Presenting a Blogger...Jasprit and Rachel from The Reader's Den

I originally thought to space out blogger interviews more, but I really enjoy doing these so I let my impatience get the better of me. Today, The Reader's Den girls, Jasprit and Rachel, are here! Their blog was one of the first ones that I read and really enjoyed (one of the first I subscribed to as well). These ladies are some of the nicest bloggers and they're great at commenting. Since I always looked up to them, I'm giddy with pleasure that I've gotten to interview them!

Jasprit! Rachel! *waves* Please introduce yourself and your blog. 

Hello, we’re Jasprit and Rachel and we can be found on the blog The Readers Den! 

The really interesting thing to me is when people co-blog (although it is common in the community). Why did you decide to be co-bloggers? How did you meet? 

J: Rachel and I met on Goodreads, we had quite a few friends in common, and we were always popping up on each other’s feeds that our friendship was inevitable. I think it was Rachel’s review of Catching Jordan that made me realise that Rachel had brilliant taste in books. Before you knew it, Rachel was contributing more and more gorgeous reads to my already out of control tbr pile and we had started pining over our fictional crushes through our read-alongs (Rachel has finally agreed that Alex is mine). And then a year or so after we met, I started my own blog, and because we already chatted nearly every day on Goodreads, I figured it would be fun to have Rachel on the blog too contributing with her awesome reviews. I think we had originally decided that Rachel would be a guest reviewer on the blog, but we ended up having so much fun, that we quickly became co-bloggers. Rachel is one of the sweetest people that I couldn’t have asked for a better co-blogger.

R: Ditto on all of Jasprit’s comments above. I couldn’t ask for a better co-blogger or an easier person to work with.  I work full-time and the commitment of running a blog on my own would consume my life.  This is why it’s so very nice to have a partner with comparable tastes and a similar vision as far as the blog goes.  

Yay for Goodreads!

What genres do you love reading and/or reviewing the most? 

J: I’m a contemporary girl at heart, nothing makes my day more than coming back home from a tiring day at work and curling up with a contemporary book which could take me anywhere such as a fun road trip across the US. I love the feeling that I can be completely lost in a gorgeous world, with a sweet romance and huge smile left on my face afterwards.

R: I find myself gravitating towards adult mystery/suspense/romance novels lately.  They are my original love in reading, and the plots are usually exciting enough to keep you anxiously flipping through the pages to find out what happens next. 

I definitely agree with both! Feeling lost in a book is a great moment to have.

Top three favorite authors? 

J: This is a tough one I have so many favourites, but three which immediately come to mind are: Sarah Alderson, Jenny Han, and Miranda Kenneally.

R: Karen Marie Moning, Tarryn Fisher, and Melina Marchetta. These are the three that immediately come to mind, yet there are SO MANY MORE!! 

I need to go to my library ASAP because I shamefully admit that I've only read one book total out of all those authors...

Describe your dream bookish event. 

J: My dream bookish event would take place in the US of course; it has always been my dream to visit there one day. All my favourite blogging friends would be there too (Sunny you’d totally be there!). We would have a fantastic day/week with amazing bookish adventures. It would be a bit like BEA, but just with my favourite authors and blogging friends that I’ve been dying to meet!

(And RIP Cory Monteith)

R: Jasprit’s sounds lovely and like a dream.  I’m currently at the ALA in Chicago and I have to say that it rocks!!  I do love an event that includes authors with a wicked sense of humor!  I’m lucky enough to live in Southern California, and we have no shortage of authors coming on through!  Did I say how lucky I am?

I forgot that you're from the UK, Jasprit, it would be amazing if you came here! I would also love that dream of bookish adventures with bookish people and a dream-like BEA. Rachel, you are incredibly lucky and I am so jealous. Note: This post is being published late so ALA is done now, but still exciting that she was at one point there :) 

If you could be like one character in a book (that includes the setting he/she is in!), without the worry of dying though, who would you like to be? 

J: Tris from the Divergent series by Veronica Roth. She is such a strong and fearless character and of course because she gets to spend all her time with Four! <3

R: Mac from the Fever series! She lives in a dark, fantastical world with powers that make her special AND she has JERICHO BARRONS!!! What more incentive would you want before running?! 

What is one book that you have recently read and loved? 

J: Parallel by Lauren Miller, this book thoroughly messed with my head, but I just loved it so much, I think it’s one of my definite favourites of 2013!

R: Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks. It’s a historical adult romance that was just amazing!  I listened to the audio version and the narrator was PERFECTION!  

I am very excited now because I'm going to be reading Parallel soon AND I've been wanting audiobook suggestions!

Anything else you ladies would like to add? 

J: Thank you for having us on your lovely blog Sunny! 

R: Yes, thank you Sunny for having us on your blog! I enjoy reading your insightful reviews!

So sweet. Thank you both! 

This or That: 

Chocolate or vanilla?  

J: Chocolate

R: Chocolate!

Ebook or paperback?   

J: Both, I can’t go anywhere without my Kindle, but if I end up loving a book so much, I usually have to have a gorgeous paperback copy on my bookshelf too.

R: Both as well.  I love my e-books because I can highlight passages and view other’s notes, and in terms of space, you can’t beat an e-copy! But there is something to say about a physical copy! You can hold it, smell it, and pet it! 

Star Wars or Star Trek?  

J: I haven’t watched either, but if I did I would probably prefer Star Wars I think..

R: Star Wars! 

Brunette or blonde? (of the boy variety) 

J: Blonde

R: Brunette

Winter or Summer? 

J: Summer.

R: Summer. 

Wow, you guys have similar tastes even outside of books! 

~*~

Once again, I'd like to thank Jasprit and Rachel for taking time out to answer questions. I love reading their posts and reviews and they're definitely considered "big bloggers" to me. Now that you know them (or just know them more), stop by their blog to say hello! 

Blog: http://thereadersden.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JasKaur11 and https://twitter.com/rachelanbig

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4841793-jasprit and http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5481477-rachel

Presenting a Blogger...Roberta @ Offbeat YA

I told myself I wouldn't do too many interviews in a month, but you guys, they are just a lot of fun. I came up with a list after my last one with Lauren of people I want to interview and it's still growing. Not only do I find out more about my fellow friendly bloggers, but you all can too and even meet new ones! Without further ado, let me present Roberta from Offbeat YA. 

Hey Roberta! I'm so happy that you're here. Please introduce yourself and your blog.

Hi Sunny, and thanks for having me…I feel like a rockstar today. Well, just a little ;). And of course, hi everyone! I’m an ex-teenager (with a huge stress on the “ex” part) who recently rediscovered a love for YA books, especially since the genre has broadened its range quite a lot in the latest decade. I blog at Offbeat YA, which - as the name states – is a place for all the great, but not necessarily over-popular books that I manage to find and hope to pass on to you all.

Why or how did you decide to start blogging? 

I had been reading YA books regularly for a couple of years, when I finally realized that 1) some of my favourites were often overlooked by blogs and review sites; 2) I had a lot to say about them and the reasons why I loved them instead. So I decided to start my own blog, and in October 2012 Offbeat YA was born. 

That's great! I'm glad you're highlighting books that are often ignored. 

I see on your profile that you actually live in Italy! *sighs longingly* Do you feel that it's harder to be a international book blogger than it would be if you lived in America? 

Yes, definitely…because of course I’m not very likely to get ARCs or stuff like that, nor can I go to BEA and ALA events, and so on. You may wonder why I decided to blog internationally…well, I love to read books in their original version (having graduated in English, that’s not a problem), and not every one of those I’m interested in would necessarily get translated anyway (I think the YA market is way smaller in Italy)…also, I wanted to make an impact on the international community…though that amounts to dreaming big of course :).

Dream big! :) 

What genres do you love reading and/or reviewing the most? 

I’m a sucker for the weird…so I’d say, supernatural (especially stories about afterlife, coming back to life, etc.), sci-fi (not necessarily dystopian) and thriller. Having said so, it’s funny, but some of the best books I’ve read in the latest months were contemporary - a genre I rarely frequent.

Top three favorite authors? 

I tend to go for genres more than for authors, so it’s not like I can have a top three...well, of course I’m reading any Christopher Pike I can lay my hands on, YA or adult, because he may not be the best writer but I love his weird universe(s). There are novels I absolutely loved, but this didn’t prompt me to buy all the books their authors wrote. As far as adult books go, I’ve read anything Agatha Christie, except for her novels written as Mary Westmacott - but I plan on doing that too.

That was only two! 

If you could be one character in a book, without the worry of dying, who would you like to be? 

Maybe Seymour from The Last Vampire/Thirst series (Pike again), because he’s a best-selling writer but no one really knows how he looks like - he even has a number of alias, depending on the genre he’s writing a book in. I fancy myself as a successful artist living in the shadows, which may sound like a contradiction, but I tend to get embarassed by physical confrontation.

QUICK! Your house is burning and you can only grab three things (before the house crumbles down on you, everything is destroyed, etc). What would they be?

Ouch! You really hate me, don’t you? ;P Okay, let’s see. The bag I’m using when the disaster occurs, because my bag is like my third arm…or a crossover between a survival kit and a make-up station. My USB pen drive with lots of stuff saved that I may need…And then…my red pants…no, my black shirt with pink details…no, my red (again) coat…no, my multicolored pants with little hearts on them…err, on second thoughts – I should be going already!

Ha! I wasn't expecting an article of clothing. 

What song did you last listen to? 

I work as a speaker in a local radio station, so I’m constantly listening to songs, old and new…I went home from work today singing “Pompeii” by Bastille, because the darn song always sticks to my brain every time I have it in my playlist! At home I have a considerable music collection, but I haven’t listened to any of my personal records today. If I had, it would probably have been something Queen. 

What is one book that your recently read and loved? 

Deadgirl by B.C. Johnson, which I also reviewed. It’s out of print at the moment, due to the publisher shutting up shop - but Mr. Johnson is working on a new book deal, also involving a sequel. It’s the story of a girl who should be dead but it’s not…not really. She clings to life and fights in order not to disappear (literally) from the face of Earth, besides trying to save her friends from an equally hideous fate. It’s also a fun, moving, realistic portrait of a 15 year old girl dealing with first love, parents and friends, while trying to deflect the Grim Reaper’s hand of course.

Grim Reaper, you say? 

Anything else you would like to add? 

First off, thank you again Sunny for having me - I had fun answering your questions, and being interviewed for the very first time was an honour. I hope some of your readers will get curious enough to come and visit me at Offbeat YA - and if you do, guys, please don’t be shy. I love to interact, and anyone can comment on my blog. Most of all, I hope you’ll find some great new reads on there!

I feel honored that I'm the first one to interview you. It's been fun and I hope they will too!

This or That: 

Chocolate or vanilla? Dark chocolate – though I’d much rather have something salty or spicy!

Ebook or paperback? Call me jurassic, but paperback – I need my book to be physical (and my music too).

Star Wars or Star Trek? Neither...I’m not a big fan of sci-fi when it’s not on paper – especially if it deals with outer space.

Brunette or blonde? (of the boy variety) Brunette hands down...preferably with long, curly hair...unless it’s a young Roger Taylor from Queen or Jensen Ackles. I could make an exception for those two ;).

Winter or Summer? Mmh…winter is so cold…but, big shock, I’m not a fan on the seaside and the hot climate either…so, let’s say winter, since I was born on December!

~*~

So here's another blogger were able to get better acquainted with and a blog to check out. Happy reading! 

Blog: http://offbeat-ya.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/14477787-roberta-r-offbeat-ya

Presenting a Blogger: Lauren @ Love is not a triangle

I realized when I started blogging that I like to do two things: interview and meet/introduce bloggers. Interviewing allows us to get to know a person better and I don't think anyone can meet too many bloggers. In addition, when I love a blogger and their work, I want to treat them like a book by showcasing them whenever I can. So today, I have the pleasure of interviewing a great blogger, Lauren from Love is not a triangle. 

Hey Lauren! I'm so happy that you're here. Please introduce yourself and your blog.

Hi Sunny! Thank you so much for inviting me onto your blog. I feel incredibly honored. 

Hi, my name is Lauren, and I don't do crafts. I read. (I feel like I'm in a support group, with that intro). My blog name is Love is not a triangle, because while I love to read, I do not like love triangles. At all. However, I do have friends who like them. Triangle dislike is not a requirement to be my friend or read my blog. I do include a Love Triangle Factor and a Cliffhanger Scale in my reviews, though. Just in case you're like me and what to know whether a book has a triangle or a cliffy before you start it. 

Can I add in here how I love that? I think bloggers should have a support group! I also love your Love Triangle Factor and Cliffhanger Scale. 

Why or how did you decide to start blogging? 

I've always been a reader and have been active on Goodreads for several years, though I didn't start officially blogging until the end of July last year. I like that writing a review is a way for me to physically track my reaction to a book. I read so much that sometimes I forget the details. Reviewing books also allows me to keep up with my analytical and critical thinking skills in a way that I don't get in my daily life.

[Note: Book blogging group hug!]

It wasn't until I participated in a read-along for the book Outlander by Diana Gabaldon last summer that I actually made blogging happen. To join the read-along, you were supposed to be a blogger, because of weekly questions posts. Thankfully, the kind and generous Asheley @ Into the Hall of Books allowed me to post mine on her site. Through the event, I met so many other bloggers who like to read and discuss the same types of books that I do. And who read as much as I do. It was an exciting and refreshing experience to find people out there just like me. I really wanted to become an active member of that community. 10 months later, I'm loving being a part of the awesomeness that is book blogging. I'm even going to BEA this year. 

Yes! It's amazing how great this community is. BEA! *sniff*

[Note: BEA has started and I am looking at every tweet, living vicariously through you all]

What genres do you love reading and/or reviewing the most? 

Hmmm. I'm not sure if I have a favorite genre. Also, sometimes I read a book and compose a review in my head as I'm reading, and then I write it very fast. But sometimes I finish a book and think "I have no idea what to say!" But it's not genre based. I can't read too much of one genre at a time. If I read a lot of contemporaries, I need to throw in fantasy or paranormal to balance myself out (and vice versa). Also, I'm terrible at categorizing book genres. I get contemporary, but everything else sits in one big lump o' speculative fiction in my head. And now authors like to mix up genres, which confuses me more.  

That doesn't actually answer your question. I read mostly young adult fiction of all genres, but I'm pretty flexible and willing to try new types of books. I do have trouble with alternate realities/parallel worlds for some reason. They don't always work for me. But maybe I'll find a book that I LOVE that fits within that category, and change my mind completely. 

Top three favorite authors? 

I am not very good at these top questions, so I'm going to give you four of my favorites: Melina Marchetta, Maggie Stiefvater, Jane Austen and Harper Lee. I love that Harper Lee wrote one book and was like "this is everything I wanted to say, and now I'm done."And it's still a masterpiece, and my favorite book!

Rebel. 

Who is your favorite YA couple? 

Another question I have such trouble answering. This changes a lot, but today I'll say Jonah Griggs and Taylor Markham from Jellicoe Road or Perry and Aria from the Under the Never Sky series. 

Perrrrry! 

Obviously, you hate love triangles (who doesn't nowadays?), but what would be some of your other bookish pet peeves? 

First I will say that my love triangle quirkiness is so huge and massive that I try not to have too many other pet peeves when I read. Because whether or not a book has a love triangle, and the severity of it, greatly affects my reaction to books. 

I prefer slow burn romances to insta-love. But I don't mind instant attraction if it's realistic, and as long as the characters don't jump immediately to "I love you." I've found with me, a lot of pet peeves are more about how an individual author approaches a topic, than an across the board turn-off. Sometimes a character will do something in one book that I think is incredibly annoying and off putting. But I'll read a different book with a a different character who does something similar, and it doesn't bug me as much, because it wasn't handled the same. Does that make any sense? I can't think of an example at this moment.  

The other thing that causes me a lot of problems is seeing the same storyline or plot flow in multiple books. If I start to notice a pattern, it makes the individual stories feel less real, and more contrived. For instance, I went through this whole period with contemporaries where I couldn't stand that almost all of them seemed to have this chaotic moment around 80% where the couple would have a massive falling out, and there would be tons of drama and stress for a while, before the happy conclusion. It happens in a lot of books, though recently it hasn't been bugging me as much, so maybe it's going away, or I'm not freaked out by it as much. 

Yes! Insta-love is blech as well as repetitive plots. 

What is one book that you recently read and loved? 

I LOVED The 5th Wave, though I'm not sure what I think about the last two pages. I also really liked Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith, which is a little out there, and won't appeal to everyone. But I thought it was an amazingly accurate picture of mental illness and had a fantastic romance. I'm currently reading The Bitter Kingdom, the final book in Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns series, and I can already tell that it is going to be epic and amazing!

You're killing me. All books that I'm DYING to read! 

Anything else you would like to add?

I'll probably think of something important to write here, once you publish this...Oh I know, I'm hosting a Summer Series Challenge with some blogging friends this June - August. It's to encourage people to finish the series they've already started, or read through some from start to finish. Stop by my blog if you're interested in learning more about it. It's going to be easy and stress free, and we want everyone to join! (I apologize for the shameless promotion.) 

No apologies needed! I'm glad you mentioned it because I forgot to ask! To go sign up or learn more, click here. 

This or That: 

Chocolate or vanilla? Vanilla always.

Ebook or paperback? I switch between these a lot. Ebooks are better on the go, but I'd prefer to own a paperback that I can hold in my hands or lend to friends. 

Star Wars or Star Trek? Star Wars definitely. Or maybe it's just Harrison Ford, definitely. 

Brunette or blonde? (of the boy variety) Brunette for sure! I'm a blonde though.

Winter or Summer? SUMMER! I get so depressed about where I live in the winter, but love the summers and falls here. 

~*~

There you have it, folks. Now do me proud by hopping on over to say hi to Lauren on her blog, sign up for the Summer Series Challenge, and love her blog like I do. 

Blog: http://www.loveisnotatriangle.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurayjames

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1714237-lauren