"Adaptation" by Malinda Lo

Release Date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Little Brown
Pages: 386

From Goodreads: "Reese can’t remember anything from the time between the accident and the day she woke up almost a month later. She only knows one thing: She’s different now.

Across North America, flocks of birds hurl themselves into airplanes, causing at least a dozen to crash. Thousands of people die. Fearing terrorism, the United States government grounds all flights, and millions of travelers are stranded.

Reese and her debate team partner and longtime crush David are in Arizona when it happens. Everyone knows the world will never be the same. On their drive home to San Francisco, along a stretch of empty highway at night in the middle of Nevada, a bird flies into their headlights. The car flips over. When they wake up in a military hospital, the doctor won’t tell them what happened, where they are—or how they’ve been miraculously healed.

Things become even stranger when Reese returns home. San Francisco feels like a different place with police enforcing curfew, hazmat teams collecting dead birds, and a strange presence that seems to be following her. When Reese unexpectedly collides with the beautiful Amber Gray, her search for the truth is forced in an entirely new direction—and threatens to expose a vast global conspiracy that the government has worked for decades to keep secret."

If someone were to ask me what one word came to mind when I thought about this book it would be romance- but not romance in your typical sense. You think that the romance is going in one direction and BAM! with the introduction of a new character it goes in a completely different way. Which while entirely unexpected is not wholly unappreciated- I personally love that the romance in this book went in the direction that it did, I think that we need to see more of that in YA (personally I can only think of one book where the main character is questioning their sexuality/ dealing with LGBT issues, "Hushed" by Kelley York, it seems that in YA the LGBT characters are always off to the side, either a secondary character or a sidekick mentioned in passing, not unlike Alec in Cassie Clare's "Mortal Instruments" series or Lola's dads in "Lola and the Boy Next Door").

That being said, while I have been described as a 'kissing book' person, a person who LOVES romance in a book, I did find myself growing tired with it in this. Reese and Amber were near constantly making out in the first half of the book- all I could help but wonder while reading this parts was, "Can't you guys, I don't know, maybe do something else- like talk?" But it was somewhat forgivable as this was such a new experience to Reese, not only in realizing her attraction to a girl, but dating all together- plus it helped that the two of them were just so gosh darn cute and happy together. Furthermore, the love triangle that ensues between Reese, Amber, and David was also quite forgivable because, as mentioned, Reese is at a fork in the road, so to speak- go for the guy she has had a crush on for as long as she can remember or go for the girl who makes her feel alive?

While I did really enjoy Reese, Amber, and David as characters I think that I actually liked Julian, Reese's best friend, and Reese's mother more. Julian was so much more than just the stereotypical best friend- he really helped to propel the storyline along. While Reese's mother was perchance the best mother figure I have ever had the pleasure of reading of before- she was just so gosh darn open-minded when it came to Reese and didn't judge her in the slightest when it came to her relationship with Amber (I loved when she walked in on Reese and Amber making out and basically shrugged and said something along the lines of, "Who am I to judge? It'd be odd if I hadn't ever experimented with the same sex, living in San Francisco and all).

All in all, while this was my first Malinda Lo book it will certainly not be my last (not only will I be reading the sequel to this, but I will also be checking out "Ash" and "Huntress"). I highly recommend this book to everyone, especially those who are iffy on sci-fi because this book is the epitome of a 'sci-fi for those who don't like sci-fi' (a la what Beth Revis said pertaining to her "Across the Universe").

Rating: 4/5

I received this book from the publisher to read and review. I was not compensated in any way for said review.

Author Interview: Sarah Mandell

Today I am excited to have Sarah Mandell, author of "Celia on the Run", on the blog today to tell us a bit about her book, her writing process, and whether or not she loves books that have endings that rip your heart out! 

From Goodreads: "Nick Novaczek is a cautious soul, a 17-year old with a quiet thirst for danger. On the eve of his grandmother’s funeral, danger finds him by the motel swimming pool. Her name is Celia and she’s everything he’s not. This foul-mouthed beauty is hitchhiking across the country to make amends with her estranged father and doesn’t carry an ounce of fear or hesitation in her tattered suitcase. 

Hours after meeting Celia, Nick is hopelessly hooked and “borrows” his parents’ car to join her mission, even though her story is full of holes. It’s the mistake he’s been waiting his whole life to make. After weeks of detours, with hundreds of miles left to go, their wild adventure unravels, but she won’t turn back, no matter how desperate things get. Celia’s got a charming smile to pay her way, a willing accomplice, and an endless supply of lies. Not to mention a gun." 

CELIA ON THE RUN if you first novel, can you tell us a bit about how it came to be?

Celia on the Run is the first of my novels to make it to publication, but it was in the works for quite some time. I started writing it several years ago but had trouble ending the story, so it sat incomplete while I went on to write other novels. I had no clue how to properly end a wild and crazy adventure like Celia on the Run, but was really happy with the characters and the first half of the story, so I couldn't abandon it. In the summer of 2010, while my computer was boxed up and unreachable as my husband and I moved from Maryland to South Carolina, I was struck with the ending quite suddenly, and of course that was horrible timing because I couldn't actually write it down. I finally finished Celia that summer and linked up with a literary agency (Nine Speakers) soon after, who shopped around the manuscript and we eventually signed with Untreed Reads. There was about 4 years in between when I wrote the first chapter and when the novel was published in February of 2012, but looking back, it doesn't feel like that long ago!

What are some upcoming projects that you are working on?

I'm so excited about my next novel, which is something I've been working on over the last year while Celia on the Run went through the editing process. My latest story is called Two Brothers, One Redhead, and a Stolen Giraffe, and it's all at once ridiculous and tender. The story follows Daniel and Dylan McElroy, an inseparable pair who've just excused themselves from the foster system while taking the opportunity to steal a soon-to-be euthanized giraffe, all the way to Nebraska farmland. With a sixteen-foot stowaway in the back of a trailer that also doesn't belong to the trouble-making brothers, they end up in a deserted-looking barn where a beautiful redhead named Josephine discovers them and is very displeased. She lives here with her father who is spoken of but never seen, she's got a way with animals, a secret for every hour of the day, and has unintentionally caught the interest of both brothers who swore they'd never let some girl come between them.

Being an indie author what impact (if any) have book bloggers had on your career?

Book bloggers are incredible in what they do. I had no idea this virtual world even existed until I became a published author, but now I have a huge respect for what's happening out there. All these people who don't know each other, coming to one place to talk books, not just the story lines and characters but what actually goes into writing and publishing them - it doesn't get any better than that! As a first time author with no credentials to write a book other than my intense love of writing, and having published only in ebook format, I know having a web presence is critical for spreading the word, but I also think the blog community has so much to offer in the way of sharing advice and testing out ideas.

Do you read reviews? If so, how do you respond to negative (or not-so-nice) reviews?

I do read reviews, but I try not get offended if someone didn't care for the story. I can't begin tell you how many books I've read and personally disliked, so I wouldn't expect everyone to enjoy reading something I wrote just because I wrote it. I don't write reviews for other books unless I thoroughly enjoyed them because I personally know how much time and effort went into it. The other thing I have to keep in mind is that Celia on the Run is a bit of a tough sell, it's published as Young Adult, but there are some aspects of the story that really aren't appropriate for readers under 16. The story is gritty at times, gut wrenching too, but I tried hard to write realistically without being unnecessarily graphic. Still, this is a story that's not for everyone, and I knew that going in, so I can't expect everyone to enjoy reading it the same way I enjoyed writing it. Thankfully, I've gotten good reviews so far!

Any advice for aspiring authors?

Taking a break from something you've been working on longterm can do wonders for the story and your writing. I know you want to finish it up as soon as possible and get it published, but if it's just not working 100%, give it time. Chances are it will all come together, better than ever, if you let the story rest and move on to something else for awhile. You'll come back with better writing skills, plus a fresh outlook, and that's a winning combination.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Writing Celia on the Run was a multi-media experience for me, and I think that is fairly unusual. With my fine art background, love of photography, and miles and miles of travel experience, a lot of that crept into my writing. I wanted to share that with readers, so if you visit www.celiaontherun.com you'll find a road trip photo album showing Nick and Celia's fictional journey across the US, a map of their zig-zaggy path, and playlists inspired by the story.

Yay or Nay Quick Questions

Coffee? Yes please

Love triangles? Yes, but not in real life

Cliff hangers? Always!

Music while writing? Absolutely, it sets the tone

Endings that rip your heart out? My favorite kind!

Distractions while writing? Knowing I have to stop at a certain point

About the Author: 
Sarah Mandell is a designer and writer living in Greenville, South Carolina. She owns a small handmade business called Once Again Sam where she makes and sells leather jewelry and quirky felted creations to local galleries and customers around the world. Her debut novel, Celia on the Run, was published in 2012 by Untreed Reads.

Back in Action!

Hi y'all!

I'm now back from hiatus and wanted to make a few announcements. First, thanks to all of you for sticking with me during my hiatus- I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it!

A lot happened in September and I'm glad to be back- from starting my masters, to my Birthday, to the blog's 2nd Birthday (I can't believe it's been 2 years!), to the blog hitting 100,000 pageviews (I guess that I have a second thing to thank y'all for ;) ).

As I have started my masters (and my course load is quite heavy- 40 assignments in one semester, not to mention probably at least a thousand pages in readings? You bet! :P ). I don't *think* that I will be able to post my regular 2-4 reviews a week, however I am going to try my best to post at least one a week!

And have no fears, there will still be lots of new content on the blog- I've decided to feature authors on the blog a lot more, therefore you will be seeing author guest posts/ interviews/ excerpts/ giveaways and all of that jazz on the blog at least once a week.

That being said, if you are an author (indie/ self-published/ traditional/ WHATEVER) and would like to be featured on the blog in some manner feel free to contact me at averys(dot)book(dot)nook(at)hotmail(dot)ca! I've already started to schedule authors for November, so the sooner you contact me, the better!

Again, thanks everyone for your patience and continued support, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it! <3>

Cover Reveal: "Release" by M.R. Merrick

Today I am excited to be a part of the cover release of fellow Canadian M.R. Merrick's latest novel, "Release", the third book in his "Protector" series, which will be released on December 10th, 2012! 

"After uniting the shifters and calling in reinforcements, Chase has to face his toughest challenge yet: learning to control his emotions. But as tensions rise and his powers grow, controlling his emotions becomes the least of his problems. 

Terrorized by a multi-shifter who is hell-bent on turning him, Chase questions just how far he’s willing to go to stop his father. Meanwhile, Tiki’s virtuous nature has placed him in the middle of Vincent’s past, leaving Chase to oppose a senate of vampires and defend a demon he hates. 

Trying to balance his friends, his enemies, and his inner demons, Chase is left searching for answers about the Mark, his destiny, and where he can find the next soul piece. Stopping Riley is his top priority, but as more obstacles arise, he finds himself doubting all the decisions he’s made - especially regarding Rayna. 

One thing is for certain: Chase has finally realized that he doesn’t know anything. The light doesn’t always quell the darkness, the monsters don’t always stay in the shadows, and the past doesn’t always stay in the past - sometimes, the demons inside are the hardest to fight."

You can find M.R. Merrick at: 

M.R. Merrick | Goodreads | Exiled (Protector #1) | Shift (Protector #2)

What do you think of the cover? Besides loving the purple I'm totally intrigued! 

Author Interview: Megan Duncan

Today I am excited to have Megan Duncan, author of a few series that I really enjoyed (her "Chaos" series and her "Warm Delicacy" series), stop by the blog for an interview in celebration of her newest release "Chaos"! 

From Goodreads: "Is any shot at living, worth dying for? 

They thought they’d be safe, but a world ruled by chaos doesn’t die easily.

When Max turned on the radio transmissions assuring safety, they came. But, it wasn’t just survivors of the demon apocalypse that crawled their way into the abandoned military base. A myriad of beastly demons unlike any they’ve ever seen, came as well. Abby, and her companions, struggle to survive as the evil around them grows. Desperate to endure, and to defend their fellow survivors, Abby and a squad of fierce fighters, take on a dangerous mission that has deadly consequences."

CHAOS is the second book in your AGENTS OF EVIL series- did you find yourself having an easier time writing CHAOS or did you find it easier writing RELEASED? 

Surprisingly, Chaos was easier for me to write than Released. I spent a lot of time outlining my characters and the story, so I knew how everything was going to play out.

I also started doing visual outlines with Chaos, which helped me to really see the settings and characters as well as the creatures in this book. I've continued to use this technique cause I liked it so much.

Since Released was my very first self-pubed book, I put a lot of pressure on myself and I think that made it hard for me to connect with my muse. Since then I've learned to relax a bit, and let the story flow freely.

Is your AGENTS OF EVIL series planned to be a trilogy? 

The Agents of Evil series is definitely going to be a trilogy. Book 3 is already titled, Vengeance. I have also been mulling around the idea of a fourth book, or even a spin-off novella series.

What are some upcoming projects that you are working on? 

I've actually got quite a few upcoming projects. I tend to work on several things at once. I'm currently writing the third book in my vampire series (Devour, Warm Delicacy Series), and on the side I am writing my very first love story.

How did you come to the decision to self-publish? 

I came to the decision of being self-published about two years ago. I'd sent countless query letters, and have even been duped by fake publishing agencies before I realized that I didn't have to publish the traditional way. Knowing that I could have 100% creative control of my work and have the freedom to write what I wanted to made the decision of being an indie an easy one.

Being a self-published author what impact (if any) have book bloggers had on your career? 

I think Book Bloggers are a vital part of being an indie. Without bloggers I wouldn't have anywhere near the number of fans or the visibility. Bloggers are my heroes in the indie community. Not only do they help to bring an authors book to the readers, but they are also great friends and caring, supportive people. I wouldn't be where I am without them.

Do you read reviews? If so, how do you respond to negative (or not-so-nice) reviews?

At first I read every single review on each of my books. When they were good they made my day and I was the happiest girl on the planet, but when they weren't so good I took it hard. It's been a difficult journey for me to understand that people's opinion won't always be positive and I shouldn't take it to heart. I'm still working on not letting it hurt my feelings, and trying to remember that with each book I am only getting better and growing as a writer.

Any advice for aspiring authors? 

The best advice I can give is 'just do it'! Don't let anyone tell you that you can't follow your dreams.

Anything else you’d like to add? 

I would just like to thank everyone who has read my books, those who've written reviews, hosted me on their blogs or shared me on Facebook and Twitter. Each and every one of you make being a writer that much more wonderful. Your love and support make each word have so much more meaning in my writing. Thank you for taking a chance on a girl with a dream, and I pray that I can continue to entertain you with my stories.

Yay or Nay Quick Questions

Coffee? Definite YAY

Love triangles? When they are unexpected, absolutely YAY

Cliff hangers? Double YAY

Music while writing? Yay and Nay, sometimes music makes the words flow and sometimes it stops them

Endings that rip your heart out? Yay, nothing like a good heart wrenching to leave you pinning for the next book

Distractions while writing? Nay... although I feel like I am always getting distracted. I literally have to turn my phone off to get any writing done

About the author: 
Megan Duncan is a lover of all things paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi and anything just out of the ordinary. She is continually fighting her addiction to chocolate and living in her overactive imagination.
You can find Megan at: 
Facebook/ Website/ Twitter

Cover Reveal: "Opal" by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Today I am excited to be a part of the cover reveal of "Opal", the third book in Jennifer L. Armentrout's (and one of my most favourite) series, the "Lux" series. 

"No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it." 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Follow this link to an ~~~ EPIC CONTEST ~~~ Announcement. You will want to bookmark this page! 

USA TODAY Bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn.

Find Jennifer on: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Blog