Win The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder!

**CONTEST CLOSED**

This is your chance to Win...

THE DAY BEFORE (Hardcover) by Lisa Schroeder

Rules 1 Winner!

For your chances to win FILL OUT THIS FORM!

Additional Entries

Comment on my interview with Lisa Schroeder here

Comment on my review of The Day Before here

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) July 14, 2011. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

**If you are an international resident and have someone in the states that I could mail the prize to, then you can enter the contest**

Review: The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

THE DAY BEFORE by Lisa Schroeder

Pub. Date: June 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Format: Hardcover , 320pp

Age Range: Young Adult

Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab

Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself. Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.

As with all of Schroeder’s books, THE DAY BEFORE captured me with its poetic beauty. The words flowed across the pages and pulled me in line by line. I'm always surprised at how Schroeder continues to dazzle me with heartfelt story after story. You know what? If comes down to this: If it's a Schroeder novel, then you expect it come with beautiful prose.

I'll confess that I didn't quite remember what this book was about before I started reading it. And I'm glad that I didn't bite the bullet and read the synopsis because I ended up being completely engrossed into Amber's life. It was all so mysterious to me and I think that along with that and Schroeder’s lyrical prose, this novel ended up being more meaningful and heart rendering.

If you haven't read a Schroeder book, then I would highly recommend it. Her writing is hauntingly beautiful. She knows how to pull emotions from her readers and get you tied up into the character's lives. She's one of those writers that I can put on my list of book hits.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

---

Order THE DAY BEFORE

Check out the book trailer

Sensational 7 Q & A with Lisa Schroeder (Author of The Day Before)!

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hang out with your favorite author(s)? In an attempt to get a better understanding of authors, my Sensational Seven Q & A takes a closer or more personal look at these authors to give you a glimpse of the personalities behind the writing of your favorite books.

“Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book; a personality which, by birth and quality, is pledged to the doctrines there set forth, and which exists to see and state things so, and not otherwise.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lisa Schroeder is the author of IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES and upcoming SPRINKLES AND SECRETS (Aladdin, Fall 2011). She is also the author of YA novels I HEART YOU, YOU HAUNT ME (1/08), FAR FROM YOU (12/08), CHASING BROOKLYN (1/10) and THE DAY BEFORE (6/11), all with Simon Pulse. She lives in Beaverton, Oregon. Find out more about Lisa and her books at http://www.lisaschroederbooks.com/

THE DAY BEFORE is in stores now!

If you were given a chance to travel back in time, what year or place would you go / Why?

Wow, this is hard. What a great question. Probably back to the late 30s or early 40s, so I could know my grandparents as a young married couple with children, and see my mom as a child. I'd love to get to know my great grandparents too from back then. That time in history interests me too, coming off the war and rebuilding and all of that.

Describe your novel in seven words or less?

Teen version of the movie BEFORE SUNRISE

Please share with us about your favorite book and fictional crush to date?

I'm going to go with Blake in FLASH BURNOUT by my dear friend L.K. Madigan.

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be / Why?

Piglet. I'd love to live in the Hundred Acre Wood and be best friends

with Winnie the Pooh. What? I love Winnie the Pooh!

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play thelead role as you/ Why?

Kate Hudson. I've always thought she was so cute and seems like such a fun person. ALMOST FAMOUS is one of my favorite movies and she was SO good in that movie!

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be – please explain?

The Woman Obsessed with Friday Night Lights

The show is coming to an end soon and I'm so distraught over it. I feel like the characters are all my friends and I'm going to miss them so much! So someone could write a biography about me and we'd just sit and talk about the show the whole time, and it'd be awesome.

How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?

Living my best life every day

Thanks for stopping by Lisa!

For more information about Lisa Schroeder and her books, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness (84) The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

What is Monday Madness?

It’s the phenomenon affecting all book lovers as we count down the hours in hopes of getting our hands on highly anticipated books on release day. So, come join me throughout the week where I will be featuring Author Interviews, Reviews, Guest Posts, and Contests for great books.

THE DAY BEFORE by Lisa Schroeder

Pub. Date: June 2011

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Format: Hardcover , 320pp

Age Range: Young Adult

Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself. Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.

Order THE DAY BEFORE

In My Mailbox (81)

FOR REVIEW

Fateful (ARC) by Claudia Gray

Ruby Red (Edelstein-Trilogie #1) by Kerstin Gier

Blood Red Road (Dustlands, #1) - Thanks to S & S for the finished copy. You can check out my review here. 

Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna Dressed in Blood, #1) (ARC) by Kendare Blake

Damned (Crusade, #2) (ARC) by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Secrets and Shadows (13 to Life, #2) by Shannon Delany

Bargains and Betrayals (13 to Life, #3) (ARC) by Shannon Delany

From Bad to Cursed by Katie Alender

The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller

Won in Goodreads Contest

Fins Are Forever (Fins, #2) by Tera Lynn Childs

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi @ The Story Siren and inspired by Alea @ Pop Culture Junkie

Review: Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

TRIAL BY FIRE by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Pub. Date: June 2011

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Format: Hardcover , 368pp

Age Range: Young Adult

Series: Raised by Wolves Series

Source: Publisher (ARC)

There can only be one alpha.

Bryn is finally settling into her position as alpha of the Cedar Ridge Pack—or at least, her own version of what it means to be alpha when you’re a human leading a band of werewolves. Then she finds a teenage boy bleeding on her front porch. Before collapsing, he tells her his name is Lucas, he’s a Were, and Bryn’s protection is his only hope.

But Lucas isn’t part of Bryn’s pack, and she has no right to claim another alpha’s Were. With threats—old and new—looming, and danger closing in from all sides, Bryn will have to accept what her guardian Callum knew all along. To be alpha, she will have to give in to her own animal instincts and become less human. And, she’s going to have to do it alone.

 Bryn faces both the costs, and the rewards, of love and loyalty, in this thrilling sequel to Raised by Wolves.

When it rains it pours has to be at the back of Bryn’s mind in this sequel of cat and mouse. TRIAL BY FIRE is full of mind games and deadly secrets. I thought Bryn had it hard in RAISED BY WOLVES, but she amazes me everything she’s faced with danger. This girl is a fighter right down to her very core. She’s on the fast track to becoming one of my favorite heroines.

I fell instantly in love with RAISED BY WOLVES and I wondered if TRIAL BY FIRE would match or surpass its intensity. I had no need to worry because this book continued to delve deeper into pack politics where one move could cost Bryn her life. I believe Barnes has created a realistic depiction of the hierarchy and life of werewolves, even so that I’ve started to care for the well-being of the characters. Her character development was spot on and I look forward to getting to know the characters even more.

If you are a lover of werewolves or even paranormal for that matter, this is one series I would highly recommend. You never know what you’re going to get out of this series and that’s one of the things I love most about this series – I’m always surprised. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Winner of Hourglass by Myra McEntire!

The Winner is...

HOURGLASS (HC) by Myra McEntire

Swag: Bookmarks

Meredith Miller

Thanks to everyone for participating!

Win A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young!

**CONTEST CLOSED**

This is your chance to Win...

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL (Signed) by Suzanne Young

Rules 1 Winner!

For your chances to win FILL OUT THIS FORM!

Additional Entries

Comment on my interview with Suzanne Young here

Comment on my review of A Need So Beautiful here

Contest ends @ 11:59pm (CST) July 7, 2011. U.S. & Canada Residents Only (Sorry!)

**If you are an international resident and have someone in the states that I could mail the prize to, then you can enter the contest**

Review: A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL by Suzanne Young

Pub. Date: June 2011

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Format: Hardcover , 272pp
Age Range: 12 and up
Source: Publisher (ARC)

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be forgotten.

Charlotte's best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she's cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what's really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become—her mark on this earth, her very existence—is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny—no matter how dark the consequences?

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL is mesmerizing beyond words. Young captivated me page by page during Charlotte’s beautiful journey of love and sacrifice. The whole concept behind the Need that consumes Charlotte’s life is quite literally breathtaking. I loved the premise – it’s different and not what I’m used to in regards to books dealing with angelic beings. In short, it’s refreshing!

One of the things that I loved about this book was Charlotte’s and Harlin’s relationship. Finally, I have a couple who already has an established relationship. I didn’t have to worry about if the relationship was rushed or unbelievable. Charlotte and her beau are perfect for each other. I loved their interactions with each other and I sympathized for these characters. They felt so authentic, which is why I couldn’t get enough of their story. The Need that encompasses Charlotte’s life is quite fascinating. I never knew what to expect when she was compelled by the Need. Every person’s life that Charlotte touched was one mystery right behind another. I was drawn to find out what would happen next when the Need arose.

With a story like Charlotte’s – one where the character is faced with hard decisions that will ultimately change your life forever, I always find myself wondering how the characters will fare in the end. After turning the last page, I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am at how things unfolded. A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL is another refreshing page turner. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment!

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

---

Order A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL

Check out the book trailer!

Sensational 7 Q & A with Suzanne Young (Author of A Need So Beautiful)!

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hang out with your favorite author(s)? In an attempt to get a better understanding of authors, my Sensational Seven Q & A takes a closer or more personal look at these authors to give you a glimpse of the personalities behind the writing of your favorite books.

“Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book; a personality which, by birth and quality, is pledged to the doctrines there set forth, and which exists to see and state things so, and not otherwise.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Suzanne Young is a brilliant scientist. Not really. But she is a former middle school teacher turned zookeeper (mother). When Suzanne's not fending off zombie squirrels or narrating her daughter's Barbie soap operas, she can be found camping on the Oregon coast or writing obsessively.

Learn more at www.suzanne-young.blogspot.com

ANEED SO BEAUTIFUL hit shelves today!

If you were given a chance to travel back in time, what year or place would you go / Why?

I think I would only go back about 25 years. I’d want to revisit the place where my family would go camping in NY when we were kids and spend more time with my grandparents. It was a magical time and I still miss it.

Describe your novel in seven words or less?

Love, heartbreak and sacrifice.

Please share with us about your favorite book and fictional crush to date?

I really like Dexter from Sarah Dessen’s This Lullaby. And one of my favorite book series is Libba Bray’s A Great and Terrible Beauty. But I have so many favorites!

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play thelead role as you/ Why?

My life? That would be boring. But I wouldn’t object to being played by Reese Witherspoon.

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be – please explain?

Revise, Rinse, Repeat-The Story of My Life. Because honestly, sometimes it feels like that’s all I do.

How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?

Family, writing, revising, writing, laundry, friends and True Blood.

Bonus:

**Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?**

Sure, I’m really excited to work on the sequel to A Need so Beautiful coming out next summer! It’s called A Want so Wicked.

Thanks for stopping by Suzanne!

For more information about Suzanne Young and her books, please visit her website here.