Cecily Wolfe's Blog: The Start of Something New, page 18
January 24, 2018
Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry
A new Katie McGarry? Sign me up!
I am honored to be a part of the Inkslinger blog tour for Say You'll Remember Me, which releases next week. Are you ready for another fantastic story?
I finished reading this last night and was WOWED. My review here on Goodreads:
I loved everything about this story - the relationship between Drix and Elle is so believable, with all the stress coming from her parents (and the public) as well as his fight against his tendency to act out in ways that will only hurt him, and the chemistry they share that not only keeps them physically attracted to each other, but emotionally bound as well. McGarry is the queen of realistic teen drama, and her latest only reinforces my belief in this. I highly recommend this story, but beware: once you start reading, you won't be able to stop until you find out how these two overcome the many obstacles in their way and find a way to be together.
An excerpt from Say You'll Remember Me:
~Ellison~
The two of us are different. Complete sliding scale different. The only thing we have in common, as far as I can tell, is that he appears about my age and that we are both wearing shoes. My sandals to his scuffed combat boots. His sagging jeans with rips and white T-shirt to my ironed khaki shorts and fitted blue top. My diamond earrings and gold bracelet with a heart charm to his black belt that has metal studs and silver chain that hangs from his belt loop to his wallet.
By looks, I should have more in common with the loser college boys, but it’s this guy I’m comfortable with. “What’s your name?”
He throws the ball, and he’s right, he sucks at it. While he has unbelievable power, his aim’s completely off. The ball hits the back curtain with a loud thud, then drops to the floor. “Drix.”
“Drix?” I repeat to make sure I heard him correctly.
“Drix. It’s short for Hendrix. Like Jimi Hendrix.”
“That’s cool.” Because it is.
I wait for him to ask for my name, but he doesn’t. Instead he says, “Are you here alone?”
He throws the second ball, and this time he hits the top of the three bottles, sending that one to the ground.
“No. My parents are here. I’m supposed to meet them at the convention center. What about you? What happened to the people you were with? Or are you here alone now?”
“Yes, but no.” Drix pulls his arm back, releases the ball, and when the ball hits the bottom bottles, my heart lifts with the idea that he won, but only one of the bottles goes flying. The other stays completely untouched.
He turns in my direction, but his gaze roams over my shoulder, then flickers to the left. Drix then glances behind him, and when he returns his attention to me he raises his eyebrows. “They appear to be gone.”
That’s awesome news, but I’m still stuck on his answer of “yes but no.” Honestly, I’m stuck on him. He’s a million questions without a single answer, and he makes me incredibly curious.
“My parents weren’t thrilled about me hanging out alone at the midway, but I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal. It’s just Whack-A-Mole, you know?”
“And a ball toss.”
“And a ball toss. None of it should have been complicated.”
“Shouldn’t have been.”
“Elle!” Part of me is relieved to see Andrew craning his neck over the crowd. Another part of me is majorly disappointed. There aren’t many times in my life I’m left alone. Not many times I’m able to explore new places and people without someone hovering and not many opportunities when I would meet someone like Drix.
“Elle,” Andrew calls again. I wave at him, hoping it will buy me a few seconds, and he waves back in a way that tells me he needs me to walk in his direction. That works well for me.
“Is that a friend of yours?” Drix asks.
“Yes, but no.” I borrow his answer because it’s apropos. Andrew’s a few years older. More friend of our family than a personal friend of mine, and I don’t like the idea of explaining that my parents think I need a babysitter.
Drix’s mouth twitches at my words, and my lips also edge upwards. “I just made you smile a third time. Is this a Guinness Book of World Records thing?”
“I liked your answer.”
“I’m just creative like that.”
From critically acclaimed author Katie McGarry, comes SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME —a story of two people from different worlds pushing themselves, and each other, to get what they deserve!
SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME releases on January 30, 2018. Pre-order your copy today!
SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME Synopsis:
“Doesn’t matter who did it. Not anymore. I did the time. It’s over.”
When Drix was convicted of a crime–one he didn’t commit–he thought his life was over. But opportunity came with the Second Chance Program, the governor’s newest pet project to get delinquents off the streets, rehabilitated and back into society. Drix knows this is his chance to get his life back on track, even if it means being paraded in front of reporters for a while.
Elle knows she lives a life of privilege. As the governor’s daughter, she can open doors with her name alone. But the expectations and pressure to be someone she isn’t may be too much to handle. She wants to follow her own path, whatever that means.
When Drix and Elle meet, their connection is immediate, but so are their problems. Drix is not the type of boy Elle’s parents have in mind for her, and Elle is not the kind of girl who can understand Drix’s messy life.
But sometimes love can breach all barriers.
Fighting against a society that can’t imagine them together, Drix and Elle must push themselves–Drix to confront the truth of the robbery, and Elle to assert her independence–and each other to finally get what they deserve.
Preorder SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME here!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Play | B-A-M | Kobo
Add it to your Goodreads Now!
Pre-order SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME, register and you will receive AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER, a novella that features your favorite Pushing the Limits and Thunder Road characters!
From the Pushing the Limits series, Noah, Beth, Isaiah, West and Logan are all grown up. Catch up with your favorite characters as one of them finally says, I do.
Pigpen, Eli and Addison from the Thunder Road series: Three separate personalities who still needed to find love…and still had someone important to meet.
This is a limited time offer! So hurry! Registration ends on February 3, 2018! You must register your pre-order to receive AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
https://a.pgtb.me/4tLZSM
Katie McGarry’s SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME – Tour Schedule:
About Katie McGarry:
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, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.
Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine’s 2012 Reviewer’s Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumbler | Instagram
I am honored to be a part of the Inkslinger blog tour for Say You'll Remember Me, which releases next week. Are you ready for another fantastic story?
I finished reading this last night and was WOWED. My review here on Goodreads:
I loved everything about this story - the relationship between Drix and Elle is so believable, with all the stress coming from her parents (and the public) as well as his fight against his tendency to act out in ways that will only hurt him, and the chemistry they share that not only keeps them physically attracted to each other, but emotionally bound as well. McGarry is the queen of realistic teen drama, and her latest only reinforces my belief in this. I highly recommend this story, but beware: once you start reading, you won't be able to stop until you find out how these two overcome the many obstacles in their way and find a way to be together.
An excerpt from Say You'll Remember Me:
~Ellison~
The two of us are different. Complete sliding scale different. The only thing we have in common, as far as I can tell, is that he appears about my age and that we are both wearing shoes. My sandals to his scuffed combat boots. His sagging jeans with rips and white T-shirt to my ironed khaki shorts and fitted blue top. My diamond earrings and gold bracelet with a heart charm to his black belt that has metal studs and silver chain that hangs from his belt loop to his wallet.
By looks, I should have more in common with the loser college boys, but it’s this guy I’m comfortable with. “What’s your name?”
He throws the ball, and he’s right, he sucks at it. While he has unbelievable power, his aim’s completely off. The ball hits the back curtain with a loud thud, then drops to the floor. “Drix.”
“Drix?” I repeat to make sure I heard him correctly.
“Drix. It’s short for Hendrix. Like Jimi Hendrix.”
“That’s cool.” Because it is.
I wait for him to ask for my name, but he doesn’t. Instead he says, “Are you here alone?”
He throws the second ball, and this time he hits the top of the three bottles, sending that one to the ground.
“No. My parents are here. I’m supposed to meet them at the convention center. What about you? What happened to the people you were with? Or are you here alone now?”
“Yes, but no.” Drix pulls his arm back, releases the ball, and when the ball hits the bottom bottles, my heart lifts with the idea that he won, but only one of the bottles goes flying. The other stays completely untouched.
He turns in my direction, but his gaze roams over my shoulder, then flickers to the left. Drix then glances behind him, and when he returns his attention to me he raises his eyebrows. “They appear to be gone.”
That’s awesome news, but I’m still stuck on his answer of “yes but no.” Honestly, I’m stuck on him. He’s a million questions without a single answer, and he makes me incredibly curious.
“My parents weren’t thrilled about me hanging out alone at the midway, but I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal. It’s just Whack-A-Mole, you know?”
“And a ball toss.”
“And a ball toss. None of it should have been complicated.”
“Shouldn’t have been.”
“Elle!” Part of me is relieved to see Andrew craning his neck over the crowd. Another part of me is majorly disappointed. There aren’t many times in my life I’m left alone. Not many times I’m able to explore new places and people without someone hovering and not many opportunities when I would meet someone like Drix.
“Elle,” Andrew calls again. I wave at him, hoping it will buy me a few seconds, and he waves back in a way that tells me he needs me to walk in his direction. That works well for me.
“Is that a friend of yours?” Drix asks.
“Yes, but no.” I borrow his answer because it’s apropos. Andrew’s a few years older. More friend of our family than a personal friend of mine, and I don’t like the idea of explaining that my parents think I need a babysitter.
Drix’s mouth twitches at my words, and my lips also edge upwards. “I just made you smile a third time. Is this a Guinness Book of World Records thing?”
“I liked your answer.”
“I’m just creative like that.”
From critically acclaimed author Katie McGarry, comes SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME —a story of two people from different worlds pushing themselves, and each other, to get what they deserve!
SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME releases on January 30, 2018. Pre-order your copy today!
SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME Synopsis:
“Doesn’t matter who did it. Not anymore. I did the time. It’s over.”
When Drix was convicted of a crime–one he didn’t commit–he thought his life was over. But opportunity came with the Second Chance Program, the governor’s newest pet project to get delinquents off the streets, rehabilitated and back into society. Drix knows this is his chance to get his life back on track, even if it means being paraded in front of reporters for a while.
Elle knows she lives a life of privilege. As the governor’s daughter, she can open doors with her name alone. But the expectations and pressure to be someone she isn’t may be too much to handle. She wants to follow her own path, whatever that means.
When Drix and Elle meet, their connection is immediate, but so are their problems. Drix is not the type of boy Elle’s parents have in mind for her, and Elle is not the kind of girl who can understand Drix’s messy life.
But sometimes love can breach all barriers.
Fighting against a society that can’t imagine them together, Drix and Elle must push themselves–Drix to confront the truth of the robbery, and Elle to assert her independence–and each other to finally get what they deserve.
Preorder SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME here!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Google Play | B-A-M | Kobo
Add it to your Goodreads Now!
Pre-order SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME, register and you will receive AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER, a novella that features your favorite Pushing the Limits and Thunder Road characters!
From the Pushing the Limits series, Noah, Beth, Isaiah, West and Logan are all grown up. Catch up with your favorite characters as one of them finally says, I do.
Pigpen, Eli and Addison from the Thunder Road series: Three separate personalities who still needed to find love…and still had someone important to meet.
This is a limited time offer! So hurry! Registration ends on February 3, 2018! You must register your pre-order to receive AND THEY ALL LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
https://a.pgtb.me/4tLZSM
Katie McGarry’s SAY YOU’LL REMEMBER ME – Tour Schedule:
January 22nd
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book Boyfriends
January 23rd
January 24th
January 25th
January 26th
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It Book Reviews
January 27th
An Asian Chick & Her Cat Walk into a Book Blog
January 28th
January 29th
Rants and Raves of a Bibliophile
January 30th
January 31st
Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog
February 1st
Katy and Zetti’s Book Ramblings
February 2nd
Angie and Jessica's Dreamy Reads
February 3rd
About Katie McGarry: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, reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.
Katie is the author of full length YA novels, PUSHING THE LIMITS, DARE YOU TO, CRASH INTO YOU, TAKE ME ON, BREAKING THE RULES, and NOWHERE BUT HERE and the e-novellas, CROSSING THE LINE and RED AT NIGHT. Her debut YA novel, PUSHING THE LIMITS was a 2012 Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction, a RT Magazine’s 2012 Reviewer’s Choice Awards Nominee for Young Adult Contemporary Novel, a double Rita Finalist, and a 2013 YALSA Top Ten Teen Pick. DARE YOU TO was also a Goodreads Choice Finalist for YA Fiction and won RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Best Book Award for Young Adult Contemporary fiction in 2013.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Tumbler | Instagram
January 15, 2018
Favorite Book Covers of 2017
Following up my post this weekend about my favorite 2017 reads:
These are so beautiful. You can see that I read in a wide variety of genres . . . young adult, fantasy, horror, mystery, historical, romance, and Amish fiction are all represented here.
Do covers make a difference in whether or not you read a book? Have you ever read a book and been disappointed because the cover wasn't a good representation of the story inside?
What are some of your favorite covers, not just in the past year, but ever?
These are so beautiful. You can see that I read in a wide variety of genres . . . young adult, fantasy, horror, mystery, historical, romance, and Amish fiction are all represented here.
Do covers make a difference in whether or not you read a book? Have you ever read a book and been disappointed because the cover wasn't a good representation of the story inside?
What are some of your favorite covers, not just in the past year, but ever?
January 13, 2018
Favorite Books of 2017
If you live in Northeast Ohio like me, you know that we are snowed (and iced!) in for a bit (well, it IS Ohio!) and it occurred to me that I should take some time while stuck indoors to make up a list of my favorite books read in 2017. Note: these are books I read in 2017 but may not have been published in 2017.
I will list them by genre, but some do cross over. I hope you take a look and see if we have any favorites in common - if we do, leave a comment and tell me which ones! I'd love to know what you read and liked last year as well.
Here we go (in no particular order - I don't think I could pick an absolute favorite in each genre, or overall):
Fantasy & Science Fiction
A Girl in Black and White
A Gathering of Shadows
Allerleirauh
Romance
French Restitution, French Retribution, French Restoration (yes, the entire series)
A Daring Arrangement (historical)
Devil in Spring (historical)
Christian/Inspirational/Amish
Abiding Mercy
The Beloved Hope Chest
Upon a Spring Breeze
Written in Love
Nonfiction
Mindfulness: 30 Day Mindfulness Challenge: Step-By-Step Guide to Living a Stress-Free & Happy Life
The Gift of Love: One Woman's Journey to Save a Life
Young Adult
Stalking Jack the Ripper (historical, mystery, horror)
Strange the Dreamer (fantasy)
The Evaporation of Sofi Snow (science fiction)
The Glass Spare (fantasy)
Lord of Shadows (fantasy)
Long Way Home (romance)
K My Name Is Kendra (realistic)
Collide (fantasy)
Chloe (realistic)
Let the Sky Fall (fantasy)
I read about 150 books a year, and if it looks interesting, I will read it regardless of genre - obviously I read a lot of YA (I specialize in working with teens in my 'real life' job, so this makes sense, although I do enjoy YA on a personal level) and I like most other genres as well.
What are your 2017 favorites, and what are you looking forward to reading in 2018? I think I'll leave my 2018 to-read list for another post!
Have a wonderful weekend!
I will list them by genre, but some do cross over. I hope you take a look and see if we have any favorites in common - if we do, leave a comment and tell me which ones! I'd love to know what you read and liked last year as well.
Here we go (in no particular order - I don't think I could pick an absolute favorite in each genre, or overall):
Fantasy & Science Fiction
A Girl in Black and White
A Gathering of Shadows
Allerleirauh
Romance
French Restitution, French Retribution, French Restoration (yes, the entire series)
A Daring Arrangement (historical)
Devil in Spring (historical)
Christian/Inspirational/Amish
Abiding Mercy
The Beloved Hope Chest
Upon a Spring Breeze
Written in Love
Nonfiction
Mindfulness: 30 Day Mindfulness Challenge: Step-By-Step Guide to Living a Stress-Free & Happy Life
The Gift of Love: One Woman's Journey to Save a Life
Young Adult
Stalking Jack the Ripper (historical, mystery, horror)
Strange the Dreamer (fantasy)
The Evaporation of Sofi Snow (science fiction)
The Glass Spare (fantasy)
Lord of Shadows (fantasy)
Long Way Home (romance)
K My Name Is Kendra (realistic)
Collide (fantasy)
Chloe (realistic)
Let the Sky Fall (fantasy)
I read about 150 books a year, and if it looks interesting, I will read it regardless of genre - obviously I read a lot of YA (I specialize in working with teens in my 'real life' job, so this makes sense, although I do enjoy YA on a personal level) and I like most other genres as well.
What are your 2017 favorites, and what are you looking forward to reading in 2018? I think I'll leave my 2018 to-read list for another post!
Have a wonderful weekend!
January 10, 2018
Recent Reviews
Wow! I am so grateful for these wonderful reviews over the past few days . . . what a fantastic way to start the new year!
"I would give this higher than a five star rating if I could." Thank you for the wonderful review of Throne of Grace, Debbie! http://amzn.to/2AIRgVa
Another five star review for one of my more controversial (ha ha!) titles, Reckless Treasure: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2EYH50...
Thank you, Victoria!
Rebellious Writing's team review of the first two books in my Cliff Walk Courtships series, Throne of Grace
and Crown of Beauty:
http://www.rebelliouswriting.com/2018...
Eugenie and Brett here on Goodreads - thank you both for your five star reviews and lovely comments on Throne of Grace:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! I can't wait to share new stories - and revisit others (with Treasure of Hope and Starlight releasing this year) with you all!
"I would give this higher than a five star rating if I could." Thank you for the wonderful review of Throne of Grace, Debbie! http://amzn.to/2AIRgVa
Another five star review for one of my more controversial (ha ha!) titles, Reckless Treasure: https://www.amazon.com/review/R2EYH50...
Thank you, Victoria!
Rebellious Writing's team review of the first two books in my Cliff Walk Courtships series, Throne of Grace
and Crown of Beauty:
http://www.rebelliouswriting.com/2018...
Eugenie and Brett here on Goodreads - thank you both for your five star reviews and lovely comments on Throne of Grace:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! I can't wait to share new stories - and revisit others (with Treasure of Hope and Starlight releasing this year) with you all!
January 9, 2018
Teaser Tuesday
and this week's teaser comes from my April 2017 release, Reckless Treasure:
"This condo was no castle and no prince was coming to rescue her."
"This condo was no castle and no prince was coming to rescue her."
