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.

Calling All Katie McGarry Fans

Alright, so Katie McGarry kind of came out of nowhere. One minute, no one had really heard of her, the next minute everybody and their moms' dogs needed to get their grubby paws on a copy of her debut, Pushing the Limits.

Haven't heard of it? Check out all its magnificence on Goodreads.

Basically, that book is the BOMB DOT COM! One of my favorite books in 2012 and, ya know, my life. A ginormicus contributing factor: Noah "Nom Nom" Hutchins.

Much to my delight, I was the lucky lucky lucky lucky blogger who got selected to advocate for Noah Hutchins in the YA Crush Tournament, hosted by the awesomesauce YA Sisterhood.

Never heard of it? Check out this post. And this page.

Anyway, if you're reading this post, I'm going to assume you are a fan of the aforementioned writing magician that is Katie McGarry. And if my previous assumption is correct, I'm also going to assume you are a fan of Mr. Noah Nom Nom Hutchins Yum. If you're not, I politely ask you to remove this post from your computer screen. (Except not really, because I think we can separate our differences.)

So, assuming that you are a fan of Noah Hutchins, this is me extending an invitation to you:

JOIN THE NOAH HUTCHINS STREET TEAM

He deserves so much love. More love than I am solely capable of giving him. (Nova is helping, too. But still. He needs more!) Basically, the purpose of this street team would be to promote Noah's supreme awesomeness, to support him in the YA Crush Tourney, and lead him to VICTORY! This street team does not require too much work. I will be sending out little daily "assignments" for you to partake in, each one revolving around Noah and his delicious Noah-ness.

The only requirements for joining the team are as followed: 1) You love Noah Hutchins. 2) You have a social media platform to spread the love, such as facebook, twitter, pinterest, etc. I don't care how many friends or followers you have. 3) No bashing other characters, books, or authors. AT ALL. I'm 17 and I like to pretend the internet is a friendly environment. Don't show me otherwise!

You do not have to participate in every single assignment or spend a lot of time on any assignments you do choose to take on.

In order to join the Street Team of Complete and Utter Win, just fill out this form reaaaaaaal quick. (Note: if we've already talked on twitter about this, you do not need to fill out the form.) There might just be prizes involved but I make no guarantees as of right now.

If you have questions, feel free to email me at gabbicalabrese@hotmail.com or tweet me @BookBreather. I have no life, really, so it's not like you'd be bothering me. In the mean time, spread the word about #TeamHutchins and the #YACrushTourney

#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.” 

Book Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Series: Pushing the Limits #1
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: July 31, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 392

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

 "They say be a good girl. Get good grades. They know nothing about me."

A brave, riveting and truly powerful novel - Pushing the limits will drive the devastating aspects of young Echo's life closer to home than you may have thought possible.
 
I loved this novel to pieces! Katie McGarry is a talented author who I'm glad was daring enough to tackle the challenging topics of love, loss and life itself, but most importantly how cruel they all can be.

Told from alternating perspectives, we follow Echo, whose memory has been regressed due to a traumatic experience, and Noah, whose life took a turn for the worse and who now hates the system for not playing fair. The pair are an unlikely match but after being kicked down, we watch the story progress to see if they have what it takes to help each other get back up.

What hit me the most was how easy this novel was to relate to, even if none of the delicate issues raised in the novel have been experienced by you first hand. Maybe you're not Noah, a foster kid who's fighting to try and get his life back, or Echo, a damaged teen attending therapy sessions to try and find out why her life hit rock bottom. But maybe you're the one whose insecurity has a hold over you, controls what you wear and where you go? Maybe you're someone who is fighting a losing battle but are refusing to give up. You may even be the girl, or guy, people stare at and mock in the corridor, the one they whisper about and misunderstand.. You might be the friend who always offers a shoulder to cry on, or just a bystander who watches it happen. Heck, you might even be the *cough* selfish, vile, weak, pathetic *cough* person who gives the glares, starts the rumors and excludes the ones who aren't 'cool' enough. But my point is, whoever you are, there's something in this novel that you can relate to.

The characterisation is a majorly strong element in this novel; everything Echo and Noah fought for I  found myself wanting so badly too, for them - that's how real they seemed, how much McGarry made me care for them. Both characters are realistic, easy to relate to and down to earth; they both have very distinct and unique voices and personalities.

I don't really want to spoil anything so I have deliberately not mentioned the problems the characters face because the fun of the novel is understanding the characters, their lives and unraveling the mystery of what actually happened to them and why. Though I will say that I loved how you discover Echo's past alongside her, she never knows more than you do, and how you stand by Noah as he never stops fighting. I'm not going to lie, my heart ached for Echo and I cried enough to fill the ocean over Noah's story - maybe that's just me, I don't know, but even if you don't cry, you'll be touched!

Having said that, this was no a sad/depressing story. It was a journey with both its ups and downs which was overall just as heart-warming as it was heart-wrenching. I really do hope people take something away with them after reading this novel, even if it's just making people more aware before they make judgments.

OH! THE ROMANCE! How have I not mentioned that?! The chemistry between Echo and Noah was hot, sexy and the strength they offered one another was admirable. The romance was a great part of the book (the majority of the book I guess) but it was necessary as it moved the plot along. The love Noah and Echo had for each other, for their families and for 'normal' was extraordinary.

I really can't explain how much I adored this novel. I recommend it to anyone and everyone!

Book Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

Series: Standalone
Genre: YA Contemporary
Publication Date: July 31, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: eARC
Pages: 384
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.  Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N ~ Indiebound ~ Book Depo

Sometimes there are books you fall in love with before reading. Sometimes you just see it and know that it is perfect for you, that it will enter your heart and sink its claws in and refuse to go away. That's how Pushing the Limits was for me. I saw it sitting on my kindle and, even though the release date was more than a month away, I could not resist. I started it. And devoured it. And never wanted it to end. 

Noah and Echo are two amazing, unforgettable characters. The narration switches between the two of them as we delve deep into their minds and their pasts. And even though it appears that the two have nothing in common, they are actually so perfect for each other. Noah has all the qualities that make up the cliche bad boy that is all too common in YA: player, loner, mysterious past, misunderstood...you get the gist. But he does the bad boy thing so well it definitely doesn't feel cliche. Echo is uptight and she has obedience issues. She jumps at her father's every command. Total opposites, right? No no no. They both have dark secrets and goals that seem impossible to obtain. Working together, they discover they are capable of facing the most difficult challenges of their lives--and falling in love along the way. Both of these characters had so much depth, and I connected to them immediately. Noah and Echo made this novel such an emotional--and incredibly steamy--ride!

Aside from the marvelous characters and their sizzling relationship, my favorite part of Pushing the Limits is that we just keep uncovering secrets. There's always another betrayal, another tidbit of information that someone has kept hidden to protect another person. It makes the book unpredictable, intriguing, and addicting. 

Basically, this book is just amazing. One of the best contemporaries of the year. Actually, one of my favorite books of the year, period. These character and their story has stayed with me for months after I closed the book. If you like books with substance and lots of kissing, this is your book! And if you don't, Pushing the Limits might just convert you. 

Also, don't forget to check out my interview with the author, Katie McGarry. 

Quote Impressions: The Art-y Contemp Edition

These quotes are from books that have some sort of artistic influence in them, be it the main character or a painting in a house. 

“If you’re scared, tell me. If you need to cry and scream, then do it. And you sure as hell don’t walk away from us because you think it would be better for me. Here’s the reality, Echo: I want to be by your side. If you want to go to the mall stark naked so you can show the world your scars, then let me hold your hand. If you want to see your mom, then tell me that too. I may not always understand, but damn, baby, I’ll try.” - Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

“I guess love's kind of like a marshmallow in a microwave on high. After it explodes it's still a marshmallow. but, you know, now it's a complicated marshmallow.” - Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

“I don't believe in failure, because simply by saying you've failed, you've admitted you attempted. And anyone who attempts is not a failure. Those who truly fail in my eyes are the ones who never try at all. The ones who sit on the couch and whine and moan and wait for the world to change for them.” - Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen 

“Friends are how God apologizes for your family." - Zero by Tom Leveen

“'You can't beat yourself up anymore,' he says. 'And you can't compare your thing to my thing or to anyone else's thing on the how-bad-should-I-feel? scale.'” - Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker

Interview with Katie McGarry

Ya'll, I recently read Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry, and I frackin adored it! It was full of fabulous. My review will come closer to publication date, but in the mean time I have the marvelous Katie here on the blog for an interview! 

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer some questions!

1) Pushing the Limits switches between Echo's point of view and Noah's. Did you know from the beginning that would be the case, or did you figure it out along the way? 

I knew immediately that I wanted to write alternating points of view. I had tried it in a previous manuscript and fell in love. There’s something about being able to see a love story from both points of view that is just enchanting!

2) Noah's voice is much more crude than Echo's. Was transitioning between the two of them difficult? 

Sometimes, yes. Between writing Echo and Noah, I would often need to take a break. Whether it be a walk around the block or heading into the kitchen to sneak a chocolate chip cookie. I go deep into my characters’ heads when I write and I lose myself in them. It was harder for me to pull out of Noah’s head than it was Echo’s.

3) What was the most challenging part of writing Pushing the Limits? What about your favorite part? 

The hardest part of writing Pushing the Limits was having to channel difficult memories and emotions so I could properly write Echo and Noah. There were several times that the scenes became so emotional for me to write that I had to walk away and take a break. 

My favorite parts, hands down, are the scenes with sexual tension. I adore writing those scenes.

4) How do you feel knowing that your debut novel is going to be out in the wild for everyone to read (and most likely adore!)?

I’m super excited and nervous. I’m heading close to the two year mark from when I first signed the contract with Harlequin Teen. It feels like it has taken forever to reach my release day, but now that it is right around the corner, it seems like the time flew by.

5) Greek mythology is mentioned throughout the novel. Is that something you've loved since you were a child, like Echo? How did you get into it? 

I honestly knew nothing about Greek mythology when I started Pushing the Limits. When I begin to write, I see flashes of scenes in my mind. One of the flashes was a memory Echo had of her mother talking to Echo when she was a child in her bedroom. Echo’s mother was pointing out constellations that she had painted on Echo’s ceiling. 

A lot of constellations involve Greek mythology therefore my story evolved. 

SPEED ROUND

Lemonade or iced tea? 

Lemonade

Pens or pencils? 

Pens

Dresses or jeans? 

Jeans

Spearmint or peppermint? 

Neither

Zebra print or cheetah print? 

Zebra

~~~

Thanks again, Katie! I see big things ahead for you! 

KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads. 

Her website ~ Her twitter ~ Her facebook

Series: Standalone

Genre: YA Contemp

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: July 31, 2012

Pages: 384

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.  Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N ~ Indiebound ~ Book Depo