Top 10 YA Crushes–Guest Post & Giveaway with Ebony McKenna

I am so excited that Ebony Mckenna agreed to visit The Happy Booker to share a guest post about her book crushes! Ebony is the author of the fun & magical series Ondine. I recently read the first in this series titled The Summer of Shambles, you can check out my review here.
I have a few book crushes of my own, like Sirus Black from Harry Potter and Raffe from Angelfall. What about you? Let Ebony know who your book crushes are and you’ll be entered to win one of two copies of The Summer of Shambles!

Giveaway is INT – 2 Winners

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Top 10 Young Adult Crushes

by Ebony McKenna

 

Sure, I read novels for the escapism, the writing, the plot and all that. But what makes a book truly memorable for me is when I fall in love with the characters. I adore believable characters who make me sigh and give me goofy grins. I love the emotional connection between my heart and a book.
It’s time to confess I’ve fallen in love with far too many fictional lads over the years. Here are my top 10 favorites of all time.

1: Dread Pirate Roberts (The Princess Bride by William Goldman)
I first fell in love with Cary Elwes who played him in the movie, which I saw in the 1980s. Later, I read the book and fell in love with him all over again. Don’t get me wrong, Westley the farm boy is all kinds of sweet, but when he becomes Dread Pirate Roberts, he is brave and strong and clever, utterly devoted and a lot bit wicked.

2: Gale Hawthorne (The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins)
Katniss should have ended up with Gale, no question. He’s smart and strong and catches his own food. These are important qualities to consider when society is falling apart. Gale is a survivor. Usually I’m not a fan of the love triangle, but in this series it worked - only because I’d made my mind up very early on and didn’t budge from it. If only Katniss had listened to me.

3: Jon Snow (A Game of Thrones by George R R Martin).
Not a YA book per se, but the series A Game of Ice and Fire is filled with teens and tweens forging a new life in a kill-or-be-killed universe. One of the most intriguing characters (along with Tyrion Lannister) is Jon Snow, the bastard son of Ned Stark. Jon is an outcast who desperately wants to belong. He’s in constant battle with what he wants versus what the world wants of him. He’s understandably complicated without wallowing in melodrama. He’s a survivor. (Oh dear, I hope I haven’t spoken too soon.)
I was also partial to Robb Stark, Jon’s half-brother. Honorable, just like his father. Strong, brave and devoted to the cause, just like his father. Oh yeah, and dead, just like his father. Thanks for nothing George!

4: Bennett Cooper (Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone)
Oh Bennett is divine. This is a new crush for me but the time-traveling Bennett will stand the test of time, if you’ll forgive the pun. He’s so believable and well written. He’s complicated (as a good teenager ought to be) and has loads of secrets, but he has such a strong sense of devotion and the need to protect the people he loves that makes him so eminently crushable. Yikes, this list is getting way too revealing. Oh well, it’s cheaper than therapy!

5: Josh Abrams (I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter)
Reading the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter is pure fun, with added super cool gadgets and plot twists. Josh is both a love-interest and thorn-in-the side for Cammie. I’m a few books in to the series, which means I’m liking Josh all the more and yet trusting him even less. Is he a spy, a double-agent or something more dangerous?
Whatever the outcome (book 6 is out soon!) Josh is way too clever to forget.

6: Hamish McPhee (The Summer of Shambles by .... oh look, it’s me!) Yes, I am in love with my own creation. There is probably something deeply Freudian about this. Or it’s simply entertaining. But the thing is, I didn’t realize I was in love with him until a blogger interviewed me and said my face went all soft and silly whenever she said his name.

7: Étienne St Clair (Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins)
My husband is now reading these over my shoulder. I am in serious trouble. “But darling, it’s not like I’m some desiccated cougar, or whatever comes after cougar (Snow Leopard?) It’s me reading as my 15-year-old self, living vicariously though the protagonist. Honest!
Sure, I crushed on Étienne, but also, I grew very frustrated with his inability to ditch his current girlfriend and get with Anna. These situations play out very badly in real life. You do not want to be someone’s back-up plan, you want to be the centre of their world. But also, I’m a sucker for an accent.

8: The Man of Steel
No matter your orientation, if you’re not crushing on Henry Cavill in the rebooted Superman, check your pulse. OK, this is a movie not a book . . . but you can bet Henry is inspiring a great many writers all over the world right at this very minute. 
  
 

9:  Gilbert Blythe (Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery)
Yeah, I’m going old-school. I didn’t fall in love with him instantly. In later books, Anne gets wistful about her perfect husband. She says she couldn’t love a wicked man, but it would be nice if he ‘could be wicked’. At that point, it all fell into place. Gilbert is smart, easy on the eye and capable of being a big tease when the moment strikes. He’s also completely devoted to Anne. Ooooh, there’s that word devoted again. Sigh.

10: Ai Ling (Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon)
Yep, I’m crushing on a girl here, because Ai Ling is awesome without being arrogant. She’s also brave and daring while acknowledging how scared she is of the consequences. She’s so full of adventure and fighting spirit. And the girl loves her food. What’s not to love?

Honorable Mentions (because I can’t stop at 10)

 The Doctor (David Tennant’s incarnation).
OK, so not a book. But also, Dr Who, huge part of my youth spent behind the sofa being scared by Daleks, Cybermen and Bonnie Langford’s hair.
When the BBC brought it back to our screens with Christopher Eccleston as The Doctor, I was back to being a kid again. Then David Tennant stepped into the role and he took it to a whole new level. I am still crushing on him like crazy.

Michael Wagner (Forever by Judy Blume)
Notable because this book was my introduction to the topsy-turvy world of romantic love. First published in 1975, I would have been one of the ‘new’ audience reading it in the late 80s.  I read it because I was a perve and I wanted to know what I was in for, didn’t I?

Over to you.

Who are your favorite YA crushes?  Who should be on the list? I have two digital copies of The Summer of Shambles to give away in the comments below. I’ll choose one winner at random and the other winner will be someone who makes me giggle or grin or both.
 

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About the Author

Ebony McKenna lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and young son.

She has worked as a journalist, market researcher, website editor, and company director. She also waitressed, cleaned and prepared food in her family's restaurant when she was a teenager.

In high school McKenna excelled in English and Literature, earning herself a place in the journalism course at Melbourne's RMIT University.

In the 1990s she worked as a journalist on many leading Melbourne newspapers. She won many awards - including scooping first and second place in the one night for best news report. By day she wrote other people's stories, but by night she plotted epic adventures.
Now she writes novels for a living.

Connect with Ebony: Website | Twitter

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About the Book

This is a brilliantly witty story with a furry tail ending. One girl. One boy. One spell to be broken. Ondine de Groot is a normal fifteen-year-old who lives with her family in the European country of Brugel. She has a pet ferret called Shambles. But Shambles is no ordinary ferret...He's Hamish McPhee, a boy cursed by a witch. A witch who happens to be related to Ondine. When Shambles turns back into Hamish temporarily, Ondine knows that she has to help him break the spell. He is the most gorgeous boy she has ever met and her one true love! He just can't remain a ferret forever. Can he?

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Goodreads

Giveaway

Answer the authors questions from the guest post and comment with your email address to enter to win one of two digital copies of The Summer of Shambles. Giveaway is INT. and ends on 7/31.

Touching The Surface Blog Tour – Guest Post & Giveaway with Kimberly Sabatini

Welcome to my stop on the Touching The Surface blog tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. I was so excited to join this tour because, not only does Touching the Surface have a gorgeous cover, whats inside is even better. Thanks so much Kimberly Sabatini for stopping by The Happy Booker to share 10 of the things readers should know about this book.

Ten Things Every Reader Should Know About 
Touching The Surface

Guest post by Kimberly Sabatini

10. TOUCHING THE SURFACE is a paranormal, afterlife story that reads like a contemporary.

9. The afterlife in TTS is called the Obmil, which is Limbo spelled backwards. The full name is the Obmil Center for Progression.

8. The lyrics for Annie Lennox’s song “Little Bird” are used at the beginning and the end of TTS. Birds, both real and origami play a roll in the story.
http://youtu.be/ETHw7GCB9fw

7. Every soul in the afterlife has a distinct scent. That way, when I soul begins a new life in a new body, they can still be recognized. Elliot’s soul smells like freshly cut wood and dark chocolate.

6. Deep thoughts on TTS: Insta-love isn’t actually insta-love if you’ve known someone over more than one lifetime. Love triangles are sometime actually love knots and they’re bigger and more complicated than just romance.

5. Most of the characters in in TTS spend a chunk of time being unlikable, but that is part of growing.

4. I think of chapter titles as the accidental, secret poem of the book…

the other side of the surface
circles in the sky
reunions
creation variation
unguided
the distribution of guilt
the walls between us
silhouettes
suspending disbelief
tilt
revelations
still waters run deep
questions
choices
optical illusion
the things we don’t see
the funny thing about wishes
creating distance
bellyaches
go with the flow
complications
the rain on the pain
near misses
already gone
falling of flying?
remembering blue
frozen in place
choose your coincidence
the third time lacks charm
a twist of faith
deeper understanding
hell and back
rubber band
the be present

3. Souls at the Obmil must attend Workshop and Delve for their memories in group therapy sessions. When Delving, a soul and all the other souls participating, can’t interact with anyone who is still alive. They also can’t change what’s happened in the past. It’s hard work, but they must look to the inside to figure out some important things about themselves before they can move on.

2. My intent was to not have preachy messages or religious directives in TTS. The goal of this book is to resonate and connect. I like to think of it more like Mad Libs--you bring your own experiences and plug them in.

1. What I figured out from writing TOUCHING THE SURFACE: Life altering mistakes are meant to alter lives.
Thank you so much for having me over to spend time on your blog. I really appreciate it. And thanks so much to all the folks who’ve stopped by the Book Tour. I hope you love TOUCHING THE SURFACE.



Thank you so much Kimberly. I LOVE what you said about the chapter titles being the accidental poem. And the quote “Life altering mistakes are meant to alter lives” certainly resonates with me and I’m sure with many others.
Thanks everyone for stopping by The Happy Booker for my stop on this tour. Please be sure to comment, enter the fabulous giveaway, and visit the other blogs on the tour listed below.

Week One

July 8 – The Book Cellar – Guest Post (w/link to review)


July 9 – Alluring Reads – Review


July 10 – The Happy Booker – Guest Post


July 11 – In Bed With Books – Interview (w/link to review)


July 12 – The Book Belles – Review


Week Two

July 15 – Parajunkee – Guest Post

July 16 – Reader Girls – Review

July 17 – Books Complete Me – Interview

July 18 – Imaginary Reads – Review

July 19 – The Irish Banana Review – Review

Experience the afterlife in this lyrical, paranormal debut novel that will send your heart soaring.

When Elliot finds herself dead for the third time, she knows she must have messed up, big-time. She doesn’t remember how she landed in the afterlife again, but she knows this is her last chance to get things right.
     Elliot just wants to move on, but first she will be forced to face her past and delve into the painful memories she’d rather keep buried. Memories of people she’s hurt, people she’s betrayed…and people she’s killed.
     As she pieces together the secrets and mistakes of her past, Elliot must find a way to earn the forgiveness of the person she’s hurt most, and reveal the truth about herself to the two boys she loves…even if it means losing them both forever.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | THE BOOK DEPOSITORY | GOODREADS

About the Author

(Photo credit: *Author photo by Dawn Sela Photography - www.dawnsela.com.)

Kimberly Sabatini is a former Special Education Teacher who is now a stay-at-home mom and a part-time dance instructor for three and four year olds. She lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with her husband and three boys.
Kimberly writes Young Adult fiction and is represented by Michelle Wolfson of Wolfson Literary Agency. TOUCHING THE SURFACE is her debut novel. (Simon Pulse – Simon & Schuster, October 30, 2012)

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | WEBSITE | BLOG | GOODREADS

The Giveaways

A SIGNED hardcover copy of TOUCHING THE SURFACE by Kimberly Sabatini to FOUR (4) winners – US ONLY.
A SIGNED hardcover copy of TOUCHING THE SURFACE by Kimberly Sabatini to ONE (1) winner – International ONLY.
Giveaway #1 is US only. Giveaway #2 is International only.
Must be 13 or older to enter.B
Giveaway ends July 22 at 12:00 a.m. Pacific.
Winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter and contacted by email.

Requirements
Must answer a question to determine which giveaway they want to enter – US or International.
Must leave a comment about the book.
Optional entries: Like Kimberly Sabatini on Facebook, follow her on Twitter and Tweet (daily) about the tour/giveaway.
All giveaway options are weighted evenly.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Scott Nicholson’s The Home for Halloween Kindle Fire Giveaway!

<div align="center"><a href="http://happy-booker.blogspot.com" title="The Happy Booker"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v605/mizkreant/backgrounds/ScottsButton_zps1334c029.jpg" alt="The Happy Booker" style="border:none;" width="95%" /></a></div>

 

Scott Nicholson does spooky like no one else I know, so what better way to kick off the month of Halloween than with his novel-The Home and an awesome giveaway!

 

Enter the Rafflecopter to win your choice of a Kindle Fire, Nook HD, or Kobo Glo, as well as signed books and audiobooks in the Home for Halloween giveaway from author Scott Nicholson.

The giveaway celebrates the launch of paranormal thriller The Home. Experiments at a group home for troubled children lead to paranormal activity—and the ghosts are from the home’s dark past as an insane asylum. In development as a feature, it’s available in ebook at Amazon US, Amazon UK, BN.com, Kobo, and Smashwords.

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EXCERPT: THE HOME

By Scott Nicholson

(From Chapter 10)

Starlene loved Group. The setting was perfect for teaching socialization skills while also gaining the children’s trust. In group therapy, she could be a “facilitator,” though she hated that word for it. A facilitator was someone who was structured and inflexible, who “empowered” others while not taking much personal risk. She thought of her job as more like “witnessing,” showing others the blessings she’d discovered and which all could share in.

“Hey, guys,” she said, looking into each face in turn.

“You’re late,” Deke said.

“And I apologize. Adults have to apologize sometimes, too, don’t they, Freeman?”

Freeman winced, twitched one corner of his mouth, and said nothing.

“You going to make us talk about something, or do we just got to sit here for an hour?” Deke said.

“I think it’s better when we get things out in the open,” Starlene said.

“Because sharing is caring,” Freeman said.

She ignored his sarcasm. Many placements came to Wendover with a wall around their hearts. You couldn’t hammer through the wall; battering at it only made the wall stronger. Love was better. Love seeped through the cracks and melted the wall away, eroded its base until the stones crumbled. “We do care, Freeman.”

Deke glowered at Freeman, then at Starlene. He looked around the circle, at the children sitting in their straight-backed chairs, making sure he had an audience. “Not all of us care, Freaky Freeman.”

Starlene was about to quiet Deke, then decided the group dynamic might be more interesting if she let the children lead the discussion themselves. If only Deke’s natural leadership skills didn’t turn nasty so easily. Six years in therapy, according to the case file, and Deke was no closer to adjusting to society than he’d ever been. Still, the Lord and her professional obligation required her to have hope for him.

But patience was a demanding virtue. That was one of the warnings that her Psych teachers had burned home, that occasionally you’d feel like slapping little Johnny across the face. No matter that he had been abused and suffered a neurochemical imbalance and was diagnosed with an adjustment disorder, you sometimes had to wonder if a particular brand of vermin was, and always would be, a rat.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review and Giveaway- Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me
Author – Tahereh Mafi
342 Pages
Publisher – Harper Collins
Date – November 15, 2011














Shatter Me introduces us to Juliette as she sits in solitary confinement in what seems to be a mental asylum, counting the days (264) since she’s seen, heard, or been touched by another human. The world outside those four walls (with 14 cracks) has gone insane, people starving to death, whole species of animals no longer exist, and the people in power call themselves the Reestablishment. The Reestablishment…these are the people who drug her away to this place for a murder she didn’t mean to commit, to a fate she’s sure she deserves, to be trapped by her guilt as much as by the prison walls. The power she holds within her very skin is one she doesn’t want and she will do anything to disprove the notion that she is a monster, even though she herself believes it. She maintains her tenuous hold on sanity by writing in her notebook and refusing to allow herself to acknowledge the thoughts that sometimes overwhelm her. When she awakes one day to find herself with a cellmate, her entire world begins to change.

The writing style of Shatter Me was like none I’ve read before, both haunting and at times a bit overwhelming. Written in an almost lyrical or poetic prose, Juliette’s inner thoughts and feelings were often uncomfortably intense, which would be understandable considering the situation she was in. Many of her words/thoughts were written and then struck out, as if she were refusing to allow herself to acknowledge those thoughts. I thought this was a powerful way to show how she was struggling to hold onto her sanity. As she began to have more human interaction, the strikethroughs became less common. It was such a fascinating progression. While, for the most part, I thought the writing was beautiful, there were also times when it felt like overkill and it became a bit tedious. Overall though, I enjoyed the unique imagery and the flow of the words.

“I always wonder about raindrops. 

I wonder how they are always falling down, tripping over their own feet, breaking their legs and forgetting their parachutes as they tumble right out of the sky toward an uncertain end. Its like someone is emptying their pockets over the earth and doesn’t seem to care where the contents fall, doesn’t seem to care that the raindrops burst when they hit the ground, that they shatter when they fall to the floor, that people curse the days the raindrops dare to tap on their doors.

          I am a raindrop.
       
          My parents emptied their pockets of me and left me to evaporate on a           concrete slab.”

The story itself was intense and reminded me very much of Xmen. Juliette’s power is reminiscent of Rogue and many of her characteristics also reminded me of Rogue from Xmen. The plot was action packed and thrilling. The villain, Warner, was out of his mind and made an even more effective bad guy because of the hint of a hidden past that may explain why he is the wicked boy he’s become. Happily, this did not become a love triangle since Warner is simply too psychotic to engender much sympathy from Juliette. The interplay between Juliette and Adam was extremely well done. This is a romance that I can believe. Things between them tend to get pretty steamy a couple times, but Mafi reins it in and manages to keep it PG. The ending also reminded me a lot of Xmen and has me incredibly excited about the sequel.

Overall, I think that Shatter Me has lived up to all the hype. Most readers will enjoy the intense and original writing style as well as the exciting premise, a steamy romance, and a villain you love to hate. In the sequel, I hope to see more details about the dystopian world and how it became that way and more about the two factions, the Reestablishment and the people who are not ready to succumb to that tyrannical rule and of course more Adam and Juliette! I would recommend Shatter Me to readers who enjoy dystopian or post-apocalyptic fiction, fans of Xmen, and anyone who enjoys a thrilling YA adventure.

Rating- 4

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The Giveaway


I somehow ended up with two ARCs of Shatter Me so I decided to give one away to one of my lucky readers. I will be shipping this myself so this will be US only. You do not have to be a follower to enter but following is appreciated! Extra entries for sharing the giveaway on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, etc. (leave me the link) and for commenting on yesterday’s discussion question located here.
You have from today (November 9) until Monday (November 14) at 11:59 PM to enter. Winner will be announced on Shatter Me’s release date, Tuesday November 15. Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form, if you have any problems please email me. Good Luck!!

Spooktacular Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop hosted by Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Rhiannon from The Diary of a Bookworm ! I have a couple prize packs that I’ll be giving away to celebrate Halloween, though not all of the books are Halloween related!


Prize Pack 1

The Spooktacular NOOKtacular! INTL
This prize pack features 4 incredible eBooks from 4 amazing authors plus a $20 Barnes and Noble Gift card! The eBooks can be in the eBook format of your choice.

 

1. $20 Barnes and Noble Gift Card

2. Radiant Desire by Inara Scott (eBook)

3. Enchanted Destiny by Rayka Mennen (eBook)

4. Angelfall by Susan Ee (eBook)

5. Founder by LM Long (eBook)

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Prize Pack 2: US Only

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble – Young Adult

I seem to have acquired double of several books, so what better to do than give them away as Halloween Treats!! There will be 3 books in the YA Double Double Toil and Trouble Prize Pack and 3 in the Adult Pack.




1. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (Hardcover)
2. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand (Hardcover)
3. Glow – by Amy Kathleen Ryan (audiobook)

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Double, Double, Toil and Trouble – Adult – US ONLY


Prize Pack 3





1. Dracula in Love by Karen Essex (Softcover)
2. Damned by Chuck Palahniuk (ARC)
3. Death in the City of Light by David King (ARC)

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To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter. eBooks are INT, others are US only. Following my blog is not required but it is appreciated, as are comments!! Last day to enter is Oct. 31. Winners will be selected by Rafflecopter on Nov 1. Winner 1 will get their choice of Prize pack, Winner 2 will select from the remaining 2 prize packs, Winner 3 will get the remaining Prize Pack. Thanks so much for stopping by, Happy Halloween and Good Luck!!

Guest Post and Giveaway: A.J. Scudiere, author of God’s Eye

I am so thrilled to have bestselling author, A.J. Scudiere, on The Happy Booker today to talk about writing POV. A.J.’s newest book God’s Eye has recently been released and the good news is, the ebook format of God’s Eye will be available for just $2.99 from Amazon and Barnes and Noble beginning on 10/24 and lasting until 10/31!! Unbelievable price for such an incredible book! With such a wickedly scary cover, I couldn’t help but be curious about what’s inside!! God’s Eye is a thrilling novel that includes elements of horror, romance, and the paranormal. I’m so excited that A.J. Scudiere has offered one lucky Happy Booker reader a chance to win a signed copy!

The Thrill of Point of View. Let me start with a resounding ‘Yes! Point of view can be thrilling.’ No, wait . . . it’s always thrilling. Though I would never attribute the overall quality of a thriller to any one particular writing skill, I find that POV is often overlooked as the essential element that it is. We all know must have interesting characters, a suspenseful plot and a writing style that is hopefully great, but at the very least good! POV is something that must exist – it’s truly impossible to tell any story without it – and yet it is so often forgotten about. Maybe that’s because it’s so essential . . . Still, POV is often what makes a thriller . . . well, thrilling. Imagine the book told from the serial killer’s point of view. From the first moment, you know who he is. Likely why he does what he does. Who he’s stalking . . . etc. Now imagine your lead detective knows all this, too. And so do the next three victims. Thrill: gone. It’s what you don’t know that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It’s the fact that you are stuck there with the detective . . . with a profile, a handful of suspects and kill-pattern knowledge. You know someone is going to die – but you don’t know quite who, and you don’t know how to stop it. You only know that you have to. Yes, it’s two AM and you are still reading. And that’s because of the point of view. The author always has to make decisions about characters and their POV. I’d wager a lot of it isn’t done consciously. The writer may just have a feel for what makes a suspenseful read, just like some people feel the beat of music and others have to count it out. Other times, POV decisions are made very conscientiously. What’s revealed and when to reveal it is exactly why you are still up at two in the morning when you have to go to work the next day. And if the POV is played right, it’s worth every minute! In addition to deciding if the reader knows what the police officer knows, or what the victim or killer knows, the author has to decide how much to reveal of what each character knows. So, in addition to singular or changing POVs, there’s an omniscient POV (where you can see inside all the characters’ heads) and there’s also partial POV. At least, that’s what I’m deeming it here, because I haven’t heard it talked about before. Partial POV is this: though the author has put you in the head of one of the characters, you still don’t know everything that character knows. I worked hard at this in my latest book, God’s Eye. Though the demon and the angel both clearly know which they are, the POV doesn’t ever reveal it. So, while you are in Allistair’s head, you see what he sees, and you may examine things along with him, but he isn’t thinking about what species he is. And though he thinks about what his goal is for Katharine – the pawn in this otherworldly tug-of-war – Allistair doesn’t think in terms that reveal what he is, just what he wants. The other benefit of POV is that the reader can know more than the characters know. The reader gets the benefit of sitting in his chair and seeing what’s coming, even when the character doesn’t. With a single POV throughout the whole story, this is limited, but the more eyes we see through, the smarter we get, and the more exciting it is as we put the pieces together. Because of this challenge of POV, the thriller becomes a thinking man’s book. The POV has to reveal the story in a way that gives you enough information, yet hopefully keeps you from putting all the pieces together until the end. In the best cases, you learn the answers along with the characters (or maybe just a moment before they do!) And you find, when you solve one piece of the puzzle, that you had all the clues to put it together already in your hands. POV is the way the author hides those clues. It’s the biggest and most overlooked element of suspense writing. It’s what truly separates books from television and movies and the good writers from the great. So the next time you are up at two in the morning, still turning pages, ask yourself this: whose eyes do you see through and what is the author hiding there?

Wow! Thanks so much A.J. for joining us here at The Happy Booker today!Want to know more about A.J. Scudiere? You can find out more at these websites:

Author homepage: http://www.ajscudiere.com/
Audio Movies: www.AJsAudioMovies.com
Newest title, God's Eye, out October 2011: www.GodsEyeTheBook.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AJScudiere
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ajscudiere

Goodreads Summary: Katharine Geryon is living the life her family name has dictated, and why not? After all, it has given her a good job in the family company and a fine life with all the things she should want. But all that changes as increasingly disturbing events begin to occur: soot stains on the carpet, glimpses of strange black animals, and cryptic messages written on her bathroom mirror. Baffled and afraid, Katharine begins to doubt her own sanity. At the same time, two charismatic men enter her life: Allistair, her new assistant at work, and Zachary, a well-heeled neighbor who just moved into her building. Katharine soon finds each of them inextricably entangled in her affairs. As her life becomes stranger and her dreams more terrifying, she realizes neither man is what he seems and that she's caught in something far beyond her own comprehension. For the first time, she must reach beyond her own boundaries. There Katharine forges her first true friendship with Margot, a librarian who helps her discover what these men really are, why she's drawn to them, and what they want with her. The answer places Katharine in the middle of a fierce battle that forces her to decide between the two men fighting for her soul. In the end, only one can be saved, but all three will be judged.

Sounds amazing right?? It sounds like an angels & demons paranormal romantic thriller with some kick!! A.J. is generously offering one lucky reader a signed copy of God’s Eye!! For those who don’t want to wait around for a giveaway, remember, the ebook format of God’s Eye will be available for just $2.99 from Amazon and Barnes and Noble beginning on 10/24 until 10/31!!  

GIVEAWAY
To enter:

US only (sorry, I’ll be having another giveaway that will be Intl starting tomorrow)

Simply fill out the form. 
Following my blog is not required but appreciated. 
Extra entries for commenting on this post, tweeting the giveaway, or following the author on Facebook or Twitter.
Last day to enter will be October 31. Winner will be chosen by Random.org and announced on November 1. 
Good luck!!

Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop! This hop is hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer, and Jen from I Read Banned Books! This hop is inspired by the ALA’s Banned Books Week that runs from September 24th to October 1st

After reading so many dystopian themed books recently, I have no trouble imagining the danger involved with allowing any group to control what we read. An attempt to control what a society reads is an attempt to control how a society thinks. I fully support the First Amendment and feel that censorship has no place in my country, state, city, library, or schools, and certainly not on my bookshelves. It makes me furious that some of the most challenged books are those that would provide our children with different perspectives on issues that are a well established fact of life, such as racism, homosexuality, and religion. I think that by allowing children to explore these issues, there is a strong likelihood that they may grow up without some of the same biases that cripple so many of us. While I understand the need to monitor what is appropriate for my child’s age, I do not feel the need to control my child’s personal beliefs and am happy to tell him what I believe but allow him the freedom to learn, grow, and discover his own opinions.

Furthermore, some of the most often challenged books are those that speak about very sensitive subject matter, such as sexual issues, rape, cutting, eating disorders, and suicide. These are so important to have available to our kids. I can’t even understand why someone would want to ban these type of books that have the potential to save lives. I have read so many accounts of these books having such a huge impact on the lives of teens and tweens. Why would we want to take that lifeline away from our kids simply because the subject matter may make some of us uncomfortable. Censorship is not an acceptable alternative to parenting. We should talk to our kids, monitor what they read, listen to, watch, etc. I don’t need any book burning/banning to help me be a mom.

Whatever your opinion may be about banning books, I fully support your right to have that opinion and even to write about it. That’s the beauty of the First Amendment.

Here is a list of the most challenged books of 2011

1. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Reasons: "Homosexuality, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group"


2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Offensive language, Racism, Sex Education, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence


3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Reasons: Insensitivity, Offensive Language, Racism, Sexually Explicit


4. Crank by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: Drugs, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit


5. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: "Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence"


6. Lush by Natasha Friend
Reasons: "Drugs, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group"


7. What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones
Reasons: "Sexism, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group"


8. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America by Barbara Ehrenreich
Reasons: "Drugs, Inaccurate, Offensive Language, Political Viewpoint, Religious Viewpoint


9. Revolutionary Voices edited by Amy Sonnie
Reasons: "Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit"


10. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: "Religious Viewpoint, Violence"


Giveaway
One winner will receive up to $20 in books from the Book Depository. Book choices are limited to those on the banned and challenged list above and the much longer list here: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/2000_2009/index.cfm

Giveaway open to anywhere that the Book Depository ships to, it is your responsibility to make sure that the Book Depository ships to your country. Being a follower is not required to enter.



Be sure to visit all of the other wonderful giveaways celebrating Banned Books Week!

Winners!! Congratulations!

Random.org has spoken, and after more entries than I ever imagined, the winners are:

Haves: Linda H

Have Nots: Jennifer @ Book Noise

Both have been contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond. Congratulations to both of you, I hope you enjoy the books!

I really want to thank everyone who entered, followed, commented, and participated in this Giveaway Hop. And I especially want to thank Kathy @ I Am A Reader Not A Writer for hosting this and all the other wonderful hops! I look forward to participating in more!

Midwinters Eve Giveaway Hop & My Have/Have not Giveaway

Thanks for stopping by my blog for the Midwinter's Eve Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am a Reader Not A Writer! 

Christmas is such a busy time here at my house that I haven't been spending half as much time reading as I would like. My TBR stack seems to keep growing and growing though, there are so many wonderful books to choose from in the fantasy genre. I wasn't sure which ones to choose for the lucky followers that win, some of the books I've read and loved, or some of the books I want to read? So I decided to do a little of both, hence my "Have/Have not" giveaway. 

One lucky follower will win four of my favorites that I HAVE read this year. Not all of these were released in 2010, but books that I read and loved this year. 

Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane

Soulless by Gail Carriger

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Crown of Crystal Flame by C.L. Wilson

And one lucky follower will win 4 of the books I HAVE NOT read yet but am looking forward to. Wintercraft, Kneebone Boy, and The Familiars are books that I plan to read with my son Damian as we kick off our new blog, where he and I will read and review Middle Grade fantasy books together, called Read With Me, Mom. Andrea from Loud Words and Sounds is designing our layout now and we should be up and running and posting reviews as of Jan 1st!! I'm so excited to be sharing these two things that I love so much with my son, reading and blogging. 

Kneebone Boy by Ellen Potter

Plain Kate by Erin Bow

The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein

Wintercraft by Jenna Burtenshaw

How to enter? Simply fill out the form below. I love your comments but they do not count as entries for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59PM on Wednesday 12/22. Winners will be chosen by Random.org Books will be shipped to the winners from The Book Depository.  Please make sure before entering that The Book Depository ships to your country. Extra entries for following my blog via GFC, Networked Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, or subscribing by email or in a reader.

Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop! $25 Gift Card!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today for my part of the Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop hosted by I am a reader, Not a writer

Halloween is a busy and exciting time of year in my house. My youngest son's birthday is Oct. 30, so we have always combined any Halloween activities with his birthday celebration. Anything from Trick or Treat at the Aquarium, haunted hay rides, and Halloween/birthday parties with tons of games and activities. Our favorite Halloween party game to play is the "Toilet Paper Mummy Wrap" this can be played by either children or adults or any combination of the two. How it works: One person takes the roll of toilet paper and begins wrapping their partner as fast as they can without breaking the toilet paper or they have to start over with a new roll. The first pair done wins. So much fun for everyone involved!!


How does your family celebrate Halloween?


Giveaway details: Your choice of
1. $25 E-gift card (sent to your email) from Amazon
2. $25 E-gift card from Barnes and Noble
3. Up to $25 in books from The Book Depository.

How to enter:
You must be a follower of this blog, leave a comment on this post with your email address and which of the 3 choices you prefer. Random winner will be chosen on 10/31. Good Luck and Happy Halloween!!!!






Extra entries:
Follow me on Twitter: @Donna224 +1
Grab my button for your sidebar +2
Share this on Twitter or Facebook (leave link in comments) +2
If you'd need a suggestion of a great Halloween read, check out the Downside series by Stacia Kane, starting with Unholy Ghosts! Definitely my favorite this year and very appropriate for Halloween.

Don't forget to use the linky list below to go to the next stop on the Spooktacular Book Blog Giveaway Hop!