Sneak Peek of Feral by Holly Schindler

Hello all you awesome people. Today I'm talking about Feral by Holly Schindler. I'll also be giving you guys a sneak peek of the book.

Releases August 26th, 2014

Synopsis from Goodreads:

It’s too late for you. You’re dead. Those words continue to haunt Claire Cain months after she barely survived a brutal beating in Chicago. So when her father is offered a job in another state, Claire is hopeful that getting out will offer her a way to start anew.

But when she arrives in Peculiar, Missouri, Claire feels an overwhelming sense of danger, and her fears are confirmed when she discovers the body of a popular high school student in the icy woods behind the school, surrounded by the town’s feral cats. While everyone is quick to say it was an accident, Claire knows there’s more to it, and vows to learn the truth about what happened. 

But the closer she gets to uncovering the mystery, the closer she also gets to realizing a frightening reality about herself and the damage she truly sustained in that Chicago alley….

Holly Schindler’s gripping story is filled with heart-stopping twists and turns that will keep readers guessing until the very last page.

If that sounds like something you'd enjoy, play the video below for a sneak peek.



If you liked what you heard, then head on over to the author's blog to find out where you can pre-order this book from.

Pre-Order Information
Author's Blog

If you still aren't sure and you are a book blogger, head on over to Edelweiss and request an e-ARC of it.

Edelweiss Link:
Feral

If you want to wait until you see some reviews for it, keep an eye out for my review. It'll be posted July 26th.

Friendships In Your 20's

Making friends in adulthood is so much harder than I ever expected it to be. I didn't expect to suddenly lose friends the minute we were all legal. I was under the impression that our friendships were stronger than that. I was under the impression that friendships could withstand new relationships, engagements, marriages and even babies.

Apparently I was wrong. Apparently friendships are always changing, and changing significantly when people begin a new stage of life. I've struggled to maintain friendships as the years have gone past. I've tried and tried to hang on to a friendship, only to realize that it's just not working for various reasons. Maybe we've outgrown each other, maybe we are too different, or maybe, we were never really friends at all.

I was also under the impression that if someone means something to you, you will take the time to check in on them. Especially if you know things aren't good at home. I've always tried to stay connected and check in on people. Particularly if I haven't heard anything for awhile. That leads me to a different point, I don't buy this "Sorry I'm too busy" bullshit If someone is important to you, you'll make the time to talk to them, see them, let them know that you are thinking of them. Even a quick text would be okay.

Saying goodbye to friendships is sometimes incredibly hard or, if you know it's a toxic friendship, it can be incredibly easy. I've been in both of those situations. In one situation, it lead to me blowing up at my friend in a public place (I'm not proud of it) It was all about how her new (and first) romantic relationship seemed to be more important than our 15 year friendship.

That happens to be one of my biggest pet peeves. When a relationship becomes number 1 in your life and you no longer have time/want to see your friends who were there before the significant other. I think it's incredibly important to balance your friendships along with your romantic relationships. Friends are so, SO important and I think everyone needs to remember that.

Another couple times it was hard because I didn't know what had happened. We just stopped talking and every time I'd try to reach out I'd either get an "I'm busy." or "can't talk right now" or even worse, no response at all. It was awful and it caused my self esteem to take a major hit. It made me wonder "What happened?" "Why am I not good enough" or other negative thoughts.

People think that self esteem can only take a major hit when you're in high school, but that's wrong. Your self esteem can take a hit whenever it wants to. Mine has taken many hits in my 20's, and while it has not been fun, it's left me with a better understanding of myself. I'm more confident in what I can and will put up with in regards to friendships. It's helped me realize who is worth my time and who isn't.

I'm a major control freak so the fact that I cannot control how others think of me or treat me, is hard. However, I can make it known that I am a person, worthy of respect, honesty and kindness. I can make it known that I will not allow myself to be treated badly. I will not try to force a reconciliation with someone I no longer care for. I will not spend time with anyone who doesn't appreciate me and what I bring to the table.

Currently, my two closest friends are my boyfriend (who I've known since we were kids) and my friend who lives in Puerto Rico and has been a wonderful friend to me despite the distance. Would I like to have more friends? Of course I would, but I'm not gonna force it. Society says that if a woman doesn't have several close friends, there's a problem and it's a red flag for anyone wanting to date her. Well I call bullshit on that.

Friendships are important. Friendships are sacred and friendships can bring more ups and downs than an amusement park roller coaster.

So, do you find it easy or hard to make friends?

Review: Summer of Yesterday by Gaby Triana

Book Title: Summer Of Yesterday

Author: Gaby Triana

Release Date: July 8th, 2014

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Genre: YA

Standalone

Book Link: Goodreads

Pre-Order Link: Amazon 

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Back to the Future meets Fast Times at Ridgemont High when Haley’s summer vacation takes a turn for the retro in this totally rad romantic fantasy.

Summer officially sucks. Thanks to a stupid seizure she had a few months earlier, Haley’s stuck going on vacation with her dad and his new family to Disney’s Fort Wilderness instead of enjoying the last session of summer camp back home with her friends. Fort Wilderness holds lots of childhood memories for her father, but surely nothing for Haley. But then a new seizure triggers something she’s never before experienced—time travel—and she ends up in River Country, the campground’s long-abandoned water park, during its heyday.

The year? 1982.

And there—with its amusing fashion, “oldies” music, and primitive technology—she runs into familiar faces: teenage Dad and Mom before they’d even met. Somehow, Haley must find her way back to the twenty-first century before her present-day parents anguish over her disappearance, a difficult feat now that she’s met Jason, one of the park’s summer residents and employees, who takes the strangely dressed stowaway under his wing.

Seizures aside, Haley’s used to controlling her life, and she has no idea how to deal with this dilemma. How can she be falling for a boy whose future she can’t share?

Disclaimer: I received this e-ARC from Simon Pulse via Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.

Review:

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I love a good time traveling story and it's even better when it's a YA time travel story. Initially Haley bothered me. A lot. Her attitude was terrible and I felt sympathy for her dad & stepmom who had to deal with her. Seizures are a big deal and while I can understand Haley's reluctance, I can also understand how her dad wants to keep a close eye on her.

When she travels back in time, everything is different. All the things that she has grown up with don't even exist. There is no Google, no iPhone or any of the technology that she has always known. Stranger yet, she meets her parents the summer they fell in love. But it's cutie Jason who makes the most impact on her. He takes her under his wing,and doesn't label her crazy when she drops a bombshell on him.

Yet, I didn't feel the chemistry between Jason and Haley. Their kisses didn't make my Kindle sizzle like I was hoping they would. Maybe it's because I never completely warmed up to Haley. I ended up liking her a little bit, but I didn't love her. I think more character development for Haley would have helped.

The plot was jerky. In some places it was slower than a turtle and in others, it zoomed by like a racehorse. I think a little extra time to work out the pacing would definitely have been beneficial to the story.

The ending was confusing too. I don't think the author was really committed to the end of the story as it felt rushed and unfinished.There was one last bombshell at the end that surprised me, but didn't shock me or fill me with feels.

So I'm kinda iffy on this one. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. Between an underdeveloped protagonist and a rough ending & a jerky paced plot, I'm giving this book 3 stars. Maybe someone else will like it, it just wasn't one of my favorites.

Stacking the Shelves #41

This feature is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

This was the week of pre-orders!!!! I got 2 books in the mail that I had pre-ordered in March. So excited they came the day after they officially came out. I'm not usually that lucky. I picked up one Edelweiss book and one Netgalley book. Also, I was incredibly surprised to receive a package from St. Martin's Press. I didn't request anything, but they must have me on an author specific list or something as I got an Adult Thriller book from an author I love. 

Let's check out the books.

Bought

The One (The Selection #3)  by Kiera Cass

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Received for Review

-Edelweiss-

Behind the Scenes by Dahlia Adler

-Netgalley-

Now I See You: A Memoir by Nicole C. Kear

-From St. Martin's Press-

That Night by Chevy Stevens

Gifted

-

Won

-

Be sure to let me know if you've read any of these or if you are planning on it. Also leave links to your Stacking the Shelves posts so I can stop by.

Weekly Blog Wrap-Up

Monday- Review of Pointe by Brandy Colbert

Tuesday- Review of Independent Study (The Testing #2) by Joelle Charbonneau

Wednesday- No Post

Thursday- No Post

Friday- Guest Post from YA author Corey Ann Haydu about her writing process

Saturday- Review of Red At Night (an e-novella) by Katie McGarry

Review: Red At Night by Katie McGarry

Book Title: Red At Night

Author: Katie McGarry

Release Date: April 1st, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Special Releases

Genre: YA/Contemporary

Standalone (e-novella)

Book Link: Goodreads

Purchase Link: Amazon

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In Red at Night, Stella and Jonah are total opposites. She's the girl with purple hair from the wrong part of town. He's a high school senior who hangs with the cool crowd. Until a car accident leaves him haunted by guilt, and Jonah starts spending time at Stella's favorite refuge…the local cemetery.

Stella knows she should keep her distance—after all, she spent her girlhood being bullied by Jonah's friends. Once he's sorted out his tangled emotions, Jonah won't have time for her anymore. Too bad she's already fallen for him.

Disclaimer: This book was a freebie from Amazon.

Review:

So I'll read anything this woman writes. Oh my goodness, I never would have thought that so much emotion could be in a e-novella that was only 87 pages. Clearly I underestimated McGarry's talents in condensing the story but not allowing the emotion to suffer. This book wrecked me nearly on the same level as Pushing The Limits did.

My heart ached so badly for Stella. She didn't think there was any hope for her in life. She was resigned to her fate to work a full time job with no college since she couldn't afford it and she didn't have the type of family support she deserved. She had long ago learned that hoping doesn't change the facts and that it was useless to hope for more. She had learned to be realistic and that dreams were just that, dreams.

"If I don't hope for more, then it can't hurt as bad." -Stella

See, what did I tell you? Feels aplenty.

Then we had Jonah, who had the family Stella deserved but he couldn't get past watching a complete stranger die on the road one night. He hated all the press that came with it. He hated being called a hero, because he wasn't. He was just there at the right time and did what any decent person would do.

"His last words to me and on this earth were that he lived his life wrong."-Jonah

I think everyone has that fear. That fear, that you'll get to the end of your life and you'll realize that you made some mistakes and maybe even lived your life wrong. Dying with regrets has got to be one of the worst feelings in the world because you can't change it.

I loved Jonah and Stella's relationship. I loved that he was willing to tell off his best friend, Cooper for making fun of her. I loved that he sided with her and was willing to defend her no matter what. The chemistry leapt off the page and it made me smile a lot.

"I know who I want to be and I want you by my side as I become that person."

That quote is one of the most beautiful quotes I've ever read in a book. Oh my goodness, just reading it again, gets me all choked up. To have someone feel that way about you, has got to be one of the best feelings in the world.

This book packed an emotional punch from the very beginning and did not let go. I absolutely ADORED this book, and like I said before, I'll read anything this woman writes. She's that fabulous and her books are amazing, full of emotion and always, ALWAYS have amazing, and well written characters. 5 stars to this book that made me think of life, love and the choices we make in this world.

Guest Post from Corey Ann Haydu

Corey Ann Haydu is the author of two YA Contemporaries.

OCD Love Story- July 2013

Life By Committee- May 2014

Several weeks ago, Corey put the word out that she was willing to do a guest post on book blogs and I pounced on the opportunity for her to write one for this blog. Since I am working on 3 writing projects, I really wanted to hear about her writing process.

On Process and Doing What Works

The really wonderful thing about being a writer is the same as the really wonderful thing about being a person—you get to figure out who you are and what makes sense for you in your work and your writing and your life.

Here’s how a book happens for me:
I come up with an idea. It is vague. It is inspired by something else—a bit of my life or a documentary or a play or a podcast or another book. In the case of LIFE BY COMMITTEE I started with this French film I loved—Love Me If You Dare. I liked the structure, danger, and chaos of the film and I wanted to attempt that kind of arc in a book. 

That’s all I knew, when I started.

I write in cafes. I need a mocha or a chai. I have to have internet. I like to be chatting online with friends and looking at interesting articles and generally doing a sort of manic multitasking. I work best with a lot of chaos around me.

I write random scenes, out of order. I have only that one seed of an idea (“a YA novel sort of like that French film”) and nothing else. I play a lot. Slowly, I layer on ideas. At one point in writing LBC I realized the arc I wanted would intersect in an interesting way with bits of my own high school experience.

The first draft took me about a year. First drafts in general tend to take me about a year. It is a messy, messy process. I don’t have any chronology until very late in the game. Plot points occur to me sort of willy-nilly, and I’ll write a scene that seems like it could be interesting (Sasha Cotton on her porch at night, in LBC) and not have any idea why I’m writing it or where it will fit in. It’s a lot like leaving breadcrumbs for myself, Hansel and Gretl style, without actually knowing where I’m walking as I drop those breadcrumbs.

But miraculously a lot of things come together.

And unsurprisingly, a lot of other things fall apart.

I do not have strong first drafts. My revisions are complicated, structural, character and plot overhauls. They are not far from page one rewrites. I need readers (betas and above all else my agent and editor) to ask the right questions so that I can find the right answers.

When I’m revising I make insane, impossible choices. That’s when the book starts to work. I don’t solve a problem of not enough tension or a character’s journey being off by simply tweaking. I completely rethink the way I’m telling the story. I changed the entire way LBC-- the online group in the book-- functioned in between the second and third drafts. I cut a major character entirely after the first draft. I started the book in a whole new place. I added probably ten chapters in my last revision.

I stayed open to new and large and surprising changes. That’s the important part of the writing process for me—openness. Being open to ideas that seem impossible or exhausting. Taking risks. Writing scenes you may never use. Going in a direction that’s going to be hard to turn yourself around from. Making big and scary decisions, sticking with them, and then having the courage to give them up and undo them again if they’re not working.

And then the scariest—trusting your own instinct and following through even when it’s terrifying and hard.

And knowing how YOU write best, how a novel comes to be for YOU, and not judging that the process doesn’t look the way it’s supposed to. My process isn’t efficient. It requires me knowing when I have done as much as I can do on my own. It is filled with self-doubt and small moments of epiphanies. I am often shocked and appalled and dismayed and lost. My process involves post-it notes and scattered ideas and no outlines or calendars or spreadsheets. It doesn’t involve story arc, even though I know eventually I’ll need that. It doesn’t involve consistency or thinking through motivations, even though I know eventually I’ll need that. It means sometimes I give up halfway through or start over for the fiftieth time. It means for every 80,000 word book, there are 300,000 written words, beautiful scenes that will never be seen, characters I loved that no one else will meet. It means my phone is filled with one sentence idea descriptions that offer me little more than a feeling on which to build a whole novel.

And those little feelings sometimes turn into books.

And that’s mine. I can own that. Even though it’s messy.

Thank you so much Corey for volunteering to write a post for the blog. I loved reading all about your writing process. Keep writing those amazing books for us!

Review: Independent Study (The Testing #2) by Joelle Charbonneau

Book Title: Independent Study (The Testing #2)

Author: Joelle Charbonneau

Published Date: January 7th, 2014

Publisher: HMH Books For Young Readers

Genre: YA/Dystopian

Series: Book 2 in The Testing trilogy (My review for The Testing is here)

Book Link: Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In the series debut The Testing, sixteen-year-old Cia Vale was chosen by the United Commonwealth government as one of the best and brightest graduates of all the colonies . . . a promising leader in the effort to revitalize postwar civilization. In Independent Study, Cia is a freshman at the University in Tosu City with her hometown sweetheart, Tomas—and though the government has tried to erase her memory of the brutal horrors of The Testing, Cia remembers. Her attempts to expose the ugly truth behind the government’s murderous programs put her—and her loved ones—in a world of danger. But the future of the Commonwealth depends on her.

Disclaimer: I got this book from ARCycling.

Review:

I really enjoyed the first book of the trilogy so I was excited to get my hands on a copy of the second book in the series. The excitement didn't last long though and I spent a good chunk of the book, bored out of my mind.

It wasn't realistic. Cia was supposedly able to handle 9 classes plus an internship and be able to run around campus and still manage to ace her assignments and do well in her internship? Please! I wanted to see her fail only because I wanted to see how she would handle that. Yet they don't show that. She goes through the entire book, at the top of her class and not getting caught when she sneaks around looking for answers. It was too convenient and unlike in The Testing, I really didn't like her. She had this I'm-better-than-anyone-else attitude which made me really annoyed and pissed off.

I still don't like Tomas and honestly I didn't really like anyone in this book outside of Raffe. I found the characters to be very bland and definitely underdeveloped. I was hoping for more character development and I didn't get that.The world-building was also lacking significantly and that made it very difficult for me to be able to visualize everything.The world-building was decent in the first book, but it definitely took a nosedive in the second book.

There was no action in it, which really sucks because in books in this genre, there's got to be some action in order for it to be good and compelling. Without action, this book was nothing more than a fictional political book.

This book suffered the infamous "Sophomore Slump" It was boring, uninteresting and it was a book that I could not wait to finish so I could put it behind me and move on to a better, more interesting book. This book will be getting 2 stars. I am not sure I'll read the final book in the trilogy.