Hello fellow book geeks, we are David and Kelly. One rainy day when we had nothing better to do, we decided to start up our own site about the thing we love most – reading books. Here you will find reviews on the latest and best YA and fantasy books around as well as some favourites that never grow old.  Because Books Matter.

How often do you blog?

We blog around four times a week, generally trying to include two book reviews, a ‘Must Have Monday’ meme and a ‘Top Ten Tuesday’. Sometimes it differs if we are part of a blog tour or if we’re running a feature, things like that, but generally four posts per week.

How did you come up with the name for your blog?

When we were starting the blog, we knew that we wanted to focus on young adult books. We love books that fall under that category and it’s what we read most. So, we knew that we definitely wanted to include YA in the title. Eventually we decided to keep it simple and call ourselves YA Book Reads, as that it what we’d be talking about. =)

Favorite part of blogging?

David: Mine would definitely have to be the people. Blogging and vlogging allows you to come into contact with people that you would otherwise have never met or spoken to. It’s great to speak with people from all over the world about books. It’s like this universal thing that brings us all together and the reading community, especially the YA community, has so many wonderful people.

Kelly: Yeah again, I have to agree with David. The friendships I’ve made through blogging will last a lifetime and I’m lucky to have met some really awesome people. I also love when we get to interview some of our favourite authors and ask them questions we’ve been dying to know. That’s always awesome.

Which current reading trends have you been drawn to (dystopian, post apocalyptic etc)

David: I generally try to avoid trends, personally. I try to mix up my reading so that I don’t get bored with any particular genre. I do however really enjoy steampunk, so I’m glad see it as a trend. My main love is for fantasy and it’s been awesome to see this becoming more and more popular as the years go on. That being said, if the book sounds good, I’ll pick it up. I’ll even read vampire books to this day.

Kelly: I’m definitely a fantasy girl all the way. I have given contemporary novels a go more recently but to be honest - they’re not for me. Fantasy all the way. I must say recently I have read a lot of dystopian work and the more I read of it the more I want.

What is your favorite meme or post write up on your blog?

David: I like doing ‘Top Ten Tuesdays’. We have a lot of reviewers on our site and it’s so interesting to see how different each person’s answers are to the same questions. It’s a great way of finding out about new books, plus the geek in me loves writing out lists! =P

Kelly: I have to agree with David for this. I love doing the Top Ten Tuesday posts and pretty much for the same reasons as him. It is defiantly the one way I pick up on books that I hadn’t heard about and I love that they get me thinking about my top ten and usually cause an internal debate on which ones to choose.

Do you tend to like the hero/heroine/protagonist or the villain/antagonist?

David: I grew up on a healthy diet of Disney movies, Harry Potter books and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. As a result I’m a sucker for a book with magic, a kick ass heroine, and a happy ending.

Kelly: Yeah I’m a huge Harry Potter fan and so love books with a worthy hero in them. Anything kick ass packed full of action has me going!

Where can you find them?

David: YouTube, Good Reads and www.davidpurse.com

Twitter @yabookreads @DavidPurse @TheKellyMartin

Kelly: Goodreads

Thanks so much for inviting me on today!  I’m very excited to answer the questions and share a bit of myself with you all!

Do you have a favorite book you read over and over throughout the years?

Yes!  Jacqueline Carey writes adult books (warning, VERY adult books!) and I am a HUGE fan of her Kushiel’s books.  These are three different trilogies but they start with Kushiel’s Dart.  The second book is my most favorite though.  It’s called Kushiel’s Chosen and is an AMAZING fantasy book with epic travel, pirates (who doesn’t love pirates!), romance that will sweep you off your feet and a world that will totally blow your mind!  You can find the first book, Kushiel’s Dart, on goodreads HERE.  Just be warned that the beginning is slow, but it’s SO worth sticking with it!  Aw, I just want to reread them right now!

What is your favorite new trend in YA? (Dystopian, Angels, Vampires etc)?

Fantasy.  It seems like high fantasy is becoming more and more popular in YA and I love it!  I have found it to be my current favorite genre.  But I’m an eclectic reader, that may change.

If another blogger from another country visited you, where would you take them to visit first?

First of all, Powell’s bookstore.  At least if they are reader.  Well, probably even if they aren’t   I’m just over the bridge from Portland Oregon and Powell’s is downtown so we can also hit up Voodoo donuts (if we don’t mind standing in a long line) and the waterfront.  I don’t have any pictures of those places, sorry!  But the next place is the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon side.  From the Vista house you can see down in the valley of the Gorge and it’s GORGEOUS.  There’s also a ton of waterfalls you can stop and visit, including Multnomah Falls, which is the most famous.  *The picture included is just one of the many smaller falls.*  I’m lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the US!

Tell us about a local author you enjoy reading.

I’m very active with the local author scene and try to attend as many events as possible.  I even run a blog (a different one called Novels, News and Notes From Your Northwest Readers) that features authors in the Pacific Northwest.  One of my all time favorites is Lisa Schroeder.  Her newest book, Falling for You was just released and is stunning, you must read it!  While this newest one is not in verse, her other YA books are.  She also writes adorable middle grade books and even children’s books.  We love them all!  Lisa is just one of many amazing authors from the Portland Oregon area though!

Thanks so much and I hope you’ll take the time to stop by my blog, Candace’s Book Blog, where I blog about a very mixed bag of books.  I read mostly YA but there’s some MG and adult books mixed in with an occasional children’s book as well.  I also run CBB Book Promotions where I do blog tours and other book publicity (cover reveals, find reviewers, pretty much anything…).

Candace

Candace’s Book Blog & CBB Book Promotions

http://www.candacesbookblog.com

Twitter: candacemom2two

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CandacesBookBlog

Also co-founder of: http://novelsnewsandnotes.blogspot.com/

Hi…my name is Lisa. And my addictions are, reading, blogging, and coffee.

Not only do I write reviews and my own column (Life with Lisa) for Burn Bright, but I also have my own personal blog called Turning Pages! There I review books I’ve read, usually Young Adult.

How often do you blog?

I try to blog at least five times a week for Turning Pages, and for Burn Bright it isn’t exactly scheduled, but instead I just send in reviews and Life with Lisa posts, and Marianne decides when there’s an opening and when it should be posted.

How did you come up with the name for your blog?

When I created my blog, I was following a few other book blogs (which inspired me to make my own) each had a very creative name. I didn’t know what I wanted, but I did know that I didn’t want my name to be a part of it, and I didn’t want it to include something about the book genres. After a few days of thinking, I decided on Turning Pages.

Favorite part of blogging?

Without any doubt, my favourite part of blogging would have to be meeting people who love reading as much as I do. Here at home, I don’t really have friends that like reading; blogging allowed me to express my feelings on books, know others opinions on those books, and discuss them with people who are actually have the interest.

Which current reading trends have you been drawn to (dystopian, post apocalyptic etc)?

I don’t really follow reading trends, I’m usually a bit behind anyways. But right now I’m liking darker, mysterious  and more paranormal-ish books…probably because here in the Seattle area, its already dark, gloomy, and just won’t stop raining.
What is your favourite meme or post write up on your blog

I enjoy doing Waiting On Wednesday, where I share my excitement on a new book, and my own meme, Blogger of the Week, where a book blogger is featured in an interview on Turning Pages.

Do you tend to like the hero/heroine/protagonist or the villain/antagonist

I don’t really favour one, it just depends on the book, my mood, and how interesting the character is!

Thank you so much for having me today!

Find Turning pages here: http://turningpages94.blogspot.com.au/

Today in our book vlogger series we talk to KAT from Katytastic channel.

KAT says “I love books, coffee, Korean dramas, and the Internet. I want to tell great stories, travel the world, and have fantastic adventures. I’m a gamer, a Nerdfighter, a Whedonite, and a Whovian. I put up three videos a week, sometimes more if I’m feeling vloggy!”

My favourite part of blogging is definitely the other bloggers! The book blogging community is wonderful and I’ve been amazed by the friends I have made through blogging. I’ve always loved reading, but none of my friends had the same taste in books, so I have been so pleased to find fellow bloggers who enjoy the same books I do and who can give me the most wonderful recommendations.

Which current reading trends have you been drawn to (dystopian, post apocalyptic etc)?:

I have read a lot of genres which are new to me this year including sic-fi and dystopian, but I always go back to contemporary. I have always enjoyed contemporary and have a soft spot for Australian contemporary in particular. Although, I will give almost any genre a go.

What is your favorite meme or post write up on your blog?

I don’t usually participate in memes simply because while I’m at uni I tend to lose track of things and would never remember to post on time! I do try and do my only little unique posts called Every Week I’m Shuffling where I share thoughts about some of my favourite songs.

Do you tend to like the hero/heroine/protagonist or the villain/antagonist?

This is a tough question. I’m usually more drawn to the protagonist, but I love it when the antagonist’s motivations are revealed as I feel like I can understand their actions in the book a little better.

Today Krista and Burn Bright talks to German book blogger Wiebke at

1book1review

New book review every Friday.

And random other things about books. I talk about books.

I read almost everything, but probably less crime fiction and chic lit than others.

Welcome to Shaheen from Speculating on SpecFic!

How often do you blog?

I try to post 4 – 6 times a week, including the Waiting On … Wednesday meme and my own Stocktake Saturday (weekly book haul) feature. Sometimes I end up with fewer posts, and sometimes more, depending on the blog tours and author interviews that pass through.

How did you come up with the name of your blog?

Once I had decided I wanted to start a book blog, I sat down and thought about a name. It quickly became clear that I’m not nearly as witty as I had imagined. Since I knew I wanted a Speculative Fiction themed blog, it seemed natural to include Speculation somewhere in the title. Various combinations of “Speculation” and “Speculative Fiction” yielded nonsense or were titles of other blogs, but Speculating on SpecFic was available, so that’s what I went with. I’m really happy with the name, and wouldn’t change it now even if all the other names were available.

Favourite Part of Blogging?

Knowing that I have introduced an epic new read to someone. I started the blog because I moved away from my closest friends, who had made a game of asking me what I was reading when I saw them. They frequently buy the books I recommend, so I wanted to still give them recommendations even if I wasn’t going to see them in person. A blog seemed like the best idea. Now days I love getting a blog comment or tweet from someone saying that they had added a book to their To-Read pile, or bought it, on my recommendation.

Which current reading trends have you been drawn to (dystopian, post apocalyptic, contemporary?)

The emergence of the YA genre has been amazing to watch, because when I was younger there was a lot of YA Contemporary around, but not much by way of YA Speculative Fiction. Once I exhausted what little there was, I jumped up to reading adult novelists like Robert Jordan, Terry Brooks and Christopher Pike.

I read a lot of YA now, and seeing more and more works of YA Fantasy being published is wonderful. As well as Marianne de Pierres’ works, titles like Defiance by C. J. Redwine, Cinder by Marissa Meyer and The Gathering Dark by Leigh Bardugo have been amazing to read. These, alongside the works of Trudi Canavan, Tamora Pierce, and Kate Elliott, make me hopeful about the growth of YA Fantasy.

Confessions of a Booky Monster

Hi! I’m Cecilia- also known as the Booky Monster. I’ve always been an avid reader but I fell into reviewing by chance a few years ago and now- well I’m hooked!

How often do you blog?

I admit I can be a bad,bad blogger. I aim for at least once- twice a week but sometimes the “real” world decides it needs me to pay attention and get my head out of the pages!

How did you come up with the name for your blog?

Confessions of a Booky Monster is a inside joke.  I have a slight crush on Cookie Monster (heck he’s cute and has the inside track on where all those cookies are hiding), my husband has always called me “Chooky” or “Chooky Monster”( Australian slang for chicken) and my biggest vice is my obsession with books which sometimes hits such extremes “chooky” becomes “booky” and every addict has to confess sometimes

Favorite part of blogging?

The exposure to some many new authors that I may never have found otherwise and meeting all those fellow book nerds!

Which current reading trends have you been drawn to?

I’m not much of a “trend” reader as such. I’ve always been a genre hopper and read constantly from a wide variety. I do have little stages where I do find myself a little obsessed by one over the other though, at the moment I’m on a huge mystery binge.

What is your favorite meme or post blog write up on your blog?

Recently, definitely the Shine Light Blog Tour.

Do you tend to like the hero/heroine/protagonist or the villain/antagonist?

Definitely hero/heroine/protagonist, although some of the villains out there certainly give the “good” guy a run for their money in the entertainment stakes.