June Recap

If you haven't been obsessively keeping tabs on our blog, I must say I'm neither surprised nor upset. So here are some posts of note from June, just in case you missed them ;D

Charlotte's review of The Day I Met Suzie by Chris Higgins

Gabbi's review of Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Gabbi's review of The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Charlotte's review of Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

Gabbi's review of The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

Gabbi's review of Saving Ben by Ashley Farley (Blog Tour)

Gabbi's review of In Too Deep by Michelle Kemper Brownlow (Blog Tour)

Gabbi's review of Fall From Love by Heather London (Blog Tour)

Top ten books featuring travel

Top ten beach reads

Top ten books on my summer TBR

Top ten books I've read in 2013 so far

The series continuation edition

Katie McGarry shares Noah Hutchins's guilty pleasure movies/TV shows

Character interview with Noah Hutchins

Vote for Noah!

*Hushed tone* 

Hello, everybody. My name is Gabbi from BookBreather. I'm currently reporting from the halls of Eastwick High School, here to give you an exclusive look at Noah Hutchins from Katie McGarry's Pushing the Limits.

I've spoke to some of his friends, a few of which were hesitant to reveal anything important about Noah. Eventually, I was able to squeeze out a few answers.






“Noah felt strong and warm and muscular and safe and he smelled, oh, God, delicious. I couldn't stop kissing him if my life depend it upon it: his lips, his neck, his chest, and Noah seemed as hungry as me.” 

Me: What is it that attracts you most about Noah? Is it the dark brown eyes, shaggy hair, muscles, or mysterious demeanor? 
Echo: Noah is so much more than tall, dark, and handsome. 

“My heart hurt to see her in pain and, for one second, i shut down all emotion. One day, she'd figure out she was too good for a loser like me and when she left, i didn't know how i'd deal with the pain. Hell, she was worth it. I enfolded her into my body once more, kissing the side of her neck.” 

Me: There has been buzz that, ever since Noah began dating Echo, he has changed. How so? 
Beth: Echo has got Noah wrapped around her finger, but I think it's mutual. He used to be the first one to whip out the joint or crack open a beer, but when Echo's around, he's always making sure she's okay and having fun. She doesn't drink much or smoke, so he stopped doing it around her. Now, probably out of habit, he usually turns down the illegal substances, even when she isn't around.
Me: What can you tell me about Noah's brothers? Are they part of this changing process? 
Beth: I can't tell you much. Noah's brothers have always been the most important things in the world to him. He's had to make a lot of difficult decisions when it comes to them, but he learned to see what is really best for them, even if it's not best for him. 

I kissed her forehead and she snuggled closer to me. The world felt strange. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t fighting someone or something. My brothers were safe. Echo knew the truth. Soon, I’d be free from high school and foster care. Hopefully, I’d be admitted on late acceptance to college. Contentment and happiness were unfamiliar emotions, but ones I could learn to live with.

Me: My sources indicate that Noah used to be quite popular before being put into the foster system. Do you think this has affected your friendship any? 
Isaiah: It doesn't matter who Noah used to be. Everyone has gone through tough times. Noah is fiercely loyal to me, Beth, Echo, and his brothers. Despite everything that happens to him, he hangs on to the things he thinks are important. Doesn't dwell on what used to be. So no. I don't think who he was before we met affects anything. 

“Wow, Mrs. Collins is a freaking miracle worker. Dangerous Noah Hutchins on the straight and narrow. If you don’t watch out she’ll ruin your rep with the girls."
I lowered my voice. "Not that it matters. I only care what one girl thinks about me.” 

Me: Many people, especially adults, began to view Noah as a hopeless case. What did you see in Noah that gave you such faith that he could change?
Mrs. Collins: Noah has this fire in him that is evident in everything he does. From the very first conversation I had with him I could see that fire. He doesn't want to be a bad person, he doesn't act a certain way to be spiteful. He's merely trying to take a bad situation and make it something he can deal with. But he is a teenager and there is only so much he could do on his own. After speaking with him that first time, I realized that I could help him. He was used to people rallying against him, though, so I had to prove I was on his side. 

That was about all they were willing to share, but it's all I need. Noah is loyal and sexy. He is trying to change and become better--for his brothers, for Echo, and for himself. He may have the bad boy thing going on, but there's much more to him than meets the eyes.

You've heard it straight from those who know him best. If you adore these qualities as much as they--and I--do, you most definitely need to vote for Noah Hutchins. Use #TeamHutchins to spread the word and the love. After everything he's been through, Noah could use a good victory!

 

Today is the day! Please vote for Noah in the YA Crush Tourney. And don't forget about the scavenger hunt and all the posts from the last week or so that show you why you should vote for Noah!

A Noah-Tastic Scavenger Hunt

Tomorrow, people. Tomorrow! *Belts the Annie song*

But for cereals, Noah's match in The YA Crush Tournament is tomorrow! What better way to ring in the occasion than with a Noah-themed scavenger hunt? Answer: There is no better way!

So here's the dealio. I will give you a list of posts, pages, tweets, etc. and then I'll ask you some questions. Using the links given, you'll have to find the answer to those questions. Some of the links will be used more than once, some will not be used at all. Easy stinkin' peasy, I think. And wait! It gets better. That's right: BETTER.

Here's the dealio dealio. Everyone who correctly answers all the questions gets entered into a giveaway. What is the prize, you no doubt ask? Well the fabulosa Katie McGarry is graciously offering one U.S. resident a signed hardback of Dare You To and a signed paperback of Pushing the Limits. UH, YEAH. I'm honest to goodness envious of whoever wins this. Two runner-ups will get a bunch of random swag from me (also for U.S. only--so sorry)! Of course, international readers can enter the scavenger hunt for funzies. Also, if you have a U.S. address that prizes can be sent to, that's fine, too.

You have until Monday, June 24, 2013 to scavenge.

Now that we got all that crud covered, let's get down to bizznizz.

The links:
Interview with Noah + Acrostic Poems
Noah's top 5 guilty pleasure moves/TV shows + Letters to Noah
Katie McGarry's "about me"
Pushing the Limits title change
Pushing the Limits playlist
Twitter quote 1
Twitter quote 2
Twitter quote 3
Twitter quote 4
Goodreads page

The Q's:
1) Because of his brothers, which animated TV series can Noah now sing the theme song to?
2) According to Noah himself, he wants to take Echo to see _______________________ in Colorado?
3) Does Katie McGarry prefer cats or dogs?
4) Before being renamed, Pushing the Limits was titled what?
5) What are two songs on the Pushing the Limits playlist?
6) Though it is in the book, it is also on twitter. Noah says, "Here's the reality, Echo: _______________________."
7) According to a poem by a Street-Teamer, Noah is naturally blessed with what?
8) What are Katie's favorite colors to write in?
9) What was the publication date of Pushing the Limits
10) One of the wonderful Street-Teamers wrote a letter to Noah about the hope he gives her. What was this Street Teamer's name?

Please don't leave answers in the comments! Please leave all answers in the from below. If you don't know or can't find an answer, leave N/A in the answer box. If you have questions or comments, feel free to comment, email me (gabbicalabrese@hotmail.com) or tweet me (@bookbreather).
And whatever you do, DO NOT forget to vote for Noah in the YA Crush Tournament on June 21, 2012. 

Noah's Guilty Pleasure Movies + Letters to Noah

In further celebration of Noah's wonderful fabulousness, I present to you Noah's top 5 guilty pleasure movies/TV shows:

1. I'll watch Grease, but that's only because Beth watches it.
2. I'll pay full price to watch any Fast and Furious movie with Isaiah
3. Because of Echo, I'm more aware of Grey's Anatomy than I care to admit.
4. Any reality TV show makes me feel less messed up than I actually am.
5. Since being a part of my brother's life, I can sing the theme song to Phineas and Ferb.

Mwahahah! I can sing the Phineas and Ferb theme song, too. We haz so much in common! Do you and Noah share any of the same guilty pleasure viewing habits? And have you guys noticed that all of Noah's responses revolve around other people? What a sweetie pie!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Also, here are a couple letters from Noah's INCREDIBLE street team. I told them to write a letter to Noah about whatever they wanted and this is what I got:

Wow! Both of those letters are great in their own way! :) They really show off how lovable Noah is, huh? Gives you good reason to vote for him in the YA Crush Tourney on June 21!

Character Interview: Noah Hutchins from Pushing the Limits

If you had never ended up in the foster system, what do you think your life would be like? 

Possibly like Echo’s. I would have grown up in a good home on the right side of town. Honestly, I’d probably be like that ape Luke that Echo used to date. Hopefully, I wouldn’t have turned out to be such an ass as him though.

What is your favorite memory (or just one of your favorite) you have with your brothers? 

Watching them wake up Christmas morning after Dad and I had stayed up all night to put together their toys. They were wide eye and all smiles. So were Mom and Dad.

Aside from any people, what are some things you are most grateful for? 

A roof over my head. Food to eat. Honestly, the people surrounding me are the things I’m most grateful for. Losing my parents taught me what’s important in life.

What is one thing that was never important to you before meeting Echo that you now think about a lot? 

Art. More Echo’s art than anyone else’s. I never thought much about paintings or drawings before I met her. It’s amazing to watch her work. She becomes hypnotized and she’s damn sexy when she does it.

Echo’s taught me that art is more than lines on a page. She’s letting the world see a part of her soul. If you think about it, that’s courageous. 

What are three things you never leave the house without? 

My car keys, wallet, and when it’s not a hundred degrees outside, my black leather jacket.

If you could visit any place on Earth, where would you visit and why? 

Echo wants to see snow capped mountains in Colorado and I want to take her there. Seeing her smile and her eyes light up creates a peace inside of me I never thought possible since my parents’ died. 

How do you feel about so many random people reading your story and wanting to rip your clothes off? 

((Noah smiles and laughs)) I think it’s brought out a very jealous and protective side of Echo. She’s damn cute when she’s mad. 

And finally, what is your most embarrassing memory? (And don't be shy, we won't judge you! As I said, we want to rip your clothes off.)  

I don’t embarrass easy, but Echo does. A few weeks ago Isaiah stumbled downstairs to find me and Echo in a very compromising position and she was so embarrassed that my cheeks turned red for her. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everyone, please just take a moment to appreciate how sweet/sexy/wonderful his answers are. Appreciate them! 

And now that's done so I'll share with you some Noah-licious acrostic poems that have come from Noah lovers everywhere. 

Here is my poem: 

Nom nom is how I would describe the 

Outstanding guy before my eyes.

A character that practically crawls off the page.

He certainly holds a place in my heart. 

Here is a poem from Jess, a member of the Noah Hutchins street team:

Naturally blessed with a impressive physique, he is

Overconfident and wild but 

Actually quite soft and chivalrous, the boy is

Heartbreakingly beautiful in every single way 

Another street teamer named Katherine wrote this one: 

Never did he

Open up to

All the worlds’ beauty,

Hence the destroyed soul but,

Help from Echo cured his

Unbelievably broken heart and

Turned him into a

Caring, Loving,

Handsomely considerate guy

Indeed, with

Nothing that could

Stop him from pursuing his dreams

And yet another Street, Melly, wrote this poem: 

Wow! I'm so lucky to have some fantastic, creative minds on Noah's street team AKA The Street Team of Complete and Utter Win. 

Feel free to write your own acrostic poem and either comment with the link to the post or write it in the comments. But most importantly, vote for Noah Hutchins on June 21, 2013 in the YA CRUSH TOURNEY!

A Pushing the Limits Fan Art "Contest"

Hi everyone. Just a quick post to say that Nova and I (Gabbi) are having a fan art contest-type-thing for Katie McGarry's Pushing the Limits in an effort to encourage people to vote for Noah Hutchins in the YA Crush Tourney, hosted by The YA Sisterhood.

Anyway, this is just a call for everyone to submit any fan art they have for Pushing the Limits. It can be drawings, cover re-designs, photoshopped pictures--anything, really! We're going to collect all the fan art and put it in a public online gallery of sorts. We'll pick a few of our favorites (maybe with Mrs. McGarry's opinion as well) and send PtL ribbons to those people. Unfortunately, the ribbons are only for U.S.ers, but everyone is welcome to submit their work.

To submit your art, email me at gabbicalabrese@hotmail.com
Also, feel free to email or tweet me (@BookBreather) with any questions.

Please make sure that all art submitted is your own work, though. You will be receiving credit for your art, and I would like to give credit where it is actually due.

#YACrushTourney

Okay, anybody who has been in the blog-o-verse for a little while has probably heard/witnessed this magical thing called the YA Crush Tourney hosted by the spectacular YA Sisterhood. If you don't know what it is, let me tell you that it is basically an excuse for us book lovers to fawn all over our imaginary book boyfriends and rally together to lead them to victory. Honestly, this tournament is just for fun. It's not like an "official" thing. It is just among the blogging world. Still, it is so much fun and a great way to support all the books/authors/fictional hottiez you love!

Anyway, the point of this post is to inform everyone that I (Gabbi) have been selected to advocate for Noah Hutchins from Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry.

I don't even know how to express my excitement for this. I looooooooooove Noah!!! (Doesn't everyone?) And I would just like to ask for EVERYONE'S help to bring Noah the victory he deserves. Dude has been through some tough times, and I'm sure he would secretly love it if he won ;) Please help support Noah. Tweet about him (using #YACrushTourney and #TeamHutchins). Post about him on facebook. Spread the word about him in every way you possibly can. Most importantly, though, please vote for him when his time comes! Also, Katie McGarry is an unbelievable writer and I am thrilled to be representing her as well!

I encourage you to support ALL your favorite hotties, though. Of course, I will be voting for my other favorite book boys as well, but Noah is my main man!

I guess that's all I have to say! Who will be helping support Noah!? As inspiration to do so, I will leave you with a quote:

“Please, Noah, I don't want to do this wrong. Tell me how to make you feel good."
He shifted so that his body rested beside mine, his leg and arm still draped over me. I felt small under his warmth and strength.

His chocolate-brown eyes softened. "Being with you feels good. Touching you-" he tucked a curl behind my ear. "-feels good. I have never wanted anyone like I want you. There's nothing you can do wrong when just breathing makes everything right.”