XVI Book Tour: Interview

Yesterday I posted my review for XVI by Julia Karr. And today since I am apart of Teen Book Scene's Book tour for XVI by Julia Karr-I will be posting my interview with Julia. I hope you enjoy it:



1. How did you come up with the plot line for your novel, XVI?

Answer: I had an initial mental image of my main character, Nina, and the setting, a bustling city in the future, where the government and media were unavoidably intrusive and homeless people were a contemptible inconvenience. Since I wrote XVI as a NaNoWriMo novel (National Novel Writing Month), the plot evolved quickly. More with my characters taking me where they wanted to go, as opposed to me figuring it all out ahead of time. 

2. Are any of the characters in XVI based on yourself?

Answer: Not really. Although Nina and I share a few things. Our birthday is the same, we turned sixteen in Chicago and our mothers both died when we were teens. But, her life is definitely not what mine was! 

3. What was the hardest thing about writing this book?

Answer. Hmmm... editing the original manuscript was the hardest. I had to change a lot, from Nina’s initial personality to the fate of certain characters. (Don’t want to give any spoilers here!) And - having to stop and go to work at my day job was tough. It always seemed to happen just as things were getting interesting! 

4. What do you hope readers will take from reading XVI?

Answer: I think readers will take whatever they want. lol! I’d hope that they might think about media’s role in shaping how we view ourselves and others. And, that perhaps government intrusion doesn’t always keep us safe. I’m sure there’s a lot more. I can’t wait to hear discussions about XVI after its release. 

5. What character did you most like to write about in XVI?

Answer: Well, I enjoyed writing them all - but, the two most fun characters to write were definitely Pops and Sandy! 

XVI Book Tour: Review

I was lucky enough to be included in Teen Book Scene's book tour for XVI by Julia Karr. I have two stops on the book tour. Today I will be posting a review and tomorrow make sure you come back for the interview with Julia Karr. So, here's the review:

XVI by Julia Karr
Publication Date: January 6, 2011
Versions: paperback, kindle

Summary (from goodreads):
Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world-even the most predatory of men-that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past-one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.

When I first read the summary for this book-I was pulled in. I wanted to immediately get my hands on the book because the plot line is so unique. And after reading XVI by Julia Karr-it was just that, a very thrilling and exciting book with many twists and turns. I was pleasantly surprised.  Nina is one of my favorite main characters because she is strong and has a great personality that most people will be able to relate to. I would definitely give this one a try!

Waiting On Wednesday

This is a meme to show which book you are excited for to be released. It is hosted over at Breaking The Spine. For more information or to link your waiting on wednesday, go here.

Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2) by Andrea Cremer
Publication Date: July 26, 2011
Publisher: Philomel

Summary (from goodreads):
Betrayal, loss, pain, fear. How many trials can love endure and still survive?

I know this isn't the greatest summary but it's better than nothing. I absolutely loved Nightshade by Andrea Cremer and this book is the sequel! So 1) I know it will be great and 2) I don't know how much longer I can wait for this one. Isn't the cover beautiful?

In My Mailbox (vlog)

I'm sorry I'm two days late for posting this but I haven't been feeling very good and I've been super busy-but I promised I would make one this week-so here it is: I hope you enjoy it!

In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren

Books Mentioned In This Video:

Hot Six by Janet Evanovich

Seven Up by Janet Evanovich

Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich

To The Nines by Janet Evanovich

Visions of Sugar Plums by Janet Evanovich

Ten Big Ones by Janet Evanovich

Eleven On Top by Janet Evanovich

Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

Plum Lucky by Janet Evanovich

Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich

Plum Lovin by Janet Evanovich

Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich

Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich

Finger Lickin Fifteen by Janet Evanovich

Drought by Pam Bachorz

Will Work For Prom Dress by Aimee Ferris

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain

Across The Universe by Beth Revis

The Lo-Down by Lo Bosworth

Once in a Full Moon by Ellen Schreiber

I wanted to thank every one the authors and publishers that have given me a lot of great books to read. I am very thankful to all of you and I appreciate your effort to reach out to me and my blog. 

Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman

Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman
Publication Date: February 17, 2011
Versions: hardcover, kindle
Received from: Around The World ARC Tours

Summary (form barnes and noble):
When high school junior-Natalie--or Dr. Aphrodite, as she calls herself when writing the relationship column for her school paper--is accused of knowing nothing about guys and giving girls bad relationship advice, she decides to investigate what guys really think and want. But the guys inn her class won't give her straight or serious answers. The only solution? Disguising herself as a guy and spending a week at Underwood Academy, the private all-boy boarding school in town. There she learns a lot about guys and girls in ways she never expected--especially when she falls for her dreamy roommate, Emilio. How can she show him she likes him without blowing her cover?

Natalie is an advice columnist for the school newspaper-girls write to her and ask for her advice. And what she is proud of, other guys are disgusted with. They say she is just telling people what they want to hear and that she has no idea about what guys think. Natalie takes serious offense to this-and to prove to everyone, she disguises herself as a guy and goes to an all boys private school. They think she's weird at first and then things get more complicated especially as she starts to fall for her roommate.

This book was downright hilarious. It's a very light read that will be good to snuggle up to in front of the fireplace. I really loved how Natalie was brave enough to disguise herself as a boy-because I know I wouldn't be able to. Babe in Boyland is scary alike to She's The Man (a movie starring Amanda Bynes)-but since I loved the movie, this book was another success.

Will I reread it?
Yes-when I am looking for a laugh I will turn to this book any day. It is so fresh and keeps you turning pages. I definitely recommend it!

One For The Money by Janet Evanovich

One For The Money (Stephanie Plum No. 1) by Janet Evanovich
Publication Date: August 26, 1994
Versions: hardcover, paperback, kindle, audio

Summary (from barnes and nobles):
Welcome to Trenton, New Jersey, home to wiseguys, average Joes, and Stephanie Plum, who sports a big attitude and even bigger money problems (since losing her job as a lingerie buyer for a department store). Stephanie needs cash-fast-but times are tough and soon she's forced to turn to the last resort of the truly desperate: family.


Stephanie lands a gig at her sleazy cousin Vinnie's bail bonding company. She's got no experience. But that doesn't matter. Neither does the fact that the bail jumper in question is local vice cop Joe Morelli. From the time he first looked up her dress to the time he first got into her pants to the time Steph hit him with her father's Buick, M-o-r-e-l-l-i has spelled t-r-o-u-b-l-e. And now the hot guy is hot water-wanted for murder.


Abject poverty is a great motivator for learning new skills, but being trained in the school of hard knocks by people like psycho prizefighter Benito Ramirez isn't. Still, if Stephanie can nab Morelli in a week, she'll  make a cool ten grand. All she has to do is become an expert bounty hunter overnight-and keep herself from getting killed before she gets her man.

Stephanie is a very fresh and hilarious character that will make anyone laugh. She has recently just gotten divorced to her cheating husband and lost her job for lingerie buying. So the only thing left for her to do is to get a job for her cousin Vinnie. The job as a filer for his company was already filled so Stephanie insists that she can be a Bounty Hunter. And her first victim is: Joseph Morelli. They had a thing back in grade school when he played choo choo with her, and in high school when she lost her virginity to him and then a few years later she ran into him with a car. But Stephanie is positive that she will bring him in and get her 10,000 dollars-but Morelli won't give up without a fight.

This is one of my favorite books of all time just because it is so humorous. There are a total of sixteen (so far) in this series and I am on book two right now-so look out for a lot more reviews of this series. Throughout the book, Stephanie and Joe have a hate/love relationship especially when he chains Stephanie naked to the shower, when he throws her keys into the garbage and when he tries to seduce her. But Stephanie has a mind of her own and isn't afraid to say whats on his mind.

Will I reread it?
Yes, like I already said, this is one of my favorite series and it is a must for any reader. I wasn't much into mystery books until I picked up this one-and I'm sure it will have that effect on many more.