Character Interview: Rocky

Character interview: Roxanne “Rocky” Miccuci

1. What is it like being Kate's best friend?

It’s funny, because people think we’re like, total opposites. We’re not. I’m into music the way Kate’s into science. We both get really obsessive about things, and it’s nice to have somebody who understands that kind of commitment. So she doesn’t flip out if I say I can’t do something because I’ve got voice lessons, but she’ll force me to get out and have fun if I start getting too obsessive, and I do the same thing for her.

I think the one thing we don’t agree on is parties. I love them, but they make her hyperventilate. I don’t suppose the zombie thing really helped with that either, darn it.

2. How did you and Kate become friends?

We were in the same third grade class, and we both really sucked at sports. And when I say sucked, I really mean it. I tried to learn to do headers in soccer and ended up taking a ball to the face. So we always got stuck way in the outfield during kickball and stuff, and we bonded over it. We might have sucked, but we sucked TOGETHER. And we’ve been friends ever since.

3. What was it like being in the middle of a zombie outbreak?

Honestly? I didn’t really believe in the whole zombie thing until I saw them with my own eyes, and by then, it was pretty much all over. I thought Kate was playing one of her jokes. She has a really twisted sense of humor. One time, she convinced her younger brother that he’d contracted elephantiasis and was going to need a wheelbarrow to carry around his…uh…boy bits. I’m still laughing about that one.

But anyway, back to the question. I was really just humoring her until the zombie attack in the gym. And then I was in shock. I totally flipped out afterwards, and it wasn’t pretty.

4. What is your favorite holiday and why?

This might sound kind of weird, but I like the Fourth of July. My family always goes to the beach, and we have a big cookout on the beach and blow things up. I have some secret pyromaniacal tendencies. I like to blow things up.

I guess they’re not all that secret any more, are they?

5. If you could be any person living or dead for a day, who would it be and why?

I’d be Britney Spears. Please don’t hate me.

Here’s the thing—if I was Britney, then I could be as cracked out crazy as I wanted, and no one would bat an eye. I could go run around a fountain in my underwear and start belting out show tunes, and people would be all, “Oh, it’s just Britney in the fountain again.” Don’t you think that would be fun? And after I was done, I’d get to go lay down a track with some of the best producers in the business. I’d probably have to change out of the wet clothes first, though.

Thanks for interviewing me! XOXO - Rocky

Review: Awakened (House of Night #8) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Synopsis:
“My love, speak to me.  Tell me everything.”  Neferet went to Kalona, kneeling before him, stroking the soft, dark wings that unfurled loosely around the immortal.

“What would you have me say?”  He didn’t meet her eyes. 

 “Zoey lives.” Neferet’s voice was flat, cold, lifeless.

“She does.”

“Then you owe me the subservience of your immortal soul.”  She started to walk away from him.

“Where are you going?  What will happen next?”

 “It is quite simple.  I will ensure Zoey is drawn back to Oklahoma.  There, on my own terms, I will complete the task you failed.”

Exonerated by the Vampyre High Council and returned to her position of High Priestess at Tulsa’s House of Night, Neferet has sworn vengeance on Zoey.  Dominion over Kalona is only one of the weapons she plans to use against Z.  But Zoey has found sanctuary on the Isle of Skye and is being groomed by Queen Sgiach to take over for her there.  Being Queen would be cool, wouldn’t it?  Why should she return to Tulsa? After losing her human consort, Heath, she will never be the same – and her relationship with her super-hot-warrior, Stark, may never be the same either…

And what about Stevie Rae and Rephaim?  The Raven Mocker refuses to be used against Stevie Rae, but what choice does he have when no one in the entire world, including Zoey, would be okay with their relationship?  Does he betray his father or his heart?

In the pulse-pounding 8th book in the bestselling House of Night series, how far will the bonds of friendship stretch and how strong are the ties that bind one girl’s heart?

Review: (WARNING: Spoilers)
Awakened is the eighth book in the House of Night series. I definitely liked it more than Burned, the seventh book in the series. The plot seemed to move forward a little bit, but not much. There are not one, but two deaths in this book. One of the deaths was extremely sad. I did not see it coming at all.

Zoey is starting to bore me. She did grow up a bit since the last book, but I found myself not looking forward to chapters that were in her point of view. My favorite story line in this book was Stevie Rae and Rephaim's. Their relationship grew so much in this book. Rephaim has definitely changed for the better, and it is all thanks to Stevie Rae.

Neferet is my least favorite character in this whole series. She is just so annoying! I want Zoey to defeat her already because I cannot stand her. She is pure evil and just gets more annoying as the series progresses.

I am glad Kalona is not working for Neferet anymore. Unfortunately for Zoey, he has found a new way to mess with Zoey. I think what he does is going to ruin Zoey's relationship with Stark, which is unfortunate (I really like Stark). Nevertheless, I feel like Kalona may help Zoey in future books since he is no longer on Neferet's side.

There was one thing that I did not like about this book. I did not like all of the pop culture references. It felt like there were way too many. There is a cliffhanger at the end, which I expected. I am looking forward to reading the next book  to see what happens.

Rating: 3.5/5

Swords are for fighting!

Review: Hater by David Moody

Synopsis:
The country is rocked by a sudden, inexplicable increase in violent assaults on individuals. Seeming to be without any reason or motive these attacks are brutal and extreme. There are no apparent links between the aggressors and their victims. Christened 'Haters' by the media, their attacks come without warning or explanation. Everyone - irrespective of age, gender, race, sexuality, culture or any other imaginable difference - has the potential to be a Hater. You can no longer trust anyone, no matter how close they are to you. You can no longer trust yourself.

Danny McCoyne lives with his partner Lizzie and their three children in a rundown council flat. By day he works for the council, processing parking fines. By night he watches TV and complains about how little money he's got and how empty his life is. He knows what he has to do to make things better and he has the intelligence and capability to do it. A bigger home, a better job… it's all within reach. But Danny can't be bothered. His kids don't respect him and his partner despairs.

Danny can't handle pressure. He's no good in a crisis. At the first sign of trouble he shoves his head in the sand and waits for it all to blow over. But this isn't going to go away. The situation is deteriorating by the day, almost by the hour. The danger is getting closer. It won't be long before it reaches them and there's nothing anyone can do to stop it. Their only defence is to lock themselves down, to cut themselves off from everyone else and wait for help. It's what they think they should do. It's what the authorities tell them to do. But Danny and his partner know that as well as locking the trouble out, they may also be locking it in…

Review:
Hater was not at all what I thought it was going to be. I thought it was going to be a zombie book, but it definitely was not. It was more of a post-apocalyptic novel. The book follows Danny, an ordinary guy that is trying to support his family. I found Danny to be just an average guy that was nothing special and kind of lazy.

What I found the most interesting about this book was what made a person a 'Hater.' It is not explained too much, but I think that is because this is a series (I am excited to read the second book, Dog Blood, as soon as I get my hands on it!). I found the whole idea of being a 'Hater' very intriguing because there is no warning when someone becomes a 'Hater.' It just happens. One minute a person is normal, and the next minute they feel threatened and attack without reason.

I love post-apocalyptic type novels, so 'Hater' was definitely a book I liked. I found the whole plot interesting and intriguing. There is definitely a good amount of violence, so I would not recommend to kids. It is definitely an adult book.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting!

Book Blogger Hop (25)

The Book Blogger Hop is here! It is hosted by Crazy For Books, and here is how it works for those that do not know:

ABOUT THE HOP: This is a weekly event, hosted here, where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to read. It's a great way to network with other bloggers and make new friends! In the spirit of the Friday Follow, I thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed! So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start Hopping!! Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews. If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know! Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added! And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!

This week’s question isn’t a question at all! I thought I would do things a little differently this week and give all of you a chance to promote a giveaway (or two!) from the blogosphere.

The catch?

IT CAN’T BE YOUR OWN GIVEAWAY!

Gotcha!

You have to find another blogger who is having a giveaway and promote their giveaway for them! If possible, promote a giveaway from a blogger doing the Hop (hey, you are visiting other blogs anyway, right?). Have fun with this one! It’s not an easy task this week! 

The giveaway I would like to share with my lovely readers is over at vvb32 Reads where you can win a copy of Sea Witch by Helen Hollick. I definitely find the synopsis interesting. A book about pirates? Count me in!

If you are participating or you found me through the Hop, please leave me a comment. Have a fun Book Blogger Hop Friday!

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Hex: A Witch and Angel Tale by Ramona Wray

Synopsis:
Like most girls at Rosemound High School, seventeen-year-old Lily Crane is acutely aware of Ryder Kingscott. Hands down the cutest guy in school, Ryder is cool, mysterious, and utterly untouchable…especially for Lily. For when she touches someone, Lily instantly learns all about their lives. And while such a skill might seem nifty, in truth it is wrecking Lily’s life. 

So she is shocked when Ryder asks her out — and even more shocked to discover he has a rival. Lucian Bell is the gorgeous new kid who can’t take his eyes off of Lily. Being pursued by two hotties should make a girl happy, but Lily is skeptical. The boys act as if they’ve met before, hating each other with a passion that could only be rooted in a dark, dangerous past. A past full of terrible secrets. The kind of secrets that could get a girl killed.

Review:
Hex: A Witch and Angel Tale was not at all what I expected it to be. I thought it would be a book full of fluff and cuteness like the cover makes it out to be, but it was so much more. I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Sure, it was a little slow for me at first, but the story ended up being heartwarming. Ramona Wray is such an enticing writer that after the first thirty pages or so, I was absorbed in the story.

The book follows Lily, a girl with an unique ability: She can see the past and present of anyone she touches. Then, she meets Ryder, a very good looking boy, and everything she knew changes as he starts to pay attention to her. Ryder is such a sweet guy that it is very easy to love him. The best part is that when Lily touches Ryder, nothing happens. Throw in another good looking boy named Lucian, and we have a love triangle.

If you like books with romance, suspense, and mystery, then this is the book for you. There is plenty of action, and the mystery of the book will keep you guessing. Hex: A Witch and Angel Tale is an enjoyable paranormal fantasy. I definitely recommend picking it up.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting!

Waiting on Wednesday... (50)

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I am eagerly anticipating.

This week's Waiting on Wednesday pick is: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

Publication Date: July 12, 2011

Synopsis:
The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stiefvater 

then. 

When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their love moved from a curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives. 

now. 

That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is the wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be killed in one final, spectacular hunt. 

forever. 

Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment - a moment of death or life, farewell or forever.




I am so excited to read Forever!!! I have already pre-ordered it, and I am impatiently waiting for my copy to arrive on the 12th :)

Swords are for fighting,

Review: Bad Taste In Boys by Carrie Harris

Synopsis:
Someone's been a very bad zombie. 

Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steroids are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate! 

She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town. . . and stay hormonally human.


Review:
Bad Taste in Boys is a book that I have been wanting to read for many long months. I jumped at the first opportunity to be a part of the tour, and I am so glad that I did! If I could sum this book up in one word, that word would have to be awesome.

Bad Taste in Boys is a cute story about a girl (Kate) who puts it upon herself to find the antidote for the zombie virus that seems to be spreading across the football team. Kate was such an amazing main character. She was smart and funny. Some of the things she said/ thought had me laughing out loud. I love that she was a geek and knew it. I also liked how honest her voice was. Her honesty made her more likable and more realistic.

If you have never read a zombie book before, I would recommend Bad Taste in Boys to be your first. It was a quick read, funny, entertaining, and sometimes it was a bit creepy, but in a good way. There is even a bit of romance thrown in! Yes, there is some gore (it's a zombie book, what did you expect?), but I thought it had just the right amount. Definitely an enjoyable book that I would recommend to anyone.

Rating: 4/5

Swords are for fighting!

Teaser Tuesday (51): Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
Anyone can play along, do the following:
•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from page 62 of Slice of Cherry by Dia Reeves:


" Claudine Street looked as though is had been unzipped, bricks scattered everywhere. Cars and trucks were flipped over or teetering at weird angles; hard, white water from a burst hydrant swept past the sisters' tires in a flood."


This book has been a wild ride so far. I have no idea how it is going to turn out.


Feel free to share your teaser in the comments.


Swords are for fighting!

Hailey Kendrick from The Education of Hailey Kendrick: This or That

Hi everyone! I would like to welcome Hailey Kendrick from The Education of Hailey Kendrick. Today, she is going to answer a few this or that questions. Enjoy!

Soup or Salad:  Soup.  My boarding school is in Vermont and it’s freezing here most of the year so soup is great. Plus, the freshman often sneeze on the items on the salad bar which is totally disgusting and the downside of living with a huge group of people.

Cats or Dogs:  Either! I would love a pet, but I live in a dorm so I’m not allowed to have one.

Rain or Sunshine: Sunshine! Last time there was a huge rain storm I got into trouble. Big trouble. The kind of trouble where you sort of accidently might kiss someone that you didn’t mean to. Can we not talk about this?

Cake or Ice Cream: Cupcakes.

Dancing or Singing: I really wish I could sing, but I’m not great at it. Come to think of it I’m not a great dancer either. Does it count that I’m on student council?

Night or Day: Day so I can hang out with my friends.

Vanilla or Chocolate: Chocolate. My best friend’s dad works for a candy company. I have a serious Twix addiction.

Coffee or Tea:  Latte with tons of milk and sugar.

Run or Walk: Walk. It’s not that I’m obsessed with safety, but I do tend to think about it a lot.  It’s a lot easier to get hurt running. I tend to be a bit risk adverse, unless you count the time I climbed out of the second story of our headmaster’s office, but I didn’t really have a choice.

Hot or Cold: I recently went sledding with this guy on old cookie trays that we took from a Denny’s restaurant. It sounds weird, but we had the most amazing time.  I’m going with sledding.

Thanks, Hailey! If you want to know more about Hailey, make sure you check out The Education of Hailey Kendrick. 

If you want to know more about Eileen Cook and her books, you can start by reading my review of her fun story, Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood.

Swords are for fighting!