friday2(!) for May 20, 2016

1. LIFE & STUFF

Welcome to the Friday2...hey, it's better than nothing. This is the life of a freelancer. You think you'll have time to get everything done, and then work comes along and says, "Nope!" But I can't send you into the long weekend with nothing, so Friday2 it is! 

I can't believe we've almost been home from vacation for a whole week. It went by in a blink, and so did the trip, which is why I'm seeing May 20th on my calendar and scratching my head with great confusion. Is it really the "May 24" weekend already? We had a great time exploring all that New Brunswick and PEI have to offer a family with two small children in May. Great weather, fantastic food, and we just won't mention the flight. Actually, the kids were good overall. Once we were up in the air, they were both happy. But take-off was less than kind to Baby H, who may or may not have been convinced we were torturing him. 

I won't get into the details of our trip, because who needs that, but I will share this pic of E at the Anne of Green Gables house. I have to say, it was great to watch the kids run around Green Gables--they had a blast--but as a writer, who enjoyed Anne as a child, it was a lot of fun for me too. I even brought home a cute, smooth, little stone (shh don't tell) from the haunted woods, which I'm going to keep as a good luck writing charm on my desk. It's my small little connection to a great Canadian author, LM Montgomery :)

2. BOOKS & PUBLISHING NEWS...4. TRAILER WORTH WATCHING

Back next week cause I don't have time today! 

5. NOTEWORTHY NEW YA: THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER by Jennifer L. Armentrout

For some people, silence is a weapon. For Mallory "Mouse" Dodge, it's a shield. Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it's been four years since her nightmare ended, she's beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime. 
Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone--spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she's imagined, there's one she never dreamed of--that she'd run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn't seen since childhood, on her very first day. 
It doesn't take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she's not the only one grappling with lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider's life spiral out of control, Mallory must make a choice between staying silent and speaking out--for the people she loves, the life she wants and the truths that need to be heard.

-Courtesy of Indiebound

That's it for me this week! Sorry for the Friday2, but I need to get packing cause we're off to the cottage in a few short hours...

Happy LONG Weekend (if you're in Canada)!

friday5 for May 6, 2016

1. LIFE & STUFF

I don't know what it is about this spring (wait, yes I do; fluctuating temperatures!), but we are on a cycle of nonstop illnesses. First it's heads colds, then stomach bugs, then terrible, no good, very bad coughs with fever and runny noses and ugh. It's too much. And it's been getting in the way of my writing time. If I'm not sick, one of the kids is. But this week ended up being not nearly as bad as it could've been, because only one child was sick, and it didn't seem to last. So while I did lose a whole day of writing during my first week in a while that I didn't also have freelance work, I also had some very productive days too. I'm at that point in my WIP where I'm really hitting my stride. The characters are coming to life, the plot is basically writing itself, and I managed to get 5k words on the page today without batting an eye. I love days like this. I wish I had more days like this, but ideally without the guilt that I assume all mothers experience when they have a good, productive day that has nothing to do with their children. Though, that's not really true either. 95% of the reason I write is because I love it. Because I couldn't not write. Because it's in my bones, and the story ideas keep coming. But the other 5% is because I want the arguably flexible career of a writer, so I can be available to my kids as they grow up. Okay, that summary of my week sort of went off the rails a bit at the end there, but it's all still worth noting. 

I suppose I should add here that there won't be a Friday5 next week because we're taking a little family vacation to the east coast. That's the other thing that's been consuming my time this week. Packing for three, and doing everything I can to make sure our first flight with the kids goes as smoothly as possible. Please pray for my sanity. 

CC0 Public Domain

2. BOOKS & PUBLISHING NEWS

You may have already seen this, but the cover is so fab it's worth repeating. Veronica Roth's next book, Carve the Mark,  her follow-up to the Divergent series, has been announced, and while the plot summary is a little "been there, done that" for my taste, the cover is, as I said, quite lovely. Sure, the Divergent film franchise has failed to deliver in a lot of ways, but I can't pretend I didn't enjoy Divergent when I read it the first time around. Roth may not be the most experienced writer, but she has a wonderful imagination, and her characterization is strong. I don't doubt I'll be picking this one up when it comes out next year. 

3. POP CULTURE NEWS

My week in pop culture has primarily been dominated by good TV (okay, most weeks are...) and the fact that I finally got around to watching The Force Awakens, just in time for May the 4th. Yes, I know. I know. And no, I didn't manage to remain unspoiled. That was a losing battle right from the start. But anyway, back to delicious, delightful finale season (plus, the return of spring/summer favs)--is anybody else totally digging the final season arc on Agents of Shield? (Is anyone else watching Agents of Shield?) Right now it's neck and neck with the brilliant final episodes of iZombie for my fav 2016 season ender (PLL aside, cause, come on!). Of course, the finale is yet to air, and depending on what happens, it may or may not end up anywhere near the top spot, but right now, I'm digging it. I really do love Brett Dalton, and not just cause he's super hot. He's been fantastic as Hive, and seeing him with Daisy/Skye again is just fantastic. Regardless of your thoughts on the pairing, they have a boatload of chemistry. Any other shows out there ending on a particularly strong note worth noting? Share 'em in the comments!

Photo Credit: ABC

4. TRAILER WORTH WATCHING: BAD MOMS

There's a part of me that wants to hate this because the movie's title makes me CRINGE. Actually, the whole concept makes me cringe. But there's a lot of good going on here (KRISTEN BELL, obviously, and poking holes in oversensitive parenting methods) and Mila Kunis is always enjoyable too.  

5. NOTEWORTHY NEW YA: WANDERING WILD byJessica Taylor

"I believe in possibility. Of magic, of omens, of compasses, of love. Some of it's a little bit true."
Sixteen-year-old Tal is a Wanderer, a grifter whose life is built around the sound of wheels on the road, the customs of her camp, and the artful scams that keep her fed. With her brother, Wen, by her side, it's the only life she's ever known. It's the only one she's ever needed. 
Then in a sleepy Southern town, the queen of cons picks the wrong mark when she meets Spencer Swaythe clean-cut Socially Secured boy who ends up hustling her instead of the other way around. For the first time, she sees a reason to stay. As her obligations to the camp begin to feel like a prison sentence, the pull to leave tradition behind has never been so strong. 
But the Wanderers live by signs, and all the signs all say that Tal and Spencer will end only in heartache and disaster. Is a chance at freedom worth almost certain destruction?

-Courtesy of Indiebound

Happy Weekend!

friday5 for April 29, 2016

Happy almost May! We finally made it. After a long winter, and a weird (so far) spring, we're just about to dive into May, which is what we refer to here in Ontario as the start of patio/cottage season. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year :) I, for one, plan to take advantage by taking my laptop out onto the deck on writing days. There's just something about writing outside. I swear the fresh air inspires kickass ideas. But enough about what's to come, here's the Friday5 for the week!

1. LIFE & STUFF

It's been another busy week for me, full of everything from filing my taxes (this is late for me, a sign of how busy I've been), to freelance copywriting, to working on my long-neglected WIP. I actually really enjoy doing my taxes. I always have. There's something satisfying about that kind of paperwork. That said, I enjoy working on freelance assignments more, and I enjoy working on my WIP even more. This week involved a good survey of things I enjoy, juxtaposed in such a way that the enjoyment I feel when I'm writing my own stuff really stood out. It made me wish there were more hours in the day, and it definitely made me wish I could've spent the whole week working on my WIP. But, for now, life won't allow that. I was originally hoping to have this book finished by now, but I've still got a good 20-25k to go. Sometimes plans change, and probably the only good thing about not being published, is that I'm only on the deadlines I set for myself. I still take those seriously. I think any writer needs to. But if paying work comes in, I have to put that first, even if it sadly puts my WIP on the back-burner.

CC0 Public Domain; This is NOT what it looks like when I do my taxes.

2. BOOKS & PUBLISHING NEWS

In a potentially fascinating move by Bloomsbury, they've announced anthology that pairs YA authors with Booktubers (influential cook-centric vloggers), titled BECAUSE YOU LOVE TO HATE ME. The anthology will feature a collection of short stories and essays, with, of course, a common theme tying everything together (in this case, good vs. evil). The project is, to my knowledge, the first of its kind, and should be very interesting to dive into and dissect. PW has the full story here if you're interested in reading more: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/70101-bloomsbury-anthology-pairs-ya-authors-and-booktubers.html   

Courtesy of Bloomsbury | Final Cover to Come

3. POP CULTURE NEWS

I'm admittedly a little behind on my pop culture news, but I did come across this video and just had to share, because, well, you'll see :)

4. TRAILER WORTH WATCHING: THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN

Chills, you guys. Absolute chills. 

5. NOTEWORTHY NEW YA: HEIR TO THE SKY by Amanda Sun

As heir to a kingdom of floating continents, Kali has spent her life bound by limits: by her duties as a member of the royal family, by a forced betrothal to the son of a nobleman, and by the edge of the only world she's ever known, a small island hovering above a monster-ridden earth, long since uninhabited by humans. She is the Eternal Flame of Hope for what's left of mankind, the wick and the wax burning in service for her people, and for their revered Phoenix, whose magic keeps them aloft. 
When Kali falls off the edge of her kingdom and miraculously survives, she is shocked to discover there are still humans on the earth. Determined to get home, Kali entrusts a rugged monster-hunter named Griffin to guide her across a world overrun by chimera, storm dragons, basilisks and other terrifying creatures. But the more time she spends on earth, the more dark truths she begins to uncover about her home in the sky, and the more resolute she is to start burning for herself.

-Courtesy of Indiebound

Happy Weekend!

friday5 for April 22, 2016

Okay, confession time: this isn't really a proper Friday5 post. I had every intention of doing one today, as something of a spring makeover for the Friday5, but then I got hit by an awful stomach bug earlier this week and that pretty much derailed my plans. 

That said, I did want to do something, since it's been a few weeks of back-to-back busy-ness and radio silence. So here's a quick preview of the new format. No longer will the Friday5 be a mostly random list, changing from week to week; I'm hoping a little structure will infuse it with a bit more diversity, and help streamline the content. 

Presenting the new Friday5 line-up:

1. LIFE & STUFF

From now on, the first section of the Friday5 will be devoted to all things meeee! :) Well, sort of. It will serve as a quick glimpse into what I've been up to in any given week, my writing, etc. It's also a place for me to share things I've come across that don't fit into the other categories.

2. BOOKS & PUBLISHING NEWS

It's probably not surprising that books and publishing are getting their own slot in the new Friday5. This is an author blog, after all. Everything from changes in the industry, to book deals, to movie rights, etc. If it's book-related and exciting, I'm probably going to want to talk about it. 

3. POP CULTURE

No surprises here either. What's the Friday5 without a little pop culture news? My challenge moving forward is going to be only selecting one story per week...

4. TRAILER WORTH WATCHING

Since I seem to often have a TV, movie, or book trailer worth sharing, I feel pretty confident there will be a few contenders for this slot every week too. Trust me, it'll always be something you won't want to have missed. 

5. NOTEWORTHY NEW YA

Because some things never change (and shouldn't), the final piece of the Friday5 every week will continue to be devoted to noteworthy new books in the young adult genre. Keep those to-read lists handy!

That's it for now--stay tuned for the first real edition of the revised Friday5 next week (assuming I don't get swamped by work, or illness, or any of the other things that have made April essentially disappear).

Happy weekend!  

friday5 for April 1, 2016

Happy April Fool's Day! I promise I won't attempt to pull any fast ones on you today, dear blog readers. The truth is, I'm just not that good at pranks. Maybe one day, but for now, it's enough for me to use today's Friday5 to share a selection of the internet's best gags with you, in case you don't have time to go looking yourself (feel free to share some of your favs in the comments)--and of course, we're also long overdue for a Noteworthy New YA recommendation, so let's get to it!

1. Google has a history of being all over April Fool's Day, and today was no exception. Here's just one of their awesome offerings:

2. WestJet's new inflight helper takes on a lightly HAL-esque personality in this gag ad:

3. Too busy gaming to eat? Razer has you covered:

4. Okay this is actually from yesterday, so not technically an April Fool's thing, but I didn't see it until this morning, and I can't not share:

5. Noteworthy New YA: WALK THE EDGE by Katie McGarry (Thunder Road #2)

One moment of recklessness will change their worlds.

Smart. Responsible. That's seventeen-year-old Breanna's role in her large family, and heaven forbid she put a toe out of line. Until one night of shockingly un-Breanna-like behavior puts her into a vicious cyber-bully's line of fire—and brings fellow senior Thomas "Razor" Turner into her life. 

Razor lives for the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, and good girls like Breanna just don't belong. But when he learns she's being blackmailed over a compromising picture of the two of them—a picture that turns one unexpected and beautiful moment into ugliness—he knows it's time to step outside the rules. 

And so they make a pact: he'll help her track down her blackmailer, and in return she'll help him seek answers to the mystery that's haunted him—one that not even his club brothers have been willing to discuss. But the more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow. And suddenly they're both walking the edge of discovering who they really are, what they want, and where they're going from here.

-Courtesy of Indiebound

Happy Weekend!

(early) happy easter

Just a quick post to say no regular post this week. I'll be busy playing catchup after March break and preparing for the long Easter weekend ahead. I do have a quick book recommendation though! If you find yourself with a little extra reading time on your hands this weekend, my agentmate, Emily Bleeker, recently released her sophomore offering, WHEN I'M GONE, and while I haven't had a chance to dive in yet myself, if it's anything like her stunning debit, WRECKAGE, it's going to be terrific. Check it out: 

Luke Richardson has returned home after burying Natalie, his beloved wife of sixteen years, ready to face the hard job of raising their three children alone. But there's something he's not prepared for a blue envelope with his name scrawled across the front in Natalie's handwriting, waiting for him on the floor of their suburban Michigan home.

The letter inside, written on the first day of Natalie's cancer treatment a year ago, turns out to be the first of many. Luke is convinced they re genuine, but who is delivering them? As his obsession with the letters grows, Luke uncovers long-buried secrets that make him question everything he knew about his wife and their family. But the revelations also point the way toward a future where love goes on in written words, in memories, and in the promises it's never too late to keep.

-Courtesy of Indiebound

I hope you all have a fantastic week and a wonderful long weekend, full of good food and good people, whether you celebrate with chocolate eggs or not. And for those who do, Happy Easter!

pretty little reaction: too many secrets, not enough plan Bs

6.20 Hush hush sweet liars | Photo credit: Freeform

Well, I hate to keep things brief for a season finale, but it's also March Break and my time is limited...of course, I can't NOT share some thoughts on this explosive finale, which yes, I definitely enjoyed, and yes, it definitely has me salivating for the next half season, even though no, I did not like a particular fav liar of mine ending the episode in jeopardy (but I also liked it; more on that below). Let's get right to it, shall we? (oh, and this is more than a top 10, cause this is stream of consciousness blogging here, and honestly, this finale packed in way too much for me to narrow it down.)

Looking for A-Moji | Photo credit: Freeform

1. Hanna trusts Hot Caleb. Spencer does too. And Aria's face after they both say this is priceless. Go back and check it out if you can. 
    
2. Where's Jason? I know he's running the family business but where is he physically? I feel like this season could have been even more crazy if he'd been around. I was never much of a Jason fan to begin with, but he's tied up in all this family drama so I hope he's back for Season 7.
    
3. Toby's glasses. That is all.
    
4. Does anybody even remotely know what Sara Harvey is doing right now or ever? Cause I have no clue. Like, if she's not bad, why does she do ANY of the things she does?
    
5. I don't care enough about Nicole to care that she's maybe dead. (Plus, she's almost definitely not dead, right? She's going to suddenly come back to rain on Ezria's parade, I just know it.)
    
6. What the hell Ali's dead mom! 
    
7. It's kind of patronizing that the liars keep referring to it as "babysitting Ali". Old Ali wouldn't have stood for that shit.
    
8. It seems extra strange that they're also sitting around drinking wine. I get that they're "all grown up now" but they seem to sit around drinking wine a lot. Which, okay, I kinda love.
    
9. Spaleb scene.. blaaaah. But worth noting, she said I love you and he silently responded with, "Oh. Oh, no. No, it's not like that. I love Hanna."
    
10. Ezria = "Our book is going to be a bestseller, now let's get it on."
     
11. Haleb flashback is pretty heartbreaking. But also begs the question, how quickly did Hot Caleb get out of there? He didn't seem to linger at all. Plus, leaving his phone behind seems very unlike him.  
     
12. Hanna still love Hot Caleb. No surprise there, right? But it's so nice to see her say it, and it's even nicer to see that HE is the one who makes a move to kiss her. Like, without even wanting to "talk about it" or process the info, or pull the, "but I'm with Spencer now!" card. Nope, he just wants to kiss his sweet Hanna again. And my Haleb shipper heart breaths a massive sigh. Let it also be noted: Spencer says I love you, and Hot Caleb leaves. Hanna says it, and he makes out with her. Yeah. That's pretty much all you need to know about that..
     
13. Sad Ali in the church almost seems as stupid as all the crazy solo missions Em has gone on this season. Where do these girls come up with these random potentially dangerous ideas from?
     
14. I kinda love Mona the party crasher. She just shows up everywhere you don't want her to be. But Spencer seems to actually kinda be okay with it. 
     
15. Also, since I haven't mentioned it yet, I'm glad there is still clearly a Spoby spark cause Spencer is about to get her heart broken...
     
16. Mary Drake is the twin! This does not surprise me. Okay, the part where she's Charlotte's real mother was a bit surprising, but I think her being Ali's aunt is a lot less surprising. 
     
17. Also not surprising is Mr. Ali being evil. I totally called it. I did not call him being British however. And I should have because apparently the actor is British. 
     
18. Hanna is gone. On the surface, I am so not okay with my fav liar being in danger, but did you see how Hot Caleb freaked out, and how angry he seemed with himself at the end? He feels like he let her down, and worse, maybe he's lost her forever. Except no, the show won't off Hanna. She's too awesome. Which means we should get an amazing Hanna rescue (or, dare I ask for it, Hanna escape?) where Hot Caleb does anything to get her back, followed by the hottest of all Haleb reunions. If the show is more adult now, more, let's say, freeform, whatever that means, and we're seeing more nudity (and boy, if this episode was any indicator...), I think season 7 needs to start off with a bang. Literally. A hot Haleb reunion bang. Make it happen, PLL.

No quote of the week this time, because I didn't have time to write one down :) Is anybody else super excited for season 7a? I know I am. Haleb forever.

Sorry for typos. No time to edit. 

~PLR~

friday5 for March 11, 2016

I don't know about you, but I'm bracing myself for March Break next week. If I'm being perfectly honest, I'm looking forward to a few days where it'll be just me and my girl E (with Baby H in daycare), but I know E is going to miss the routine of school, and will probably get quite squirrely by the end of the week. That I'm not looking forward to... Needless to say, there won't be a Friday5 next week, but with the PLL finale airing, there will be at least something of a Pretty Little Reaction post. Housekeeping note over. Let's get to the Friday5!

1. Have you seen the official promo for the new season of Game of Thrones? No? Then you need to. Yes? Then you need to watch it again. There are a lot of goodies in here to discuss. Where to start? Oh, I dunno, how about BRAN AND THE FREAKIN' NIGHT'S KING? Okay, clearly this isn't really happening cause Bran is standing tall, but what's that all about? Is it possible Bran's story won't bore me as much as it has up to this point? We will soon find out!

2. Speaking of GoT, does anybody believe Kit Harrington's claims? Anybody? I'm seriously asking. I go back and forth about this several times a week. It's not like the guy has to worry about credibility. Not really. 

Photo credit: HBO

3. Queen Rowling herself is releasing a whole lot of new information about the North American Wizarding World, to mixed reviews (but let's not get into that here). Feelings about the specifics aside, does anybody else find this feels kind of surreal? Harry Potter fans have been immersed in the UK Wizarding world for so long that it feels really, really strange to now hear these kinds of details about magic's existence outside that. Don't get me wrong, I love the expansion of the wizarding world. I want it to live and grow forever, but it all feels so...disconnected for me right now. Like, everything in HP 1-7 is real, and this somehow isn't. Maybe Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will change that. I hope so.  

4. Get ready for more Kimmel. ABC has announced that Jimmy Kimmel has been tapped to host the 168th Primetime Emmy awards. I think this is a good choice. He did a plenty good job the last time he hosted, and when it comes to these awards shows, I always find the best hosts are the people who are used to hosting as a regular gig. Should be good. Let's just hope the nominations reflect the actual best talent out there, and not just the same old tired choices year over year. 

Photo credit: ABC

5. Noteworthy New YA: BURN BABY BURN by Meg Medina

While violence runs rampant throughout New York, a teenage girl faces danger within her own home in Meg Medina's riveting coming-of-age novel. 
Nora Lopez is seventeen during the infamous New York summer of 1977, when the city is besieged by arson, a massive blackout, and a serial killer named Son of Sam who shoots young women on the streets. Nora's family life isn t going so well either: her bullying brother, Hector, is growing more threatening by the day, her mother is helpless and falling behind on the rent, and her father calls only on holidays. All Nora wants is to turn eighteen and be on her own. And while there "is "a cute new guy who started working with her at the deli, is dating even worth the risk when the killer likes picking off couples who stay out too late? Award-winning author Meg Medina transports us to a time when New York seemed balanced on a knife-edge, with tempers and temperatures running high, to share the story of a young woman who discovers that the greatest dangers are often closer than we like to admit and the hardest to accept.

-Courtesy of Indiebound

pretty little reaction: love will find a way

6.19 Did You Miss Me? | Photo Credit: Freeform

Wow, how did we get to the second last episode of the season already? These little half seasons really fly by. So not ready for the break, but at least things are looking up for Haleb before the finale. Yes, okay, they're not back together, but they are working together, and making Spencer jealous, which to me, means two things: 1. Hanna and Hot Caleb trust each other pretty much anyone else (and stand united together, no matter what), and 2. The honeymoon is official over for Spaleb. I can't help but wonder what Hot Caleb would have done if Spencer had been against Haleb's plan. But again, PLL showed us how the girls have matured with the time jump by having her force herself to be cool with it. Cause that's what grown-ups do... Anyway, enough about that, let's get to the episode!

Don't mess with Hanna | Photo credit: Freeform

1. I've personally never been a big Hanna and Lucas fan for obvious reasons (dude needs to move on), but they work quite nicely as friends. That I can get behind. But the whole Lucas wanting to buy her a building feels an awful lot like Pacey buying Joey a wall. Do we really need to go down this road again, with Lucas pining for Hanna. He now has two guys in his way, in Jordan and Hot Caleb. Lucas, buddy, it's not going to happen.
    
2. Ali's husband is definitely sketchy. Maybe I'm reading too much into it--or maybe this is symptomatic of PLL making me suspect everyone--but he's super suspicious, right? Did he push Ali down the stairs? Maybe. Probably.
    
3. The card with the X'd out liars on it really stands out to me. And not because of its contents, but because the front of it is a freakin staircase. Maybe Ali is too far away to have seen it, but I'd expect that to stand out to anyone walking around the room, as it did to Hanna. So then why didn't Mr. Ali notice it? Maybe because HE PUT IT THERE? Did it suddenly mysteriously appear after he dropped off more flowers? Cause that's kind of what it looked like. Or is this all just a red herring and it's just coincidentally weird that nobody before Hanna questioned sending a staircase card to a girl who just fell down the stairs?
    
4. Sara Harvey's handy man and Mona. I don't know what to think. My gut instinct these days is to trust Mona, but I dunno. She's done a lot of really bizarre stuff in the past. And what's with the handy man standing around eating ice cream like a big weirdo? That whole scene was strange. And Emily's attempts to be covert were not the best. Em, for the last time, it's called back-up.
    
5. Is it just me or is Ezra's book kinda bad? I couldn't stop thinking about that during the Nicole flashback. Or maybe the acting is just way over the top. 
    
6. Hanna needs Hot Caleb. She really, truly needs him. And he needs her too--he just won't admit it. But he will help. And he will stand by Hanna no matter what. I love the fierceness of this pairing, even if it's a "business partnership". We all know what's really going on. Yes, Spencer. Be wary. You should be. 
    
7. The hand grab. Yes, it was in the previews, but that didn't make it any less magical. Actually, I was kinda shocked by how it all went down. Hanna just sort of went for it. A sign of solidarity is one thing, but that felt an awful lot more like a brazen claiming of territory. And Hot Caleb doesn't really seem to mind until he realizes Spencer is looking, and then he just looks like a million thoughts are racing through his mind. Poor guy is going to have some tough decisions to make soon, I think. 
    
8. Spencer sure is drinking a lot wine...
    
9. The Spaleb Europe flashback probably yields the most chemistry I've observed between the two of them, but it's vacation romance. It's not real. It's got that glow of "we're all alone here and the real world is miles away." It still feels like solace, not love. 
    
10. The Haleb plan goes forward. Hanna confesses to killing Charlotte--but will Devil Emoji buy it? I have a feeling this is almost definitely going to blow back in their faces. That's the PLL way, after all. But however it goes down, I definitely hope it brings both Haleb and Spoby closer together again. 

Prettiest Little Quote of the Week:

"We're all connected like a big bowl of linguini." -Hanna (or like a bunch of friends with secrets and lies...)

~PLR~

pretty little reaction: burn, baby, burn

6.18 Burn This | Photo Credit: Freeform

No Friday5 this week. I spent the time I normally would've spent pulling it together volunteering in my daughter's classroom instead. #sorrynotsorry We spent the time learning about five types of simple machines, which, now that I think about it--Friday5, Five simple machines--maybe I could've killed two birds with one stone? Does anybody care to learn about levers and wedges? No? Okay, then let's talk PLL instead. Things are really *ahem* heating up in this week's episode! Again, #sorrynotsorry

It was totally the girl on the right... | Photo credit: Freeform

1. So Ali and Mr. Ali are married. I can't seem to ever remember his name and since I'm too lazy to look it up. Mr. Ali it is! What are the odds this guy is Devil Emoji? Or Black SUV? About the same as the odds that anyone is DE or BSUV? Yeah, that's what I figured. 
    
2. Toby is back! And he's busting skulls...but wait, Toby! Don't hit Hot Caleb's beautiful face! When I saw this scene in the previews for the season way back when, I had really hoped/assumed (didn't we all?) that the punch was over Spencer, but now that it's happened, I'm glad it's not. I have to say, PLL is handling these new relationships with a lot of maturity--I mean, punching aside. That's not so mature, but at least it was over Toby's current girlfriend and not his ex. I find myself again legit buying into the five year time jump. Well done, PLL.
    
3. I kind of adore the interaction between Ashely and Hot Caleb this week. Ash, ain't nobody gonna blame you for favouring that boy. Hot and sweet as Jordan is, Hot Caleb is the quintessential cute hacker boy next door.
    
4. Aria and Ezra are writing a book together now. This should go well.
    
5. Oh Emily, I honestly don't know if you're badass or braindead. Why do you keep going on these dangerous missions alone? At least she found out a few things this week. More on that below...
    
6. Hanna continues to be just not that into all things related to her wedding, and by extension, Jordan. Look, I'm sure she was plenty happy with him back in fairytale NY, but now that she's back in Rosewood and is constantly being exposes to reminders of the lost love of her life Hot Caleb, it's not surprising this isn't turning out to be the most blissful engagement. Is anybody else kind of hoping for a scene where Hanna finally breaks her cool exterior and Ashley soothingly points out that she's clearly still in love with Hot Caleb? Cause yeah, Ash totally knows what's up.
    
7. Someone who doesn't know what's up is Spencer's dad. Who, dude. Your daughter is an adult now. You can treat her like one. As much as I'm not a fan of Spaleb, Daddy Hastings has no right telling Spence who she can and cannot date. That said, Spencer, please stop dating Hot Caleb. Just don't do it because of your dad. Do it because you have so much more chemistry with Toby. Speaking of which...
    
8. More flashbacks! More flashbacks! I am yet to meet a PLL flashback I didn't like. And this week's FB is solid gold. It's no secret that I haven't been feeling Spencer this season, what with the girl code violations and the icky barn hook-ups, but seeing "old Spencer" back with Toby, even at a very sad, and touching time, was really great. When these two inevitably get back together, I want some sort of a "you were always good enough" moment. I can't believe I'm saying this about Toby...the Creeper Toby of days past. What can I say? I feel for the guy.
    
9. Oh Aria. Poor Aria. What a horrible thing to have to suffer through--wait. What? Only her arm got hurt? HER ARM? Okay, whatever. At least her family is there in her time of...wait. What? Where are her parents? Why did only Hanna feel the need to go to the hospital? What is going on here?? Oh, there's Ezra. Maybe they can use this time to work on their book together...or, you know do the whole totally sweet pining ex thing. That works too. Oh, Liam, you poor oblivious man...
    
10. Mona is the girl with the pink dice. This somehow doesn't surprise me at all. But it does make me happy. I like Mona best when she's up to all kinds of crazy hijinks. This whole diner storyline has been so all over the place that I have no idea what's going on, but that doesn't stop me from liking where it's going. And despite Emily's stupid decisions of late, girl is probably the only liar who seems to actually be getting stuff done. Well done, Em. For now, you can keep your probably badass status. 

Prettiest Little Quote of the Week:

(A two-liner this time, because it made me snort with laughter)

Spencer: Do you want me to do this or not?
Caleb: Not! I keep saying not and you keep ignoring me!

~PLR~

it falls apart

I'm working on my current WIP today, a young adult contemporary called, IT FALLS APART. This book is all about relationships--from romantic, to familial, to a loyal friendship between two girls struggling to navigate the complications life throws their way.

Though it's a work in progress, I've updated the book page with a working synopsis, and am very happy to share it with you here as well!

*WORK IN PROGRESS*

When Harper Donnelly’s best friend, Chloe, moves out-of-state halfway through their senior year, she figures things can’t get much worse. But then Nan, her grandmother and sole guardian, falls ill, throwing Harper’s life into chaos. She does the only thing she can think of, and takes on half of Nan’s shifts shuttling tourists from the airport, an effort that brings her into regular contact with Chloe’s cute ex-boyfriend, Luke, whose family owns a local inn.

Harper has never been particularly fond of Luke, but with Chloe gone, she starts to see a different side of him, and the two stumble into a friendship that unwittingly deepens into something far more intense. Their secret isn’t so hard to keep—it’s even kind of exciting—until Chloe unexpectedly returns for the summer, and Harper suddenly finds herself torn between the guy she’s definitely falling for, and the best friend she swore she’d never betray.

friday5 for February 26, 2016

It's almost the end of February, you guys. What is UP with that? I for one am more than ready to put winter behind me, and look forward to spring. Seriously, let's get this sunshine show on the road. Are you ready for the last February weekend before we dive into lousy Smarch weather? Maybe this week's Friday5 can help...

1. The X-Files's far too short "event series" ended this past week with a major cliffhanger, leaving everyone wondering two things: 1. How is it possible we barely got any Mulder/Scully interaction in this episode? And 2. When is this show coming back for a slightly longer, better fleshed-out eleventh season? Okay, there were also some people wondering why the brains behind the show seemingly wasted some of the few episodes they had, but that's all very debatable. I thought it was great, and I'm not the only one. Besides, I don't think anybody was expecting a perfect run. That wouldn't be in X-Files tradition. (Remember the episode with the killer cats? Cause yeah, that happened.) Regardless of a few shaky missteps, you can officially consider me on #teamseason11pleaseandthankyou

Photo credit: FOX

2. Ready for the Oscars this weekend? Yeah, me neither. Not having cable certainly doesn't help. But not seeing any of the movies isn't so great either. But dammit if I don't get swept away by the hype anyway! If you're as unprepared as I am, let Honest Trailers do what they do best--tell you what you need to know, no filter required.

3. Hold up, Cruel Intentions TV series, things just got interesting. Sarah Michelle Gellar, the original scheming Kathryn Merteuil herself, is joining the cast. As a fan of the original CI film back in the 90s, this series had been on my radar, but not like it is now. Time will tell if this ends up being a worthy successor, but I'm definitely intrigued...and digging out my old Placebo CD :)

Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures, Inc.

4. Did you know Disney is doing a new adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time? Because I don't think I did, and now that I know, I'm super excited. The project has signed on a director in Selma's Ava Duvernay, which I'm hoping is a sign they're moving forward and we can start dream casting...Kiernan Shipka as Meg, right? Are we all on the same page? Cause, yeah, that would be awesome. 

5. Noteworthy New YA: FIRSTLIFE by Gena Showalter (Everlife #1)

From the author of the "New York Times" bestselling White Rabbit Chronicles series comes book 1 of a brand new series in which life as we know it is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.
Tenley "Ten" Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girlwho has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she'll liveafter she dies. 
There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death. 
In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she's drawn to isn't where the boy she's falling for lives? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision.

-Courtesy of Indiebound

Happy Weekend! 

pretty little reaction: there's baggage, and then there's what the liars are lugging around

6.17 We've All Got Baggage | Photo Credit: Freeform

Sorry for the break last week--things were crazy busy, but I'm back and ready to discuss this week's PLL! Before we dive in, I just want to give one more shout-out to the awesome Haleb flashback scene we got last week. It definitely made me yearn for them. And it, combined with what we saw this week, has me feeling very confident a reunion is in our future. I don't want Spencer to get burned, but...meh. She can get back with Toby. Speaking of whom, where's Toby? Definitely not a part of this week's drama, but next week...oh, I have a feeling it's getting good :)

You can't trust that guy, Em | Photo Credit: Freeform

1. So my question about Liam knowing who Ezra really is to Aria was answered quite clearly--he definitely didn't know. But he does now! Ezra seems to handle the whole book thing okay, then Liam and Aria work things out (he never even brings up the creepiness factor! Good man, that Liam. I guess.) Oh and Aria's parents get married, and well, basically everything's a wash for her this week. Expect new drama next week, probably related to her prodigal brother, at least, I kinda hope so.
    
2. Man, I love a good Emily freak out. Nobody does wide-eyed losing it like Em. Also her reaction to Spaleb was classic. Do not want to see. And then there's the whole Damien thing. I totally forgot about Damien until memory was jogged by the whole reporter thing. Right. That guy. He's definitely up to something other than an article, right? I mean, he has to be. Could he be Devil Emoji? Or, Black SUV? (more on that below)
    
3. Hanna's good at planning other weddings, but not her own. Clearly a sign. Also, "This is happy"? No it's not. (And did you notice Hanna's reaction to seeing Spaleb together? And how Hot Caleb removed his arm from around Spencer as soon as he saw Hanna? Haleb is so coming back.) 
    
4. Apparently Devil Emoji and Emily are going to have a baby together. Isn't that nice? Oh wait, no, it's totally creepy. But maybe Emily should take a look through that baby name book. If she leaves it up to Devil Emoji, that kid is going to be named Pizza Slice or Smiley Poop. Actually, Smiley Poop isn't a bad name for a baby...
    
5. The Hanna and Melissa flashback was intense. I kinda love these two together. Can we please see more of them two at odds? Also, how many times is this show going to try and make us believe Melissa is guilty? We know better by now, PLL. That said, I wonder what Melissa is up to...
    
6. Okay, Emily officially needs to stop going to creepy A-related (Devil Emoji-related) places by herself. She gets herself nearly killed every other week. And why does she think the roof is a good place to hide? OBVIOUSLY,w whoever is in the Black SUV totally knows she's up there. This is the most bizarre cat and mouse game I've ever seen. Em, next time just run into the forest. Cars can't drive through trees. 
    
7. What are Hanna and Aria wearing at the wedding? Just. What. Aria's is kinda okay since she's officiating, but a black leather crop top and matching skirt? I know Ella wanted something different, but seriously? Also, I kinda thought Byron and Ella would break apart after their kiss and Magic Mike would be there. Not stupid Liam, who is kinda boring now that any drama related to him is mostly over. 
    
8. Hot Caleb takes the fall. Always our hero. Of course. And then Spencer's mom kicks him out. I don't think Caleb secretly did it, and I don't care for him taking the blame to save Spencer (the campaign overall is fine), but I'm definitely a fan of him not being in that barn anymore. Hooray for no more totally awkward honeymoon phase scenes between Spaleb. I am so done with those. It felt like a brother and sister waking up for coffee and makeouts. Gross. Also, this totally sets the scene for the Haleb reunion. Dare I dream that Hot Caleb will show up at Lucas's condo looking for a place to crash? DARE I DREAM?
    
9. Ali and what's his face (Dr. Something) want to get married. Well, we knew this was coming, but I have to say, I wasn't expecting it now. They seem giggly and happy. And hey, Aria might as well. She's got an officiating resume to build up! Maybe she can marry Haleb next? :P
    
10. Okay, the two "As" thing. Emily seems to think that Black SUV and Devil Emoji aren't the same person. I don't necessarily agree that they have to be two different people. Couldn't Devil Emoji just have shown up to find that murder weapon and then Emily was there and he/she wanted to scare Em off so they did, and then when she got the weapon, he/she grabbed it for his/her own purposes? The show seems to want us to believe there are two people here. So even though I don't agree there's enough evidence to support this, I'm going to go along with it. Which brings me to my next question--which "A" is eating wedding cake and programming a universal remote? I don't even know what we're supposed to make of that...Figuring out how to program a universal remote makes me think the person is old and out of touch with technology, but that's not true. Those things are hard! 
    
    Until next week!

Prettiest Little Quote of the Week:

"Well, I think it's fate. People who are meant to be together take a break and then find their way back to their first love." -Hanna (of course, I picked this one...)

~PLR~

friday5 for February 12, 2016

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, love is in the air. Well, kinda. We have Deadpool coming out this weekend, and the return of The Walking Dead... but there's some love to be found there, right? Okay, maybe not so romantic, but definitely fun. Here's a mostly relationship-centric Friday5 to balance the scales:

1. The boys are back in town. As in ALL the boys. David Sutcliffe, Danny Strong, Jared Padalecki, and Milo Ventimiglia are set to join the Gilmore Girls revival alongside already announced Gilmore Guys, Scott Patterson and Matt Czuchry (whose name I still have no idea how to pronounce). And they're not the only ones. You can find an updated list of everyone returning to Stars Hollow here. Looks like all of Rory's boyfriends of Christmas past are going to be back in town, but how amazing would it be if the first instalment of the Netflix revival opens with Rory dating Jensen Ackles?

Photo credit: MEGAN SCHAEFER/ IBTIMES

2. Looks like we'll be finding out the fate of Ron and Hermione's marriage (see last week's Friday5 for Rupert Grint's blasphemous prediction) regardless of the ability to attend performances of The Cursed Child in London--as many predicted, the stage play is being published for all to read on July 31 of this year. Are you excited to get your hands on the 8th Harry Potter story, even if J.K. Rowling's pen wasn't the main one behind the tale?

3. The trailer for Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates was released this past week, and with a wedding, a bromance, and a...female bromance? (Femance? Is there a word for that? ), it looks like it could be a lot of fun. I just hope the film utilizes Anna Kendrick more than the trailer does, because girl is funny. 

4. Looking to whip up something sweet this weekend? The Kitchn has collected a slew of inspired recipes that combine sugary sweets with roses--could there be anything more romantic? The only trouble is, these dishes might be too beautiful to eat...

Photo Credit: http://www.abeautifulmess.com/

5. Noteworthy New YA: BLEEDING EARTH by Kaitlin Ward

Between Mother Nature and human nature, disasters are inevitable.

Lea was in a cemetery when the earth started bleeding. Within twenty-four hours, the blood made international news. All over the world, blood oozed out of the ground, even through the concrete, even in the water. Then the earth started growing hair and bones.

Lea wishes she could ignore the blood. She wishes she could spend time with her new girlfriend, Aracely, in public, if only Aracely wasn't so afraid of her father. Lea wants to be a regular teen again, but the blood has made her a prisoner in her own home. Fear for her social life turns into fear for her sanity, and Lea must save herself and her girlfriend however she can.

-Courtesy of Indiebound

Happy weekend!

pretty little reaction: more than a little disturbing

6.15 Do Not Disturb | Photo credit: Freeform

I think PLL has finally done it. I think the new villain has become as invasive as he/she possibly can, short of rape/sexual assault, which we're unlikely to see because it's a "family show", except not, because oh right, it's not ABC Family anymore, it's Freeform. See what you've gone and done, PLL? You've killed family values, possibly right along with Emily's eggs (more on that below). But I still love you for it. On to the reaction!

Team Sparia! | Photo credit: Freeform

1. Aria's parents are...dating? That's their big secret? Okay. I guess that's fine. And I guess this means Byron has an alibi now...
    
2. Spencer and Hot Caleb together will never, ever feel right. I can tolerate this for like 2-3 more episodes tops. And yes, until they are broken up, I will continue to harp on them. I used to be more of a Spencer fan than I am currently, and I want to love her again. 
    
3. Okay wait. The Emily egg thing is legit? I thought that was definitely a cover story. I'm very confused. In fact, I'd probably continue to convince myself it is a cover story, if not for what happens later in the episode...  
    
4. Hanna's boss is a total B. And not in the new-A (Devil Emoji) way. She's just nasty. And a bit of a cliche. And she fired Han, and made her leave her Panda Mug behind! That mug was adorable! And yes, it's very sweet that Jordan pays for gas so Hanna can be driven around indefinitely for comfort, but I'd love to see her confiding in someone else right now... #hotcaleb
    
5. Ali's new guy is kind of a nerd. But he seems to genuinely care about her, which is nice. Also watching Ali up against crazy Sara Harvey makes me realize I'm rooting for Ali. And speaking of SH, who may or may not be Devil Emoji, but probably isn't, why does Ashley continue to let SH live at The Radley? Don't hotels reserve the right to kick out guests who threatened their daughter's life? I think I've mentioned this before, but it continues to boggle my mind. 
    
6. "I'm glad you came to me. You know you can always come to me." Haleb's scene together is waaaay too short! Go away, Spencer!  But that lingering look as Hanna left... her fiancé may be great, but she is sooo not okay with Spaleb. 
    
7. Devil Emoji wants to steal Emily's eggs. What. The. Hell. Is. Going. On. Here?!?  This crosses a new line, right? Like, back in highschool, it was all "Keep your mouth shut or I'll ruin the prom!" and now it's all, "I'm going to steal your harvested eggs!" Devil Emoji seemed kinda tame at first, responding to the girls in almost a friendly manner (plus, I can't tell if DE is involved in Charlotte's murder or some kind of vigilante trying to uncover it), but this egg thing is on a whole other level. Crazy times. Poor Emily.
    
8. Team Sparia! This is how I like my Spencer. And my Aria for that matter! Let's replace all the Spaleb scenes with Sparia scenes and everybody wins! That said, umm, guys, did Aria fall/climb down that deep hole? Does hotel security know about this? Does Ashley?
    
9. I get that SH owns a lot of gloves but do they all have to be on mannequin hands? That is just extra creepy.
    
10. Whoo Hacker Hot Caleb! See, this is how I like my Hot Caleb too--taking matters into his own hands. Definitely looking forward to more of this storyline!

New feature! Prettiest Little Quote of the Week:

"On second thought, could you come over here and toss me like a frisbee?" - Aria

~PLR~