Authors:
Laurie Faria Stolarz
Alyson Noel
Darren Shan
Cassandra Clare
Jackson Pearce
Maggie Stiefvater
JK Rowling
Richelle Mead
Michelle Zink
Aprilynne Pike
Gillian Shields
Lisa Mantchev or Theatre Illuminata
Tera Lynn Childs
Sarah Dessen
Robin Benway
Aimee Friedman
Suzanne Collins

Publishers:
Simon and Schuster
Bloomsbury USA
Scholastic
Harper Collins
Little, Brown

Bookstores:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Books A Million
Goodreads

Current Movies:
The Hunger Games
City of Bones

Here at The Romantic Scholar I take your privacy very seriously. As well as your safety and identity.

For any contest that I host, I now use a form that keeps all entries confidential. Your email will never be saved or distributed to third parties. I will be the only one to ever view your email address, and after the winner of a contest is selected, all email addresses are deleted.

Since the nature of this blog is YA and occasionally older, I do recommend that no one under the age of 13 is following this blog without parental consent. Now, I cannot require this, so I do have to trust you. But please do not take this recommendation lightly. The books that I review are at a more mature level that I am sure some parents would not find appropriate.

Contest applicants:
If you win a contest, I will be contacting you via email to acquire your mailing address. Before accepting an address, I do need to ask that your are either 18 years of age or that you have received permission from your parents to give out your address. Once again, since I cannot require a signed permission form, I do have to trust you. All addresses are deleted after the book is sent to the winner.

Parents:
I always appreciate new followers, including the younger ones. I do however want to keep them safe and I want to make sure that they are in an area that is age appropriate for them. You can view all of my age recommendations in my reviews. I do recommend that my followers are at least 13 years of age to avoid inappropriate content disclosure, but as long as you approve, I am more than happy to welcome your child to my blog. If you have any questions pertaining to age appropriateness and privacy, please email me at theromanticscholar@gmail.com

Hello, and welcome to The Romantic Scholar.

You can reach me at theromanticscholar@gmail.com

I love reading and reviewing current and soon to be released books, as well as previously released books. If you are an author or publisher and would like me to review a particular book or ARC, please email me for my contact information. Below, you can see my specific conditions for reviewing and accepting books for review as well as how I review.

What I Like:
I prefer to read and review mainly YA books, but I will occasionally accept and read both Independent Reader and Adult books. I do have particular genres that I prefer which mainly revolve around the paranormal and fantasy genre. I also like books with underlying love stories, as well as the romance genre. I also enjoy reading chick-lit and the occasional sappy and sentimental story. Please email me the title of which you would like me to review so that I can let you know if I'm interested.

What I am Currently Not Accepting:
I apologize, but I am not accepting self-published novels at this time. I am also currently not accepting e-books, as I do not have a device on which to read them. But still feel free to email me. You never know, there are those days where reading on the computer can be fun :)

How I Review:
All of my reviews are honest and solely my opinion. And I am sorry that I cannot guarantee them to be positive. I judge based on the cover, the writing style, the content, and the character development. All of my review posts have a personal age recommendation, the cover art, a published summary of the book, and my thoughts on it. I do my best to maintain a spoiler free blog. This is solely a hobby and I do not receive any form of payment for my reviews. Also listed in my reviews is the product description of the book (publisher, page numbers, and release date) as well as where and how I received the book (sent from publisher/author, or purchased from store).

Other:
From time to time I hold contests on my blog and I like to do interviews with authors. I you are an author and would like to do an interview with me for an upcoming or newly released book, I would be more than happy to oblige. Just email me. I would be more than happy to post book trailers or any other promotional device you would like.

You can find all of my blog stats by using my sitemeter at the very bottom of the page. If you have any other questions, please, do not hesitate to contact me! :)

I also have a detailed privacy policy. You can find it here.

Hey guys, sorry I didn't post. I ended up having a really hectic day and I just got home from school. I would have posted sooner if my windshield wipers didn't break in the pouring down rain. Or if I didn't end up popping a tire getting on the highway. So again, I'm sorry I didn't have a review posted for you guys. I'll have one tomorrow though! Oh. My. Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs!!! And after that...Shadowland and an interview with Alyson Noel!!

So, I've decided to join J-Kaye's 100+ 2010 Book Challenge! I figured it would be fun to do a challenge this year. So, I will be keeping track of my reads here and in my sidebar as before.

1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog, click here.

2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.

What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible.

3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.

6. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to your post where your books will be listed. Include the URL to this post so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. Again, so viewers can join the challenge too.

I had been given this award awhile ago and recently and decided to finally give it out. :)

I received this award from The Book Pixie and Bookworm Nation.

I'm supposed to nominate 15 bloggers that I've recently stumbled upon and think are lovely. Here we go!

I nominate:

1) My Pile Of Books
2) Bookworm Nation
3) Bookworm Readers
4) The Bookaholics
5) Book Duck
6) Pure Imagination
7) Flipping Pages For All Ages
8) Crackin' Spines & Takin' Names
9) The Book Explorer
10) Just Blinded Book Reviews
11) Sparrow Review
12) Fantasys Ink
13) The Bookologist
14) Book Eater
15) A Life Bound By Books

<3 Ali

My Overall Rating:Eager to learn everything she can about her new abilities as an Immortal, Ever turns to her beloved Damen to show her the way. But just as her powers are increasing, Damen’s are waning.

In an attempt to save him, Ever travels to the magical dimension of Summerland, where she learns the secrets of Damen’s tortured past; a past which he has always kept hidden from her. But in her quest to cure Damen, Ever discovers an ancient text that details the workings of time. Now Ever must choose between turning back the past and saving her family from the accident that claimed their lives—or staying in the present and saving Damen, who grows sicker every day...

Hey guys. Sorry I wasn't able to get a review up today. I was really hoping to have my review for Blue Moon up and then Shadowland so that I could have my interview up on Thursday after my memes lol. But since today was so hectic with work and traveling back to school, I wasn't able to put it up. So, I'll have that review up for you all tomorrow! Thanks for reading!

My Overall Rating:Since a horrible accident claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year-old Ever can see auras, hear people’s thoughts, and know a person’s life story by touch. Going out of her way to shield herself from human contact to suppress her abilities has branded her as a freak at her new high school—but everything changes when she meets Damen Auguste...

Ever sees Damen and feels an instant recognition. He is gorgeous, exotic and wealthy, and he holds many secrets. Damen is able to make things appear and disappear, he always seems to know what she’s thinking—and he’s the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. She doesn’t know who he really is—or what he is. Damen equal parts light and darkness, and he belongs to an enchanted new world where no one ever dies.

So, I'm very pleased to share with you all my interview with Laurie Faria Stolarz, the author of Blue is for Nightmares, Deadly Little Lies, Bleed, and Project 17. She was such a joy to interview and I am so thankful that she agreed! Well, here it is!

Romantic Scholar: First of all, would you mind giving us a brief summary of Deadly Little Lies?

Laurie Faria Stolarz: Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, a new boy at school who had a very mysterious gift – psychometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry and experiencing strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow been transferred to her.

Ben returns to school, but he remains aloof, and Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Camelia makes the painful decision to let him go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at Knead, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events uncovers secrets from Ben’s past – and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who – before it's too late.


View the Book Trailer for Deadly Little Secret: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fzMpVMy2fQ

RS: What inspired you to write the TOUCH series?

LFS: I wanted to write a story where the main character has to struggle with the idea of falling in love with someone who could potentially be dangerous. I tinkered with this concept in the first three books of my Blue is for Nightmares Series [(Blue is for Nightmares (Llewellyn 2003), White is for Magic (Llewellyn 2004), and Silver is for Secrets (Llewellyn 2005), as well as in Bleed (Hyperion 2006)]. In Bleed, in particular, there’s a young male character who was convicted for the murder of his girlfriend. His next relationship consists of pen pal letters he exchanges with a young girl while he’s in prison. Without giving too much away, the relationship is briefly pursued once he is released, but I wanted to bring this concept to another level.


Additionally, I wanted to continue experimenting with the supernatural (which I also use in my Blue is for Nightmares Series as well as in Project 17), showing how we all have our own inner senses and intuition, and how with work we can tap into those senses and make them stronger.

I started researching different types of supernatural powers and discovered the power of psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch). The concept fascinated me, and so I wanted to bring it out in a character, showing how sometimes even the most extraordinary powers can also be a curse.

Lastly, I wanted to apply these concepts to be part of a series. I love the idea of growing a main character over the course of several books.

RS: Do you have any favorite characters?

LFS: I love Annie Wilkes from Stephen King’s Misery. Chillingly well written.

RS: Is there a certain message within the TOUCH series you would like your readers to know?

LFS: Yes, people need to trust and listen to their instincts. There are several messages embedded in all of my books, and whichever messages makes sense and/or speak to the reader is great.

RS: You also have another book that has recently come out, the fifth installment to your Blue is for Nightmares series, Black is for Beginnings. Could you tell us a little about that?

LFS: The BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series that put a spell on more than half a million readers continues – in graphic novel format! Prophetic nightmares. Near-brushes with death. Killers pursuing her and her friends. Stacey Brown knows that being a hereditary witch isn’t all it's cracked up to be.

All she really wants to do is work things out with Jacob and figure out what to do with the rest of her life. But before Stacey and Jacob can have a future, they must face their pasts. BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS reveals the never-before-seen backstory - and what lies ahead - for the young, spellcasting lovers.

BLACK continues the harrowing adventures of Stacey and Jacob in the wake of Jacob's brush with death. Ever since he lost his memory, Jacob hasn't been able to remember Stacey - his own soul mate. He leaves Massachusetts, returning to his childhood home in Colorado, hoping to jog his memory. What he remembers is Kira, his ex-girlfriend. As Jacob works to piece together his past, will there be room for Stacey in his future?

RS: What made you decide to publish it in the form of a graphic novel?

LFS: I wanted to try something different. The arcs of the first four books are similar in many respects, and so I wanted to give the series a creative spin. I felt the series was finished at four books, but readers kept asking me for a fifth. When my editor approached me with the idea of writing a graphic novel, I was very intrigued, because it gave me the opportunity to not only try something new, but to really picture the book as a movie. I have a background in screenwriting and wrote BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS in screenplay format, adding in ideas for illustrations and sidebars. It was an absolute thrill to write, and to have the opportunity to work with an illustrator for these characters and situations I’d created.

RS: Can we look to see any more from your Blue is for Nightmares series?

LFS: Possibly ;) We’ll see.

RS: What first inspired you to write?

LFS: I’ve been writing since before I could even hold a pen. As a small child, I was constantly telling stories to whomever would listen to me. When I’d exhausted my family with my endless babbling, I’d go out and tell my tales to the neighborhood kids – passing the stories off as truth. I’d tell of going into the meadows at night and wrestling with a mountain lion or the time I found a boa constrictor in my mom’s garden and had to grapple for my life, winding the snake from around my neck just in the knick of time. Telling stories is just something I’ve always done. I used to write plays and scripts for my Barbie dolls and make people watch the performances. My love of creating stories continued into school when I’d have to write a paragraph or short essay about what I did during Christmas vacation or summer break. I never thought my own life was exciting enough, so I was forever inventing stories.

People along the way, including some teachers, would tell me that I should pursue writing as a career but, at the time, it wasn’t a possibility. I ended up going to business school, following in my older brothers’ footsteps. It wasn’t until after I got my B.S. in marketing that I pursued my graduate degree in creative writing. I’m thankful for my marketing degree now, however, because it really helps me with my books.

RS: Do you like to have any food or drinks when you write?

LFS: I love dark, black coffee.

RS: How much time do you usually spend writing in one sitting?

Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, the mysterious new boy at school who turned out to have a very mysterious gift- pyschometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry, and experiencing her own strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow rubbed off on her. Can the power of psychometry be transferred?

Even once Ben returns to school, Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Despite the romantic tension between them, Ben seems aloof, avoiding contact. Then when an unexpected kiss leads to a frightening argument, Camelia makes the painful decision to let Ben go and to move on. Alex, the hot new guy at Knead, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. Alex is easy-going, and seems to really care about her.

But when Camelia and Alex start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events upturns secrets from Ben's past- and Alex's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out whom- before it's too late.

My Thoughts:

Waiting on Wednesday is brought to us byBreaking the Spine.

So, it's 2010. Another year has gone by and it's time to make some changes. I have made a resolution that I will be updating more often. I honestly didn't think that I would go all of December without a single update. But I guess when you get your wisdom teeth out, have Christmas, and are preparing for a new semester things don't always go as planned. And for that I apologize to my readers.