4 Reasons You CAN'T Miss Pandemonium!

The 4 Unspoiler-Filled Reasons You MUST Be Reading PANDEMONIUM 

Pandemonium is the second book in Lauren Oliver's Delirium series. Delirium hurt my heart. I was unsure if I wanted to read Pandemonium at all...but I had to. And you have to, too. Here's why.

FIGHTS

There is blood and guts, knives, handcuffs, bruising and lip cuts that make you want to heal them. Sounds creepy but, trust me on this.

STRONG HEROINES

Enter Raven. The appropriately named "Invalid" that takes Lena under her wing. Not to mention the new Lena. If you want a book with a girl who is determined to kick ass, look no further!

REVELATIONS

The truth comes out in many different ways. In your mind, in the things you see around you, in the things you don't hear but feel. It will also make you hold your breath.

THE ENDING.

Sweet, 8 pound 6 ounce, Baby Jesus. I swear to you, I didn't breathe the last few pages. You won't either. Also. WHEN DO WE GET BOOK THREE?! Literally. If I don't get to OHMIGOD with this book about someone VERY VERY soon...I may combust. And you, Lauren Oliver, will be completely to blame!!



Tune In Tuesday! Indifference!

It's the last Tune In Tuesday before the playlist addition!! And let me tell you, I am SO EXCITED for the playlists!!! Eeeps!

Jessica Riddle

Indifference

Because sometimes, guys; you just can't tell if your the bug or the windshield. :) ENJOY!

And Always Keep Hanging In There!!

Indifference

Lyrics from MetroLyrics

Home is fine...i guess. It's not fun, but it's not dull. I sometimes feel like my life isn't empty, But it sure isn't full.

Music's neat...i guess. It's goin, but it's still here. And I know that my life hasn't reached a peak, But it's only been a year. And I know if I give all my heart That I'll have nothing to fear.

I'm not here, but I'm not gone. I don't accept, but I don't belong. I'm not with, but I'm not alone. I know people, but I'm not well known.

I feel o.k....i guess. I'm not ashamed, but I'm not proud. And I know what I feel and I want To stand up and scream it aloud.

Life's alright...i guess. It's not short, but it's not long. I sit around and I know I should Do what's right and avoid what is wrong. And I hope I can make everything o.k., But you might hate this song.

I'm not here, but I'm not gone. I don't accept, but I don't belong. I'm not with, but I'm not alone. I know people, but I'm not well known.

Maybe I'm strong, maybe I'm colder. I still see the world like a newborn child. And maybe I'll understand it better when I'm older. Maybe not...maybe not.

I'm not here, but I'm not gone. I don't accept, but I don't belong. I'm not with, but I'm not alone. I know people, but I'm not well known

Read more: JESSICA RIDDLE - INDIFFERENCE LYRICS http://www.metrolyrics.com/indifference-lyrics-jessica-riddle.html#ixzz1nVvS6500
Copied from MetroLyrics.com

Review: The Lifeguard

The Lifeguard

Deborah Blumenthal

Copyright 2012, Albert Whitman and Company

Thank you to Albert Whitman and Company and NetGalley for the E-Galley!

Sirena is spending her summer far from her home in Texas with her open-minded author aunt, whose home just so happens to be directly on a Rhode Island beach. Sirena spends the beginning of her summer moseying about the beach and embarrassing herself infront of, as her best friend will later describe him, BG - Blond God. He's the lifeguard, an EMS worker and the object of every one of Sirena's desires. But he only shows up when she needs saving, or before she needs it, and he's not overly friendly about it. After putting in hours volunteering at a local hospital, crushing on Pilot hard and being over all rejected - she's had enough. But when Sirena purposely waits for him to wander away before jumping in to the water, will he show up in time to save her or has she finally been the one to make that one stupid mistake that changes everything?

Deb Blumenthal created a beach-centric world that will have you aching for a sandy run or a dip in the ocean. Sirena is a completely normal teenage girl who has so much more inside of her than she's aware of. The divorce hits her like it hits a lot of kids (Been there, done that), she's not so much devastated by it as she is filled with questions that occupy her mind. That's where Pilot and Antonio come in. No, no, not a love triangle, Pilot is our overwhelmingly beautiful lifeguard and Antonio is an eighty-year old man who paints on the beach. Around each of them, Sirena learns more about herself than any amount of inflection would bring her.

Fans of Jenny Hahn's Summer Series will fall immediately in love with The Lifeguard with it's airy summer feel while fans of the lightly paranormal will find a home in an otherwise contemporary romance. The Lifeguard is a perfect mixture of romance, supernatural powers and real life issues to keep readers captivated and swooning on their own towel under the Lifeguard stand!

TGIF!

I haven't done one of these in FOREVER, but, since I'm home tonight I thought it'd be a good time to jump back in!!

Today's question is:

Required Reading: Which book from your school days do you remember reading & enjoying? Is there a book published now that you'd like to see in today's curriculum for kids?


My favorite required reading in school was Lois Lowry's The Giver!! I loved the whole story and I was beyond intrigued at a world of black and white with such order. When, at the end, you finally see in color it was like seeing color for the first time myself. And then..brace yourself...the girl had red hair. SCORE.

What I would set as required reading would be The Hunger Games. Not only is there a strong hero and heroine, but there's an impressive message throughout the series. Always think for yourself, never be less than who you are, always survive. Katniss has so many things going on but she is consistantly a good person, always fighting for what is right. It's a message our kids need to hear and marinate in! Don't just believe what the government or people around you say and want you to do! Do what's right!






The blogger we're all following this week is Oh! For the love of books! <-- super cute name!! And who doesn't love an aspiring writer/English teacher?!

Where's your favorite place to read?! Hmm...

In Bed!

 On the couch!

In the ring!

So where do YOU read?!

How Lucky I Am!

I've had a lot of jobs in my short time, but my favorite so far has been at the TV station. It's what I went to school for and it's something I feel I'm pretty good at. I do a lot of jobs there and have met some pretty cool people because of it, but when they found out that I write they wanted me on the other side of the mic.

I got to be interviewed by the TV Stations Radio Station, The Lakeshore FM on my aspiring romance writing career! Here is the audio from the interview! I'm really proud of it and I hope that one day I'll be able to look back at it from the perspective of: BEFORE I was a published author.

Also. I don't know how to upload a sound file...haha so here's my blank screen...but the audio is there! lol!

Review: The Disenchantments

The Disenchantments

Nina LaCour

Copyright 2012, Dutton Books

Colby and Bev have a long-standing pact: graduate, hit the road with Bev's band, and then spend the year wandering around Europe. But moments after the tour kicks off, Bev makes a shocking announcement: she's abandoning their plans - and Colby - to start college in the fall.
But the show must go on and The Disenchantments weave through the Pacific Northwest, playing in small towns and dingy venues, while roadie- Colby struggles to deal with Bev's already-growing distance and the most important question of all: what's next? -- Goodreads

This is a hard review for me to write. For one, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. The characters stay true to themselves, the world is built around them and you can believe the passion they all feel.
However. It just wasn't a book for me. I love the cover, I was sold on it immediately and the idea of a group of friends traveling with their band around the country was intriguing.

Unfortunately, that's about as close as I felt to it. Bev was annoying. Constantly. And as much as I enjoy a lovesick boy-friend, I felt bad for Colby. Bev was always, excuse my language, a raging bitch and he seemed to mope over it. Granted, things have a way of working out but I just didn't feel it.

Don't think that by any means this means that it's a book to skip, it's just my opinion and really some of my best friends have detested books that have all but changed my life! Like stated earlier, there's nothing wrong with the book, it just wasn't for me!

LoveAThon!! Mini Challenge #3

Mini Challenge 3 Has us answering about the highs, lows and inbetweens of blogging! Why? How do we stick it out??

Ohhhh wow.

Why? Why did I start?

Because Jen's followers encouraged me.

The highs?

Seeing NEW FOLLOWERS! WOOT! :) And seeing that authors are reading reviews I post! That is like the coolest thing to me!

The lows?

What lows? ;)

Blogging is a lot of work. It's a lot of dedication. It's hours reading books. It's hours discussing books. And meeting other readers of books. And the people who write them. It's going *SQUEE* to a blogger you FINALLY meet face to face over a book you've tweeted about a thousand times. 140 characters at a time, I should say. Huh...doesn't sound so much like work after all! :)

Blogging is, currently, my most favorite hobby. I love reading books and talking about them. I love going to signings and sitting in a massive group of friends and elbowing each other when authors talk about the books we're there for. Regardless of the "work" - blogging is all fun and I, for one, couldn't be happier to be a part of it!

You guys encourage me to read and write and to be a good friend. YA isn't the only thing that saves, this community has saved me a million times over and I love each and every one of you!!

Book Blog Love A Thon! Mini Challenge #1

I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date!!

I LOVE this idea!! The whole idea behind loving blogs is phenomenal! SO. Mini Challenge 1!!

Write a letter to the blog/blogs that have inspired you to start your own blog!

Dear Makeshift Jen and her followers,

One cold, March night, Jen called her bestest friend ever - aka soul friend - aka ME - and said, Dang it Lynnie, you need to make a blog! And I thought Oohhhh noooooos. That's a lot of commitment! But, in life, I have learned to listen to Jen. She was there for me when I didn't know I should draw eyebrows on to look half human (mine are REALLY blonde) and she was there for me when I almost broke off my engagement to the Hubby because "He was really more of my Jacob. And what if my Edward was out there for me, and I just haven't met him yet!?!" <-- Sad, but true story. She even introduced me to Libba Bray. Right? How can she steer me wrong!?

Then she sweetened the pot. She said, "I haven't reviewed Wicked Lovely yet! Would you be my guest reviewer?" Dang her. And this is where her readers come in. You all were so lovely! So positive and welcoming and I just couldn't imagine not being a part of the community. And so, Bringing The Epic was born.

So thank you, Jen. For your friendship that has withstood the test of eyebrows, your advice that sometimes fictional boys are so great because they are *ahem* fictional and thus you should not cut off your relationships in search of them, and you have birthed me into a whole new world of wonderful books, authors, blogs and friends.

And thank YOU, Followers of Jen, for your kindness and support!

Breathless Reads Tour

How the Breathless Reads Tour turned into a Breath of Fresh Air

The Breathless Reads Tour boasts an enormous amount of talented writers and legions of fans, but that's not all they bring to the table.

Aside from the hilarity of answers given, i.e. how a character of Beth Revis' ended up choking to death on his own vomit, and the obvious bonding that takes place between great minds (all of the women were strong, driven, whitty and educated), there came something I didn't expect from the tour.

Inspiration.

That may seem odd to some of you, how could these authors we love not inspire, right? But it's about so much more than the books. It's the fight. It's the desire to keep trying. It's getting back up after you've been knocked off your horse...or had your foot crushed by one, right Andrea? : )

Lately, I've been trying really hard to not let myself get down in the dumps. Writing is a passion of mine, something I intend to do for the rest of my life. But after rejections, contest flops and self doubt, sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get there. I push the thought from my mind quickly because I won't let myself allow doubt. I will indeed be there one day. But, like stated, it's taxing!

All of the authors were generous with their time and support but I found that when I talked to Marie Lu (Legend) and Beth Revis (Across the Universe, A Million Suns) and heard what they went through to get where they are it was more than refreshing. If these two hugely talented ladies can look at me and know exactly what I'm feeling, it's not just in my head. There is more than hanging by a thread and pushing forward, there is hope. 

Add to this conversation that I was chosen along with Heidi (YA Bibliophile) and some other tour participants to have our books signed first (Quotation game! We picked our favorite parts of the books and if it matched the author's favorite, we won!), amazing dinner at Lou's and being surrounded by blogger/writer/reader friends both old and new - I'd say the Breathless Reads Tour was more than I'd hoped for!

If you have a chance to go to one of the tour stops, I highly encourage it! You don't want to miss out on meeting these amazing women and the book lovers like yourself that will be in attendance!

Thank you so much to Penguin and to the talented authors who met with us, chatted, signed and inspired us!

Tune In Tuesday: Sky Full of Lighters

Tune in Tuesday! Head over to G-Reads and follow all of the links! So much great music for you to meet!

Sky Full of Lighters

I'm not usually one for rapping but I have ALWAYS loved Eminem. More than I should, probably, but I don't know or care what it is, I love the way he fights and speaks and the way he won't be held back. Not being held back is a huge deal when you're fighting for your dreams. Rejection sucks. And it happens a lot. But when it comes down to it, we all have down days and sometimes you just need to turn up the Shady and believe in yourself. Here's to a sky full of lighters!

Review: Fever

Fever

Lauren DeStefano

Copyright 2012, Simon & Schuster

**ARC Review**

Freedom. Rhine and Gabriel have made it to the water and beyond, but what waits for them near the bright lights in the distance? The world building that took us on a dark ride in the back of a truck, led us down the halls of the mansion and into a bed shared with Linden Ashby has not ceased in the excruciating time it took for us to peak behind the cover of Wither's highly anticipated sequel, Fever. Enter the free world. A world of dirt, dust, ash and fear. But it's a beautiful site to Rhine. A world that she has longed for and risked her life to attain, and she's not going to give up on it. The smell of the ocean in Gabriel's hair will keep her moving...until they are ambushed by Madame, a first generation who runs a "circus" of the Scarlet District.

Rhine must escape, she must take Gabriel with her, again...but how? Guards and girls faithful to Madame are constantly around. And if she could get out where would she go? The sick feeling that Vaughn is always watching is in the back of her mind at all times, but how could he be?

DeStefano had me captivated and nervous through the extent of Wither. I said before that I couldn't fall in love because I was holding too tightly on my nerves, hoping for better lives for all of the people involved. Afterwards, when my nerves released, I realized just how much I enjoyed the world she built us. I went into Fever with excitement instead of angst, and you should too because let me tell you - this book is amazing! There is a cast of new characters, faces from the past and a love that you want to cling to with both hands. Hardships, loss and hope are the main themes and they couldn't have been laid on a web of storytelling more brilliantly. I was enthralled the entire time.

Do not miss Fever! Follow the link to pre-order your copy today!

Review: A Little Bit Wild

A Little Bit Wild

Victoria Dahl

Copyright 2010, Zebra Books, Kensington Publishing Corp.

Marissa has been compromised...once, that anyone knows about. But the truth is, she's a little bit wild! Her entire family has a reputation for being a little loud and dramatic, dear little Marissa is the calm and collected one. Yeah, right! Marissa is a powerhouse! She's not just headstrong but she has ideas on how things should work and dammit, she wants to try them out! It's not fair that the gentlemen can but she as a lady is ruined! Either way, she's caught. Her eldest brother, who is in charge with the absence of her father, declares that she must marry. What if she's pregnant? She doesn't have to marry the father but they need to find someone who will take her in her state and they need to do it fast. Who would pick a woman like that?

Mother freaking, Jude. That's who. I don't care how he's written. He can say he's ugly, Marissa can say he's not pretty, but Jude is sexy. He's a man. He has big thighs, a crooked smile and a beast of a horse. He's also got a pension for trouble, an intrest in the wicked ways of Marissa and an extensive knowledge in how to pleasure.

What starts off as Jude trying to win Marissa over with sexual tension begins to change into more for him. Jude starts to really feel for her, but what will happen if she isn't pregnant and calls off their fake engagement? He may win her over to wanting him sexually, but will she ever feel anything deeper for him?

Dear Victoria Dahl, I aspire to be you. I love your crazy beautiful mind and all of the people that live in it. I want to meet every single one of them. When I am finally published it will be my greatest honor if someone were to ever compare my writing to anything of yours. Seriously. OBSESSED.

I've ranted and raved quite a few times about how much I love Dahl's writing. Can I say that this is my favorite yet?! Yes, this is the book that postponed me coming back to work on time from lunch. It's also the book that kept me up until 2:15 am and left me with 3 hours of sleep. If you are a fan of love, romance, freaking sexy MEN, regency tales, good books, kissing or hell, words in general: pick up EVERYTHING from Dahl, but go get this one PRONTO!!!!

Tune In Tuesday!

Tune In Tuesday

I watched The Voice for the first time ever. And I was like, Adam Levine is WHO? And now I love him but I totally get it, because I loved his music first!! SO, in homage to Mr. Levine. My Tune In Tuesday!

What's More Epic Than Love??

What's up, guys?! You know I bring the epic, yes? Then you KNOW that I love love!! The amazing Katelyn had this great idea called the Book Blogger-Love-A-Thon! It's going on February 17, but to get the buzz started we're posting a bit early and linking back to her to sign up!! It's a day full of love, love for blogs, books, bloggers, whatevs!

Before you say, "Gee, Lynn, I just don't know..." think of it this way - you already want to meet awesome people and/or learn about books or you wouldn't be in the blogosphere, this is a one time post and all you have to do is devote a couple of minutes throughout the day to clicking through other cool, love loving people's posts! Trust me on this, Katelyn doesn't screw around, it's gonna be good!

Use the hashtag #LoveAThon on Twitter and don't forget to link to your facebook page too! But most importantly: Follow this link to Katelyn's blog and sign yourself up!!