February Wrap Up:
Reviews:
Author Interviews:
Monday, February 29, 2016
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Waiting on Wednesday #246: The Square Root of Summer
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.
By: Harriet Reuter Hapgood
Release Date: May 3, 2016
This is what it means to love someone.
This is what it means to grieve someone. It's a little bit like a black
hole. It's a little bit like infinity. Gottie H. Oppenheimer
is losing time. Literally. When the fabric of the universe around her
seaside town begins to fray, she's hurtled through wormholes to her
past: To last summer, when her grandfather Grey died. To the
afternoon she fell in love with Jason, who wouldn't even hold her hand
at the funeral. To the day her best friend Thomas moved away and left
her behind with a scar on her hand and a black hole in her memory. Although
Grey is still gone, Jason and Thomas are back, and Gottie's past,
present, and future are about to collide—and someone's heart is about to
be broken. With time travel, quantum physics, and sweeping romance, The Square Root of Summer is
an exponentially enthralling story about love, loss, and trying to
figure it all out, from stunning debut YA voice, Harriet Reuter Hapgood. (Goodreads)
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
By: Brittany Cavallaro
Released: March 1, 2016
Source: Edelweiss
Purchase the Book: Amazon
*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
The last thing sixteen-year-old Jamie Watson–writer and great-great-grandson of the John Watson–wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s enigmatic, fiercely independent great-great-granddaughter, who’s inherited not just his genius but also his vices, volatile temperament, and expertly hidden vulnerability. Charlotte has been the object of his fascination for as long as he can remember–but from the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else. Then a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Holmes stories, and Jamie and Charlotte become the prime suspects. Convinced they’re being framed, they must race against the police to conduct their own investigation. As danger mounts, it becomes clear that nowhere is safe and the only people they can trust are each other. (Goodreads)
I loved A Study in Charlotte! It was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it turned out to be everything and more that I hoped it would be.
A Study in Charlotte is the story of Jamie Watson, the great-great-grandson of the John Watson from the stories and Charlotte Holmes, the great-great granddaughter of the Sherlock Holmes. When Jamie gets a rugby scholarship, he moves from London to Connecticut to attend the same boarding school as Charlotte. However, when a student's death resembles a Sherlock Holmes story, Jamie and Charlotte become the main suspects. They team up to do their own investigation and prove their innocence.
Jamie and Charlotte were both complex and well developed characters. They both have their flaws and make mistakes. However, they both learn from each other as well. I enjoyed getting to know Jamie and getting to know Charlotte through Jamie's eyes. I loved how Cavallaro gave them some characteristics similiar to the classic Sherlock and Watson, but still made Jamie and Charlotte their own separate characters as well. The dynamic between them was great too. I loved how their relationship developed through the course of the book. It has its ups and downs, but they make a good team. There were also several great side characters that I loved meeting.
The plot was exciting, unpredictable, and suspenseful. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I loved trying to solve the case alongside Jamie and Charlotte. The case was complex and unpredictable. I also really liked how there were so many levels to it. I am a huge Sherlock Holmes fan and I've read all of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories. With that being said, I think Cavallaro did a wonderful job giving the classic stories and characters a fresh modern twist. I loved all of the connections between the classic stories and Jamie and Charlotte's investigation.
Overall I loved A Study in Charlotte. It had memorable characters and a great mystery. I can't wait to read all about Jamie and Charlotte's next case. This is definitely one book you won't want to miss this year!
My Rating:
Monday, February 22, 2016
The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine
By: C.J. Redwine
Released: February 16, 2016
Source: ARC from NYCC
Purchase the Book: Amazon
*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen. In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart. But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose. (Goodreads)
I really enjoyed The Shadow Queen. It was a captivating and exciting retelling of Snow White.
The Shadow Queen is the story of Lorelai, the princess of Ravenspire, who fled her home as a child after the queen took control of the throne and killed her father. To take back the throne that is rightfully hers, Lorelai must use her own magic to defeat the Queen's powerful magic. Then there is Kol who has suddenly become the king after the death of his father and brother. His kingdom is in danger of an invasion by ogres and he will need magic to stop them. In order to save his people, he makes a deal with the wicked queen of Ravenspire and becomes her huntsman.
Lorelai and Kol were interesting characters. I did wish that they were both developed a bit more thoroughly and that their character growth wasn't so rushed too. I liked Lorelai a lot though and she was a character that I was definitely rooting for from the beginning. She's lost so much, but still manages to keep a positive attitude. Kol has also lost so much, but he wants to put the people in his kingdom first as well. However, I did feel like the relationship between Kol and Lorelai developed a bit too quickly and felt too instantaneous. The evil queen, Irina, was such a great villain though. She was so evil and one of the best villains I've read about in a long time.
The plot itself was paced fairly well. It took some time for me to get into this story because there was a lot to set up, but it picked up after a few chapters. All of the action and magic especially kept things exciting. Snow White isn't one of my favorite stories, but I really enjoyed the different twist that Redwine put on the story. She also created a really interesting and at times, terrifying setting. There is so much of this world left unexplored though and it has certainly made me curious about the rest of the kingdoms.
Overall I really enjoyed The Shadow Queen. I definitely recommend picking this one up if you're a fan of retellings.
My Rating:
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Waiting on Wednesday #245: Shuffle, Repeat
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.
By: Jen Klein
Release Date: May 3, 2016
June wants high school to end and real life to begin. Oliver is soaking up senior year’s glory days. They could have coasted through high school, knowing about—but not really knowing—each other. Except that their moms have arranged for Oliver to drive June to school. Every. Single. Day. Suddenly these two opposites are fighting about music, life . . . pretty much everything. But love is unpredictable. When promises—and hearts—get broken, Oliver and June must figure out what really matters. And then fight for it. (Goodreads)
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell
By: Lisa Maxwell
Released: February 2, 2016
Source: Purchased
Purchase the Book: Amazon
For as long as she can remember, Gwendolyn Allister has never had a place to call home—all because her mother believes that monsters are hunting them. Now these delusions have brought them to London, far from the life Gwen had finally started to build for herself. The only saving grace is her best friend, Olivia, who’s coming with them for the summer. But when Gwen and Olivia are kidnapped by shadowy creatures and taken to a world of flesh-eating sea hags and dangerous Fey, Gwen realizes her mom might have been sane all along. The world Gwen finds herself in is called Neverland, yet it’s nothing like the stories. Here, good and evil lose their meaning and memories slip like water through her fingers. As Gwen struggles to remember where she came from and find a way home, she must choose between trusting the charming fairy-tale hero who says all the right things and the roguish young pirate who promises to keep her safe. With time running out and her enemies closing in, Gwen is forced to face the truths she’s been hiding from all along. But will she be able to save Neverland without losing herself? (Goodreads)
I really enjoyed Unhooked a lot! It was an exciting, dark, and different twist on Peter Pan.
Unhooked is the story of Gwen who moves around a lot with her mother. Her newest home is in London and her best friend, Olivia, has come along to help her settle in. Then one night Gwen and Olivia are taken by shadowy creatures and brought to Neverland. She learns quickly that this Neverland is nothing like the story.
Gwen was a really interesting and well developed character. She has this complicated relationship with her mom at home and doesn't understand why her mom is always running. Then she is thrown into this world that, up until that point, she thought was just a story. She doesn't know who to trust, but she wants to get back home. I really liked getting to know Gwen and uncovering the truth about Neverland alongside her. She doesn't always make the best decisions, but I can understand why she makes those choices that she makes.
There were several well developed secondary characters too. I loved getting to know the Captain and Pan because both of these characters had really interesting backstories. My favorite was definitely the Captain though. He became quite a memorable character. I did, however, think that Gwen's best friend, Olivia, was a flat character. I wanted to know more about her.
The plot was paced really well and it was hard to put this book down for long. There was a great balance of action and suspense. I also loved all of the twists. This book kept me guessing and it was tricky trying to figure out who was trustworthy and who wasn't. Maxwell did a fantastic job with building up the world of Neverland too. It had some of those familiar elements that I've always associated with Neverland, but she also gave it some new fresh characteristics as well.
Overall, I really enjoyed Unhooked a lot. I definitely recommend picking up this fresh twist on Peter Pan.
My Rating:
*Check out with my interview with the author, Lisa Maxwell, here.
Monday, February 15, 2016
The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
By: Heidi Heilig
Released: February 16, 2016
Source: Publisher
Purchase the Book: Amazon
*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
It was the kind of August day that hinted at monsoons, and the year was 1774, though not for very much longer. Sixteen-year-old Nix Song is a time-traveller. She, her father and their crew of time refugees travel the world aboard The Temptation, a glorious pirate ship stuffed with treasures both typical and mythical. Old maps allow Nix and her father to navigate not just to distant lands, but distant times - although a map will only take you somewhere once. And Nix's father is only interested in one time, and one place: Honolulu 1868. A time before Nix was born, and her mother was alive. Something that puts Nix's existence rather dangerously in question... Nix has grown used to her father's obsession, but only because she's convinced it can't work. But then a map falls into her father's lap that changes everything. And when Nix refuses to help, her father threatens to maroon Kashmir, her only friend (and perhaps, only love) in a time where Nix will never be able to find him. And if Nix has learned one thing, it's that losing the person you love is a torment that no one can withstand. Nix must work out what she wants, who she is, and where she really belongs before time runs out on her forever. (Goodreads)
I really enjoyed The Girl From Everywhere a lot! So far 2016 has been the year for time travel and pirate ships in books and I have been loving it. This book was no exception and took me along on a memorable adventure.
The Girl From Everywhere is the story of Nix who travels through time with her father and a crew aboard a pirate ship. They can travel to any place in time as long as they have a map of it. The catch is that the map will only work once though. For years, Nix's father has been searching for the map that will take him back to the time before Nix's mother died. However, Nix worries what this could mean for her own existence if her father succeeds.
Nix was an interesting and well developed character who can take care of herself. She's grown up on the ship exploring all of these different places and she thinks of the ship as her home. She also has this complicated relationship with her father and I really liked that whole aspect of this story. Her father is so focused on trying to save her mother that he doesn't pay that much attention to Nix.
There were also so many other fascinating and well developed side characters in this book as well. I loved getting to know some of the crew members and their backstories. My favorite was definitely Kashmir though. Kashmir is one of the crew members and one of Nix's only friends. He's a quick thief too. I loved Kashmir and wanted even more of him in this book. I also loved the relationship between him and Nix too.
The plot was paced fairly well. I felt like it started off on a really exciting note, but then slowed down for a while in the middle. It picked up again during the last quarter of the book though. There were even a few twists at the end that took me by surprise. I loved the locations that Heilig brought the reader to and she did an excellent job with building up the different settings. At times I felt like I was right there on the ship with these characters. I also loved the way that she incorporated history into the plot.
Overall I really enjoyed The Girl From Everywhere and recommend picking this one up! I'm definitely looking forward to going on another adventure with these characters.
My Rating:
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Waiting on Wednesday #244: A Week of Mondays
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.
By: Jessica Brody
Release Date: August 2, 2016
When I made the wish, I just wanted a do-over. Another chance to make things right. I never, in a million years, thought it might actually come true... Sixteen-year-old Ellison Sparks is having a serious case of the Mondays. She gets a ticket for running a red light, she manages to take the world’s worst school picture, she bombs softball try-outs and her class election speech (note to self: never trust a cheerleader when she swears there are no nuts in her bake-sale banana bread), and to top it all off, Tristan, her gorgeous rocker boyfriend suddenly dumps her. For no good reason! As far as Mondays go, it doesn’t get much worse than this. And Ellie is positive that if she could just do it all over again, she would get it right. So when she wakes up the next morning to find she’s reliving the exact same day, she knows what she has to do: stop her boyfriend from breaking up with her. But it seems no matter how many do-overs she gets or how hard Ellie tries to repair her relationship, Tristan always seems bent set on ending it. Will Ellie ever figure out how to fix this broken day? Or will she be stuck in this nightmare of a Monday forever? (Goodreads)
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman
By: Nicole Castroman
Released: February 9, 2016
Source: Edelweiss
Purchase the Book: Amazon
*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything. Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back. Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England? From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay. (Goodreads)
I really enjoyed Blackhearts a lot. It was an interesting take on the origin story of Blackbeard and it was not easy to put this book down for long.
Blackhearts is the story of Blackbeard before he became Blackbeard and a young woman named Anne. Edward "Teach" Drummond is the son of a rich merchant and has just returned home after a year on the sea. He is betrothed to a girl he isn't in love with and wants nothing more than to return back to sea. Anne has recently lost both of her parents and has taken a job as a maid at the Dummond household. She wants to be free and sail to where her mother was born.
Teach and Anne were both interesting and well developed characters. I really liked how the chapters alternated between both of them. At first, I didn't like Teach all that much. However, as the story progressed, I started to like him a lot more. He feels trapped by his father's expectations, but doesn't want to let him down either. It was just really interesting to read this spin on his life before he becomes Blackbeard.
I especially loved reading the chapters in Anne's point of view though. Anne is tough, stubborn, and determined to get her freedom. I really loved the way the relationship developed between Teach and Anne too. The chemistry is there between them and they both share a lot in common.
The plot was paced well and as I mentioned earlier, it was difficult to put this book down. When I wasn't reading, I couldn't stop thinking about jumping right back in to this story. I did expect there to be a lot more action in this book though. It is Blackbeard's origin story after all. However, this didn't bother me all that much because the story still kept me captivated. There was a lot of drama, romance, and even a few twists to keep things interesting. I also really loved the setting in England and Castroman did a great job at immersing the reader in to the time period.
Overall I really enjoyed Blackhearts a lot! I definitely recommend picking this one up because you won't want to put it down once you do! I will certainly be keeping my fingers crossed for another book set in this world with these characters.
My Rating:
Monday, February 8, 2016
After Hours by Claire Kennedy
By: Claire Kennedy
Released: June 16, 2015
Source: Purchased
Purchase the Book: Amazon
Isa, Xavi, Peter, and Finn know that a job at the high-end Waterside Cafe isn't just about waiting tables. It's about the gossip, the hook-ups, the after-hours parties and, most of all, it's about Tips. Tips--the high-stakes game based on dares. Whoever completes the most dares wins the collected money. A sum that could change a wasted summer into a Summer to Remember. Isa is the new girl with an embarrassing secret, and as long as she stays on top of her game, she sees no reason why anyone could ever find out. Xavi will do anything for the money...absolutely anything. Peter, Xavi's stepbrother, has been in love with her for years, and he thinks the game is the perfect time to confess his feelings. Finn is in the game just for the thrill. He has enough tips coming in to keep him happy...even if those tips come with some conditions. From seduction to stealing to threats, the dares are a complete free-for-all, and only the best can win. The sophisticated Waterside Cafe is anything but classy behind the scenes...and things are about to get dirty. (Goodreads)
I liked After Hours and finished this book in one sitting. I expected this one to be a light and fun read, but it surprisingly took a more serious turn.
After Hours is the story of four teens who work at a cafe. Isa is the new girl at the cafe. Xavi wants to make enough money to get away from home. Peter is Xavi's new stepbrother and hiding his true feelings about her. And lastly there is Finn, who has a secret side business. After closing some nights, the staff plays a game of tips and if the person completes the dare, they win the jackpot of money.
Isa, Xavi, Peter, and Finn were interesting characters and each are hiding a secret. I liked how the chapters alternated between the four of them, but I really wanted to get to know each one of them better. I just felt like because it alternated between four characters, it didn't give me the chance to get to know them all that well. At times the voices weren't that distinctive either and I would need to check the chapter heading to remember which character's point of view I was reading in. It got much better as the story progressed though. I especially thought that Xavi and Finn were the most interesting characters and I was the most invested in their story lines.
The plot was paced fast and as I mentioned earlier, I finished this book in one sitting. I really liked the setting in the cafe a lot. It was the center for a lot of drama. The plot definitely had the fun and light moments that I expected, but there were also some really serious themes in this book too. I wished that the pacing wasn't so rushed when it came to dealing with the serious themes though. I felt like those themes just weren't given enough attention or given the time to really develop.
Overall I liked After Hours, but this book just left me wanting more.
My Rating:
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Don't Even Think About It By Sarah Mlynowski
By: Sarah Mlynowski
Released: March 11, 2014
Source: Netgalley
Purchase the Book: Amazon
*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
We weren't always like this. We used to be average New York City high school sophomores. Until our homeroom went for flu shots. We were prepared for some side effects. Maybe a headache. Maybe a sore arm. We definitely didn't expect to get telepathic powers. But suddenly we could hear what everyone was thinking. Our friends. Our parents. Our crushes. Now we all know that Tess is in love with her best friend, Teddy. That Mackenzie cheated on Cooper. That, um, Nurse Carmichael used to be a stripper. Since we've kept our freakish skill a secret, we can sit next to the class brainiac and ace our tests. We can dump our boyfriends right before they dump us. We know what our friends really think of our jeans, our breath, our new bangs. We always know what's coming. Some of us will thrive. Some of us will crack. None of us will ever be the same. So stop obsessing about your ex. We're always listening. (Goodreads)
There are people who will love Don't Even Think About It, but unfortunately I wasn't one of them. I actually started this book a couple of years ago, but never finished it. I recently decided to give it another chance and I started from the beginning all over again. This time I made it through to the end, but my overall opinion didn't change all that much.
Don't Even Think About It is the story of a group of teens who receive more than just their flu shots one morning. They also get telepathic powers and can now hear the thoughts of others.
I really wanted to like these characters, but I struggled to connect and care about them. This is mainly because I felt like I never got to know each character all that well. There are a lot of characters and this book is told through all of these different point of views. Plus these characters are also hearing the thoughts of others around them. It's a lot to take in and keep straight, especially at first. It did get a bit better as the story progressed, but I still felt like there were just too many characters to try to keep straight. I would have preferred to read this story from the perspective of just one or two characters instead. That way I could have gotten the chance to know them better and see them develop more.
Then the voice and tone were really difficult to get used to. For me personally, the tone made it sound like these characters were better than everyone else. I especially got that feeling in the first couple of chapters. Out of all the characters, I liked Tess the most though. She was the most interesting and I was the most invested in her story line.
The plot wasn't what I was expecting it to be at all. I thought the story would focus more on the telepathic powers and the bigger picture of having powers, but it was more focused on the drama of hearing each others thoughts instead. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing though. The plot was filled with a lot of drama and paced fast. The story started right away and the drama began immediately too. The humor definitely took me by surprise and I mean this in a good way. Hearing the thoughts of others led to some really funny and awkward moments. The humor was certainly my favorite aspect of this book and what kept me reading at times.
Overall I thought that Don't Even Think About It was okay. I could definitely see how others could get past the way it was written and really enjoy it. However, this one just wasn't for me.
My Rating:
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Waiting on Wednesday #243: Wanderlost
Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.
By: Jen Malone
Release Date: May 31, 2016
Seventeen-year-old Aubree has always idolized her adventurous older sister, even while utterly content to track Elizabeth’s antics from the cozy comforts of home, in the tender care of doting parents. So when Elizabeth gets herself in "a touch of trouble” and, for the first time ever, actually needs Aubree's help, Bree is flattered but insistent. There’s no way she can do what Elizabeth is asking. Impersonate her recent-college-grad sis all summer, just so Elizabeth can score the recommendation she needs to land her dream position? Nope, nope, not gonna happen. ESPECIALLY when Elizabeth’s summer job is leading a bus tour. A bus tour across Europe.
A senior citizens' bus tour across Europe. And that's even before Bree finds out that the tour owner’s super-cute son (who is decidedly NOT elderly) will be a last-minute addition. Bree would have to be crazy. Or would she? (Goodreads)
Monday, February 1, 2016
Author Interview: Lisa Maxwell
I am so excited to have Lisa Maxwell on The Reading Geek today! Lisa is the author of the upcoming novel, Unhooked. I love Peter Pan retellings and this one sounds really good and dark!
LM: Dark, Magical, Pirates
2.) What inspired you to write Unhooked?
LM: The short answer is that I’d just read a book with a pirate
and watched Pirates of the Caribbean IV, and I really wanted to write a book
about pirates. But I didn’t want to write a straight-up historical, so I came
at it from a different way. When I thought of doing a retelling of Peter Pan, OUAT
hadn’t started their Hook storyline, and I thought it would be fun to make the
pirate in the story not exactly the bad guy.
3.) What makes your version of Neverland so dark?
LM: When I was thinking about writing a retelling, I went and
actually read the original Peter and Wendy, to get ideas for how I might
approach the story. What I realized is that the original story is actually
really dark. The musical and the Disney versions of Neverland have really
stripped away the menace of the place itself. In those versions, Captain Hook
is the bad guy, but most versions have turned him into an almost comic villain.
But in Barrie’s original, Hook is out for blood and the place itself is filled
with dangers—including Peter Pan. In the book, The Neverland is an island
that’s basically made from the imaginings of children. When you consider how
horrible nightmares can be for a child, you get a sense of just how dark
Neverland can get. I wanted to go back to that forgotten aspect of the story and
breathe some new life into it. Some of the most dangerous and horrible things
in my Neverland (the loss of memory, the dangerous beasts) are taken from or
inspired by Barrie’s original story.
4.) If you were given the opportunity to go to Neverland,
would you go?
LM: Probably not. I’m not exactly a nature girl, so surviving on
an island without air conditioning and room service doesn’t really sound like
that great of a time—no matter how good looking the pirates or the fairies
might be.
5.) Do you have a favorite film, television, or theatrical
adaptation of Peter Pan?
LM: I grew up watching the old Mary Martin musical, because my
mom loved it, but probably my favorite adaptation of Peter Pan is Hook. Robin
Williams—the whole cast really—is just so good, and the movie weaves so many
lines from the actual book in so seamlessly. I watched it in, maybe middle
school? And *cough* *cough* years later, when I introduced my kids to it, it’s
still just as good.
6.) Do you have a favorite spot to write in?
LM: I write on my couch in my office. My office is actually a
formal living room that I’ve taken over as my own. It has a fireplace and
bookshelves, and it has lots of windows that look out onto wooded hill out
back, where there are always deer and fox running around. I’m a sit with your laptop
on your lap type of writer, so the couch is perfect for me.
7.) What are some of your top favorite books?
LM: There are so freaking many! Outlander is probably one of my all-time
favorites, as are all of the Harry Potter books. I’m a sucker for a good
historical romance, especially those by Eloisa James, Sarah MacLean, and Julia
Quin. But I’m a professional English major, so I also love Toni Morrison,
William Faulkner, Fitzgerald, Woolf. Basically, if a book has pretty words, I’m
in.
Thanks so much for having me! If your readers preorder or request
UNHOOKED at their local library, I have some awesome free gifts, including a
limited edition map of Neverland I had commissioned for the book! They can get
more information at www.lisa-maxwell.com/preorder
---------
About the Author:
Lisa Maxwell is the author of Sweet Unrest, Gathering Deep, and
Unhooked (Simon Pulse, 2-2-16). When she's not writing books, she's an English
professor at a local college. She lives near DC with her very patient husband
and two not-so patient boys. This July, she will be teaching a writing workshop
for a week in western Ireland. You can check out more information at http://www.irelandwritertours.com/
Links:
Website: www.lisa-maxwell.com
Twitter: @lisamaxwellYA
About Unhooked:
For as long as she can
remember, Gwendolyn Allister has never had a place to call home—all
because her mother believes that monsters are hunting them. Now these
delusions have brought them to London, far from the life Gwen had
finally started to build for herself. The only saving grace is her best
friend, Olivia, who’s coming with them for the summer. But when
Gwen and Olivia are kidnapped by shadowy creatures and taken to a world
of flesh-eating sea hags and dangerous Fey, Gwen realizes her mom might
have been sane all along. The world Gwen finds herself in is
called Neverland, yet it’s nothing like the stories. Here, good and evil
lose their meaning and memories slip like water through her fingers. As
Gwen struggles to remember where she came from and find a way home, she
must choose between trusting the charming fairy-tale hero who says all
the right things and the roguish young pirate who promises to keep her
safe. With time running out and her enemies closing in, Gwen is
forced to face the truths she’s been hiding from all along. But will she
be able to save Neverland without losing herself?
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions, Lisa! I personally can't wait to pick up a copy of Unhooked!
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