Ask Me Blog Tour: 15 Completely Random Bits of Truth about Kimberly Pauley!

Today I'm participating in the blog tour for

Ask Me by Kimberly Pauley!!

 Ask Aria Morse anything, and she must answer with the truth. Yet she rarely understands the cryptic words she's compelled to utter. Blessed—or cursed—with the power of an Oracle who cannot decipher her own predictions, she does her best to avoid anyone and everyone.

But Aria can no longer hide when Jade, one of the few girls at school who ever showed her any kindness, disappears. Any time Aria overhears a question about Jade, she inadvertently reveals something new, a clue or hint as to why Jade vanished. But like stray pieces from different puzzles, her words never present a clear picture.

Then there’s Alex, damaged and dangerous, but the first person other than Jade to stand up for her. And Will, who offers a bond that seems impossible for a girl who’s always been alone. Both were involved with Jade. Aria may be the only one who can find out what happened, but the closer she gets to solving the crime, the more she becomes a target. Not everyone wants the truth to come out.

I've been excited about this one for quite some time and I'm really looking forward to diving into Aria's story of being an Oracle!!  In honor of Aria's unique gift, debut author Kimberly Pauley has stopped by with a few random truths of her own!!

15 Completely Random Bits of Truth About Kimberly Pauley

1. Like Aria, I lived in Florida and I used to walk in the woods and practice my silent forest walk. I got pretty good at it.

2. My first cat was named after Thomas Sawyer.

3. But my first pet, if I remember right, was a white mouse named Ralph. I really wanted a motorcycle for him. 

4. Also like Aria, I had really long hair when I was a teen. I could sit on it. I didn't cut it until sometime after I went to college.

5. I met my husband-to-be on my second day at university (at the University of Florida).

6. My biggest regret in life is that I can't play an instrument. But I am happy that we just bought our son an electric guitar.

7. Even though I was born in California, I lived the bulk of my life in the South (including Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, and Kentucky). That may be why the only type of music I really hate is Country (except Johnny Cash).

8. I was an English major but always thought the bulk of the symbolism they make you study in books is complete rubbish. I still mostly think that but I have to admit that I stuck a TON of symbolic stuff in Ask Me.  On purpose. English students everywhere are free to throw tomatoes at me. 

9. I have been playing the same character in a Dungeons and Dragons game for two and a half years now. The character is named Lirael after the Lirael in Garth Nix's books. 

10. When I moved from Florida to Mississippi between my sophomore and junior years, I wrote at least one letter a day to my friends and sometimes more. This was obviously before email...I miss writing letters like that sometimes!

11. I have never seen Titanic or Gone with the Wind.

12. One of my absolute favorite words is widdershins.

13. I kick butt at Scrabble.

14. When I was a teen, I had a phase where I would randomly talk in an English accent.  Now I live in London.  I don't think the two are connected (and I have also realized that the accent I used back then was like the Dick van Dyke one in Mary Poppins...which means it was absolute rubbish. 

15. I still have a record player and all of my records (some dating back to when I joined the Columbia Record House...ask an adult, they'll know what I'm talking about!) 

Oh gosh, I DO remember Columbia House---it was like a subscription service for records, and later on CDs.  And LOL about the Dick van Dyke accent!! xD!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kimberly Pauley is the award-winning author of Sucks to Be Me, which was honored on the YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list, and a paranormal mystery starring an oracle, called Ask Me. Born in California, she has lived everywhere from Florida to Chicago and has now gone international to live in London with her husband and son. She is also the founder of YA Books Central, one of the first and largest teen book websites in the world. Visit her online at www.kimberlypauley.com

TWITTER  •  FACEBOOK  •  GOODREADS 

Becky's View: After The End by Amy Plum

After The End by Amy Plum
♦publisher: HarperTeen
♦release date: May 6th, 2014
♦hardcover, 336 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦series: After the End, book 1
♦source: from publisher for honest review

"I have no idea what is truth and what is fiction. I'm all I've got now. I can't trust anyone."

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They've survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she's trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

Review:  After the End is the start of another promising series from Amy Plum.  I honestly wasn't sure going into this one---I've lately started to cool on dystopians a bit, but to my wonderful surprise, this turned out not to be a dystopian at all!! Most of the story takes place in modern west coast America, so frankly this reads like a contemporary adventure with a touch of earthly magic thrown.  This turned out to be a story that I simply couldn't put down.  

I've seen many people liken this to the movie "The Village" (which I actually liked,...so sue me lol) but beyond the very basic idea of a group of adults who start a commune and pretend like the outside world doesn't exist, the similarity pretty much ends there. When Juneau returns from a hunt to find her village ravaged and her clan missing, she doesn’t hesitate to strike out on a quest to rescue them. Following clues given to her by a magical connection to the earth called the Yara, she’s led to a place that she’s been told her whole life no longer existed: the modern world. Having been taught that everything was destoryed by a third World War, Juneau is shocked to discover the truth: there was no WWIII and her whole life is built on a lie.  Her strength and determination is clear by the way she takes this all in, but still forges on, knowing she can't let this shock derail her mission to find her family.  Even knowing her father lied to her, she tells herself she can deal with that once she knows he is safe. 

The story is told is alternating viewpoints between Juneau and Miles, a boy whose father is after Juneau for reasons he doesn't quite understand.  He’s desperate to be back in his father’s good graces and thinks finding Juneau will do just that. He and Juneau have a hard time seeing eye-to-eye; she’s wary of trusting him and he suspects she’s insane. There are times when I thought he was just being an ass, but then to look at it realistically, he was just having a hard time buying Juneau's story and her odd ways---it's likely the way most people in the modern world would react to a person who claims to be magical and says she was raised in what sounded very much like a cult to him.  Still, they manage to be curious enough about each other to eventually form a bond.  It made for a story that's not centered around a romance, which was fine by me in this case, as I really liked the way their relationship progressed.  The action and adventure of the plot stayed in center stage, which is what kept me turning page after page.  I also really enjoyed the nature magic the author created and how Juneau grew to believe more in herself than all the talismans and trinkets she was taught to depend on.

I definitely intend on picking up book 2; my investment in these characters demands it after that ending! The ending leaves you dangling in the worst possible way---still exciting and heart-stopping, but an utterly torturous cliffhanger.  But even with that, this thrilling story of earthly magic, determination, and a girl rediscovering the world is truly engaging. 

Find Amy Plum online: Website  •  Twitter  •  Facebook

Purchase After The End:  Amazon  •  BookDepository  •  Indiebound

 

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are jumping-up-and-down excited for.

 

Famous Last Words

by Katie Alender

 

hitting shelves September 30, 2014 from Scholastic Point

 

description:

Hollywood history, mystery, murder, mayhem, and delicious romance collide in this unputdownable thriller from master storyteller Katie Alender.

Willa is freaking out. It seems like she's seeing things. Like a dead body in her swimming pool. Frantic messages on her walls. A reflection that is not her own. It's almost as if someone -- or something -- is trying to send her a message.

Meanwhile, a killer is stalking Los Angeles -- a killer who reenacts famous movie murder scenes. Could Willa's strange visions have to do with these unsolved murders? Or is she going crazy? And who can she confide in? There's Marnie, her new friend who may not be totally trustworthy. And there's Reed, who's ridiculously handsome and seems to get Willa. There's also Wyatt, who's super smart but unhealthily obsessed with the Hollywood Killer.

All Willa knows is, she has to confront the possible-ghost in her house, or she just might lose her mind . . . or her life.

Acclaimed author Katie Alender puts an unforgettable twist on this spine-chilling tale of murder, mystery, mayhem -- and the movies.

 

My thoughts: Never met a Katie Alender book I didn't love.  She has such a great writing style with a good dose of creepy and fun.   Plus, mystery based on famous movie murder scenes?? As a fan of Katie Alender's AND of classic movies, I think this sounds awesome!!

New Shelf Goodies & The Weekly Nutshell {84}

For New Shelf Goodies, I'll be showing you what lovely books I acquired this week, whether from publishers, or the library, or from whatever half-crazed book-buying binge I happened to go on. :D (Inspired by Tynga's Stacking the Shelves) The Weekly Nutshell will be just that...my week here at Stories & Sweeties, in a nutshell. (inspired by Ginger @ GReads and her recaps at the end of the TGIF posts)

Here's my new goodies for the week:

For review:

Glamour by Andrea Janes

I'm doing a giveaway for this one, check my right sidebar if you want one, too! :)

The Summer I Saved the World in 65 Days

This looks super cute. MG, I think?

The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy by Kate Hattemer

Excited for this one, looks like a fun story about an art school that runs a reality TV show off their campus. 

What We Hide by Marte Jocelyn

Americans in an English boarding school, uncovering all manner of secrets. 

Between Two Worlds by Katherine Kirkpatrick

Sounds interesting, kind of a "Pocahontas" story but with the Inuit culture of Greenland. 

I also got a fantastic surprise package from Leigh Bardugo & Macmillan:

 I believe I've said this many times before, but I will say it again and again: Macmillan does the most remarkable promotional mailings and packaging designs for their books.  Love, Love LOVE.   On the other hand...I do feel kind of guilty getting this gorgeous thing, because I'm ashamed to say I haven't read this series yet!! 

Huge lovely thanks to Random House, Macmillan, and World Weaver Press for these!

The Weekly Nutshell: 

{Monday} Blog tour: Glamour by Andrea Janes Giveaway 
{Tuesday} "What's New" April Release List & Giveaway
{Wednesday} Waiting in Wednesday: Dream Boy
{Friday} Just a quick (slightly snarky) survey...

So that was my week.  Not much going on otherwise, but this coming Tuesday I am SUPER excited to go meet one of my fave authors, Rachel Hawkins!! Her Hex Hall series is a favorite of my daughters and mine! She seems to hardly ever visit the west coast so I'm very happy! :D

Have a great week, everyone! 

Just a quick (slightly snarky) survey...

SO just a quick survey, my friends.  Just because I'm curious.

Here's the scenario:

One day, you're in your local library when the fire alarms start blaring.  Library staff directs everyone, both over the intercom and makes the rounds personally, to evacuate the building through the front entrance.  At this point, you:

A: Smile at the nice librarian, but continue checking out your selected books and DVDs at the self-charge machine.

B: Continue up to the circulation desk to argue your 20 cent library fine. (And look around like you can't figure out why no one is at the desk.)

C: Plant yourself firmly in front of your laptop, waiting for whatever it is you were pulling up to finish downloading, until a usually very mild-mannered librarian has to yell at you to "Get Out Now!!"

Or D: Exit the building, because...well, duh. 

Again...just curious. Because YES, in my library yesterday, A, B, and C actually happened. 

Luckily for them, the building turned out NOT to be on fire. But still.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It lets us all gush about what soon-to-be released books we are jumping-up-and-down excited for.

Dream Boy

by Madelyn Rosenberg & Mary Crockett

hitting shelves July 1st, 2014 from Sourcebooks Fire

description:

Annabelle Manning feels like she’s doing time at her high school in Chilton, Virginia. She has her friends at her lunchtime table of nobodies. What she doesn’t have are possibilities. Or a date for Homecoming. Things get more interesting at night, when she spends time with the boy of her dreams. But the blue-eyed boy with the fairytale smile is just that—a dream. Until the Friday afternoon he walks into her chemistry class.

One of friends suspects he’s an alien. Another is pretty sure it’s all one big case of deja vu. While Annabelle doesn’t know what to think, she’s willing to believe that the charming Martin Zirkle may just be her dream come true. But as Annabelle discovers the truth behind dreams—where they come from and what they mean—she is forced to face a dark reality she had not expected. More than just Martin has arrived in Chilton. As Annabelle learns, if dreams can come true, so can nightmares.

My Thoughts:  So many reasons to want this---gorgeous cover, that tagline gives me the shivers, and I love stories that are centered around dreams.  Can't wait for this one!

"What's New": April New Releases & Giveaway

April already!  Well, dear readers, really nothing going on for me this month except a boat-load of awesome April releases (see the 1st and the 8th below! O_O). I was hoping to take a trip to TXLA, but that ended up not panning out money-wise. For all you lucky readers who are going, have a fantastic time rubbing elbows with lots of fantastic publishers and cool librarians!! 

So if you're new to Stories & Sweeties, here's a little run-down of this feature: at the start of each month, I do a little thing called the "What's New List & Giveaway" where you'll find a full list of the new releases in YA for the month, and entry to the giveaway. At the end of each month, one lucky winner will get to choose any new release as their prize!

 First things first! The winner of March's giveaway was: Kelley! Congratulations!!

April 2014 Releases:
Just like previous months, I've put a little l♥ve by those books that I am really anticipating!


{1}
Cold Calls by Charles Benoit
Creators by Tiffany Truitt
Dear Killer by Katherine Ewell
Dear Nobody: The True Diary of Mary Rose  by Legs McNeil
Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige ♥
Going Over by Beth Kephart
Illusion by Sherrilyn Kenyon
The Last Forever by Deb Caletti
Learning Not to Drown by Anna Shinoda
Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira ♥
Mad Dogs by Robert Muchamore
A Matter of Souls by Denise Lewis Patrick
The Ring and Crown by Melissa De La Cruz
The Rising King by Shea Berkeley
Salvage by Alexandra Duncan ♥
Sekret by Lindsay Smith ♥
Snitch by Olivia Samms
Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen
The Summer I Wasn’t Me by Jessica Verdi
Summer on the Short Bus by Bethany Crandell
This Side of Salvation by Jeri Ready-Smith

{8}
Always Emily by Michaela MacColl ♥
Ask Me by Kimberly Pauley ♥
Between Two Worlds by Katherine Kirkpatrick
Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs
Burn Out by Kristi Helvig
Darkbound by Scott Tracey
Dirt Bikes, Drones, and Other Ways to Fly by Conrad Wesselhoeft
Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor
Far From You by Tess Sharpe
Ghost of a Chance by Lauren Barnholdt
Great by Sarah Benincasa ♥
The Here and Now by Ann Brashares
Incinerator by Niall Leonard
The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina
Irresistible by Liz Bankes
The Klaatu Terminus by Pete Hautman
The Lonesome Young by Lucy Connors
Noggin by John Corey Whaley ♥
Plus One by Elizabeth Fama ♥
Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins ♥
Remnants: Season of Wonder by Lisa Bergren
Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong ♥
Swim That Rock by John Rocco and Jay Primiano
Toxic Heart by Theo Lawrence
The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy by Kate Hattemer ♥
What We Hide by Marthe Jocelyn
A Whisper in Time by Elizabeth Langston
The World Outside by Eva Wiseman
Zom-B Mission by Darren Shan

{10}
Mayday by Jonathan Friesen
The Museum of Intangible Things by Wendy Wunder ♥
Pointe by Brandy Colbert ♥

{15}
Don’t Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout ♥
The Forever Song By Julie Kagawa
Frozen by Erin Bowman
The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith ♥
High & Dry by Sarah Skilton
House of Ivy & Sorrow by Natalie Whipple
The Looking Glass by Jessica Arnold ♥
Open Road Summer by Emery Lord
Sunrise by Mike Mullin
There Will Come a Time by Carrie Arcos
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han ♥
What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick
You Only Live Once by Bridie Clark

{18}
Big Fat Disaster by Beth Fehlbaum

{22}
The Art of Secrets by James Klise
The Chance You Won’t Return by Annie Cardi
Deception’s Princess by Esther Friesner
Don’t Call Me Baby by Gwendolyn Heasley
How I Got Skinny, Famous, and Fell Madly in Love by Ken Baker
The Inventor’s Secret by Andrea Cremer ♥
The Last Best Kiss by Claire LaZebnik
Perennial by Ryan Potter
Project Paper Doll: The Hunt by Stacey Kade
She is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick
Talker 25 by Joshua McCune

{29}
The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel
Camp Payback by J.K. Rock
Catch a Falling Star by Kim Culbertson
The Drowning by Rachel Ward
Exile by Kevin Emerson
In the Shadows by Kiersten White & Jim Di Bartolo
Of Breakable Things by  A. Lynden Rolland ♥
Sleep No More by Aprilynne Pike
Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins ♥
The Treatment by Suzanne Young


(All links go to Goodreads)
Please feel free to email me if you notice any YA titles missing! :)


Giveaway Details:
One winner will win a YA April release of their choice! *see note below
• Contest ends April 30st, 2013 at 11:59 PM
• Must be 13 or older.
• Open internationally. *International winners will be required to choose a book that is available through BookDepository.com.
•Extra entries can be earned by commenting on March or April reviews, and can be done once per review. Come back throughout March whenever you comment on my reviews and get your extra points! a Rafflecopter giveaway