Paranormalcy

Review Time! Continuing with my 2010 Debut Challenge I have finished Paranormalcy! Thanks to Angela @ Reading Angel who sent this to me!!! Now on with the review...

(Goodreads )- Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.



But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.


So much for normal.

The Short Story ? - The start of a brand new series with a strong, independent heroine, a cute and understanding  love interest and a world where paranormal is normal. Funny, exciting and full adventure, Paranormalcy is is a debut that you wouldn't want to miss.

The Long Story? - Kiersten White is a wonderful storyteller with a beautiful imagination and an endless amount of knowledge about the paranormal. In fact, I curious about how much research she had to put in for this debut. Informative and interesting about the 'stuff' that teachers will never teach you ( ie Paranormals 101). I have categorised this debut in my head under 'HOT GUYS' than 'DEBUT' than 'Interesting and enjoyable' and in that order :P

One thing among many that made this book memorable for was the fact that Evie liked the colour pink ( you go girl!) nah kidding, but that's part of the reason. How many heroine would admit that they like pink? The main reason was how strong Evie's voice was. Not literally (duh) but I would have sworn I was just an audience and Evie was running the show. Which is, if you had read my review on Last Sacrifice *pointed look*, a skill that I regard highly of. To be able to write so beautifully in first person, it is a rare achievement even among the best of writers. One other author that I can think off the top of my head how can do this is Richelle Mead, so Paranormalcy is right up there on my list!

Paranormalcy was unique and full of adventure. The reversal of the paranormal theme is to be credited as for most YA paranormals  start with main characters who know nothing about the paranormal world until she/he falls for a vampire or werewolf or banshee or yer you get the idea. So when I read the blurb of Paranormalcy I was delighted to find that Evie's strongest point wasn't ignorance. Sometimes the clueless girl cliche is just too overused, once in a while I like to read originality.

The characterisation of Paranormalcy was also a strong pointer. Kiersten, I salute you for casting none of the main characters as human. When you cast humans the story just loses it's appeal because it becomes another Twilight with different characters with different names.

Cute, funny and just a bit sarcastic, just the way I like it. Paranormalcy is full of adventure, romance, evil faeries and well, paranormal activity. BTW, it's got a goreeee-ours cover, which is the only reason I picked up the book in the first place but it was a win-win situation ( Evie and I worked it out). Watch out for the Hags, they sacred me ;) Rating 4.5/5

Badass Bookie

Day Eighteen - All About Haven + Giveaway (I'nt.)

Book Profile

 Name - Haven ( Goodreads )

Author - Kristi Cook ( Profile )

Release Date - 22nd Feb 2011

Genre - Paranormal

A chilling destiny she can’t escape.

A devastating love she can’t resist.

One month into her junior year, sixteen-year-old Violet McKenna transfers to the Winterhaven School in New York’s Hudson Valley, inexplicably drawn to the boarding school with high hopes. Leaving Atlanta behind, she’s looking forward to a fresh start--a new school, and new classmates who will not know her deepest, darkest secret, the one she’s tried to hide all her life: strange, foreboding visions of the future.

But Winterhaven has secrets of its own, secrets that run far deeper than Violet’s. Everyone there--every student, every teacher--has psychic abilities, 'gifts and talents,' they like to call them. Once the initial shock of discovery wears off, Violet realizes that the school is a safe haven for people like her. Soon, Violet has a new circle of friends, a new life, and maybe even a boyfriend--Aidan Gray, perhaps the smartest, hottest guy at Winterhaven.

Only there’s more to Aidan than meets the eye--much, much more. And once she learns the horrible truth, there’s no turning back from her destiny. Their destiny. Together, Violet and Aidan must face a common enemy--if only they can do so without destroying each other first.

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Character Profile

Kristi's daughter is an artist
in making! Love this!

Name: Violet McKenna

Age: 16

Birthday: March 27

Psychic power: Visions of the future.

Best part about her power: Nothing, as far as Violet is concerned.

Worst part about her power: The pretty much only sees bad things—sometimes horrible, terrifying things—happening to people that she cares about.

Extracurricular activities: Fencing team.

Best friend: Her roommate at Winterhaven, Cece Bradford, who can astrally project.

What annoys her most: The fact that her boyfriend, Aidan Gray, keeps secrets from her.

Her greatest wishes: To put her visions to good use; to be able to prevent the awful things she sees from happening. That, and for Aidan to find his cure—because if he doesn’t find the cure, then they have no future together.

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Giveaway Time !!!

Kristi has kindly offered one of you paranormal lovers ONE (1) Pre-Order of Haven. I wish I could enter this myself...I so so so badly want to read Haven! BUT I don't suppose I can enter my own giveaway can I...eh, no? Nah, kidding :P But I wanna read this so so so bad!

Official Rules - will be disqualified if you don't follow exactly ( not even kidding guys, I'm fed up already with people who can't follow instructions)

- INTERNATIONAL

- Must leave all links that are required ( will be disqualified if you don't)

- Must Fill out this FORM

- Extra Entries are optional ( although they are nice :P )

Badass Bookie xx

Day Seventeen - All About ... Kristi Cook

This the ninth time I have tried to write something interesting to introduce the Debutante of the Day and I'm running out of ideas...maybe I just copy and paste that one from the first day...kidding! :P Well, she's sweet, she's funny and she's a Deb! Ladies and Gent., please welcome Kristi Cook! ( for a moment I was going to start singing - she's beauty and she's grace, she's Ms/ Miss/ Mrs ? United States, anyone?)

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Debutante Profile

Name - Kristi Cook

Debut - Haven ( Goodreads )

Genre - Paranormal

Blog - HERE

Website - HERE

Twitter - HERE

As a child, Kristi Cook took her nose out of a book only long enough to take a ballet class (or five) each week.  Not much has changed since then, except she’s added motherhood to the mix and enjoys penning her own novels as much as reading everybody else’s.  A transplanted southern gal, Kristi lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.

Dream Debutante Dress -

Kristi's Dream Dress

Author's Own Message ( ie when they talk about themselves :P)

My name is Kristi, and I’m addicted to reading. There, I’ve admitted it! But seriously, I read a lot. As in, all the time. Since I was a child, I’ve always had my nose in a book. And when I’m not actually reading, I’m frequently thinking about a book I’ve read. As a kid, that’s how I went to sleep each night—thinking up new adventures for my favorite characters, or making up alternate endings for my favorite books. When I was twelve, I actually took a spiral notebook and pen and started writing the first few chapters of a sequel to Gone With the Wind. So I guess you could say I started off writing fan-fiction. Sort of.



It was an easy leap to writing my own original stories, but I didn’t have the courage (or the time, really) to try until I was grown, with two small kids toddling around and a lot of hours to fill. When I’m not writing, I’m still reading voraciously (on average maybe four or five books a week, mostly YA these days) or watching movies (I love to re-watch my favorites, over and over again!). I also like to take ballet classes, ice skate, and go to the theater (I live in New York City, so the theater’s good!).


But mostly, my head is usually in a book, both literally and figuratively—either one of my own, or someone else’s. And I like it that way!

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Annnnnd that's a take! So now it's my turn to hog the spotlight! Thank-you very very very much Kristi for that interesting post AND I love your debutante dress, putting aside Miley Cyrus's current "scandal" I still think she has good taste :) So anyway guys, that's it for today BUT come back tomorrow because there just might be a giveaway *winks*
 

Badass Bookie xx

Day Sixteen - All About The Liar Society + Giveaway

Book Profile

Name - The Liar Society ( Goodreads )
Author - Lisa and Laura Roecker ( Profile )
Release Date -  1st March 2011
Genre - Mystery
Kate Lowry didn't think dead best friends could send e-mails. But when she gets an e-mail from Grace, she’s not so sure.


To: KateLowry@pemberlybrown.edu
Sent: Sun 9/14 11:59 PM
From: GraceLee@pemberlybrown.edu
Subject: (no subject)


Kate,


I'm here…
sort of.
Find Cameron.
He knows.
I shouldn't be writing.
Don't tell.
They'll hurt you.


Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace’s death was more than just a tragic accident. But secrets haunt the halls of her elite private school. Secrets people will do anything to protect. Even if it means getting rid of the girl trying to solve a murder...

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Character Interview with Kate Lowry

LiLa: Kate Lowry, thank you so much for sitting down and chatting with us today. We’re so excited to introduce you!

Kate: Thanks guys. I can’t stay long because Liam’s picking me up in like 5. He’s taking me over to the old Brown Prep buildings. Grace said there’s something I have to find there.


LiLa: Wait a second. Grace? I thought she died.


Kate: She did…well, at least, I thought she did. She’s been emailing me. I know it sounds crazy, but she says people are lying. She says her death was more than just an accident.


LiLa: That sounds really creepy, Kate. How do you sleep at night?


Kate: That’s not even the least of it. I’ve seen her. I’ve seen Grace. Only in flashes. But I know it’s her.


LiLa: Okay, now you’re scaring us.


Kate: I can’t tell anyone about it. Liam would never want to see me again and Seth would probably tell my parents to take me back to Dr. Prozac. And Maddie…don’t even get me started. She’d probably run off laughing to Taylor Wright or something.


LiLa: What is Maddie’s deal anyways? You guys used to be besties. Does it drive you crazy how she’s connected to Taylor’s hip?


Kate: Um…yeah. She’s wasting away to nothing. The only thing she seems to be eating lately are the tiny crumbs of Taylor’s affections. It’s kind of pathetic. But I do miss her. Just over a year ago her, Grace and I were inseparable. Now she won’t even look at me.


LiLa: Ugh. We’re sorry Kate, that sucks. But at least you have Seth and Liam.


Kate: Yeah, I don’t know what I’d do without them. Seth has lived next door forever and even though he’s a mini-red-headed conspiracy theorist he’s also my only friend. And Liam. I’m not so sure about him. He’s super hot and smart and funny and hot…oh wait, I already said that. Yeah, I’m still trying to figure him out. Those rumors about him blackmailing the headmaster to get into Pemberly Brown have to be made up, right?


Oh crap, I just got another e-mail from Grace…time is running out. I have to find out the truth. And Liam’s honking. Gotta run!


LiLa: Okay, Kate, go catch your ride. We’ll see you March 1st! And, er, good luck with, um, e-mails from beyond the grave…


Kate: Yeah, I’ll need it. Thanks guys…

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Giveaway time !!!

Lisa and Laura has kindly offered TWO ( 2) you heard right TWO of  you faithful reader ( yer I added a tricky question the in the form just to make sure you read this post .... *evil laugh*) one Pre-order of the Liar Society EACH. Unfortunately there's a hitch ( no it's not the tricky question) US/CAN ONLY.

Official Rules - will be disqualified if you don't follow exactly ( not even kidding guys, I'm fed up already with people who can't follow instructions)

- US/CAN ONLY

- Must leave all links that are required ( will be disqualified if you don't)

- Must Fill out this FORM

- Extra Entries are optional ( although they are nice :P )

There was no tricky question, I just had to make sure you guys read the post :P

Badass Bookie xx

Day Fifteen - All About ... Lisa and Laura Roecker ( The Liar Society)

When I said twelve Debs I meant thirteen because The Liar Society is written by not one but two debutantes! Lisa and Laura Roecker are today's featured Debutantes and you probably don't want to hear me talk so I'll get on with it...

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Debutantes Profile

Names - Lisa and Laura Roecker

Debut - The Liar Society

Genre - Mystery

Website - HERE

Blog - HERE

Twitter - HERE

We're sisters-turned-writing-partners with a love of all things Young Adult. Call it arrested development or immaturity, but it keeps us young and it's cheaper than botox.

Lisa Roecker read her first Nancy Drew book when she was 9, which she promptly abandoned for something far more interesting by Christopher Pike or Lois Duncan. She attended Miami University with a double major in Marketing (because her dad made her) and English Literature (because she loved it). She graduated and took a deeply boring job that paid the bills. Eventually she started writing with her sister to keep things interesting.

Laura Roecker watched Lisa read by nightlight and fell in love with books because her big sister said she should. She graduated from the University of Dayton with a degree in Middle Childhood Education in an effort to relive those awkward years all over again. After teaching for several years and telling her students how much she'd love to write a book, she finally realized her dream when she found a writing partner in her sister.

Dream Debutante Dresses -

Lisa's Dream Dress ....

Laura's Dream Dress

In case you haven't realised Lisa's dress was kind of a joke.... :P she actually has great taste!

Author's Own Message ( ie when they talk about themselves :P)

Lisa: We need to tell Badass Bookie’s readers all about us.



Laura: You mean about our glamorous writing life in Cleveland?


Lisa: Something like that. But let’s leave out the part about us wearing yoga pants and Uggs. Let’s pretend we wear day dresses and heels like Tim Gunn says we should.


Laura: I can get on board with a day dress. Oooh, by the way I totally picked out my debutante dress. But not in white. J.Crew is making a special dress for me in Navy. Gorge.


Lisa: Debutante dress? I didn’t know we could choose a debutante dress? And since when does J. Crew take custom orders?

Laura: J.Crew is surprisingly open to my style ideas. And I went ahead and chose your dress for you. Celery is such a good color on you.

Lisa: *single tear* OMG. Have you seen my skin in the winter? And why do I have to look like the mother of the bride? I hate you.

Laura: Oh stop sniffling and tell everyone about our writing process.

Lisa: No, I’m checking Twitter and I still haven’t recovered from the fug of the green dress. You do it.

Laura: Fine. Lisa always writes the first chapter because she’s the boss (and older, hence the mother-of-the-bride dress) and I edit her chapter and write the next one, send it back and we continue until the book is done. Happy?

Lisa: Wait, you left out how we talk on the phone for hours every day and write emails to each other using our joint email account.


Laura: Oh yeah. Our husbands want to divorce us because all we do is talk. About writing. And reading. And our Amazon rank.


Lisa: Cleveland plus yoga pan…er day dresses plus the same phone/email conversations every day plus a hot potato writing process plus a whole lot of editing and a few tears = Lisa and Laura Roecker.

Laura: And Chipotle and Frosties and Twizzlers and Diet Coke too. Speaking of, I could totally go for a burrito right now but I don’t want to look bloated in my ball gown.


Lisa: Ha! My dress jacket hides EVERYTHING.

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Haha I LOVE this post guys! Cleveland sound glamorous anyway, even if you guys wear yoga pants,eh, day dresses with your UGGs, I mean, heels :P I don't know what a frostie or a twizzler is but they do sound really good, hang on, let me google it... yep looks good! Lisa, smart thinking about the jacket, that way you can eat a full meal at the reception but still look good for the photos after it !

Badass Bookie xx

Anna and the French Kiss

Review Time! After all that "serious reading" you know murders, Adrian, romance, Adrian, action, Adrian, Adrian, Adrian & Rose and Dimitri . I wasn't ready to read more serious stuff so I put up a WANTED sign for a cute, light, romantic read and the next thing you know Anna and the French Kiss arrives at my door....

The Short Story ? - Looking for Romance in the most romantic city in the world? Can't afford a ticket? Grab a copy of Anna and the French Kiss for an affordable holiday. In stores now! ( I not advertising I telling you to read THIS book) Really cute, Really sweet, Really romantic, Really French. Qui?

The Long Story ? - You know Anna and I have alot in common, okay, just a bit, both of our french is limited to 'Qui' ( until Anna went French on me). However, I taking it as a sign that I going to meet a total french ( English/ American) hottie one day who has totally gorge-ous hair :P Hmmm what can I say about this book?

Well, Anna and the French Kiss is really really cute. If I had to describe the book in five words it would be 'Etienne St.Clair is a Hottie'. If you gave a another five it would be 'Etienne St. Clair is a total french hottie with great hair'. My final thought were Etienne St.Clair is really sweet ( and hot) and I think Anna and Etienne make a great couple.

The great thing about Anna and the French Kiss is that when you first pick up the book you can just feel that is going to be a happy ending. The other thing that great is that there's only one guy for Anna, it's definitely NOT a love triangle!!! You how great that is??? I love books with happy ending and the only way everyone can get a happy ending is if there is NO love triangle!

I really, REALLY actually enjoyed this book, it was one of those 'rare' books that I can say ' I enjoyed it very much' without  the unspoken 'but' tagging along at the end. Anna and the French Kiss is a great example of what good YA romance should be like - light, funny, cute and a guaranteed happy ending!

It's cute, it's funny, it's romantic and it's French. You are going to love this book! Rating 5/5

Badass Bookie xx

Day Fourteen - All About Across the Universe + Giveaway

Hey Guys, sorry we're abit late today! Beth and I lost track of time, our coffee trip turned into a shopping trip! Right Beth? RIGHT? ( I lied, we didn't do any of that shebang ...) Anyway just a heads up that Beth is have a giveaway of EPIC proportions over at her blog, there will be 100 winners! Best thing yet? It's INTERNATIONAL!!! ( HERE ) However, at the end of this post there is also a giveaway.....

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Book Profile

Name - Across the Universe ( Goodreads )

Author -  Beth Revis ( Profile )

Release Date - 11th of Jan 2011

Genre - Dystopian/ Sci-fi/ Fantasy

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awake on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into a brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone—one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship—tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn’t do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed’s hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there’s only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

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Character Profiles

There are two main characters, Amy and Elder, and the book is told in alternating POVs.



Name: Amy Martin
Age: 17 years old
Birthplace: Florida, Earth
Physical description: Long red hair, pale skin, green eyes
Goals in life: To run in the NY Marathon, to be happy with her family and friends
Background: Amy likes running and races competitively at her high school…until her parents become a part of a mission for the first interstellar space trip. Amy chooses to be cryogenically frozen so she can go on the mission with her parents. In 300 years, she’s supposed to wake up with her parents on a new world. Problem is, someone woke her fifty years too early…


Name: Elder
Age: 16 years old
Birthplace: Godspeed, an interstellar space ship
Physical description: Brown hair, skin, and eyes
Goals in life: To become a good, strong leader of the ship, following in the footsteps of generations of Eldests.
Background: Elder wants nothing more than to prove himself as a leader. But just as his training begins, problems start up on the ship. Elder, as well as the rest of the over 2,000-strong crew, was born on Godspeed. What he didn’t know was that there were a hundred cryogenically frozen people on a secret level of the ship just below his feet. When one of the people—a striking red head who stands out amongst the monoethnic crew—wakes up fifty years early, her arrival is only the beginning of a whole new set of problems…including a murderer who unplugs and kills more frozens like Amy…

Early Review - HERE

For more information about my book, please visit my website—bethrevis.com—and be sure to check out the telescope for hidden extras!

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Giveaway Time !!!

Beth has kindly offered a Signed ARC of Across the Universe + Pin Buttons ( really cool ones :P) to one for you Debutante Enthusiasts or anyone who can't wait to read ATU ( I really should start my ARC...)

Official Rules - will be disqualified if you don't follow exactly ( not even kidding guys, I'm fed up already with people who can't follow instructions)

- US/CAN ONLY

- Must leave all links that are required ( will be disqualified if you don't)

- Must Fill out this FORM

- Extra Entries are optional ( although they are nice :P )

Badass Bookie xx