Re-Cycler by Lauren McLaughlin (Review)

Hey Guys!

For those of you who don’t yet know about the awesome that is Cycler, check out my review here! Or watch this awesome book trailer Lauren made!



OR! Read the first three chapters here! There's just so many options, you can't NOT at least give this book a try. For me?! You will love it I swear!!!

And here's my review of Re-Cycler!

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Among the many wonders of our world, one in perticular has captured my heart… and his name Jack McTeague!!! 8D *gigglefit*

Ok, seriously though, if you were as in love with Cycler as I was, you will adore this sequal! Lauren does a great job in taking the story in a whole new direction that keeps you so glued to the book that you better clear a day or so to read it in one sitting.

The charicters have already developed so much in this book, and I felt like I knew them so much better after reading it. Jack really seems to come into his own more, and I loved that we got to get to know him more as a person and not just the other half of Jill*. And Jill was definitely moving past all the rough stuff that happened in Cycler to find herself again and remember that she isn't just defined by Jacks existance.

As a fan I was really excited that I was able to read this one early**, and I was so glad I wasn’t dissapointed in how it turned out.

Although, I may have to have a talk with Lauren about how she’s supposedly not writing another book***.... We gotta work that out... -_-

But so good! haha Read it! ^_^

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* Of course we got to see him as a person in Cycler too, but there was MOAR of that in Re-Cyler! 8) SO good.

** Especially since I feel like I’ve been waiting YEARS to get to read it!

*** See interview I did with Lauren on Wednesday.

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Thanks guys! <3

xoxoxo

Interview with Lauren McLaughlin (Cycler+ReCycler)

Ok, guys, time for some serious book love! hehe Lauren McLaughlin in the author of two of my favorite books; Cycler and Re-Cycler! You can read about my mad love for Cycler here, and you WILL be able to read all about my love of Re-Cycler in my review tomorrow! In the meantime, check out this exclusive interview with Lauren! Enjoy!

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How are you finding New York during this wonderful winter-y season?

I love this time of year because I tend to divide my time between New York, which is often frigid but bright; London, which is a bit warmer but also gray; and Florida, which is full of sunshine. It gets confusing, but I like the variety. And I make sure to listen to plenty of Bing Crosby to remind myself that, wherever I am, it's still Christmas.

Did you ask for any books this Christmas? If so, which ones?

I always ask for books for Christmas and books are what I give people too. This year I've asked for The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan and Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan. I'm both frightened and excited by both of them and have heard lots of great things about them. I'm in the mood for a good scare.


What were some of your favorite books of '09?

I've read some really great ones. The ones that stand out, however, are Liar by Justine Larbalestier, Skinned by Robin Wasserman, and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. All quite different and all compulsively readable. I love books that teach me something and keep me guessing. These three books all did that, plus they played with morality in fascinating ways. I love that. I like to be challenged.

Any we should look out for in 2010? Maybe a little book about a
certain boy/girl that we all adore? *___* (For serious-- Jack and Jill
need one of those couple names that gives them one name! Jackill?
Jillack? Something!)

I have no doubt that 2010 will be full of fantastic books. Sadly, they will not be sharing space with any new Jill/Jack adventures, however. I'm putting the McTeague twins on ice for now. I think they need some breathing room. I do have another book coming out, however, called Steal the Future. It's about ubiquitous surveillance combined with high stakes testing and will introduce readers to a tasty new romantic couple.

How long do you envision the series going?

For now, I only envision Cycler and (Re)Cycler but I won't rule out another one. I just had this other book burbling away inside my brain and I had to write it.

What was the sparking idea that got you on the path to writing about
body snatching? (Not really the right word but you know what I mean.
xD I hope! e_e;;)

I think body snatching is a great term for it. I've always been intrigued by the idea of body snatching and mind control. The scariest movies I can remember as a kid were Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Stepford Wives. Both involve some kind of mind/body swap. It's possible that seeing those films as a teenager planted a seed somehow. Of course, I'm not consciously aware of the precise spark that gave rise to Cycler. Like most stories, it burbled away for a while until it was so big I had to do something about it. At that point, Jack basically sprang from my head fully formed and it was on.

Was Cycler the first story you'd written?

Cycler is actually the third novel I've written. I've also written about a dozen short stories and several screenplays. Sometimes things get published out of order. Truth be told, it took me two novels to learn how to write a novel properly because I had to unlearn all of my habits as a screenwriter.

What's the writing process like for you -- writing a series that you
stick to for a long period of time and delving more and more into the
world you've created with every book?

When I wrote Cycler, I envisioned it as a stand-alone novel. The characters got richer and more nuanced with every draft, but I didn't feel as if I'd finished with them by the end. The story felt complete, but the characters were only beginning to flex their muscles and come out of their shells. Writing a sequel was a wonderful opportunity to let them breathe. But in some ways it was more difficult. I couldn't revise their personalities to suit the plot because their deep characters had already been established. That put a lot of restrictions on what I could do but also it forced me to go deeper. I loved that.

Do you have any advice for aspiring/ beginning writers?

There's so much I've learned over the years that it would be difficult to boil it down. I think the most important thing for a writer, however, is dogged commitment. If you're not insanely passionate about telling your story, you'll never have the stamina to get through the rough patches. It's all rough patches. It never goes smoothly. Not for anyone. It's a slog, a battle, a creep through the underbrush, an out of control freight train, and many other metaphors. Only those writers with a blind, stupid determination to see it through, no matter what, succeed.

What's your one gottahaveit present for '09?

A new piano. I'm treating myself. I've wanted it for a long time and this year I'm finally going for it.

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Thanks so much Lauren, it was so great chatting with you!

You can find out more about Lauren via her blog/website here!

Look out for Re-Cycler review tomorrow!

xoxoxo

RG's Best Picks of '09: An Intro to the Month of Awesomeness

Hello everyone! Oh, how I've missed you all!

November was a crazy month, mostly filled with school, school, and oh yeah a little bit more school. Then some NEW MOON(!), and Thanksgiving, and being the moral support to people who actually finished Nanowrimo.... T_T But all and all a great month! 8D And suddenly, December is upon us! Which means right back into blogging for me--and what better time then right now as we're gearing up for a season of snuggling up by the fire with a cup of peppermint hot chocolate and an amazing read?

This month is all about my favorite books of the year; of course there's so many, that it's very hard narrow it down, but I've managed to to decide on my top four favorites and I can't wait to share them with you. The others will still get reviewed (Probably this month or in the near future), as books I'd definitely recomend, along with some reviews of my favorite books of all time that I want to recomend to you for the holidays.

But that's not all!

On Tuesday I'll be announcing a special project that I'd love to have you all be a part of, as well as announcing the prizes in a HUGE christmas giveaway!

More on that then! For now...

xoxoxo

(WWDay2) Interview with Heather Davis-- Author of Never Cry Werewolf

What's your best Halloween memory?
Halloween was always very popular around my house because my dad is a joker by nature. I guess my favorite Halloween memory is from when I was about eleven. I built an amazing costume in our basement -- a chocolate chip cookie. It was like a "sandwich board" with two flat sides of the cardboard cookie on my front and back side and I wore a piece of my dad's old brown courduroy pants leg on my head tied like a chip. It was so huge and flat I couldn't sit down.

Anyway, I totally should have won the costume contest at the party I went to, but instead a girl whose mother had sewn her Merlin costume took the prize. So unfair! My dad sent me a Halloween card a few years ago, mentioning that cookie costume -- even he remembered it as pretty great.

Does Halloween inspire you to write more supernatural YA?

Not really. I'm always in the mood for a story beyond the ordinary.

How true do you think those werewolf stories are...?

True. Throughout history people have always been cast out of regular society because of genetic problems or deformities. It's so not right. I think that many of the legends we hear about today - vampires, werewolves -- are all about people who lived differently or had physical challenges or oddities.

What inspired you to write a story about werewolves?

I've always loved the duality of werewolves - the "normal" side you show to the world and your "wolf" that you keep hidden. Also, I used to live in a mountain town filled with deep, dark woods -- that really inspired me to say "what if?"

I adored Never Cry Werewolf! What's next for you?

Thanks! The Clearing is coming out in April 2010 - it's the story of a modern girl who moves to the country to her great aunt's farm to reclaim her life after an abusive relationship. There in the misty clearing at the back of the property she meets a boy stuck in a time loop -- it's always the summer of 1944 for him. They form a unique bond that teaches each of them that letting go and moving on is some times the best thing you can do. It's a serious, romantic YA that is quite different from Werewolf, but I think that readers will connect to the emotional heart of the story. After that... who knows?

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Thanks SO much to Heather for the awesome interview; it was a joy to have her. :) Keep an eye out for a review of Never Cry Werewolf later this week!

(WWDay1) Blood and Chocolate Review and Givaway

Welcome to Were-Week! To start things off, how about a giveaway?!

To enter, leave a comment on this post about your favorite werewolf. Shouldn't be too hard, right?? ;P

+1 if you spread the word in some way

+1 if you follow the blog or my twitter

+2 if you repost

You have till Friday to enter, I'll pick a winner on Saturday morning.

Here's a look at you're prize, a review of Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Clause!

Product Description From Amazon:

In Blood and Chocolate, Annette Curtis Klause does for werewolves what Anne Rice has done for vampires.
Sixteen-year-old Vivian Gandillon is trying to fit in to her new home in the suburbs. But trying to act "normal" isn't always easy, since Vivian and her family are werewolves. It's glorious to have the power to change, and Vivian is a beautiful loup-garou with all the young wolves howling for her. But she wants no part of her squabbling pack, left leaderless by her father's recent death.

Then Vivian falls in love with a human, a meat-boy. If she reveals herself, will he relish the magic of her dual nature? When a brutal murder threatens the pack's survival, Vivian's divided loyalties are further strained. What is she really--human or beast?

My Review:

From the moment I picked up Blood and Chocolate I was hooked. Of course, I’m a huge fan of the supernatural in general, so maybe it was an easy sell, but I thought it was awesome from the get go.

Of course there were a few things I didn’t love along the way, but as a whole I actually really liked it. It ends diffrently from the movie for those of you who’ve seen that, and it’s actually quite a bit sadder that I thought the movie was, but still really good.

I actually watched the movie first so I have a bit of a soft spot for the movie version, but it was really interesting to read the book because there’s so much extra stuff in the book that gets left out or changed in the movie.Vivian’s cousins are always kind of entertaining to read about (Especially when picturing the guys from the movie…. e_e;;) and I actually liked Gabriel soooo much better in the book!

Annette did a great job with the writing and description-wise it was spot on. Definitely worth the read and if you’re a werewolf fan, you’ll love it!

xoxoxo

(FW Day (4)) Review of Fary Tale by Cyn Balog

Well, we've reached the end of our "Week of Fey", but it was fun times for all right?! I really enjoyed interviewing Cyn Balog, and I hope you all like the reviews! This week I also got sick so stuff was a little light for a few days there, but whatcha gonna do; cold and flu season right?! Anywho, next week is Were-Week, and I'm I'm super excited about it, but more on that tomorrow! For now, here's my review of Fairy Tale! :)

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Product Description From Amazon:

A captivating and witty dark fantasy that will have girls lusting after it.

Morgan Sparks has always known that she and her boyfriend, Cam, are made for each other. But when Cam’s cousin Pip comes to stay with the family, Cam seems depressed. Finally Cam confesses to Morgan what’s going on: Cam is a fairy. The night he was born, fairies came down and switched him with a healthy human boy. Nobody expected Cam to live, and nobody expected his biological brother, heir to the fairy throne, to die. But both things happened, and now the fairies want Cam back to take his rightful place as Fairy King.

Even as Cam physically changes, becoming more miserable each day, he and Morgan pledge to fool the fairies and stay together forever. But by the time Cam has to decide once and for all what to do, Morgan’s no longer sure what’s best for everyone, or whether her and Cam’s love can weather an uncertain future.

My Review:

I actually love a good love triangle (It makes things more interesting!), so I liked that aspect of Fairy Tale, and I ended up being kind of happy about who Morgan ended up with which I was glad about! Morgan’s voice throughout the story is very honest and from the beginning you feel for her and her situation and you also feel for the male characters as well. Pip tugs on your heartstrings and Cam sounds like such a great boyfriend that you’re just as heartbroken as Morgan when he gets caught up in his blood ties.

All in all book was a cute, light, read that was very enjoyable. Though the basic plot of the story was more serious, I thought Cyn did a good job of keeping things light and entertaining.

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Now, I DO have the winner of this contest, but like I said before I'm going to keep all the winners names under lock and key until the last day of our Halloweeny feature! Luckily, it's creeping up on us so it'll be here in no time, but keep checking back for more contests, reviews, and author interviews!

Were-Week starts tomorrow! EEP!

xoxoxo

Interview with Cyn Balog/ Cirque Du Freak Winners!

So I was supposed to do a review of Cyn's book, Fairy Tale, YESTERDAY but I'm sick with an awful cold and now everything's backed up! :( But rest assured I'll be posting it sometime this weekend when I'm hopefully feeling better. Until then, here's an interview with Cyn!

OH! Also, as it is Friday, the winners of the Cirque Du Freak books are....
Kate and Kristen!
Congrats guys, I'll email you too, but remember to get me your address before Monday or I have to give the prize to the next runner up. =/

NOW, Cyn Balog! :)

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What are you doing for Halloween this year?

I am going to be going to Disney World!!! We have tickets to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, which I have always wanted to go to. I am a huge Disney freak. I actually may end up not coming back home this time, I love Disney so much.


What is your favorite Halloween memory?

Last year, I took my daughter trick-or-treating for the first time (she was 2). She couldn't believe that she could actually just go up to a house and people would give her candy! The first house we went to, she was dressed like Little Red Riding Hood, and when the opened the door she tried to go inside. And then of course she wanted to keep going and going and going to every house in the neighborhood. And then she wanted to do it again on November 1, too.

What was you're best ever Halloween costume?

My mom made me a really cool Reeses Peanut Butter cup costume when I was a kid. I just loved that costume, and it was really special because I watched my mom make it and she put a lot of time and effort into it.

Witches, Ghosts, Zombies, Vampires, Werewolves, Jinn, or Fey?

I should be saying Fey, right? But I really have no alliance to them. Personally, I have always loved Zombies. All the Romero movies are my absolute favorites. And 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later?? The best!!!!

We all loved Fairy Tale, but what's next for you? When can we expect a new book?

SLEEPLESS is coming out July 13, 2010. It's about a Sandman who falls in love with a mortal girl whose sleep he controls.

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Thanks so much to Cyn for the interview, and don't forget to enter to win a hardcover copy of Fairy Tale here!

xoxoxo

(FW Day 3) Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Product Description from Amazon:
Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything

My Review:

Wicked Lovely is one of those books were the moment that you pick it up you instantly feel like you’re a part of the story; you’re swept up into a world you’ve never experienced, and yet somehow it feels all too familiar.

You realize that you must have always known Aislinn and that you’re the closest of friends; that you’ve always thought Seth was a hotty, though you’d never mention that to Aislinn since you knew how crazy he was about her. You feel like you too have felt the fey watching you at some point in your life, and are curious and afraid by the idea that they may not be figments of your imagination after all.

It’s these kind of stories that I love.

When you can write a book with characters that feel like old friends, a setting that feels like home, and an adventure that I’ve only ever dreamed I could be a part of, you’ve got me hooked. Wicked Lovely was one of these books.

I bonded with Aislinn from the beginning and loved her fierce tenacity throughout the story. She was completely kick ass, and amazing, and I loved going through this chapter of her life with her. Seth stole my heart many a months after I finished the book, and still has it through Fragile Eternity… The fey sounded startlingly beautiful and frightening, and I was completely sucked into their history.

The novel on the whole was very beautifully written, I loved Seth, I loved Aislinn, and I’d definitely recommend this book to lovers of the fey.

xoxoxo

In My Mailbox (8)

In My Mailbox was originally started by Kristi, The Story Siren, and she was inspired to create it by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Basically it's just a fun way to let everyone who wants to know what you've been reading (*coughcough* Hoarding...*cough/gag*), what you plan to read (look at, ponder reading, eventually return to the library due to due date restrictions), and what you ARE reading.

Thanks To Kristi for starting this, and don't forget that you can make your VERY OWN In My Mailbox post and add it to the IMM blogger links list attached at the end of all of Kristi's IMM posts! ^^

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Well this week I've mostly been busy reading City of Bones, and just plain busy with LIFE >_< But I did get a few good books since my last IMM post!

Stop In The Name Of Pants by Louise Rennison (I panicked because the new one is coming out SOOOON and I still have to finish this one! Eep! But these books are sooo cute, I love them, so I was happy when I saw it at the library since they've been asking for it back every time I get it. X_x)

Ash by Malinda Lo (*screamsingiddyexcitment* I've been wanting to read this for so long! *grabbyhands* I can't wait to start it!)

Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan (David has a really unique way of writing so I'm really excited to read this one. :))

The a bunch of books about traveling to Europe; it sounds so awesome there, I wanna go! xP

ANYWHO! Kind of a light week, but I'm super excited about all the books I got, and can't wait to get started reading!.... right after I finish a few other books.... e.e;;

P.S. Don't forget to vote on your favorite Cirque Du Freak T-shirt saying (at the bottom of the page), and enter to win the Cirque Du Freak books here!

xoxoxo

Month of Halloween On RGR!

Welcome to THE MONTH OF HALLOWEEN on ReaderGirl Reviews!

Eep! I'm so excited! I know this message is coming through a little late but I've had a heck of a day to bear with me. xD I've been a bit unorganized about Halloween Month this year, especially as it's the first year I've done it,. but I've got so much stuff planned--so much awesome to spread around the bloggosphere--that if I can get it all up and running for your enjoyment it will be miracle! xD And AWESOME, AWESOME Miracle that YOU will have a chance to be a part of!

Here's how it's gonna go down:

This Week, we start off our Halloween-ness with a Cirque Du Freak movie promotion sponsored by Big Honcho Media! Now there's MANY awesome things about this promotion (I hope they're obvious enough! ;D) And as much as I'd like to list them all just because, the contest doesn't officially start until tomorrow so you'll have to wait for more details till then! *zipslips*

The after this week, each week with feature a different creature.

Fey-Week

Were-Week

and Vamp-Week!

Including Author interviews, LOTS of reviews, and a new contest EACH WEEK!

It's going to be so fabby, and I really hope you guys enjoy it! :) Check the blog tomorrow for more news on the Cirque Du Freak Promotion!

xoxoxo

In My Mailbox (7)

Well, I didn't want to forget to post today, but sadly I haven't been keeping up my the blogs I usually follow and that's how I find out about awesome upcoming YA books, so no books IMMB for me this week.... T_T

BUT! While I was drowning my sorrows in some nummy cereal over THAT I decided to check out my blogroll and look what I found!

Kristi (The Story Siren) got some good ones this week, in perticular Beautiful by Amy Reed sounded good, and I CAN'T WAIT to read Fat Cat by Robin Brande, I'm pretty sure I've been waiting for this one ever since I first reviewed Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature! (Literally my first review! Awww, just like bringing out the baby pictures. ;))

Harlequin Twilight Book Blog got Lips Touch by Laini Taylor (The artwork looks so much like Brett Helquist's that I MUST read it! Plus everybody is blogging about it so it must be amazing right??) She also got Ash by Melinda Lo which makes me so jealous because-- WHY? WHY?? Why must Hardcovers cost so much?! I want it! D8

Anywho, check out these posts, these ladies run awesome blogs and it's always fun seeing what they're reading. :)

Look out for Halloween related posts Starting Monday! This week is going to be mostly random reviews and Halloween talk but this month I am going to try to blog EVERY DAY so it's gonna be a blast anyways! 8D haha

xoxoxo

Geez I'm Slow! (A Banned Books Week Post)

Wow, so somehow this years banned books week has slipped right past my radar, and I am only now doing a post about it.... EPPPPIIICCCC FAAAAIIIILLLL ALLLEEEERRRRTTT!

Anyways, this is Banned Books Week! (Or the end of it anyways.... >_e) YAY for banned books!

Some of my favorites are...

Forever by Judy Blume
Reason For Ban:
Graphic scenes involving SEX, candid details about teen relationships and the way the Judy Blume wrote about adolescent sexuality to plainly. (The book that everyone freaks out over! Seriously everyone I've met has said they don't want to read it because of the reputation it's gotten. Honestly? Sex exists people, and yeah it's awkward and personal and our culture doesn't like to have it talked about so publicly but so what?! It's a fact of life, DEAL. X_x *couldgoonandonaboutthisbutwillspareyou* This book was terrific!

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Reason For Ban:
Use of the word N****r. (Definitely not a nice word, but that was one used in the time period the book was written so banning it really doesn't seem fair to me.)

Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews
Reason For Ban:
"Profanity" and "Pornography", I guess most of this series were taken off the shelves at one point. o.o

The His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman
Reason For Ban:
Political and religious viewpoints and some violence. (These books are literary genius! D8)

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Reason For Ban:
Use of the word N****r. (Definitely not a nice word, but that was one used in the time period the book was written so banning it really doesn't seem fair to me.)

Annie on My Mind by
Reason For Ban:
In short; homosexuality. (Don't get me started...;_;)

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Reason For Ban:
Well, it's ABOUT censorship for one... X_x And also i guess someone Complained about the use of the word "God damn" in the book.

And MORE!

Harry potter Series

Lord of the Rings Trilogy

the Giver

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I Am The Cheese

A Raisin In The Sun

What I Know Now

On The Bright Side, I'm Now The Girlfriend of a Sex God

Catcher In The Rye

Rainbow Boys

Of Mice and Men

Bridshead Revisited

And that's not All! The sad thing is that most books (Magazines, Movies...etc.) Have probably gone under the eyes of censorship at one point or another.; but there is a way to fight it! If you're reading this now, please borrow one of these books from a friend or the library or by all means, buy them! Also please, please, please, spread the word when you love it! ;D These are all fabulous books that deserve a life without censorship. Vivi la Banned Books!

xoxoxo