And the Winner of Tessa Dare's Trilogy is...

Jo Ann J.

Congrats! I will be sending your information on to the publisher and hopefully you'll get Tessa Dare's Stud Club trilogy soon. Thanks to everyone else who entered.

Fragment Friday (4): Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie

Hello internet!! Welcome to the latest edition of Fragment Friday, a weekly meme hosted by James from Book Chic Club where we vlog a reading from a current read. This weeks excerpt is from Drums, Girls, And Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick (my review).

Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

Publisher: Scholastic
Source: Gift from my book bully
Publication Date: 01 Sept 2006
Series:NA
ISBN: 0439755204
Format: Paperback
Pages:273
Websites:
Jordan Sonnenblick - Official Site
Jordan Sonnenblick - Blog
Jordan Sonnenblick - Twitter

Place(s) Traveled to: Pennsylvania

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

First Line: There's a beautiful girl to my left, another to my right.

I don't know when I first started to hear about Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie but I do know that my book bully is the one who started to chirp about it. When ever I was looking for a new book you could be sure that she would send me a message asking if I'd read this book yet. My answer was usually I hadn't made it there yet....for whatever reason. Then one day I was opening the mail and what magically appeared on my doorstep? None other than my very own, signed, copy of Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie. And while I couldn't get to it right away my book bully kept it always in the back of my head.

One thing I love about my book bully (other than her fabulous book recommendations) is that she never reads the back of a book. She loves to enter into a book blind and so is always totally surprised. There is a magic in the not knowing and so I've taken to following her example. Although I am not quiet on her level and do still read the backs of some of the books I buy. But I am getting better...and when ever my book bully recommends a book I don't look at the book but instead I just dive right in.  The beginning of Drums lived up to its title as being this witty story about a boy who loved music. But it wasn't long until I was completely and utterly floored.

Because Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie isn't a book that is light, funny & some sort of homage to the teenage boy. Yes, there are those moments but the bigger story is how the main character, Steven's, younger brother is diagnosed with Leukemia. This revelation hit me like a fist to the gut and for a long time after reading those words I had to put the book down until I came to grips with my inner turmoil. For back in 2005 my aunt lost her battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma - which is generally grouped into the same family as Leukemia. In 2008, I lost a cousin to breast cancer and way back when I was 13 my grandfather also died from cancer. So the Big C has always been a tough subject for me. And its definitely not a subject that I've read about before as it just hits too close to home.

So this was a hard book for me and probably took me far longer to get through than it probably should have because I had to keep putting it aside and breaking up sections of the books with other reads. Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie can be a hard book to read. No one likes to think about cancer....especially when the person dealing with it is a 4 year old boy who has barely begun to live. Sonnenblick manages to cover all the ups and downs of chemotherapy while also mixing in a blend of humor, love and hope in the form of Steven, his parents, and his friends.

Anyone who has a sibling knows how completely and utterly annoying they can be. It doesn't matter if they are older or younger they can be down right horrible. But mean as siblings can be to one another, when there is something on the outside that threatens then there is no greater champion than the person who you would swear was your worst enemy because he/she ate the last of the frosted flakes. Such is the case between Steven and his younger brother Jeffy. The love and concern that Steven feels just exudes off the pages. Just as his anger and his confusion and his loneliness. Because when your parents are dealing with a child who may be terminal they don't always have the time to focus on the one who is healthy.

Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie isn't always an easy novel to read. Sonnenblick doesn't hold anything back and so what you get is a realistic novel unlike any I've read before. This is a book that made me cry. It made me laugh. And it also had me sitting staring out the window thinking about the people in my life that I had lost. This review has been one of the hardest I've written and its taken me almost an entire month to write because its just been so hard to put all that I felt into words. Which probably seems strange to you based on all that I've written so far (which I am not sure makes any sense.) To make a long story short. Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie is a good book and you should read it. My book bully says so.

Come celebrate the release of Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa!!

Hello internet!

The time has come for Iron Daughter - book 2 in the Iron Fey series - to be released and to help celebrate The Book Cellar X, Bookalicious and I are hosted a Twitter release party.

When: Saturday 31 July 2010 at 8 PM EST (chat will go until approximately 9:30pm)

• Event will start with a brief chat followed by a Q&A session with Julie moderated by The Book Cellar X, Bookalicious and myself.

How: follow the hashtag #IronFey

Why: to learn more about Iron Daughter and to win some fabulous prizes! I have heard rumblimgs that there might be a Grimalkin rock up for grabs.

Please snag the invite above and spread the word on your blog. I look forward to see you on Saturday!! If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask in the comments.

Contest: The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

 Hello Internet!

I picked up a copy of The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff at BEA and then received a copy in the mail. And since I don't need two copies I've decided to pass on my extra to one of you. Yay you!! This contest is for an ARC of The Replacement and won't be available in stores until 21 September 2010. Also because ARCs are a special thing I've decided to do something special for my followers. That's right...if you are an existing follower of Ticket to Anywhere than you get an extra entry. If you decide to follow me after reading this post, then great, but you'll have to wait until my next follower reward contest to gain that extra entry. You do not have to become a follower to enter....I just like to reward my followers on occasion and its been awhile since I last did so.

Here's how to enter to win an ARC of The Replacement!

Fill out the giveaway entry form here.


The giveaway is open to addresses within the U.S. and Canada only. However, if you are an existing follower and live overseas then you are still eligible to enter. If you have any questions please email me at irisheyz_5 AT yahoo DOT com prior to entering.

The giveaway will end 14 August at midnight Eastern Time. The winner will then have one week after the announcement to send me his/her mailing address or I will redraw a new winner.

About the book (from GoodReads):

Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret - he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.

A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world?

**Prize provided by the publisher sent out by me**

Top 8 by Katie Finn

Publisher: Point
Source: Borrowed from the Library
Publication Date:01 Oct 2008
Related Series: Top 8, Book 1
ISBN: 0545053625
Format: Paperback
Pages: 308
Websites:
Katie Finn - Official Site
Katie Finn - Blog
Katie Finn - Twitter

Place(s) Traveled to: Putnam, Connecticut

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

First Line:"We're home!" my mother announced cheerfully as our SUV passed the town sign: WELCOME TO PUTNAM, CONNECTICUT. SETTLED 1655, HOME OF THE FIGHTING PILGRIMS.

Note on the First Line: Top 8 actually begins with the Friendverse profile of the main character, Madison MacDonald. The above is the first text to appear after that profile view.

Not to long ago I received an ARC in the mail for review called What's Your St@tus by Katie Finn which is a story that revolves in part around a social media site very similar to Twitter.Thankfully the ARC also included the phrase "A Top 8 Novel" so I knew immediately that it was part of a series. With a little help from LibraryThing I soon learned that the book I received was the sequel to Top 8. As I am trying not to buy books at the moment I requested the title from my local library and began to read it shortly after I picked it up. Top 8 was a quick read and I read it in two sittings. 

The story revolves around Madison MacDonald who is a high school Junior who learns that her Friendspace account (a site that is a mix of MySpace and Facebook) was hacked while she was away on vacation. The hacker posted all sorts of mean comments and blog posts in Madison's name which resulted in many of her friends not speaking to her on her return. As well as learning that her boyfriend, Justin, had broken up with her. Fortunately for Madison, or Mad as she is called by friends, has 3 good friends who believe that her account was hacked and decide to help her figure out who was behind it all. What follows is a cute and quirky story about the ups and downs of ones social status and how social media is playing a large role in the lives of teens. With such easy access to a computer people, not just teens, are becoming more and more reliant on its use for communication with peers. So it wasn't hard to believe that those on Madison's follower list would believe that it was her and not someone else who was saying what was posted. After all who would want to do that and why?

As I said before Top 8 was a really cute story and I liked the use of the Friendverse profile pages and status message updates to help move the story along. The mystery while not overly complicated isn't something that the reader can figure out on page 2 so I liked that. The interactions between Madison, her friends and with the other kids in her school were believable. As was the growing relationship between Madison and Nate. I found myself lost in this story and didn't want to put it down until I saw if my prediction on who the hacker was turned out to be correct or not. In the end I devoured this book in two sittings. This made me really happy as I haven't been reading much in July and Yay for me on finishing a book! Top 8 isn't a book that has any deep twists or turns but it is quirky and a really good book to read at the beach. 

The one small issue that I had with the book...and by small I do mean small...is the fact that Madison and her friends kept referring to the school principal as a Headmaster...and the vice principal as Assistant Headmaster. This wouldn't have been something for me to nitpick over if Madison and her friends attended a private school. But they attended a public school and I have yet to hear of any public school where the head is referred to as a Headmaster. But please...if I am wrong in this then someone please let me know in the comments! One small thing that I loved....a mention of the movie CLUE!! Clue was a movie made in 1985 based on the board game and was just so amazingly quirky and fun. If you haven't seen it yet I highly recommend that you rent it. I'd also recommend Top 8 if you are looking for a light, brain candy type read to take with you on your next trip to the beach or pool. I enjoyed it and I am looking forward to the sequel, What's Your St@tus?

Book Trailer Monday (42): Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

Book Trailer Monday is where once a week I feature a trailer for a book that has captured my attention. This trailer might be for a book that is about to be published, or maybe its for a book that has already been released. There won't be any rhyme or reason to the trailer that I choose....the only common denominator will be that I liked it. That it made me stop or made me think or maybe it made me laugh. I do this mainly for my own enjoyment because I love book trailers. I find them fascinating and I hope that you enjoy the ones that I show here each week as well.

This weeks trailer is for the Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe which was published by Henry Holt on 15 September 2009. This trailer was produced by Megan Crewe and we all know how much I adore author made trailers. This one really makes me want to pick up this book and read it. Which I would do if I didn't have a bunch of commitments to get through first. Although maybe I should pick it up since it could help get me through this horrible slump I've been in. All I know is I bought the book shortly after it was released based on reviews that I read and its been languishing on MT TBR ever since. I'm so horrible to my books sometimes....

What did you think of this weeks selection? Share your thoughts in the comments below.





If you know of a book trailer that you would like to see featured on Book Trailer Monday then please send me an email with a link to irisheyz_5 AT yahoo DOT com.

And the Winner of Change of Heart is....

Lethea B.

Congrats! Please email me at irisheyz_5 AT yahoo DOT com with your mailing address and I will get your signed copy of Change of Heart by Shari Maurer and the mini soccer ball out to you soon! Thanks to everyone who entered. 

Fragment Friday (3): The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez

Hello internet!! Welcome to the latest edition of Fragment Friday (previously referred to as the No-Name Meme), which is a weekly meme hosted by James from Book Chic Club where we vlog a reading from a current read. This weeks excerpt is from The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalelz.






I chose this excerpt since it deals with symbols and how the perception of them can change over time. In my vlog I mention an LA Times Article about a Swastika pattern quilt, if you are interested you can find it here. Both the excerpt I read and this article highlight how certain symbols become ingrained in peoples mind as being representative of one thing. But a symbol is all about the context that it is used in and that is important to remember before jumping to conclusions. The Nazis, neo-nazis and other hate groups don't own the swastika - they just took something that is used in many religions since ancient times and corrupted its meaning. Although I still probably won't be doing anything with a swastika anytime soon as to many its a horrific emblem.

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Publisher: MTV Books
Publication Date: 20 July 2010
Related Series: NA
ISBN: 1439178232
Format: Paperback (ARC)
Pages: 304
Websites:
Jennifer Echols - Official Site
Jennifer Echols - Blog
Jennifer Echols- Twitter

Place(s) Traveled to: Florida

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

First Line: Every strong swimmer has a story about nearly drowning.

For months now I have been badgered and berated (in a good way I swear) on Twitter by Erica, a friend and fellow blogger, to read a book by Jennifer Echols.  She was stunned that I had never read anything by Echols before and has made it her mission to get me to read something. I tried to read Going to Far a few months back but the time wasn't right for that book to grab me and so I put it down in favor of some reading commitments that I had to tackle. Then July came and I hit the most horrible reading slump. So far this month I haven't been able to finish a single book - despite the seeming hundreds that I have started. Its been horrible Internet....absolutely horrible! And because it makes me so sad I've been asking my friends on Twitter for book ideas....which then lead the a fore mentioned Erica to renew her Jennifer Echols campaign.

I have to admit I was hesitant at first because I didn't want to face another disappointment in not finishing another book. Which isn't the books fault I just haven't been able to focus. But yesterday I needed to get my oil changed and so I grabbed one of the first books I saw on my pile, which happened to be Forget You by Jennifer Echols. I was a bit iffy on the start of this story as I found it hard to put my finger on Zoey and I wasn't sure if I liked her or not. Her BFFs also seemed a bit 1 dimensional and annoying in the short glimpses that we saw of them. Then the accident happened and everything changed.

From the time of the accident until the end I was hooked. I found that I couldn't stop turning pages because I needed to know what happened that night. Zoey suffers from amnesia from a bump on the head and as a reader you follow her journey to try and piece events together. Its during this time that the supporting cast also starts to flesh out a little more. Especially Doug. Who is just a total swoon worthy male lead. He has a past - which I think they made a bigger deal than it really seemed to have been - but he's such a great character. He's the boy that every girl wishes she could meet. What I didn't get was why Zoey was so hung up on Brandon when there was Doug trying to win her heart. Well, I can understand it but it just grew old fast. Zoey knew the sort of guy Brandon was and I think it made her look foolish to think that she'd be the one to change him.

But those annoying Zoey mooning over Brandon moments aside I loved the tension and the story of her and Doug. There was so much give and take which added to the realism of it all. My heart would leap and then nearly crack with each scene that they had. I also enjoyed the appearances of Doug's brother Cody who was just a fun bundle of sarcasm....and the love and closeness between him and his brother was visible. In the end, once I started to read Forget You I found that I couldn't put it down. I stayed up into the wee hours of the night just turning the pages eager to see what would happen next. I needed to know what happened the night of Zoey's accident and if things would would out between her and Doug. I had to stop myself several times from flipping to the end to see if it would all work out. Forget You was a beautifully written story and I am so glad that I read it. So thank you Erica for being such a bully for this book and thanks to Jennifer Echols for putting such an amazing story out there in the world. 

What Happens in London by Julia Quinn

Publisher: Avon Books
Source: Purchased by me
Publication Date: 30 Jun 2009
Related Series: Bevelstoke, Book 2
ISBN: 0061491888
Format: Paperback
Pages: 384
Websites:
Julia Quinn - Official Site
Julia Quinn - Blog
Julia Quinn - Twitter

Place(s) Traveled to: London, England (1822)

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

First Line: By the age of twelve, Harry Valentine possessed two bits of knowledge that made him rather unlike other boys in his class in England of the early nineteenth century.

Its a strange thing reading a series out of order and for whatever reason I seem to be reading Julia Quinn's Bevelstoke Series in reverse order. And because I did so I was already acquainted with the two main characters of What Happens in London, Harry and Olivia, through their interactions and relationship to the MCs in Ten Things I Love About You (my review). I really enjoyed the couple in Ten Things and so was excited to see how their relationship started. One thing that I liked about this story is to see some of the scenes that were alluded to in Ten Things - like Sebastian's book reading which while not as funny as talked about in Ten Things was definitely fun to see in print.

Overall I liked the story of Harry and Olivia and found the progression of their relationship to be mostly believable. I say mostly because I do think that it could have had a bit more depth to it.  I also could have done without the odd scenes with the Russian prince. I liked him as a character but I never really believed him as a suitor for Olivia. I don't think that Quinn did either as he seemed to give up his pursuit all too soon. Unlike in Ten Things this book did have a subplot to it that was more than just boy meets girl and normally that is something that I am also bemoaning is absent in a romance. However, in What Happens in London I think I could have done without it. The whole idea of Olivia as a spy at first could have been good but there was no basis to it and it was only ever glossed over. And the scene in the Prince's residence? Seriously?? That just had me rolling my eyes and wondering where it came from.

In the end it was fun to see how Olivia and Harry got together and the introduction of Sebastian Grey. As with Ten Things I Love About You this book had some internal list making. But in this case it worked far better than with Ten Things. Olivia lists were often humorous and added to the story. They never once interrupted the story telling and so they didn't distract me as a reader. There is still one more book to read in this series, the one that started it all The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever.

Looking on-line I see mixed reviews for this story and so I am torn on if I want to read it or not. As the two main characters in that story never appeared in What Happens in London or Ten Things I Love About You I can't say if I would like them or not. I knew I would like Olivia and Harry as I liked them in Sebastian's story. Just as I liked Sebastian in this story and so would have happily continued the series if I'd read it in order. But I have nothing to go on with Miranda and Nigel - other than the fact that Miranda is supposedly Olivia's oldest and best friend and that Nigel is her brother. Miranda and Nigel are said to have such a close relationship to Olivia - but if that were the case then why were they never seen in What Happens in London? Have you read Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever? What did you think? Is it worth the read? Let me know in the comments.

Buy the books mentioned in this post:



     



Want to buy Indie? Click here to purchase from Wellesley Booksmith - an Indie located in Wellesley, MA

Book Trailer Monday (41): Green by Laura Peyton Roberts

Book Trailer Monday is where once a week I feature a trailer for a book that has captured my attention. This trailer might be for a book that is about to be published, or maybe its for a book that has already been released. There won't be any rhyme or reason to the trailer that I choose....the only common denominator will be that I liked it. That it made me stop or made me think or maybe it made me laugh. I do this mainly for my own enjoyment because I love book trailers. I find them fascinating and I hope that you enjoy the ones that I show here each week as well.

This weeks trailer is for the Green by Laura Peyton Roberts which was published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers on 12 January 2010. This trailer was produced by Laura Peyton Roberts and I think that its really well done. I love the music and love love love trailers that are made by the author of the book. I hadn't really heard much about Green before seeing this trailer, sure I've seen it in stores but I've been doing my best to only go in and pick up specific titles so I haven't checked this one out. Though now that I've seen the trailer I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to resist. After all this is a book about Leprechauns...and how often do you see them in books these days?

What did you think of this weeks selection? Share your thoughts in the comments below.











If you know of a book trailer that you would like to see featured on Book Trailer Monday then please send me an email with a link to irisheyz_5 AT yahoo DOT com.

No Name Book Meme (2): Willow by Julia Hoban

Hello internet!! Welcome to my second installment in the weekly excerpt vlog for Book Chic Club’s no-name Friday meme thing where we can read excerpts of what we are reading right now.This is coming to you on a Saturday as I have been without internet the last few days and also very busy babysitting my 9 month old niece

My excerpt is from Willow by Julia Hoban.

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Publisher: EgmontUSA
Source: Review copy provided by the publisher
Publication Date: 13 July 2010
ISBN: 1606840835
Format: Paperback (ARC)
Related Series: NA

Pages: 400
Websites:
Anastasia Hopcus - Official Site
Anastasia Hopcus - Blog
Anastasia Hopcus - Twitter

Place(s) Traveled to: Shadow Hills, Massachusetts

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

First Line: I had thought nothing could be worse than what they had already done to me, but I was wrong.

Where to start in talking about Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus? Shadow Hills is a paranormal story but doesn't involve vampires or werewolves so that was a refreshing change. The story starts about a year after Persephone "Phe" loses her older sister and decides to head off to the boarding school that her sister was becoming interested in. While there she meets an interesting and eclectic group of characters and becomes involved with a local boy who has a big secret. The plot line isn't overly original but the execution is what sets Shadow Hills apart from other similar stories.

I really enjoyed the character of Phe. She was a bit shy at first and then comes into her own as she grows used to her environment and the people around her. I liked her friends and wish that more had been done with them. As it was their appearances were few and they weren't developed as much as they could have been. This was very much a story about Phe and Zach...and more that that it was the set up for a series. There are many potential plot lines raised that its obvious to the reader that Shadow Hills is not a stand alone novel. So for me that was a negative since there is currently no scheduled sequel in the works....well...Hopcus is writing one but there is currently no planned publication date.

If there ever is a book two I would love to see the setting more developed, a little more details on the town, the school and the people who inhabit them all. I'd also like to see a cleaner story. All those subplots for future stories just got in the way of the main story ARC. But despite the flaws there was just something about this book that kept me reading and I was done in just a few days. I really hope that a sequel will be coming soon because I am dying to know where all those little subplots are leading too.

Contest: Stud Club Trilogy by Tessa Dare

Hello Internet!

By now you have heard me talk about the first two books of Tessa Dare's Stud Club trilogy. I loved the first book, One Dance with a Duke (my review), so much that I couldn't help from tweeting my thoughts as I read it. And while I didn't love Twice Tempted by a Rogue as much it did do one important thing for me. It started to change my thoughts on Julian Bellamy - who will be the lead in the third book Three Nights with a Scoundrel. Which is important because I didn't like his character very much after reading the first book and so I hadn't been looking forward to his story. Overall, I've found the series to be fun and I look forward (now) to seeing how Dare wraps it all up. I've also been given the opportunity to be able to give away a set of these books to one lucky reader. I've also included a synopsis from GoodReads for each of the books below in case you are curious.

Here's how to enter to win The Stud Club Trilogy!

Fill out the giveaway entry form here.



The giveaway is open to addresses within the U.S. and Canada only. If you have any questions please email me at irisheyz_5 AT yahoo DOT com prior to entering.

The giveaway will end July 30th at midnight Eastern Time.

**Prize provided by the publisher**

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

One Dance with a Duke Synopsis:

True temptation begins at midnight…

A handsome and reclusive horse breeder, Spencer Dumarque, the fourth Duke of Morland, is a member of the exclusive Stud Club, an organization so select it has only ten members — yet membership is attainable to anyone with luck. And Spencer has plenty of it, along with an obsession with a prize horse, a dark secret, and, now, a reputation as the dashing “Duke of Midnight.” Each evening he selects one lady for a breathtaking midnight waltz. But none of the women catch his interest, and nobody ever bests the duke — until Lady Amelia d’Orsay tries her luck.

In a moment of desperation, the unconventional beauty claims the duke’s dance and unwittingly steals his heart. When Amelia demands that Spencer forgive her scapegrace brother’s debts, she never imagines that her game of wits and words will lead to breathless passion and a steamy proposal. Still, Spencer is a man of mystery, perhaps connected to the shocking murder of the Stud Club’s founder. Will Amelia lose her heart in this reckless wager or win everlasting love?

Twice Tempted by a Rogue

How long could she resist him?

Luck is a double-edged sword for brooding war hero Rhys St. Maur. His death wish went unanswered on the battlefield, while fate allowed the murder of his friend in the elite gentlemen’s society known as the Stud Club. Out of options, Rhys returns to his ancestral home on the moors of Devonshire, expecting anything but a chance at redemption in the arms of a beautiful innkeeper, who dares him to take on the demons of his past — and the sweet temptation of a woman’s love.

Meredith Maddox believes in hard work, not fate, and romance isn’t part of her plan. But when Rhys returns, battle-scarred, world-weary, and more dangerously attractive than ever, the lovely widow is torn between determination and desire. As a deep mystery and dangerous smugglers threaten much more than their passionate reckoning, Meredith discovers that she must trust everything to a wager her heart placed long ago.

Three Nights with a Scoundrel

The third time is the charm.

The bastard son of a nobleman, Julian Bellamy is now polished to perfection, enthralling the ton with wit and charm while clandestinely plotting to ruin the lords, ravish the ladies, and have the last laugh on a society that once spurned him. But meeting Leo Chatwick, a decent man and founder of the exclusive Stud Club, and Lily, Leo’s enchanting sister, made Julian reconsider his wild ways. When Leo’s tragic murder demands that Julian hunt for justice, he vows to see the woman he secretly loves married to a man of her own class.

Lily, however, has a very different husband in mind. She’s adored Julian forever, loves the man beneath the rakish facade, and wants to savor the delicious attraction they share — as his wife. His insistence on marrying her off only reinforces her intent to prove he is the only man for her. Obsessed with catching a killer, Julian sinks back to the gutters of his youth, forcing Lily to reach out with a sweet, reckless passion Julian can’t resist. Can her desire for a scoundrel save them both–or will dangerous secrets threaten more than their tender love?

  

Interview: Tessa Dare author of the Stud Club Trilogy

Hello internet! Today I have the great pleasure to welcome Tessa Dare to my humble little place on the web. I hope that you enjoy reading this interview and be sure to stop by later on today for a chance to win her newest series of books, The Stud Club trilogy.



First off…tell us a little about you?

I grew up in the Midwest, and I was a hard-core reader from a very young age for a few different reasons. First, my family moved a lot. I was always the new kid, and not an especially outgoing kid either—so books and libraries became an important constant for me. Second, my parents always made me go to bed ridiculously early, but I could stay up reading as late as I wanted. So I read – a lot. Since then, I’ve had a lot of jobs, but they’ve all involved books and words and writing—journalist, librarian, bookseller…now author!



What is your writing process like? (ie do you listen to music? Have a favorite food/drink/sweet to keep you going? Do you write longhand or use a computer? Do you keep a journal? Do any doodle in notebooks?)

There is lots of caffeine involved. I do a lot of my writing in cafes, because I find it hard to concentrate at home. I do not keep a regular journal, but when I’m stuck or brainstorming, I do pull out a spiral notebook and write in longhand. My doodles are never very imaginative! Little hearts and flowers and snails…much the same as junior high.

Which line do you find more difficult to write? The first or the last?

I love both. First and last lines, of scenes and chapters and the book as a whole, are some of my favorite bits to write.

When you write, which comes first title, plot or character(s)?

I would say characters, even though they often change personalities during the process. It’s all about that initial clash between h/h – what mismatched personality traits will create conflict? From there, I try to generate a plot that will explore and expose those traits and conflict.

Where did you get the idea for The Stud Club Trilogy?

Honestly, it’s been years – I have a hard time remembering exactly how it came about. But I knew I wanted three heroes who had almost nothing in common, thrown together by circumstance. At some point, having them own shares of a horse occurred to me. And then I couldn’t resist the chance to make it a stud horse, just for the pun.

I have to say that one of the things that I really like about The Stud Club Trilogy is the fact that the three connected characters don't know each other. They connected characters are all too often related or life long friends that it was refreshing that they started out indifferent and with a bit of animosity towards each other.


Using five words or less, how would you describe your trilogy?

Oh, I always wimp out on questions like this! “Describe in X words or less” is, for me, the equivalent of “If you’re trapped in an elevator with 20 minutes’ worth of oxygen...” If I could do it in five words, believe me, I would have saved myself the trouble of the other 299,995!

Such a chicken!!! lol Although as a chatty cathy myself I too find word restrictions difficult. lol 


When you finish writing a book who reads it first?

Usually one of my beta readers. Often it’s Elyssa Papa, because she always seems to read whatever I send her within a matter of hours! She is the best. Three Nights with a Scoundrel is dedicated to her, because she was Julian’s first (and sometimes only?) fan.

I admit it. Julian isn't my favorite character in the series but after Twice Tempted by a Rogue he's begun to grow on me. So that's progress, yes?

What’s your idea of the best meal ever? What sort of foods do you like to eat when you are sick?

When I’m sick, I like Jell-O and non-diet soda. When I’m not sick, I like … just about everything. I’m not sure I could ever pick a favorite meal. My favorite meals ever have been less about the food served than the company. There’s nothing better than sitting around a dinner table with warm, funny, interesting people, good food, and a bottle or three of wine.

mmmm...wine...

What’s something that made you laugh out loud today? 

 I’m probably the last person on the planet, but I finally saw that Double Rainbow video on YouTube. All the way. Full on. But what does this mean? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI

Dude! I just saw that myself on Saturday!! I'd never heard of it, so my friend had her BF call up the original and then the song mix of it. So so funny!

If we were able to take a peek at your nightstand, what book(s) might we find there?

At this very moment, I am sitting next to my nightstand, and I just counted 16 books on it. I won’t name them all, but here’s a smattering: The Forbidden Rose by Joanna Bourne, Surrender a Dream by Jill Barnett, Other People's Love Letters, edited by Bill Shapiro, How to Think Like A Horse by Hill, and Castles, Palaces & Stately Houses of Britain and Ireland, by Charles Phillips.

What is the book that you most want to read again for the first time?

I am a broken record, answering with this – but I think I’d have to say Austen’s Pride And Prejudice. When I first read it as a teenager, I honestly hoped Lizzy would end up with that nice Wickham guy! It came as a complete and utter shock to me when that jerkface Darcy showed up and proposed at Hunsford. I’d love to be able to recapture that feeling of surprise along with Elizabeth.

I LOVE P&P and I'm right there with you in wanting to recapture those first time read feelings with it. 

Are there any books that you might have lied about reading (we promise we won’t judge)?

I honestly can’t think of any off the top of my head… hm. I’m sure I skimmed a great many things in my school years, but I usually actually enjoyed assigned reading. I was a nerd that way.

What’s a book you’ve been a book bully for?

Proof by Seduction by Courtney Milan. Everyone should read it. (This means you.) (Yes, you.) Granted, Courtney is a critique partner of mine, so I am naturally biased. But there are a slew of other people who were shouting from the rooftops what an amazing book Proof is, so you hardly have to take my word for it.

The Zombie Apocalypse has started, do you have a zombie plan? Can you share your plan with us?

Um, I’m not good at planning. I’m always a world catastrophe behind. Like, I’ll probably get a swine flu shot this year, now that the whole panic is over.

*Scratches Tessa Dare from her list of potential people to take shelter with during the zombie apocalypse. Adds note: sure to be toast within days if not hours of outbreak*

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

Um… I am just starting a brand-new series, and I’m a little wary of going into details when all the details are still subject to change. *g* It’s more fun, sexy Regency-set historical romance. The setting will be very important to this series, and I’m about to go on a trip to England to research and scout locations. I can’t wait!

Need an assistant? I totes want to go to England again and I'm small(ish) I can fit in your suitcase....

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Thank you for reading! Really, that’s the one thing I can never say too many times. Without readers, I don’t have a job.


Thanks for stopping by Tessa! I loved reading your responses and I am looking forward to your next series. 

Twice Tempted by a Rogue by Tessa Dare (Blog Tour)

Publisher: Ballantine Books (an imprint of Random House)
Publication Date: 22 June 2010
Related Series: Stud Club, Book 2
ISBN: 034551887X
Format: Paperback
Pages: 384
Websites:
Tessa Dare - Official Site
Tessa Dare - Blog
Tessa Dare - Twitter

Place(s) Traveled to: Buckleigh-in-the-Moor in Devonshire, England; Bath, England (1817)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

First Line: Rhys St. Maur, newly Lord Ashworth, was a broken man.

Twice Tempted by a Rogue is book 2 of Tessa Dare's Stud Club trilogy and picks up shortly after One Dance with a Duke (my review) ends. This book focuses on Rhys St Maur, the new Lord Ashworth, as he returns to his country seat for the first time in fourteen years. He had left the area shortly after a devastating fire destroyed Nethermoor Hall - the home of his birth - and hasn't looked back since. If you've read One Dance with a Duke then you know that Rhys recently came into some money and he plans to use that in order to rebuild his ancestral home. What he didn't plan on was the resentment that the villagers in Buckleigh-in-the-Moor would have towards him and his plans.

What follows is your standard boy-meets-girl romance story with little mention of the mystery that was begun in One Dance with a Duke. The main focus in Twice Tempted is the relationship between Rhys and Meredith "Merry" Maddox, a widow who runs the Three Hounds Inn which is essentially the only source of revenue for this small village since the Ashworth's departed years before. What I liked about Merry is that she isn't your typical heroine. She is strong and feisty. She is far from a naive virgin and she drinks. She isn't afraid to bash bottles over the heads of those who cause a ruckus in her inn nor is she afraid to stand up for what she believes in.

I liked Rhys as a character and I was glad to learn more of his past and what made him tick. His is a story that makes a reader's heart break. But I didn't like how there wasn't enough of the characters first introduced in One Dance with a Duke. Spencer and Amelia are mentioned briefly but don't appear and while there a couple of appearances by Julian Bellamy they are short and quickly over. Julian's scenes also serve more as a transition/build up to what is to come in the third book in this trilogy, Three Nights with a Scoundrel. Overall, this book is your typical transition novel. It was slower than the first book and a lead in for the final book. Its a book that can be read independently from the others for while it may mention events of the previous book there is little in this story that moves the murder mystery story arc along. With the exception of that one tidbit near the end....but that tidbit again only serves as a lead in to Julian's story.

If I were to describe Twice Tempted in just two words I would call it brain candy. Its an entertaining read but it doesn't require much thought in order to keep track of the plot. As the plot is very straight forward. This may sound harsh, but that isn't my intent. This is the sort of book that is great for when you are taking a plane trip or need something light to read at the beach. Its a book that you can enjoy during those really busy days and just need something fun to relax and forget about the real world for a bit. Its a book that I would recommend to others and its also the story that changes my opinion of Julian - just a bit. Julian is a character that I didn't really like in One Dance he is moody, volatile and a bit of a jerk to those around him. But in Twice Tempted you see a slightly more relaxed and caring side to Julian and this makes me curious about his story and so I am now looking forward to reading Three Nights with a Scoundrel. Which I just sort of so-so on before.

TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS for Twice Tempted by a Rogue

Thursday, July 1st: Pop Culture Junkie

Tuesday, July 6th: The Book Binge

Wednesday, July 7th: Simply Stacie

Thursday, July 8th: Rundpinne

Monday, July 12th: Ticket to Anywhere

Wednesday, July 14th: Love, Romance, Passion

Monday, July 19th: Laughing Through the Chaos

Wednesday, July 21st: Borders True Romance Blog

Monday, July 26th: The Cajun Book Lady

Happy Birthday Erica (@thebookcellarx)

This blog post is for my friend and fellow blogger Erica, from The Book Cellar. Today is her 17th birthday and so I thought that I would record a little something in honor of her special day. If you have the time stop by her blog and wish her a Happy Birthday or you can be more direct and send her a message on twitter.

note: video quality is a bit sh&*y but for whatever reason this video was a real b&^@h to upload (seriously been trying since 8 pm last night & eventually had to seriously compress the file online to get it to do anything)....so y'all can deal with the shite quality because I'm over tired and so very done with dealing with this file!

Book Trailer Sunday (40): Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

Book Trailer Monday Sunday is where once a week I feature a trailer for a book that has captured my attention. This trailer might be for a book that is about to be published, or maybe its for a book that has already been released. There won't be any rhyme or reason to the trailer that I choose....the only common denominator will be that I liked it. That it made me stop or made me think or maybe it made me laugh. I do this mainly for my own enjoyment because I love book trailers. I find them fascinating and I hope that you enjoy the ones that I show here each week as well.

This weeks trailer is for the Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus will published by EgmontUSA on 13 July 2010. This trailer for Shadow Hills is another one produced by VLC Productions and as with others produced by Vania - its fabulous. There is just the right amount of suspense in this trailer and yes even a wee bit of creep factor to make me highly curious about the book. I just love the imagery and music - which is enough to get the heart pumping.

What did you think of this weeks selection? Share your thoughts in the comments below.









If you know of a book trailer that you would like to see featured on Book Trailer Monday then please send me an email with a link to irisheyz_5 AT yahoo DOT com.

Contest: Change of Heart ARC by Shari Maurer (signed!)

Hello everyone!

I hope that you have enjoyed Change of Heart week here on Ticket to Anywhere which featured interviews with Shari Maurer (author) and two characters from the book, Emmi and Sam. I had a lot of fun this week and hope that you did as well. And now I have a great contest for you. Here's what you can win:

An ARC of Change of Heart which has been signed by Shari and a mini soccer ball.

Here is a closer pic of the soccer ball. Isn't is cute??

Here's how to enter to win a signed ARC of Change of Heart and a mini soccer ball!

Fill out the giveaway entry form here.


The giveaway is open to addresses within the U.S. and Canada only. If you have any questions please email me at irisheyz_5 AT yahoo DOT com prior to entering.

The giveaway will end 24 July 2010 at midnight Eastern Time.

**Prize provided by the author**

Change of Heart by Shari Maurer

Publisher: Westside Books
Source: From publisher for review
Publication Date: 23 Apr 2010
Related Series: NA
ISBN: 1934813362
Format: Paperback (ARC)
Pages: 290
Websites:
Shari Maurer - Official Site
Shari Maurer - Blog
Shari Maurer- Twitter

Place(s) Traveled to: New City, New York

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Prologue First Line:If I had known "normal" could disappear so quickly, would have appreciated it more?

Chapter One First Line: "Don't give up!" I screamed to my teammates as I ran down the field.

I first learned of Change of Heart through my affiliation with the group YA Roundup, which is a group that promotes debut authors of Young Adult and Middle Grade books. I also had the opportunity to meet Shari during BEA week this past May at a Class of 2K10 book signing at Books of Wonder in NYC. I was intrigued by the premise of this book as I don't think its one that has been addressed much in young adult fiction. Teens have a tendency not to think about their own mortality very much and the books that do deal with a teen dying are often ones that have ghosts or vampires in them. Both of which offer up potential for continued life, just different from what that character knew before. Although there are notable exceptions to this with books like Thirteen Reasons Why, Hold Still and The Sky is Everywhere. 

But overall I don't think many teens think much about dying. And when they do they think more in terms of accidental or unexpected death. Which is part of what makes Change of Heart different. This is a book about an active teen girl who learns that if she doesn't get a new heart not only will she never play soccer again, but she also probably won't live to see adulthood. Even simple things that most people take for granted, like dancing, can be life threatening to Emmi and its a huge struggle for her to come to grips to being super active to sitting around and waiting. Especially since waiting usually leads to thoughts of how the only way she can live is if another person dies. 

I really enjoyed the first part of this novel. I loved the interaction between Emmi and her family - and I loved that she had a family! A nice, normal family with parents who just didn't understand her and brother who did nothing but annoy their older sister. Families are so rare in young adult books these days that it was nice to see here. The parents interacted with their kids, they got upset and snapped and as a reader you got to see as they struggled to deal with Emmi's diagnosis which was just as hard on them as it was on her. I loved the contrast of thoughts that was shown between Emmi and her parents that came through in their conversations. Emmi's parents would think more long term while Emmi would focus more on the short - like going out that weekend with friends and think her parents where overreacting when such activity might harm her - when in reality it could. 

What bothered me with this book was that towards the last half it seemed as if Maurer didn't think that the drama and struggle with waiting for a new heart was enough. So she started to through in a ton of different plot lines that just muddled up the story. This is the part of the book where I began to roll my eyes and think to myself "how cliched!" Not that the events depicted weren't believable as I could see them happening....but they were just so predictable. And because of that predictability the story began to wane for me.

I do think that Shari Maurer has filled an important niche with Change of Heart. That the overall storyline is an important one to bring to light. I love how she brings organ donation from this huge abstract thought right into the hearts and homes of teens. Organ donation is so important and the simple act of just telling your loved ones that you want to be a donor if the worst happens could give someone like Emmi a future. If you've ever thought about being an organ donor but had some doubts please take a moment to read my Wednesday post in which I talk about some common myths about organ donation.

Order from Wellesley Booksmith an Independent bookseller in Wellesley, MA:

Change of Heart

New Meme and some more from Change of Heart Week!

Hello internet!!. This is my first weekly excerpt vlog for Book Chic Club’s no-name Friday meme thing where we can read excerpts of what we are reading right now. I first heard about this from Pam over at Bookalicous and thought wow that's a fun sounding meme. Especially since I'd been thinking about doing something similar on my blog ever since I got my new camcorder. So I was very glad that someone else in the universe had the same thought and turned it into a meme for me to join. =) Right now it's nameless but if you head over to Book Chic Club and name this meme you can win a book from James at Book Chic!

My excerpt is from Change of Heart by Shari Maurer. 

Character Interview: Sam from Change of Heart

Hello everyone! Today Change of Heart week continues with an interview with Sam. Sam is an important character to the story as he is Emmi's boyfriend. Sam and Emmi start going out right before she gets sick and so their relationship is really new and they both go through a lot during the course of the book. Please welcome Sam to the blog and I hope you enjoy learning more about him.

Full Name: Samuel Paul Hunter

Nickname: Sam

Age: 16

Favorite food: Hamburgers, except when I’m training, then it’s steamed fish (only kidding—I hate steamed fish).

Favorite color: Navy Blue

Favorite number: 12-my baseball number

Favorite kind of music: Rap

Please tell us a little about you. 

I play baseball for North Village High. Unlike a lot of my buddies, I’m pretty good at school and that’s important to me. I mean, I love sports and hanging out and talking about hot girls, but I also want to do other things, too.

What do you like to do in your free time? 

Right now I mainly study and play ball. I’ve been hanging with Emmi, which has been fun, too, even if she can’t do that much.

What has it been like dealing with Emmi’s heart condition? 

I’m trying to be patient about it, but sometimes it’s a bummer—on a lot of levels, if you know what I mean. It would be nice to be able to take her out or to do something a little more active than sitting on her couch. She’s been pretty brave, so I’m trying to be brave, too, but once in a while I realize how sick she is and it’s scary.

Has your life changed at all as a result of Emmi’s illness and near death experience?

Totally. I’m more aware of death and dying. I’ve been a little nicer to my parents and am trying to be nicer to my sisters.

 What is one of your favorite memories of Emmi?

The thing that made me notice her was when she scored those two goals in the last minute of her soccer game. She was amazing. I don’t like prissy girls and think it’s very cool that she’s such a good athlete.

Is there anything else you might want people to know about you?

As I mentioned before, I’m more than a dumb jock. Sports are cool, but I know that it’s academics that will get me somewhere. 

Thanks for stopping by Sam! If you would like to learn more about Sam then be sure to pick up a copy of Change of Heart by Shari Maurer today.

 This interview is cross-posted on YA Roundup, a website dedicated solely to promoting debut Young Adult and Middle Grade books and their authors.

Organ Donation: Why I'm a Donor and Some Myths

Hello internet,

I hope that you've been enjoying Change of Heart week. Yesterday you got to meet Emmi Miller, the main character of Change of Heart and learn a little more about her. Emmi is your typical teen until she learns that if she doesn't get a new heart then she might die. She then must struggle with the idea that in order for her to live then someone else needs to die first. Organ donation is one of those things that people think about only when it could affect them. I also know through various conversations that I've had over the years that people have a lot of misconceptions on what it means to be an organ donor. For my part I've been a donor since I was 16. The day that my dad took me to get my license I wanted that bit of info to be on my license. Since I was under 18 my dad had to give his ok, which he did, and I've had that symbol on my license ever since. 

But its not enough to have that symbol on your license. That in and of itself doesn't really do anything, especially if you are underage. You must also talk to your family and let them know what you want. So that if the worst happens and the doctors have done all they can for you that your family knows that you want to donate your organs. My thought on the process that if there is no hope for me then I want to know that I could help someone else. Its a way for me to live on and give someone else a gift. A gift that I would want myself if I got sick and needed a transplant.

You might also think that the worst will never happen to you or to a loved one. But you can never predict what will happen in life. A few years ago my Aunt was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. It hit the family hard and the doctors tried many treatment options for her. One of which was a bone marrow transplant. Up until then I'd never heard of that type of transplant.  Unfortunately no one in the immediate family was a match and so my Aunt was put on a list hoping that a stranger would be a match. In the end my Aunt passed away but that only makes me more determined to make sure my friends and family know my wishes. Because life is precious and if I can help someone else live then that will make my death worth while.

Finally I scoured the internet and have listed out some of the most common myths that I found when it comes to organ and tissue donation along with the facts.

Myth: If emergency room doctors know you're an organ donor, they won't work as hard to save you.

Fact: If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. Organ donation can only be considered after brain death has been declared by a physician. Many states have adopted legislation allowing individuals to legally designate their wish to be a donor should brain death occur, although in many states Organ Procurement Organizations also require consent from the donor's family.

Myth: Maybe I won't really be dead when they sign my death certificate.

Fact: Although it's a popular topic in the tabloids, in reality, people don't start to wiggle their toes after they're declared dead. In fact, people who have agreed to organ donation are given more tests (at no charge to their families) to determine that they're truly dead than are those who haven't agreed to organ donation. 
 

Myth: When you're waiting for a transplant, your financial or celebrity status is as important as your medical status.

Fact: When you are on the transplant waiting list for a donor organ, what really counts is the severity of your illness, time spent waiting, blood type, and other important medical information.

Myth: Having "organ donor" noted on your driver's license or carrying a donor card is all you have to do to become a donor.

Fact: While a signed donor card and a driver's license with an "organ donor" designation are legal documents, organ and tissue donation is usually discussed with family members prior to the donation. To ensure that your family understands your wishes, it is important that you tell your family about your decision to donate LIFE.

Myth: Only hearts, livers, and kidneys can be transplanted.

Fact: Needed organs include the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver, and intestines. Tissue that can be donated include the eyes, skin, bone, heart valves and tendons.

Myth: Your history of medical illness means your organs or tissues are unfit for donation.

Fact: At the time of death, the appropriate medical professionals will review your medical and social histories to determine whether or not you can be a donor. With recent advances in transplantation, many more people than ever before can be donors. It's best to tell your family your wishes and sign up to be an organ and tissue donor on your driver's license or an official donor document.

Myth: You are too old to be a donor.

Fact: People of all ages and medical histories should consider themselves potential donors. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissue can be donated.

Myth: If you agree to donate your organs, your family will be charged for the costs.

Fact: There is no cost to the donor's family or estate for organ and tissue donation. Funeral costs remain the responsibility of the family.

Myth: Organ donation disfigures the body and changes the way it looks in a casket.

Fact: Donated organs are removed surgically, in a routine operation similar to gallbladder or appendix removal. Donation does not change the appearance of the body for the funeral service.

Myth: Your religion prohibits organ donation.

Fact: Organ donation is consistent with the beliefs of most religions. This includes Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam and most branches of Judaism. If you're unsure of or uncomfortable with your faith's position on donation, ask a member of your clergy. Another option is to check the federal Web site OrganDonor.gov, which provides religious views on organ donation and transplantation by denomination.

Myth: I'm under age 18. I'm too young to make this decision.

That's true, in a legal sense. But your parents can authorize this decision. You can express to your parents your wish to donate, and your parents can give their consent knowing that it's what you wanted. Children, too, are in need of organ transplants, and they usually need organs smaller than those an adult can provide.


Myth: I'd like to donate one of my kidneys now, but I wouldn't be allowed to do that unless one of my family members is in need.

Fact: While that used to be the case, it isn't any longer. Whether it's a distant family member, friend or complete stranger you want to help, you can donate a kidney through certain transplant centers. If you decide to become a living donor, you will undergo extensive questioning to ensure that you are aware of the risks and that your decision to donate isn't based on financial gain. You will also undergo testing to determine if your kidneys are in good shape and whether you can live a healthy life with just one kidney.

Myth: There is real danger of being heavily drugged, then waking to find you have had one kidney (or both) removed for a black market transplant.

Fact: This tale has been widely circulated over the Internet. There is absolutely no evidence of such activity ever occurring in the U.S. While the tale may sound credible, it has no basis in the reality of organ transplantation. Many people who hear the myth probably dismiss it, but it is possible that some believe it and decide against organ donation out of needless fear.

Why you should consider organ donation?

Now that you have the facts, you can see that being an organ donor can make a big difference, and not just to one person. By donating your organs after you die, you can save or improve as many as 50 lives. And many families say that knowing their loved one helped save other lives helped them cope with their loss.
It's especially important to consider becoming an organ donor if you belong to an ethnic minority. Minorities including African-Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and Hispanics are more likely than whites to have certain chronic conditions that affect the kidney, heart, lung, pancreas and liver. Certain blood types are more prevalent in ethnic minority populations. Because matching blood type is necessary for transplants, the need for minority donor organs is especially high.


How to donate

Becoming an organ donor is easy. You can indicate that you want to be a donor in the following ways:

• Register with your state's donor registry. Most states have registries. Check the list at OrganDonor.gov.
• Designate your choice on your driver's license. Do this when you obtain or renew your license.
• Sign and carry a donor card. Cards are available from OrganDonor.gov.

It's also important to tell your family that you want to be a donor. Hospitals seek consent from the next of kin before removing organs, although this is usually not required if you're registered with your state's donor registry. The best way to ensure that your wishes are carried out is to put them in writing. Include your wishes in your living will, as well as on your driver's license. If you have no next of kin or you doubt your family will agree to donate your organs, you can assign durable power of attorney to someone who you know will abide by your wishes. A lawyer can help you prepare this document.