Breakfast with the Bookie - My Love-Hate Relationship with YA Contemporary

Breakfast with the Bookie is a new feature that I'm introducing on the blog! So, every Wednesday morning ( or night, depending on where in the world you are) I will be posting a discussion/issue post that you can read along with your morning cup of coffee!

Discussions can range anywhere from advice, pet peeves, Q&A's, movie castings, authors etc etc. Every Wednesday! Join in and let's discuss!

Anyway Today's Topic - My Love-Hate Relationship with YA Contemporary

YA is a fairly broad genre or more correctly age group. It's becoming increasingly popular among readers especially adults who a) read it because it's so much more interesting or b) makes them feel young again! For me, as a teenager, I can't imagine reading anything but YA! I mean sure, I read the occasional PNR or UF but I never stray too far from YA.

I not a fussy reader. If it's YA and fiction, there's a fairly good chance that I'll pick it up sometime in my life, just because. That said, I lean toward paranormal and Contemporary books with romance. Paranormal is my favourite genre, I live for stories about things that go bump in the night. Paranormal and I live a peaceful life where our love for each other is strong and we have many happy years in front of us.

Contemporary? eh ... it's complicated. I have always loved reading but since 2009 I have become an addict. I would like to say that it has nothing to do with Twilight but...it does. It was Twilight that introduced me to Paranormal. It was Twilight that lead me to Mortal Instruments which in turn led me to blogging. Twilight let my love for Paranormal blossom but it also turned my love relationship with Contemporary into a love-hate relationship.

You see, before when I just loved reading, I read HEAPS on contemporary, it outnumbered any other genre on my bookshelf, it was my poison. But since Twilight I have explored deeper into the Contemporary genre. I discovered that there was a darker side to it...the side that I hate. the side that involves 'issues', death and depression.

Books like 'Wintergirls' by Laurie Halse Anderson, 'Living Dead Girl' by Elizabeth Scott and 'If I Stay' by Gayle Forman can all be classified as the 'dark side' of Contemporary. Although, I actually found 'If I Stay' and 'Living Dead Girl' quite good so I probably shouldn't have used them as examples but nevertheless, I hate this type of Contemporary. It's ..ugly, I don't think that we should find any enjoyment in reading about some 16yr old with problems. It challenges everything about fiction, where's enjoyment when we are reading depressing novels about drugs, suicide and abuse?

Books like 'Anna and the French Kiss' by Stephanie Perkins, ' The Lonely Hearts Club' by Elizabeth Eulberg and ' She's So Dead to Us' by Kieran Scott are all classified as the 'light side' of Contemporary. Nothing heavy - cute, romantic and just so much easier to enjoy! I loved all of these books and spend time even now looking for books similar to them! Sure, some of the ideas are a little far-fetched and maybe a little too romantic to be anything close to reality but I love this type of Contemporary because it's fiction! It's enjoyable, it's what a books should be like!

So there you have it my love-hate relationship with Contemporary. What about you? Is it just me or do anyone else out there have a love- hate relationship with a genre??? Maybe I'm just weird...

Badass Bookie xx

Extra! Extra! Badass Bullentin #1 -Your guide to my blog and everything YA + winners!

Hello Everyone! I have decided to do a monthly newletter (sorta) on Badass Bookie to highlight upcoming blog events and latest YA news! So this is your guide to covers reveals, informations on authors, mvie castings etc etc! The Badass Bulletin will be released on the first of every month!

ON THE BLOG THIS MONTH -

{ Winner of 'Other Words for Love' by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal is ...Erinberry! I have sent you an email, please reply back within 48 hrs }

New Features -

Badass Bulletin - { Monthly Newletter on everything YA and everything Badass}

Where - {Badass Bookie}

When - { 1st of Every Month }

What - { Your Scoop What's New, What's On and What's Hot }

Breakfast with the Bookie -{ Weekly Discussion to read with your coffee every Wednesday Morning }

Where - { Badass Bookie }

When - { Wednesday Morning or Night depending on where you are. I'm following the US schedule for this one}

What - { A Dicussion post about everything and anything YA, from authors, to cliches, to pet peeves, to advice!}

February Debut of the Month Featuring ...

{Paige Harbison - Here Lies Bridget}

{15-16th February}

{International Giveaway(s)}

{ Upcoming Interview with Beth Revis, author of Across the Unverse - 3rd of February }

- ( THIS THURSDAY)

{ In My Mailbox - Every Other Week }

{ New Reviews Posted Weekly }

 LATEST IN NEWS -

Cover Releases -

{ He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott - Sequel to She's So Dead to Us }

{Hourglass by Myra McEntire - 2011 YA Debut } 

{ The Pull of Gravity by Gae Polisner - 2011 YA Debut}

{ Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder - Australian Cover Release}

In Other News -

{Hunger Games : The Movie - Will be released in March 23rd 2012}

{Hunger Games : The Movie - "Rumored" Liam Hemworth to play Peeta}

{Hunger Games : The Movie - "Rumored" Hailee Steinfield to play Katniss}

Badass Bookie xx

Rules of Attraction

Review Time! This is an "official" part of my Bucket List Challenge! I thought I might post a review today since I haven't actually written a review for the challenge this month ( official part anyway) and it is the 31st of January! It's also why I have a different review format!

Name - Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
Pages - 324 pages
Publication Date - April 27th 2010
Publisher- Simon and Schuster
Rating 4/5

(Goodreads) When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

Why did I pick this book?- I read the first book in this series, Perfect Chemistry last year when someone recommended it to me. She mentioned that it was a tad corny but I loved it! SO, when Rules of Attraction came out last year, I JUST had to read it! However, I was swamped with review books ( still am) so I never got the chance to read it. However, I using this challenge as an excuse to read all the books I never got around to!

Was it worth it? You bet it was!

Brief Thoughts? - Honestly, I still think I liked Perfect Chemistry better, although Rules of Attraction was good too! The trilogy follows the 'love life' of all three brothes Alex, Carlos and Luigi, Rules of Attraction told the story of Carlos and Kiara love. The writing and plot was excellent as always, the romance was totally cute and the passion between Carlos and Kiara was what made the book memorable.

Um, the whole point of these books is to I guess, point out that 'opposites DO attract'. The interchanging perspective from Kiara to Carlos, Carlos to Kiara was an excellent way of showing the undeniable attraction between them. Bottom line - the romance is to DIE for.

Quite frankly, I'm a tad prejudice, I've fallen in love with Alex so no one can measure up to him :P So, to sum it up - romance = to DIE for, plot = cute but lacked a bit of action, charatcerisation = perfect, I couldn't have done it better and cover = why don't you decide for yourself...

Would I recommend it? - Definitely! The best part is that you don't even need to read the book in order, each book is about a different brother although the three books crete a big picture. If you're a sucker for romance, this ones for you!

Badass Bookie xx

Haven Re-create Cover Contest ---> My Entry

Hey Guys! Amelia over @ Imagination in Focus is hosting a Haven Re-Create Cover Contest! The best part is the Kristi Cook, the author, is actually going to be picking the winner!!! I normally don't enter these contests because a) I'm too lazy to actually create something and b) most of them are US ONLY. Anyway check it out -

ORIGINAL COVER -

(Goodreads) - 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.

Kristi was also one of Debutantes, you know, just putting it out there!

MY COVER -

What do you think?

Badass Bookie xx

Nevermore

Review Time! I've been dying to review this book! It's an "unofficial" part of my Bucket List Challenge meaning I gain nothing whatsoever from reviewing this besides your lovely comments :P *hint hint*

(Goodreads) Cheerleader Isobel Lanley is horrified when she is paired with Varen Nethers for an English project, which is due—so unfair—on the day of the rival game. Cold and aloof, sardonic and sharp-tongued, Varen makes it clear he’d rather not have anything to do with her either. But when Isobel discovers strange writing in his journal, she can’t help but give this enigmatic boy with the piercing eyes another look.

Soon, Isobel finds herself making excuses to be with Varen. Steadily pulled away from her friends and her possessive boyfriend, Isobel ventures deeper and deeper into the dream world Varen has created through the pages of his notebook, a realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life.

As her world begins to unravel around her, Isobel discovers that dreams, like words, hold more power than she ever imagined, and that the most frightening realities are those of the mind. Now she must find a way to reach Varen before he is consumed by the shadows of his own nightmares.

His life depends on it

The Short Story ? - One of those books that grab onto you and never let you go. I currently in a state of depression because the publication date of the sequel is still unannounced. This book was originally part of my 2010 Debut Author Challenge, however I never got around to reading it until last week? Such a shame...

The Long Story ? - I wasn't planning on reading this book when I first saw the size of it. It's HUGE like more than 500 pages huge. Sure, I wanted to read it but there was always the thought ' I could read two books in the time I read this one...is it worth it?' Especially since this is one of those books that I picked to read not for review purposes, this one was just for fun.

In the end I decided to read it because - I have this thing for opposite attracts and stories involving goths. I find Goths absolutely fascinating ever since I read Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley :P Anyway, I am very thankful that I did pick it up because IT IS TOTALLY AWESOME!!! No exaggeration, I loved, loved, loved, loved this book! I think it's safe to say that this is one of the best 10' debuts and my new favourite fantasy!

The characterisation in this book was absolutely amazing! Each character in this book was carefully created, every personality was different and I felt a deep connection to both Isobel and Varen. I developed a soft spot for Varen who is a total sweetie, you wouldn't be human if you didn't! The whole book evolves around the fact that Varen pretty much hates his life ( for good reasons) and escapes to this dreamland where he wants to stay forever...until he meets Isobel.

Which leads me to my next point - the romance in this book is fantastic! I love romance, I live for it and Varen and Isobel's relationship is jut too cute. Both trying to fight the urge to be with each other only to let it pull them closer together? awwwww, it's really just that cute <3 Another thing I liked about the romance is that there is a development. I can't tell you how many books I've read where girl and guy fall instantly in love. Um, I pretty sure you don't walk up to someone and say' I want to spend the rest of life with you' in the first five minutes of meeting. In Nevermore, there was a hating stage, to a attraction stage, to a friends stage, to a more than friends stage and then we get a glimpse of couple stage before chaos strikes! I took the bait and I'm hooked!

All in all, this is a great book that YOU should read and you can't even doubt my word because I gain nothing from this review besides your lovely comments *hint hint* The writing is comfortable, the imagination is individual, the plot is great, the Poe theme is great and the romance is to die for! So listen up! If you don't read this book...it's your loss! Rating 5/5 ( deserves nothing less!)

Buy it now - The Book Depository

Badass Bookie xx

The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove

Review Time! The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove is written by Lauren Kate who also wrote the Fallen Trilogy ( Fallen, Torment & Passion). I didn't like Fallen but I loved Torment so I guess you can say Lauren and I have a love-hate relationship :P I wasn't entirely convinced I wanted to read this until I saw the new cover....

(Goodreads) A steamy Southern beauty makes one fatal mistake.
Natalie Hargrove would kill to be her high school’s Palmetto Princess. But her boyfriend Mike King doesn’t share her dream and risks losing the honor of Palmetto Prince to Natalie’s nemesis, Justin Balmer. So she convinces Mike to help play a prank on Justin. . . one that goes terribly wrong. They tie him to the front of the church after a party—when they arrive the next morning, Justin is dead.

From blackmail to buried desire, dark secrets to darker deeds, Natalie unravels. She never should’ve messed with fate. Fate is the one thing more twisted than Natalie Hargrove.

Cruel Intentions meets Macbeth in this seductive, riveting tale of conscience and consequence.

The Short Story ? - Whoever, blurbed this book hit the jackpot! Cruel Intentions meets Macbeth? Amen! I going to tell you straight up that - I LOVED this book! The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove is one of the best dark YA fictions I have read! Dark, twisted and addictive, you should read this ;)

The Long Story ? - The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove is one of those books that tip the balance one way or the other. It simply doesn't sit in the middle, you either hate or you love it. It all depends on whether you are a fan of extreme 'highschool' fiction. If you love the cheerleaders, the prom, cheating boyfriends and dirty secrets, you're going to love this book. If you're not so much of a fan? Give it a try, I thought it was fantastic!

I personally love reading typical "highschool" fiction, I love the whole shebang, from cheating boyfriends to cheerleaders to prom! I love the social ladder, I love the cliques and I love the whole rich kids cliche :) When I read the blurb of The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove, I was hooked. The only thing better than poor little rich girl ??? Poor little rich girls who would kill to get what they want ;)

However, something else that held my appeal for the book is the meaning behind it. It's hard to explain but it's satisfying to read books with morals behind it. I can't work out exactly what the moral behind this is ( careful what you wish for? think before you act?) but it's a typical Shakespeare tragedy. In a way this is the first time I have come to appreciate tragedies, I never really quite understood the whole buzz with Macbeth but after reading this...I feel like we've finally connected.

The plot of this book is clever, dark and completely realistic. You may think the death of J.B. may have been a little far- fetched but I would think differently. A stupid prank gone wrong after a couple of drinks? Typical teenager behavior. The whole book was cleverly written, something that started simply as a desperate need to become high school loyalty turned out to be something darker and much more serious.

The characterisation may have been a little cliched. Good-looking, rich, selfish teenagers? Cliched YA fiction but each character had a very interesting personality. I particularly liked how Lauren portrayed Natalie, confident and powerful on the outside but fighting a losing battle against her past on the inside.

However, more than anything, I loved the ending. I have read review where people have said they hated the ending but I loved it! It's how the cookie should crumble! The fall after the sweet revenge, it was deliciously dark and it suited the theme of this book. I give extra credit for the clever idea of writing the epilogue in third person, I found that I found the book most enjoyable in the last few chapters and the epilogue was just the finishing touch, it was like trying the knots at the end of each unanswered question.

Overall, The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove is a great book that I think everyone should read. Filled with sweet revenge, a dark seductive plot, beautiful writing and a great characterisation. It's the perfect book to read on a long night in. It's dark, it's twisted but it's addictive! Rating 4/5

PS - I love the new cover, it follows the same "theme" as the covers of the Fallen Series, the gorgeous dresses, the same font and everything!

Badass Bookie xx

Blessed Tour + Giveaway

Cynthia Leitich Smith is the New York Times and Publishers Weekly best-selling author of ETERNAL, TANTALIZE, and BLESSED, all Gothic fantasies from Candlewick Press. She also has written several YA short stories as well as books for younger readers.


TANTALIZE was a Borders Original Voices selection, honored at the 2007 National Book Festival, and The Horn Book called it "an intoxicating romantic thriller." A graphic novel adaptation of TANTALIZE is in the works.
ETERNAL was a YALSA Teens Top Ten nominee, featured at the Texas Book Festival, and Publishers Weekly said, ".readers should be hooked by this fully formed world, up through the action-packed finale." It debuted at #5 on the New York Times best-seller list and #13 on the Publishers Weekly best-seller list.

BLESSED crossed over the two casts. The Horn Book cheered: "Quincie has a zest for life that shines through as she balances supernatural duties with schoolwork and running her family restaurant, the vampire-themed Sanguini's. Romance blossoms, too, as she and her beloved werewolf, Kieren, prove their devotion to each other under deadly duress. A hearty meal for the thinking vampire reader." And Kirkus Reviews said the novel was "wild and ultimately fascinating.the pages fairly smolder in describing their [Quincie and Kieren] attraction to one another."

Cynthia may be found on the Web at HERE, Blogger, LiveJournal, facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

GUEST POST - Secondary Characters

The glory goes to the hero, the scorn to the villain. The protagonist and (sometimes) antagonist drive the plot.

How do we get to know those characters? Their setting, sure! Background, absolutely!

But perhaps nothing brings the main characters to life more than the second stringers, the supporting actors in their lives.

That’s definitely true of my Gothic fantasy series—Tantalize, Eternal, and most recently Blessed. The casts of those first two novels crossover in the third, and re-introducing them was perhaps the most entertaining part of writing the new novel.

Secondary characters mirror individual qualities of the hero. Illuminate them. Secondary characters challenge the hero. Fuel their growth. Secondary characters comment on the main characters. They help tell the readers what we need to know.

I’m talking about more than walk-ons or background folks. But rather the people or monsters that make a specific difference, even though they’re just beyond the spotlight. They’re characters fleshed out enough to almost fuel stories of their own.

Blessed features a large cast—with characters returning from the previous titles and some new ones too. I’m going to talk just briefly about a few of my favorites.

The twins—Freddy and Harrison. One human, the other a neophyte vampire. Both were raised as children of human servants of the undead, the latest in a long line from that chilling tradition.

Freddy is all style and panache, a former event planner, the perfect choice to step in as Sanguini’s make-believe vampire chef for the midnight toast. After so many years lingering on the border of the underworld, he’s eager to stand with the heroes and make a difference for good.

Harrison is the reason Freddy didn’t escape the shadows sooner. He longed for undeath, coveted it, and even betrayed his master to drink the blood of a lesser eternal. He’s wry, sarcastic and pessimistic, shockingly self-interested. But how much of it is posturing?

The two play competing honorary uncles of sorts to Quincie, and both are a huge improvement over her actual uncle, Davidson from Tantalize.

Sabine and Philippe. She’s the queen of the damned, and he’s her loyal consort.

Sabine’s goal is to kill more people than heart disease, and yet, if it’s in her best interests, she’ll fight with the good guys. This vampire queen has a tragic past, though. As a one-time French aristocrat, she chose undeath to escape the guillotine.

Philippe’s story is more murky, but he’s courteous and elegant, the consummate host. We do know that he was badly scarred in a fire and his cane emits an electric charge.

While both of these baddies fear the Big Boss, that doesn’t mean they’ll bow to Quincie, even if she is traveling with the guardian angel Zachary at her side.

Nora, the new chef, becomes the surrogate grandparent that Quincie lost when Vaggio was killed in Tantalize.

And then there’s the Morales family. Quincie gets to know them in a whole new way when Meara and Roberto become her legal guardians.

Like all of us, Quincie P. Morris is defined large in part by the characters in her life.

Thanks Cynthia! Wondeful post, I can't wait to read Blessed, this post has definitely given me more of an insight on the novel! I LOVED Tantalize!
 

GIVEAWAY

 

US ONLY - ONE (1) Winner will receive -

 

ENDS 4th of February

Please leave a comment below with your email address to entered. +2 for followers! Please add it up for me!

Badass Bookie xx