PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White

PARANORMALCY

by Kiersten White

Pub : August 2010 (HarperCollins)

335 pages

WEBSITE / BLOG / TWITTER / FACEBOOK / BUY IT

SUMMARY:

Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

PARANORMALCY is a treat! 

Infused throughout with a refreshing dose of humor and Evie has this wonderful innocence. She tries her best to lighten stressful situations - like bringing along Tasey, her bedazzled pink taser. 

Evie is well rounded and easy to connect with - a teen girl trying to figure out her place in the world, yeah try not finding one of those - except for her desire to attend high-school. That's one of the many times you connect with Lend, the love interest, because he has no idea why someone would want to voluntarily go to school. Lend is normal, sweet and understanding. Not usually the characteristics associated with sexy, but it totally works for him.

And what would a paranormal YA book be without a bad boy lurking in the shadowy fringes? Reth is the dark, mysterious, dangerous faerie ex-boyfriend. My only complaint about him is that he's not in it enough. He's hot, clever, manipulative, and you love to hate him for it.

A minor gripe would be PARANORMALCY starts out with a bang then slowly looses some of that momentum. Since Evie works as a paranormal bag-and-tag agent of sorts, I was expecting more action, but you know me, I like constant commotion.

That said, Paranormalcy is a must read for paranormal fans. Original premise, engaging characters, sweet romance, satisfying ending and plenty of supernatural delights! 

And I can't wait to hear what our soon-to-be winners think of it! If you haven't already, check out both of our Paranormalcy contests  listed at the very tippy-top of our web page for total of seven copies (6 signed). Time is running out!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Hey guys and gals, its Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We've got family coming over, Gregory and Mom have made their pies, and we're starting a new tradition of making s'mores over a campfire. Why we're starting that tradition when its below 40 degrees outside is beyond Alyssa, but we're starting it nonetheless. Really, who can turn down a chance to eat marshmallows and chocolate?

You already know what we're thankful for - family, friends, Gerard Butler (in Alyssa's case, okay, we guys think he's awesome too) and of course YOU!!- and now you know what we're up to. 

So what do you guys have planned for this fabulous holiday?

Surrounding yourself with family and friends? Vacationing in a tropical paradise? Stuffing yourself with mouth-watering food?Catching up on reading? Have a fabulous Thanksgiving!

STORY SIREN"S 2011 DEBUT AUTHOR CHALLENGE

Kristi @ The Story Siren is having sign-ups for her next Debut Author Challenge. We didn't get in on it last year but we're ready for 2011!

The idea is to read at least 12 novels by debut authors - anyone can join and all the details are HERE.

For full details and to sign up be sure to read HER POST! Kristi even has a list of debut novels to make it easy!

Here's a few tentative titles we're looking at:

WITCH EYES by Scott Tracey

WARPED by Maurissa Guibord

XVI by Julia Karr

THE DEMON TRAPPERS DAUGHTER by Jana Oliver

ANGELFIRE by Courtney Allison Moulton

POSSESSION by Elana Johnson

BAD TASTE IN BOYS by Carrie Harris

BORN AT MIDNIGHT by C.C. Hunter

DIE FOR ME by Amy Plum 

HUMAN .4 by Mike Lancaster

Should be a fun year!

BOOK BLOGGER HOP! 11/19/10

 

It's time for The Blogger Hop and Follow Friday again. The Blogger Hop is hosted by Crazy-for-Books and Follow Friday is hosted byParajunkee's View. Their memes give bloggers and readers a chance to network, support each other and find new blogs to read and enjoy!

QUESTIONS:

PARAJUNKEE Asks:
How Long Have You Been Book Book Blogging?

For us it has been a fabulous year and a half and we love it!

CRAZY FOR BOOKS Asks:

What Are You Thankful For and What Will we be doing on Thanksgiving?

We're thankful for our family and friends! Especially all the Book Blogging friends we've met! Also our adorable pets, our health and, oh yeah, the fact that Alyssa landed an literary agent! We'll stay home and have our aunt and uncle come visit. The food is traditional turkey and the fixings. Gregory will make his famous Pumpkin Pie (Grandma taught him and it's the best!), and Mom will make her delicious Lemon Meringue Pie.  We'll play board games and charades and get stuffed! 

And FYI!

Next week we'll be having giveaways throughout to celebrate!

Have a great weekend everyone!

A Great GLEE Moment!

Just wanted to share a song from what we think is Glee's best show this season. The main singer, Blaine (aka Darren Criss) is scheduled to be a recurring character this season and a regular next.  

TEMPEST RISING COVER

Beautiful Cover Shot for Tempest Rising!

by Tracy Deebs

pub: May 2011 

I found two summaries...

SUMMARY/GOODREADS:

Torn between what is and what should be, sixteen-year old Tempest Maguire, must decide just how far she's willing to go to defy her destiny. Add in her love/hate relationship with the ocean, her completely inappropriate crush on the new guy on the beach and an ancient underwater feud only she can stop, is it any wonder that these days she can barely stay on her surfboard? But with the fate of half the Pacific Ocean resting on her head, can Tempest get beyond her feelings of betrayal to fight the battle she was born to win?

 SUMMARY/AMAZON:
Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her—and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

I'm partial to the second summary. Gives me more detail and insight to the story. I'm intrigued!

Which do you prefer?

NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer + Giveaway

Nightshade
by Andrea Cremer
Pub: October 2010 (Penguin)
528 pages
AUTHOR WEBSITE / BLOG / FACEBOOK / TWITTER / Buy the Book

SUMMARY:
Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy, Shay, out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?


Awesome! Like...one-of-my-top-favorites-of-the-year-hands-down awesome, that's how awesome it is.  Seriously. 


The plot? Intricate. I could go on forever about all the cool stuff that goes on, but...I won't...because that would be a really looong post. Cremer's innovative take on werewolf lore, captured me from page one. The story starts with a jolt and kept me flipping pages at lightning speed!


I was a thrown for awhile because strange terms were being tossed about like common-knowledge, but, blonde as I am, I eventually figured it out. You've got your Guardians (the sexy werewolves), the Keepers (the werewolves' creepy masters) and the Searchers (the evil beings Guardians and Keepers fight against). Once I got that, I followed the plot without confusion - well, other than unearthing all the secrets that Calla stumbled into.


Calla is the alpha of her own pack, the Nightshades. So basically...she's the bomb!  


Smart, loyal, clever, and a champion fighter she (and her pack) is stuck in a messed up supernatural society which she has to navigate with skill. 


Ren, Calla's betrothed, is as fabulous as our heroine - figures since he's the Alpha of his pack, but he has a soft side. He supposed to take over all the Alpha jobs once he and Calla marry - married at 17-18 eek! - but he's doing everything he can to get himself on equal ground with the strong-willed Calla.


Shay is on the sweeter side. Don't confuse sweet for not-sexy, because he's plenty capable of turning up the heat. He doesn't like the cirumstances Calla is caught in and, instead of accepting them like Ren, Shay works to save Calla, even if she doesn't know she needs it.


Pack members are fun, diverse, interesting characters and I'm just going to leave it at that so you can fully appreciate them when you pick up Nightshade.


As for the romance - oh my goodness was this book's  a pheromone overload! Calla is supposed to be "pure" on her wedding night, but Ren doesn't care if she breaks that rule with him. In fact, Ren spends most of the book trying to get Calla to...live a little - and he's really, really convincing. Calla is a stronger girl than I. And then there's the incredible Shay who doesn't care about rules period and he's really good at getting Calla alone.

My only complaint? The cliffhanger! Can't wait for WOLFSBANE!


BOTTOMLINE: Beg, borrow, buy - do anything and everything possible to get your hands on the sexy, character packed, plot crazed Nightshade! Have I mentioned its...AWESOME! 


COVER: I want it enlarged, framed and hanging on my wall. Who's with me?!

More extras! 

- SHADOW DAYS: A Nightshade Novella is available to read HERE

- Check out Shay's Facebook page (brilliant marketing!)
- The NIGHTSHADE WEBSITE has great videos featuring a real live Shay!

To continue our November Thanksgiving theme here's your chance to win a copy of NIGHTSHADE!

RULES

Fill out the Form below

Be a Follower

Open to Countries where Book Depository Ships

Enter by 12/09/10

ALYSSA GOT AN AGENT!!!!! + PARANORMALCY Giveaway

She did it! 

 

Alyssa GOT AN AGENT!

In case you didn't know, Alyssa is a YA writer and has been going through the query wars to land an agent. You know, that minor (*cough cough*) person you need if you want to get your manuscript to editors and publishers. If you're an aspiring writer, you know how difficult this process is. Well her hard work has paid off and now it's official...

Alyssa is agented by the wonderful (we love her because Alyssa no longer whines about getting an agent)

Michelle Wolfson of Wolfson Literary

Michelle is also Kiersten White's agent - you know, 

that NY Times Bestselling Author of 

PARANORMALCY

Some of Alyssa's admirers said...

 

"Alyssa, Congratulations! And now that you're not so busy querying agents, will you PLEASE go out with me!" 

- Taylor Lautner

"Please be mine! I promise I'm not a douche, I just play one on TV!"

- Ian Somerhalder

"Alyssa, I know I'm older than you, but I will Sparta-Kick Taylor Lautner and Ian Stupid-halder into the Pit of Death to get to you!"  

- Gerard Butler 

For more details about THE CALL you can check out Alyssa's post on her writing blog. And you might want to visit - especially if you're a YA writer - because she's having a contest to win a one-year subscription to YALITCHAT.

In fact because we're so thankful, and it is November, the Thanksgiving Month,

WE'RE HAVING A FEAST OF GIVEAWAYS!

Here at TEENS READ AND WRITE

and 

ALYSSA'S WRITE (Alyssa's Writing blog) 

So gear up and get ready to WIN! 

STARTING TODAY!

We have three (3) signed copies of 

PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White

Why PARANORMALCY?

1) Alyssa LOVED it! (review up soon)

2) We love NY Times Bestselling author Kiersten - met her at a book signing

AND 

3) Alyssa and NY Times Bestselling author Kiersten share the same literary agent - Did we mention Alyssa got an agent? 

We want to - 

Share the Love!

Share the Fun!

Share the Thanks!

With our Fantastic Followers!

So enter to win by filling out the form below

and look for more to come!

For this special Agent Announcement, we don't want to forget our International followers so while the signed copies are for US addresses only (shipping is way expensive on this one) we are going to give away one unsigned copy to anywhere Book Depository ships. So PAY ATTENTION... 

- Followers with US Addresses fill out the form below (Within This Post) -

 - Followers outside the US (countries Book Depository ships to)-

FILL OUT THIS FORM

RULES

Be A Follower
Fill out the appropriate form

Enter by 12/7/10

PS - Just to clarify, the above comments from Taylor, Ian and Gerard were fabricated by Jake and Gregory Kirk. But please don't tell Alyssa!

 

 

WOLFSBANE Cover Reveal!

WOLFSBANE Cover is gorgeous!

Andrea Cremer just revealed the cover and it's amazing! 

A great follow-up to NIGHTSHADE!

Enjoy!