Hush, Hush Review! (Last chance to enter + donate!)

Hey guys! All I can say is that I’m soooo sorry that this past week’s fizzled out so much, my computer FAILED ME and I wasn’t able to post anything for a while because my Internet wouldn’t open, but here I am now, and I’ve got my Hush, Hush review!

I’d also planned on doing another interview and review but since the weeks gotten cut short it looks like that won’t be happening, though I’ll definitely still post it, it just might be a few days after Christmas or sometime in January, but for now, I’ll say that 20 Boy Summer was additionally one of the best deb. books of 2009! MAJOR props to Mrs. Sarah Ockler on that one.

Anywho! Sorry about all the confusion and general disappointment this week; what can I say, the holidays have everyone in a tizzy!

But here’s my review of Hush, Hush; hopefully it will make up for it!

For those of you wanting to know a bit more about the plot, check out this book trailer!



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*girlysigh* OK, so.......his name is Patch.........*gigglefit*

Ok, honestly, I HAVE had a lot of fangirl crushes on fictional characters this year, but Patch is definitely my number one bad boy crush of 2009!

He’s dark, mysterious, and devilishly handsome…. I am in love with this guy! And the best part is, not only is he awesome, but so is the book he’s in—Hush, Hush!

The story line was wonderfully weaved with the brilliant injection of plot twists at just the right moments, and the awesome pacing between interludes with Patch–that left me momentarily dazzled–and the developing plot line of Nora’s investigations into his past.
Nora was also an awesome narrator and I loved seeing the story unfold from her POV. (Not JUST because she bumps into Patch more then she’d like! Ok, well, maybe a little because of that...)

I really can’t recommend this book enough, I’ve already told so many people that they HAVE to read it already, but I’m not done because you have to read it too!

Seriously one of my favorite books of the year, definitely a win, win, win (!) for the Twilight fans, and anyone else just looking for an awesome story that they won’t be able to put down.

LOVE!

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Don’t forget you have today and tomorrow to get your last minute entries in for a SIGNED copy of Hush, Hush, and other prizes! Trust me when I say this is one prize you will definitely enjoy!

Also if you’re going to donate books for Home Base Youth Services please get those donations to me ASAP, ok?

You can find out into on that and the Hush, Hush giveaway HERE.

Thanks so much guys! Love you all!

xoxoxo

Interview with Becca Fitzpatrick (Hush, Hush)!

Can you remember the moment you decided to go into storytelling and
become a writer? Tell us about it. :)

I do remember! The day was February 3, 2003, and the event was my twenty-fourth birthday. After a long debate between Japanese cooking lessons and an eight-week writing class, my husband decided to give me the writing class for my birthday present. I have to admit, I was hoping for the Japanese cooking lessons because A) I took one English course in college and my professor threatened to fail me, and B) I didn't think I had a story to tell. But at the same time, I felt a scary and almost magnetic draw to the class. When I was eight years old, I watched Romancing the Stone for the first time and promptly announced to my mom that I would grow up to be a writer. Granted, I thought all writers hunted for treasure in Colombia and fell in love with a sexy, mysterious stranger a.k.a. Michael Douglas...


What authors have influenced you in your writing so far? Have you
gotten to meet any one them since you've been published?


I love the stories Diana Gabaldon, Sandra Brown, Jane Austen and J.K. Rowling tell. Also, it was after reading Laurie Halse Anderson's SPEAK that I knew I had to write YA. I haven't met Laurie in person, but I did get to hear her talk at NCTE 2009 in Philadelphia. It was so cool! She's just as entertaining and clever in person.

What was one book that got you hooked on reading as a kid? A WRINKLE IN TIME instantly comes to mind. I started it on a school night, and raced home the following day after school to finish. That was the fourth grade, I believe.

What's your writing process like? Do you outline? A long time ago, when I first started writing, I didn't outline. Now, I swear by it. I find that it saves me a lot of time. Also, I rarely hit writers block when I have a strong outline telling me where the story will go next.


You have great play lists for both of your books on your website! Do you listen music like a soundtrack while you're writing? Or do you just feel like certain songs connect to the story?

Laughing! I absolutely canNOT write to music. I wish I could, but every time I try it, I find that the music makes me think my writing is better than it actually is. That's the power of good music!

I'm so excited for Crescendo! Can you give us any hints to tide us over until next Fall?

I'm not releasing many details, but I will say that readers will find out what really happened the night Nora's dad was murdered. Let's just say he was living a secret life...one with ties to Patch...

Does you're press tour start soon? I wanna come see you!

YAY! So glad you want to meet me in person! I'll be going on tour in January and February 2010, but I'm not allowed to say where just yet. I promise I'll update my website as soon as I can.

Happy Christmas! What are your plans?

The family and I are going to Estes Park, Colorado. My two boys really, really want to go snowmobiling.

Do you have any books on your Christmas list this year? If so, which ones?

I'm giving THE DARK DIVINE by Bree Despain and BEAUTIFUL CREATURES by Kami Garcia and Margie Stohl.

Last question! What were some of your favorite books of '09?

To be honest, most of the books I've read in the past six months don't come out until 2010. Is there any way I can pimp them instead? SISTERS RED by Jackson Pearce was amazing! I also loved in a mad way HEX HALL by Rachel Hawkins and PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White. NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer is wicked good fun. PRINCESS FOR HIRE by Lindsey Leavitt is nonstop laughs. THE SECRET YEAR by Jennifer Hubbard was also really, really good – it reminded me of a modern THE OUTSIDERS.

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Haha awesome! Thanks so much to Becca for being with us the week! And don't forget that I'm giving away a SIGNED hardcover, An ARC, Bookmarks, Postcars, and Book Cover Posters of Hush, Hush! You can learn more about that contest here!

Look out for a review of Hush, Hush later in the week!

xoxoxo

RGR Needs YOUR help + Win Hush Hush!

While we're all spending the holidays typing up christmas lists, drinking eggnog by the fire, and enjoying the comforts of the season, some kids, our age and older, don't even have a warm place to sleep at night.

At age 18, many youth "age out" of foster care or the juvenile justice systems, without the necessary life skills to live independently. Some of them choose to leave their homes after years of mental, physical, and emotional abuse and neglect, so they turn to the streets, making themselves vulnerable to untreated mental health disorders, drug use, and sexual exploitation.

These homeless teens have no homes to go to, or family to be with, for christmas. They wont be getting any presents,the most they can wish for is a safe holiday, and hopefully somewhere warm to sleep at night. Luckily, there are a lot of shelters willing to help, but even staying in a shelter, there's nothing like a real home, and being able to be close to the ones you love, to make it feel like christmas.

Though everyone's having financial trouble right now, we have to hold onto the fact there are people out there, far worse off then we are. While we have to cut out some of our small luxuries, these kids have to cut out much more from their everyday lives. Nessecities.

And we can help. My idea is, to collect as many books as possible, YA Genre and above, to send to an orginization called HomeBase Youth Services.

They have street outreach teams that drive around with food and supplies for those still on the street, as well letting them know about their transitional living center which can be hard for them to find out about/get to, mobil medical outreach services for those still on the street, and their transitional living center to help them get back on their feet, and get an education while still having the opertunity to work and earn money to support themselves.

I know that books won't change the situation these kids are in, and I know that it's not food or anything. But whenever I get so wrapped up in my own issues that I just need an escape, I read. I love that I have that outlet, and I really do think that by donating these books we could be giving these kids a chance to be carefree, if only for a few moments. Moments that could make a huge diffrence on their outlook on life, inspire them to rise above their situations, and know that they can change things.

Even if you could donate just one book, used or new, you would be a big part in helping give these kids a way to escape all of their aweful circumstances for just a little while, and get pulled into new world, full of possibilities.

All book donations will be put in the HomeBase Transitional Living and Day Recorse Libraries, and EVERY donation is appreciated.

We're looking for mainly YA books, and they LOVE Twilight so think along those lines (Science Fiction, and Fantasy type stuff too) but I'm not going to be too picky, just books, please send me books!

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Thanks so much for reading guys! Now about that contest....

One of my favorite books of the year was Hush, Hush, by Becca Fitzpatrick, (LOVE!) And I'm so excited to announce a Hush, Hush giveaway!

I have a SIGNED Hardcover to give away, and also My ARC in perfect condition! I will give each of these away to two lucky winners who will also recive...

~ A Hush, Hush bookmark

~ A Hush, Hush postcard

~ AND a Hush, Hush cover art poster!

All you have to do to enter is....

1 Comment telling me what some of you're favorite books of '09 were

+2 Tell all you're friends to give up some of their old books to a great cause!

+3 Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, whatever about this post, specificlly about donating books to HomeBase Youth Center

+5 Make a youtube video encouraging people to donate.

**EDIT** Plus 10 if you donate at least one book (Above for details)!

Unfortunatly I can't affor international postage so this is just open to residents of the US, but if you'd like to donate from out of the country and are willing to pay the postage of course we'd be more then happy to accept you're donations.

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That's all everyone! I'd love it if you'd concider donating, and I hope you all enjoy the rest of the months festivities!

Keep an eye out for new posts every weekday for Interviews, Reviews, and chances to win cool prizes!

xoxoxo

Fey Week In Full Swing! Win A copy of Fairy Tale!!!

Hey Guys! Eep, October is here, and you know what that means.... Our first week of reviews, interviews, and GIVEAWAYS! Plus cooler weather ;) haha

Last week I left things pretty open because that was a hugely busy week for me, but I hope you all looked up interesting facts on freak shows as your entry to WIN ALL THE CIRQUE DU FREAK BOOKS BY DARREN SHAN as part of the promotion for the new Cirque Du Freak movie (Out October 23!)! Also don't forget to vote on you're favorite T-Shirt saying at the bottom of the page for a chance to win the soundtrack! (If my blog wins of course ;))
On to the faries! This week we'll have reviews of Wicked Lovely, and Fairy Tale, Plus an Interview with author Cyn Balog!

Plus though angels don't EXACALLY fall into the fey catagory, THEY DO HAVE WINGS! And Becca Fitzpatricks upcoming YA book Hush, Hush comes out tomorrow! I Loved this book and I really want to shout out to her tomorrow in honor of the release of her book. :) Unfortunitely I won't be posting a review till December-ish in my Favorite Books of '09 feature, but I want to make sure I get the word out about this amazing first instalment in her series that's gonna totally blow you away!

Anyways, stay tuned for all the fun this week, and make sure to enter to win the Cirque Du Freak books HERE!

xoxoxo