From the Boy Closet (3)

From the Boy Closet is a new weekly feature here at A Good Addiction that will spotlight a different well done YA hottie each week. If you follow me on Twitter, you've probably heard me talk about the YA boys I've shoved into my "Boy Closet" and this feature is thanks to that. It takes more than just looks to make me swoon for a guy in a book, and there are plenty of boys who didn't do it for me, so for the authors who wrote the guys who could.... this post is for you.

This week's boy comes from Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall: Archer. He's cocky and sure of himself, a bit on the jerky side, and seems to be a bit of a player. But he's clearly got some depth and a certain intensity about him that will keep a girl coming back for more. Not to mention, with his charming good looks and a killer smirk, Archer raises a few eyebrows. He's great with the witty banter and snappy comebacks, but he can be gentle when needed. And okay, so there might be some questions about him by the end of the book, and he might be more on the jerky side, but he's still hot.


"You know," someone said off to my left, "I usually find a blocking spell to be a lot more effective than yelling 'Bad dog,' but maybe that's just me."
I turned. Leaning against a tree, his collar unbuttoned and tie loose, was a smirking guy. His Hecate blazer was hanging limply in the crook of his elbow.
"You are a witch, aren't you?" he continued. He pushed himself off the tree and ran a hand through his black curly hair. As he walked closer, I noticed that he was slender almost to the point of skinny, and that he was several inches taller than me. "Maybe in the future," he said, "you could endeavor not to suck so badly at it." -- pg 20

"I mean, I'm considered something of a catch." -- pg 162

"Shut up," Archer said good-naturedly, lifting his arms over his head to stretch. "For your information, only my bow tie will be pink, and I plan on rocking it, thank you very much." -- pg 230

I looked up to see him studying me intensely with an expression I'd never seen before. Well, one he'd never directed at me before.
"She was right," he murmured.
"About what?" I said, and my voice didn't even sound like mine. It was low and breathy.
"I did want to spend the ball with you." -- pg 256

In My Mailbox

I was lazy and didn't put up an IMM last weekend, so this is two weeks worth of goodness. As always, I am crazy excited about everything in here.

For Review:
A Need so Beautiful by Suzanne Young (Already read- LOVE)
(Huge thanks to Harper for this title!)

Swag!
Like Mandarin from Kirsten Hubbard (Signed Bookmarks, magnets and postcards)
A Touch Mortal from Leah Clifford (Signed Stickers and bookmarks)
Rival from Sara Bennett Wealer (Signed Bookmarks)

Bought:
You Against Me by Jenny Downham
XVI by Julia Karr

Ebooks:


For review:
Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz (Already read- AMAZING)

Bought:
Life, After by Sarah Darer Littman
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
Other Words for Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal


IMM is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

Author Interview + Contest: Keri Mikulski

Popping in today is Keri Mikulski, author of the debut Head Games. This is about a rather tall girl with a love of basketball who is suddenly thrust into not only the world of boy drama but fashion and trying to deal with the stress of it all. It's a cute, feel good kind of book with some pretty hot guys to go with it. You should check it out, but first, check this interview and comment for your chance to win a gift card!


What were you more like in high school, sporty Taylor or more into the fashion shows?

Definitely Taylor, in regards to sports. Her personality... not so much. But, Hannah and I are polar opposites. My fashion knowledge extends about as far as handbags and that's limited considering I buy my handbags used on Ebay. :)

What was the most challenging aspect of blending the fashion and sports worlds?

Understanding the fashion world was super scary and definitely challenging. Imagining myself being thrust onto a runway is even scarier. The only thing more frightening is singing in front of an audience.

If you could pair Taylor and Zach with any characters from any book, what would your picks for them be?

I love this question! After Taylor's run-in with Zachary, I would pair Taylor up with someone super sweet, like Tucker from Cynthia Hand’s UNEARTHLY. Zach deserves to be by himself. But, I'd love to hire the Smitten Kittens from Suzanne Young’s THE NAUGHTY LIST to torture him.

What is the most private thing you're willing to share here?

Hmm.. Scandalous.

One of the major characters in HEAD GAMES and STEALING BASES is based on someone I knew very well in high school. If he or she ever picks up the books (which I hope he or she does), he or she will know it is him or her because I quoted some of his or her lines exactly. Except this time, I was able to say back to him or her what I've always wanted to say in retrospect.

What kind of plant would you describe yourself as?

Ha! :) Hmm... I really don't know much about plants. Even less than fashion. I like daisies and sunflowers. Is there a sporty or writer plant?


Thank you, Keri, for sharing those answers.... and I would love to see the Smitten Kittens go after Zach. Kira especially, I think....

And now for one lucky commenter, thanks to Keri, I have a $10.00 Barnes and Noble gift card up for grabs. You can get an extra entry for commenting on my review here. I will pick a winner from all comments received by January 22.

Book Review: Head Games by Keri Mikulski

SUMMARY:

Taylor is calm, cool, collected, and ferocious on the basketball court. A total all-star. Not so much in real life. She may be tall, gorgeous, and an incredible catch, but just try telling her that!

And lately, Taylor doesn't know which way to turn: The summer showcase game is almost here. Her BFF Hannah roped her into a fashion show (eek!). And she can't decide between Zach - the super-popular, super-tall, super-off-limits basketball dynamo - and Matt - the sweet boy from her math class (who may just be dating her BFF's older sister). It's enough to make any girl's head spin!

Can Taylor strike a pose, land the boy of her dreams, and win the game?


OPINION: 4 STARS

The Short Version:
Flirty and entertaining, Head Games blends teenage drama with sports in an enjoyable way. With a likable protagonist, an easy transition between high school, basketball and home life scenes, and some hottie boys thrown in the mix, this is a feel good read more than anything.

The Extended Version:
Taylor is an easy character to like and side with who not only is great at basketball, but loves it. Standing at six feet, she has an advantage on the court but feels completely out of place off, particularly around guys. The back and forth between these two sides is steady and well handled, and very realistic. Taylor wants everyone to like her, and to be happy, even at the expense of herself, which also helps to build not only her character but the plot.

Hannah, Taylor's best friend, is spunky and completely in to fashion, but the relationship between Taylor and Hannah has a great strength to it. Their banter is fun, their conversations deep, and their feelings clear. Despite the huge differences in their personalities and interests, they are close and this does add a very real note to the book.

The rest of the cast has enough depth to make them noticeable, with some garnering more attention depending on role. Zach is the stereotypical jock, seemingly sweet and charming while still have his cocky jerk side. Matt is just downright sweet, a good friend, and awkward in all the right ways. Holding a few secrets of his own, getting to know his character was a great element.

Naturally, basketball had a strong presence and role in this book, although I did find the overall team interactions to be over the top. However, given the nature of the book, this kind of playing into stereotypes and play ups can be expected, even if for convenience. Also playing on the issue of motivations for playing basketball, and how much stress being on the team can bring Taylor even if it's a sport she loves, adds another layer to the book.

The plot has a few story arcs that are weaved together well, and the final outcome is feel good, understandable, and ties everything up. There are several layers to this book, some deeper than others, and though overall, it's a very lighthearted and fun book, Mikulski does hit on some rougher stuff, even if only a little, to flesh things out. Add in the well done writing and Head Games is a great read for those that like sports and flirt.

Details:
Source: ARC received from publisher/author in exchange for an honest review
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: January 6, 2011

Ladies and Their Tramps (2)

Ladies and Their Tramps is my version of the question I ask a lot of authors: If you could pair your main character (and usually their love interest) with any character, who would it be? The responses are always amusing. Now in 2011, I'll be bringing you a new couple every week.

This week's couple mishmash is Phe from Anastasia Hopcus' Shadow Hills and Jace from Swati Avasthi's Split.

Phe is inquisitive and bold, lighthearted and tough. Jace carries a hard front, falls into a temper more easily than he means to, and is genuinely jaded. But Jace also has a deep empathy about him, a fierce survival instinct, and a huge desire for some kind of connection. Phe is troubled, but Jace is an entirely new world of torment. But her glimpse of trouble would be more than enough to let Phe stand strong in the face of everything Jace goes through, reigning him in when needed and making them both better for it. Not to mention, I'm pretty sure her natural perk would brighten Jace is more ways than one.

Author Top Ten List: Cyn Balog

Stopping in today is Cyn Balog, author of Sleepless. You know, that one about the sandman that falls in love? Cyn's been kind enough to give us a little glimpse into the details of her sandmen, and is sharing the Top Ten Things a Sandman Must Remember.

10.Make sure you have a full supply of sand in your pockets; only use approved sand.
9. Leave the way you come in.
8. Be courteous to other Sleepbringers you may encounter but work alone.
7. Ensure your charges are asleep before leaving their locale.
6. If you must enter your charge's dreams, disturb the dream as little as possible.
5. Do not stray from your charges.
4. Mind the advice of your instructor and the Originals.
3. Care for your charges above everything else.
2. Touch nothing in the human world.
1. You are no longer human.

Thank you, Cyn, for that list! If you guys haven't picked up Sleepless yet, make sure you do soon! You can also check out Cyn's first book, Fairy Tale, out now in paperback.