Review: The Reluctant Hallelujah by Gabrielle Williams

The Reluctant Hallelujah by Gabrielle Williams
February 22, 2012 ∙ Penguin
Source: Provided by the publisher
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 264

But there I go, getting ahead of myself. Skipping straight to the part where I was front-page news and they were calling me Dorothy, instead of starting at the beginning...

When Dodie's parents go missing just as final year exams are about to start, she convinces herself they're fine. But when the least likely boy in class holds the key – quite literally – to the huge secret her parents have been hiding all these years, it's up to Dodie, her sister, the guy from school, and two guys she's never met before, to take on the challenge of a lifetime. So now Dodie's driving – unlicensed –to Sydney, and being chased by bad guys, the police, and one very handsome good guy.

Review:

When I heard the author had a new book coming out, and that it was a road trip and sounded like complete fun, I straightaway added it onto my to-read list. I can happily say that this book exceeded my expectations by far.

Intriguing and funny, The Reluctant Hallelujah, jumps straight into the story, not wasting a second! As the book progressed the author paced the book perfectly, making for a lively read, with not a dull moment in sight.

The characters in this story, each and every one on of them, are fantastic. You’ll meet a lot of characters in this book, so I’ll let you enjoy discovering them yourself, but I’ll introduce you to the most important - main character, Dodie. A protagonist I simply loved, she led the story beautifully, especially considering she went off on a wild goose chase, only a few days before her final Year 12 exams! Stressful much! She might not have been very happy about the situation in the beginning, about having to abandon her studies and deliver a dead guy to safety, (who would!) but the great character she is, she took it upon her shoulders and soldiered on.

It does deal with the subject of religion, but Gabrielle Williams deals with it extremely well! Even though it was sometimes jokey, the points were relevant and used purposefully.

This might sound strange, but like all good Aussie stories, it's got that beautiful Aussie essence to it. That extra pinch of something else; that rawness; that vibe. Australia might not release that many books each year, but when their good, their good.

Compelling, fun, wacky, heart-warming and so much more, this book isn’t to be missed!

5/5

In My Mailbox #3

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, which allows bloggers to share what books they've borrowed, received in the mail or bought in the past week.

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour – I’m currently reading this and enjoying it. But it isn’t helping the fact that I’m reading this on top of Delirium and also re-reading Perfect Chemistry. 3 books! I normally don’t do this, but...whoops! Hopefully, I’ll spend some quality time alone with it soon and really get into the story!

That was the only book I got this week, but I did get some swag! Hilary Graham sent me two road trip mixed CD’s along with a few bookmarks. One is for me and the other is for the winner of the Road Trip Week Giveaway.

Hope you had a good week book wise! Happy Reading!

Giveaway: Friendship on Fire by Danielle Weiler

Daisy Brooks’s senior year is not off to a great start. Her first assembly as school captain is slightly ruined by her new bright orange hairdo – thanks to her father’s inability to choose correct permanent hair dye. The local Blonde Brigade is already giving her a hard time (and affectionately dubbed her ‘ranga’) and her teachers have done the unthinkable and handed out assignments on the first day back.

The one bright spot in Daisy’s first day back is the appearance of a private school boy hottie. Oh, and her best friend and vice-captain, Roman, who she can count on to hold her temper and have her back.

But the winds of change are sweeping through Daisy’s small town of Twin Rocks. Turns out the private school hottie is new in town and fast friends with her brothers. His name is Nate and he turns Daisy’s legs to jelly. But her totally platonic best friend, always reliable Roman, is starting to act strange.

This is Daisy’s senior year. She’ll learn hard truths and lose small battles on the path to adulthood...but, hey, nobody said it was going to be easy.

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Last month I reviewed, Friendship on Fire by Perth author, Danielle Weiler. You can read my review here.

Danielle has kindly offered to give away two copies of her book - one paperback copy available to those who live in Australia and one PDF version for international readers!

Giveaway runs from now until the 29^th February 2012.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Updates and Birthday Fun!

I started back to school a few weeks ago, but things have started to heat up since I’ve started doing schooling a tad different as of last week. Anyway, to skip to the point, I just want to let you guys know that I will be around, just not as much. This will also cut into my reading time a bit, because when it was the holidays I could read galore, now…not so much. I hope you haven’t fallen asleep, because I have some fun news for you! Next month, since it’s my birthday, I thought I would celebrate with some bookish fun! I’m still getting things together, so I can’t tell you much more, but once I have more of a clue, I’ll let you know! But what you can expect is interviews, giveaways, guest posts and more, so get yourselves ready! The authors who will be participating are those who have book releasing next month and one’s I’m extremely excited to read!

(Hope you enjoy this random but cute picture! I just had to add a picture amongts all this text!)

Thanks for being patient and awesome!

And also, if you’d like to see anything more or less on the blog, leave me a comment. Suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

P.S – What books are you excited for next month? I’d love to know!

Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand (Unearthly #2)

December 13th, 2011 ∙ Harper Collins

Source: Provided by the publisher

Format: Paperback

Page Count: 448

Clara Gardner knew that as a part angel she would one day have to fulfill her purpose, rescuing Christian from a forest fire...what she never considered was what might happen if she were to fail.

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend Tucker, Clara must deal with the repercussions of what happened the day of the fire as the two boys vie for her heart. And, as she is drawn further into the world of angels and part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain after a shocking revelation, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning...

Review:

After reading, Unearthly, and enjoying it, I was excited to pick up Hallowed, to see where the story went next. I didn’t know what to expect, but it certainly out did my expectations!

It did take me a while to read, but not because it wasn’t good, but because of a minor complication, called back-to-school. Trust me, whenever I got a chance I dived right back into the story to read; whether it was few chapters or a few pages, I enjoyed every minute of, Hallowed.

Though I liked Clara before, I like her even more now! She’s such a strong character, that I found easy to relate to; I can’t wait to meet her again in book 3. As for the boys of the story, they are both lovely, but I’m rooting for Tucker, through and through. I like Christian, I do, and sure, it would be easier for Clara to just go off with Christian, and figure out their purposes together; I understand that they will always be linked and connected, but I feel that would be the easy way out, the correct thing to do. To me, love doesn’t come easy, and even though it might mean breaking all the rules, for me, I’m hoping Clara will follow her heart and choose Tucker. End of rant...

I read in one of my friend‘s reviews that Hallowed was sad but didn’t think anything of it until I picked it up for myself. I won’t give anything away to those who haven’t read it yet, but trust me when I say tears were shed!

I’m still reeling, still grasping, still thinking, about Hallowed and just how good it was. I can’t get over the fact how well the sequel turned out! Unearthly was good, but Hallowed completely out did itself and simply blew me away. After reading the amazing sequel, I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book!

Rating 5/5

In My Mailbox #2

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, which allows bloggers to share what books they've borrowed, received in the mail or bought in the past week.

The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams -
I had wishing for this book in January when it first released, but unfortunately didn't get it back then. But not to worry, because this month the soon-to-be released Aussie edition showed up in my mailbox! :D Can't wait to read this!

The Reluctant Hallelujah by Gabrielle Williams -
This was such a suprise when it came in the mail, but a very very good suprise! It's a road trip (which you all know I LOVE!), so I think it's very fitting that I'm currently reading this since Road Trip Week just finished. Plus, it's an Aussie read , and I haven't read one in forever, so yay! Reading this at the moment and am loving it - completely wacky, but completely good! 

Both are short books, only a little over +200 pages, to they shouldn't take long to read. Also, just noticed both their last names are the same! ha!

(A huge thanks to Penguin and Simon and Schuster!)

Road Trip Week Round Up

I can’t believe that Road Trip Week has finished, the times gone by so fast! I hope that you’ve had a blast, enjoyed the posts, added a few new books to your wish list and entered the fab giveaways!

Please do leave me a comment on how you enjoyed Road Trip Week - I’d love to know your thoughts!

Below I’ve listed the posts, so if you haven’t already, go read up and get entering to win some amazing prizes!

Also, thanks SO much to the authors who participated! I didn’t think it was possible but after Road Trip Week, I’m now even more anxious to read all your books, and trust me when I say I was already excited!

J

Megan Bostic: Post + Win a Signed copy of Never Eighteen, plus Swag!

INT - Ends 2/20

Elissa Janine Hoole: Post + Win Jack Kerouac's Dharma Bums or On the Road (winner's choice), in print or digital versions!

INT - Ends 2/21

Jessi Kirby: Post + Win a Signed finished copy of In Honour!

INT - Ends 2/22

Nina LaCour: Post + Win a Signed Copy of The Disenchantments

US/Canada - Ends 2/23

Hilary Graham: Post + Win a Road Trip Mixed CD Inspired by Reunited!

INT - Ends 2/24

RTW - Day 5 with Hilary Graham Post and Giveaway

Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham

Releases: June 12th, 2012

 

1 Concert

2000 Miles

3 Ex-Best Friends

Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are ex-best friends.

Back in middle school, the three girls were inseparable. They were also the number one fans of the rock band Level3.

But when the band broke up, so did their friendship. Summer ran with the popular crowd, Tiernan was a rebellious wild-child, and Alice spent high school with her nose buried in books.

Now, just as the girls are about to graduate, Level3 announces a one-time-only reunion show.

Even though the concert’s 2000 miles away, Alice buys three tickets on impulse. And as it turns out, Summer and Tiernan have their own reasons for wanting to get out of town. Good thing Alice’s graduation gift (a pea-green 1976 VW camper van known as the Pea Pod) is just the vehicle to get them there.

But on the long drive cross-country, the girls hit more than a few bumps in the road. Will their friendship get an encore or is the show really over?

Author Bio: Hilary Weisman Graham is an award-winning filmmaker, screenwriter, and novelist. She lives in rural New Hampshire with her husband and son, roughly thirty minutes away from the nearest grocery store.

website - twitter - blog - facebook

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Based on Life: How to Write from Personal Experience While Staying Grounded in Your Fictional World

I’ve been on a lot of road trips in my life—backpacking through Portugal and Spain with my sister and a friend, shooting a documentary with friends while driving from Boston to Juarez, Mexico, and wandering around the Irish countryside with four of my best girlfriends in a very small rental car. Though thankfully, I’ve never been stuck in a van with any of my ex-best friends.

And while I was fortunate to be able to draw from my past adventures while writing REUNITED, there are also challenges to telling a story that covers such familiar ground. Sure, most writers inevitably mine their own lives for material. But fictionalizing one’s personal experience requires more than just changing the names of the innocent (or guilty, as the case may be).

While truth can sometimes be stranger than fiction, more often than not, our personal anecdotes lack the drama to make for compelling literature. Luckily, my job as a fiction writer not only frees me, but encourages me, to exaggerate.

But it’s not just about raising the stakes of your story. Even more important is the ability to detach from your feelings about the incident, thereby allowing your characters to experience it from their own perspective. In a way, it’s the same job we writers do when we’re crafting a story entirely of our own invention. The feelings we have certainly inform our characters’ inner lives, but in order to write well-developed characters, we must free them to see the world through their own emotional lens.

And what better place to let your characters find adventure, get lost, or veer wildly off-course than out on the open road. Not only is the road trip a great metaphor for our characters' personal journeys, it’s an environment rife with drama—from the conflicts that arise just from being trapped in an enclosed area with other human beings for an extended length of time, to the disagreements over where to stay, what music to listen to, or whether or not you should let a sketchy dude who thinks he’s Michael the Archangel lead you into the backwoods of West Virginia in an attempt to bring you to a naked swimming hole. (See REUNITED, Chapter 9). Then, of course, are the things you never plan for, like running over a squirrel, or getting your van stuck in the mud.

All of the incidents above happen to the girls in REUNITED, and luckily, never to me. But in the end, it’s not our anecdotes that matter, it’s the feelings we hang onto. Like the God help me moment I had (on my European backpacking trip) upon realizing I’d slept on the floor of the connecting hallway between two train cars on the overnight train from Lisbon to Madrid.

This scene wasn’t relevant to REUNITED, but the emotional reality of that moment is something each of the girls in the book experience their own version of at one time or another—that feeling being completely exhausted and disoriented, of wanting to snap your fingers and be miraculously transported back to your cozy familiar bed, of wanting to be anywhere but on this blasted trip!

In the end, every road trip is full of unexpected twists and turns—some of them good, some of them “character building.” But if we always knew where the road would take us, it wouldn’t be an adventure; which is the reason we take road trips in the first place, and also why we love reading books about them.

Question time:

If you could road trip with any 3 people (alive or dead) who would you choose and why?

If I could take a road trip with any 3 people in the world, alive or dead, it would definitely include my dad (who died when I was 16) and my husband and son.  I often wish I could get to know my father better, and I'd love for him to meet my family.

What a great post! I completely agree with, I love road trip stories for the fact they the story can go anywhere. Once you hit the open road the possibilities are endless, it’s a complete adventure. Of course, I could go on (a lot) more, of why I love road trips, but I’ll stop there… :D

And now onto the giveaway!!!

RTW - Day 4 with Nina LaCour Post and Giveaway!

 The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour

 Releases: February 16th, 2012

Colby and Bev have a long-standing pact: graduate, hit the road with Bev's band, and then spend the year wandering around Europe. But moments after the tour kicks off, Bev makes a shocking announcement: she's abandoning their plans - and Colby - to start college in the fall.

But the show must go on and The Disenchantments weave through the Pacific Northwest, playing in small towns and dingy venues, while roadie- Colby struggles to deal with Bev's already-growing distance and the most important question of all: what's next?

Author Bio: Nina LaCour grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her first job was at fourteen in an independent bookstore, and she has since worked in two others. She has tutored and taught in various places, from a juvenile hall to a private college. She now teaches English at an independent high school. Nina lives in Oakland, California with her wife and their two cute cats.

website - twitter  - blog - facebook

Creating the Perfect Road Trip Soundtrack:

When I realized that The Disenchantments would be a road trip story, I knew I would end up on the road myself. I set out hoping to get the facts right: the hours between Medford and Portland, the scenery out the window, the looks of the Greyhound station where I knew my characters would spend a tense few hours, and so on.

But once on the road, the trip became about much more than fact-gathering.

Colby and his friends came to life in ways I hadn’t yet imagined, and their journey became more significant. Because ultimately, what is more symbolic of growing up than roads going in all directions and maps that sometimes guide you and sometimes fail you, leaving you to navigate unfamiliar landscapes on your own?

I believe that everyone should go on a road trip when they’re young. And a road trip would never feel complete without a soundtrack. When I was a teenager I put hours into making what we then called “mixes” to capture what I hoped being on the road would feel like. So, while everyone’s taste in music is different, I can share the components of what makes a road trip soundtrack perfect:

A song that inspires you

A song that wrecks you

A song that makes you nostalgic

A song you know every word of

A song that makes you dance while driving

A slow song

A song about a place

A love song

A new song

A song about change

My soundtrack for The Disenchantments would be pages and pages long. I listened to a lot of music while writing it and while driving up and down the west coast a couple times, making sure I knew the places my characters go well enough to capture them. In case you’re curious, these nine songs were essential:

“Come See About Me” by The Supremes

“Shake a Shot” by Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson

“School Days” by The Runaways

“Modern Girl” by Sleater-Kinney

“Alright You Restless” by Ages and Ages

“Skinny Love” by Bon Iver

“Fake Empire” by The National

“What About Love?” by Heart

and, finally, “Forests and Sands” by Camera Obscura, a beautiful song by one of my favorite bands that captures so much of what The Disenchantments is about—friendship and heartbreak and travel. I’ll sign off with this video, and wish you all safe and fulfilling travels, and the most inspiring of soundtracks.

Question time:

If you could road trip with any 3 people (alive or dead) who would you choose and why?

My three people:

My wife Kristyn, who is a swift driver and the queen of playlists, my brother Jules, who is my definition of fun, and a stranger we picked up on the way, who would tell us all the stories of his or her life.

RW: I love how you included what components are neede to make the perfect soundtrack! I'll definitely keep that in mind next time I go on a roadtrip!

P.S - Happy book birthday!! Yes, today is the release of, The Disenchantments, so go wish Nina well wishes!

And now onto the giveaway!!!

RTW: Day 3 with Jessi Kirby Post and Giveaway!

In Honour by Jessi Kirby

Releases: May 8th 2012

Honor receives her brother's last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn's celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.

Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn's last request, she rushes to leave immediately.

But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn's best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn't seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn. . . and ruggedly good looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn't. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn--but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?

 

 

Author Bio: Jessi Kirby is the author of Moonglass, published in May 2011 by Simon and Schuster. She is also a former English teacher and librarian, wife, mom, beach lover, runner, and lover of Contemporary YA, strong coffee, and dark chocolate. In that order.

website - twitter - blog - facebook

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Jessi’s top road trip reads:

There’s something exhilarating about packing up and heading out onto the open road.  With every road trip comes a sense of possibility for adventure and discovery. Road trips are more about the journey than the destination, and the same holds true for road trip books.  I’ve read plenty of them in my day, but there are a few that stand out in my mind as favorites.

TWO WAY STREET by Lauren Barnholdt

I loved the dual points of view and their perspectives on their breakup, and I totally sympathized with both sides.  The dialogue is snappy and charming, the trip itself is a mix of fun, and romance lost then found, and the ending is just perfect!

AMY AND ROGER’S EPIC DETOUR by Morgan Matson

This one grabbed me by the heart from the beginning and didn’t let go.  The characters are well drawn, the emotion behind them is true, and the playlists, travel journal entries, and all of the extras encompass the fun and spontaneity of being on the road.

PAPER TOWNS by John Green

This one is not a “road trip novel” per se, but the road trip portion of it is one of the best I’ve read.  Ever.  John Green perfectly captures the adventure and comic moments of being on the road with friends.

ON THE ROAD by Jack Kerouac

This is the granddaddy of road trip novels.  I adored it in when I read it in high school and then again in college, and it will always be a classic in my book.  In his wild, free-wheeling, poetic prose, Kerouac gives us the sense of freedom and possibility that an open road and a full tank of gas present to anyone willing to take it on. 

So there you have it—my top road trip book picks!  If you haven’t read these books yet, get thee to a library or bookstore and get started.  They might just inspire you to embark on your own adventure.

Question time:

If you could road trip with any 3 people (alive or dead) who would you choose and why?

My sisters! I would bring my sisters along because we never get a chance to hang out, just the three of us, and I know good times would abound!

RW: Love that you chose, Amy and Roger's Epic Detour! Not only is it one of my fave road trip books, but it's just a favourite read of mine in general! Definitley will be checking out some of those other titles you mentioned, they sounds great! Awesome picks!

P.S - Interested to read ON THE ROAD, after hearing it's one of Jessi's fave road trip reads? Well head on over to Elissa's post to enter her giveaway!

And now onto the giveaway!!!

RTW - Day 2 with Elissa Janine Hoole Post and Giveaway

Kiss the Morning Star by Elissa Janine Hoole

Releases: April 1st, 2012

The summer after high-school graduation, a year after her mother’s tragic death, Anna has no plans – beyond her need to put a lot of miles between herself and the past. With forever friend Kat, a battered copy of Kerouac’s DHARMA BUMS, and a car with a dodgy oil filter, the girls set out on an epic road trip across the USA. Maybe somewhere along the way they’ll prove or disprove the existence of God. Maybe they’ll even get laid . . .

It’s a journey both outward and inward. Through the Badlands and encounters with predatory men and buffalo. A crazy bus ride to Mexico with a bunch of hymn-singing missionaries. Facing death, naked in the forest with an enraged grizzly bear . . . Gradually, Anna realizes that this is a voyage of discovery into her own self, her own silent pain – and into the tangled history that she and Kat share. What is love? What is sexual identity? And how do you find a way forward into a
new future – a way to declare openly and without fear all that lies within you?

Author Bio: Elissa Janine Hoole has a longstanding love of road trips and beat writers, but it was a summer-long ramble out West that inspired this debut novel, when she and her husband set off across the country with a backpack full of Kerouac books.  Now settled in her home in northern Minnesota, Elissa teaches middle school English and writes until midnight, sipping cold coffee and ignoring the laundry.

She still suffers from acute wanderlust from time to time, but road trips now involve a mini-van and a chorus of “Are we there yet?” from two small dharma bums-in-training.

website - blog - twitter - facebook

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Rules of the Road Trip:

In Kiss the Morning Star, each chapter begins with an excerpt from Anna’s road trip journal.  Like Anna, I have kept journals of many of my road trips—including, as Anna does, descriptions of the things I see, scraps of poetry, lists, and even a “roadkill count,” the gory (and goofy) tradition my husband and I started on our first road trip to visit my dad in Topeka, Kansas, way back in 1996.  I decided to spend some time today searching through a bunch of my own road trip journals to give you my Rules of the Road Trip. 

First, from my very first road trip without my parents, a bus trip at age sixteen to Washington D.C. with my school orchestra—a big deal because I got to travel with my best friend, I learned this important lesson about road tripping:

Choose a good seat.  The back of the bus is where the cool kids sit, but when the smell of the bus bathroom combines with the smell of the sweaty, unshowered kids in front of you and the smell of the French onion Sunchips that are the only thing the two of you eat for three days because you’re trying to save all your food money for buying cool things in the city, the result is a rather nauseating aroma that, coupled with the swaying motion of a bus moving for more than thirty hours in a row, is likely to lead to the discovery that puking in a moving vehicle is disgusting and disastrous.

Next, from another bus trip—this one to Mexico the week after Christmas, with another one of my best friends.  The bus in this trip actually made it into my novel, although the Pastor and the congregation we went with in real life were amazing and beautiful and nothing at all like Pastor Shepherd in Kiss the Morning Star, I’ve got this tip:

Choose a good attitude.  There are a million and one things that can go wrong on a road trip, from a bus that stalls out on a railroad track to the brakes that start to shake and shudder while you’re heading down a steep mountain (and the long grass around the tires while you’re trying to fix them, with the signs all around warning of poisonous snakes lurking in the foliage…)  In my journal from the Mexico trip, I found this quote:  “We’re staying at a compound in Waco, Texas.  ‘The other compound,’ says the man in charge, referencing the infamous Waco Massacre.  I’m trying to keep it all together, but they can’t find my suitcase under the bus, and I had to use somebody’s old tablecloth as a bath towel.  There was a creepy stain on it.  I’m pretending it’s cranberries.”

My last Rule of the Road Trip is the most important one of all. 

Choose a good traveling companion.  My favorite road trip buddy is someone who can handle my perfect silence for miles and miles without once asking me if I’m mad at him.  He’s someone who laughs at all the ridiculous things I say but never laughs when I sing at the top of my lungs to every song on the radio.  He drives the back roads and isn’t afraid of stopping to explore or to take a detour, even if it’s not on the day’s itinerary.  My perfect road trip companion scoffs at the idea of an itinerary.  My traveling pal needs to drive a lot so I can daydream and write poetry with my feet up on the dash—he should be prepared to listen to me read aloud a lot.  He’ll stop the car at the Continental Divide and make a snow angel with me in July.  My perfect road trip companion is someone who understands when the wanderlust hits me, who knows that the answer is to simply drive into the distance, all night, fueled by coffee and starlight and the open road, gleaming in our headlights.    

Happy Road Tripping!

J elissa

Question time:

If you could road trip with any 3 people (alive or dead) who would you choose and why?

My answer to that question would be the sweetest and most boring answer ever--although road tripping with Jack Kerouac would be an adventure I wouldn't pass up in a heartbeat, I adore road tripping with my favorite rambling companions: my husband and two sons, true dharma bums all three.  In my imaginary dream world, I am able to take a sabbatical from real life and travel with them for months and months, soaking up the experiences of the world and stopping at all the roadside attractions.

RW: Sounds like 3 important rules to stick by, I'll keep them in mind! I love the photos, especially, the one taken of Elissa on a road trip bus in highschool! Red hair (captivating) + The Doors t-shirt (before my time, but I've heard of them) + wide grin = great photo! :D
And now onto the giveaway!!!

RTW - Day 1 with Megan Bostic Post and Giveaway

Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

Releases: January 17th, 2012

I had the dream again. The one where I’m running. I don’t know what from or where to, but I’m scared, terrified really.

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. But in the short time he has left there’s one thing he can do: He can try to help the people he loves live—even though he never will.

It’s probably hopeless.

But he has to try.

Author Bio: Megan Bostic is the mother of two crazy beautiful girls, living in the rainy, but lovely Pacific Northwest. Novelist, blogger, vlogger, amateur poet, and self-proclaimed Facebook addict, she also loves monkeys, the sun, and the color black.  Her debut novel, Never Eighteen, debuted January 17th from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

website - twitter - blog - facebook

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Road Trip Weekend:

I love road trips.  With friends, my kids, or by myself, it doesn’t matter.  One of the most important elements of a road trip, as far as I’m concerned, is the playlist.  You can’t hit the open road, especially on a sunny day, without the stereo blasting, and I love singing at the top of my lungs. 

Music is very important to me, and if you’ve read Never Eighteen, you know that it’s very important to my protagonist, Austin too.  There’s even a playlist at the back of the book.  So I thought I’d share my ultimate playlist for a weekend road trip (Hard decisions, kept it to ten for each leg of the trip ):

For the first leg of a trip, I like to listen to upbeat pump-you-up music:

·         These Days by the Foo Fighters

·         Mr. Brightside by The Killers

·         Get Some by Lykke Li

·         I Write Sins not Tragedies by Panic! At The Disco

·         Misery Business by Paramore

·         Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

·         Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger

·         This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race by Fall Out Boy

·         Last Night by the Strokes

·         Fat Lip by Sum 41

Second leg of the trip, hip-hop and rap to keep you going:

·         Airplanes part II by B.O.B. feat. Haley Williams and Eminem

·         In the Dark by Dev feat. Flo Rida

·         Forever by Drake, Kanye West, Li’l Wayne, and Eminem

·         No Love by Eminem feat. Li’l Wayne

·         Like a G 6 by the Far East Movement

·         Ridin’ Solo by Jason Derulo

·         Superbass by Nicki Minaj

·         Single Ladies by Beyonce

·         Trey Songz feat. Nicki Minaj

·         Look at Me Now by Chris Brown feat. Li’l Wayne and Busta Rhymes

On the last leg of the trip, I like to take it down a notch with a little punchy indie and rock as I prepare to reach my destination:

·         Loser by Beck

·         Going the Distance by Cake

·         Yellow by Cold Play

·         Stay Young Go Dancing by Death Cab for Cutie

·         Calamity Song by the Decemberists

·         Criminal by Fiona Apple

·         How We Operate by Gomez

·         Tighten Up by the Black Keys

·         The District Sleeps Tonight by The Postal Service

A road trip without music is like a day without the sun.

Question:

If you could road trip with any 3 people (alive or dead) who would you choose and why?

If I were to take three people on a road trip with me I’d take:

1)     Ellen Degeneris.  I would LOVE to meet Ellen.  She just seems really cool and laid back and I know she would have me cracking up along the way.

2)     Stephen King.  He’s one of my favorite writers and I’d love to pick his brain and throw book ideas at him while traveling.

3)     Eminem.  First of all, I love him.  If I could date any celebrity, it would be him.  I find his dark anger intriguing.  I’d love to know what goes on in that head of his.  Plus, he’s not bad to look at.

RW: I completley agree with you there, playlists are a must when you hit the road! I like the way you divided the songs into legs for different parts of the trip - organized and clever! Interesting set of 3 people, I definitely would love Ellen along for the trip too!

And now onto the giveaway!!!