Slacking- Feel Free to knock me over.

  Hello My Bookish Loves,
   I haven't been ignoring you.  No, loves, I haven't.  I have just had a heck of a personal life.  All the way from cheer practice Monday and Tuesday, with games on Monday.  Brett playing football on Friday.  Studying for tests 2-3 hours a day Mon-Fri.  Then on Saturday, Southern Miss games.  Then last but not least Church on Sunday.   No more excuses though.  I am here and I am here to blog constantly.  But if y'all want proof of my social life here it is.

Me.

Brett and His Girlfriend, Taylor

Maya at a Southern Game

    I will have a cover love up with Abbi Gline's new book Sunday.  So stay tune.

Author Interview: Lisa M Stasse

 Hello Bookish Lovlies,  

   Make sure you all welcome the newest addition to my stash of bookish mothers.  Please welcome Author Lisa M Stasse, debut author of The Forsaken.  I did enjoy interviewing her.  And loves, I am going to try to drag Nicole Williams, the writer of Clash and Crush here for the next interview.   (Okay, I am going to get on my knees and beg her saying, she must come and donate Jude to the Courtney's Basement home for the miscared for boyfriends.   If she doesn't I will be kidnapping him personally.  Along with Tony.))

 

1) So, do you consider your self a writer that lives for writing or is it a something fun to do on the side?

At this point, I pretty much live for it. I always loved to write, but it's only in the past few years that I figured out how to write books (I was writing short stories before that). I absolutely love it. My dream is to just be able to write a couple great books a year!

2)  The Forsaken sounds A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!  What can you tell the readers to be expecting?

Expect something with a lot of thrills, and action, adventure and passion! There is romance (naturally!), but it's not the sole focus of the story. This is basically a story about a good girl who inexplicably gets sent to the harshest, worse place on earth (a prison island for subversive individuals called "the wheel") and has to use her wits to make friends and figure out how to escape. Along the way she falls in love, but even that gets tested pretty fast.

3)  Where was the place that you first thought of the plot for The Forsaken?

It started as a creepy nightmare I had about being chased by guys with knives through a forest. And somehow that merged with a conversation that I just had with a friend whose sister was worried about taking the SATs. I thought, "I wonder what it would be like if the government invented a personality test, that if you failed it, you lost everything and got banished to a prison island forever." So that was the beginning of it all. I think I was actually at Starbucks when the idea came together in my head (I'm a coffee fiend, so I'm often at Starbucks!)

4) The road to publication. Tell us about it. 

The road has treated me well so far. I got my dream agent (Mollie Glick at Foundry--hi Mollie!)  from sending her a query letter via email. And then Simon & Schuster bought The Forsaken trilogy in a pre-empt, pretty much right away. Then I saw the cover art (which I had been obsessing and worrying about) and I really loved it. And I've been lucky with foreign rights selling too. Of course there have been a few speed bumps along the way. My original editor Courtney left S&S partway through the process (to join the FBI! For real! How badass is that?) but luckily I got a new awesome editor Zareen (hi Zareen!) who is absolutely fantastic to work with. We have big plans!

5)  So, any obsessed stalker fans yet?  If not I can send some of my Jamie McGuire cult to you.......

Hee hee! So far, I love all my readers and fans! And I probably always will. But I look forward to getting my first stalker! :) I mean, it would be scary, but I guess it would be a sign of success (in a twisted way). I would LOVE you to send some of Jamie's cult my way! ;)

6)  Speaking of Jamie McGuire, have you read her book, Beautiful Disaster?

I haven't read the book, but I've heard good things about it. Some of my friends say it's a total blast to read. I'll add it to my TBR pile.

7)  Is it okay if I kidnap you and hold you captive in my basement?  I already have a nice collection of book boyfriends and their mothers. ;) 

YES! I was hoping you would ask this question! :) Bring on the basement! As long as there's a coffee machine down there and an internet connection, then I'm happy to move in anytime! :) Is Jamie down there too?? We could all have a party or something!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON YOUR BLOG!!!! :)

Here are all my links if you need 'em!!! Thanks again!!!!

Website: www.lisamstasse.com

Official Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtIwks26SZU

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12987192-the-forsaken

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lisamstasse

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisamstasse

Blog tour: Review: Painted Blind by Michelle Hansen

Title: Painted Blind
Author: Michelle A Hansen
Series: N/A
Publisher: Indie
Published: May 3, 2012

  Seventeen years old and agoraphobic, Psyche Middleton vows her dad will never see the risqué photos she took during a summer modeling stint abroad, but one of them ends up on a billboard in her Montana hometown. Now everyone—especially her dad—can see it. And yet, somehow, those are the mundane things in her life. That is because she is about to fall unexpectedly, head-over-heels in love with Erik, a mysterious young man who rescues her from a crowd of admirers, and who she’s actually never seen because…he can make himself invisible.

As strange as this may seem, it’s about to get even stranger. Erik takes her to his palace in an idyllic kingdom, and she is swept into the beauty and culture of his world, but his affection has one condition: she may not see him. Overtaken, intrigued, and not wholeheartedly believing he's real, she is going to have to decide if she can love him blindly. Because if she can’t, she may lose him forever.

A wild, romantic adventure that travels at breakneck speed, Michelle A. Hansen’s debut is a fantastical journey filled with laughter, danger, and the indomitable power of love.
Painted Blind reminds us that one can overcome seemingly insurmountable odds with fortitude and a little luck and is a testament to the fact that real love is worth fighting for.

   Taken by the hand and drawn to love- is my reaction to this book.  Yes, I love Greek mythology.  Yes, I love retellings. Yes, I love romance.  Stir them in a pot with a bucket full of good writing you have the book....... Percy Jackson.... I'm joking, I'm joking.  When you stir and mix and laugh over the boiling pot you get Painted Blind. 
    Well, our Heroine, Psyche- cool name, right?- went off to do some modeling in Italy that she didn't think would end up  here in the US.  Well, Psyche, apparently didn't take ICT II in 8th grade to know how fast these things go around.  :P  At a local shop we meet our newest edition to the basement, girls and sparse guys that read the blog.  And he won't let her see him.  (His name is Eric by the way.)
     It was darker than what I was expecting.  I didn't get the bubbly writing I thought I was going to get- although no complaints there.  If I want a soft bubbly book I can always go pick up Anna and the French Kiss and fall in love all over again. 
   Which is why I have so many favorite books,  you can't just pick one favorite book because you love another one just the same except for different elements.  But I must say, I have a new favorite greek retelling.  Sorry, Aphrodite's Blessings,  you aren't exactly in the same catagory as this writer.
                         With Bookish Love,

                             

I'm Back!

  Hey y'all, I am partially back and have a ton of books to review.   Yes, I didn't just leave you all alone in Courtney world.  I was just a little occupied in my basement. :P   Oh and I have something for y'all......  Just watch:

So Want Saturday

  For So Want Saturday- instead of having books I want I will tell you things I personally want.  So this is book related at some points and on others not so much. 

1) To go to a Hunter Hayes Concert.....
    Okay, I admit I am a huge fan.  I listen to his songs and dance around the room or sit in my bed and cry.  It just revolves around the day. And he is going to New Orleans in September.  Which means I am skipping lunch, snacks, books, and everything  to go.  But the show I really want to go to is the one in Nashville where they have coffee house expierence that is 80 dollars more but only 18 people can buy tickets and actually meet him.  So I may convince the rents to let me pay for the rooms and tickets, but I doubt I will have enough money for gas and food.  But, I would honestly fall over dead if I met Hunter Hayes and got a *gasp * hug. Here is the video to my favorite song and my favorite singer. :) 


2)   To have a longer summer.......

   School starts back soon.  Oh way too soon.  I don't think I am ready to be an eighth grader.  I start my GPA now.   I have to maintain a 4.0 all through high school and honestly I think - I know - I can do it.  It is just a little hard to keep up with all of it.  I am going for Valedictorian and the grades kick in now.  Scary for me, personally.  Hopefully, Coach Vaughn won't kill us with running on Monday.  But I am ready for the 8 walls, 6 walls, 4 walls, and then when you are about to die 2 walls.  But yes,  I am usually more frequent in school on posting because I have more time on the internet in school. I met some awesome people on vacation this year and  yeah......

3) To read more of my Cage....
   Yes, he is my newest little addition.  He came in the mail about 2 and a half weeks ago.  Oh, and ladies you should be jealous, Abbi sent him to ME weeks before the book come out and I am not sharing with you all.  He is mine, mine, mine, and is never, ever leaving my basement- ever.  He is there for my own personal enjoyment.   Got it?  If you sneak in I may just kill you.........

4) We finally have a new, permanent reviewer on this blog.  One that if they don't post when they are suppose to I will go to her house and ask, Why haven't you posted yet, auntie? 
   Yes, my aunt is going to be an added addition to Courtney's Book Nook.  Her name is Andrea and she has been wanting to open her own blog ,so instead I invited her to my fictional basement and she excepted.  I am partially sharing my hubbys and book boyfriends with her and in exchange she is going to help with author interviews and reviews.  She is going to be the one to email authors back and forth.  I know just one fan letter can change a writer and reader relationship forever- or atleast to me.  Ain't that right , Linda? :P She may be sending a fan letter over later in life while I write one to Lydia on her ability to wash dishes a task I hate with passion.  
\
   Adios my bookish loves,

        

Review: Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

  Title:Breaking Beautiful
  Author: Jennifer Shaw Wolf
 Published: April 24, 2012
 Publisher: Walker Childrens
 Source: Loan from Aunt 

  

My only question when I finished the book was to the Goodreads community- why the heck would you rate this book any less than 5 stars? It is unaccountably amazing. Riveting read. And I was stunned to see that Jennifer was a *gasp* debut. Authors who have wrote 40 books aren't near as a gifted writer as Jennifer. She had me drawn in since page one.

I read the first page and I was bawling. By middle way, I had to go get my comfort food- ice cream- out of the freezer. By the end I was crying to my dad about how I planned on building a shrine around the book- I am completely serious about this part. Jennifer, if you ever read this review. You are my newly found idol.

Breaking Beautiful- I am in love. I need to stop ranting about this book but it is THAT good.

I have to say there was several guys I love with every fiber of my being in this book. Okay I only have 2 but I honestly loved them with EVERY fiber of my being. Andrew, oh my Andrew, I never once saw this boy as disabled. I thought of him amazing- and a hero at the end of the book. How he tried to stop Trip and how Trip always called him spaz, I wanted to kill Trip. I'm crying now thinking about it. But Andrew you are so amazing- I am just jealous Caitlyn gets you. She is so lucky.
Then Blake- oh the one love of my life- Blake. I am burning with passion about how Jennifer wrote you. I have chill bumps from writing this but I don't care. I am in love. He loved her always no matter what. He was made fun of and called Juvy. He never turned on her no matter what Trip did to her to make it seem like she hated him. Oh and then risking - oh and I can't say it because of spoilers. Darn it. But lets say Jennifer Wolf is freakin' amazing. I never have read so non-fake writing or characters in my life.

Now Trip. I am not even going there with Trip. I hate him. I hate him with all of my life and every other part.

There were a few characters I found aweful but I just took a disliking to the Detective,James,Hannah and Mr. Phillips. It was a first off thing. I am going to stop ranting and go ahead and tell the world. I AM IN LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    

Blog Tour: Fall For You

Title: Fall For You
Series: A Jane Austen Academy Novel
Author: Cecilia Gray
The last thing that the girls at the elite all-girls Jane Austen Academy need is hot guys to flirt with. But over the summer the school has been sold, and like it or not, the guys are coming. And it's about to turn the Academy--and the lives of its students--totally upside down...

To say Lizzie and Dante are polar opposites is the understatement of the century. He's a snooty Exeter transfer with more money than Google. She's a driven study-a-holic barely keeping up with tuition. It's obvious that Dante thinks he's way too good for Lizzie. And Lizzie knows Dante is a snob with a gift for pushing her buttons.

But things are changing fast this year at the Academy. And when Lizzie's quest to stop those changes blows up in her face, taking her oldest friendship with it, she has nowhere else to turn but to Dante, with his killer blue eyes, his crazy-sexy smile, and his secrets... Secrets Lizzie can't seem to leave alone, no matter how hard she tries...

                                   
*Warning I am suffering from a major headache and words are causing it to pound more so you are warned if it is short and off topic. * 

  Oh, love.  May I just add that I may kidnap Dante and Cecilia for my expanding basement.  I am debating whether or not to cry or yelp in joy that the book was over.  It was cute, and a fast read for me.  I mean it took about an hour and a half.

  I liked the main character Lizzie, though head strong at points , then again wasn't Lizzie Bennett from Pride and Prejudice?  Seriously, I haven't read Pride and prejudice but I heard she was and I am sorta just comparing to Prom and Prejudice. 

  I bet it was a big difference that under went when you go from all female to male and female schooling.  I know personally from the book that if that happened to me and I met Dante I might as well just go ahead and elope. :P
   Okay well now the headache has esculated and I feel aweful.  A more clearer review will be put up in place of this one hopefully tomorrow.