Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over at The Broke and the Bookish.

Each week they will post a new top ten list that one of our bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a great way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Authors That Deserve More Recognition

1. Chris Howard, author of Rootless - He's a remarkable writer that writes with a purpose, though we never, ever feel as though he's preaching or talking down to us as readers.

2. Romily Bernard, author of Find Me - Her debut novel surprised me in the best possible way, full of dark twists and turns, all the while asking the reader to become invested in a fantastic mystery.

3. Kirsty Eagar, author of Raw Blue - She has this innate ability to bottle human emotion and turn it into something magical, even for the most reluctant of contemporary readers.

4. Jennifer Brown, author of Hate List - She captures the essence of human nature and crafts stories around it that are poignant, powerful and, most of all, real.

5. Mary E. Pearson, author of The Adoration of Jenna Fox - In a time when sci-fi didn't seem to have a true audience, she made it popular by merging it with an unbelievable, heart-wrenching tale.

6. Savita Kalhan, author of The Long Weekend - This little-known author wrote one of the most powerful books I've read on this blog that far surpasses the YA genre.

7. Victoria Schwab, author of The Near Witch - With a fluid, melodic and poetic voice, she spun a tale that was equal parts magic, mystery, sweet romance and thriller.

8. Joanna Philbin, author of The Daughters Series - In a time where I swore off contemps, her sweet, lighthearted books about a trio of friends broke the mold with her fun and engaging writing voice. 

9. T.M. Goeglein, author of Cold Fury - True crime has often lacked an audience in YA, but this lesser-known author wrote a hard-hitting, powerful and thrilling tale that transcends the genre.

10. Darby Karchut, author of Griffin Rising - Even when I swore of paranormal for being completely formulaic, I could resist this sweet story full of heart and soul (and engaging writing).

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over at The Broke and the Bookish. 

Each week they will post a new top ten list that one of our bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a great way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Books Dealing with Tough Subject Matter:

1.  Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar - This book was probably my first foray into contemporary fiction that really actually worked for me. It's a beautiful, poetic and hypnotizing book that tackles some intense dark issues such as rape and loss of self-worth. However, it's also about healing, and it's fantastic. Read it. 

2. When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney - I haven't posted my review yet for this one (check back Thursday - shameless plug), but I was blown away by it. I cried a lot, but I also laughed and healed with the main character. Dealing with death, grief and moving on, it's stunning.

3. Dark Song by Gail Giles - This was a book that I didn't expect to be nearly as dark as it was, but it was immensely powerful. Tackling issues of abusive relationships, teenage rebellion, familial drama and more, it's a no-holds-barred story that will really make you think.

4. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson - I don't think any list regarding tough subject matter would be complete without this book. Sparse, simple and painful, the book illustrates the spiral of an eating disorder in a powerful, but realistic way. (Beware - it can be triggering.)

5. Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers - I put off reading this one for a long time because I'm not so big on the contemps unless they're really true to life. Well, this lived up. Portraying some of the harshest bullying between teenage girls, it presents a challenge - liking an unlikable character as she tries to change.

6. The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin - It still amazes me that this book is one of her most obscure titles in the YA market today. It's a powerful, thought-provoking and extremely emotional tale of parental abuse and learning to live, move on and forgive.

7. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler - Disregard the "loose" title. Trust me. I ignored this book because if it for a really long time. Accurately portraying two teen girls' navigation through the grief process mourning and moving on, it's sure to make you laugh, smile and cry along the way.

8. The Long Weekend by Savita Kalhan - This book is severely underrated. It's often mistaken for MG because of its young main character, but the topics and subject matter of the novel are far beyond that age group. This gripping story of child abduction and abuse is sure to leave you breathless.

9. Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles - Honestly, I love this book, but some people might question my reasoning for listing it here. Think about it this way. Maggie was the victim of an accident. Caleb was the so-called perpetrator of the accident, and both of them must somehow start to move on.

10. Bitter End by Jennifer Brown - This is another one of those books I had on my TBR forever, but I just kept putting it off. However, once I finally read it, I was blown away. This deep novel bares its soul through the story of both an emotionally and physically abusive relationship in an amazingly poignant way.

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over at The Broke and the Bookish. They'd love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week they will post a new top ten list that one of our bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Books I Had VERY Strong Emotions About (cry, laugh, hurl across the room, etc.):

1. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Most people list the Deathly Hallows or Half-Blood Prince, but book five destroyed me. I mean, yes, Dumbledore is always in my heart, but I have two words for you, no matter what: Sirius. Black.

2. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Honestly, it was the cliffhanger of doom that did me in on this one. Or Noah Shaw. Ok, fine. It was both. I laughed, I squeeeeeeed, and heck...I really did throw it across the room.

3. Where the Red Fern Grows - I have a thing for animals. It's not a secret. I swear we read the most miserable books in the fifth grade, and this is one of them. I'm sure it's a great book, but it scarred me for life.

4. The Last Silk Dress - That girl just couldn't catch a break. There's something about the Civil War South that always gets to me. This book, the love story and the pain the MC has to bear with her mother is almost enough to break even the most hardened reader.

5. Many Waters - I still maintain that no list is complete without this one. The end kills me every time, regardless of the fact that I know exactly what's going to happen and how it's going to happen. Without fail, I cry.

6. My Brother Sam Is Dead - This was another one of the miserable fifth grade reads we had. Seriously...were we supposed to learn about death and dying or something? If so, well done, school system. You scarred us!

7. Marley and Me - Sweet? Yes. Beautiful? Yes. Heartwarming? Yes. Heartbreaking? Hell yes. Doggies in books are a great combo. Doggies and sadness in books? Not ok.

8. Catching Fire - I loved book one, but book two sealed the deal for me. There was raw power, and sadness and a near loss of hope in this one. It was so riveting that I literally couldn't stop reading it.

9. The Long Weekend - There aren't too many books out there that can elicit sheer terror from me, but this one can. The fact that it's so tangible and so realistic is what seals the deal.

10. Dark Song - My reaction to this was somewhere between anger, horror, disgust, sadness and utter revulsion. Not too many books can make me feel such a strong and powerful sense of emotions, but this one sure did. One hundred percent.

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists over at The Broke and the Bookish. They'd love to share their lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week they will post a new top ten list that one of our bloggers at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join. All they ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

Top Ten Underrated Books (those books you can't believe aren't more popular):

1. The Long Weekend by Savita Kalhan - It's marketed as a MG read because of the younger characters, but let me tell you - this is one chilling story. The author masters to delicately balance a horrific and psychological thriller with a depth of humanity. It's a must-read.

2. Griffin Rising by Darby Karchut - Perhaps it's that the cover doesn't scream "READ ME!" but this one defies the ordinary angel/paranormal mold. It's a story with heart and depth and one that will transcend the YA genre.

3. The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin - People know the author for her other works, but this one is that seems to slip through the cracks. Honestly, it's one of the best and most heartfelt contemporary stories I've read in a long time.

4. Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar - I've said it once (or a billion times), but I will sing the praises of this one until the end of time. I hated contemps before this, but this single book gave me hope for the genre. Love, love, love the theme and writing.

5. Vampire Empire: The Greyfriar by Susan & Clay Griffith - Okay, this is saying something because we all know how I feel about vampires. Honestly, this book was so refreshing though...merging steampunk with paranormal? Sheer genius, I say.

6. Time Windows by Kathryn Reiss - Maybe this is too old to still be popular, but I'm surprised it wasn't more popular when it came out, too. It's got a great plot, fabulous characters that stick with you, and an amazing premise. I highly recommend it and continue to re-read it to this day.

7. Many Waters by Madeleine L'Engle - The author, again, is so popular for the other books in the series, and this one seems to get slighted in the mix. Perhaps it's that it focuses on the twins, or the Biblical retelling, but honestly, this remains a favourite standout of mine to this day. I can't recommend it enough.

8. Dark Song by Gail Giles - I know a lot of people have read this one, but the ratings are really mixed. Yes, it was a dark book, and yes, it's not for everyone, but I loved it. It's a fabulously ravaging story - and it sticks with you.

9. The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum - A lot of people say that time travel stories aren't their thing. The premise, while it involves time travel, is so much more than that. It's got great characters and a highly engaging plot.

10. This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas - Bone-chilling is a great word to describe this one. If you enjoy reading psychological stories, I highly recommend this one because its true-to-life nature is hard-hitting and powerful.

The Friday Fix is a takeover of my Friday blog post by other bloggers who have volunteered their time and energy to "star" in their very own guest post on Friday. Only one mandatory rule (you can't get out of it!) - you must answer five of the most random questions I throw your way. The rest is up to you. Remember, if you'd like to be featured on the Friday Fix, send me an email, and let me know! So, without further ado, here are the Chloe from YA Booklover Blog!

The Most Random Questions in the World...

1. Why are obituaries found in the "living" section of the newspaper?

Because there isn't enough room in the automobile section ;)

2. Can crop circles ever be square?

Wikipdedia claims they can also be referred to as crop formations, so I would take this as a.... yes?

3. What do you do if you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?

I'd say pull the animal off the plant. Unless that's the only plant the animal can eat, and then the plant is pretty much screwed if it doesn't grow teeth soon enough.

4. If milk goes bad if you don't refrigerate it, why don't we refrigerate the cows?

Something tells me that cows don't have the thickest of coats and that they might not do too well in a fridge. Plus that would have to be one massive fridge. But hey, what do I know?

5. If someone dies of a heart attack in the electric chair before being electrocuted, do they save him/her?

Yes! Because the point of the electric chair is to make them suffer, so they must save the person from dying an easier death and force them to fulfill their punishment.

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Thank you so much for participating in the Friday Fix, Chloe! I'm so glad to finally "meet" someone who knows more about crop formations than I do. To all of you, be sure to check out Chloe's awesome blog, YA Booklover Blog...she has fab reviews and so much more!

In unrelated news, check out today's stop for The Long Weekend Blog Tour! Today we're visiting Ginger's blog, GReads! Be sure to check out her review, interview and international giveaway!

In further unrelated news, be sure enter to win an ARC of Awaken (ends 4/15), and it's open internationally!

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here are the rules: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page, and 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 Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The ashen, sickly color of her skin faded. Slowly, Madame Cornot loosened her grip on Ada's arms until she eventually let go and lay back against the couch with her eyes closed. 

Ada: Legend of a Healer by R.A. McDonald

And now, for my Tuesday Teaser...For those of you who don't know, I do my Tuesday Teasers differently (and yes, I add this disclaimer every time). Each week, I feature two sentences (or more) of something I've written, leave it up all day, then remove it around 11 PM. You're welcome to comment on it, love it, hate it, or simply read it at your leisure...if you'd like, of course. This week's teaser is from my current WIP, RACE.

Brimming with blood and echoing with the screams of a thousand dead Racers, I wrench myself from the vivid nightmare, but the terror remains. I launch myself from my cot and crouch in the far corner, panting for a deep breath, feeling the icy cold sheen trickle lazily down my neck.

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Be sure to check out today's stop for The Long Weekend Blog Tour hosted by yours truly! The all-too-awesome Steph from Steph the Bookworm has a fabulous review/interview/international giveaway for all of you, so be sure to drop by and check it out!

The Friday Fix is a takeover of my Friday blog post by other bloggers who have volunteered their time and energy to "star" in their very own guest post on Friday. Only one mandatory rule (you can't get out of it!) - you must answer five of the most random questions I throw your way. The rest is up to you. Remember, if you'd like to be featured on the Friday Fix, send me an email, and let me know! So, without further ado, here are the Julia from That Hapa Chick!

The Most Random Questions in the World...

1. Why is an outlet called that if you plug something into it? Shouldn't it be an inlet?

Awww yes that is a puzzling question. That is until you think about the fact that the energy comes OUT of the outlet and into whatever you're trying to power. Then it makes perfect sense!

2. Why does Goofy get to stand up if Pluto has to remain on all fours?

You see when they were first trying to figure out who would play Goofy they couldn't decide between two dog actors so they had to pick randomly. They felt so bad for the actor who wasn't picked that they offered to write a part especially for him. Unfortunately they couldn't write in another walking talking dog so they had no choice but to make him Mickey's pet Pluto who can only bark and walk on all fours.

3. Why isn't there a name for the tops of your feet, but there is a name for the bottom of your feet?

This is a question that NEEDS to be answered! Especially since just about every other part of our foot has a name. Toes, heel, arch, etc. I personally will start calling it the dome of the foot. Who's with me?

4. If you plan to have no plans at all, do you have a plan?

This is a sticky situation. Some people will argue that you have a plan to have no plans but others will say you have no plan at all and that you are merely a time waster. Personally I like to think it means you are spontaneous.

5. If your seat is a flotation device, why doesn't the airplane just become a boat?

My thoughts exactly! I mean if Chitty Chitty Bang Bang can change from a car, a boat, AND an airplane I don't see why modern airplanes can't too! Unfortunately modern airplane manufacturer's don't agree with me. They went the cheap route and decided to only make only the seats float.

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Thank you so much for participating in my ridiculous Friday Fix, Julia! Your answers were fab, and I'm so glad you finally explained the whole Goofy/Pluto thing to me. That's been bugging me for a while! For all of you, be sure to check out Julia's awesome blog, That Hapa Chick. There's never a dull moment there, and she has a great feature there called "Bookish Questions."

In unrelated news, today is day 11 of The Long Weekend Blog Tour! We have yet another awesome tour stop at Lauren's blog, Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf, today! Be sure to check out her review, interview and international giveaway!

In further unrelated news, I have two international giveaways going on now! Enter to be one of three winners for a choice of 6 ARCs in my Birthday Bash Giveaway (ends 3/30) and, while you're at it, enter to win an ARC of Awaken (ends 4/15)!

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. As always, there are some amazing upcoming books, but this week I'm particularly excited for...

Title: Boyfriends with Girlfriends
Author: Alex Sanchez
Publisher: S & S Children's
Published: April 19, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 224

Lance has always known he was gay, but he's never had a real boyfriend. Sergio is bisexual, but his only real relationship was with a girl. When the two of them meet, they have an instant connection--but will it be enough to overcome their differences?

Allie's been in a relationship with a guy for the last two years--but when she meets Kimiko, she can't get her out of her mind. Does this mean she's lesbian? Does it mean she's bi? Kimiko, falling hard for Allie, and finding it impossible to believe that a gorgeous girl like Allie would be into her, is willing to stick around and help Allie figure it out.

Boyfriends with Girlfriends is Alex Sanchez at his best, writing with a sensitive hand to portray four very real teens striving to find their places in the world--and with each other.

Someone asked me the other day why I don't think contemporary fiction is my thing, and I told them that I thought so much of it is formulaic and the same-old, same-old. I really long to read books that take risks and step outside the box. So, in line with my personal contemporary challenge, I've been on the hunt for something different. I like that Boyfriends with Girlfriends isn't something I've read before. I don't think I've read enough LGBT story lines, and I'm interested to see how this is done. Plus, it sounds like there's a lot of internal struggles going on here, and I like watching those transitions. Colour me crazy. What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week?

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Today is day 9 of The Long Weekend Blog Tour! Be sure to check out today's tour stop over at Savannah's blog, Books With Bite! She's got an awesome review, interview and international giveaway for you today, so be sure to enter!

The Friday Fix is a takeover of my Friday blog post by other bloggers who have volunteered their time and energy to "star" in their very own guest post on Friday. Only one mandatory rule (you can't get out of it!) - you must answer five of the most random questions I throw your way. The rest is up to you. Remember, if you'd like to be featured on the Friday Fix, send me an email, and let me know! So, without further ado, here are the Khadija from Black Fingernailed Reviews!

The Most Random Questions in the World...

1. How far East do you have to go before you're heading West?

You'd have to keep going East until you figure out the only way to go West is to make a u-turn and go back the way you came. Sadly I have a horrible sense of direction so I'd probably never figure it out...
2. If, in baseball, a batter hits the ball and it splits, half of which is caught, and half of which flies out of the park, what is the final ruling?

My brain tells me that will never happen, but what does my brain know? (Nothing about baseball that's for sure...) There's always room for improvement to old and long-standing rules, so to make it fair both the batter and...whatever you call the person who catches the ball, should get half a point.

3. Can animals commit suicide?

It's sad to think about but animals can get upset, even depressed. My tailless cat (who is named Stubby) got depressed after our two guinea pigs (Jack Sparrow and Brownie) died; because she no longer had tinny living creatures to continuously torment. She stopped eating for a while, and I'm quite sure she could have died from that, well ya know if all the running head first into doors didn't get to her first. Luckily we moved into a house with a humungo backyard and Stubzy was let lose among the furry and feathery creatures that inhabited it to torment and chase to her heart’s content. Wait...that didn't really answer the question. What I meant to say is yes, yes I think they can.

4. Why aren't curtains double-sided so they look good both in and outside your house?

*sigh* Because most people never want to spend more money than they have to, or they just don't think curtains are worth the effort. I guess it's more important what's on the inside than what's on the outside...or maybe they just care more about what people on the inside of their house think about its appearance than the people on the outside.

5. Were there woodpeckers on Noah's Ark, and if so...where the heck did he keep them? 
Oh that's easy; he put corks on the ends of their peckers. The real question is what the heck did he do with the termites.

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Khadija, you had me at peckers. Oh, wait...that sounded wrong. Anyhoo *whistles innocently* love your answers! It's TOO much fun to see what everyone comes up with, and I totally agree with your thoughts on the curtains! To all of you, be sure to check out Khadija's amazing blog, Black Fingernailed Reviews. She's got an awesome blog full of fun and sass...by far the best combo!

Also, remember, it is day four of The Long Weekend Blog Tour! Be sure to drop by Tara's blog, Fiction Folio for her awesome review and interview (plus an international giveaway)...hey, you can't beat that, right?!

So, the story begins like this. Once upon a time I did a little old Waiting on Wednesday like every other day...blah, blah, blah...you know the story. I picked the book, I posted it, and I went about my business like the busy little be that I am was. While in a meeting, my phone started blowing up, and I was all "hmmmm who did I offend?" Well, long story short...the uber amazing Michelle Hodkin (whose praises I will also sing) held an impromptu giveaway, and I won! What did I win, you ask? Well, I won an art print of the cover, over which I'm proud to say I drooled yesterday, and I won confidential snippets from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer! Want proof? Fine. See below. You asked for it. And yes...that's my SQUEE! face.

But really, though I'm sworn to secrecy as to the actual content of what I've read, I can tell you that it's truly amazing - and I'm not exaggerating! Since I'm sure you'd love to know a bit more than that, allow me to share the following ten tidbits to tease you as we wait for the September 27, 2011 release of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer from Simon & Schuster.

WHY I LOVE THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER:

(EVEN THOUGH WE ONLY JUST MET)

1. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is descriptive, angst-y, and ripped with tension from the first page.

2. Michelle Hodkin is a tricky little tease with some of her super steamy scenes...and she riddles them with craziness!

3. The first few pages were FAR more riveting than watching Rebecca Black's horrid song one more time.

4. Mara has some crazy mojo.

5. Michelle creates emphasis with short...pronounced...repetition...and girl does it WELL!

6. I want Mara to be my best friend, but I'm terrified of her.

7. There's a boy...and this boy is HOT.

8. Hello, cliffhanger chapter of death.

9. Michelle knows how to set a scene. From page one, it's vivid, exciting, nerve-wracking and thrilling, plus, you can totally put yourself in Mara's shoes...to a point.

10. THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER. IS. NOT. CONTEMPORARY. FICTION.

And there you have it, my friends. Michelle Hodkin, I bow before your genius from just a few short pages (and a pretty stunning art print). I cannot wait for this book to come out, and can you believe it isn't contemporary?! You could have knocked me over with a feather. Anyhoo, while we all wait with eager minds for the release date...head on over to her blog, or stalk her on twitter because she's that awesome.

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In unrelated news, it is day two of The Long Weekend Blog Tour! Hop on over to Alice's blog, The Reader Room, for another awesome review of this fabulous book...plus an interview and international giveaway from Savita Kalhan, herself!

Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here are the rules: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page, and 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 Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Whatever anger or self-righteousness I'd come in with had vanished. "She shouldn't be allowed to hit me, or steal my dad's money, no matter what," I said weakly. 


What Comes After by Steve Watkins

And now, for my Tuesday Teaser...For those of you who don't know, I do my Tuesday Teasers differently (and yes, I add this disclaimer every time). Each week, I feature two sentences (or more) of something I've written, leave it up all day, then remove it around 11 PM. You're welcome to comment on it, love it, hate it, or simply read it at your leisure...if you'd like, of course. This week's teaser is from my current WIP, RACE.

My legs are sporting bright droplets of scarlet blood, oozing from the cracks in my injured flesh. I smudge the blood with my stinging hands, only to realize I’ve made my legs look worse. I wipe my reddened hands on the remnants of my dress and let my shoulders slump, collapsing my head into my folded arms.

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Today is the first stop for The Long Weekend Blog Tour hosted by yours truly! The all-too-awesome Jamie from The Perpetual Turner has a fabulous review/interview/international giveaway for all of you, so be sure to drop by and check it out!

I’ve been lucky enough to work with Savita Kalhan, author of the fabulous YA read, The Long Weekend to create a blog tour for her amazing book. This tour is hosted by yours truly, i swim for oceans, and will be running from March 15th through April 1st as it makes its way around the blogosphere.

Make sure you drop by all the awesome blogs hosting the various tour stops because there will be amazing giveaways (international!), author interviews and a unique chance to interact with the author, herself! The Long Weekend is truly one of the best books I've ever read...for proof, feel free to view my review of The Long Weekend HERE. I'm so excited to host this tour, and I'll link each stop daily, so please be sure to check out the amazing blogs (listed below) that are involved with The Long Weekend Blog Tour!

March 15^th - Jaime @ The Perpetual Page Turner

March 16^th - Alice @ The Reader Room

March 17^th - Jenny @ Supernatural Snark

March 18^th - Tara @ Fiction Folio

March 19^th - Jen @ Makeshift Bookmark

March 20^th - Momo @ Books Over Boys

March 21^st - Sarah @ That Bookish Girl

March 22^nd - Tara @ Hobbitsies

March 23^rd - Savannah @ Books With Bite

March 24^th - Kate @ Literary Explorations

March 25^th - Lauren @ Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf

March 26^th - Alex @ Electrifying Reviews

March 27^th - Anna @ Anna Reads

March 28^th - Steph @ Steph the Bookworm

March 29^th - Linds @ Bibliophile Brouhaha

March 30^th - Stacey @ A Reader’s Record

March 31^st - Jasmine & Jacinda @ The Reading Housewives of Indiana

April 1^st - Ginger @ GReads

 If, for some reason, you forget which blogs are on the lineup, just keep your eye out for the button below! It will link you back here, and you can hop on over to the next stop! Enjoy!

Talk to Me Tuesday is a brand new weekly meme where we will discuss anything (and everything) literary-related in an open forum of honesty. Questions for the next week will be posted one week prior to the post on the Features page. If you'd like to participate in this weekly feature, simply create your post, link back to me, and add your post to the wonderful Mr. Linky below. Have fun, and have at it!

This week's question: Who are your all-time favourite male and female characters?

Ahhh yes, the age-old question. A good friend asked me who my favourite all-time characters were, and it got me to thinking. See, the problem is that there are SO many characters in the genres I read that have characters that resonate on different levels, you know? I think it’s impossible and completely untrue for me to say that I have one true favourite for both male and female characters, but that said, I definitely have those that continue to stay with me long after I’ve finished a book or series, so I decided that I’d tell you my two (read: current) all-time favourites.

Sirius Black played such an important role in the Harry Potter series, though his role was far too fleeting for my liking. No, he’s not the youngest, or the hottest, or even the smartest, most likely, but there is something about his character that stays with me, no matter what book I pick up next. He’s an unlikely hero with a clouded past, but he resonates familial love, true courage and a depth of personality that doesn’t often appear for characters that don’t in a long series for a long period of time. No, he may not have played a role continuously through the series in terms of face-time, but his personality, spirit and heart remained long past his exit.

Annabeth from the Percy Jackson series wasn’t your typical female MC from the first second she entered the series. She’s strong and resourceful, she has no desire to be coddled in any way, shape or form, and she most certainly doesn’t want a boy to take care of her. She’s got this hardened exterior because of how she was raised, but inside, she’s just a teenage girl with the same angst as every teen. There are little hints of angst that appear now and again, but they’re peppered and punctuated by her sassy attitude and no-holds-barred demeanor. Most of all though, Annabeth doesn’t want to fit in. She’s special, and she will try her damndest to stand out.

Obviously, there are a ton of fantastic characters out there. To name just a few of my other favourites – Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice, Hagrid from Harry Potter, Anna from My Sister's Keeper, Lloyd & Sam from The Long Weekend, Jo from Little Women and far too many others to name. So what about you? Do you have all-time favourite male & female characters?

Want to weigh in and do your own Talk to Me Tuesday post for this week? Go ahead and link up!

Sam knows that he and his friend Lloyd made a colossal mistake when they accepted the ride home. They have ended up in a dark mansion in the middle of nowhere with man who means to harm them. But Sam doesn't know how to get them out. They were trapped, then separated. Now they are alone. Will either of them get out alive? This gripping and hypnotic thriller will have you reading late into the night.

Taken from GoodReads.

The Long Weekend follows the story of Sam and Lloyd, two friends who find themselves in a very scary and very dangerous situation. Sam just started at a new school and was fortunate to find a good friend in Lloyd – someone he can joke around with and not feel like the new kid. One weekend, when their plans go awry, the two make the mistake of getting in a car with a stranger without thinking and the longest weekend of their lives begins. They’re taken to an old secluded mansion and separated from one another, left to the mercy of the sinister stranger. Can they make it out alive, or even in one piece?

I was invited to review The Long Weekend by author, Savita Kalhan, and I couldn’t resist. I have a penchant for mysteries and thrillers, and when they’re in the YA genre, I’m sold from the get-go. Despite being written for a young adult audience, the author tackles an extremely sensitive and chaotic topic, merging it with beautiful prose and vivid imagery to keep the story and madness alive. I’m not lying when I say this book gave me the chills more than once. Though Kalhan is delicate in her wording for the audience, it’s no less scary or creepy.

What I found most amazing about The Long Weekend was how perfect the voice of 11-year-old Sam sounded. It felt very tangible and both Sam and Lloyd’s fear was perfectly depicted. Nothing was overdone or overplayed, so the subtleties in the story really rang through and heightened the suspense. The boys go through a range of emotions from worry, to surprise, to potential excitement, to downright fear, matched well with the pacing to keep the flow of The Long Weekend going throughout the slim book (it's a quick read). I was on the edge of my seat throughout, rooting for both Sam and Lloyd because I really got inside their heads.

All in all, The Long Weekend was a fabulous read. I give it a firm 5 out of 5, and I’d have to say this is one of the most underrated books I’ve heard of in a while, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read it. I would recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who like horror, realistic fiction, and contemporary fiction.

I received this book free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

In My Mailbox is an amazing weekly meme hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren that features the books we have received during the week. It's so much fun because we get to see what our fellow bloggers stumbled upon this week and add even more to our piles of books! Without further ado, this week I received the following books:

I, Emma Freke - (For Review - Thank you, Carolrhoda & NetGalley) - What's in a name? I, Emma Freke is a charming search-for-identity story about Emma―the only "normal" member of her quirky family. Her flighty, New Age mom seems to barely have time for a daughter, especially one who annoyingly spoils her mom's youthful façade. Emma's well-meaning grandpa is clueless. And her only friends are the local librarian and a precocious 10-year old adopted by the two old ladies next door. Smart, shy, and nearly six feet tall, Emma struggles to fit in at school, so she jumps at the opportunity to "home school" until that too turns into another of mom's half-baked ideas.

The Long Weekend - (For Review - Thank you, Savita Kalhan) - Sam knows that he and his friend Lloyd made a colossal mistake when they accepted the ride home. They have ended up in a dark mansion in the middle of nowhere with man who means to harm them. But Sam doesn't know how to get them out. They were trapped, then separated. Now they are alone. Will either of them get out alive?This gripping and hypnotic thriller will have you reading late into the night...

Matched - (Bought) - Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander.

What did you get in your mailbox this week? Leave me a link, and I'll be sure to check it out!

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