Road Trip!

Today's Road Trip Wednesday question, hosted by YA Highway is one that makes me want to cry a bit:

 

In celebration of the release of Kristin Halbrook's NOBODY BUT US (hooray!!) we're asking: Zoe and Will set off on the road to seek a better life and encounter loads of drama on the way. What's the most dramatic road trip you've ever been on?
 

Why does that make me want to cry? Perhaps I went on such a dramatic road trip once that even the thought of it has me welling up with wet emotions.

I only wish. The reason I want to get a bit depressed is because I've never been on a road trip like that.

That doesn't mean I haven't been on any road trips. I've spent many hours squished between siblings who've wiped boogers on me, forced me to stay awake to keep them awake while driving, and have stunk up the car with fast food breath and gas. Once I sat in the front seat and was awoken just in time to see a literal deer in the headlights. Right before we smacked into it. Traumatizing. I loved those family car trips though, because they were our vacations. They meant fast food and treats from the gas station. They meant sleeping in questionable hotels (or sometimes in the car on the side of the road). They meant being somewhere different from home. For me as a kid, they meant adventure.

Writing this has made me remember that I actually have taken a few road trips sans the fam-damily. When I was in college I went from Provo, Utah to Las Vegas for a weekend with friends once and with a boyfriend and his friends another time. Clearly if I can't remember those trips that well, there wasn't a whole lot of drama. Since I've had kids, I've also been on a couple of girls trips to the States to do some shopping. No drama there either, except when they told us our hotel reservation didn't exist and four of the seven of us were pregnant. Not cool.

So I guess I have no reason to be sad. I have been on a few road trips. Maybe I should be grateful that they weren't drama-filled. (Although then I might remember them a bit better!) In fact, I think I'm going to go dig up some pictures...

In front of the Bellagio in Las Vegas. I'm the one in the supercool sweater vest.

Finale

I'm finally reading Finale- the last book in the Hush, Hush Saga by Becca Fitzpatrick. I just barely started it last night so I've got no comment yet on how this whole thing is going to end or how much I like it. But here's my teaser for Teaser Tuesday anyway:

 

... normal and I have recently become perfect strangers. As in, I wouldn't know normal if it marched up and poked me in the eye. Normal and I parted ways when Patch strolled into my life. (page 11-12)

Anyone read this book yet? Did you like the end of the four-book series?

Kicks And Giggles

Today's Road Trip Wednesday question, hosted by YA Highway asks:

Good for a laugh: who is your favorite comedian or funny book and/or movie?

It used to be, when I wanted to laugh out loud, I would watch Friends.

"If a fist comes at your face, you duck!"

Nowadays, a watch The Big Bang Theory to bring on the howling and knee-slapping (I don't actually knee-slap, I swear).

"Revenge is a dish best served nude."

As to books... which is what I was supposed to be talking about in the first place... the two authors that came to mind right away who make me chortle and snort (okay, I may actually do those) are:

Rick Riordan. His chapter titles alone are laugh-inducing. Check some of them out:

I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom (The Lightening Thief)
Nico Buys Happy Meals for the Dead (The Battle of the Labyrinth)
Men Ask For Directions (and Other Signs of the Apocalypse) (The Red Pyramid)
I Get A Demon Up My Nose (The Throne of Fire)

Then there's Rachel Hawkins, author of the Hex Hall Trilogy.

"You hoped I'd commit mirrorcide?"

He laughed, but it sounded a little breathless. "No, I'd hoped to see just how powerful you really are." His eyes were bright, and there was something that might have been pride in them. "You exceeded my expectations."

"Well, yay," I said. "So glad my skill at blowing crap up impresses you, Dad." (Demonglass, page 153)

So who/what makes you laugh? Got any funny books recs?

Crescendo

I'm a bit frazzled today, so I'm getting straight to my Teaser Tuesday without any added waffle.

From Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick:

He stepped through the doorway, and I roped a leg of the tights around his neck, tugging back with all my strength. There was a moment of struggle before my weight jerked forward and I found myself face-to-face with... (page 177)

Duh duh duh.

What are you reading this week?

Mushy-Gushy

It seems like forever since I've done a Friday Loves post. I can easily tell you what I DON'T love today: my computer. I went to write this post and it wouldn't get me anywhere past signing into blogger. And it's constantly telling me to free up space on the C drive, which I do, but it doesn't seem to make a difference cuz the next day I'll get the same message. Argh! Time for a new computer...

Anyway, I'm not supposed to talk about what I don't love but what I do love. There's two things I'm loving right now.

I finished my R&R finally! I get to breathe a momentary sigh of relief while it's out with an amazing beta reader before I get back to work on whatever is wrong with it that I missed. I'm just so happy it worked out- I was seriously stressing this rewrite and I didn't know if it would turn out okay. Fingers crossed that it did! What I love today isn't the fact that I finished it (although that's awesome), but how much I loved writing it. It was scary, but a lot of fun to write since it was almost like starting from scratch. I love this story so much, it puts an insane grin on my face whenever I so much as think about it. No matter what happens with it, this story holds a very special place in my heart.

The second thing I love? I never gushed about how awesome the Les Miserables movie was and I just have to do it now. Gush gush gush!!! The singing isn't exactly Broadway worthy, but the emotion put into the songs was just heart-wrenching. I bawled through most of the movie. It was so so good. A definite must-see if you're good with two hours of singing!

And that is it, I'm done with my mushy-gushy for the day. Back to your regularly scheduled programming...

Mel's Bookstore

Today's Road Trip Wednesday question asks:

Imagine you get to open your own bookstore. What would it look like? What kinds of books would you sell?

My bookstore might look a little something like this...

 

Actually, while this is super-beautiful, if I owned a bookstore, I'd go for a little less fancy, a little more cozy. Dark wooden shelves like in the picture but with couches and cushy chairs and a fireplace. I'd also like to have lots of windows to let in the light, even though that's probably not the best for the book covers. I'm not a coffee drinker, but warm drinks (hello hot chocolate) seem like a must in a bookstore so that too. As to what kind of books I'd sell: ALL kinds! (Except X-rated, because it wouldn't be that kind of bookstore.)

What would your bookstore look like?

Hush, Hush

It's Teaser Tuesday day, hosted by Miz B. at Should Be Reading.

I'm rereading Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. I'll be rereading the first three books in prep for the last one of the series. I think this will be a year of rereading. Not only am I rereading this series, but I want to reread Eragon before I read that last one, and I want to reread the books of the many movie adaptations coming out: Beautiful Creatures, The Mortal Instruments, The Host, The Hobbit...

Here's my Hush, Hush teaser (and BTW, I've forgotten how much I love this book!):

 

"A pool table just opened up. Go claim it." I...dare...you.
I stiffened. "How did you do that?"
When he didn't immediately deny it, I felt a squeeze of panic. It was real. He knew exactly what he was doing. The palms of my hands touched with sweat.
"How did you do that?" I repeated.
He gave me a sly smile. "Do what?"
"Don't," I warned. "Don't pretend you're not doing it." (page 103-104)

The Dreaded Goals

I'm back on track for Road Trip Wednesday questions. Here's this week's, hosted of course by the lovely ladies at YA Highway:

 

What are your goals for the new year---for reading, writing, or other?

 

 

I almost hate setting goals. Why? Well, either I fail at them miserably, or I push myself so hard that I lose sight of the enjoyment of the thing and of everything else. Ugh.

This is what I've figured out though...

I'm not setting a goal for reading this year. Last year I tried to read 100 books (I made it to 92). I was so focused on reaching that number that at times I read through something too fast without really savouring it, or I put other things aside so I could get some reading done. So this year, I'm just going to read when I can and when I want to and not try to rush it.

On the flip side, I always set a goal for my writing. Whether it's 1000 words a day when I'm writing a first draft, or in my case right now, I'd like to have my revision done before the end of January so I can send it to some betas. Writing for me isn't top priority, so it's easy for me to set it aside for something more important. Having a goal helps me to NOT do that. To make myself do it a little each day. While I love to write and it makes me all tingly inside when I do, I need a goal to keep it a constant in my life.

As for other goals, well, I really don't want to get into the eating right/exercising one, because that one just makes me frustrated.

Defiance

It's Teaser Tuesday time again, hosted by Miz B. at Should Be Reading.

I'm pulling my Teaser from a book I finished last night called Defiance by C.J. Redwine. I really really liked this book. It was interesting and fast-paced, the love story between Rachel and Logan was just incredibly well-done (my favorite part about it) and I felt immersed into the world from page one. Rachel reminded me a lot of Katniss with her ferocity and bravery and I loved how logical Logan was with his Best Case Scenario/Worst Case Scenario bits (the book is in dual POV). My only complaint- the end was a little disappointing, mainly because I'm sure there will be a next book so not a lot was really wrapped up in the end. :(  I'll definitely read the next one when it comes out.

(I'm having troubles with blogger and pictures lately, I don't know what's the deal!!!)

 

Anyway, here's my teaser:

Blood runs down Rachel's neck and her body trembles. Something ugly fills my chest, begging to be unleashed. It was foolish of her to risk so much to go searching for Jared. It was also incredibly brave. I know she thinks she's ready to pay the price for this act of courage, but I can't stand the thought of watching another woman I care about die. (page 61)

Best Book of December

The last couple of week's were crazy busy but school starts again today for my kids and I'm back to my regularly scheduled programming (makes me totally sound like a robot). Last Wednesday my middle daughter turned six and it was a busy day which is why I didn't participate in YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday question. I thought I would answer it today anyway. They asked:

What was the best book you read in December?

Here's what I read last month:

 

 

These were all great books. Reached and Rapture were both great ends to their series and I read On The Island in a day. But the book that I loved most was Of Poseidon by Anna Banks.

This book surprised the heck out of me. I got it from the library based on a rec I'd read somewhere in the blogosphere. I took it to my parents house with me but I wasn't exactly gung-ho to get started. As soon as I did... yep it was one of those I-just-can't-put-it-down books. The voice was engaging, the story interesting, the plot quick. The romance between the two main characters was fun and fiery. You're dropped right into the story from page one and you don't want to let it go. I was so pleasantly surprised by this book that I'd recommend it to everyone.

What was the best book you read in December?