Dust Lands by Moira Young

Synopsis: Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.

Rating:  3 out of 5

Honestly, the only reason that I read this book was because it was chosen to be read for our school book club. Any other day, I don't think that I would have picked it up off the shelves. But, I was a trooper and finished it anyway.

I'm not going to lie, the book was good. But, there were some things that really bothered me. Like the way they spoke. I understand not having perfect grammar, but I tried and tried to get used to the way they spoke, and still, at the end of the book, I hadn't gotten used to it. For me, that kinda took away from the book. And Saba. Her character REALLY annoyed me. I was hoping it would be something that I would get over, but I just didn't. She was soooo clingy to her brother. Overly clingy. I mean, I get it. If one of my siblings was taken away by some weird people I didn't know, I'd run after him too. I'd care. I'd be worried. But the way all she thought about was Lugh, how she totally pushed her little sister aside. She needed help too. She was suffering too. Saba just really really bothered me throughout the whole book. 

But, besides that, and a few other things, I really enjoyed this book. The plot was great. When I first started off, I was kinda concerned. This girl traveling days and days to try and find her brother. How was the author going to keep it interesting? But, she did it. Between cage fighting, and crazy worms, she made it work! 

Oh, and the relationship between Saba and Jack. It was adorable! Kinda child like. Like 12 year olds, they didn't really act their age, but it was cute! 

I think I'd have to say that my favorite character was Nero. Yes, the crow. He watched over all of them all the time. He was always there whenever they needed anything. To get a message sent, to be all lovey. He was just there, and I liked that about him. :)

When it comes down to it, this book definitely wasn't a 5 star book, and with all the things that really bugged me, I couldn't give it a 4. I'm also curious. I'm pretty sure that this is going to be a trilogy. I'm not sure what more she can do in two more books. I think I'd be up to reading them just to see what she does, how she can make it interesting.

In the end, it wasn't the plot that got me, that was GREAT. It was the characters. They really bugged me, and I couldn't really connect with any of them. When I'm reading a book, connecting with characters is a big thing for me, and this book lacked in that department.

But, if you like fighting, and cute couples, and fighter chicks, you might like this book!

Jordan

Past Due-- Elizabeth Seckman

If you follow my other blog, Therabidwriter.blogspot.com, you may have already  read about my friend Elizabeth and her new book, Past Due. If not, check it out! 

I am SOOOOO excited to have Elizabeth Seckman with us today. And because she's such a good friend, I'm going to put her on BOTH of my blogs.  I met Elizabeth online through a mutual writing friend. She's been a wonderful encouragement in my own writing and today, I get to celebrate with her. You see, she just released her debut novel, PAST DUE. Today, she's answering a few questions for us so we can get to know her a little better.

Here's a little about PAST DUE:
The Blurb 

Jenna Austin is a young, widowed artist raising a teenage son on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. As the costs of living in paradise rise, she struggles to make ends meet. Life isn't easy, but she manages.

When her car breaks down, she trudges on. She assumes life can't get any more complicated than it is. But it can...

Chance brings her nose to well-formed chest with Tres Coulter, the handsome, affluent aid to Governor Hunt. Jenna and Tres share a history; they also share a love they thought long lost.  Their lives are about to be altered forever as the deceptions of the past transform the very foundation of the present. 

The price of happily ever after may be too steep to pay once the past comes due. 

THE INTERVIEW:

1.      What do you do when you are not writing?

          --Laundry. And make food. What is it about kids thinking they have to be fed?

2.       When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

         --I started my first book in 2001. Wrote four more, then in 2010 decided I better start querying...my husband threatened to make me get a real job if I didn't start trying to sell.

3. Do you work with an outline, or just write?

        --Outline. Sort of. I keep a notebook on each story. I keep all the story details in it. The synopsis, a timeline, character sketches, plot ideas, and research information. 

4.   Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

          --Getting someone to take a chance on me. I got several requests, but the general consensus was...the book was good; but maybe not break-out novel worthy.

5.      Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

         --They really moved the lighthouse. And Jenna is patterned after my sister, Cathy. This book was requested by her as a gift for her 25th wedding anniversary. She wanted a love story centered around the moving of the Cape Hatteras light in 1999. "Past Due" was the result.

6.   What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

         -- The epilogue. I like to wrap things up completely. I guess I'm a writer with controlling tendencies.

7.      What project are you working on now?

         --I have several. I like to work on a few books at a time. It helps me not to be too close to a work. Setting it aside and working on something else gives me better perspective.

8. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?

        --Honestly...everyone has been really professional. I'm expecting my first heart break to come from a reviewer. What has been the best compliment? Any time a reader says they like it, that's what I'm writing for. If the reader is pleased, I'm a happy girl.

9. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?  

        --Write. If at first you don't succeed, write, write again.

10. You write romance...Are there any love scenes? If so, what did your husband say when he read them?

        --LOL. First one he read he complained that it was lame and reflected poorly on him. Geesh...the pressure!

11. What's your writing environment like... couch/desk, dog at feet, handwrite/type?

        --Office chair and a desk. One dog at my feet, one behind the chair, and the cat keeps watch from the printer. Such loyal fans. 

12. What sort of Starbuck’s coffee would your characters order? Simple coffee, complicated soy-non-fat-extra-espresso-half-caff-deal?

        --Simple coffee.

And the bonus question...Milky Way or Snickers?

        --Snicker bars over Milky Ways. I even named a dog Snickers. She was a good dog. RIP sweet little mutt.

Be sure to check out Elizabeth's book here:

amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Past-Due-Elizabeth-Seckman/dp/1938243323/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339055528&sr=8-1 

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/elizabeth-seckman?keyword=elizabeth+seckman&store=allproducts

All Romance E-Books

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html 

Smashwords

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/168887 

World Castle

http://www.worldcastlepublishing.com/author-elizabeth-seckman.html 

Crazy Dangerous by Andrew Klavan

Hello all, 

Today we're taking a look at a new book by Andrew Klavan called Crazy Dangerous. If you don't have it on your TBR lists, get out your pens and write it down or type it in or list it on Goodreads or whatever it is you do for your TBRs. For today's post, we get to see a little more intimately into the life of the writer.

We writers all have a special place where we go to allow the muse to work. For some it's a quaint coffee shop, for others it may be a favorite chair. For Andrew Klavan, he's got himself an awesome workshop. :) 

Writing Place

I have a workshop in the backyard of my house.  It’s only a small shack but it has just enough room for me to do what I need to do:  sit and work, pace, lie down and read on the sofa from time to time.  I’ve got it decorated with framed jackets from some of my books.  And there’s a framed print of Caravaggio’s painting “The Inspiration of Saint Matthew,” with the angel whispering in St. Matthew’s ear while he sits writing at his table. Not that I compare myself to St. Matthew, but I do think of good writing as a matter of inspiration:  something that is breathed into you from somewhere else. I really like my workshop because I’m off by myself there, but I can always wander into the house and have lunch with my wife or get something from my bookshelves. It’s a good arrangement.

Award winning author, screenwriter and media commentator Andrew Klavan is the author of such internationally bestselling novels as True Crime, filmed by Clint Eastwood, and Don’t Say A Word, filmed starring Michael Douglas. Andrew has been nominated for the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award five times and has won twice. His books have been translated around the world. His latest novel for adults, The Identity Man, has been praised by Nelson Demille as “fast paced, intelligent and thought-provoking; a great read!” Television and radio host Glenn Beck says “Andrew Klavan never disappoints…one of the best illustrations of the power of redemption that I’ve ever read.” His last novel Empire of Lies was about media bias in the age of terror, and topped Amazon.com’s thriller list. Andrew has also published a series of thrillers for young adults, The Homelanders, which follows a patriotic teenager’s battle against jihadists. The books have been optioned to be made into movies by Summit Entertainment, the team behind the mega-successful Twilight film series.

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