1 Week Till Hush, Hush !

 With just one week to go before the release of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, I thought it would be prudent of me to repost my review and make sure y'all haven't forgotten about this amazing book!

 For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.
 With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.
 But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
 For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.



 Hush, Hush surpassed my1 expectations because it was so much more than just another teenage, supernatural romance. Hiding within the main plot of a dark love story was a mystery that kept me guessing and turning pages well into the wee hours. I had to see how it ended! The climax was unexpected, fully satisfying, and left me hungry for more2.
 I loved the characters; they ran the gamut from blatantly pernicious to deceptively benign. Dark and dangerous Patch with his closet full of skeletons3 and his rogue’s smile was by far my favorite, I felt like he was pulled straight out of my daydreams4. Cautious and reliable Nora with her own shadows lurking in her past rang true as a wonderfully relatable protagonist, and her BFF and soul sister Vee had more than a flare for the dramatic. She livened up the dialogue with flashes of humor that had me laughing out loud or shaking my head along with Nora.
 The relationship between Patch and Nora was gripping to read; I was glued to the page to see what would happen next and was very pleased with the realistic pace it took to develop. While I was a little thrown by the awkward timing that their relationship coalesced into something tangible, I was more than happy to reach that point. Possibly against my better judgment, I was rooting for Patch and Nora.
 Overall this is a book worth reading twice, once at top speed to see what will happen next, and once at a more leisurely pace to enjoy the flow and style with the benefit of seeing how all the subtle hints fit into the bigger picture. This means that Hush, Hush receives…

…Five Zombies!

Only one week to go before you can read about Patch and Nora! I can't wait to read the new ending5.

Happy waiting,

Zombie Girrrl

footnotes___________________________________________________

1  ...admittedly high...
2  I can't believe I have to wait another year for Crescendo, I don't know if I can make it!
3  Possibly real.
4  A realization that leaves me pondering my ratiocination in respect to fantasy me.
5  If you've read the ARC and were thinking, "Well, I don't need to buy the book..." you would be wrong. Certain aspects of the story have been changed prior to publication. I can't wait to see what's different!
6  If you're interested in further Hush, Hush related reading, you can check out my (first ever) interview with Becca Fitzpatrick here.

In My Mailbox/ My Take on Hush, Hush

 It's not exactly been a week of plenty, but it has been a great week nonetheless! Earlier this week I received an ARC of Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, and it was awesome! No other books acquisitions to report, I still have a big stack from last weeks excursion to the library, and those should keep me occupied for the upcoming week.

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 (From the back flap) Nora Grey is responsible and smart and not inclined to be reckless. Her first mistake was falling for Patch. Patch has a past that could be called anything but harmless. The best thing he ever did was fall for Nora.

 After getting paired with Patch in biology, all Nora wants to do is stay away from him, but he always seems to be two steps ahead of her. She can feel his eyes on her even when he is nowhere around. She feels him nearby even when she is alone in her bedroom. And when her attraction can be denied no longer, she learns the secret about who Patch is and what led him to her. Despite all the questions she has about his past, in the end, there may be only one question they can ask each other: How far are you willing to fall?

 __________________________________________________________

 Hush, Hush surpassed my1 expectations because it was so much more than just another teenage, supernatural romance. Hiding within the main plot of a dark love story was a mystery that kept me guessing and turning pages well into the wee hours. I had to see how it ended! The climax was unexpected, fully satisfying, and left me hungry for more2.

 I loved the characters; they ran the gamut from blatantly pernicious to deceptively benign. Dark and dangerous Patch with his closet full of skeletons3 and his rogue’s smile was by far my favorite, I felt like he was pulled straight out of my daydreams4. Cautious and reliable Nora with her own shadows lurking in her past rang true as a wonderfully relatable protagonist, and her BFF and soul sister Vee had more than a flare for the dramatic. She livened up the dialogue with flashes of humor that had me laughing out loud or shaking my head along with Nora.

 The relationship between Patch and Nora was gripping to read; I was glued to the page to see what would happen next and was very pleased with the realistic pace it took to develop. While I was a little thrown by the awkward timing that their relationship coalesced into something tangible, I was more than happy to reach that point. Possibly against my better judgment, I was rooting for Patch and Nora.

 Overall this is a book worth reading twice, once at top speed to see what will happen next, and once at a more leisurely pace to enjoy the flow and style with the benefit of seeing how all the subtle hints fit into the big picture. This means that Hush, Hush receives…

…Five Zombies!

This is a book well worth the wait5!

Happy reading,

 Z.G.

footnotes___________________________________________________
1  ...admittedly high...
2  I can't believe I have to wait another year for Crescendo, I don't know if I can make it!
3  Possibly real.
4  A realization that leaves me pondering my ratiocination in respect to fantasy me.
5  You can tell how much I liked this book by how many big words I used!

My First ARC!

 I squealed. A lot. It would have been embarrassing were it for any other reason, but this is an ARC, people! An Arc of a book I've been dying to read! "Hurray" doesn't begin to cover it. Not even close. Kudos to Simon and Shuster for holding a sweepstakes!

 As of this afternoon all other books are on hold, back burner, second fiddle until I finish Hush, Hush and let y'all know what I think.

I got me some readin' to do!

Tootles,

Z. G.

An Interview with Becca Fitzpatrick

 I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Becca Fitzpatrick, the debut author of Hush, Hush, which hits the shelves on October 13. She was kind enough to take time out from her busy schedule to answer my questions, and I will always be grateful to her for doing this and making my first interview so much fun. Thank you, Mrs. Fitzpatrick!
 Now on to the good stuff!

1. Could you give us a brief summary of Hush, Hush?

Hush, Hush is a romantic thriller about a girl who falls for a fallen angel with a dark agenda to become human.

2. What are a few of your favorite books?

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, anything by Sandra Brown, Outlander by Diana Gabaldon and Harry Potter.

3. Do these books represent you, or do they clash with your personality like a hippie reading The Art of War?

They definitely ring true! I'm a romantic. I love adventure. I love suspense. I love books that seduce and inspire me.

4. What are a few books that you can’t wait to read?

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting, Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves, The Witch's Alphabet by Caitlin Kittredge, and all of the awesome books coming out in 2010 from The Tenners.

5. The soundtrack for this book is amazing, what about Hush, Hush made you pick so many 80’s new wave songs?

You know, I'm not really sure. Music has always been a mystery to me – I don't know why I like certain songs over others, or even why I fall hard for a really great song, but every song on the Hush, Hush play list helped transport me into the magical world of Hush, Hush. They just felt right. Chalk it up to instinct or fate, I suppose!

6. I think it’s safe to say that your book is “highly anticipated,”what do you have to say about having a growing fan base before your book has even been released?

Okay, you're making me blush! I'm not sure I have a fan base, but it is awesome, and indescribably rewarding, to see so many people out there excited to read Hush, Hush! Something as simple as seeing Hush, Hush picked for Waiting for Wednesday can make my week. I mean, there are people out there anticipating my book. How wild is that?

7. What do you think about books being made into movies and could you see Hush, Hush being made into a movie?

I just watched Confessions of a Shopoholic last night, and I'm going to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince tonight, so I'm definitely a huge books-turned-movies fan. I've never found a movie I've preferred over the novel, but it's fun to experience stories in different mediums and see how actors bring characters to life. Now if only Hollywood would make a movie out of Diana Gabaldon's OUTLANDER...
As for a Hush, Hush movie, yeah, I think that could be a lot of fun.

Which actors would they pick? What kind of tone would the director set? Would fans of the book be pleased with the movie?

8. I’m a creative person, and I suffer a fair amount of stress when it comes to sharing my creations; did you ever feel anxious about sharing your book with the world?

I will not lie: YES! I can always tell when the anxiety is getting to me by how much time I spend google-stalking reviews. But at the end of the day, I have to take reviews with a grain of salt. What a hundred people love about the book, another hundred will throw rotten tomatoes at.

Subjectivity is part of the business. Learn to love it, and move on!

9. Your bio says that you have a degree in health, but gave that up in favor of story telling; what was it that led you down such a different path?

The catalyst was a writing class I took when I was 24. My husband signed me up for the class as a birthday gift, and it was in that class that I started to write what would become Hush, Hush.

10. When was the first time you “heard” the voices of your characters?

Pretty much when I started writing the book. Most people know whether or not they're going to enjoy a book after reading only a few pages; for me, it only took writing a few pages of Hush, Hush to know I liked my characters enough to stick with them for a long time. They became real very fast.

11. What is your strongest personality trait and do you any of your characters share this trait?

I'm very conscientious. I'm meticulous about my life and everything in it that falls under my control. I think most people who know me would say I possess a decent amount of self-discipline. (Er, cxcept when it comes to ice cream.) Out of all my characters, Nora is probably the most conscientious, but about different things. She has her own ambitions and desires. And she doesn't wear sweats half as much as I do.

12. A very serious question now: If you had a super power, what would it be?

I'm a behind-the-scenes kind of girl, so I think invisibility would be a great match for my personality.

13. Are there any lessons you’ve learned from the lengthy process of publishing that you’d care to pass on?

Chin up. Believe in yourself and make others believe in you. There are lots of ups and downs, but that's what makes the ride memorable.

14. What question do you wish I’d asked?

What I'm having for dinner tonight. Because I'd really like to know. I'm hungry and the fridge isn't providing any inspiration. The fridge isn't providing anything, period!

15. Any last words of wisdom?

Just thank you for the awesome interview, Zombie Girrrl!!

You're most welcome! And again, thank you so much!
Don't forget to mark your calendars for October 13, y'all!

Happy reading!
Zombie Girrrl