"What do you want to be?" "Happy," she says with a smile. - Colleen Hoover

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Gabrielle Aquilina Interview





Before we get to the interview I just want to thank Gabriella for taking the time to answer my questions. I really enjoyed How to Catch a Rockstar and I'm so stoked that I got to interview her.
She's really nice guys and I think you're going to think she's as wonderful as I do as soon as you finish reading this interview!!
Enjoy!!






1. How long have you been writing and what's the best part of being an author?
I've always written but it's only in the last few years that I've been serious about it. For me, the best part of being an author is people telling me they loved my book and can't wait to read more! Good reviews are like manna from Heaven for an author - we can't get enough of them!

  2. How do you come up with the plots for your books?
This is a hard one for me to answer because I'm not a plotter by nature. I usually have a very loose plot in mind but let my characters lead the story, which can result in some very interesting plot points!

3. Lillie is a really talented singer, aside from writing what talents do you have?
Well, I've been told I'm a pretty good 'food maker' and I'm often told my brownies are the best people have ever tasted so I guess food is my talent.

4. If you could go on tour with any band who would you choose?
No contest, Pearl Jam. I've loved them since the beginning and they are still my favourite band ever. I'd love to share a bottle (or two) of red wine with Eddie Vedder and talk about the world, politics, life, music...

5. Lillie gets to date a super hot rockstar, which rockstar would you want to date?
Oh goodness, hmmmm. I'm not entirely sure I'd want to date a rockstar! All that touring, the groupies, the media attention. I think it's a very hard thing to put yourself through BUT I would say Jim Morrison from The Doors or Jared Leto (he's just so damn pretty!).

6. Do you ever base any of your characters off of you?
Not really although I think some characters will share some personality traits or back story with their authors! There are some things about Lillie that come from me - I used to dance, we share a tattoo (!) and I love to eat. I made her a singer because it's the one thing I really wish I could do but absolutely can't.

7. I think this book is full of wonderful characters - Johnny and Kate are two of my favorites - who are yours?
Johnny is a definite favourite of mine! That's why there'll be a second book about his story coming out next year. I do love Jed and Lillie too - they're both damaged and vulnerable but still willing to put themselves out there and give their relationship a go even though their feelings for each other are so intense and have happened so quickly.

8. If How To Catch a Rockstar had a theme song what would it be?
Oh, wow, good question! I think maybe 'Without You' by My Darkest Days. The lyrics seem really fitting for the intense love Jed and Lillie have for each other.


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Tuesday, August 25, 2015

How To Catch a Rockstar by Gabrielle Aquilina



I received this book from Netgalley and I am so happy that I FINALLY got around to reading it!!
This story is about Lillie who is an aspiring singer with some serious stage fright. Even though she stays away from getting on stage she doesn't stay away from being near one. One night her and her friend Kate attend a concert and there she meets Jed who's the lead singer of a new up and coming band.
The two instantly hit it off and fast forward to Jed finding out that Lillie can sing her pretty face off and her joining them on tour.
Jed and - my personal favorite - Johnny (another member of the band) help Lillie overcome her stage fright and she becomes a member of the band and singing onstage.
Everything is fantastic with Lillie and Jed until a secret gets revealed.
Will the secret ruin their relationship or just make them stronger? Well I certainly can't tell you because that'd ruin everything.
I really enjoyed reading this book for many reasons. One being that I loved the characters. I had a bit of a crush on Jed, I thought Lillie was pretty cool, I adored Kate, and Johnny is one of my favorite characters from any book I've read this year.
The second reason I love this book is because I love music. I love going to concerts and meeting my favorite singers and so I felt like I could somewhat relate. I mean I've never fell in love with a singer and gone on tour with them so that parts different but you know what I'm saying.
There are many other reasons I loved the book but there are two things that kinda bugged me. One is that I didn't realize that I didn't understand some of the phrases that Gabrielle would use. Jed is from America not England like Lillie so when he'd say certain things it didn't make sense because we don't talk like that here. I don't want to be all judgmental but that's how I felt. The other thing that bothered me was how back and forth Lillie was sometimes.
However with that being said I really did enjoy the book and I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you're as big of a music geek as I am!!

Buy How to Catch a Rockstar Here:
Amazon

Listen to my playlist for How to Catch a Rockstar on Spotify by clicking HERE


Thursday, August 20, 2015

Orange Is The New Black Book Tag

Oh my gosh guys when I saw this book tag I freaked out!! I am a HUGE OITNB fan and I'm a book blogger so hellur this is perfect for me!!
Enjoy!!

1. Piper: Name a main character who you think is with the wrong person in the love triangle
I think Katniss should've ended up with Gale, not Peeta. Please don't hate me.

2. Alex: Name a character who doesn't quite know how to open up about feelings
Tris from Divergent doesn't really know how to open up so I'm going to pick her.

3. Crazy Eyes: Name a character who does some not so great things but isn't necessarily an antagonist
Margot from Paper Towns isn't really an antagonist but I don't agree with the choices she makes at all.

4. Ms. Claudette: Name a character who makes a bad first impression but you have grown to love
Adrian Ivashkov from Vampire Academy and the Bloodlines series doesn't necessarily set a bad first impression but he's kind of a cocky asshat but boy oh boy did I grow to love him.

5. Pornstache: Name a character who you feel needs retribution for their behavior
Freaking Nan from the Rosemary Beach series. I don't feel like she gets what she deserves for being such a pain in the ass.

6. Sophia Burset: Name a character who puts on a strong outer exterior when they're dealing with inner turmoil
Augustus Waters.

7. Nicky Nichols: Name a character who always says what they're thinking - tough love.
Cora from Marked Men most. freaking. definitely.

8. Red: Name a character who will stand up for those they love
Bella Swan really stands up for the people she cares about - call me cheesy.

9. Yoga Jones: Name a character who deals with some deep regret in the story
I feel like Rule from Marked Men deals with a lot of regret regarding his brother.

10. Polly: Name a character who betrays someone and doesn't seem to give a shit
Simon from Mortal Instruments genuinely doesn't seem to give a shit when he betrays someone so I choose him for sure.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: August 18, 2015

Top Ten Of Your Auto-buy Authors

10. Jessica Sorenson
I've read quite a few of her books and I've never felt like I was wasting my time.

9. Heidi McLaughlin
I only started reading her a year or so ago but I fell in love with her Beaumont series so now I'm all over new books by her.

8. Sarah Dessen
I've loved her for a very long time and I get very excited whenever she releases a new book. I don't always pick them up right away but that's only because I don't always have a lot of extra money. If I had an unlimited fundage for books your damn right she'd be auto-buy.

7. Cora Carmack
She's funny and her books are everything you could want. Whenever I see that Cora has put out a new book I pretty much jump on it.

6. Nicholas Sparks
I have an obsession with buying Nicholas Sparks books. At one time I had like 3 or 4 different copies of almost all of his books. Every time I'd go to a thrift store or a garage sale and find his books I'd buy them. I realized this was a problem and I'm working through it.

5. Jay Crownover
She writes about sexy tattooed boys, I love her. However I must be honest and say when I tried to read her other series I wasn't as in love as I am with the Marked Men.

4. Sophie Kinsella
I have loved Sophie Kinsella for a very long time and her books never disappoint so I try to read everything she puts out.

3. Colleen Hoover
This woman is incredible and I've loved everything I've ever read by her so of course she's an inta-buy!!

2. John Green
I'm still patiently waiting for a new John Green book. Patiently. Waiting.

1. Abbi Glines
Don't pretend this is a surprise.


Thursday, August 13, 2015

Nintendo Book Tag

1) NES (Nintendo Entertainment System): A Classic you want to read
I've always wanted to read Great Gatsby or Catcher In The Rye.


2) SNES (Super Nintendo): A Sequel you liked more than the 1st (can be a 2nd book in a series)
I liked Catching Fire way more than The Hunger Games. Not that I didn't like the first - it's just that the second one was better :)


3) Nintendo 64: A book that revolutionized the way you look at the world
Oh goodness I wouldn't say it "revolutionized" the way I look at the world but The Fault in Our Stars sure did make an impact on me.

4) Gamecube: A popular book that did not go over so well with you
Isla & The Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins. Everyone seems to love this book and I just did not care for it.

5) Wii: A new favorite book
When You're Back by Abbi Glines.

6) Nintendo Power: Favorite Graphic novel series or a series you want to start
I've never read a graphic novel so I guess I can't answer this :/


7) Super Mario: A Character that you'd love to squish like a Goomba
Margot from Paper Towns, or Isla & Josh from Isla & The Happily Ever After.

8) Zelda: A newer fantasy that you consider to be a modern classic
Probably the Mortal Instruments series.

9) Samas-Aran: Favorite Sci-fi novel or one you want to read
I've been wanting to read Across The Universe for a very long time - hopefully I'll finally pick it up soon.

10) Pokemon: Book editions that you want to collect
I have TFIOS in hardcover, e-book, and the movie cover edition. I'd like to get the paperback and the B&N special edition, also a signed copy would be awesome.

11) Donkey Kong: A book with original characters
Marked Men series by Jay Crownover is full of very special and unique characters.

12) Nintendo Fandom: Favorite Nintendo game(s) or game you really want
I'm not much of a game player but I'd really like to own Tekken 2 again. That game used to be my jam.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: August 11, 2015

Top Ten Authors I've Read The Most Books From

10. John Green
4

9. Stephenie Meyer
5

8. Heidi McLaughlin
5

7. Jay Crownover
5

6. Colleen Hoover
6

5. Jessica Sorensen
7

4. Sarah Dessen
8

3. Sophie Kinsella
9

2. Nicholas Sparks
10

1. Abbi Glines
18 - I'm sure you aren't surprised by that ;)