Category: books

A fave series coming to an end

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I’m so sad that one of my all time fave series is coming to an end! Sniff!

The first book released in June 2006
The final installment in Sept 2011

The last PRIVATE book by the ubertalented Kate Brian will be released on September 6, 2011. I loved the title, VENGEANCE, and cannot wait to read it. I’ve got such mixed emotions about it. When I get addicted to a series, I want them to go on FOREVER. I feel that way especially about Private. It was series that Kate introduced me to. She sent me the first four books and that was a mistake on her part, LOL. After that, I kept begging (read: bugging) her for the latest book.

The series is one of my ultimate favorites and it really is one that is memorable for me.

Another series I devoured was Sara Shepard’s Pretty Little Liars series and just finished WANTED a few episodes into season one of the show. So, yes, I know who “A” is (no spoilers in the comments, please!!) and it’s so fun to watch the ABC Family show and see where they take it. I actually like having read the books and then comparing them to the show. Alloy and Sara put together something insanely magical–a fast-paced murder mystery that’s hot, funny and full of cute boys. What more does a girl need? *bows to genius Sara*

I read that ABC Family picked up The Lying Game (Sara Shepard’s new series) and I have to grab that first book. There’s only one out so far. It’s interesting to me that a series was optioned based on only one book being released, but I’m guessing with the success of PLL and Sara’s track record, it was a no-brainer. I can’t wait to watch the progress of the show and see how soon it’ll be on air.


But back to Private. I’ve read most of the books at least three or four times. I haven’t read VANISHED or OMINOUS yet–have to get those. I started THE BOOK OF SPELLS and then got crazy with my deadline. But it’s a book I want to go back to ASAP.

What are some of your favorite series? How do you feel when a series ends? I want to know! 🙂

My TBR pile calls to me . . .

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I am soo bad about reading right now! I’m book hopping like crazy because my TBR pile is SO good! I’ve got Holly Black’s RED GLOVE that I’m dying to start. The cover alone makes me want to drink a gallon of coffee and stay awake until I finish it. But I’m already reading two other books.


I just started Richelle Mead’s SPIRIT BOUND. I am hopelessly in love with this series. It’s fast-paced, dark, romantic…not to mention the vampires. I got hooked on it later than most, but I’m glad I have a couple left to read before the series ends.


I also just started Denise Jaden’s LOSING FAITH. Isn’t the cover beautiful? I’m intrigued by the concept and thought it would be good to read a stand-a-lone while reading another book in a series to mix it up.

What’s calling to you from your TBR pile? Or, what are you reading now? Share!


PS: I have to copy Kate and say how freaking excited I am for RED RIDING HOOD.
OMG.
Cannot wait to see it especially since Catherine Hardwicke directed it. Girl power! 🙂

Happy Friday and have a great weekend, all!

xoxo

Second summer reading rec: NANCY DREW: SECRET SABOTAGE

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It’s time for the second summer recommended read!

You HAVE to read NANCY DREW: SECRET SABOTAGE by Carolyn Keene. The book was written by the very famous Editor K, so you *know* it’s good!

It’s the first in a brand new three book arc and it’s super, super exciting to have a book written by the BFF on shelves now. Since you’ve been sending me books to sign, if you’d like to send this book for Editor K to autograph, send your book the way you’ve been sending Canterwood books. Directions are here:

Snail mail:


Jessica Burkhart
C/O Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020


*Include a SASE if you want a reply! 🙂

Want me or Editor K to sign your book?

Carefully follow these instructions:

* Put the book and an envelope (unsealed! And do make sure this envelope is big enough to hold the book) with six stamps on it into another envelope with seven stamps on it.

* Address the envelope with seven stamps to me at the snail mail address above.

* Make sure you write your return address at the top of this envelope (the one with seven stamps), otherwise I won’t know where to mail back your book.

* Write “media mail” on the envelope w/seven stamps, just to make sure it gets to me.

* If you like, include a note about who you’d like the book signed for.

That’s it! 🙂

If you have multiple books that you’d like me to sign, just follow the same directions for each book.


BFF’s book sighting at B&N

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Stealing this photo from @JRAngelella’s Twitter. It’s the *first* pic of @KateAngelella’s Nancy Drew! It’s called Nancy Drew (Secret Sabotage: Book One of the Sabotage Mystery Trilogy.) I watched Carolyn Keene aka Kate write this book and it’s soo exciting to have an official pic of it out in the wild! 🙂 Yaaay! I’ve got my copy, now I just need her to autograph it . . .

PS–Check out the purple nails. Sally Hansen in HD purple. So. Pretty. K painted mine in a superfun black that I heart.

PPS–I highly encourage Team Canterwood to check it out since Editor K penned it.

xoxo and happy weekend!

Note to my awesome readers

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Hi, reader girlies!

Ooohhmmygosh, your response to the news about Canterwood being extended to 12 books blew me away. I’m reading EVERY e-mail and you all will get a response, I promise. I’m just in crazy mode as I finish LITTLE WHITE LIES and get it all pretty before sending it to Editor Kate.

Also, yes, absolutely send me pics of you with one or any of the books. I’d love to have them for a collage on my Website. That’s so sweet of everyone to want to send those in. E-mail away!

It’s been so much fun to chat with you guys on the different forums. Cheers to the girls who started them. Awesome.

I’ve got to get back to writing and start judging your entries in the Girls Horse Club fiction competition. I’ve browsed through a few of them and you guys are supertalented. It’s going to be a tough job to choose the winners.

But while I’ve been so busy writing, I’ve also been drooling over my TBR book pile. I’ve been sneaking in reading time whenever I can. I finished a couple of ARCS and will blog about those as soon as I can.

Things I want to read right now? Fiona Finkelstein, Big-Time Ballerina!!. Isn’t the cover insanely adorable?


Releases Sept 2009

And Positively. Again, a stunning cover and I adored Courtney’s first book.

Releases Sept 2009

Finally, Twenty Boy Summer. I’ve heard so much about this book and can’t wait to start.

Book stalking in the ‘hood

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I realized that I haven’t been book stalking in my new neighborhood yet! So, today, I did. I met the lovely Annie at Barnes & Noble who works in the children’s department. I told her my name and the series and she was like, “Oh. Oh!! The horse books!” She was super sweet and filled that B&N basket with my books to sign. I was about to die. I signed a basket of books and it was so fun. So, if you want autographed copies of TAKE THE REINS, CHASING BLUE or BEHIND THE BIT, they’re in stock.


Like a dork, I went to B&N last night to get a book (THE GLASS CASTLE), but forgot my other reason for going. The above! My reader girlies have been emailing me to say I’ve got a short story in the current issue of YOUNG RIDER Magazine and I hadn’t had the chance to grab a copy. Thank you so much to Lesley Ward for running a bio box and mentioning the Canterwood books. Really sweet of you and I appreciate all of the YR support.

This is said issue. (Above.)


And okay. I was taking pics of all of my friends’ books and the security guy was looking at me like, “What are you doing crazy girl?” I was finally like, “Dude. I’m a writer. These are my friends’ books. ‘Kay?” This was when I was snapping the pic of R Pattz. *grins* And NO–I did not purchase anything Rob-related. I was good.


Mandy’s PRADA AND PREJUDICE. (Oh, and note from here on–I did not face out or move any of these books. This is how they were on shelves.)


Jenny Han’s THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY.


Cindy Pon’s SILVER PHOENIX!


PORTIA’S EXCLUSIVE AND CONFIDENTIAL RULES OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP by Anna Hays and edited by Miss Liesa Abrams.


THINGS ARE GONNA GET UGLY by Hillary Homzie. Um, go Aladdin MIX for being faced out everywhere. Just sayin’.


NYT bestselling DORK DIARIES also edited by L Abrams.

Yay, all! 🙂 Thank you, Annie, for being so wonderful!

Also, a huge congrats to Alyson Noel on her GIANT new book deal. What I love about Alyson–she’s had monster success recently (not that she wasn’t doing amazing before!) and it hasn’t changed her at all. She’s still one of the nicest authors I’ve ever met and I’m thrilled for her!

Great Halloween Reads

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I wanted to do a quick Halloween book round up! These are some of my favorite Halloween books that I’ve either read this year or in years past. They’re spooky, scary and perfect reads for this season! 🙂

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Classic, right? The good old Headless Horseman tale is frightening and it’ll keep you up all night! I love it.

Tantalize grabbed me when I saw the cover. (I know, bad me for picking a book that way…) The plot blew me away and I fully plan on reading it for a second time this weekend. It’s one of those books you can’t forget.

Ah, Bliss! Lauren knows I almost didn’t even open it because I was too scared. I’m sooo glad that I did! It’s creepy, oh yes, but the pacing is INSANE. (Seriously, L. Kudos!) My favorite parts are the journal entries and the d’oh! moment when I figured out who was writing them.
Finally, though a fantastic read for any season, the Twilight series certainly is fun for Halloween. Y’all know the story, so I don’t have to gush.

What are some of your fav Halloween reads?

Books for my St. Louis trip

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I’ve started to gather books for my trip to St. Louis and since I wanted to try different genres and new authors, I got some help from 1001 Books for Every Mood by Hallie Ephron. It’s a cool book with lots of recommendations, summaries and tidbits about, obviously, 1001 books.

So, for trip reading, I’ve got on my list:

A Confederacy of Dunces
Girl, Interrupted
Girl with a Pearl Earring (then I’ll have to watch the movie!)
The Historian (tried it and didn’t have time to finish it, but I’m ready now!)
Sideways

Anyone read any of these? My bookbag will be full. Especially since it’s going to have those books plus YA and MG.

I made the mistake of watching The Black Stallion over the weekend and now I’m obsessed with the series again. I ❤ Walter Farley. I'll be rereading a couple of those books on the trip.

I’ll be doing a Diary of a Debut Author video from Shriners and am excited about it!

Reading binge

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I’ve been reading like crazy this past weekend and now beginning of this week. When I get so wrapped up in writing, my reading time gets restricted a bit. But I’ve been on a little writing break, so I’ve been attacking the books in my gotta read pile.

First, Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Don’t know WHY I didn’t read this book before now. OMG, it’s one of those books where I sit up and say, “Damn! I wish I’d written that!” If you haven’t read it, it’s fun, fantastic and one of the best boy narrated books I’ve ever read. I’ve got the second one on order now.

I’ve also gotten addicted to the Beacon Street Girls series by Annie Bryant. They’re adorable tween books and they have this timeless feel because they aren’t overly peppered with fast changing pop culture references. Love them.

Then, I read Off Season. It’s even better than Dairy Queen. So. Good.

My list is still long with several Class of 2k8 books and various others. I’m getting through it, though.

Oh! I’ve chosen the second book in my Best Beach Reads. Video number two (to be shot soon) is… Rites of Spring (Break) by Diana Peterfreund. Yay! Look for that vlog review coming soon.

What’s everyone reading right now?