Author Signing: Melissa de la Cruz

If any of you have read my previous posts, you know that Melissa da la Cruz had a signing at Blue Willow Bookshop on Friday.

My friend and I attended the signing, and had so much fun! There were so many people there! Melissa was introduced, and so was another author, Tera Lynn Childs. Then, Melissa started talking about her series and read a little bit from her upcoming book, THE VAN ALEN LEGACY.

After that, she answered a few questions like:

When you were writing about Schuyler, was there a certain person you had in mind?

She answered by saying that not many people like the answer to this question, but that's just who she imagined the character to look like. She said Mary-Kate Olsen (when she was in good health, and really pretty.)

If you could choose a cast roles for your characters, who would the actors/actresses be?

She said that the CW had actually considered BLUE BLOODS for a TV series, but that didn't work out, sadly. However, she did say that they had an ideal Schuyler and Mimi. For Schuyler they wanted Kristen Stewart (I hate this choice) and for Mimi they wanted Amanda Seyfried.

How many books are going to be in the series?

Melissa said that she imagined about ten books for the series, but that she didn't want to keep the series going if there was nothing else to tell.

After a couple more questions, we lined up and she started to sign our books. I was standing right behind Tera Lynn Childs (author of OH.MY.GODS and GODDESS BOOT CAMP) but was too scared to introduce myself.

When it came to be my turn, I introduced myself and we chatted for a couple of minutes, then we took a picture after she signed my books! It was really fun :D Here is a picture of Melissa de la Cruz and I.

I even got an extra copy of REVELATIONS signed! So I'll have that contest up either later today, or tomorrow!

Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz

Schuyler Van Alen is starting to get more comfortable with her newfound vampire powers, but she still has many unanswered questions. A trip to Italy in search of her grandfather only serves to make things more confusing. What secrets are the leaders of The Committee hiding? Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the famous Four Hundred Ball. In true Blue Blood fashion, the ball is totally fab, complete with masks-and hidden behind this masquerade is a revelation that will change the course of a young vampire's destiny.

MASQUERADE is a great sequel to BLUE BLOODS, and it really got me more interested in the series.

One thing I love about the Blue Bloods series is that they're well written, and nothing in the books seem to bore me. And I like how the whole book isn't just based on the Committee or the deaths of the Blue Bloods. I like how it's based on fashion as well, and I like reading about the photoshoots and go-sees that Bliss and Schuyler go to. But mostly, I like that the series is different.

Something that I didn't mention in the review of BLUE BLOODS was that I loved that the book was told from an omniscient point of view. If we weren't able to read each character's point of view, I think the story would be incomplete and we wouldn't know secrets that each character keeps. And I like knowing secrets.

Even though I do enjoy reading about every character, I have to say I'm most interested in Schuyler's story. And I'm forever contemplating who I like better for her. Her best friend, Oliver, who always takes care of her and always says the right thing, or Jack Force, who is bound to Mimi and forbidden. After reading the first book, I was all the way for Jack, but now I think I'm for Oliver, but that will probably change a couple of times.

A lot of important things happen in MASQUERADE, and you won't want to miss out on reading the juicy details. I can't wait to review REVELATIONS!

Ratings:

Writing: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Cover: 4/5 (I love the cover of this one! Masquerade masks are always interesting to look at.)