Winners of Ruined giveaway!

Today is the 27th, and that means it's time to announce the 5 lucky winners of my Ruined giveaway! Thanks to everyone who entered and helped spread the word - this was definitely the best turnout I've had for a contest yet. :)
Congrats to the winners:
Katie
Paradox
Addicted Book Reader
Bianca
Froggy

I'll be sending out emails shortly to the winners. You have 48 hours to reply before I pick a new winner. Congratulations!

If you didn't win, there's still my 100 followers contest that will be coming up around the first of the month - so watch out for that. :)

Review: DupliKate

Title: DupliKate
Author: Cherry Cheva
Publication date: September 29th, 2009

Summary:
Getting into Yale has been her dream for years—and being generally overworked and totally under-rested is the price of admission. But when she opens her eyes the next day, she comes face-to-face with, well, her face—which is attached to her body, which is standing across the room. Wait, what?

Meet Kate's computer-generated twin. Kate doesn't know why she's here or how to put her back where she belongs, but she's real. And she's the last thing Kate has time to deal with right now. Unless . . .

Could having a double be the answer to Kate's prayers? After all, two Kates can do more work than one. Or will keeping her twin a secret turn her dream future into a living nightmare?

Review:
I honestly wasn't very excited for this book at first. The cover made me think that it was going to be about some stuck up girl (I'm not really sure why, because I don't think that when I look at the cover anymore..). But when I got the opportunity to read DupliKate, it showed me that you can't always judge a book by its cover. Instead, it was about a girl who I felt I could totally relate to - someone who works her absolute hardest to get what she wants.

When Rina, Kate's "twin", comes out from the computer, it's almost completely believable. For a moment, my reaction was something like "Seriously? You've got to be kidding me", but the more I read about Rina, the less I questioned the situation and the more I wanted to know what would happen next. DupliKate was a light but very entertaining read, and something that I would definitely read again. I often found myself wondering what I would do in Kate's situation, because the characters were so real and the situation seemed so believable. If you want to read something light and fun, but with elements of seriousness, try this.

Characters: 7/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Overall grade: C

Reminder and new contest

I thought I'd post a quick post with updates, as I haven't really been around as much lately. There will be no Trailer Tuesdays this week, because I am swamped with tests in school and have minimal time for blog posts.

My Ruined giveaway ends in 5 days, so there's still time to enter (or link to it somewhere for more entries) if you haven't done so already!

Secondly, and more exciting, is the fact that sometime in the past couple of days I've hit the benchmark of 100 followers! When I started my blog, I never dreamed that I'd even reach 50 followers. I did promise to hold another contest when I reached 100 followers, but as you've probably noticed, things around the blog have been a bit slow lately. School is a bit busier this year, and my blog is taking a backseat to studying and various other things. So the contest for 100 followers will be posted within the first few days of October, after I've had time to organize everything. I want to thank all of you for following me, and those of you who leave me comments. It's because of you that I am motivated to keep doing this, even when things get super busy.

Review: Unclaimed Heart

Title: Unclaimed Heart
Author: Kim Wilkins
Publication date: July 9th, 2009

Summary:
The rules for a young English woman in 1799 are simple: Do what you're told; stay out of the way; and don't, under any circumstances, ask questions.
But Constance Blackchurch is insatiable, headstrong, and complex; and the quest to find her missing mother is too much to resist? As is Alexandre Sans-Nom, the pearl diver who steals her heart, uproots all of her social expectations, and can either ruin or save the family she loves.

Review:
I've never really thought of myself as a historical fiction fan, so I picked up this book a bit reluctantly. But I enjoyed it so much that I'm willing to give other historical fiction books a try as well.
Neither the cover nor the title of the book really interested me, but I'm glad I gave it a shot. From the first page, I was drawn to the main character and wanted to know more about her. It started off with a scene that I'm sure we can all relate to - ditching something we're supposed to be doing in favor of doing something we WANT to do. Constance was definitely a relatable character. Her relationship with her father was interesting to read about, as were the feelings she had for Alexandre. The details of all the aspects of running a ship were well presented, but not over done. I think that's what made me like this book so much - the fact that the historical part wasn't terribly overwhelming, but rather something that nicely complemented the story.
Overall, it only took me a couple of hours to read through it, but those few hours were well spent. If you're reluctant about historical fiction, give this one a try and it might just change your mind.

Characters: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 8/10
Writing: 9/10
Overall grade: B

Trailer Tuesdays

Trailer Tuesdays is a feature I've started, meant to be somewhat like Waiting on Wednesday but in book trailer format. Every week I'll feature a book trailer of an upcoming or recently released book that I want to read.

This week's trailer is for Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia. It comes out on December 1st, 2009.



Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.


I've heard great things about this book, and can't wait to get my hands on a copy even though the release date isn't for another few months. The cover is so simple, yet amazing.

Review: Adios To All The Drama

Title: Adios To All The Drama
Author: Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Publication date: January 1st, 2009

Summary:
Mariana Ruiz thought she left her summer fling in Puerto Rico, that is until she finds Alex sitting across from her at the breakfast table. Living two doors down from her visiting old flame isn't easy, especially given the unresolved sparks still lingering for her locker buddy Bobby - and they don't exactly go unnoticed. Her best friends are little help as Madison deals with her IM-only 'boyfriend' and Emily sinks into secret mode after her parents' recent breakup. The only relationship that seems to be working is her estranged aunt Teresa who's tying the knot on New Years with Mariana and her cousin Lilly as bridesmaids. But the last wedding detail left unplanned is who will Mariana kiss at midnight? Strained friendships, stolen kisses, and secret loves create plenty of surprises to unfold before the New Year's bells start ringing.

Review:
I have mixed feelings about this book. It was interesting enough, and some of the characters I really cared about (unfortunately most of them were the minor characters). I really liked the ending because it captured how I felt things should be throughout the whole book. It was entertaining, and a light read.

But on the other hand, most of the characters I couldn't care less about. Especially the main character's boyfriend. Which made it hard for me to read, because obviously a big part of the book was the narrator talking about her "relationship" with him. I didn't really start to care about the main character a whole lot, until about 60 pages before the book was over. Then I couldn't put it down. But that makes for a total of maybe 70-80 captivating pages out of roughly 330 (of my ARC copy. The actual book has less pages, I believe.)

***Two things I felt I should mention that may have an effect on my review - take these into consideration when reading:***
1) The copy I read was an ARC copy. Perhaps things are a bit different in the finished version that might change my opinion.
2) I haven't read either of the two books that come before this one. I get the feeling that if I knew more on the background of a lot of the characters, I might be more sympathetic towards them.

Characters: 6/10
Plot: 7/10
Originality: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Overall rating: C-

Review: Hush, Hush

Title: Hush, Hush
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Publication date: October 13, 2009

Summary:
Nora Grey is responsible and smart and not inclined to be reckless. Her first mistake was falling for Patch. Patch has a past that could be called anything but harmless. The best thing he ever did was fall for Nora. After getting paired with Patch in biology, all Nora wants to do is stay away from him, but he always seems to be two steps ahead of her. She can feel his eyes on her even when he is nowhere around. She feels him nearby even when she is alone in her bedroom. And when her attraction can be denied no longer, she learns the secret about who Patch is and what led him to her. Despite all the questions she has about his past, in the end, there may be only one question they can ask each other: How far are you willing to fall?

Review:
All I can say is, wow. Hush, Hush will not disappoint you. Unless, of course, you don't like reading unique, suspenseful books. I couldn't put it down, and finished it in only a few hours.

The theme of forbidden love has been done a million times before, but Becca Fitzpatrick makes it new and exciting. Patch is mysterious and dangerous; you'll love him one minute and hate him the next. He's an independent guy with a hidden past, and you won't really be able to figure him out until the end. Nora's best friend Vee really got on my nerves sometimes, but she was definitely an important part of the book and I liked her more by the end.

Each chapter brings twists and turns that you'll never see coming, that add complexity to the story. Every time something new was revealed, I was second-guessing myself even though I thought I had it all figured out just a minute before. Don't even think about picking up this book if you've got other important things to do, because they will be shrugged off in favor of finishing Hush, Hush. I was on the edge of my seat for the whole book, and when I finished it I immediately wanted to read it all over again. Amazing debut novel - I can't wait to see what else Becca Fitzpatrick comes up with.

Characters: 10/10
Plot: 10/10
Originality: 9/10
Writing: 10/10
Overall grade: A+

Trailer Tuesdays

Trailer Tuesdays is a feature I've started, meant to be somewhat like Waiting on Wednesday but in book trailer format. Every week I'll feature a book trailer of an upcoming or recently released book that I want to read.

This week's trailer is for Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. It comes out on October 13th, 2009.

Nora Grey is responsible and smart and not inclined to be reckless. Her first mistake was falling for Patch. Patch has a past that could be called anything but harmless. The best thing he ever did was fall for Nora. After getting paired with Patch in biology, all Nora wants to do is stay away from him, but he always seems to be two steps ahead of her. She can feel his eyes on her even when he is nowhere around. She feels him nearby even when she is alone in her bedroom. And when her attraction can be denied no longer, she learns the secret about who Patch is and what led him to her. Despite all the questions she has about his past, in the end, there may be only one question they can ask each other: How far are you willing to fall?


I do already have the ARC (which I absolutely LOVED) and my review will be up tomorrow. I think this trailer is completely awesome though, and wanted to share it in case and of you haven't seen it.

Giveaway: Ruined by Paula Morris

Summary:

When Rebecca Brown goes to New Orleans to stay with her voodoo-obsessed aunt, she finds the beautiful city haunted by the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Rebecca is also startled to discover a haunting of a different kind: near a graveyard one night, amid the Spanish moss and beneath the moonlight, she meets a ghost girl named Lisette, who has been dead for 150 years. Lisette helps Rebecca unearth an ancient mystery in her aunt’s house, along with some troubling historical truths. Meanwhile, Rebecca must juggle adjusting to her snooty new prep school, developing a serious crush on a handsome boy, and dealing with an elite group of popular girls who may be linked to the ghostly mystery themselves.


Want to win a copy? Well here's your chance! I'm giving away 5 copies of Ruined: A Novel by Paula Morris. Watch this video of Paula Morris talking about the book, and then sign up to win!



To enter:
Leave a comment with your name and email address. Comments without both of these will be disqualified.

Extra entries:
+1 Post about this contest on your sidebar, and leave a link
+1 Tweet about this contest. Make sure to include @whatbrireads
+1 For becoming a follower
+2 If you're already a follower (thanks!)
+2 For commenting on my review (something more substantial than "Great review", please)

Open to:
US only - no P.O. Boxes

Deadline:
Last day to enter is September 26th. Winners will be announced on September 27th.

Q&A with author Paula Morris

Today I have a Q&A post with Paula Morris, author of Ruined: A Ghost Story. It was sent to me by the publisher, and it's somewhat of a precursor to an upcoming contest I'll be holding for Ruined. So enjoy the interview, and watch for the contest! (If you comment on the interview before the contest is posted, you'll earn an extra entry into the contest!)

What inspired you to write Ruined?
I’ve been living in New Orleans for five years. Lots of people come to visit, so I get to play tour guide on a regular basis. I’ve also taught some classes on the history of Mardi Gras, and on the city’s literary past. New Orleans is such a unique city, with such a rich and complex history. The more I found out about it, the more I wanted to write about it myself.

After Hurricane Katrina, when the city felt turned upside down, I went to see a tarot card reader in a French Quarter voodoo shop. He told me that the storm and the flood had fractured time, and displaced hundreds of ghosts. He said he kept seeing ghosts everywhere. I hadn’t really thought about the ghosts of the city, but after that conversation, pieces of the story started taking shape in my mind.

You capture New Orleans beautifully in the book. What are your favorite spots in New Orleans? Is there particular local lore or history that appeals to you?
I drive through the Garden District — and past Lafayette Cemetery — a lot, especially when I’m taking visitors on a literary tour. It has tremendous physical beauty and character. But there are interesting stories on every corner in New Orleans. I also like taking people through Tremé, around the Bywater, and into Holy Cross in the Lower Ninth Ward. There are two stunning “Steamboat houses” right by the Mississippi river levee there.

What kind of research did you have to do for Ruined? How did you manage to describe the Mardi Gras floats so accurately? Have you ever been on such a float yourself?
I did a ton of research for the novel — reading books, talking to people, taking a cemetery tour — though obviously a lot is made up. For example, the Mardi Gras krewe called Septimus is imaginary, and any local can tell you that no krewe would be permitted to end their parades back in the Garden District!

Carnival season is a great time of year in New Orleans, and I’ve been to dozens and dozens of parades, watching various krewes ride. I know a number of people who belong to different krewes, both in the city and the suburbs, and they’ve told me lots of stories. I’ve never been on a float — just on the receiving end of beads.

Ruined is coming out around the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Can you talk a little bit about the effects the Hurricane had on the city, and how they influenced Ruined?
The storm, and the flood that followed, had a profound and ongoing impact on the city. Our population is much smaller than it used to be. Many neighborhoods were washed away, and have yet to recover. Some of the older parts of the city, like the French Quarter and the Garden District, lie on high ground, close to the river levee, so they had no flood damage. Tourists visiting the city and just spending their time in those neighborhoods would have no idea of the extent of the devastation — eighty percent of the city was underwater. I was conscious, writing Ruined, that it was set largely in an unflooded neighborhood. But the psychic scars of the flood — and the city’s evacuation, ruin, and slow recovery — exist everywhere, as Rebecca, the protagonist, finds out.

You’ve also written books for adults. Can you tell us how your experience writing for teens differs from writing for adults?
I got some very good advice from my teenage niece when I was working on the book. She told me it needed a lot of mystery and a little romance. I hope I managed both.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer? How did you get your start as an author?
When I was a child, I wrote stories all the time, but as an adult real life took over — in the form of work, and travel, and building a new life in various places. (I’ve lived in eight different cities, in three different countries.) Writing is a vocation, I think, but you don’t always discover it right away. When I was living in New York, about ten years ago, I started going to creative writing night-classes at the West Side YMCA, and began writing stories again. My first adult novel, Queen of Beauty, was written while I was pursuing a creative writing degree in Wellington, New Zealand; I wrote a lot of my second novel, Hibiscus Coast, while studying at the famous Iowa Writers’ Workshop. I have to say, I think keeping going is harder than starting, in some ways.

What are some of your favorite books/favorite authors?
So many! For short stories: William Trevor, Alice Munro, Deborah Eisenberg. For novels: Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Ian McEwan, Lloyd Jones (a New Zealand writer). Favorite authors from childhood: Eleanor Estes, Edward Eager, and Helen Clare. I’m also an expert — read: bore — on the Chalet School series by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer, and the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I’ve been to all the Little House sites — in seven different states!

Review: Ruined

Title: Ruined: A Ghost Story
Author: Paula Morris
Publication date: August 1st, 2009

Summary: Rebecca Brown couldn't feel more out of place in New Orleans, where she comes to live while her dad is away on business. She's staying in a creepy house with her aunt Claudia, who reads tarot cards for a living. And at the snooty prep school, a pack of filthy-rich girls treat Rebecca like she's invisible. Only gorgeous, unavailable Anton Grey seems to give Rebecca the time of day, but she wonders if he's got a hidden agenda.
Then one night, among the oak trees in Lafayette Cemetery, Rebecca makes a friend. Sweet, mysterious Lisette is eager to show Rebecca the nooks and crannies of New Orleans. There's just one catch.
Lisette is a ghost.
A ghost with a deep, dark secret, and a serious score to settle.
As Rebecca learns more from her ghost friend - and as she begins to trust Anton Grey - she also uncovers startling truths about her own history. Will Rebecca be able to right the wrongs of the past, or has everything been ruined beyond repair?


Review:
What started off as a lighter story about a girl being sent to New Orleans while her father is in China, evolved into a thrilling page-turner at the end. Paula Morris uses vivid imagery so that I could clearly see everything in my head. At first, I was a bit confused/disinterested because it seemed like too many things were going on at once (Anton, Lisette, the parades, the cemetery, her father going to China, etc.). It was slow at quite a few points. But about 2/3 of the way through the book it all begins to come together, and then I couldn't put it down. There was also a lot of culture and history about New Orleans and the old-line families interspersed throughout the book, which I felt added depth and made the story more interesting. It's a great ghost story with a lot of history behind it.

Characters: 7/10
Plot: 8/10
Originality: 8/10
Writing: 8/10
Overall grade: B

Trailer Tuesdays

Trailer Tuesdays is a feature I've started, meant to be somewhat like Waiting on Wednesday but in book trailer format. Every week I'll feature a book trailer of an upcoming or recently released book that I want to read.

This week's trailer is for Girl on the Other Side. It comes out on October 30th, 2009.

Tabby Freeman and Lora Froggett go to the same school, but they live in totally opposite worlds. Tabby is rich, pretty, and the most popular girl in her class. But behind closed doors, her 'perfect' life is rapidly coming apart at the seams.

On the other side, Lora is smart, timid, and the constant target of bullies. While struggling to survive the piranha-infested halls of her school, she becomes increasingly nervous that somebody might discover the unbearable truth about what's been happening to her family.

Despite their differences, Tabby and Lora have something in common - they're both harboring dark secrets and a lot of pain. Although they've never been friends, a series of strange events causes their lives to crash together in ways neither could have ever imagined.

What will happen when the dust finally settles and all their secrets are forced out into the light?

This sounds SO good! And I think the cover is wonderful and fits perfectly. Will definitely be getting this when it comes out.