Author Interview: Peter Abrahams

Here today to promote his recent release Bullet Point is Peter Abrahams! Bullet Point is in stores now- be sure to pick it up soon.


Both Wyatt and Greer have a father in prison-did you do any research for the inmate aspect of this book?

I've done prison visits for research several times: my books Lights Out (an Edgar best novel nominee in 1995), End of Story and Delusion, as well as Bullet Point, all have prison elements. (And speaking of the Edgar, Reality Check won best YA 2010.)

Wyatt finds himself in a tumultuous relationship with Greer, in part due to her being 3 years older. What factored into developing things in this manner?

Greer just popped into the story and sort of took over, but of course a 16-year-old boy finds himself on another planet with a young woman like that. Who to believe, and how to ever be sure: those are important questions in the book.

The writing style used for Bullet Point is unique, taking on a third person perspective while still giving more of a first person type narrative. What made you decide to write it in this way and dialect?

Very glad you asked. That's a good description of the ultra-close third person narration I've used just about my entire career (except for the Chet and Bernie novels, written in first person under my pen name, Spencer Quinn). I love the perspective - you can pull off all kinds of neat effects, and it's just so immediate. I don't think there are many other practitioners.

If you could pair Wyatt up with any character from any book (romantically or otherwise, your pick), what would be your pick?

For his own sake, some fictional good father would be nice; but then there'd be no story.

What is the most fearless thing you've done to date?

Making the decision to be a writer, and damn the torpedoes.

If you could step into anyone's shoes for a do, who's life would you want to experience?

Some great musician, like Django Reinhardt.

Thank you Peter for answering some questions and congratulations on another fantastic release!

In My Mailbox

This was a great book week for me! I'm very excited about all of them!

For Review:
Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala
Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Barnes
Rising Shadow by Jacquelyn Wheeler
Merger by Jacquelyn Wheeler
And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman
And Then I Found Out The Truth by Jennifer Sturman
(Special thanks to Holly Cupala, Random House, Jacquelyn Wheeler, and TK Public Relations for providing these review copies free of charge)

From Suzanne Young (Signed!)
The Naughty List
So Many Boys

Bought from Amazon:
Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead
Lost For Words by Alice Kuipers

Won from Princess Bookie's Contest Craze:
Stalker Girl by Rosemary Graham

Won from Shooting Stars Mag:
The Evil Within by Nancy Holder
Glimmerglass by Jenna Black


IMM is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

Book Review: Forget You by Jennifer Echols

SUMMARY:

There’s a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four- year old girlfriend. Like Zoey’s fear that the whole town will find out about her mom’s nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she’s the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.

But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there’s one thing she can’t remember at all—the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug.


OPINION: 5 STARS

Emotional and expressive, Forget You is another intricately weaved romance from Jennifer Echols. Starting with a simple premise, Echols builds an engaging story that will pull readers through a range of feelings. Although the question of what happened in the time frame Zoey cannot remember is carried throughout the book, Echols adds other elements to keep both mystery and enjoyment high.

Zoey is a mildly annoying character, the girl who sleeps with a guy and though he’s a playboy, she is sure things are different now. Despite this aspect, Zoey is still a strong, well developed character who holds a perfect blend of maturity and naivety. Her interactions with her dad are heartbreaking and infuriating and much of her actions- including the ones to dub her as annoying- are understandable. She is not a shallow person nor does she lack morals- despite her actions with Brandon. As she continues to investigate the events leading up to the car crash, Zoey encounters both entertaining and surprising events. Echols has done a fantastic job writing an amnesiac character, allowing things to slowly settle back into character and compounding it further by Zoey’s determination to keep the full extent of her amnesia a secret.

Doug, despite his past, his temper and the intrusiveness with which he suddenly asserts himself into Zoey’s life, is an adorable, heartfelt guy. The reader will experience a range of emotions towards this boy, some in response to Zoey and others in response to Echols’ beautiful writing and innate ability to profoundly develop her characters. The descriptions used to describe both Doug and many scenes he’s in is striking, painting a picture any reader can imagine vividly.

Echols makes nothing simple for either character, their battles firing instantly and often cooling just as rapidly. The push and tug of his relationship with Zoey is the epitome is teenage romance, with Zoey not falling instantaneously for the bad boy character but also not turning her nose up at him. Their story is a memorable one with the reader wondering the entire time if they really will end up together.

The pace of the plot moves steadily, considering the premise. Watching Doug and Zoey grow is a large part of this book but Echols leaves little time for boredom despite the magnificent character development- development which does take time. Echols shies away from nothing, including an arrange of teenage hormones, lust and emotion throughout the book in various ways but still writing in a way that will appeal to a wide range of audience ages.

Certainly a book to be read again and placed at the top of the favorites shelf, Forget You is a breathtaking ride into the world of teenage love and a perfect summer romance. Typical to a hallmark I associate with Jennifer Echols, Forget You holds very strong, memorable, and flawed characters along with an elaborate plot and several twists to keep the reader engaged. Complacency is not a part of Echols’ books, rendering Forget You, along with her first romantic drama Going Too Far, must reads.

Details:
Source: ARC received from author free of charge for review
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: MTV; Original edition (July 20, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439178232
ISBN-13: 978-1439178232

Author's Website

Book Review: Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead

SUMMARY:

Dimitri gave Rose the ultimate choice. But she chose wrong...

After a long and heartbreaking journey to Dimitri's birthplace in Siberia, Rose Hathaway has finally returned to St. Vladimir's-and to her best friend, Lissa. It is nearly graduation, and the girls can't wait for their real lives beyond the Academy's iron gates to begin. But Rose's heart still aches for Dimitri, and she knows he's out there, somewhere.

She failed to kill him when she had the chance. And now her worst fears are about to come true. Dimitri has tasted her blood, and now he is hunting her. And this time he won't rest until Rose joins him... forever.


OPINION: 5 STARS

*Note: This review IS spoiler free for the series*

Beginning not long after Blood Promise closes, Spirit Bound follows suit with the other books and wastes little time catching the reader back up. The action begins immediately with only a line added here and there to trigger memories of what's happened before. With the big cliffhanger Blood Promise left readers on, Spirit Bound charges forward to face both those issues as well as a new array of events Mead has incorporated.

Rose is still the same fierce, determined girl we've watched throughout the series although how she has matured across the books remains clear. Not a full personality change, but her overall way of thinking has shifted in accordance with the events she's faced and is very noticeable and well played out in Spirit Bound. This strengthens further throughout the book and with Mead's strong ability to write emotional scenes, the reader experiences everything Rose does. Her sarcasm and banter add relief and entertainment, even in painful or action packed scenes. Her interactions with Lissa return in this book, showing again how closely connected these two are- and not only for their bond.

Lissa's character, I felt, grew tremendously during this installment. I found myself appreciation her far more than I had in the past and she now makes an even better counterpart to Rose. She develops her own intense determination and though she makes some shocking choices of her own, Lissa still remains a character most readers will relate to. Weak in many ways, it is understandable given her breeding and status and Mead continues to pull that through to the reader in a way that will negate most condescending feelings towards her.

Adrian is still absolutely swoon-worthy, a sardonic playboy who holds the ability to love intensely. He holds his own spark and passion and his interactions with Rose are a shining portion of the book. We get to see some new sides of Adrian in this book, showing the full scope of his character, also adding new elements to the plot as a whole.

Dimitri, of course, continues to play a role in this book, creating a large amount of friction throughout. His character is one of the best played out ones in the entire series. Mead does a wonderful job handling him in various situations, adding a few new layers and complications.

This plot is as stunning as those before it and though a few parts were predictable, Mead laid the groundwork for them in previous books. The entire book, however, is far from predictable and Mead has once again thrown a major, shocking curveball at her readers to change the game yet again. The ease in which Mead weaves the entire story is astounding as she ties off some story lines, continues others and even reignites some. As with the other books, I find my mind blazing with theories and ideas of where things will go from here but the only thing I am sure of, based on the series as a whole, is whatever I come up with is not likely to be what Mead has in store.

With a very enchantingly built world, established early in the series and expanded masterfully, a wide range of characters- many of whom the reader comes to know as personally and emotionally as Rose- and very fluent writing, Mead has another powerful installment to the Vampire Academy series. The overall thought put into things is becoming clearer, with each book showcasing Mead's talent more. A series fans of fantasy will enjoy- vampire obsessives or not- Spirit Bound is an engaging read to be quickly devoured, leaving the reader salivating for the next book.

Details:
Source: Purchased from Amazon.com
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 496 pages
Publisher: Razorbill (May 18, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595142509
ISBN-13: 978-1595142504

Winners: CK Kelly Martin Contest

Random.org has spoken and the 3 winners in my CK Kelly Martin giveaway are:

Jenn @ Books at Midnight - First place and will get both One Lonely Degree and The Lighter Side of Life and Death

Debbie F & Onge - Will each get a copy of One Lonely Degree.

I will be emailing you three shortly- you have 48 hours from the time the email is sent to reply or I'll be choosing another winner.

Thanks to everyone who entered and don't forget to check out the other contests still going on- links are at the top of the page!

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This week's pick is Stranded by J.T. Dutton, set to be released June 8 from HarperTeen.

Summary:

My best friend, Katy, says a person with a sparkly two-part name like Kelly Louise should be guaranteed a little glamour and excitement and not be forced to move back to Mom's middle-of-nowhere hometown—now the center of a media frenzy since a farmer found an infant in his cornfield. (It just slipped from some mystery mother's body without anyone noticing.)

Bizzaro.

But Baby Grace shadows every hair flip, every wink, and is keeping me from losing my virginity, despite my dynamite new boots. Even Katy doesn't have any more good advice. The one boy around who rates anywhere near acceptable on the Maximum Man Scale only has eyes for my cousin, Natalie, who only has eyes for Jesus.

But Natalie has a secret.

Everyone is so busy burying the truth about Baby Grace, they can't see who they're burying alive.

Welcome to Heaven, Iowa.


My Thoughts: The premise alone hints at the numerous elements Dutton plans to include in this book, from the faith aspect to abandoned baby to the typical- and always engaging- teenage drama. The interactions between the four characters mentioned in the summary- Baby Grace not withstanding- are already set up to be both heartbreaking and entertaining. The cover is eye catching but certainly seems fitting for the premise and mood, particularly with the white colored dress. I am definitely looking forward to reading this one.