Banish BLOG TOUR - Movie Casting

Starting the week with a bang! Next month Harlequin Teen Australia will be publishing the YA debut novel of USA Bestselling Author, Nicola Marsh! I'm not sure whether Banish will be available for those of you in the US but all the Aussies should pick this one up as soon as it hits stores. I'm reading it right now and so far so good (review up soon!). As part of the blog tour, I have Nicola's movie castings for Banish! So these are Nicola's dream picks!

Banish Movie Casting

If a fabulous producer snapped up the option to make BANISH into a movie, here’s my vision of who would play key roles:

RONAN - Zac Efron

ALYSSA - Dakota Fanning

SETH - Luke Benward

ANGIE - Amy Adams

AURORA - Kirsten Dunst

NOAH - Rob Pattinson

TABITHA - Shailene Woodley

MASSIMO - Robert de Niro

SAMMY - Saoirse Ronan

Are you out there, Hollywood?

Because BANISH is ready for you!

About The Author

Bio: USA TODAY bestselling author Nicola Marsh writes flirty fiction with flair.

She has published 40 books, 33 of those with Harlequin, and sold 4 million copies worldwide. Her fun, flirty contemporary mainstream romance BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD with Entangled Publishing was nominated for Romantic Book of the Year 2012.

Her debut young adult thriller BANISH will release with Harlequin Teen August 2013, and her YA paranormal urban fantasy series kicks off with SCION OF THE SUN, November 2013, with Month9Books.

Her first indie romance, CRAZY LOVE, is a 2012 ARRA finalist.

She’s also a Waldenbooks and Bookscan bestseller, has finalled in a number of awards including the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, RBY, HOLT, Booksellers’ Best, Golden Quill, Laurel Wreath, More than Magic and has won several CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Awards.

A physiotherapist for thirteen years, she now adores writing full time, raising her two little heroes, sharing fine food with family and friends, and her favorite, curling up with a good book!

She loves connecting with readers online

About The Book

Alyssa has one week to destroy her enemy, save her spirit... and save her soul.

After her ex-boyfriend commits suicide and her mum’s alcoholism sparks yet another psychotic episode, seventeen-year-old Alyssa Wood flees her small hometown of Broadwater and heads to New York City to stay with her bohemian aunt — a Wicca High Priestess.

Alyssa revels in the anonymity of a big city and her new life. Her grades climb, she has a new best friend, and a new guy: the sexy geek Ronan — a saxophone player who prefers jazz to pop.

But her newfound peace is soon shattered when she sees a dead body in one of Ronan’s music clips — and she’s the only one who can see it. Worse still, Alyssa recognises the body that has been murdered a week forward!

Alyssa doesn’t believe in the supernatural...despite her family’s Wicca background. So how will she overcome evil when it’s closer than she thinks?

Badass Bookie xx

Read More

Breathe

Review Time! So you guys might have noticed that my blog has looked a little empty these past few weeks...well thats because I've been in Germany! I've been in Germany for the past three weeks and they were honestly the best three weeks of my life! BUT back to the review! Simon and Schuster Australia recently published Abbi Gline's Sea Breeze series and today I bring you the review of the first book, Breathe! You can purchase Breathe from The Book Depository | Fishpond | The Nile | Bookworld. Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the review copy!

(Goodreads) Sadie White's summer job isn't going to be on the beach life-guarding or working at rental booths like most kids her age. With her single mother's increasing pregnancy and refusal to work, Sadie has to take over her mother's job as a domestic servant for one of the wealthy summer families on a nearby island.

When the family arrives at their summer getaway, Sadie is surprised to learn that the owner of the house is Jax Stone, one of the hottest teen rockers in the world. If Sadie hadn't spent her life raising her mother and taking care of the house she might have been normal enough to be excited about working for a rock star.

Even though Sadie isn't impressed by Jax's fame, he is drawn to her. Everything about Sadie fascinates Jax but he fights his attraction. Relationships never work in his world and as badly as he wants Sadie, he believes she deserves more. By the end of the summer, Jax discovers he can't breathe without Sadie.

The Short Story? - While I'm loyal to my YA genre, these sizzling NA novels are definitely my guilty pleasure! Filled with drama, summer and an epic love story, there is little not to love about Abbi Gline's Breathe! Perfect for the summer weather, Breathe is a light, beachy read that will melt your insides. Intense, steamy and exciting, I enjoyed this novel a whole lot more than I'm prepared to admit. I'm not typically a huge romance reader but even I can't resist Abbi Gline's notorious bad boys and happy endings!

The Long Story? - I couldn't put this book down guys, I was carrying this book everywhere with me. Upstairs, downstairs, to school, to sport, out with friends, if there is one book that can turn you into a compulsive reader, it's this one. I didn't really expect to enjoy Breathe because although these romances novels are my guilty pleasure, there is something a little "too" cliched about the rockstar falling in love with the help. However, I absolutely loved this book from cover to cover. The plot was dramatic, easy to pick and filled with steamy chemistry between Sadie and Jax. This series is just such a feel good series, they're light and filled with romance, I didn't expect to come back from reading this with some deep insight on life. These are "just for fun" books and these are the books I would recommend for the summer. Feel good, sizzling, summer romances and no one writes better summer books that Glines. Beautifully written, I thoroughly enjoyed the alternating perspectives between Sadie and Jax, with romance novels like these it's always nice to read the story from both perspectives! Unputdownable, Glines doesn't disappoint with this series debut!

The characterisation was well done although it definitely wasn't the stand out of the novel. I find that the general trend with novels of the NA genre is that while the plots are strong, the characterisation is a little weak. This was seemingly the case with Breathe. I'm not saying I didn't love the characters because I absolutely adored both Sadie and Jax but they almost felt too shiny, the flaws a little too generic. Nevertheless, Sadie was an absolute sweetheart, down to earth, incredibly compassionate and caring and very mature. Jax was your typical bad boy, player due to emotional trauma at a young age but then meets this incredible girl who he falls in love with and then changes all his player ways and happily ever after. That said, I fell head over heels in love with him, the good looks, the sweet personality - boys in books > boys in real life. I also really liked all the other characters that appeared throughout the novel, the small town community as a whole was really good looking and JUST AWESOME. I want to live here!

Breathe definitely won't be everybody cup of tea since we're not all suckers for a good romance but I'm absolutely positive that 99% of you who pick this up will love it to bits from start to finish! I can't wait to read the rest of the series! Well written, great plot and amazing romance, there is honestly nothing that I disliked, it's such a feel good novel, light and fun - this is the perfect beach read! Two thumbs up, this one you won't regret!

What's it Worth? - Break Out the Piggybank

Badass Bookie xx

Read More

Belladonna BLOG TOUR - Q & A with Fiona Paul

I'm so excited because today I have the honour of kicking off the Australian blog tour for Fiona Paul's eagerly anticipated sequel to her debut - Venom! Belladonna is coming this July ( this month!!!) from HarperCollins Australia! Super excited for this book because I absolutely adored Venom which I read back in January ( Review - HERE )! I have to pleasure of kicking of the tour with an Q and A with Fiona Paul! So excited, let's hear what she has to say about Belladonna!

Interview with Fiona Paul

Quickies -
Skittles or M&Ms? Both!
Black or white? Black
Coffee or Tea? Coffee. OMG, so much coffee.
Print copies or e-books? Print copies
Dog-ear or Bookmark? Bookmark for where I left off reading, dog-ear for those unforgettable passages I want to refer to later
Cats or Dogs? Kittehs! I love dogs too, but I live in a tiny apartment so...
Reading or Writing? Is this a trick question?
Vampires or werewolves? Vampires
Favourite Harry Potter Novel? I will refer you to this image of my purse - http://twitter.yfrog.com/oen8uatj?sa=0
Have you watched Vampire Diaries? Sadly, no. But one of my friends is forever telling me I need to, so it’s on my list.
Book you most want to see turned into a movie? Other than my books, you mean? Sarah Dessen’s Along for the Ride
Favourite day of the week? Whatever day it happens to be when I turn in something for a deadline
What's your party trick? Taking over the sound system and forcing everyone to listen to a lot of 90s alternative music
Your perfect breakfast consists of – Coffee, OMG, so much coffee

and...

What do you think of Matt Bomer? He has nice hair, but when he dances next to Channing Tatum he kind of fades into the background.

Long Questions -

1) Describe Belladonna in Three Words.

Dark. Sexy. Dramatic.

2) What can readers except in this upcoming ( and totally exciting sequel)?

I keep having to remind myself we’re talking about Belladonna since I’ve been finished with Starling for several months now. Let’s see... readers can expect arrests, executions, a journey to Florence, more Falco, more Luca, more info about the Order and the Book of the Eternal Rose, and a climax scene that may or may not claim the life of an important character.


3) What made you want to write YA?

YA books are my favourite books to read, and the best writing advice--always and forever--is to write the book you want to read. Adult books (and I don’t mean to generalize, I am just stating my perspective) seem to slot neatly into genres—mystery, romance, horror, literary—whereas YA books often encompasses several genres in one. Side note: I love that this file auto-corrected my American spelling of favourite to make it Aussie-approved. Tee hee, it did it again! (It’s the little things that make me smile).

4) Character you feel you can relate best to? Why? 

Falco, because he is sarcastic and tells it like it is.


5) Is there a story behind the names of characters? 

Honestly, not much. Some were chosen by the editorial team. Some were chosen by me. I used webpages with historical Venetian names for the most part, though Feliciana is named after a guy named Feliciano I met on a cruise.

6) Are you planning to write any other books outside the series? 

I have two YA contemporaries—a romantic comedy and a murder mystery--coming out under my own name starting in 2014. Check out THE ART OF LAINEY on Goodreads: HERE

7) Who would play the characters in a movie adaption? 
Some of these people are technically too old for these parts, but whatever, Hollywood loves to cast 30-year-olds as teens, right? I am going to select the following for my Eternal Rose dream-team:

Cassandra: Saoirse Ronan

Siena: Dakota Fanning

Falco: Tyler Blackburn

Luca: Chris Hemsworth

Madalena: Lucy Hale

Feliciana: Amanda Seyfried

Dubois: Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Agnese: Judi Dench

8) Insider's Scoop? (Fun facts about the novel or it's process!) 

One of the scenes in Belladonna is inspired by this USA Today article about the unearthing of a 16th century ‘vampire’ woman: HERE

About The Author

Bio: Fiona Paul is a writer and registered nurse from St. Louis, MO.

(I prefer the short and sweet bio since there's a lot of other stuff to read that's more relevant than my love of coffee or desire to shark dive).

Fiona's Blog: HERE

Fiona's Twitter: HERE

Fiona's FB: HERE

Belladonna on GR: HERE 

About The Book

Cassandra Caravello is trying to forget Falco, the wild artist who ran off with her heart, as she grows closer to her strong, steady fiancé, Luca. But Luca seems to have his own secrets. When he′s arrested by soldiers in the middle of the night, Cass′s life is once again thrown into chaos. She must save Luca, and that means finding the Book of the Eternal Rose -- the only evidence that will prove he is innocent.

So begins her journey to Florence, a city haunted by whispers of corruption, secret soirees and clandestine meetings of the Order of the Eternal Rose. And home to Falco, who′s working for the Order′s eerily stunning leader, the Belladonna herself.

Can Cass trust her heart to lead her to the truth this time?

Nothing is as it seems in this seductive thriller, where the truth may be the deadliest poison of all..

Badass Bookie xx

Read More

Interview with Amy Tintera ( REBOOT)

Hey guys! As part of Amy Tintera's Australian Blog Tour for her YA debut, REBOOT (Australian Publisher - Allen and Unwin), she's stopping over at Badass Bookie for a quick Q and A today. I don't know how many of you have heard of Amy's debut, REBOOT, but it sounds amazing! Definitely can't wait to dig into my copy!

 

Interview with Amy Tintera 

1) Can you describe Reboot for us in three words?

Enslaved undead teenagers!

2) How did you come up with the plot for Reboot? (It’s such a unique and interesting concept I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING)
Thank you! J I came up with Wren first, and the plot followed. I got this idea for a girl who’d been dead for 178 minutes, and I wanted to put a new twist on the zombie story. Zombies were always these gross, undead things, but I thought it would be interesting to see things from their perspective (you know, without the rotting flesh!).

3) Can you tell us about why you were interested in writing a YA novel?

I love reading YA. I love the fast pace and the romance and the wide range of genres you can find in the YA category. It felt like the best place to be!

4) Is there a character in Reboot you feel you can relate most to?

Callum, probably. I would be lost and confused in the Reboot world, and I certainly wouldn’t be any good at training! Wren makes some choices in the book that I would probably never make (and so does Callum), but he’s always made more sense to me.
5) Is there a story behind the names of characters?

Not really! I usually just look up names online until one jumps out at me. Wren and Callum were easy, the names jumped out at me right away.
6) Are you planning to write any other books outside of the series?

Definitely! I’m working on a couple different YA projects in different genres. But whatever I write next will have a healthy dose of action and romance, like REBOOT!

7) Who would play the characters in a movie adaption of Reboot?

I wish I knew! I have no answer for you. J I never think of actors as I’m writing, and I haven’t become attached to any particular actors for the roles. I think a great actor comes in and makes the part theirs, so if the movie ever gets made that’s all I’m hoping for.
8) Can you give us an insider's Scoop? (Any fun facts about the novel or your writing process?)

About The Book

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

Purchase REBOOT -  The Book Depository | Fishpond | The Nile | Bookworld

About the Author

Amy Tinteragrew up in Austin, Texas and graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in journalism. After receiving a masters in film at Emerson College she moved to Los Angeles, where she promptly discovered she didn’t enjoy working in the film industry, and went back to her first love, writing.

Her debut, REBOOT, is out now from Allen and Unwin, with the sequel to follow in 2014. Film rights have been optioned by Fox 2000. 

Find Amy On - Website | Twitter | Facebook

Badass Bookie xx 

Read More

The Madness Underneath

Review Time! So I kinda fell off the blogging wagon again this week - there is just so much going on which my preparation for Germany and the term finishing up etc etc! However I do have a review for you today! The Madness Underneath is the sequel to Maureen Johnson's The Name of the Star - I didn't even know there was going to be sequel but HERE IT IS! You can purchase The Madness Underneath from Fishpond | The Book Depository | The Nile | Bookworld. Thanks to HarperCollins for the review copy!

(Goodreads) After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Devereaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance to get back to her friends. But Rory’s brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she’s become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She soon finds out that the Shades—the city’s secret ghost-fighting police—are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it’s too late.

The Short Story? - The Madness Underneath started off as an average read for me -  after a stunning series debut, I almost felt like this sequel fell flat however as I progressively began to read, I started to enjoy the book more and more. It's a slower pace but nevertheless worth your time! Great plot, incredible ending and a great protagonist. Overall a very solid read, I'll definitely be continuing with the series!

The Long Story? - The Madness Underneath was a complete surprise to me. Not a bad surprise but a surprise nevertheless. When I heard Johnson was writing a sequel to The Name of the Star, my thoughts automatically turned to perhaps a new ghost psychopath on the loose or maybe the ripper returns but that's definitely not what The Madness Underneath is about. The plot follows our protagonist Rory as she struggles to find balance in her life again after the events set in the first novel. The plot lacks the intensity and the edge-of-your-seat action that was present in the first book, it's a more subdued plot. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but I love my fast-paced plots so I found myself a little bored in the middle of the novel. However to be blatantly honest, no matter how average the first half of the novel was, the ending totally made it worth the read. The ending was AMAZING. Dramatic, heart-breaking, romantic, tense and an absolute cliff-hanger - I must applaud Johnson for that spectacular finale!

The characterisation was good although I did have some minor issues regarding the development of secondary characters. I didn't feel the characters were being further developed. A lot of the characters are still a mystery to me and that makes it really difficult for me to understand their actions and connect with them. It's also the second book in the series so I sort of expected to finish the book with everyone figured out. That said the characterisation was still really fantastic! One of my favourite things about Johnson's writing is that all her characters are so unique and out of the norm. They're not all good-looking, unrealistic people! Theses are REAL characters. Our protagonist Rory, was a little weird BUT that's what I liked about her. Her personality was very out there and she loved to talk ( just like me!). Rory wasn't always likeable and some of her decisions were definitely a no-no but overall I felt like I could connect with her and that's all that mattered!

I always find sequels harder to review because I try to keep my reviews spoiler-free! The Madness Underneath was nothing like what I expected it to be but that didn't make it any less enjoyable! Johnson has a refreshingly different prose and her novels are always very well written. There were minor flaws in the characterisation and the plot however nothing could have made the novel less enjoyable! A killer ending (haha punz!), great protagonist and beautifully written, The Madness Underneath is definitely worth the read! It's an upward climb from here, eagerly anticipating the next book!

What's it Worth? - Squeeze into the Budget/ Hand Over the Paycheck

Badass Bookie xx

Read More

The Eternity Cure

Review Time! I originally planned to post this review at the start of May - we're 5 days into June, how horrible am I? I will be playing review catch-up for a long, long time! The Eternity Cure is the sequel to Julie Kagawa's The Immortal Rules, a series about a post-apocalyptic world where vampires rule and humans are just cattles waiting to be farmed. If you enjoyed The Farm by Emily McKay, this one is sort of on the same lines but different! You can purchase The Eternity Cure from The Book Depository | Fishpond | The Nile | Bookworld. Thanks to Harlequin Teen for the review copy!

(Goodreads) In Allison Sekemoto's world, there is one one rule left: Blood Calls to blood.

Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire, Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what she finds there will the change the world forever - and possibly end human and vampire existence.

There's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago - deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries. If Allie can get to him in time...

The Short Story? - An edgy and exciting sequel, The Eternity Cure was packed with action from start to finish! A badass heroine, a time sensitive rescue mission and an unlikely alliance along the way, Kagawa does not disappoint fans with the cut throat and intense sequel to The Immortal Rules. These aren't your regular vampires and this isn't your regular vampire-human story, The Eternity Cure was nothing less than amazing! Two thumbs up from this pleased reader!

The Long Story? - I went into this novel not knowing what to think because although I really enjoyed The Immortal Rules, it wasn't a standout for me last year. It was a strong start to a new series but it wasn't powerful. I can't say the same for The Eternity Cure because this book was a roller coaster ride from cover to cover! I'm all about action, kicking ass and a body count and I'm happy to say that Mrs Kagawa has made me a very happy person with her combination of all three in this highly anticipated sequel. There wasn't a single boring moment from start to finish, I enjoyed every twist and turn, every secret exposed and every unlikely event that shouldn't have happened but did happen. It was so exciting and gripping, the writing was beautiful and that ending! A massive cliff hanger that will continue to haunt me until I get my hands on the next book! Thrilling and captivating, Kagawa has out done herself!

If the characterisation hasn't improved in a sequel, the author is definitely doing something wrong. Sequels are all about further developing characters and challenging them, Kagawa has done a fine job of both! I loved Allie in the first novel but I loved her even more in this one! She's right next to Rose Hathaway as one of my favourite badass heroines of all time! She's tough, snarky and she has a serious sense of attitude. She doesn't put up with ANYBODY'S crap! However at the same time, she's still human and she understands and feels compassion. I'm always a sucker for a good villain especially when they surprise you so it's no surprise that my favourite character is Jackson. It also helps that he's good-looking. Zeke, I like him but he's human and I always feel like a good vampire story doesn't necessarily need humans but Allie likes him so whatever she wants, I'm down with! Kanin, I've always had a soft spot for Kanin because he is just so cool and calm and collected! There is something classy about Kanin! I can't pick out a flaw in the characterisation, honestly a very good job on Kagawa's part!

I know I've been nothing but praise in this review but honestly, I can't pick on anything! The Eternity Cure was just brilliant. I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed it but this book was so intese! What a killer! Highly recommend anyone who hasn't picked up The Eternity Cure or this series to start reading them because I can just tell that it's only going to get better from here! A job well done to Kagawa for this phenomenal sequel to an amazing series!

What's it Worth - Break Out the Piggybank 

Badass Bookie xx

Read More

Debut of the Month - The Symptoms of My Insanity + Giveaway

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Book Profile

Name - The Symptoms of My Insanity (Goodreads)
Author - Mindy Raf
Genre - Contemporary
Release Date - April 18th 2013

When you’re a hypochondriac, there are a million different things that could be wrong with you, but for Izzy, focusing on what could be wrong might be keeping her from dealing with what’s really wrong.

I almost raised my hand, but what would I say? “Mr. Bayer, may I please be excused? I’m not totally positive, but I think I might have cancer.” No way. Then everyone at school would know, and they would treat me differently, and I would be known as “Izzy, that poor girl who diagnosed herself with breast cancer during biology.”

But Izzy’s sense of humor can only get her so far when suddenly her best friend appears to have undergone a personality transplant, her mother’s health takes a turn for the worse, and her beautiful maybe-boyfriend is going all hot and cold. Izzy thinks she’s preparing for the worst-case scenario, but when the worst-case scenario actually hits, it’s a different story altogether—and there’s no tidy list of symptoms to help her through the insanity.

Available - The Book Depository | Fishpond | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

The Insider's Scoop

1) I randomly met my editor at a stand-up comedy show. She watched me do stand-up, we chatted after the show, and later that week she emailed me about writing YA. (At the time I mostly wrote stand-up, sketch comedy, humor essays)

2) The bra fitting scene in the first chapter is the actual first scene I wrote as Izzy.

3) In the first draft Izzy’s dad was around. He lived nearby with a new wife who was an ex plastic surgeon/current spiritual healer.

4) There wasn’t a working title for the book until the third round of revisions. We always just referred to it as “Izzy” or “Izzy & Co”

5) My own mother (who was battling stomach cancer) passed away during the third revision. Finishing the book was especially tough, though at times quite cathartic. (Sending love your way Mindy!)

~Giveaway~

Katie is giving away (1) SIGNED Copy of The Symptoms of My Insanity + Bookmarks!

Rule of Entry -

- International 

- Ends 5th of July

- Must be 13 or older

- Optional Entries :

   * Leaving comment on either of Mindy's posts +1 each

   * Follow Me on Twitter +1

   * Follow Mindy on Twitter +1

   * Tweeting Giveaway +1

   * Follow Badass Bookie via GFC/Linky/Bloglovin  +2

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Badass Bookie xx

Read More