Follow Friday

Q:  You are a matchmaker — your goal, hook up two characters from two of your favorite books. Who would it be? How do you think it would go?

Summer Reading Challenge

This summer three bloggers are gathering together in support of reading. 

Who

Erika at One A Day Y.A.
Ashley at Book Labyrinth
Cathy at The Crazy Bookworm

What we are doing

We are reading books from our TBR lists. It's so easy to get distractrated when it comes to choosing the next book to read. New books come along, library finds are intriguing, and don't forget that random buy at the store! This challenge is designed to encourage us to read the books on our list. Since most of us also have a huge TBR list, it's also designed to make our choices limited and therefore easier to pick our next read.

When we are doing it

The challenge will run from June 1st to August 31st, 2012

The rules

- Make a list of 25 books you'd like to read this summer (or which you've been meaning to read for a while) from your TBR list

- Make a goal of how many books you'd like to read off this list during the summer

- The only rule is you cannot change the books that you added to your list of 25 options once it is posted

My goal

I want to read 15 books from my list this summer.

Group goal

Collectively, we want to read ## books off our lists this summer

My list

Pieces of Us
Ferocity Summer
Married with Zombies
World War Z
Ultimate Zombie Survival Guide
The Scorpio Races
The Book Thief
The Mocking Birds
The Rivals
Catching Fire
Mockingjay
The Dead-Tossed Waves
Dark and Hollow Places
Kill me Softly
Book of Blood and Shadow
Insurgent
Pretty Little Liars
Twenty Boy Summer
The Summer I turned Pretty
It's Not Summer Without You
Delirium
Pandemonium
Forgotten
Clean
Before I Fall

*I only added a couple ARC'S and review copies. I would like to knock some books from my personal library off my TBR list!*

Linky

Want to read the reviews of the books we've finished? You can find them linked below.

Cheer us on! Prizes are to be had!

At the end of the summer if we (Erika, Ashley, and Cathy) meet our group goal, Erika will be giving away a prize on each of our blogs. Cheer us on and help us reach our goal!

Interview with a Blogger-Book Briefs

Please welcome Michelle from Book Briefs

 

Tell us 5 Random things about yourself

1. My two dachshunds are named Harry and Ron (yep, from Harry Potter)
2. I once fell off a bus. That was stopped. I'm a bit of a klutz.
3. I have a small birthmark on my head and all the hair that grows out of it is grey. (hello hair dye)
4. I LOVE Hockey (my team is the florida panthers)
5. I'm a Florida State Seminole for life (I went to undergrad and law school at FSU) and I am not a fan of the Gators.

If you could only describe yourself in 3 words, what would they be?

trustworthy, ambitious, and realistic

What inspired you to start a Book Blog?

I found some book bloggers on Youtube from IMM posts and I then found goodreads.com, and from there book blogs. I was hooked. I was a lurker/commenter for a few months before I finally convinced myself to start my own blog.

Did you always have a passion for reading?

Always. I have loved to read for as long as I can remember. My parents used to read to me all the time and even before I learned how to read for myself I would memorize all the books that my parents read to me.

If you could bring to life any book character who would it be and why?

Ooh this is a really hard one. I think I would choose Suze from the mediator series by Meg Cabot. I just love her sense of humor and style and the series in general.

Do you have that one book that you could just re-read over and over again? If so, which book?

 

Another hard one. I think for right now I would choose Shatter Me. That book just struck something in side of me and I can't get enough of it.

Was there ever a book that you just couldn't finish?

Yes, there have a been a few but normally I finish all the books that I start. I might set it down for a few weeks and then come back to it later but I almost always finish books that I start.

Your favourite book series?

I love the mediator series by meg cabot, the hunger games series and harry potter of course.

What has been the best part of blogging to you?

The best part of blogging has been interacting with bloggers, readers and authors through my blog and through twitter. I love meeting other new people that love to read!

When your not blogging or reading, what do you enjoy in your spare time?

Im in law school so that takes up most of my time. I also have a job clerking for a judge at circuit court. But if im not working or studying for school I do love to watch some reality tv. I watch normal tv series as well, like Once Upon a Time, but reality tv is my guilty pleasure.

What advice would you give to new and future book bloggers?

I would say make a schedule that works for you. It's your blog so you have to do what is best for you. I would also say from personal experience that you can't say yes to every review request, so be ok with saying no sometimes.

Be honest AND professional :)

Summer is right around the corner. What books are looking forward to reading?

I have so many books on my summer TBR list, I don't even know where to start. I really want to finally read divergent and then insurgent. I'm also currently reading any and all mythology books I can get my hands on and I would love some good recs.

CRAZY QUIZ
Who do you root for: Hero or Villian?

Hero for sure

Chocolate or Ice Cream?

chocolate but not chocolate icecream

Favourite Childhood Book?

Ella Enchanted, the giving tree and anything by dr. suess

Favourite Film?

I can't pick just one, but here are a few. Ocean's 11, legally blonde, national treasure, hunger games

If you could be any paranormal creature. What would you be?

I'm thinking a witch, just because I think there may be a mind reading spell or potion I could brew and I would LOVE to be able to read minds.

Be sure to head on over to Michelle's Blog, Book Briefs and say hello!

Do you want to participate in Interview with a Blogger? Just click HERE for details and to enter

 

Sound of the Heart by Genevieve Graham

Historical Romance: 336 Pages
Publisher: Penguin Canada
Published: May 1st, 2012
Series: None
Challenge: Blog Tour
Source: From publisher for review
Buy the Book: Amazon Canada | Amazon
Find the Author: Website

Dougal MacDonnell, a fierce warrior from the Highlands of Scotland, is able to hear the thoughts of other men and dream how the future will unfold.

Devastated by the loss of his family during the Battle of Culloden in 1746, he fosters a deep hatred for the English. But when Glenna, the love of his life and a Scottish outlaw, is captured and shipped overseas, Dougal is forced to join an English army made of vanquished Scots. Now fighting on the side of his sworn enemies, he embarks on a journey that will take him across the seas to the colonies.

There he will risk everything for the chance to find his true love.

I absolutely adored Graham's debut novel Under the Same Sky, so when I was approached to review her newest novel Sound of the Heart I didn't even hesitate!

Genevieve Graham has made her way to my group of favourite authors. She will now remain on my auto buy list! Her writing style is absolutely stunning. She plucks you from wherever you are and places you right in the highlands with the characters. She is able to give you every single element of the book and emotion from the characters without clouding the book with unnecessary descriptions and details.

People who know me well enough, know I love anything historical, and this book gave me the fix I was looking for. It was as if the author herself traveled back into time and delivered to us her journey through her story. It was very vivid and enchanting!

Sound of the Heart had the perfect balance of character development and storyline. The last few books I've read have been one or the other, so it was a pleasant reading experience to get the best of both worlds. With the author's lovely writing style, the characters blossomed through the novel. Dougal, I adored. He was bold and strong, but vulnerable at times. It made him very realistic!

There isn't one bad thing I can say about this book. I only dip into romance novels from time to time, but Genevieve Graham reminded me why I loved the genre in the first place. She gave me that memorable book I was craving. My love for historical romance is definitely reignited!

Q & A with Genevieve Graham: Sound of the Heart Blog Tour



Dougal MacDonnell, a fierce warrior from the Highlands of Scotland, is able to hear the thoughts of other men and dream how the future will unfold.

Devastated by the loss of his family during the Battle of Culloden in 1746, he fosters a deep hatred for the English. But when Glenna, the love of his life and a Scottish outlaw, is captured and shipped overseas, Dougal is forced to join an English army made of vanquished Scots. Now fighting on the side of his sworn enemies, he embarks on a journey that will take him across the seas to the colonies.

There he will risk everything for the chance to find his true love.

Q & A with Genevieve Graham

Tell us 3 things about yourself

1. I’m a chocoholic and would absolutely drink 3 cinnamon dolce lattes in a day if I could.
2. I’m a classical musician and absolutely swoon over Prokofiev.
3. I live in Nova Scotia and I can’t stand seafood.

Your debut novel Under the Same Sky got a wonderful response from readers! What are you hoping your readers will get from Sound of the Heart?

Thanks, Cathy! I think people were really surprised with Under the Same Sky because its cover suggested a whole different kind of story - you really can never judge a book by its cover, folks!

I hope readers fall in love with Dougal in Sound of the Heart. I sure did. He led me on some incredible adventures - all of them based on actual events - and through it all he remained an honourable, courageous man who always helped the underdog. And he kept his sense of humour despite all odds.

Besides loving Dougal, I’m hoping readers will see the issues I brought up and realize they were real. The chief one of those is white slavery, which was something of which I knew nothing until I was researching for the book. Did you know hundreds of thousands of whites, starting in the 1600s were shipped as slaves to the colonies? They were cheaper to buy and treated even worse than the black slaves because when the whites came over they weren’t used to the hot climate on the plantations, and they died more quickly, so they needed to be replaced more often. It’s a horrible truth that no one really knows or talks about. Just like human slavery today.

What is it about the Historical romance genre that you enjoy?

I love the idea that the stories actually could have happened. When I write, the stories come to me from somewhere I’ve never been. They’re like urges in my head, and if I want to write well, all I have to do is listen to those voices and type along with them. To me, that hints that maybe there’s some kind of “psychic” thing going on, that I’m only the “medium” ... which means the voices are coming from people who actually did live back then. I absolutely love that. It means I get to experience life back then - from the warmth and security of my own office!

The setting of both Under the Same Sky and Sound of the Heart is so stunning and vivid. What is the writing process like when creating that part of the book?

I watch a lot of movies and read a lot of books. I also do a ton of research. I love epics, the kinds of stories that sweep over continents and encompass everything around them, and the only way I believe they can be written effectively is for the author to put herself right in the middle of it all. I need to feel the frozen ground under my feet, hear the swishing of leaves, experience the plunge of a knife into some part of me. Of course I only do those things in my mind (!) but I have to focus entirely on the scene in order for it to work.

Which came easier to you: Writing in a female's POV or a Male's POV?

Interesting question! In the first book, Maggie’s story was told in first person, so that was the easiest. I was actually inside her head throughout the story. But Andrew’s story, which was told third person, was so clear to me it’s as if I walked alongside him. In Sound of the Heart I think it was easier for me to see Dougal’s story. He was such a colourful person, and Glenna had to keep a lot of secrets from everyone - including me! - so it was harder for me to connect with her at first. I think overall, writing men’s POV is easier for me for some weird reason.

Did you come across any challenges while writing?

Constantly! Research is a relatively new thing for me, and one of the most frustrating things about it is that you can ALWAYS find conflicting answers to your questions. Really. It was totally aggravating. There I was, thinking I’d found the greatest answer, then I’d read something that said the total opposite. grrr.

Another challenge for me is creating plots. I can very happily follow my characters around, describing what’s going on, but eventually I have to actually put them on a road towards the finish line. I’m not a good planner at the best of times, so this can be a big challenge for me. I usually solve it either by sitting down with my brilliant hubby and a glass of wine, or by getting woken up in the middle of the night by one of my characters who has had an epiphany! Either method is fun.

Did you have any 'must haves' while writing Sound of the Heart?(i.e. music, snacks, inspirational photos, etc)

Yep. I ‘must have’ quiet. I don’t listen to music and can’t concentrate when people are talking. I use photos and videos of actors who I imagine in the characters’ roles, and use those fairly often if I need to get a better idea for describing an expression or gesture.

I like to have a candle burning at all times, and a cup o’ tea. If I’m really lucky I have chocolate on hand ...

Your Historical Romance novels are fantastic reads, but is there another genre that you would like to dip into?

Well, I’m working on a couple right now - one is a chicklit that I wrote years ago and I’m fixing it up for fun. I’m actually surprised that I’m enjoying it as much as I am! The new one is a time travel romance, but it’s set partially during WW1 time, so I guess that’s historical romance again in a way ...

Summer is almost here! What is on your summer's reading pile?

I have no idea. I just picked up Susanna Kearsley’s “The Winter Sea” and can’t wait to dig in. Kaki Warner’s latest will be out June 5 … oh man. I can’t remember! But I know the stack is probably taller than I am (I’m 5’3”).

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Thank you for having me, Cathy! Have a terrific summer!





Visit Genevieve Graham

Website | Facebook | Twitter 

Next stop on the Tour: Truly Bookish and Moonlight Gleam


Be sure to enter the Sound of the Heart Blog Tour Grand Prize Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

1,000 Followers!

I can't believe it!! The Crazy Bookworm has hit 1,000 followers!

I can't thank you awesome people enough. Obviously, The Crazy Bookworm wouldn't be anything without you, so I am truly thankful for every single reader!

Be sure to enter my Almost 1,000 Followers Giveawa(linked on the top right sidebar) that I started early this month. Ends May 31st.

I wish I could give every one of you something!

Thanks for all the support!

Happy Reading!

Young Adult Blog Hop(2)

<a href="http://crazy-bookworm.com" target="_blank"><img alt="The Crazy Bookworm" src="http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss111/cathy0587/crazybookworm2.png"/></a>

Details

*If you post about anything related to the young adult genre, you can enter!

*You do not need an actual blog to enter. If you share your YA love through Youtube, A Facebook page, a Tumblr account, etc. You can enter it below.

  

*Please only enter once. If you run a Youtube page AND a Blog please chose only one to link to.

  

*You must post about the blog hop to enter.

  

*The post must contain the Blog Hop button and the answer to that week's question.

  

*If you would like your blog featured, simply enter the blog hop and/or comment.

This Week's Feature Blog


 The Teen Book Guru While hopping around this weekend, I came across this awesome blog and instantly fell in love with it! Head on over and check it out! This Week's Question:  With fame from The Harry Potter Series, The Twilight Saga and now The Hunger Games: What is your favourite book series? And would you like to see it on the big screen? Mine would have to be The Forest of Hands and Teeth Series by Carrie Ryan 

 I would LOVE to see this series hit the big screen. Maybe Emma Stone as the lead role? Either way, if done right, I think this movie would rock!

What's in it for You? A Mailbox feature

Just two books for me this week!

Review

Sea Change by Karen White

Bought

When God was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman

Coming up this week

Young Adult Blog Hop(Monday, May 28th)

Sound of the Heart Blog Tour(Tuesday, May 29th)

Where it Began Book Review(Wednesday, May 30th)

Interview with a Blogger(Thursday, May 31st)

1,000 Followers Giveaway ends(Thursday, May 31st @ 11:59pm)

What's in it for you?

Follow Friday

Q: Activity! Dream cast your current read.

I am currently reading Where it Began by Ann Stampler

Candice Accola (Best known as Caroline from The Vampire Diaries) would play Gabby

Photo from Google Image Search

Matt Lanter (Best known as Liam on 90210) as Billy Nash

Photo from Google Image Search

Stay Updated with The Crazy Bookworm

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*Check out my Current Giveaway! A Book of your choice AND an Amazon Giftcard! Enter HERE

Stop by on Monday's to join the Young Adult Book Blogger Hop hosted right here at The Crazy Bookworm. Click here for more info.

You are also welcome to stop by on Sunday's to participate in my new Mailbox Feature 'What's in it for You?"

Leave your link in the comments so I can hop back!

Happy Hopping!

Want to be a Young Adult Author?

Want to Be a Young Adult Novelist? Pay Attention to Voice and Conflict

by

Victoria Hanley

 

When writing young adult (YA) novels, finding your voice is a must. Editors and agents are always looking for that truly fresh voice. How do you find yours? Believe it or not, I recommend working with a shredder. Really! Just write whatever you want to say and then shred it before anyone reads it. By spending a few minutes a day on this activity, you’ll be giving your mind permission to run free--free of pressure, obligation, and fear. Soon, you may surprise yourself with a new level of creativity and flow in your writing.

Create convincing conflict. I know it’s hard, but you’ve got to be mean to your characters. Resist the urge to take care of them and give them easy lives. They need to be under plenty of pressure, pressure that keeps increasing until the climax. The conflict you choose must be closely connected to the characters, the plot, and the message. (Don’t leave resolution up to the adults.) Picture the conflict as air filling a balloon. Too often, new writers let out the air and deflate their stories because they don’t want their characters to suffer. But your story balloon needs to have enough air to pop with a really loud bang at the climax.

Thank you to Victoria Hanley for stopping by with this guest post! As an aspiring YA writer, this advice is truly taken to heart!

For more information on successful secrets to Writing and Publishing in the Young Adult market, be sure to check out Victoria Hanley's latest novel Wild Ink.

Visit Victoria: Website

(released May 1, 2012) -- Would you love to write the next young adult (YA) novel? Wild Ink is packed with examples on how to turn your own ideas into riveting stories. Dozens of interviews with writers, editors, and agents provide an inspirational view of what’s happening in the industry and advice on how to finish a book and get published. Includes a chapter on writing nonfiction YA.

Young Adult Book Blog Hop(1)

Young Adult Blog Hop

(Button to come)

Welcome to the very first Young Adult Blog hop! Hosted right here, at The Crazy Bookworm.

I love discovering new blogs and meeting new people every day! This is similar to the blog hops hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read but they are not affiliated. This blog hop will focus primarily on the young adult blogs.

The Young Adult Blogging community is growing everyday, and I love checking them out. What better way than a blog hop?!

Details

• If you post about anything related to the young adult genre, you can enter!

• You do not need an actual blog to enter. If you share your YA love through Youtube, A Facebook page, a Tumblr account, etc. You can enter it below.

• Please only enter once. If you run a Youtube page AND a Blog please chose only one to link to.

• You must post about the blog hop to enter.

• The post must contain the Blog Hop button(when arrived) and the answer to that week's question.

• As of now, I will not be featuring a Young Adult blog each week, but this could very well change! If it is something that you guys would like to see, then I will create a submission form, and you can submit your blog to be featured during the Young Adult Hop.

• The Young Adult Hop will take place every Monday and will run until Thursdays.

• To submit a weekly question, simply suggest it in the comments!

Now... Let's Hop!

Question of the Week: If you could put yourself into any book, which book would it be and why?

This one comes easy to me! I would put myself into Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children. What a unique story that book was. I would love to be in the background watching all of those magical children with their unique abilities!

Happy Hopping!

First Young Adult Blog Hop starts tomorrow!

I just wanted to post a friendly reminder to everyone that the first Young Adult Book Blog Hop starts Monday, May 21st, and takes place right here at The Crazy Bookworm! Stop on by, link your blog and start hopping!

I hope everyone is having a fantastic long weekend!

Happy Reading!

What's in it for You? A Mailbox Feature

What's in it for You is a mailbox feature hosted here at The Crazy Bookworm. You can share what books you got this week and also post upcoming news and recaps! Feel free to participate by entering your link below!

For Review

Wild Ink: Success Secrets to Writing and Publishing in the Young Adult Market by Victoria Hanley

The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

Bought

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

All These Things I've Done byGabrielle Zevin

A Need so Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Dear Bully by 70 Various Young Adult Authors

(This has been featured on The Crazy Bookworm before, but I had to replace my copy that I lent out and never got back)

Insatiable by Meg Cabot

Victoria Hanley, author of Wild Ink, will be stopping by The Crazy Bookworm this week to talk about becoming a Young Adult Novelist. For all your aspiring YA writers out there, this is a must read! Be sure to stop by on Tuesday, May 22 to check out the post. Victoria will also be taking questions. If you have one, just post it in the comments!

What's in it for You?

Follow Friday

Happy Friday, Bookworms! I hope everyone had a great week, and is looking forward to the long weekend ahead of them!

Q: Summer Break is upon us! What would be the perfect vacation spot for you to catch up on your reading & relax?

A: Oh! The options are endless for me!

 Like Alison, I love to cruise as well! Nothing beats reading a book on the deck, parlour or in your cabin while your sailing the open sea!

Camping/Cottage. What's better than some ol' fashioned wilderness? Got a trailer, cabin or tent? Perfect for getting some R&R and some reading time in. Also, if you have a cabin or trailer, nothing beats reading during a nice rainy day!

The beach..No explaination needed!

What are your choices?

*Don't forget to check out my Almost 1,000 followers/Birthday Bash Giveaway. Ends May 31st, open to everyone. Check it our HERE

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Be sure to leave your link so I can hop back!

Happy Hoppin!

Author Spotlight: Jennifer Echols

Jennifer Echols was born in Atlanta and grew up in a small town on a beautiful lake in Alabama—a setting that has inspired many of her books. She has written eight romantic novels for young adults, including the comedy MAJOR CRUSH, which won the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the drama GOING TOO FAR, which was a finalist in the RITA, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Book Buyer’s Best, and was nominated by the American Library Association as a Best Book for Young Adults. Her next two teen dramas, including SUCH A RUSH, will appear in 2012 and 2013, with her adult romance novels debuting in 2013, all published by Simon & Schuster. She lives in Birmingham with her husband and her son.

First off, thank you for stopping by!

Thanks for having me, Cathy.

Tell us 3 random things about yourself

I hate my hair, so every time I get it cut, I take in a picture to show the stylist what I want, and she clearly does what I want, but it ends up looking the same.

My goal in life lately is to move to the beach someday, because I go for a week most summers but I think about it all year long!

Last February I ran my first marathon.

If you could only describe yourself in one word, which would it be?

Busy!

Let's talk about The One that I Want! What was the writing experience like for this book?

Very fast. Simon Pulse asked me for a romantic comedy in April to launch their new e-book-only line that December. Eight months may sound like a long time, but that’s a nanosecond in the publishing world. I had to stop writing Such a Rush, take a few months to write The One that I Want in the middle of it, and then go back to Such a Rush. Luckily, I knew where I was going with both books! In the end, Simon Pulse decided not to launch an e-book-only line, and The One that I Want is in print too like all my other books. I’m really glad, because some people don’t like e-books, and I wanted everyone to be able to read it.

Where did the inspiration for the story come from?

I think it’s pretty common to like your friend’s boyfriend and know this is way wrong. I was trying to capture those emotions.

Did you come across any challenges while writing The One that I Want?

I was born in Atlanta and lived there again a few years ago, but I found myself stuck in the middle of writing because I couldn’t quite picture the exact setting. The solution was to drive over there (it’s about three hours from my home in Birmingham) and walk where the characters walk.

Do you have any writing must haves? (Music, food, etc)

I make a soundtrack for every book and listen to it on my iPod. Coffee is also helpful.

If you could have dinner with any one of your book characters, who would it be?

I don’t base characters on real people, but Max is closer to my husband than anyone else I’ve written. There are some choice quotes from my husband in Max’s dialogue. So I feel a bit like I’ve been to dinner with him before.

Which genre do you enjoy writing the most? Adult or Young Adult

Honestly, I love writing both, because I thrive on the variety. If I had to write the same type of book every time, it wouldn’t be as much fun.

What is 'A Day in the Life' of Jennifer Echols like?

I get up at 4:30 and write (or answer interview questions!) until my son wakes up at 6:30. I bundle him off to school, go for a run, and then write until I pick him up at 2:30. We run errands or work in the yard, and then I may go back to writing when he settles down to building Legos. Then there might be soccer practice, football practice, or a drum lesson. At night I read.

Spring is right around the corner! What books are on your Spring reading pile?

Right now I’m starting It Had to Be You because so many people say that’s their favorite Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Then I’m working through the last of the Jennifer Crusie--I think I have three to go--and then I’ll probably go back to working through the Sarah Dessen, Susane Colasanti, Deb Caletti, and Lauren Barnholdt. It’s nice when authors you enjoy have lots of books.

Thank you for stopping by! It is a pleasure having you at The Crazy Bookworm!

It’s been fun!

Visit Jennifer
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Jennifer's upcoming YA novel Such a Rush hits shelves July 10th from MTV Books

A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.

High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever. But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business--until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers--and the consequences could be deadly.

New Feature: YA Book Blog Hop

YA Book Blog Hop

(Button to come)

I love blog hopping! I look forward to Parajunkee's Follow Friday every week. It's a great way to discover new blogs and visit old favourites. I did not start this feature to replace that one, I will still be an avid participator in Follow Friday. I started this feature to just add a new outlet, specifically for the Young Adult Blogging Community. You don't have to have an actual blog. If you use youtube, tumblr, a facebook page, etc to share your love for books, you are more than welcome to link to that.

Details

The Feature will take place here at The Crazy Bookworm every Monday and will run until Thursday. 

There will be a linky list that you will use to participate.

An official button is on it's way!

Like the other blog hops, there will be a post with a question for you to answer in your post. If the feature is successful, then you are more than welcome to submit question suggestions.

I love the fact that Parajunkee and Alison Can Read spotlight a blog each week. If this feature is successful, then I may spotlight a YA blog every week. It may be one that I came across during a previous hop, or one submitted.

The first official hop will start Monday, May 21st.

How does this sound to you?

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask in the comments, and I will reply!

 

What's in it for You? A mailbox feature

What's in it for You is a weekly feature created and hosted right here at The Crazy Bookworm. You get to share all the awesome books you received this week, plus recap or share any upcoming news.

For Review

Etiquette for an Apocalypse by Anne Mendel

The Fairytale Keeper by Andrea Cafelo

Ascend by Amy Hocking

Underworld by Meg Cabot

Bought

Divergent by Veronica Roth

(I finally got myself a finished copy of Divergent)

There will be a new feature introduced here tomorrow! Stop by to check it out!

What's in it for You?

The Crazy Bookworm Survey Wrap-Up

Thanks to everyone who took the time to fill out The Crazy Bookworm Feedback survey. All of your comments are very much appreciated! The Crazy Bookworm wouldn't be what it is today if it wasn't for you guys! I strive everyday to make this a fun place for you!

The Design: The Majority of you like the new design, which I am thrilled! It's hard to change the look that you've had for so long, and that your known for. But for me, it was time for a change, and I love what Parajunkee did for me!

Content: Most of you seem to love everything that The Crazy Bookworm has to offer, which makes me so happy! With all the amazing book blogs out there, it is hard to be unique at times.

Features: I was surprised to learn that a lot of you miss my "Ask a Book Blogger" feature. I had only done one post on it, and since it didn't really have much popularity then, I decided to stop it. Thanks for the demand, I will definitely bring that feature back!

There is also a demand for some new features. I am always toying with ideas to bring to The Crazy Bookworm. Just recently I started "What's in it for You?" a new mailbox feature that anyone can participate in! It takes place on Sunday's.

Thanks to your feedback, I will now be introducing another new feature in the next few days...stay tuned!

Thanks for all of your honesty and your kind words! If you are interested in doing a survey for your own blog, I would highly recommend The Survey Monkey.

Follow Friday

Q: This Sunday in the U.S. is Mother’s Day, in celebration, what are some of your favorite books with strong mother/child relationships?

A: A fantastic book is Mothers & Other Liars by Amy Bourett. A little choice I would say The Clarity series by Kim Harrington. Clare and her relationship with her mother is strong and hilarious at times!

 

Don't forget to enter my Almost 1,000 Followers/ Birthday Bash Giveaway! Click here to see what's for grabs and to enter!

**Leave your link in the comments, so I can hop back!**

Happy Hoppin'!

Almost 1,000 followers/Birthday Bash Giveaway!

I can't believe The Crazy Bookworm is almost at 1,000 followers! I am in complete awe. Every single one of you are so awesome, thank you for all of your support!

I am going to be the 25 on May 23rd. I can't believe it! Where does the time go?

So in honour of my almost 1,000 followers and my 25th Birthday. I am doing a giveaway!

Details

You will receive one book of your choice and a $10 Amazon Gift card

OR

You can chose to receive a $20 Amazon Gift card.

Giveaway is open to everyone

You must be a follower

(It is also a followers giveaway)

You must be 13 years of age or older to enter

Contest ends May 31st

Winner will state their choice of prize when contacted

Your Choices

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway