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Smugglivus 2011 Guest Author (& Giveaway): Kate Noble

Welcome to Smugglivus 2011! Throughout this month, we will have daily guests – authors and bloggers alike – looking back at their favorite reads of 2011, and looking forward to events and upcoming books in 2012.

Who: The lovely Kate Noble, author of awesome historical romance novels, including Revealed (one of Ana’s top 10 books of 2009!), Compromised, and The Summer of You.

Recent Work: Kate’s most recent novel is Follow My Lead (which Ana read and loved).

Please give a warm welcome to Kate!

Hello, Smugglers of the world! As an unabashed consumer of entertainment in all forms, it is incredibly difficult for me to narrow down what in 2011 has moved me to the point of squealing to fit into this blog post, but I’m gonna give it a shot.

(please note: all media may not have debuted in the calendar year 2011, but I discovered it then. And it’s my post, so I make the rules. Neener neener neener.)

BOOKS:

Room by Emma Donahue

An absolutely horrifying and yet riveting tale of a woman and child held captive in a room, their daring escape, and life after captivity. It’s told from her 5-year-old son’s perspective, who has never experienced anything beyond the four walls of this Room, his entire world. I listened to it on audiobook on a solo road trip, and I’m lucky I didn’t swerve off the road I was crying so hard.

One Con Glory by Sarah Kuhn

Disclaimer: Sarah Kuhn and I are buds. We watch Revenge together. But I didn’t meet her until 2011, and then decided to read her romantic adventure through the world of Comic Conventions, One Con Glory. Which was balls-out awesome. Insider info: it’s being developed into a movie!

Ready Player One by Ernest Kline

I’m kind of madly in love with this book, and I only get 25% of the references. Set in the near future, a immersion virtual reality game system called the OASIS has become the reality in which most people live and work. But when the Steve Jobs-like creator of the game dies, he sets up a quest as his last will and testament – the player who completes the quest, inherits his fortune. And since the creator grew up in the 70s and 80s, his quest is chock full of trivia and games from that era. It’s like a mind meld of The Matrix and John Hughes movies, while playing Dungeons and Dragons.

And since I’m a romance novelist, here’s my romance novel pick of the year:

Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas

(A 2010 book, but hey, see the rules stipulated above.)
I keep a quick and dirty list of the books that I read, for my own OCD purposes. Here’s what I wrote for Not Quite a Husband: “A difficult story, told beautifully, with incredible detail of the time. And there are moments of true grace.” I think that says it all.

MOVIES:

I absolutely adored 50/50. A love story with adorable Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Check. A love story between him and best friend Seth Rogan as JGL battles cancer? Even better! And no body does a love letter to a city than Woody Allen. But while Pairs is beautiful, in Midnight in Paris, Ernest Hemingway steals the show. I never thought I would say that. But my favorite movie of 2011 is…

Attack the Block. It’s like the anti-Spielberg kids n’ aliens flick, where the kids are thugs who try to mug you, but then graciously help you run from the aliens that are trying to take over their building.

TV:

TV this year is a tie for me. Between two of the most incongruous shows ever: Parks and Recreation and Revenge.

Parks and Rec is *literally* the nicest show on TV. I want to live in Pawnee! Meanwhile, I never, ever want to go to Emily Thorne’s version of the Hamptons, what with the chances I’d end up collateral damage in one of her delicious long-game revenge plots. This is Revenge’s first season so it got me right out of the starting gate, while Parks and Rec is now in it’s fourth – but over those four seasons, it has become the ‘shippiest show on TV – I’m waaaay too invested in Leslie finding happiness with the cute, bow-lipped Ben.

As for what I’m looking forward to in 2012, there is too much to name (from The Dark Knight Returns to The Avengers to the next Sarah MacLean book, etc.) but there is one thing that stands a head above the rest for me:

Brave

One reason, and one reason only: She. Has. My. Hair. We’ve needed a good curly-haired heroine for a while now.

Thank you, Kate! And now for the giveaway!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

We have ONE copy of Follow My Lead up for grabs! The contest is open to ALL and will run until Saturday, December 17 at 11:59 PM (PST). In order to enter, simply leave a comment here. Good luck!

54 Comments

  • bigfoot24
    December 13, 2011 at 11:35 am

    I love the book giveaways!

  • mary anne
    December 13, 2011 at 12:40 pm

    “Twould be most awesome to win a book!

  • azteclady
    December 13, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    *crossing fingers*

    *crossing toes*

    *braiding hair*

    😀

    Also: yes, BRAVE!!!!

  • jpetroroy
    December 13, 2011 at 1:26 pm

    This sounds great, and totally out of my usual fare!

  • Keri
    December 13, 2011 at 1:27 pm

    Love your books! Pick me!

  • Samantha
    December 13, 2011 at 2:01 pm

    Can’t wait to see Brave!

  • Negine
    December 13, 2011 at 2:14 pm

    LOVE your books, I can’t believe I haven’t read “Follow my Lead ” Yet!! I totally agree with you about PARKS AND RECREATION a fabulously written and acted comedy that has a tremendous amount of heart:) Also, BRAVE looks so darn good. Thanks for the giveaway!

  • Lobo
    December 13, 2011 at 2:18 pm

    I always wanted to have a hair like yours:) Thanks for the giveaway.

  • Na S.
    December 13, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    I also enjoy books from every genre and when it comes to choosing favorites (very hard) I always end up with a diverse group. You are a new author to me and I’m keeping your books in mind 🙂

  • pscott
    December 13, 2011 at 5:49 pm

    Brave better be awesome becuase I am SO excited for it!!

  • Ebony McKenna
    December 13, 2011 at 6:05 pm

    (I’m not entering the comp, but couldn’t resist sharing my deep love for Kate Noble’s books.)

    I already have Follow My Lead on my shelf and I loved it.
    I love all of Kate Noble’s books and my favourite so far (which is like picking a favourite child, best done out of their earshot) is Revealed.
    For those who are not yet on the blissful Kate Noble bandwagon, get on board!

  • Raina
    December 13, 2011 at 6:07 pm

    Pleeeeease please please 😀
    Also, MEGA-EXCITED for Brave!

  • Victoria Zumbrum
    December 13, 2011 at 6:53 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me. I would love to read this book. Tore923@aol.com

  • JenM
    December 13, 2011 at 7:03 pm

    I wish I had that hair! Mine is straight as a board. Thanks for the giveaway.

  • Dee Feagin
    December 13, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    I agree with you about the Sherry Thomas book; it’s so well done. I have also read and enjoyed your books as well and look forward to this one too. Thanks for the chance to win my own copy.

  • Sigal Tzoore
    December 13, 2011 at 7:48 pm

    You are so right about the curly haired heroine!

  • Stephanie
    December 13, 2011 at 8:02 pm

    I love Parks and Rec. Leslie Knope rules! Thanks for the giveaway.

  • Evika
    December 13, 2011 at 8:37 pm

    Thank you for the giveaway. 🙂

  • Amelia P.
    December 13, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    I am SO looking forward to Brave, it looks like it will be a good one! Also, I would love the chance to win a copy of Follow My Lead!

  • Laura D.
    December 13, 2011 at 9:55 pm

    Really excited to see Brave!

  • Alex
    December 13, 2011 at 10:26 pm

    I haven’t heard anything but good about Kate Noble’s books, and would love to get my greedy little paws on a copy of at least one of them 🙂

  • willaful
    December 13, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    Oooo, I think I just found a Christmas present for my hub. One Con Glory sounds like loads of fun. Off to see if they have it at my Indie bookstore.

  • Fani
    December 13, 2011 at 10:45 pm

    Historical romance is my favorite genre but I’ve never read anything by Kate Noble though some of my GR friends love her books. Looking forward to read one book of hers at last!

  • eli yanti
    December 13, 2011 at 11:05 pm

    i hope i can your book kate because i have your bookmarks 😉

    thanks for the giveaway

  • Carrie
    December 14, 2011 at 12:30 am

    I also cannot wait for Brave!

  • Cristina
    December 14, 2011 at 12:56 am

    yay I’ve been really in a romance novel kind of mood (which is weird for me, i normally prefer dystopias…)

  • Vivian
    December 14, 2011 at 1:25 am

    I just have to laugh at the reason for choosing Brave.

  • Katherine
    December 14, 2011 at 1:44 am

    Not just a curly-haired heroine, a heroine at all is new for Pixar! I can’t wait to see it, even if the scottish accents sound a bit off in the trailer.

  • Filia Oktarina
    December 14, 2011 at 1:57 am

    Please… pick me..!!
    I love the book giveaways!! Thanks for chance to win.

  • Sarah B.
    December 14, 2011 at 3:13 am

    Might read One Con Glory!

  • Linda Henderson
    December 14, 2011 at 4:50 am

    I would love to read this book. Thank you so much for the giveaway.

    seriousreader at live dot com

  • Mary Preston
    December 14, 2011 at 6:27 am

    I would absolutely love to read FOLLOW MY LEAD Thank you.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

  • Meredith
    December 14, 2011 at 6:43 am

    I am so excited for Brave, too!

  • Marlene Breakfield
    December 14, 2011 at 6:55 am

    Thanks for the giveaway. I love historical romances.
    marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

  • MarieC
    December 14, 2011 at 7:07 am

    Love the blog!

  • Kate M.
    December 14, 2011 at 7:44 am

    I also cannot wait to see Brave! The preview looks so good!

  • Su
    December 14, 2011 at 8:49 am

    I’m so excited for Brave because female warrior! Thanks for the giveaway.

  • Sheila
    December 14, 2011 at 10:37 am

    Just saw Attack the Block this weekend–what a wonderful movie!

    Thanks for the giveaway.

  • Rachel
    December 14, 2011 at 11:05 am

    Please…. 😀

  • capillya
    December 14, 2011 at 11:13 am

    So, I think that Kate Noble and I are destined to be friends. This isn’t weird or creepy, is it? Because it’s like this woman crawled into my brain and tapped into those deep recesses that make me want to WATCH and READ things. I read ROOM, which made me uncomfortable and nervous and page-flippy into the late hours of the night (mostly because the next day was book club but that’s besides the point — I liked it too). And! And! I want to read One Con Glory! That sounds so funny and totally up my alley! And is now on my TBR list! And I was totally sucked in by the first line! Also this is the third time I’ve heard wonderful things about Attack The Block so I think I need to just go ahead and watch it already! Great list, Kate! Okay, I think I’m going to stop with the exclamation points now.

  • Cialina
    December 14, 2011 at 12:13 pm

    I’ve been wanting to read FOLLOW MY LEAD ever since I heard about it! Eeeep.

    Also, I heard ROOM was quite good but there’s no way I’ll ever get around to reading it.

  • Julie Witt
    December 14, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    I can never pick a favorite genre because each genre has its own share of awesome books! I also really, really love the new show, Revenge! It’s one of the best new shows this season, I think:) I would love to win a copy of this beautiful book! Thanks so much for the giveaway 😀

  • tanya
    December 14, 2011 at 4:18 pm

    love revenge as well…really looking forward to brave

  • Kay-Kay-Bay
    December 14, 2011 at 9:45 pm

    Someday I hope to win a giveaway. I keep trying…

  • Jacqueline C.
    December 15, 2011 at 12:17 am

    I adore Kate’s books! I haven’t gotten around to buying this one yet, but I’m so excited about thanks to all of the rave reviews I’ve seen.

  • Nikki Egerton
    December 15, 2011 at 3:58 am

    Room was amazing, Ready Player One sounds awesome and I need to get hold of Revenge! It’s making so many top ten lists around the interwebs, and I’d never even heard of it until recently!

    x

  • Katy
    December 15, 2011 at 2:48 pm

    Ooooo! Me! Me! Pick me!

  • reading mind
    December 15, 2011 at 4:17 pm

    female warrior! Historical! great ingredients and I love to taste the final result!

  • Stephanie
    December 15, 2011 at 5:07 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  • ClaudiaGC
    December 16, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    I’d love to win this book! Heard so many great things about this author! Thank you!

  • Maureen
    December 17, 2011 at 12:44 pm

    I have read Kate’s books before and really enjoyed her writing.

  • Memory
    December 17, 2011 at 3:36 pm

    Blarg. I skipped Revenge when it debuted, and now it seems to be on evvvvvvveryone’s lists. I guess it’s the DVDs for me, soon as they’re out.

  • Spav
    December 17, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    I’m also really looking forward to Brave. It looks awesome!

  • Serena
    December 22, 2011 at 12:07 pm

    Would love a copy of this book!

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