Blood Rites

Description Provided by Goodreads: With the challenge complete and the corrupt Alpha of Coldspring defeated Fane is now free to complete the mate bond with Jacque and perform the Blood Rites. Although the challenge is done, the affects are far reaching. Once it is known that Vasile, one of the strongest Alphas in the world is in America, specifically Coldspring, TX, there is one Alpha who cannot over look the significance of this. An Alpha who happens to share Jacque's DNA, but is this the one she needs to fear? 

With her mom driving and her two best friends, Jen and Sally in tow, Jacque sets off for her happily ever after. She will soon realize a plan has been put in motion that will change her course and possibly tear her from Fane's grasp forever. It will take a wolf pack, her mother's love, her two best friend's unrelenting determination, her own will to survive and the undying love of her mate to bring her home. The question remains, if she fights, if she endures, who will she be, what will be left once she is back in her mates arms?

Story Line: The story picks up right where The Prince of Wolves book left off and I loved this because there was not a long period of time that occurred in between the two books. I loved that the book was told in not only Fane and Jacque's point of views but also Jacque's father,Jen, Decebel, and other character's points of view. I loved how this book was unpredictable and took many turns that made me stay up late trying to finish the book. Jacque and Fane's connection and romance in this book is as sweet and endearing as ever and made me love the book even more!! 

Characters:
Fane: I ABSOLUTELY loved Fane's character!!! He is amazingly sweet, caring, protective, and lovable in this book!!! Fane has to be Jacque's support system in this book, especially after everything that goes on. There was a particular scene in the book where Fane goes all alfa wolf on everyone and it was amazing!!! I read the scene about 100 times, it was that awesome!!

Jacque: I loved her character because this book shows that she's a real fighter. She goes through so much in this book, yet even though she struggles she comes through in the end fighting and showing that's she's a real heroine. I loved her character and can't wait to read about what comes next for her!

Sally/Jen/Decebel: In this book Jen and Decebel get more of a staring role, sort of like main characters instead of supporting characters. They even get chapters in their points of view, which were very entertaining to say the least. I can't wait to read the next book and see how their relationship turns out!

Overall: I loved this book completely, especially the Fane alpha wolf scene! Quinn Loftis brings her readers  back into the world of The Grey Wolves and delivers an action packed story full of mystery, secrets, romance, and bravery. Blood Rites is a must read so don't hesitate to buy it on Amazon!!

Rating: I would give this book a 9.

About the Author:

Quinn is an award winning author who lives in beautiful Western Arkansas with her husband, son, Nora the Doberman, and Phoebe the Cat (who thinks she is a ninja in disguise). She is the author of eight novels, including the USA Today bestseller, Fate and Fury.  Quinn is beyond thankful that she has been blessed to be able to write full time and hopes the readers know how much all of their support means to her. Some of her hobbies include reading, exercising, crochet, and spending time with family and friends. She gives all credit of her success to God because he gave her the creative spirit and vivid imagination it takes to write.

A to Z Book Blogger Survey

School has officially started for me, and for a lot of you too, which means that its questionnaire time. My school seems to have a fascination within surveys because they have a survey for almost everything. My AP Literature teacher not being the exception. Thus far I've had to fill out six surveys that add up to more than 75 questions that I've had to answer about my reading habits. And let me just tell you that these are hard questions, such as how many hours do you read a week and what my favorite book is?!? Favorite book, really?? How do you ask us bookaholics what our favorite book is?!?! Anyhoo, even though I've filled out about a thousand questionnaires I decided to do a questionnaire about books that I found on The Perpetual Page Turner through another blog I follow, this one just for fun.

Author you’ve read the most books from:

This one took me a while to go over my list of books I read but I finally figured out that I've read 12 books by Ellen Schreiber. I read all 9 book in her Vampire Kisses series and I read all three books currently in her Full Moon series. Truthfully, I hadn't really thought about this until now.

Best Sequel Ever:

Clockwork Prince!!! Holy Moly this book is action packed with suspense, romance, and surprises!! It absolutely blew me away especially since I had such high expectations for it after Clockwork Angel. A must read and  it was definitely worth the wait.

Currently Reading:

I am currently reading Of Triton by Anna Banks and so far it is flippin amazing (Get it? Flippers? Lol you do if you've read the first book Of Poseidon)

Drink of Choice While Reading:

Hot rice milk with honey of course!!

E-reader or Physical Book?

Physical book all the way; although I do read one of two book a year on the kindle app. I just prefer physical books; it's a whole different reading a physical book than an ebook. Plus with a physical book I know how far along I am in the book.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

This is definitely a hard one, plus I'm still in high school, so they fictional character that I would probably date right now is Logan freaking Quinn from the Mythos Academy series by Jennifer Estep. He's gorgeous, sarcastic, protective, sweet, honest, noble hearted, a spartan, and amazing overall. I would be totally smitten if I met him and I'm not afraid to admit it!

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

I'm really glad I finally decided to read Poison Princess. I kept putting it off and I finally read it one day that figment offered it as a free read. I absolutely love it and I'm counting down the days until the sequel, Endless Knight, come out!!!!

Hidden Gem Book:

The Morning Gift by Eva Ibbotson. I found this book by accident at the library and I decided to read it. This is a tender, romantic, and amazing book. I love the characters, their sacrifices, and their story. I never would have found this book if it hadn't been shelved incorrectly. 

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

The day I got a readers' advanced copy of a book I absolutely had been dying for. It was recent and I don't want to ruin the surprise because there will be a blog post on the book, so look forward to it!!

Just Finished:

I just finished reading Of Poseidon because I borrowed the sequel, Of Triton, from the library and I really felt like reading Of Poseidon again. It definitely made me want to read Of Triton that much more and it reminded me of a lot of things I didn't remember.

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

I will not read history and physics books. Over the summer I read two books for my honors physics class and while they were insightful they were not my taste and confused me too. 

Longest Book You’ve Read:

The longest book I've ever read is Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead. It is the last book in the Vampire Academy series, which is being made into a movie!!!!! Last Sacrifice is 594 pages long.

Major book hangover because of:

Midnight Frost by Jennifer Estep, Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare, The Elite by Kiera Cass, Sweet Peril Wendy Higgins, On the Scent by Angela Campbell, Dracian Legacy by Priya Kanaparti, The Prince of Wolves by Quinn Loftis, Biting Cold by Chloe Neill, Dragonfly by Julia Golding, The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa, Hex Hall by Rachel Hawking, Significance by Shelly Crane, Finale by Becca Fitzpatrick, Consumed by Julia Crane, Captivate by Carrie Jones. (To name a few lol!!) 

Number of Bookcases You Own:

I used to own a really small one and I outgrew that one after a while and the same goes for the second bookcase I owned. I'm currently on my third bookcase but I'm about 7 books away from outgrowing that one too, so fourth bookcase here I come!!

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

I have re-read Falling Under by Gwen Hayes about 5 times and each time I read it I fall in love with the characters all over again and I never get tired of reading it. Every time I read it I find that I'm still on the edge of my seat waiting to see what will happen to the characters even though I already know what will happen.

Preferred Place To Read:

In a quite corner of my house, where I can't be bothered or hear any noise.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

“Whatever you are physically...male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy--all those things matter less than what your heart contains. If you have the soul of a warrior, you are a warrior. All those other things, they are the glass that contains the lamp, but you are the light inside.” -Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Reading Regret:

I regret reading the ending of Ascend by Amanda Hocking. The main character was torn between two love interests; one of the love interests was new and made his first appearance in the second book while the other love interest had been there since the first book. Anyhoo, in the third book the character was leaning more towards the one I didn't want her to choose and I "accidentally" (not) read the ending and learned which love interest she end up with. Suffice to say I was not happy with the character she chose and I couldn't read the end of the book and ended up regretting reading the other two book in the series.

Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):

Elemental Series by Brigid Kemmerer. I read the first two books, Storm and Spark, but I haven't read the other three books. It's not that they're bad, they are not. I actually really like the stories but the stories are on different brothers. For example Storm was on one brother, Chris, and Spark was on another brother, Gabriel. I would have much rather all the books be about one characters, Chris preferably, but I like the book none the less.

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, and Evernight by Claudia Gray. This was a hard choice but I absolutely love these books!!!

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

All my literary boyfriends and the amazingly, heart racing, and romantic moments they have, some which include Patch from Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, Caleb from Significance by Shelly Crane, Dimitri from Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, Galen from Of Poseidon by Anna Banks, Ash from The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa, Archer from Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, and sooooooooooo many, many, many, more!!!!

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

I am SUPER EXCITED for the release of Killer Frost by Jennifer Estep!!! It might be the last book in the Mythos Academy series and a certain Spartan has finally come to his senses and return to Mythos, so I'm super excited to see how everything will turn out and what will happen with all the characters.

Worst Bookish Habit:

When I turn the page I tend to look at the following page and catch a glimpse of what is going to happen. Ex. I turn the page and instead of automatically reading page 40 I see part of page 41 and what's going on.

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

Independence by Shelly Crane is the 27th book on my bookshelf.

Your latest book purchase:

The last book I bought was Blood Rites by Quinn Loftis; it is the second book in The Grey Wolves series. I have yet to read it, as I recently borrowed Of Triton from my local library but hopefully I'll be able to read it soon!!!

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

The last book that kept me up really late was Prince of Wolves by Quinn Loftis, which is the first book in The Grey Wolves series. I started reading it around 4 in the afternoon and I kept reading it past midnight, past 2 in the morning, and past 4 in the morning. Let's just say that I was awake for the opening of the stock market and still reading the book; it was totally worth it though!!!

Aberrant by Ruth Silver (Giveaway Included!!!!)

Description Provided by Goodreads: In the future Dystopian society of Cabal, the government instills equality for all and offers its citizens the perfect system. There is food, shelter and jobs for everyone. The one requirement is to follow the rules without question, including the government's match in marriage and "The Day of the Chosen", a lottery that randomly selects families to conceive children as natural means hasn't existed in generations. Following her eighteenth birthday, Olivia Parker accepts her requirement to marry her childhood best friend, Joshua Warren, and is eager to start her work assignment and new life when it all comes abruptly to an end as she's arrested and thrown in prison. The only crime committed, her existence. Olivia is unlike the rest of the world born not from "The Day of the Chosen." The truth haunts the government and puts her life in grave danger as one simple fact would destroy the perfect system.

With Joshua's help, Olivia breaks free of prison and is forced on the run. Together they set out to find the promised rebel town in search of a new home and new life together. Their situation seems less than promising as they reach the town of Haven. New rules and customs must be adhered to in order to stay. Leaving would mean most certain death in the large expanse of the Gravelands. Time is running out as the government mounts an attack to destroy Olivia and bury her secret with her. Thrown into a world unlike their own, they must quickly adapt to survive.

This book immediately got my attention when I read the description and it reminded me a little of a cross between Delirium by Lauren Oliver and Matched by Ally Condie but with a hint of Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. This book is a definite must read for me and I suggest you read it because it sound really interesting!!! Plus I have a feeling that I'm really going to like the characters especially Joshua, he seems like he has potential to be one of my many literary boyfriends!! Lol!!!!

Now for the really fun part...the part you've all been waiting for...the excerpt and the giveaway!!!!!

           "...I sighed softly and did something I'd only read about in forbidden novels. I leant in, brushing my lips against his. The kiss was soft and chaste. It lasted no more than a mere second before I pulled back.

             "What was  that, Olive?" He  gave me  a horrified look  and  all  I could  feel was my stomach  somersault.  I  knew  romance  and love  weren't  ever  spoken  of in  Genesis.  There was  no  need  when  the  government  knew  who  was  perfect  for  one  another,  and  children were won by lottery and conceived in a lab. Intimate acts were considered unnecessary. 

             "I  read  about  it  in  a  book,"  I  whispered,  afraid  I'd  done  it  all  wrong.  "It  was  a kiss," I breathed, chewing on my bottom lip nervously. I’d never kissed anyone before and worried  he  thought it was  terrible.  I’d  never  seen  two  people  share  a  kiss,  I  didn’t  quite know what it was supposed to look like, but I thought I’d done it right after reading about it. My hand reached out, grabbing his arm. "Please don't be mad at me." I breathed. "You have to swear you won't tell anyone!" Joshua hesitated for only an instant before he leaned in, taking another taste from my lips trying again. The second kiss was softer and satisfied both of our curiosities. My heart raced and my skin warmed to his touch. "I thought today was going to turn out so much worse," I confessed. 

              Joshua laughed as he pulled back slightly, staring at me. His eyes had darkened a deeper richer  shade  of  blue.  I'd  never  seen  his  eyes  change  colors  before.  His  fingers  moved  to tickle my stomach with a grin. "Worse? Really? You're not happy you married me? You're just relieved it wasn't someone worse?" 

             "No!"  I  shrieked,  "That's  not  what  I  meant!"  I  tried  to  catch  my  breath,  but  he hardly  gave  me  a  second  more  than  necessary.  I  pulled  from  his  ticklish  grasp,  jumped from the couch and ran across the room in a fit of laughter. He quickly followed, jumping over the sofa as he was just inches from me. He was close now, smiling and trailing behind me  as  I  ran  toward  the  bedroom.  It  was  probably  the  worst  place  I  could  go,  trapped between  Joshua  and  a mattress.  I  felt him  tackle me down  onto  the plush bed, his hands skimmed my stomach but he was no longer tickling me. The laughter still hadn't subsided.

             "Breathe," Joshua said, staring intently at me. 

             "Trying," I gasped between fits of laughter. Lying down helped settle the feeling of my racing heart, and after a moment I shifted along the mattress, reaching out to him. "I want to tell you a story," I insisted as my fingers found his cheek. "One I read in a book." I wanted him to learn the things I had about love and romance. I couldn't help but feel my body stir with a strange fire and warmth as he loomed just above me. Staring up at him I froze on the mattress hearing the latch click on the front door. I knew it had been locked."

***GIVEAWAY***

Click Me To Enter Giveaway

1 signed paperback of Aberrant (US only)

3 scrabble tile necklace charms & signed bookmark (INT)

3 bottlecap keychains & signed bookmark (INT)

About the Author:

Ruth Silver first began writing poetry as a teenager and reading heaps of fan fiction in her free time. She has written under three unique pseudo names and penned well over a hundred stories. She attended Northern Illinois University in 2001 and graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication. While in college she spent much of her free time writing with friend she met online and penning her fist novel, "Deuces are Wild", which she self-published in 2004. Her favorite class was Creative Writing senior year where she often handed in assignments longer than the  professor required because she loved to write and always wanted to finish her stories. Her love of writing, led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia. Silver enjoys reading YA novels and sharing her favorite books with other readers. She runs her own book blog and also enjoys photography and traveling. Her favorite YA genre is a mix of Dystopian & Fantasy, which is evident in the upcoming release of her latest book, Aberrant. Slated for release April 2013 by Lazy Day Publishing, it is the first in a trilogy.

The Picture of Dulce Garcia Cover Reveal

The Picture of Dulce Garcia (The Coven #1)

by Alana Albertson

Release Date: Fall 2013

LOOK AT THIS GORGEOUS COVER!!!!!! IT DEFINITELY MAKES ME WANT TO READ THE BOOK!!

Description Provided by Goodreads:

Dulce Garcia, star of The Coven, would rather spend her days sketching dresses. Instead, she works to support her family and dreams of one day becoming a fashion designer. After Teen Vogue declares Dulce, “The Hottest Teen in America,” she is stunned by how amazing she looks in their photo.

At sixteen, Dulce feels the pressure to stay youthful in Hollywood. When Dulce’s prop Book of Shadows gets destroyed, she substitutes her favorite Victorian Anthology, opened to Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, and says her spell during the shoot over the anthology. Afterwards, in her trailer, she discovers that she has transformed into her Teen Vogue picture, and her real body is completely airbrushed. Can she break the curse or will she remain locked forever in a picture?

Finalist—Young Adult Category of the 2011 RWA Stiletto Contest!

Finalist—Young Adult Category of the 2011 RWA Launching A Star Contest!

Finalist—Young Adult Category of the 2011 RWA Heart of the Rockies Contest!

About the Author:

Alana Albertson is the former President of both Romance Writers of Americas’s Young Adult and Chick Lit chapters and the founder of Academe Advantage, a college admissions & test preparation company. Alana Albertson holds a Masters of Education from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Stanford University. A recovering professional ballroom dancer, Alana currently writes contemporary romance and young adult fiction. She lives in San Diego, California, with her husband, two young sons, and four dogs. When she’s not spending her time needlepointing, dancing, or saving dogs from high kill shelters through Pugs N Roses, the rescue she founded, she can be found watching episodes of House Hunters, Homeland, or Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team.

Without You Cover Reveal

WITHOUT YOU

by Brooklyn Skye

Release Date: 10/22/13

Description Provided by Goodreads:

*A novella to the best-selling New Adult novel STRIPPED*

I’m the knight on the white horse in her eyes, the one who broke down her defenses after her sister’s death until she realized she was capable of love. To her—aside from my name, Torrin Kingsley—I’m perfect.

But there’s a sliver of my past I’ve never shared with her. One that is now haunting me with every breath I take. One she is starting to raise her brow to.

I’m not certain how much longer I can keep it from her. To be honest, I don’t know that it would make a difference anyway, because it seems no matter which path I choose, they all lead to the same end point. A place without Quinn.

My demons run bone deep. I guess burying them forever wasn’t possible.

Book One:

About the Author

Brooklyn Skye grew up in a small town where she quickly realized writing was an escape from small town life. Really, she’s just your average awkward girl who’s obsessed with words. Her Best-Selling New Adult debut, STRIPPED, is out NOW! Represented by Bree Ogden of D4EO Literary Agency.

Immortal City

Description Provided by Goodreads: Jackson Godspeed is the hottest young Angel in a city filled with them.

He's days away from becoming a full Guardian, and people around the world are already competing for the chance to be watched over by him. Everyone's obsessed with the Angels and the lucky people they protect - everyone except for Madison Montgomery.

Maddy's the one girl in Angel City who doesn't breathlessly follow the Angels on TV and gossip blogs. When she meets Jackson, she doesn't recognize him. But Jackson is instantly captivated by her, and against all odds the two fall in love.

Maddy is swiftly caught up in Jackson's scene, a world of glamour, paparazzi - and murder. A serial killer is on the loose, leaving dead Angels' wings for the police to find on the Walk of Fame. Even the Guardians are powerless to protect themselves in the face of this threat & and this time it's up to Maddy to save Jackson.

I had read books before about a famous celebrity falling for the 'ordinary girl' and I had read books about an angel falling for the 'ordinary girl' but never before had I read about a celebrity angel falling for the 'ordinary girl' and lets just say that I am most definitely hooked. I also realized that I had never read a book written by a male author, I realized this while looking through all the authors of the books I've read. Let's just also that that I will most definitely keep a look out for book written by guys now.

Story Line: I ABSOLUTELY LOVED this story line. I loved how it was told in both Jackson's perspective, Maddy's perspective, and other minor characters' perspectives. I loved this way of writing books because it give me an insight into what both characters are thinking not just one. I also loved how it wasn't the traditional guy fall for girl and guy has to save the girl. In this story line we read about the girl having to save the guy in an action packed scene with cool cars if I may add. I also loved all the twists in the story line. The beginning, middle, and end were amazing and filled with unexpected twists that I had me wanting to read more, gasping, screaming, and downright fangirling!! Plus, not only were there twists all through out the book but the last sentence of the book was to die for! Oh and the romance, gah!!!! It was definitely fangirl worthy. I loved Jackson and Maddy's relationship, it was definitely not the traditional and it was interesting as well.

Characters:
Jackson: I have to admit that Jackson Godspeed is officially one of my literary boyfriends and yes I called dibs! (lol!) I loved his character because while he may be presented as an egotistical rich boy, he is actually really sweet, caring, and protective. I love his sense of humor and determination, plus he's gorgeous and an angel!!!!! What more could anyone want?

Maddy: I absolutely loved Maddy's character because she wasn't the type of girl who was obsessed with the angels like everyone was and she appreciates the simple things in life. I also loved how she was so heroic and brave, especially when others are in trouble. I loved the car scene with her, which was one of my favorites. (If you read the book you'll know what I'm talking about) She is a very lovable and well written character.

Overall: This book was an amazing read and you'll never want to put it down. I loved the suspense in this book, the twists and turns, and the romance. Scott Speer creates a world of celebrity angels that you will be completely immersed in. He also creates characters that you will fall in love with, root for, and connect with. I highly recommend you read this book you'll definitely will love it and not want to put it down.

Rating: I would give this book a 10!!!!!!

About the Author:

Scott Speer is a movie and music video director and a graduate of the University of Southern California's School of Cinema Television. He has directed music videos for artists such as Will.I.Am, Jordin Sparks, and Ashley Tisdale. Scott lives in Los Angeles, California.

Awesome Authors #3

In today's list of awesome authors we have Sarah J. Maas, Lauren Kate, and Yvonne Wood!

Sarah J. Maas: I was raised on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, where I grew up roving the halls of the Natural History Museum, wandering through the Temple of Dendur the Met, and spending summer evenings at the Metropolitan Opera House, watching the American Ballet Theatre perform. When my parents weren’t ushering me from one New York City delight to the next, they were reading me fairy-tales and folklore from around the world. From “Cinderella” to “Vasilisa The Brave,” from “East Of the Sun, West of the Moon” to “The Terrible Nung Gwama,” my parents left no legend untold. Honestly, it’s not all that surprising that I now make my living writing mostly fairy-tale retellings about kick-butt heroines. I’ve been a “teller of tall tales” since I can remember (I think my parents preferred that term to “extravagant and unnervingly good liar”), and began writing my first (serious) novel at sixteen. It started out as this re-imagining of “Cinderella” (basically: what if Cinderella was an assassin, and went to the ball not to dance with the prince, but to kill him?) and quickly became Throne of Glass, a sprawling epic fantasy series with very few Cinderella elements. In April 2002, I began posting the first chapters of the very rough draft (then called Queen of Glass) on FictionPress.com, a wonderful website for aspiring authors. After getting some super-positive responses, I posted some more. Six years later, Throne of Glass had become the most-reviewed story on FictionPress, garnering thousands of readers from around the world. Their enthusiasm

and dedication led me to try my hand at getting Throne of Glass published, and in late 2008, I left FictionPress to follow my dreams of being a published author. Many extensive rewrites and revisions later, I sold Throne of Glass to Bloomsbury Children’s in early 2010, and it released on August 7th, 2012. Publishing takes a while. So during my hunt to get an agent, then the quest to find a publisher, then the long journey from sold manuscript to published/real novel, I wrote a few other books: A Faraway  Land, an adult fantasy that re-examines the legends of fairy godmothers; Hades, a YA fantasy that re-imagines Greekmythology; and A Court of Thorns and Roses, a YA trilogy that blends together and retells the tales of “Beauty and the Beast” “East of the Sun, West of The Moon,” and “Tam-Lin.” My most recent project is Nautilus, a middle-grade action-adventure fantasy I coauthored with my darling friend, Susan Dennard, that re-works the story of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. There have also been a few other books here and there, but those will never

see the light of day. When I’m not writing, I can usually be found watching an ungodly amount of TV shows, following ballet the way people follow sports, and guzzling down coffee and carbs. Though I’m now a full-time writer, I still get bossed around by my dachshund-terrier-pug-black lab mix, Annabel Lee (who is sitting in my lap, demanding that I pay attention to her as I write this). My husband and I met the first day of my freshman year of college (he was a junior…and my RA), we got married in May 2010, and we’ve been living happily ever after since (…but I swear we’re not one of those cutesy couples). I’m also prone to gushing about things like Hayao Miyazaki films, make up and nail polish, Ancient Aliens theories, fantastic books (some of them are listed on the sidebar of my blog), Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, random anime, Disney (My favorite Disney film? The Little Mermaid. Or Sleeping Beauty. Or Beauty and the Beast. Tough call.), and illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman.

Lauren Kate: Lauren Kate grew up in Dallas, went to school in Atlanta, and started writing in New York. She is the author of Fallen and The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove. She lives in Laurel Canyon with her husband and hopes to work in a restaurant kitchen, get a dog, and learn how to surf.

Yvonne Woon: Our intrepid heroine is shy, freckled, feline; with thick eyeliner and long, black hair. She grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, in an old stone colonial flanked by woods, where she first developed a penchant for the macabre. It began with the sudden disappearance of her cat, followed by the next cat, and the cat after that. She has been writing mysteries ever since. Yvonne now lives in New York, where she went to college and graduate school. She holds an M.F.A. from Columbia University, which she mostly uses to concoct plots. She thinks of her best idea after dinner, often just before she goes to bed. Her many interest include New England, etymologies, chemistry, and various supernatural phenomena. Her favorite punctuation mark is the !