Q&A with Amy Tintera

Today I welcome the wonderful and talented Amy Tintera, debut author of Reboot, to Tales of the Inner Book Fanatic blog. I, for one, absolutely loved Amy's fantastic action-packed book (not to mention her kickass and ruthless heroine, Wren) and judging by what I just read, I'm sure this author is the one to look out in the future because she writes some pretty fantastic action scenes. Anyway, here is my Q&A post with Amy. Enjoy!

• • •

1. Could you please describe REBOOT for us in three words?

Action. Romance. Undead!

2. How did you come up with the idea of REBOOT? I must say it’s one of my favourite books from this year already (because it has so much action in it – my favourite element in a book) and not mention it has a really kick-ass concept!

Thank you! I’m a big fan of action-heavy books myself, so I decided it was time to write one. The idea for REBOOT came to through Wren. I heard her talking in my head, saying she was dead for 178 minutes, and I built the story around her.

3. Your main heroine, Wren, is a bit of a bad-ass. How hard was it to write her character with an almost ruthless personality, and yet still make her so completely likable and appealing to the reader? Was it a major challenge to write her character?

It was a little bit of a challenge. But I decided early on that I didn't want to hold back, that I wanted to let her be as bad as possible, and I think that made her even more interesting. I decided not to worry about her being likeable, and just let her be complex and crazy, and it turned out that made her an even better character.

4. I was so excited to find out REBOOT was optioned for a film so I can only imagine what you must be feel about that. Is there anyone in mind that you would love to play your main characters, Wren and Callum?

I don’t have anyone in mind, to be honest! If the movie actually gets made I kind of hope a totally unexpected actor comes in and just brings life to a character in a way I never expected.

5. Are you currently working on any other books or new projects?

I’m finishing up edits on book 2! Other than that, I took a short breather to sort out the many, many ideas I had in my head. Sometimes I have so many ideas it’s hard to pick!

6. And finally, for those who have read REBOOT, what can readers expect from book 2? More action? More romance? More bad-ass conspiracies?

Yes, yes, and yes! Lots of action and romance in book 2. It’s only a two-book series, so I packed all the excitement into the second book. And I think it’s a very satisfying ending to the story, which is something that’s important to me as a reader.

• • •

A big thanks to Amy Tintera for answering all of my questions and joining me here on the blog today. Also another big thanks to the publicist Lara for setting up this interview - you're the best! While you're here, if you haven't already checked out Reboot (or if you would like to read my book review of Reboot you can do so here) be sure to check it out asap because it's one awesome book and I'm really, really looking forward to picking up the sequel next year because it's just SO GOOD.

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

You can follow Amy Tintera at:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Release Date: 16th July, 2013

Publisher: MTV Books

Pages: 288pgs

The Story

Bailey wasn't always a wild child and the black sheep of her family. She used to play fiddle and tour the music circuit with her sister, Julie, who sang and played guitar. That ended when country music execs swooped in and signed Julie to a solo deal. Never mind that Julie and Bailey were a duet, or that Bailey was their songwriter. The music scouts wanted only Julie, and their parents were content to sit by and let her fulfill her dreams while Bailey’s were hushed away.

Bailey has tried to numb the pain and disappointment over what could have been. And as Julie’s debut album is set to hit the charts, her parents get fed up with Bailey’s antics and ship her off to granddad’s house in Nashville. Playing fiddle in washed-up tribute groups at the mall, Bailey meets Sam, a handsome and oh-so-persuasive guitarist with his own band. He knows Bailey’s fiddle playing is just the thing his band needs to break into the industry. But this life has broken Bailey’s heart once before. She isn't sure she’s ready to let Sam take her there again . . .

The Review

A big thanks to the publisher on Edelweiss for accepting my request in reading this book early!

Don't get me wrong here: I absolutely adore pretty much every single book ever written by Jennifer Echols. She's a master of romantic books and she happens to be one of my favourite authors too since she is along the ranks of Sarah Dessen, Susane Colasanti and Elizabeth Scott who are my favourites also. But, for once in my life, I'm actually quite taken back (shocked even) by the fact that I didn't particularly like this book nor practically cared for it as much as I have for Echols's other previous titles.

Now I'm not exactly a huge country music fan, but I still don't mind it and I loved how the whole country-thing was incorporated into this one book. It was good. I mean, personally I actually found it was quite refreshing and it offered something completely different to what I'm used to in the YA contemporary genre. And I love that different feel of it. But the main problem I had with this book and the main reason why I couldn't connect well - if not at all - to this book was because of its characters. There just wasn't a lot of love there between me and them.

The supporting characters we meet were okay people and even Bailey, our main protagonist, was okay herself. I will admit this because at times I really felt so sorry for Bailey and how her life has turned out, however at times I also felt really angry over her crappy family and how they treated her, but in the end there was just something about her I still didn't like, especially when you consider her love for this new boy that she meets named Sam. I guess that's why I didn't like her. Because of this Sam dude. Honestly, what did she see in Sam? I didn't get it because let me tell you this: the first time ever Sam is the first Echols's boy character I wanted to punch. Really punch. I mean like really, really punch HARD in the face. I kid you not. Sam - in my opinion - was the worst person ever on this earth. Well, in the book at least. He was just horrible. I liked him at first because he was your sweet, typical guy, but then he turns into this crazy person who uses people non-stop, treats them like dirt (yes, Bailey he treated you like dirt but you couldn't see that, could you?) and well . . . he turned out to be a jerk. What was Bailey thinking? I still do not know. Argh. Sam.

Overall, I didn't dislike DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS on a whole because it was still a good book. However, it just wasn't my favourite book coming from Jennifer Echols. I guess you can blame Sam for this 'turn-off'. Just saying. He is entirely to blame actually. I hated that guy.

The Rating

2 1/2 / 5 stars

NOS4R2 by Joe Hill

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Gollancz

Pages: 704pgs

The Story

Charlie Manx burned a man to death in his black 1938 Rolls Royce Wraith, but that’s not the worst of it. Rumor has it that he kidnapped dozens of children, taking them to a place he calls “Christmasland.” The only child ever to escape was a very lucky girl named Victoria McQueen.

Vic has a gift – she can ride her bike through the Shorter Way bridge and she’ll come out the other side wherever she needs to be, even if it’s hundreds of miles away. Vic doesn’t tell anyone about her ability; no one would understand.

When Charlie Manx finally dies after years in prison, his body disappears...after the autopsy. The police and media think someone stole it, but Vic knows the truth: Charlie Manx is on the road again . . . and he has her kid. And this time, Vic McQueen’s going after him . . .

The Review

I came across this title at my local library and the first thing that caught my eye was the cover. It looked creepy for the most part and it was very eye-catching too, but I will admit that I had a weakness for the car featured on the cover as well, which was probably the main reason why I picked it up in the first place but hey . . . you gotta love the classic cars. But once I read the blurb and found out what exactly the book was about, I knew it was something right up my alley and indeed it was so I'm glad I came across the book now. It was a whole lot of fun.

Underneath the overwhelming 704 pages of book length, there lies a unique, creative and spooky tale of NOS4R2. But don't let the page length stop you because it's quite a delightful horror story and it's the kind of book where you can't stop reading it or never dare to leave it alone. I was pretty hooked, in fact. I mean once you get going and start understanding was it going on and what each of the character's purposes are, the storyline within itself definitely starts to earn its high praises because there is so much strength to this one book and you always get this 'unnerving feeling' while reading it (which I LOVE), so in that aspect I thought it was written brilliantly because I love horror to the core but I also love horror-slash-supernatural books more when it actually spooks me at every twist it turn it offers. So well done to the author for that!

I think out of everything I just read and apart from the horror/supernatural side to the book, what I enjoyed most about this book was the characters and how vividly they were drawn by the author. They were of the different kind (very, very different to what I'm used to) but I still thought they were of the driving force of the book and were another great element added to the storyline, which in the end, made me enjoy this book even more and more, so just you wait . . . the characters are of the awesome, creepy but wonderful kind. Especially Charlie Manx who was such a delusional character for the majority of the book (and perhaps funny and charming now and then) but he was mostly a great villain of sorts and one I think plenty of readers will come to enjoy.

Overall, NOS4R2 may not be for everyone's taste but if you love horror or anything supernatural-like than I would highly recommend this book to you all. Mostly because the author exceeds in his writing and delivers a very strong, horror tale which I think anyone would enjoy, no matter the genre. But considering his father is Stephen King and all, it's really no surprise at all that he writes horror very well and knows what he's doing to entertain the reader.

The Rating

4/5 stars

The Trouble With Flirting by Claire LaZebnik

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 288pgs

The Story

Franny's supposed to be working this summer, not flirting. But you can't blame her when guys like Alex and Harry are around. . . .

Franny Pearson never dreamed she'd be attending the prestigious Mansfield Summer Theater Program. And she's not, exactly. She's working for her aunt, the resident costume designer. But sewing her fingers to the bone does give her an opportunity to spend time with her crush, Alex Braverman. If only he were as taken with the girl hemming his trousers as he is with his new leading lady.

When Harry Cartwright, a notorious flirt, shows more than a friendly interest in Franny, she figures it can't hurt to have a little fun. But as their breezy romance grows more complicated, can Franny keep pretending that Harry is just a carefree fling? And why is Alex suddenly giving her those deep, meaningful looks? In this charming tale of mixed messages and romantic near-misses, one thing is clear: Flirting might be more trouble than Franny ever expected.

The Review

This book had so much, SO MUCH potential and it was just wasted (as sad as it is to say so) because after loving Claire LaZebnik's Pride and Prejudice modern retelling of Epic Fail, I was definitely certain that I would love her next book which is yet another loose retelling of Mansfield Park - a book that is my third favourite book coming from one of my favourite classic novelists of all-time, Jane Austen.

Now I adored Mansfield Park and if any book is going to be a modern retelling of it . . . it has to be absolutely perfect. Perfect. I mean, look at what the author did with her Epic Fail book! Now that was one awesome book that stayed true to the original. But, as for this new book, THE TROUBLE WITH FLIRTING just wasn't what I wanted nor expected it to be like. Not in any respects. I guess I just felt disappointed by the fact that the book was nothing like Mansfield Park (really it shouldn't have been connected to it what-so-ever because it would stand just fine on its own), other than a few similar situations that were like what happened in the original book. Well . . . sort of. But that was it really . . . apart from a few characters with similar likeness to the characters in Mansfield Park. But honestly that was it! And as for the ending itself and which boy the main character, Franny, chooses in the end, it was totally different to the original book and I didn't like that one bit. I get the twist the author was going for and I applaud her for writing it (you know, to make her book her own) but I just didn't like it I'm afraid, even though it was only supposed to be a 'loose' retelling of Austen's book. Le sigh.

Overall, don't get me wrong here, I thought THE TROUBLE WITH FLIRTING was a good little book but it was a major disappointment on my part. While I liked the cute storyline it told, however as far as the characters go (characters who were either annoying, frustrating or were just not good people at all) and for the suppose 'retelling' it was supposed to tell . . . I just couldn't connect to much of anything, even though I tried really hard to find some redemption in in some of the characters. I guess it was my loss really. Still, I'm looking forward to reading what else the author is going to write. Hopefully it's something more up her Epic Fail alley which I was looking for in this particular book.

The Rating

2/5 stars

The Beginning of Everything by Robyn Schneider

Release Date: 27th August, 2013

Publisher: Katherine Tegan

Pages: 330pgs

The Story

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: in one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met, achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.

But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: if one’s singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes? 

The Review

A big thanks to the publisher on Edelweiss for accepting my request in reading this book early!

I absolutely loved this book BUT I only loved the first half of it. I was totally rooting for this book (don't get me wrong here), you know? Especially when I started the book because it was so funny, so lovely, so quirky and it was such a half heart-aching storyline that I thought was never going to do any wrong and I was SO close to give it 5 stars because I loved it so much and it made me want go out and buy it too. However, like I said before, I only loved the first half of the book. The rest of the book - for me at least - just didn't go the way I hoped it would.

I don't know what it was exactly that let me down in the first place, but I felt as if everything that happened towards the end of the book was too rushed and had left me contemplating whether to like this book on a whole or not at all. It's not as if it wasn't a great book because it really, really WAS and even though I completely understand why it ended in the way it did but . . . I was still left disappointed. Left thinking, 'Why did that have to happen in the way it did?' You know, why did we have to go through all of that and come out with this strange, confusing feeling at the end of it. It just seemed like the character's actions and the situation within itself just lost the magic tough from what I felt in the beginning of the book. But regardless I still enjoyed this one. Just more half of the book than of the whole of it.

But what I LOVED about this book was our two main characters! Honestly Ezra and Cassidy were like two peas in a pod and I thought they worked perfectly together in this book. Even with their faults. Ezra was a little heart broken and well . . . broken in general. Cassidy, on the other hand, was a little strange and hid a secret that no one could really figure out. Not even Ezra could. But despite their ups and downs, the two of them just had something special about them that I loved. Ezra especially happened to my favourite character of all and went through so many transformations . . . so I loved him to bits! Cassidy, however, was loved by me straightaway and I mean LOVED by me because she's so quirky and hilarious! BUT like the storyline, the character I once loved slowly changed and with Cassidy she just became something else entirely (a whole different person) which I didn't like . . . but I still liked Cassidy (I mean of course I still do) but I just didn't like her choices that she made in the end and how her relationship turned out with Ezra.

Overall, THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING is definitely a page-turner and it's the perfect read for anyone looking for a coming-of-age story. The zing! dialogue was just faultless and it also had this similar vibe to John Green's The Fault in Our Stars which is awesome considering I love that book too! So if you love anything mixed between John Green and the likes of Gayle Forman, I would seriously recommend this one to you all despite being a little disappointed by the last half of the book.

The Rating

4/5 stars

The Truth About You and Me by Amanda Grace

Release Date: 8th September, 2013

Publisher: Flux

Pages: 264pgs

The Story

Smart girls aren't supposed to do stupid things.

Madelyn Hawkins is super smart. At sixteen, she's so gifted that she can attend college through a special program at her high school. On her first day, she meets Bennet. He's cute, funny, and kind. He understands Madelyn and what she's endured—and missed out on—in order to excel academically and please her parents. Now, for the first time in her life, she's falling in love.

There's only one problem. Bennet is Madelyn's college professor, and he thinks she's eighteen—because she hasn't told him the truth.

The story of their forbidden romance is told in letters that Madelyn writes to Bennet—both a heart-searing ode to their ill-fated love and an apology.

The Review

A big thanks to the publisher on netGalley for accepting my request in reading this book early!

I'm so glad some people manage to like this book because I still cannot fathom why I wanted to pick up this book in the first place or even why I had bothered with it (I guess it's because I enjoyed another book from the same author and I thought this one would be good too). There was just nothing there in THE TRUTH ABOUT YOU AND ME to make me like this book nor ever TRY to make me like it. Sure, from the blurb it sounded like a decent storyline when I first heard about it - an interesting one at that - but again there was nothing there and I should have known by the tagline that it wasn't going to live up to my expectations.

So how would I best describe this book? Well, first off, it was really frustrating. Really frustrating. As the tagline suggests, 'Smart girls aren't supposed to do stupid things . . .' and boy was the main character, Madelyn, pretty stupid indeed.

As unbelievable as it sounds, Madelyn is sixteen and is now attending college because she is sooooooo super smart for her age (which she always mentions because she is so super smart and we always need to be reminded of her super smart-ass-ness ways even if she is internally stupid as sad as it is) and it just grated on my nerves every time she talked. Even her thoughts annoyed me. Her character . . . honestly who does this girl think she is? Can someone tell me please because I just don't get her.

For someone who is so super smart, why must she string along her young, cute college professor and trick him into believing she is older than she is. I mean, seriously what is the point in all of this? He'll find out eventually, Madelyn. And speaking of Bennet, Madelyn's college professor, he must be pretty stupid too to actually like this girl to begin with. He's the smarty one here and he should have been staying well away from Madelyn from the get-go and yet he allows himself to be stringed along by this phony girl (even if he doesn't know that she is freaking 16!). Gah. I'm just so angry with the whole situation here and so many things could have been avoided. So many things. And by the way . . . Madelyn, how could you do this to Bennet and to yourself . . . because you just embarrassed yourself in the end. Gah. She's so horrible.

Overall, THE TRUTH ABOUT YOU AND ME isn't the truth at all. It's full of lies, deception, stupid-ass characters (as sad as it is) and is just NOT what I wanted at all from the book. I mean, don't get me wrong here, I love the author's previous writing and books, but in this book's case it was a major disappointment. Sadly. With a sad excuse of Madelyn as a main character, it's no wonder why I will never look up to her or even tried to like her . . . she's basketcase that one.

The Rating

1/5 stars

Wait for You by J. Lynn

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: J. Lynn

Pages: 332pgs

The Story

Some things are worth waiting for…

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn't need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing…

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet…

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for…

The Review

After finishing this book, all I can say is the author J. Lynn (who also writes as the super-awesome Jennifer L. Armentrout) excels at only three things: 1) creating characters that aren't so perfect but rather flawed and you can still find them relatable in any sense, 2) creating swoon-worthy boys that will frustrate you on so many levels in their sexiness, and 3) writing stories that feel genuine and not pushed out of their own reality and despite the complications that comes with these stories can still make a reader's heart pulse go out of control and completely off the radar. Honestly, this book rocked for me! It totally rocked!

WAIT FOR YOU came out just about the right time for me because I've been looking for a positive and feel-good New Adult book lately and this was it for me! It was exactly what I needed to read. So while I do agree with some readers that the book may not be entirely original as others that follow similar storylines such as this one, but it was the way it was written and how the characters interacted with one another that won me over and boy did I love this book! All the angst, all the romance, all the tension, all the complications, all the characters . . . just wait until you read this book because it was so worth the wait!

Regarding the characters, I absolutely loved the supporting characters but personally Avery and Cam were my favourites and they were such a fine and lovely pair of main characters as well. And were very inspiring. So even though Cam wasn't necessarily a favourite of mine at the beginning (though he did woo me over eventually with his attempts to win Avery's heart) and while it's fairly obvious from the get-go that he and Avery were going to become a couple later on in the book (it was sooooo obvious really) but I loved the fact that they worked for their relationship - to become friends first - before pursuing a romantic relationship.  It's just something that always makes me smile because I love seeing characters grow before all of the mushy feelings come along to play . . . it just strengthens the book much more I find.

Overall, WAIT FOR YOU was a perfect read and I really wish this book wasn't over because I loved it so much and I loved the characters . . . I just loved everything about it! So next time you're looking for an addictive read be sure to pick up this book because I can't praise it enough!

The Rating

5/5 stars