Event: Frederick Book Festival

Hi there gorgeous people!  Yesterday I was able to attend the Frederick Book Festival for the first time and I'm here to tell your all about it!  The festival was held at the Frederick Fair Grounds (in Maryland in case you don't know what I'm talking about), and although the day was overcast and a bit cold, it turned out to be a great day!

Hannah, Jen and me

There I met with the fabulous Hannah from The Irish Banana Review and the ever sweet Jen from Genuine Cupcakes and YABC.  The author line up for YA was: Jennifer Armentrout, Miranda Kenneally, Jodi Meadows  Amanda Brice and Diana Peterfreund. Awesome right?

Valerie Cole, me, and Jodi Meadows (I'm holding knitted versions of  Ana and Sam )

I was able to attend two of the YA panels: Emerging Trends in Young Adult Fiction and The YA Dating Game.   As the title illustrates, the first one was about emerging trends in YA, which includes contemporary, fantasy, aliens, and new adult.  It was really interesting to hear about their opinions of what the new trends are, how they compare to past trends and how the publishing industry has a lot to do with it.  The dating game was so much fun!  I haven't laughed that hard in a while (*I'm smiling right now as I write*)!  It was these fabulous ladies take on the dating show.  Our very own Hannah volunteer to be the first one (see picture below) and I'm sure she'll tell you all about it in her blog (head over there soon!).  The authors also talked about their favorite male and female characters and why they liked them.  

Miranda Kenneally and Diana Peterfreund

Lt. Jodi, Jennifer Armentrout and Amada Brice / Rt. Jennifer

Jen, Hannah, Jodi, author Valerie Cole and yours trully went out to grab a quick lunch.  I can't tell you how amazing it is to get together with like minded people.  I love my family, but to them my book addiction is like a foreign language and these book activities are a great escape for me.  I also enjoy these more intimate settings in which I actually have a chance to talk to these incredible authors. 

Hannah at the dating game

We wrapped up with the book signing and I got some goodies that I'll share with you next week for STS.  Enjoy the pictures and please be aware that, as my teenager loves to remind me, I'm horrible taking pictures!  Thank you ladies for making my day!

Stacking the Shelves #45

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews in which we feature all the book goodness that we received, borrowed or purchased during the previous week. All links are to Goodreads.

Hi gorgeous people!  Another busy week comes to a close.  I'm looking forward to some relaxation today (Saturday) as I'm going to the Frederick Book Festival, other Maryland bloggers are going as well and it should be fun! I'm also counting the days until BEA (12?)  Below are the new beauties stacking my shelves this week:

Purchased (or Free) for Kindle 

The Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah M. Eden - I read two books from Sarah Eden in the past few months and I loved them both, I can't wait to read this one.

Drops of Gold by Sarah M. Eden - Ditto

The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard - I participated in the cover reveal for this book and it was a great deal for Kindle.

Gifts

My wonderful babies got me these for Mothers Day last week (do they know their mama or what?):

Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris - This is the last book of the Southern Vampire series and although I can't wait for the ending, I'm a little sad to see it go.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey - I CANNOT wait to read this one. I'm such a big fan of his Monstrumologist series!

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare - Well, I haven't read these books yet, but now I have the trilogy :)

Hunger Games Bookmark

Also from hubby I got these two movies based on books:

Safe Heaven

Silver Linings Playbook - I saw this one already and it was awesome!

I also purchased some books to get them signed at the book fair, but I'll share those with you next week :)

What's stacking your shelves this week?

Cover Reveal: Banished from Grace by Aria Williams

Banished from Grace (Banished from Grace #1)

by Aria Williams

Release Date: June 2013

Cover Reveal Organized by: YA Bound

Summary from Goodreads:

Nardia is a very special nurse, one with a unique gift. With the touch of her bare hands, she can heal any physical ailment. With the help of her angel guide, Benilde, Nardia has healed her way through countless centuries.

Life should be easy for this attractive (not to mention, immortal) woman, but throw in two handsome men, a coffee addiction and memory loss that dates back to the medieval ages, and you’ve got a life that’s more than complicated.

When she meets AJ at her favorite coffee shop, she can’t help but feel an immediate attraction to him. At the same time, she knows there’s more to his story than what he’s letting on. And then there’s the handsome Doctor Regan, who she feels a connection with, but is she trying to make it more than is really there in order to spare her the heartbreak of being with AJ?

Only adding to her problems is the new resident, Dr. Jeffries, who seems out to get her from day one, and a murder case she can’t help solve without revealing her own secrets.

Can Nardia uncover the secrets of her own past while still moving forward and saving those in need of her help in the present?

About the Author

Aria was born in the large county town of Orange situated in NSW, Australia. In 2011 she moved to Forest Reefs NSW and settled on nine acres with her husband and young family.

Aria completed her Enrolled Endorsed Nursing studies over a year ago, while completing this course the idea for Fall From Grace came to her. This dream was put on hold till she finished her studies and settled into her new life in Forest Reefs.

Aria travels to a residential care facility and cares for the disabled during the day and at night enjoys her passion of writing YA and paranormal romances. In her spare time she loves to play with her five Siberian huskies who give her great joy.

 Aria enjoys late night walks with her husband and family dinners involving her parents, four other siblings, their partners and her niece and nephews.

The inspiration for her writing comes from her four children, who never give her any quiet time but she would not change this for the world.

Website|Twitter|Goodreads|Facebook

Discussion: Why YA?

When someone asks me about what books do I like to read, the inevitable response is Young Adult. Most people’s reaction is an amused looks that seems to say: “but you are NOT a young adult”.  Indeed, I am not.  Why then do I like to read these books so much?  What is it about the YA genre that I love so?

I always seem to be at a loss for words when the question arises, but let me attempt to answer it here.  I’ve always been an avid reader.  I am the type of nerd that read all of her ‘summer reading’ during the first few weeks of summer.  I pestered my mom to take me to the book store, and then beg for books instead of toys.  Later, when I stared working I did a weekly trip to get books of my own.  In my adulthood I started reading romances, with a specific interest in historical romance; this is a genre that I still enjoy but don’t read as much. 

I think my fascination with YA stared with two specific series: Harry Potter and Twilight.  For very different reasons I adore these two series, the adventure, the fantasy, the magic, the possibility of the impossible. I love that moment that reminds us of the feelings of finding our soul mate. I remember the angst that goes hand in hand with being a teenager, the trials of high school and college.  I revisit the moments in which true friendship was a lifeline.  I enjoy all of these things in a ‘clean’ way.  Even when the stories delve into the magical, the fantastical or the horrific, like many dystopia or tales of abuse, I find that the human soul is so strong, so hard to break, that goodness is something that will never be lost, despite the age of the characters.

You should also keep in mind that, for the most part, young adult books are written by adults.  I know that it’s easy to lose track of that fact, because these amazing authors, that were also young adults themselves, have such an outstanding insight into the soul of the young men and woman for which they write.  They are true artists and crafter of words that rightly deserve the celebrity status that they have gained.  YA is not only “in” right now, it is here to stay.

Do you read young adult? Why or why not?  What is your favorite thing about it?  Do you think it is a fad that will eventually fade?

Waiting on Wednesday: Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

Title: Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles 

Published by: Walker Books 

Published on:October 1st, 2013

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

Why I want to read it:  It's by Simone Elkeles!  I really don't need any other reason than that, BUT it also sounds amazing.  Oh, and how cool is the name 'Ahstyn'?

What are you waiting for this week?

Top Ten Books Dealing with Tough Subjects

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish

I have to confess that I try to avoid books with tough subjects. Nonetheless, I have managed to read a few throughout the years.  Here are my top ten:

1.  Willow by Julia Hoban - This story is heartbreaking, it not only deals with grief, but on using cutting as an outlet for the pain.  

2.  Just Listen by Sarah Dessen - I adore Sarah Dessen books, she deals with tough subjects with depth, but still very tastefully.  Just Listen is about rape, understanding, love, fear, and a lot more.

3.  The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - If you read this book, I don't need to explain further. If you haven't, what are you waiting for?

Review: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Lux #1)

Title: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published: November 23^rd, 2011

Source: Purchased for Kindle

Format: eBook

Group age: Young adult

Genre: Paranormal / SciFi

Challenge: 2013 eBook

Grade rate: A

Starting over sucks. When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up. And then he opened his mouth. Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.
 The hot alien living next door marks me. You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.
 If I don't kill him first, that is.

 My Review

*Slaps forehead* HARD. 

That’s how I feel for taking so long to read this book.  It has been sitting in my Kindle for a long time, and I finally decided to check for myself what all the fuss was about.  Well, now I know that Obsidian is an amazing book!

**At this point I have to make a quick side story.  A few weeks ago I had to travel for business and of course, my trip took place on the first day of the FAA furlough.  I was supposed to arrive at my destination at 2:00 and instead got there at 9:00!  Anyway, I read the whole book and started another one (thank goodness for the longevity of my iPad’s battery!). End of whining (seriously one of the worst traveling experiences ever!) **

Did I mention that this book is amazing?  The characters alone deserve a standing ovation. I mean Katy and Daemon together are a thing of beauty, I could actually see the sparks fly when they were close to each other.  Katy is loyal, smart, well grounded, and brave.  On the other hand, Daemon can be a bit abrasive and off putting (and gorgeous of course) but you can tell that he is a good guy deep down.  I think he really enjoyed his babysitting duty. What do you think?  Apart from them, we meet Dee and a few other high school friends and some of the other Lux that live close. 

The plot is awesome! Did I mention that this book is about aliens? Such an incredible imagination! The story is full of discovery, twists and turns and even mystery.  I’m not sure if I would have acted as cool as Katy did with all the strangeness going on, but I understand the allure. The writing is splendid, and goes hand in hand with the characterization.  The story is action packed, even though we are introduced to a new sort of being and alien culture.  I really don’t know what else to say about this incredible book, it’s a good thing I had all the time in the world to read it because I couldn’t put it down :)

Ms. Armentrout will be at the Frederick Book Festival on May 18^th and I cannot wait to meet her!  I must start reading Onyx, book #2 soon; I need me some more Daemon.