Subject Seven - James A. Moore (Review)

Years ago, scientists began developing the ultimate military weapon: deadly sleeper assassins housed within the bodies of teenagers. Now, Subject Seven, the dangerous alter-ego living inside a 16-year-old boy, has escaped the lab and is on a mission. His objective? To seek out others like him and build an army capable of destroying their creators.

Hunter, Cody, Gene, Tina, and Kylie: five teenagers leading typical lives, until the day they each receive a call from a mysterious stranger-and learn that their destinies are intertwined. Subject Seven holds the key that connects them all. And a vicious, bloody battle for their lives is just beginning. Synopsis taken from Goodreads.

Title: Subject Seven
Author: James A. Moore
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: January 20, 2011
Format: ARC
Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Penguin Canada for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 
Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository, Chapters.
My rating: 3 stars

Hunter, also known as Subject Seven, is a modified military weapon, engineered in a laboratory. He escapes from the covert military experimental laboratory. Now on an escape mission, he finds others similar to him, and bands together with them. We see Subject Seven’s character, the alter ego to his actual teenage identity, Hunter, battle for dominance. Both identities will need to piece together the mystery surrounding the secret military operation. They will also need to learn how to live cohesively together, as they both struggle for control of their body.

Cody, Gene, Tina, and Kyrie are others who are similar to Hunter. They all have gaps in their memories that they are having to deal with. It is refreshing to see things from their perspective, and not just from Subject Seven’s point of view. It can be a little confusing as the story does jump around a bit. However, there is quite a bit of gratuitous violence, and I would recommend this book to older teens due to the amount of violence included in the story.

All in all, a good concept, leaving the reader wanting to find out what happens next. Some may find the violence a little too graphic, and should forge ahead with caution if they decide to read it.

The Ruining - Anna Collomore - Blog Tour Review

Annie Phillips is thrilled to leave her past behind and begin a shiny new life on Belvedere Island, as a nanny for the picture-perfect Cohen family. In no time at all, she falls in love with the Cohens, especially with Libby, the beautiful young matriarch of the family. Life is better than she ever imagined. She even finds romance with the boy next door. 

All too soon cracks appear in Annie's seemingly perfect world. She's blamed for mistakes she doesn't remember making. Her bedroom door comes unhinged, and she feels like she's always being watched. Libby, who once felt like a big sister, is suddenly cold and unforgiving. As she struggles to keep up with the demands of her new life, Annie's fear gives way to frightening hallucinations. Is she tumbling into madness, or is something sinister at play? 

The Ruining is a complex ride through first love, chilling manipulation, and the terrifying depths of insanity. 

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: The Ruining 

Author: Anna Collomore 

Genre: Young Adult, contemporary. 

Publisher: Razorbill 

Publication Date: February 7, 2013 

Format: E-ARC 

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Penguin/Razorbill for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. This review is part of the Razorbill blog tour. 

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository, Chapters 

My Rating: 4/5

Annie Phillips jumps at the chance to nanny for a family in sunny California when she realizes it would mean she could leave her current life, and family, behind. She falls in love with the Cohen family, and idolizes Libby. The adage be careful what you wish for comes into play as she realizes that not everything is ideal in her new life. She fights to hold on to her sanity as she tries to figure out if Libby is truly the person she thinks she is; or if she is the cause for all of the weird  and crippling situations that are occurring with a frightening regularity.

The Ruining has oppressive undertones that nag and worry the reader as they are reading. It is easy to see Annie's descent into madness, even though she herself cannot see it. Within the first few pages we get a glimmering of Libby's personality. However, Annie, who is completely enraptured with creating the ideal life for herself with a new family, does not see that there is something off with her 'perfect' family. 

The undertones throughout the novel continue to build this web of confusion, and madness around Annie, leaving the reader unsettled. As we find out more, we realize, long before Annie does, how dangerous Libby can be. Nothing is as it seems, and Annie will need to figure out what is going on before she loses herself, her identity, completely.

I would have liked more closure, for Annie's sake, as I felt that there were some things left unresolved. Collomore weaves a brilliant tale of madness and horror as Annie realizes that things are not alright, that she cannot trust herself, or those around her. I just wish that there had been a more visual, more tangible interaction between Annie and Libby at the end of the book once Annie comes full circle and realizes just what has happened to her. I felt the ending was a bit anti-climactic for my taste. That is not to say others won't enjoy it, I just wanted a little more action.

All in all, The Ruining is a chilling and disturbing read that does not pull any punches. Annie struggles with identity and madness. The sheer insidiousness of the book alone had me reading along wanting to know more, with the hope that Annie would realize what was happening to her before it was too late. Even now, the book has gotten under my skin, and it has left me feeling a little unsettled.      

Blog Tour: Fall From Grace - Charles Benoit - Author Interview

Charles Benoit is here today with an author interview courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for his book, Fall From Grace. Thank you for being here today, Charles! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

What one song would you say describes the world as you see it?

(Let’s get Moving) Into Action by Tim Armstrong and Skye Swetnam 

If Grace and Sawyer were walking down the street, and they ran into you, what would they say?

Sawyer wouldn’t say anything, he’d simply wait for me to say something. But that’s okay since Grace would do the talking for both of us, probably a rant about how Larry was the best Stooge or that Bonnie and Clyde was a good movie that was ruined by the ending. 

 If Murphy's law affected you, what scenario would you see most likely unfolding?

If? I get no special dispensation from Mr. Murphy. It usually rears its ugly head around deadlines and freezing computers, but it’s been known to pop up when I’m due to make a speech or big presentation, often as a nasty shaving cut (on my bald head, naturally), a missing sock, hiccups or laryngitis. 

If you could choose to eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? 

Sushi. Specifically nigirizushi, which is basically raw fish on a ball of rice. I have been known to exist on it for days at a time. 

Can you give us a description of FALL FROM GRACE in haiku? 

Nice guy with no clue 

Clever girl with lots of plans 

Steal something for me

Thank you again for being here today, Charles! 

Charles Benoit can be found on his website, his blog, and on facebook. 

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Grace always has a plan. There’s her plan to get famous, her plan to get rich, and—above all—her plan to have fun. Sawyer has plenty of plans too. Plans made for him by his mother, his father, his girlfriend. Maybe they aren’t his plans, but they are plans. When Sawyer meets Grace, he wonders if he should come up with a few plans himself. Plans about what he actually wants to be, plans to speak his own mind for a change, plans to maybe help Grace with a little art theft. Wait a minute—plans to what?

Synopsis taken from goodreads. 

Blog Tour: Breaking Beautiful - Jennifer Shaw Wolf - Book Trailer Debut, Giveaway, and Guest Post

Jennifer Shaw Wolf is here today with the debut of her book trailer for her soon to be released book, Breaking Beautiful, courtesy of the Teen Book Scene. Thank you for being here today, Jennifer! You can follow along with the blog tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

About seventeen years ago I stood in front of some executives from Bonneville Communications to tell them why I was majoring in Broadcast Communications and why I deserved their scholarship money. My speech went something like this: "Being a broadcasting major is like finding out exactly what I want to do with my life, that I never knew I wanted." As confusing as that phrase might be, I won the scholarship. Then I got my degree in broadcasting, went on to be a stay-at-home mom and never worked (ha ha) a day in my life. 

Even though I have never had a "real" job in broadcasting, video-production has been one of my hobbies, loves, and passions since my first year of college. In school, my emphasis was in production (behind the camera) as opposed to news (in front of the camera), but we were encouraged to try both sides. After spending a few months as a very pregnant student reporter I never wanted to go in front of the camera again. (I've been trying to work up the nerve to vlog, but still haven't gotten there yet.)

The part of video production that I love is editing the pieces together to create a story, from something as small as telling a couple's love story for a wedding video to a mini-documentary that followed a three day pioneer reenactment done by teens from my church. 

What I've learned about visually telling a story has helped me a with writing (the the "what I wanted to do with my life that I've always known I wanted"). I visualize a scene over and over in my mind before and as I write it, and once it's written I look for the "heart" of the shot (or line or paragraph or chapter) and trim away what doesn't work, just like I do when I edit videos. 

Today I FINALLY get to debut the combination of my two loves, writing and video production. I've had the book trailer for BREAKING BEAUTIFUL in my mind since I first started writing the story. Right when I was ready to really get started on it, some personal things came up and I ended up having to scale back my original idea a lot, but I couldn't be happier with the result. 

I had so much creating this trailer. I loved working with  my "Allie," Brooklyn. She's one of my son's friends, an amazing teen actress (and singer) and just a really fun girl. I put her through a lot of to geth this finished; lying on a cold ledge, running in heels, and taking time out of her spring break vacation, but she was always willing to do it. I'm also grateful to North Thurston high school in Lacey, Washington and for letting me use the school locker area and to the Librarian, Steve Coker for helping me arrange that. And since we're doing the academy award thing; thanks to my amazing videographer-husband David and my son and other teen actors, David, Tristan (best creepy voice ever), Jennifer, Chelsie, Mellissa, Josh, Ben, and Jesse. 

So with way ado that is probably necessary here is the trailer for BREAKING BEAUTIFUL. 

Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a horrible car accident—including her memory of the event. As their small town mourns his death, Allie is afraid to remember because doing so means delving into what she’s kept hidden for so long: the horrible reality of their abusive relationship.

When the police reopen the investigation, it casts suspicion on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around town. Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free? Debut writer Jennifer Shaw Wolf takes readers on an emotional ride through the murky waters of love, shame, and, ultimately, forgiveness.

Synopsis taken from goodreads. 

Giveaway Details

Jennifer Shaw Wolf has graciously offered up a copy of Breaking Beautiful for giveaway. 

Thank you, Jennifer! 

Giveaway is open to US only. 

Giveaway will end April 24, 2012. 

Please fill out this FORM to enter. Comments, while appreciated, won't be counted as entries.

Thank you! 

Blog Tour: The Wicked and the Just - J. Anderson Coats - Author Interview

J. Anderson Coats is here today with an author interview courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her soon to be released novel, The Wicked and the Just. Thank you for being here today! You can follow along with the tour here. Enjoy!

What was your favourite scene from THE WICKED AND THE JUST to write?

At the end, there’s a scene where Cecily realizes the consequences of her actions. It’s gripping, abrupt and devastating, and it changes her completely.

What song would you say describes the world as you see it?

“It’s the End of the World As We Know It” by Great Big Sea.

Can you give us a description of THE WICKED AND THE JUST in haiku?

Medieval North Wales.

Tax breaks and cheap land. Life’s good

If you are English.

If Murphy's Law applied to you, what outcome would you most likely see happening?

Probably the same as what happens now. If I’m in a good mood, I see the beauty all around me. If I’m blue, that’s the way the world has always been and always will be just kill me now.

If you could go back in history to any time period, which would you choose, and why?

Hmm, knowing what I know about history, I’m pretty fond of the twenty-first century. I like flush toilets and antibiotics and representative democracy. But I have to say I’d be tempted to visit the great age of sail - the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. There’s something very appealing about a world of frontiers, a world driven by discovery and novelty and the sense of potential for an ordinary (admittedly male) person with a little bit of luck and a lot of moxie.

The historian in me is scolding me for this choice, as it was also the advent of modern chattel slavery and the disastrous introduction of disease to the New World. But this era had the kind of restless energy and optimism that faded away once there was nothing left for people to discover. We traded wonder for knowledge, and although this was in no way a bad trade, something is definitely absent from a world without any more frontiers for ordinary people to explore.

Thank you for being here today, and answering my questions, J! 

J. Anderson Coats can be found on her website, her blog, and on twitter. 

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Cecily’s father has ruined her life. He’s moving them to occupied Wales, where the king needs good strong Englishmen to keep down the vicious Welshmen. At least Cecily will finally be the lady of the house.

Gwenhwyfar knows all about that house. Once she dreamed of being the lady there herself, until the English destroyed the lives of everyone she knows. Now she must wait hand and foot on this bratty English girl.

While Cecily struggles to find her place amongst the snobby English landowners, Gwenhwyfar struggles just to survive. And outside the city walls, tensions are rising ever higher—until finally they must reach the breaking point.

Synopsis taken from goodreads. 

Blog Tour: Pieces of Us - Margie Gelbwasser - Author This or That

Margie Gelbwasser is here today with an author this or that courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her book, Pieces of Us. Thank you for being here today, Margie! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Pop or Coffee: Coffee, definitely. Can't start a day without it.

Rock or Rap: Bon Jovi, Springsteen, Beatles—rock all the way

Skirts or Pants: Jeans are my go to style

Lipstick or Lip gloss: Why wear it if you can't see it? :-)

Writing or reading: I'm going to cheat and say both. I need both to survive.

Toaster Strudel or Pop tarts: My health has been eh and I'm on a gluten free diet now, so unfortunately neither.

Tom boy, or girly girl: Girly tom boy maybe? I like to hang with the guys, but want to look cute doing it.

Serious and sweet, or carefree and reckless guys: As a teen, I was into the reckless, class clown type guys. As an adult, I'll go for the sweet, but they don't have to be serious all the time. :-)

Comedies, or Action movies: I like both, but not usually rom-coms or chick flicks.

Summer or Winter: Definitely summer. I'll take one snowfall so my kid can get the sledding out of his system, and then bring on the warmth.

Mountains or Beach: I like hiking a lot, and the ocean. If we're talking vacation spots, the beach will probably win.

Thank you for sharing your preferences with us, Margie; and thank you so much for being here today!

Margie Gelbwasser can be found on her website, her blog and on twitter. 

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Two families. Four teens.

A summer full of secrets.

Every summer, hidden away in a lakeside community in upstate New York, four teens leave behind their old identities…and escape from their everyday lives.

Yet back in Philadelphia during the school year, Alex cannot suppress his anger at his father (who killed himself), his mother (whom he blames for it), and the girls who give it up too easily. His younger brother, Kyle, is angry too—at his abusive brother, and at their mother who doesn’t seem to care. Meanwhile, in suburban New Jersey, Katie plays the role of Miss Perfect while trying to forget the nightmare that changed her life. But Julie, her younger sister, sees Katie only as everything she’s not. And their mother will never let Julie forget it.

Up at the lake, they can be anything, anyone. Free. But then Katie’s secret gets out, forcing each of them to face reality—before it tears them to pieces.

Synopsis taken from goodreads. 

Blog Tour: Pretty Crooked - Elisa Ludwig - Aiden This or That

Elisa Ludwig is here today with a character this or that list, courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her new novel, Pretty Crooked. Thank you for being here today, Elisa! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Khaki Pants or Jeans? Jeans, for sheez.

Pomegranate or Dragon Fruit? Dragon Fruit, just because it sounds badass.

Action or Drama Movie? Action. Preferably John Woo.

Go Out or Stay In? Go out. The world is out there!

Coffee or Tea? Coffee, and chocolate-covered coffee beans.

Desktop or Laptop? Laptop, because I like to go out (see above).

Marilyn Monroe or Audrey Hepburn? Marilyn.

Dr. Pepper or Mr. Pibb? Dr. Pepper, but only because I had to look up Mr. Pibb!

Dog or Cat? Dogs. If I could, I want adopt all of them!

Boxers or Briefs? Boxers. A dude needs some space.

Thank you for giving us your preferences, Aiden! Thank you also, Elisa, for being here today!

Elisa Ludwig can be found on her website, and on twitter. 

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High school sophomore Willa and her artist mother move to Arizona where Willa starts attending an elite prep school after her mother finally sells some paintings, and Willa attempts to even things out by stealing from the rich students and giving to the poor ones.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: Cobbogoth - Hannah Clark - Author Interview & Giveaway

Hannah Clark is here today with an author interview courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her new release, Cobbogoth. Thank you for being here today, Hannah! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

What would your characters say to you if they met you walking down the street?

Lylend: “Ah, so you’re the kyndie who made me a jewelry-making war captain. Not sure how I feel about that.”

James: “At least she gave you ‘Viking-sized’ arms and a nice scar, old man. That’s something.”

Norah: “But are you sure you meant to make me the protagonist in Cobbogoth? I mean, look at me, I’m a freak.”

Lylend: “What exactly is a ‘freak’, kyndie?”

James: “Don’t listen to Nor; one day I’ll convince her that she’s beautiful. In the meantime, can you tell me what’s up in Book 2? Do I get to kiss her again?

Lylend: “Eh-hey! That’s my kynd!”

Norah: *blushing*

If Murphy's Law applied to you, what scenario would most likely happen? 

I don’t know. I’m a pretty cautious person. I consider all that could go wrong before I go into a situation, so I’m usually prepared for the best and worst case scenario.

Describe Cobbogoth in one sentence. 

Cobbogoth is a fast-paced fantasy-adventure with mystery, danger, and intrigue, a unique and complex power system, and a story and mythology all its own.

What inspired you to write about archaeology? 

I love ancient things—artifacts, legends, buildings, history, etc. When I was a kid, my best friend and I used to explore our small town looking for Native American and pioneer artifacts. We never found anything exciting, but it was fun just the same. I guess you could say that I was with my town, the way Uncle Jack was with Hella, Iceland, only he was searching for Viking and Cobbogothian artifacts.

What will readers hopefully take away from Cobbogoth? 

I hope readers take three things away from reading Cobbogoth:

1) Most of all, I hope the world of Cobbogoth and Norah’s story gets under their skin, the way only entering a unique, new world can. And I hope they can’t wait to come back!

2) I hope they leaving feeling like being afraid of something is okay—we live in a scary world—but that they are inspired to face their fears and push through them. Like Lylend says to Norah: “You can’t really be courageous without fear, for courage is when you act in spite of the fear.”

3) Finally, I hope they have a better understanding of how our choices don’t just affect us, but everyone around us. We all belong to some kind of a community, whether it is our family, our town, or society in general. Like Norah, when she has to make a decision about the Haven, I think it’s so important to consider how our choices will affect our communities before we make them. And despite popular belief, I want readers to see how powerful selfless choices can be—they are the choices that change the world for the better.

If you could sum up Norah's personality in one sentence, what would it be? 

Norah is an extremely smart, very loyal, yet chronically anxious seventeen-year-old who is not only searching for where she belongs in the world, but wants to love and be loved more than anything.

What is your favorite line from Cobbogoth? 

Aside from the line by Lylend up above, it’s a toss-up between these two:

“What is it with you and shiny rocks?” -Norah

and

“I see you’ve met the ding-bats.” -James

What is up next for you? 

Well, I’ve just finished the outline for Book 2 in the Cobbogoth series, and have started writing. I’m very excited about the continuation of James and Norah’s story. We are hoping to have it out by December of 2013.

Thank you for answering my questions, and for being here today, Hannah! 

Hannah Clark can be found on her website. 

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To seventeen-year-old Norah Lukens, the Cobbogothians were just a myth. But after her archeologist uncle's brutal murder, and being asked to translate one of his old research journals for evidence, she begins a journey to discover the truth for herself.

Chasing the myth her uncle was obsessed with, Norah learns that his murder was a cover up for something far more sinister. If she hopes to save others from suffering the same fate he did--including the peculiarly magnetic James Riley--she must head to Iceland in order to find out the truth once and for all.

If she succeeds, she'll gain the one thing she's always longed for.

But if she fails, not even the gods can help her.

Synopsis taken from goodreads. 

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Giveaway Details

Hannah Clark has graciously provided Lost For Words with a copy of Cobbogoth for giveaway. 

Thank you, Hannah!

Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. Sorry to those of you who are international. 

Giveaway will end on Monday, March 19.

Please fill out this FORM to enter. Comments, while appreciated, will not be counted as entries. 

Thank you!

Blog Tour: Deadly - Julie Chibbaro - Author Interview

Julie Chibbaro is here today with an author interview courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her book, Deadly. Thank you for being here today, Julie! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy! 

Can you give us a description of DEADLY in haiku?

A girl scientist

fights a fever spread by

Typhoid Mary, cook

If you could jump into any story, and live out the story alongside the characters, what world/story would you most like to visit?

Most of the books and stories I love are pretty godawful worlds I wouldn't exactly want to visit. Like in The God of Small Things, she lives in a poor part of India. In The Poisonwood Bible, they live in a terrible part of Africa. I'm attracted to dark stories about people who overcome, or don't. That is the fascinating part for me.

What wouldn't you want to see grace the headlines of a major newspaper about you? What would you want it to say?

Um, is that a trick question? I wouldn't want to see anything about my housekeeping abilities. They're just embarrassing. I would want the headlines to talk about what a good mother I am. I think that's been a point of pride for me. And, of course, about my stellar writing ability, hee, hee!

If you were given the power to have three wishes granted, what would you choose?

Wish number one: Enough money to take care of my family and be generous with others in the world. Number two: A cure for cancer. Number three: to go back in time and use that cure on the people I've lost.

If you were a tree, which kind of tree would you be and why?

I think I'd like to be a banana tree. I love their long, elegant leaves, and the fruit they produce.

Thank you for answering my questions, and for being here today, Julie! 

Julie Chibbaro can be found on her website, and on twitter. 

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Prudence Galewski doesn’t belong in Mrs. Browning’s esteemed School for Girls. She doesn’t want an “appropriate” job that makes use of refinement and charm. Instead, she is fascinated by how the human body works—and why it fails.

Prudence is lucky to land a position in a laboratory, where she is swept into an investigation of a mysterious fever. From ritzy mansions to shady bars and rundown tenements, Prudence explores every potential cause of the disease to no avail—until the volatile Mary Mallon emerges. Dubbed “Typhoid Mary” by the press, Mary is an Irish immigrant who has worked as a cook in every home the fever has ravaged. But she’s never been sick a day in her life. Is the accusation against her an act of discrimination? Or is she the first clue in solving one of the greatest medical mysteries of the twentieth century?

Synopsis taken from goodreads. 

Blog Tour: The Catastrophic History of You and Me - Jess Rothenberg - Brie This or That List

Jess Rothenberg is here today with a Brie character this or that list courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her new release, The Catastrophic History of You and Me. It just hit shelves today. You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy! 

Dead or Alive: I wish I’d made it to sixteen, definitely. But being D&G (Dead and Gone) isn’t all bad, especially with Patrick hanging around to keep me company. ; )

Candles or Flashlights: Bonfire at Maverick’s!

Sweet Sixteen or Over the Hill: Forever young, I wanna be forever young…

Water or Land: Learned how to swim before I learned how to walk.

Flowers or Chocolate: Wendy’s Frosty, please.

Silly or Serious: Does seriously silly count?

Jacob or Patrick: <3 them both for different reasons.

Laugh or Giggle: Giggles that sneak up on you when you least expect them and then refuse to leave.

Summer or Winter: San Francisco Summer! (Be warned, you will still need a sweater.)

Dresses or Jeans: Dresses all the way. That is, except when you’re zooming headfirst off the Golden Gate Bridge. Gets a little windy otherwise!

Thank you for sharing Brie's preferences with us, Jess! Thank you also for being here today! 

Jess Rothenberg can be found on her website, her blog, and on twitter. 

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Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning.... Welcome to forever.

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

Synopsis taken from goodreads. 

Blog Tour: Griffin Rising - Darby Karchut - Tens List

Darby Karchut is here today with a tens list courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her book, Griffin Rising. Thank you for being here today, Darby! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Top 10 Favorite Movies:

10. Ben-Hur

9. Raiders of the Lost Ark

8. Dances with Wolves

7. Gladiator

6. Last of the Mohicans

5. Master and Commander

4. Ladyhawke

3. Braveheart

2. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (I have action figures.)

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. (I have action figures AND a lunchbox.)

Thank you for sharing your favourite movies with us, Darby; and thank you so much for being here today! 

Darby Karchut can be found on her website. 

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For centuries, rumors have abounded of a lowly caste of supernatural beings known as the Terrae Angeli. Armed with the power to control Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water, these warriors secretly serve as guardians for mortals in danger.But for one young angel-in-training, Griffin, life is hell as a cruel master makes his apprenticeship a nightmare. On the verge of failing, a new mentor, Basil, enters his life and changes it forever.Taking on the identity of father and son, Griffin and Basil forge a special bond where honesty and trust go hand in hand to secure Griffin's destiny as a Terrae Angeli. Griffin's belief in himself and the love of a mortal girl are the perfect combination in overcoming the darkest days of his life. But will it be enough for him to succeed? For Griffin, it's time to angel up.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: A Touch Morbid - Leah Clifford - Eden Character Interview

Leah Clifford is here today with her main character, Eden, courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her upcoming release, A Touch Morbid. Thank you for being here today, Leah! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Hi Eden! Thank you for being here today to answer some of my questions! 

What's the hardest part about dealing with the other territory leaders?

The drama. Ugh! It's constant! I mean, I know my life and crew aren't exactly sunshine and puppy dogs but wow. Between Kristen's grave-robbing fashion sense and well...the rest of them you learn more about in A Touch Morbid, but they are seriously messed up.

If you could define yourself in one song, what would it be and why? 

Glittering Cloud by Imogen Heap. The lyrics hit too close to home sometimes.

Looking back, would you change anything if you could? 

That's such a hard question. Everything that's happened has led to something else. If I was mortal, because of my path, I wouldn't have been with Az. I've been through terrible things--we all have--but if even one thing was changed, I wouldn't be where I am today.

If you could describe Az in one word, what would it be? 

Captivating.

What do you hope will happen in the future for you? 

I hope Luke will leave us alone. I hope the Bound will just go away. But it's not going to happen. Right now I'm just hoping Az doesn't Fall and that we all survive to see another day.

Thank you again for answering my questions, Eden! 

Thank you for being here today with Eden, Leah! 

Leah Clifford can be found on her website, her blog, and on twitter.

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Eden won the battle-she saved her true love from the darkest evil. But the war has only just begun. With secrets swirling around her, powerful allies unraveling, and life-and death-as she knows it eroding, Eden and those she loves tread dangerous ground. Can she trust anyone? Will her unearthly powers be her salvation or her downfall? A sweeping, dark, and sexy paranormal romance that will haunt readers with an inventive mythology and a cinematic New York City filled with shadows and longing.

Synopsis taken from goodreads. 

Blog Tour: The Miseducation of Cameron Post - Emily M. Danforth - Cameron This or That List

Emily M. Danforth is here today with a character this or that list for her main character, Cameron, courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for The Miseducation of Cameron Post. Thank you for being here today, Emily! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Milk or honey? Milk.

Hot or cold beverages? Cold, cold, cold—the more ice the better. And if it’s crushed ice: sign me up.

Music or solitude? Music. Better yet: movie playing in background.

Country or city? For now: city.

Condo or house? House

Victorian or gothic? As in: style of architecture? As in: my taste in classic literature? As in: romantic notions of history? I have no idea. No answer. Or, better yet: neither. My pick is The Jazz Age.

Jeans or dress pants? Ha: jeans. Jeans, jeans, jeans.

Long or short hair? For me? For others? I don’t know—how about a mid-length bob, not too long, not too short. I have no idea. The less I have to think about my hair the better.

Fantasy or contemporary? Contemporary.

Dragon or centaur? Dragon. Maybe Puff the Magic Dragon.

College or university? For right now: neither.

Fearless or timid? Both, sometimes in equal parts. I am often surprised by which I exhibit, given the circumstance.

Fate or make your own way? I make my own way.

Love or lust? Love.

Peach or kiwi? Neither. Bleh: gross. What happened to cherries? What happened to pears? What happened to apples and wild raspberries and clementines? Well, maybe peach pie, if I have to pick one. But only those peaches if they’re sugared and backed up in a flaky crust. Only then.

Thank you so much for being here today, Cameron, and giving us your preferences! 

Thank you also, Emily, for being here today! 

Emily M. Danforth can be found on her website, and on twitter. 

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When Cameron Post’s parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief she’ll never have to tell them that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl.

But that relief soon turns to heartbreak, as Cam is forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different. Survival in Miles City, Montana, means blending in and not making waves, and Cam becomes an expert at this—especially at avoiding any questions about her sexuality.

Then Coley Taylor moves to town. Beautiful pickup-driving Coley is a perfect cowgirl with the perfect boyfriend to match. To Cam’s surprise, she and Coley become best friends—while Cam secretly dreams of something more. Just as that starts to seem like a real possibility, her secret is exposed. Ultrareligious Aunt Ruth takes drastic action to “fix” her niece, bringing Cam face-to-face with the cost of denying her true self—even if she’s not quite sure who that is.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a stunning and unforgettable literary debut about discovering who you are and finding the courage to live life according to your own rules.

Synopsis taken from goodreads. 

Blog Tour: Dragonswood - Janet Lee Carey - Book Party

Before I begin about the fun ways we’re celebrating the Dragonswood book launch, special thanks to Corrine for hosting this post!

Book Tour

We’ve been celebrating Dragonswood in a number of ways beginning with Kari’s terrific blog tour for the book on The {Teen} Book Scene (http://theteenbookscene.weebly.com/dragonswood-tour-details.html) the day after Christmas. Now here we are at Lost for Words for the last book tour post. It’s flown by so fast.

Book Birthday

On the official book birthday (January 5th) I lunched with Justina Chen (http://justinachen.blogspot.com/) award-winning author of North of Beautiful, Girl Overboard, and Nothing But the Truth: and a Few White Lies. We “dined and signed” stopping by the local bookstore for me to sign fresh copies of Dragonswood. I love the cracking sound when I open a new book for the first time. Later that day I went canoeing on Phantom Lake and spotted a bald eagle soaring overhead = perfect way to spend a book birthday.

Giving Back

We like to celebrate a new book by giving back in some way. Since Dragonswood features the endangered fairies and dragons of Wilde Island, we put Defenders of Wildlife (http://www.defenders.org/index_v2.html) on the website (http://www.janetleecarey.com) supporting the protection of endangered animals in our modern-day world.

The Party

The celebration will continue when we throw our big Dragonswood Medieval Masquerade Party at Parkplace Books on February 25th. We always throw a huge party for readers, writers, and friends with delicious eats and treats. This year along with our traditional salmon, fresh bread, and chocolates, we’ll add seaweed to the table. Why? Because Tess and her friends eat seaweed when they’re on the run from the witch hunter, so guests will be asked to nibble some. Luckily I found the perfect seaweed treat.

Here are some party photos by Heidi Pettit.

It’s traditional for folk to come in costume.

 We’ll have our Dancing Dragon

Henna tattoos

Raise funds for Defenders of Wildlife. And along with dining and dancing, I’ll read a scene and sign copies of Dragonswood.

Of course the best celebration of all is a secret one. The moment a reader unknown to me picks up Dragonswood and slips into the story.

Thank you for sharing all about the book launch and party for Dragonswood, Janet!
Thank you so much for being here today!

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Wilde Island is in an uproar after the recent death of its king. The uneasy pact between dragons, fairies, and humans is fraying, and a bloodthirsty witch hunter with a hidden agenda whips villages into frenzies with wild accusations. Tess, a blacksmith’s daughter from a tiny hamlet near the mysterious Dragonswood, finds herself caught in the crosshairs of fate when she is accused of witchery and has to flee for her life along with her two best friends.

Not even Tess’s power to see the future can help the girls as they set off on their desperate journey, but she keeps having visions of a man wielding a sword. And when she finally meets him, Tess has no idea how to handle the magnetic attraction she feels for him, or the elusive call she hears from the heart of the Dragonswood.

In this epic romance, an ancient prophecy comes true in a way neither dragon, fairy, nor human would have predicted.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.