Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered! Winner of our 2nd Blogiversary giveaway is...

Dialma Jensen!

Thanks so much for reading and supporting our blog! Here's to another awesome year, and many awesome books!

Reminder

Hey everyone! You have one more day to spread the word and sign up for our awesome giveaway!

And sorry there has been a lack of posting. My co-blogger Erin Writes has been having some internet and technical difficulties, so hopefully those will be resolved soon!

What have I been reading? Here's a quick note:
I read Anna and the French Kiss, and as Guinevere already reviewed it for you I didn't re-post about it. But I LOVED it! Really great contemporary YA. In fact it was very similar to the book I wanted to write! (My first manuscript ever that I think is being put aside anyway...but still...similar ideas). She did it so much better than me, though, which is why I can say, LOVED IT! ;)

Then I read an incredible ARC I received called EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton. I'm not reviewing that yet since it doesn't come out until January, but again LOVED it. Check out Brodi's blog and get excited about this one folks!

And then life has gotten in the way of much else lately. What have you been reading?

Blogiversary Giveaway #2 -- Fantasy Pack

Okay, so these aren't ALL "fantasy" like dragons and elves, but I think that title could explain an element in all of these books. From dystopia to fairy tales, they all have an element of fantasy right? So here's what you're going to get!

MY UNFAIR GODMOTHER by Janette Rallison -- Signed paperback ARC!
TEMPEST RISING by Tracy Deebs -- paperback ARC
POSSESSION by Elana Johnson -- Signed paperback ARC!
A TOUCH MORTAL by Leah Clifford -- Hardcover

*If you are unfamiliar with the title, click on the title if it's a link for our review.

Giveaway is open until 11:59 pm EST on Thursday July 28th! USA and Canada addresses only please. Just fill out the form below!

Author Interview: Janette Rallison!

I was very excited to snag this interview with the totally awesome Janette Rallison. I have been lucky to be acquainted with this amazing author for a few years now. She is uplifting, supportive and inspirational to be around! Not to mention she's just made of awesome. So enjoy!


1) How was writing this story different from writing the first "My Fair Godmother"?

JR: Writing My Unfair Godmother had a big built-in stresser: I’d set the bar high with My Fair Godmother. MFG had action, humor, romance, fantasy, time travel, quirky characters, twisted fairy tales, family problems, social commentary, a mystery, and a twist at the end. I didn’t know how I was going to be able to duplicate all of that and at the same time have a story that was different and original. I knew I wanted to have the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale as one of the fairy tales but I had no idea what else to do with the story or how Tansy was going to use her wishes. I gave myself writers’ block for a long time worrying that the story wouldn’t be good enough. Finally I just had to make myself write it. I was surprised that I had so much fun with the story and equally surprised when so many reviewers said they liked My Unfair Godmother even better than My Fair Godmother.


2) Tansy seemed different than some of your other teenage characters, she was more rebellious in many ways. How did you come up with Tansy's character and voice?

JR: I got the idea for a rebellious teen girl at a plot workshop I was doing at a school. The character had moved into a new school and wanted friends but was going about it in all the wrong ways. I liked the character so I decided to use her and her ill fated vandalism date in my story.


3) Are there plans for another "Godmother" book?

JR: Yes, there are plans, but I haven’t actually started writing the book. You see, there’s this built in stresser with a third book: I’ve set the bar high with MFG and MUG and so how am I going to come up with a story that has all the elements and is just as good as the first two? Also, I have contracts for other books I’ve got to write first.


4) What are you working on now?

JR: I’m revising a time travel dystopia that’s coming out with Harper Sept 2012 and I just sent a paranormal romance to my agent. I have a dragon slayer book (present day, dragons are coming back and some kids have super powers to fight them) which will be out in October 2011. I need to start the sequel to that book. And I have about three other books that I’m dying to start working on. If I just had about five extra hours a day, I think I could accomplish everything I want to do. Well, maybe.


5) What is your key to being a successful author with multiple books published?

JR: Don’t stop learning the craft. Read a lot and write a lot. All of those things are absolutely necessary.


6) What is your indulgence food that you have to have on hand when writing?

JR: Chocolate. I could live on Almond Joys.

Thanks so much Janette! Be sure to come back soon as I will be doing another blogiversary giveaway, including a SIGNED ARC copy of MY UNFAIR GODMOTHER!

Oh and I have to give credit where credit is due, since I know the awesome photographer who took that author photo for Janette. http://erinsummerillphotography.com/blog/

Review: MY UNFAIR GODMOTHER by Janette Rallison

MY UNFAIR GODMOTHER
by Janette Rallison
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published April 12th 2011 by Walker Books for Young Readers

Placement in the Pile: Top Picks!

Summary:
Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father has never had enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn't exactly how she wanted to get his attention. Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining, er, high heels. Chrissy is only a fair godmother, of course, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough for Tansy, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. She'll need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief 's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control. Janette Rallison pulls out all the stops in this fresh, fun-filled follow-up to the popular My Fair Godmother.

Review:
From the start MY UNFAIR GODMOTHER hooked me back into the crazy world of that haphazard fairy Chrysanthemum Everstar. This time around she is trying to raise her semester grade with an extra credit project, and chooses Tansy...poor girl.

Tansy is having a difficult time right now. Her mom has sent her to live with her father, whom she is upset with for leaving them years ago. She makes some rebellious choices in who she hangs out with and what she spends her time doing. Landing her in a situation worthy of needing a fairy godmother. Too bad she only gets a fair one.

Even more hilarious than the first, with a swoon worthy boy and an overall enjoyable read Janette has done it again -- and better!

If you haven't read Janette's stuff get off the couch and go get one. I love everything she writes. Be sure to come back tomorrow for my interview with Janette and another awesome blogiversary giveaway later this week!

Consuming My Week

What else would be consuming my week other than the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part Two! Every year I do a party and get tickets for a group of us to go to the midnight show.



This year is the biggest group yet and I am very excited! From the few lucky ducks who have seen it I have heard it is amazing, and to bring tissues along!

What I love most is that this HUGE fandom came from someone's imagination. From someone putting "pen to paper" as it were, and sharing that with the world. Going through the grueling process of putting themselves out there and sharing their ideas with the world. Of someone being rejected over and over again, and never giving up.

Thank you JK Rowling for your amazing story! I can't believe it has come to an end!

Blogiversary Giveaway #1!!! Historical Fiction Pack Winner!!!

Hey everyone! I hope you had a great weekend. Today we are announcing the winner of our first Blogiversary giveaway!

Kelly W!!!

Thanks to all who entered and shared about the contest! Keep on checking in for some awesome stuff in the next few weeks! We love our readers. Without you our opinions on books wouldn't matter. And we love sharing our love of books with you!!!

Video Interviews with Alyxandra Harvey!

As if you needed another reason to enter my current giveaway including HAUNTING VIOLET by Alyxandra Harvey. Check out these video interviews curtesy of Bloomsbury.

Blogiversary Giveaway #1!!! Historical Fiction Pack

Hey everyone! As promised we're celebrating our 2 years of blogging with our first blogiversary giveaway! Our 4- book Historical Fiction Pack!

HAUNTING VIOLET by Alyxandra Harvey -- paperback ARC
REVOLUTION by Jennifer Donnelly -- Hardcover
FALLEN GRACE by by Mary Hooper -- paperback ARC
ANASTASIA'S SECRET by Susanne Dunlap -- paperback ARC

*Note, purple links go to our review of these books. Check them out if you aren't familiar with the title.

Just fill out the form below! Be sure to spread the word. The more you spread the more you can win.

Contest is open to USA and Canada addresses only, it will close on Tuesday July 12, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST.

Good luck!



*** if you tweet please use the @AubreyatMPB so I can verify it. Thanks!
**** secret incentive -- there might be an extra special giveaway item if we reach 300 followers this month. So the more you share, the better prizes you get!

Blog Tour Review: HAUNTING VIOLET by Alyxandra Harvey

HAUNTING VIOLET
by Alyxandra Harvey
Hardcover, 352 pages
Published June 21st 2011 by Walker Childrens

Placement in the Pile: Reaching New Heights

Summary:
Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her.

After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.

Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

Review:
I was instantly drawn into this Victorian world of Spiritualism, skeptics, romance, class differentiations, and secret romance. Alyxandra Harvey weaves the historical nearly perfectly with the supernatural. Her era is spot on, her ghosts disturbingly believable.

I really enjoyed Violet's character and voice. She was strong from the start, she knew what she wanted, but was a bit helpless to change it. Her mother, a false medium, had raised her to be an actress, a fake, and she never wanted that. Then when her own real medium powers show up, it is nothing less than frightening.

This book is definitely worth reading. I always love a good historical fiction, and I love paranormal books as well. It was a perfect blend. Was it perfect? No, there were some cliche characters, some predictable moments etc. But in the end those minor things didn't matter so much, because I was just enjoying the story.

Happy Fourth Of July!

For all my American readers, Happy Fourth of July! I hope you enjoy the day celebrating our country and it's freedoms. And always remember, freedom was not free!



Also, know that although I have been slacking on the blog the last few weeks, I have some big things coming this week and the coming weeks. A few reviews, a blog tour review (tomorrow), and some giveaways for my 2nd Blogiversary! (Which was technically on June 30th, but I celebrate in July)