The Taylor sisters have not had what you would call a “normal” upbringing. There mother has worked as a spiritual healer and psychic and following the death of their father, they moved to a town called Spirit Vale. Spirit Vale was much different then ordinary towns and almost everyone was involved or at least believed in supernatural or spiritual matters. The five sisters, who are so different from one another, all seem to find themselves on board the Titanic on its fateful maiden voyage.
With predictions that something will go horriblely wrong, Jane, Emma, and Amelie board the ship to get Mimi and Blythe off of it. Unfortunately they can’t find their sisters in time and they find themselves stuck on the ship. When disaster strikes, will all the sisters make it out alive?
This book mixes just enough history with dramatic elements to make it the perfect read. The supernatural element and plot makes this book stand out. It was not what I expected when I looked at the cover, but it was still a really good read. I would recommend this to anyone ages 13 and up!
Bianca and Evernight Academy are back!! A new school year is about to start and with no Lucas, Bianca is unsure of how the school year will go, but she must pretend like everything is okay. Lucas, the vampire hunter who she fell in love with, was kicked out of the academy after everyone found out who he was. Bianca, however, is still in love with him, even if he is hunting vampires, which she just so happens to be, sort of.
As Bianca sneaks around to see Lucas, she gets caught up in something that turns out to be a little more dangerous then she had originally thought. Will she manage to get herself and her friends out of trouble?
Stargazer and Evernight are different then a lot of other vampire books and the vampire hunters add another side to the story. This book has a lot of drama and action and it will hold your interest!
By the Book Reviews had the pleasure of interviewing Melissa De La Cruz. Here is what she had to say!
You have been an editor and writer for numerous magazines, as well as an author of several novels. Do you prefer one over the other, and why?
I definitely prefer novel-writing. When I started out as a writer, that’s all I wanted to do: write books. But I’m glad I have a journalism background, it definitely taught me how to write professionally, how to work with editors, how to deal with deadlines. Also it exposed me to a lot of new people, and new events that I would never have found myself in otherwise. As an editor and writer for magazines, you have to tailor your voice to the magazine’s tone, you’re a bit of a cog in the wheel, it’s a lot more collaborative and you don’t have the final say on how your piece will run. But when you’re writing your own books you have complete control over your own work.
If you had not chosen to make a career out of writing, what other career could you see yourself in?
I liked being an editor and a journalist, I would probably have tried to work up that ladder harder if the book-writing didn’t work out. But I have to say: I was also a pretty decent computer programmer, and that career probably would have been okay too if the writing didn’t pan out either. A lot of creative people who make it say they didn’t have a “plan B” you always hear about how Quentin Tarantino says he would be a criminal if he wasn’t a film director. I always laugh at that. Just because it’s so dramatic.
I think one chooses to become a writer. I did well in school, and for a while I thought maybe I could be a lawyer, because I liked to research, and it seemed like a stable job. Unlike writing, which can be unpredictable in the beginning. But I chose to be a writer, against a lot of rejections and ‘no’s. It’s what *I* wanted for my life, and I spent many, many years trying to make it before it happened.
What is a typical day like in the life of Melissa de la Cruz?
Our daughter wakes us up at about 7:30, so it’s feed the kid, watch Sesame Street, then hand her over to her nanny at about 8AM. Then it’s a lot of emailing and web surfing at breakfast. Then at about 10am I walk over to my husband’s office (he has his own architectural practice) down the hill from our house where I have a desk. Write for about two hours. Lunch is at about 12:30 with Mike, we usually walk over somewhere close. The nice thing about our life is that we both walk to work, and can walk to lunch. It’s a little of New York in LA. Our carbon footprint is tiny! LOL! Then it’s back to work, till about 4pm, then I go to the gym. Then back at 5pm to take the girl back from her nanny. I make dinner about twice a week at home. The girl goes to bed at about 8pm. Then we watch the Daily Show and Colbert and then go to bed.
We usually go out once or twice a week, and see friends then. Weekends are spent with my family, my parents and my sister’s family live close by. Once a week, usually Fridays, if I don’t have a pressing deadline, I spend the day with the kid. We go to the playspace or the zoo or a museum.
It’s a really nice, happy, stable life, and Mike and I always feel supremely lucky that we both make our own hours and work for ourselves. We have a lot of freedom even though we work all the time. When the books are due, there are a lot of late nights.
With the recent popularity of vampire-themed novels, what do you think makes your series “Blue Bloods” stand out from the rest?
I think the mythology in Blue Bloods is pretty fun and original. That’s the most compelling to me. I worked really hard on it, and I felt an ‘aha’ moment when I put together the vampires with the story of Paradise Lost. I think also how the past informs the present—with the Mayflower history and the Gilded Age stuff–that stuff is really cool. I also love my characters: I like the twisted little gang that populates the story. Schuyler, Oliver, Mimi, Jack, Bliss, Kingsley. They’re so much fun to write about.
I have to say, Revelations was my favorite “Blue Bloods” novel so far! How many more books do you have planned for the series?
Yay! I’m so glad!!! I originally planned a nine-book series, but now it might be ten. There will definitely be at least six since we’ve sold up to Book Six to my publisher. They tend to buy them two at a time.
Authors are famous for basing characters off people they’ve encountered in their own lives. Is there any character of yours that you have modeled after someone?
Oliver is kind of based on my best guy friend from college. He definitely has my friend’s dry sense of humor. And Bliss is actually also based a little on another friend, who is from Texas, and was popular and drove an old Cadillac (with horns) to school. But that friend is a guy, and gay. I turned him into a curly-haired cheerleader. LOL. But those are just surface characteristics–a point of inspiration. The characters are their own people, they have lives of their own.
Your website lists your novel “Fresh Off The Boat” as being semi-autobiographical. What about the story relates to your own life?
The whole story, actually. I wrote letters back home that were entirely fictitious, just like Vicenza. The only parts of that story that are fictional was when the parents think they’ve won the publisher’s clearinghouse. That didn’t happen to my family, that happened to my uncle’s family. LOL. But yeah: that was me. My parents owned a cafeteria in the back room at Sears. I had a crush on the stock boy.
You had the opportunity to be one of the editors of “Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys” with Tom Dolby. What was it like to work with one of your best friends on the project?
It was wonderful to work with Tom. Just deepened our friendship. And to work with all the amazing writers we got to write essays for us, it was very cool. It was so great to read everyone’s stories.
On your website, you have said there is a possibility that the “Blood Bloods” or “Au Pairs” series could eventually be made into a television show or movie. If you could choose any one of your novels for this to happen to, which would you choose and why?
I would love to see Blue Bloods onscreen. I did hear from some fans who said they would love/hate to see it on screen since it always changes the book–or ruins the book–in a way. But I think it would just be fun. I don’t think it would take way from the books. With a TV show, we would even20be able to expand the story a bit more. I love the LOTR books as much as I love the movie.
You are a very talented and successful young-adult author. Are there any young adult authors, whose works you are a big fan of?
I love Diana Wynne Jones. I don’t read a lot of YA since I just can’t read in my genre really. I read a lot of cooking memoirs! But I’ve always loved Cecily Von Ziegesar’s Gossip Girl series, Lisi Harrison’s Clique series, I loved Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist by my friends Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. I also loved Rachel Cohn’s Gingerbread series. And I love anything by Elizabeth Scott–especially Perfect You. E. Lockhart, Lauren Myracle, Sarah Mylnowski and Ally Carter are also all so great and their books are so much fun. And I’ve been meaning to read Paula Yoo’s Good Enough.
In going with the Christmas spirit, You collaborated on “Mistletoe” with a short story called “The Christmas Choos”. Where did you get your inspiration for it?
My inspiration for the Christmas Choos comes from that O. Henry story, Gift of the Magi. It’s always been one of my favorite stories–especially since I never really understood the last line: “two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.”
Now I understand: because they gave the most they could give, they were WISE in their gift-giving, not foolish. If you are able to sacrifice something for someone you love, then you show your true love. It’s a good thing to remember right now. That it’s not about money. It’s about love.
*Interview Questions by Suzanne Flood and Meagan Anderson
Schuyler Van Allen is a Blue Blood, at least that is what she has been told and what she believes. Unfortunately, some believe that she has Silver Blood running through her veins. As Schuyler and her friends try to determine who the Silver Bloods are, things get more and more complicated and dangerous.
When a powerful Blue Blood location in Rio de Janeiro is threatened, Schuyler must leave the Force household behind to help however she can. When Blue Bloods are killed Schuyler is forced to step up as Allegra’s daughter and save the Blue Bloods. Will she be able to?
I really enjoy the Blue Blood series and think it is great for any vampire fan.
Summer is approaching fast and one of my favorite things to do is lay out in the sun with a good book. It doesn’t matter if I am at the beach, next to the pool, or just on a blanket in the yard, if I have the sun and a good read I am happy! This summer, besides our normal reviews, which will be posted every Monday and Friday (and the occasional Wednesday) I will be posting my “Must Reads For Summer”, a list of anywhere between 2-5 books every 1 or2 weeks that I think are perfect for the season.Some of the books will probably have been previously reviewed on the site, and others will be peeks at what is to come! So, if you are looking for a good book check back often to see what we have for you! Also, if any of you have any suggestions for books, please don’t hesitate to email me and I will include them on one of the lists! Look for the first list of books on June 5th!
Sophie has a lot going on in her life. Someone set a bomb off outside of her school, a medium held a seance at her house and gave her a shocking prophecy, and then she turned up dead. Things couldn’t really get much worse for her. Unfortunately, times are rough and in order to save herself and her friend she must get to the bottom of all the mysteries that surround her.
This book is great for anyone ages 12 and older! Check it out for yourself to see if it is right for you!
When she found out that she was moving to southern California, Avery thought that her life would be full of celebrity sightings. When she gets there, she finds that it is not as exciting as she has imagined.
Her friends back home are only interested in having her get them autographs, her parents are so busy with their business that they don’t even have time to get her furniture for her bedroom, and she can’t drive so she is stuck at home. These circumstances make it pretty impossible for her to get out and make friends or see celebrities.
When she is mistaken for someone else on Myspace, she starts getting invited to all the hottest Hollywood events. She starts a blog about all the things she sees and titles it “Princess of Gossip”. Unfortunately, things start to spiral out of control and all the popularity that she has gained disappears when her secret is uncovered.
Tony, Vanessa, and Conner have all lived very different lives, but the teens all have one thing in common. They have all been sent to Aspen Springs, a psyciatric hospital that helps teens who have attempted suicide.
Vanessa, who happens to be beautiful and smart, can seem to deal with the pain she constantly feels. So she turns to cutting herself and that was how she tried to end her life. Even though she is in the hospital, seh still finds a way to cut herself. Not enough to die, but enough to ease the pain that she feels inside.
Tony suffered a very tough childhood and had to do things that no one ever should in order to get by. So he turned to pills to try to make him feel better but they didn’t do the job like he wanted them to. Connor, who always appeared to have the perfect life, was living a lie. His parents didn’t care about anything but their money and their possessions and they treat him like he was just that: a possession. When he tried to kill himself, his mother only seemed to care about the blood stains on her white carpet, not the fact that her son had shot himself. Will these teens find help?
I love love LOVE all of Ellen Hopkin’s books and this one is no different. It is definitely one to check out, although I recommend it for teens 16 and older!
By the Book Reviews is excited to celebrate the release of Mary Hogans popular book, Pretty Face on paperback! In honor of this event, we are excited to be giving away copies of Mary’s books. Two lucky winners will receive a pack of books! To enter you just have to leave a comment(be sure to give us a correct email address) telling us about which of Mary’s books you are most interested in! And please do us a favor and click on an advertisement so that we can continue to bring you great contests. Thanks for all your support!
2 Winners will receive:
-Pretty Face by Mary Hogan
-Perfect Girl by Mary Hogan
-Serious Kiss by Mary Hogan
-Susanna Sees Stars by Mary Hogan
-Susanna Hits Hollywood by Mary Hogan
-Susanna Covers the Catwalk (British Edition) by Mary Hogan
Contest Ends: April 29th, 2009
Eligibility: Open to residents of the US and Canada age 13+
Author: Suzanne Weyn
Author: Claudia Gray
Author: Melissa De La Cruz
Author: Jenny Davidson
Author: Sabrina Bryan and Julia DeVillers
Author: Ellen Hopkins