outside, using a pen and paper. I love to be in the sunshine, lie comfortably on the grass, and listen to the sounds of nature. However, when I sit down to write, I prefer to be in the office, in front of the computer, and work best in complete silence.

10. Any advice for all those aspiring writers out there?

Keep writing and don’t give up! If you have the passion for creating stories, do something about it. Start a journal or a blog, enroll in a workshop, join an online community of writers, do whatever it takes to motivate yourself to achieve your writing goals. I also believe that you should always take great pleasure in each piece of work you create. Be proud of yourself and your love for the craft. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Taking a chance on something unique can be risky, but it can also turn out to be very fun and extremely rewarding. These are just a few of my personal thoughts. What works for me may not work for everyone else. Find your personal inspiration and use it! Happy writing!

Thank you, Ada, for all of the wonderful answers and the time you spent to let your readers get to know you a bit better!!  
If you are as interested as I am, you can buy the book by clicking the title above, or learn more about her by clicking some of the links below..


Monday, April 2, 2012

Review: Fallen In Love

Fallen in Love (Fallen, #3.5) Fallen In Love by Lauren Kate
And in a twist of fate, four extraordinary love stories combine over the course of a romantic Valentine's Day in Medieval England. Miles and Shelby find love where they least expect it. Roland learns a painful lesson about finding-and losing love. Arianne pays the price for a love so fierce it burns. And for the first -and last- time, Daniel and Luce will spend a night together like none other.
Lauren Kate's FALLEN IN LOVE is filled with love stories . . . the ones everyone has been waiting for.
True love never says goodbye. . .

My Review:
I have been waiting to read this book for what seems like forever.. It is composed of four stories of love and sometimes lost love.  I was quite surprised at the stories of Arianne and of Roland, they showed some insight into the depth of each character.  I think my favorite was of Miles and Shelby, it was sweet and had me captured from the beginning.  I didn't, however, feel like there was enough of Daniel and Luce in this book.  
Although the stories were interesting, I'm just desperate for more of the story that the Fallen books have given us for so long.  I am impatiently waiting for the continuation of this beautiful love story so, even though I thoroughly enjoyed the stories she had to offer in this installment, I was still left a bit unsatisfied.. not because of the writing or lack of interest, but because I am anxious to know what the future (or present) has in store for Daniel and Luce.  
I give this book 3.5 stars, but only because it was short and I'm still starving for more of the original story..