Kelley's A to Z Book Survey

My good friend and CP, Amy Cavenaugh, asked me to take this survey. So here you are, Amy, all the answers to all the questions. I'd love for you all to comment on any of the books I've listed below. Have you read any of them? Liked or disliked them? Which books do you love most, on this survey or not?

Jude Deveraux

 Author you’ve read the most books from:

Jude Deveraux

Best sequel ever:

OH, GADS! So many I LOVE. But I’d have to say UNRAVEL ME of the SHATTER ME series (before the end of this post you will see I am a huge fan of this author and series.)

 Currently reading:

Evade by Jessa Russo

Drink of choice while reading:

Coffee or water

E-reader or physical book: Oh, definitely a physical book. I do read books on the iPad, my iPhone, and my Kindle for PC, but given the opportunity to have a real book in hand versus an eBook, I'll take paper every time.

Fictional character you probably would have actually dated in high school: Oh, that’s easy, Jackson Deveaux from Poison Princess by Kresley Cole… hmmm, love me some CAJUN spice.

Glad you gave this book a chance:

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, my teen daughter tried for the longest to get me to read it, and I kept putting it off. I didn’t think I’d like the whole angel thing, but I loved it. 

Hidden gem book:
One Second After by William Forstchen. I recommend this book all the time, but no one I ever mention it to has read it, though it has decent ratings on Amazon. Go read it; it may rock your world. It sure rocked mine.

Stephenie Meyer

Important moment in your reading life: When I read StephenieMeyer’s story of how she wrote Twilight. Not that I’m saying I’m a Stephanie Meyer, but it planted the seed in my mind that if she could do it, then maybe I could be an author too. I started my first book less than two years later.

Just finished: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole for the second time, because its sequel, Endless Knight, just released. I can’t wait to make it to the bookstore to get my copy!

Kinds of books you won’t read: I don’t know if there is a type of book I wouldn’t read. I’ll let you know if I run across one.

Longest book you've read: I honestly have no idea, though there are a few that felt like the longest book ever. Sorry, hate to leave it like that, but I truly can't remember. Probably because, if a book is good, I don't pay attention to how many pages it has and, no matter its length, if I love the book and characters, I'm always a little sad when I'm finished.

Major book hangover because of: Twilight, I read the entire saga in four days, and was left still wanting more. Yes, I am a Twilight Mom, have the t-shirt to prove it and everything!

Number of bookcases you have: Including ALL of them from all over the house, 8. Yes, EIGHT.

One book you have read multiple times: Yeah… uh… ONE??? More LIKE TEN. But if I have to pick the one I’ve read THE MOST, it would have to be A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux (and that's because I’ve had it the longest.) It is a lovely time travel romance, and it has a really HOT shower scene, which I love too.

Preferred place to read: I love to read on my front porch swing, but since I live in Texas, the weather doesn’t permit this much (mostly because it’s too hot for too long, and our spring and autumn just don’t last long enough, and I don’t do cold, so winter reading outside just isn’t going to happen), so my second favorite place is on my couch.

Quote that inspires you: Well, in all honesty, my very most favorite quote was solely for me. It was something my critique partner said it to me in an email.

Fiona McLaren

“You know, I re-read my fave parts of D when I’m getting myself into the writing groove.” –Fiona McLaren

Gabe, Lexa, & Nathaniel
from DEVASTATION

‘D’ refers to my first novel DEVASTATION, a YA Romantic Light Sci-fi. Whenever I’m feeling down about my writing, I go read things people have said about my work (because, yeah, I cut and paste them from emails and such). It helps motivate me to keep going. This one is by far my favorite, because I have a couple of books by other authors who I absolutely adore and when I need a little visit from my muse, I go to them to find her. So I love that I’ve written something that has the same affect on another person.

Reading regret: That there isn’t more time in my days to allow me to read MORE books!

Series you started and need to finish: The Mortal Instruments Series, by Cassandra Clare. I’ve read books 1 through 3 and loved them all, but for some reason book four just hasn’t been doing it for me. Though I know I will get back to it and will probably really like it when I do finish the series. 

Three of your all time favorite books: They have to be series, sorry. The SHATTER ME series by Tahereh Mafi (including the 2 eBook bridges), The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer, and The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Tahereh Mafi

Unapologetic Fangirl Filthy Stalker of: Tahereh Mafi, author the SHATTER ME series. I would love to write like her. I don’t, but wish I had the balls to do so. She breaks ALL the rules, in the best ways
possible. Best fangirl day ever was when she tweeted back to me… I can’t even remember what it was about, but I was just THRILLED. I would LOVE and be so honored if I could get her to write a blurb for my book DEVASTATION, you know, like the endorsements you see printed on the cover of books. That would be a crowning moment for my achievement of being published (when I finally get there).

Very excited for this release more than all the others: The final book of the SHATTER ME series, IGNITE ME, it doesn’t release until February 2014. But the great thing is there is FRACTURE ME, a bridge book between book 2 and 3, which comes out in December 2013, so I’m focused on that at the moment. *claps like retarded circus seal*

Worst bookish habit: Editing books in my head as I read. It is so annoying, but I have a hard time turning off my internal editor. I find myself skipping words that don’t need to be there, thinking the author used a filter here or there when they could’ve left it out, and all sorts of other things I mark when I critique books for other authors.

X marks the spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27^th book: Actually, it’s a small paperback copy of TheHoly Bible, camo cover. It’s right there next to all the other books I love.

Your latest book purchase: Good For You (Book 3 of the Between the Lines Series) by Tammara Webber 

ZZZ-Snatcher book (last one that kept you up way too late): FallingUnder by Gwen Hayes. This dark tale was impossible to put down.

So there you are, my books A-Z. Go take a look at Amy's answers; I really enjoyed them, you will too.