Love My Indie with Katie from Call Me Crazy YA Reviews

Love My Indie is a feature where fellow bloggers, readers, and authors tell me about their favorite independent bookstores. I love the feeling I get when I go into an independent bookstore - like it is filled with hidden treasures just waiting for me to find them.

Showing some Indie Love today is:

Katie of Call Me Crazy YA Reviews

Whenever I visit Katie's blog, I know that it is going to be a lot of fill. Her vlogs are filled with such enthusiasm it that you just can't help but smile and get excited too. A few times when sharing her books, she mentioned her local independent bookstore and I wanted to know more. I asked her to tell me about it and she did. So I ask you to welcome Katie and read about her favorite indie bookstore!

I'm honestly so lucky with my independent bookstore, Anderson's. Not only is it close to my house, it is located in beautiful downtown Naperville, which has a Riverwalk, college campus and tons of yummy restaurants to eat at. I'd love to just make an entire day being spent down there to enjoy the calm atmosphere, just sit and read beside the river.

Photo from Boxcars, Books and a Blog.

Last year it won Publisher's Weekly Best Bookstore of the Year award and were at RT BookLover's Convention 2012, which totally makes sense because it has tons of amazing books, author events seriously almost everyday and such nice people that work there. Events that I've went to in the past at Anderson's were Smart Chicks Kick It Tour, Breathless Reads Tour, Lauren Oliver, Andrea Cremer and a few more, but those were only the ones that I was able to go to, there were so many more I had to unfortunately miss out on because of school, dang!

I rarely go to bookstore chains anymore because when I go to my Indie I know they'll have the book I want and it might even be signed too! Anderson's has all the latest releases and tons of young adult books that the chains usually don't carry. I also love supporting my Indie, it's run by a family and I can really tell when I walk into the store. It has such a warm and welcoming feel that I can't help but feel at home! Everyone that works there is a total book lover and if I ever need a recommendation they're more than happy to recommend a few awesome books!

Thank you so much Joli for letting me spread the love for my Indie!

It sounds like a lot of good times can be had at Anderson's. It is definitely a bookstore that I would want to visit. Thank you for sharing!

I am currently accepting guest posts for Love My Indie. Readers, authors, and bloggers who are interested, just select the Love My Indie image on the sidebar and fill out the form. Thanks!

Zero by Tom Leveen

Zero

by Tom Leveen

Published by Random House Books for Young Readers

Publication Date April 24, 2012

Pages: 304

Source: Netgalley

For aspiring artist Amanda Walsh, who only half-jokingly goes by the nickname Zero, the summer before college was supposed to be fun—plain and simple. Hanging out with her best friend Jenn, going to clubs, painting, and counting down the days until her escape. But when must-have scholarship money doesn't materialize, and she has a falling out with Jenn that can only be described as majorly awkward, and Zero's parents relationship goes from tense to relentless fighting, her prospects start looking as bleak and surreal as a painting by her idol Salvador Dali. Will life truly imitate art? Will her new, unexpected relationship with a punk skater boy who seems too good to be real and support from the unlikeliest of sources show Zero that she's so much more than a name. (from Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I have pretty much gushed over all of the books that I've read recently, but I can't help it. They have just been so fantastic and now Tom Leveen's Zero can be added to the bunch. Amanda, aka Zero, just don't call her Amy, is a main character that is easy to relate to. She's a little awkward, a bit unsure, a big dreamer, but needs that little boost of confidence that no one has given her and she can't seem to find within herself.

Amanda has just graduated from high school and as her summer plans have been set off track, her friendship with her one friend is on the rocks, so she takes some steps to make her own way. First by approaching the super-cute drummer of the ska-punk band, Gothic Rainbow - a bold move she never imagined herself doing. As their relationship blossoms, she begins to take more chances - with her friendships, with her art, and with her relationships with her parents.

This was a fun book to read too with many highs, many lows. Laugh out loud moments, oh my gosh - I can't believe that happened moments. Sweet, tender kisses, and some hot, steamy romance - seriously. There's music and mosh pits and Amanda's art. One wish that I have for this book is that it was illustrated - I could imagine Amanda's art, but I wanted to SEE it.

Zero is another book I will be recommending here and to my friends. This contemporary read is where it's at. 

Disclaimer: I requested and received the book for review from NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way for providing a review.

Waiting on Wednesday: Every Day

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Every Day

by David Levithan

Published by Knopf Books for Kids

Publication Date: August 28, 2012

Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl. 

Every morning, A wakes in a different person’s body, a different person’s life. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

With his new novel, David Levithan has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day. (from Amazon)

I want this book NOW. David Levithan is one of my favorite YA authors and I will read all of his books. LOVE THEM!! If you haven't read his books yet, I ask that you add this to you TBR list and then see if your library has any of his other books you can check out.

First Comes Love Giveaway

First Comes Love
by Katie Kacvinsky

Like his name, Gray is dark and stormy. Dylan, a girl always searching for what’s next, seemingly unable to settle down, is the exact opposite: full of light and life. On the outside, they seem like an unlikely couple. But looks can be deceiving and besides, opposites attract.

What starts as friendship, turns into admiration, respect and caring, until finally these two lone souls find they are truly in love with each other.

But staying in love is not as easy as falling in love. If Dylan and Gray want their love to last, they’re going to have to work at it. And learn that sometimes love means having to say you’re sorry.




 I absolutely fell in love with this book. Gray and Dylan's story is one of my favorites. It makes you wonder can your first love be your one true love. Maybe, just maybe. I shared my review of First Comes Love this weekend - read it HERE and now I'm hosting a giveaway for a copy to be given to one lucky reader. Check out the details and then fill out the Rafflecopter below.

Giveaway Rules

 Must be at least 16 yrs or older
Open to US addresses only
Following is NOT required

Contest ends May 10th 2012 11:59 EST

                                       One Winner will be selected using random.org

earn extra entries by

following on Twitter, tweeting, and commenting on my review 

Giveaway and Character Interview: Jessie Boone from Going Under

  

 Synopsis: Jessie Boone is a self proclaimed bad boy and doesn’t march to the beat of anyone’s drum, but his own. Growing up in less than desirable circumstances has made him no stranger to the hard knock life and his determination to leave it behind is fierce. When he finds himself transferred to East Franklin High School, he sees his opportunity to use his athletic ability to snag a college football scholarship, but Forbes Henderson, the player Jessie means to replace isn’t giving up his spot willingly. In fact, Forbes is willing to go to extreme measures to retain his place as first string quarterback. When Forbes’ malicious plan to injure his replacement fails, Jessie is furious and determined to show him he messed with the wrong person; not only is he going to take the position of first string quarterback, he’s going to take his girl, too.

Claire Deveraux is perfection at it’s best. She is beautiful, intelligent and unaware she just became Jessie Boone’s conquest as revenge against her boyfriend, Forbes Henderson. Like her flawless performance as the perfect daughter and student, Claire’s production of being the perfect girlfriend has everyone fooled, except Jessie Boone, and she fears this tattooed bad boy will see her secret desire to explore his crude threats and promises to rock her perfect world. If she decides to give in to one uninhibited moment with Jessie, will she learn too late that it was all an act of vengeance or will Jessie learn the taste of first love is sweeter than that of revenge?

Interview with Jessie Boone

Hello, everyone, and thank you for joining us. My name is Georgia Cates and I am the author of the recently released novel, Going Under. Today, I will be interviewing Jessie Boone, my leading protagonist.

Georgia: Hi, Jessie. I’m so glad you are able to join us.
Jessie: I’m glad to be here. It’s good to see you again, Georgia.

Georgia: Why don’t we start our interview with something easy and light-hearted? In Going Under, you were never aware of the plan to punk you by Claire and Payton. What was your reaction when you found out? Or did you know?
Jessie: (Laughing) Yeah, I know about it. It was several months before I accidentally found out about that and “The Coitus Hiatus Plan.” Payton let it slip one night when she had too many drinks at a party, but I wasn’t mad. How could I be? The whole charade is what brought us together. And it made me more than glad to tell her how the whole Gretchen thing was only a ploy to cause her jealousy.

Georgia: And what did Claire think when you told her you tricked her into being jealous?
Jessie: She didn’t care for it very much, but we can both laugh about it today. Besides, she couldn’t really say much about it because it wasn’t really different from what she was doing with Forbes.

Georgia: Good point. Tell us when you knew you loved Claire.
Jessie: I knew very early in our relationship that I could fall in love with her, but I didn’t know for sure until the moment she made me see that I might be lost, but I wasn’t a lost cause.


Georgia: Do you have any regrets?
Jessie: I did some hurtful things to Claire and I’m sorry I caused her pain, but I wouldn’t take back a thing because all of those events led us to where we are now. I’m a better person today because of it. How I could say that I would take back something that ultimately led us to this happy place we’re in now?

Georgia: Last question...Did Claire ever go with you to get more tattoos?
Jessie: (Laughing) Yep! (Pulling up sleeve) Claire chose this herself. Nice, right?

Georgia: Good choice. Did you talk her into one?
Jessie: I’ll never tell.

This concludes our interview with Jessie Boone. I hope you enjoyed getting a brief glimpse of him outside of Going Under.

Thanks,
Georgia

 

 

 I reside in rural Mississippi with my wonderful husband, Jeff, and our two beautiful daughters. I spent thirteen years as a labor and delivery nurse before I decided to pursue my dream of becoming an author. Blood of Anteros, Book One in The Vampire Agápe Series, was my first novel and it was released in September 2011. I decided to step away from the paranormal genre to try my hand at a young adult romance and I loved it. It was so much fun, I plan to do it again in the near future. 

 Georgia Cates Links:

Georgia Cates Blog

Georgia Cates on Facebook

Georgia Cates on Twitter

Going Under on goodreads

Going Under at Amazon

Going Under at Barnes & Noble

Going Under at Smashwords


Georgia has generously donated an e-book of Going Under for one of my readers. The e-book will be made available through Smashwords. See the details below and leave a comment to enter - make sure to include an email address. 

Giveaway Rules

 Must be at least 13 yrs or older
Following is NOT required
To enter, leave a comment on this post

one entry per person

Contest ends May 9th 2012 11:59 EST

                                       One Winner will be selected using random.org

First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky

First Comes Love

by Katie Kacvinsky

Published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

Publication Date May 8, 2012

Pages: 198

Sources: Southern Book Bloggers ARC Tours

Like his name, Gray is dark and stormy. Dylan, a girl always searching for what's next, seemingly unable to settle down, is the exact opposite: full of light and life. On the outside, they seem like an unlikely couple. But looks can be deceiving and besides, opposites attract.

What starts as friendship, turns into admiration, respect and caring, until finally these two lone souls find they are truly in love with each other.

But staying in love is not as easy as falling in love. If Dylan and Gray want their love to last, they're going to have to work at it. And learn that sometimes love means having to say you're sorry. (from Goodreads)

My Thoughts

It's strange when you know that you are going to love a book after reading just the first few sentences, but that is exactly how I felt when I started reading First Comes Love. Honestly, the opening line had me hooked. Out of the corner of my eye, I'm watching a girl. That is all that it took for me to become committed to this story and to these characters I was about to meet. And after a few chapters in, I could tell that it was becoming one of my favorite stories of friendship and love. 

The synopsis really does tell a lot about what happens - an unlikely couple meets, becomes friends and that friendship grows into a romantic relationship, but it's the emotions I felt while reading the story that made me recognize the complexity of their relationship. Everything wasn't perfect and the characters had to grow and share and were honest with each other in a way that is so rare and so real.

I loved Dylan and Gray so, so much. Dylan had a way about her that was free and spontaneous and silly. She wants to experience the most from life that she can. But I think that she was so hopeful that made me like her so much. And Gray - he was so lonely and guarded. But when he did start to open up, it was so easy for me (the reader) to fall in love with him. I wanted to know him and what he was all about.

Another wonderful thing about First Comes Love is that it is told from alternating points of view so you knew what both characters where thinking about the same situations. You got to learn what they both thought when they first met each other, their first time spending time together, and their first kiss.

There were so many fantastic moments - some sweet and romantic. Some serious and some sexy. Some thoughtful and insightful. While I was reading, I kept bookmarking everything that I loved until there was almost something on every page. It is that good! Here are some of my favorite lines (which all happen to be spoken or thought by Dylan):

"It's amazing the truth people expose when they think no one is watching." (page 6)

"On the surface he might be callused, but looking through a creative lens, I see layers and textures. He reminds me of a folding chair, closed in and waiting to be shoved in a storage closet. I'm determined to see him unfold." (page 9)

"People become pieces inside of you. They can fill you up and make you whole." (page 68)

"He wrapped his arms around me and held me so close our ribs were connecting. He kept breathing me in. I could feel my heart rise and sink, rise and sink with every breath." (page 160)

"It's strange how people tell you things at the exact moment you need to hear them. Words can be the most comforting of all. They can pick you up and keep you moving." (page 173)

These could go on and on and I could keep going on and on about this book, I think that it is that terrific. I can't wait to get a copy of my own to read again and again!!

Disclaimer: I received the book for review as part of the Southern Book Bloggers ARC Tours. Thoughts and opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any way for providing a review. Quotes are taken from the Advance Reading Copy and may differ from the final published version.

12 Days of Morganville Madness + Giveaway

Today begins the 12 Days of Morganville Madness all leading up to the release of Rachel Caine's latest novel in the series, Black Dawn. Each day one book of the series will be featured on a different blog with reviews, interviews and giveaways.

Here is the schedule and a link to the tour stop:

April 20th: GLASS HOUSES (Book 1) http://www.pageturnersblog.com/

April 21: THE DEAD GIRLS DANCE (Book 2) http://melaniemccullough.blogspot.com

April 22: MIDNIGHT ALLEY (Book 3) http://book-splot.blogspot.com/

April 23: FEAST OF FOOLS (Book 4) http://hobbitsies.net/wordpress/

April 24: LORD OF MISRULE (Book 5) http://bookmonsterreviews.blogspot.com/

April 25: CARPE CORPUS (Book 6) http://myoverstuffedbookshelf.blogspot.com

April 26: FADE OUT (Book 7) http://MissVainsParanormalFantasy.com

April 27: KISS OF DEATH (Book 8) http://www.thestorysiren.com/

April 28: GHOST TOWN (Book 9) http://www.awesomesaucebookclub.com/

April 29: BITE CLUB (Book 10) http://www.totalbookaholic.com/

April 30: LAST BREATH (Book 11) http://www.literaladdiction.com/

MAY 1: BLACK DAWN (Book 12, NEW!) http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/

I'm getting to start reading the series and have just acquired the first 2 books to devour. If you're new to the series too and want to start reading it, then enter my giveaway to win a copy of book one: Glass Houses.
Penguin has generously offered a copy to giveaway to one lucky reader!! Just check out the details and fill out the form below.  THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED.

Giveaway Rules

 Must be at least 13 yrs or older
Open to US addresses only
Following is NOT required
To Enter fill out the form below

one entry per person

Contest ends May 1st 2012 11:59 EST

                                       One Winner will be selected using random.org