Jessie Harrell's Blog, page 21
February 21, 2012
Debut YA Book Birthday
Ready for another book birthday bash? Let's celebrate with these debut YA novelists! (I'm pretty excited about this week's debuts!!)
Oppression by Jessica Therrien
Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than average people, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal. For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous.
After the death of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability. Or so she thinks. Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her for a long time. Some are waiting for her to put an end to centuries of traditions that have oppressed their people under the guise of safeguarding them. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning - and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.
When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellison
After seventeen-year-old Felicita's dearest friend Ilven kills herself to escape an arranged marriage, Felicita chooses freedom over privilege. She fakes her own death and leaves her sheltered life as one of Pelimburg's magical elite behind. Living in the slums, scrubbing dishes for a living, she falls for charismatic Dash while also becoming fascinated with vampire Jannik. Then something shocking washes up on the beach: Ilven's death has called out of the sea a dangerous wild magic. Felicita must decide whether her loyalties lie with the family she abandoned . . . or with those who would twist this dark power to destroy Pelimburg's caste system, and the whole city along with it.
The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
Brie's life ends at sixteen: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart--literally.
But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy Brie loved and lost--and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul...who just might hold the key to her forever after.
With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?
Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby
Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she's called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn't mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she's sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who's ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo's dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned's in for. But Jo certainly doesn't know what she's in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.
So, are you as excited as I am now??
Oppression by Jessica Therrien
Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than average people, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal. For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability. Or so she thinks. Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her for a long time. Some are waiting for her to put an end to centuries of traditions that have oppressed their people under the guise of safeguarding them. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning - and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.
When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellison
After seventeen-year-old Felicita's dearest friend Ilven kills herself to escape an arranged marriage, Felicita chooses freedom over privilege. She fakes her own death and leaves her sheltered life as one of Pelimburg's magical elite behind. Living in the slums, scrubbing dishes for a living, she falls for charismatic Dash while also becoming fascinated with vampire Jannik. Then something shocking washes up on the beach: Ilven's death has called out of the sea a dangerous wild magic. Felicita must decide whether her loyalties lie with the family she abandoned . . . or with those who would twist this dark power to destroy Pelimburg's caste system, and the whole city along with it. The Catastrophic History of You and Me by Jess Rothenberg
Brie's life ends at sixteen: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart--literally. But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy Brie loved and lost--and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul...who just might hold the key to her forever after.
With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?
Shooting Stars by Allison Rushby
Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she's called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn't mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she's sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who's ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo's dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned's in for. But Jo certainly doesn't know what she's in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment.So, are you as excited as I am now??
February 16, 2012
Cover Reveal ~ GRAVITY by Melissa West
Check out this amazingly beautiful cover.
GRAVITY by Melissa West (October 2012, Entangled Publishing)
In the future, only one rule will matter:
Don't. Ever. Peek.
Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last
person she expected hovering above her bed - arrogant Jackson Locke, the
most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind
of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help
him, or everyone on Earth will die.
Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her
question what she's been taught about his kind. And against her instincts,
she's falling for him. But Ari isn't just any girl, and Jackson wants more
than her attention. She¹s a military legacy who¹s been trained by her
father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can
know - especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the
information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping
silent will start a war.
Pre-order from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Gravity-Melissa-West/dp/1620610914/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Add to Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12844575-gravity
GRAVITY by Melissa West (October 2012, Entangled Publishing)In the future, only one rule will matter:
Don't. Ever. Peek.
Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last
person she expected hovering above her bed - arrogant Jackson Locke, the
most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind
of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help
him, or everyone on Earth will die.
Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her
question what she's been taught about his kind. And against her instincts,
she's falling for him. But Ari isn't just any girl, and Jackson wants more
than her attention. She¹s a military legacy who¹s been trained by her
father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can
know - especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the
information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping
silent will start a war.
Pre-order from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Gravity-Melissa-West/dp/1620610914/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Add to Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12844575-gravity
February 14, 2012
Happy Debut YA Book Birthday
It's Valentine's Day, so I'm thinking that if a book debuts today, it had better be swoon-worthy! And since there's not much I like better than swoon, let's see this week's line up.
Scarlet by A.C. Goughen
Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance. Posing as one of Robin Hood's thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It's only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.
Above World by Jenn Reese
Thirteen-year-old Aluna has lived her entire life under the ocean with the Coral Kampii in the City of Shifting Tides. But after centuries spent hidden from the Above World, her colony's survival is at risk. The Kampii's breathing necklaces are failing, but the elders are unwilling to venture above water to seek answers. Only headstrong Aluna and her friend Hoku are stubborn and bold enough to face the terrors of land to search for way to save their people. But can Aluna's fierce determination and fighting skills and Hoku's tech-savvy keep them safe? Set in a world where overcrowding has led humans to adapt - growing tails to live under the ocean or wings to live on mountains - here is a ride through a future where greed and cruelty have gone unchecked, but the loyalty of friends remains true.
Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale
When 17-year-old Rosie's mother, Trudie, dies from Huntington's Disease, her pain is intensified by the knowledge that she has a fifty percent chance of inheriting the crippling disease herself. Only when Rosie tells her mother's best friend, "Aunt Sarah," that she is going to test for the disease does Sarah, a midwife, reveal that Trudie wasn't her real mother after all. Rosie was swapped at birth with a sickly baby who was destined to die.
Devastated, Rosie decides to trace her real mother, joining her ex-boyfriend on his gap year travels, to find her birth mother in California. But all does not go as planned. As Rosie discovers yet more of her family's deeply buried secrets and lies, she is left with an agonizing decision of her own, one which will be the most heart breaking and far-reaching of all.
Various Positions by Martha Schabas
* Note - many of the reviews on Amazon say this is not appropriate for YA audiences
Trapped between the hormone-driven world of her friends and the discontent of her dysfunctional family, fourteen-year-old Georgia is only completely at ease when she's dancing. When she is accepted into Canada's preeminent ballet school, Georgia thinks it is the perfect escape. Artistic Director Roderick Allen singles her out as a star, subjecting her to increasingly intensive training, and Georgia obsesses about becoming the perfect, disciplined student. But as she spends more and more time with Roderick, it's not so clear exactly what their relationship means. Is he her teacher and mentor, or is there something more? These blurred lines will threaten both Roderick's future at the academy and Georgia's ambitions as a ballerina.
The Vanishing Game by Kate Kaye Myers
Jocelyn's twin brother Jack was the only family she had growing up in a world of foster homes-and now he's dead, and she has nothing. Then she gets a cryptic letter from "Jason December"-the code name her brother used to use when they were children at Seale House, a terrifying foster home that they believed had dark powers. Only one other person knows about Jason December: Noah, Jocelyn's childhood crush and their only real friend among the troubled children at Seale House.
But when Jocelyn returns to Seale House and the city where she last saw Noah, she gets more than she bargained for. Turns out the house's powers weren't just a figment of a childish imagination. And someone is following Jocelyn. Is Jack still alive? And if he is, what kind of trouble is he in? The answer is revealed in a shocking twist that turns this story on its head and will send readers straight back to page 1 to read the book in a whole new light.
February 16th releases ~
Trafficked by Kim Purcell
Hannah believes she's being brought from Moldova to Los Angeles to become a nanny for a Russian family. But her American dream quickly spirals into a nightmare. The Platonovs force Hannah to work sixteen-hour days, won't let her leave the house, and seem to have a lot of secrets - from Hannah and from each other. Stranded in a foreign land with false documents, no money, and nobody who can help her, Hannah must find a way to save herself from her new status as a modern-day slave or risk losing the one thing she has left: her life.
Hmmm... not sounding so swoon-worthy after all. What do you think about this week's debut releases?
And just so you're not left feeling romantically deprived, here's the song I'm swooning over lately. Those floating lanterns are amazing (and real, I've learned). Quite possibly this is the most romantic Disney scene ever.
Scarlet by A.C. Goughen
Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance. Posing as one of Robin Hood's thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in. It's only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.Above World by Jenn Reese
Thirteen-year-old Aluna has lived her entire life under the ocean with the Coral Kampii in the City of Shifting Tides. But after centuries spent hidden from the Above World, her colony's survival is at risk. The Kampii's breathing necklaces are failing, but the elders are unwilling to venture above water to seek answers. Only headstrong Aluna and her friend Hoku are stubborn and bold enough to face the terrors of land to search for way to save their people. But can Aluna's fierce determination and fighting skills and Hoku's tech-savvy keep them safe? Set in a world where overcrowding has led humans to adapt - growing tails to live under the ocean or wings to live on mountains - here is a ride through a future where greed and cruelty have gone unchecked, but the loyalty of friends remains true.Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale
When 17-year-old Rosie's mother, Trudie, dies from Huntington's Disease, her pain is intensified by the knowledge that she has a fifty percent chance of inheriting the crippling disease herself. Only when Rosie tells her mother's best friend, "Aunt Sarah," that she is going to test for the disease does Sarah, a midwife, reveal that Trudie wasn't her real mother after all. Rosie was swapped at birth with a sickly baby who was destined to die.Devastated, Rosie decides to trace her real mother, joining her ex-boyfriend on his gap year travels, to find her birth mother in California. But all does not go as planned. As Rosie discovers yet more of her family's deeply buried secrets and lies, she is left with an agonizing decision of her own, one which will be the most heart breaking and far-reaching of all.
Various Positions by Martha Schabas
* Note - many of the reviews on Amazon say this is not appropriate for YA audiences
Trapped between the hormone-driven world of her friends and the discontent of her dysfunctional family, fourteen-year-old Georgia is only completely at ease when she's dancing. When she is accepted into Canada's preeminent ballet school, Georgia thinks it is the perfect escape. Artistic Director Roderick Allen singles her out as a star, subjecting her to increasingly intensive training, and Georgia obsesses about becoming the perfect, disciplined student. But as she spends more and more time with Roderick, it's not so clear exactly what their relationship means. Is he her teacher and mentor, or is there something more? These blurred lines will threaten both Roderick's future at the academy and Georgia's ambitions as a ballerina.
The Vanishing Game by Kate Kaye Myers
Jocelyn's twin brother Jack was the only family she had growing up in a world of foster homes-and now he's dead, and she has nothing. Then she gets a cryptic letter from "Jason December"-the code name her brother used to use when they were children at Seale House, a terrifying foster home that they believed had dark powers. Only one other person knows about Jason December: Noah, Jocelyn's childhood crush and their only real friend among the troubled children at Seale House.But when Jocelyn returns to Seale House and the city where she last saw Noah, she gets more than she bargained for. Turns out the house's powers weren't just a figment of a childish imagination. And someone is following Jocelyn. Is Jack still alive? And if he is, what kind of trouble is he in? The answer is revealed in a shocking twist that turns this story on its head and will send readers straight back to page 1 to read the book in a whole new light.
February 16th releases ~
Trafficked by Kim Purcell
Hannah believes she's being brought from Moldova to Los Angeles to become a nanny for a Russian family. But her American dream quickly spirals into a nightmare. The Platonovs force Hannah to work sixteen-hour days, won't let her leave the house, and seem to have a lot of secrets - from Hannah and from each other. Stranded in a foreign land with false documents, no money, and nobody who can help her, Hannah must find a way to save herself from her new status as a modern-day slave or risk losing the one thing she has left: her life.Hmmm... not sounding so swoon-worthy after all. What do you think about this week's debut releases?
And just so you're not left feeling romantically deprived, here's the song I'm swooning over lately. Those floating lanterns are amazing (and real, I've learned). Quite possibly this is the most romantic Disney scene ever.
February 11, 2012
That's YAmore Blogfest
Hi everyone -- thanks so much for coming by my submission for Oasis for YA's That's YAmore Blogfest. We're really excited to be hosting this for the second year in a row. In short, you can hop through the participating blogs and read 250 words of steamy YA romance from our WIPs. Hopefully, these excerpts will put you in the Valentine's Day spirit.So without further ado, here's a romance scene I've been dying to write. Now, it just needs a novel. :) (Sorry I'm a *little* over my word allotment.)
"Come on." He clasps my hand and tugs me forward. When we step through the squeaky screen door onto the porch, I'm hit by a wall of moist and humid air. The rain is falling so hard now, it's a deafening staccato. I feel like I'm breathing in mist and already I want to turn around and bolt back into the A/C."But it's pouring." Like he needs me to state the obvious. Still, I feel compelled to point out - again - exactly why a walk is not a good idea right now."You may be sweet," he says, while fitting his baseball cap over my head, "but you're not gonna melt. I promise."And with that, he pulls me off the porch and we're running across the yard. I'm shrieking as the rain drops pelt against my body, quickly soaking my t-shirt and plastering it to my skin. I have to use my free hand to keep his hat from blowing away, but I feel like every other part of me has been set free. The rain washes away my nerves and my fear until there's nothing but us.We splash through the mini-lakes that are quickly forming along the streets and weave our way to the park. I don't know why we're running anymore. We're already soaked. But there's a thrill in racing together, hand-in-hand, as we charge toward the park.When we reach the center of the soccer field, he stops and twirls me around like we've been dancing. The rain is so cool against my face and I never want to stop spinning. Stepping away from him, I place both my hands out, palms up, and twirl inside the storm. I don't care that his hat falls off, or that rain is running like a river down my neck. Each drop that plays against my cheeks and fingertips is a sensation I'm not sure I'll ever get enough of. I spin until I'm so dizzy I can barely stand. In a final whirl, I crash into his chest and we're both laughing. As he crushes me against him, we're so close I can feel every rise and fall of his chest against mine."Kiss me, Kira," he breathes. Before I find a reason to say no, his lips press into mine. They're cool and wet and my knees tremble when he pulls away, only to suck a raindrop from my lower lip. My hands find his sopping hair. Water tickles between my fingers as I grab a fistful and pull him back to me.
Our soaked clothes press together until I swear I can almost feel his skin. But it's not enough. I want more.The rain is our curtain. We're invisible here in broad daylight. Free to let our hands explore, our lips collide, our heartbeats sync as we share the first kiss that's been way too long in coming. When he finally slows our kiss, I feel dizzier than I did after my spin. Happier than I've felt in years. And I wish for rain every day this summer, just so we can share more walks like this. When you're done, be sure to stop by the rest of the blogs. I'm sure you're in for a treat!
February 10, 2012
Advance Review: WANDERLOVE by Kirsten Hubbard
Releasing March 13, 2012
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me an advance galley. Receiving a free copy has in no way influenced this review.**
It all begins with a stupid question:
Are you a Global Vagabond?
No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.
Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan's found, is to keep moving forward.
But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.
Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry into this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.
I absolutely love the premise of this novel. I have some wanderlust myself (but was never brave enough to backpack anywhere), so everything about this novel called to me. I loved how Bria thought she was going to be part of this group of beautiful young people and ended up on a tour filled with old people. Can't you totally imagine this happening? Isn't that like one of our worst fears about a tour like that?
Anyway, I also loved how we gradually unraveled the pain Bria carries with her. And her mistakes. Bria grows so much during her two weeks abroad, but in a very realistic way. We gradually see her forced out of her protective wall and learn to take control of her own life (and fate).
Better yet, her adventures along the way are awesome and authentic. Having read this after I just returned from Belize, I recognized so many of the placed described in the novel. And the author's/Bria's illustrations (like a sketch book), just add to the feeling that you're really on this trip with Bria.
Last, I enjoyed the slowly-developing relationship between Bria and Rowan. This novel was not your typical girl and boy are instantly drawn to each other the moment they lock eyes love story. Their relationship happened organically and believably.
If you enjoy realistic contemporary fiction, with a bit of travel and self-discovery, I highly recommend Wanderlove. Enjoy!!
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me an advance galley. Receiving a free copy has in no way influenced this review.**It all begins with a stupid question:
Are you a Global Vagabond?
No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.
Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan's found, is to keep moving forward.
But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.
Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry into this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.
I absolutely love the premise of this novel. I have some wanderlust myself (but was never brave enough to backpack anywhere), so everything about this novel called to me. I loved how Bria thought she was going to be part of this group of beautiful young people and ended up on a tour filled with old people. Can't you totally imagine this happening? Isn't that like one of our worst fears about a tour like that?
Anyway, I also loved how we gradually unraveled the pain Bria carries with her. And her mistakes. Bria grows so much during her two weeks abroad, but in a very realistic way. We gradually see her forced out of her protective wall and learn to take control of her own life (and fate).
Better yet, her adventures along the way are awesome and authentic. Having read this after I just returned from Belize, I recognized so many of the placed described in the novel. And the author's/Bria's illustrations (like a sketch book), just add to the feeling that you're really on this trip with Bria.
Last, I enjoyed the slowly-developing relationship between Bria and Rowan. This novel was not your typical girl and boy are instantly drawn to each other the moment they lock eyes love story. Their relationship happened organically and believably.
If you enjoy realistic contemporary fiction, with a bit of travel and self-discovery, I highly recommend Wanderlove. Enjoy!!
February 7, 2012
Happy Debut YA Book Birthday
Another Tuesday, another great day for a book birthday par-tay. Let's celebrate with these debut YA authors:
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (want. to. read. now!)
"Blessed with a gift..."cursed" with a secret."
Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship - or an early grave.
Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.
If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood - not even from each other.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
When Cameron Post's parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief they'll never know that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl.
But that relief doesn't last, and Cam is soon forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth and her well-intentioned but hopelessly old-fashioned grandmother. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different. Survival in Miles City, Montana, means blending in and leaving well enough alone (as her grandmother might say), and Cam becomes an expert at both.
Then Coley Taylor moves to town. Beautiful, pickup-driving Coley is a perfect cowgirl with the perfect boyfriend to match. She and Cam forge an unexpected and intense friendship—one that seems to leave room for something more to emerge. But just as that starts to seem like a real possibility, ultrareligious Aunt Ruth takes drastic action to "fix" her niece, bringing Cam face-to-face with the cost of denying her true self—even if she's not exactly sure who that is.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a stunning and unforgettable literary debut about discovering who you are and finding the courage to live life according to your own rules.
Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (want. to. read. now!)
"Blessed with a gift..."cursed" with a secret." Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they're witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship - or an early grave.
Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word . . . especially after she finds her mother's diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family's destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.
If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren't safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood - not even from each other.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
When Cameron Post's parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief they'll never know that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl.But that relief doesn't last, and Cam is soon forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth and her well-intentioned but hopelessly old-fashioned grandmother. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different. Survival in Miles City, Montana, means blending in and leaving well enough alone (as her grandmother might say), and Cam becomes an expert at both.
Then Coley Taylor moves to town. Beautiful, pickup-driving Coley is a perfect cowgirl with the perfect boyfriend to match. She and Cam forge an unexpected and intense friendship—one that seems to leave room for something more to emerge. But just as that starts to seem like a real possibility, ultrareligious Aunt Ruth takes drastic action to "fix" her niece, bringing Cam face-to-face with the cost of denying her true self—even if she's not exactly sure who that is.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a stunning and unforgettable literary debut about discovering who you are and finding the courage to live life according to your own rules.
February 2, 2012
Looking ON THE BRIGHT SIDE by S.R. Johannes
Today I have the good fortune of hosting a blog tour stop for S.R. Johannes, author of the YA novel Untraceable, and now the MG novel, On the Bright Side.
On the Bright Side, is a new "tween" paranormal story with a humorous twist. The story follows Gabby, a disgruntled tween angel who has just been assigned to protect her school nemesis and ex-best friend. To make things worse, that ex-bff is is dating Gabby's longtime crush. Instead of protecting Angela, Gabby pulls a few harmless pranks on her. Totally harmless, really, just a little spinach in the teeth, toilet paper stuck to her shoes, maybe a trip in the hallway in front of a crowd, nothing too horrific, right?
Soon, Gabby gets out of control with her pranks and is put on probation by her SKYAgent, who has anger management issues of his own. Determined to right her wrongs, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to Earth for just one day. Without knowing, she kicks off a series of events and learns what can happen when you hate someone to death.Sounds awesome, right? But I wanted to dig a little deeper into the mind that created On the Bright Side, so I asked S.R. some questions and got some pretty great answers.
Your new novel, On the Bright Side, is written for the middle grade crowd, or tweens. Why was writing for this group important to you?
This book set out to be YA. But then when I realized a lot of dark angel books were coming out, I switched it to tween. I really wanted to do a funny book about death and I thought a tween book would be more appropriate than YA.
The National Children's Book and Literary Alliance lists numerous reasons that books are good for kids -- among them are these things:
Books let kids try on the world before they have to go out into it.
Books help us to understand ourselves, to find out who we are.
Books help kids to chart their own moral and ethical course.
Books create questions.
How does OTBS achieve any of these goals? Was that your intention when writing it or were you just trying to tell a good story?
Wow you are really smart huh :) Um I guess all of those.
OTBS allows Gabby to go out into a different world alone and she has to take care of herself. Without her parents around. She's expected to take care of herself.
Seeing someone's full life gives her a perspective of other people she never has. This view changes her as a person.
In protecting Angela, Gabby must learn control, forgiveness, and understanding. She goes from pranking her to saving her life, learning that you are happier as a person if you are good to others.
And lastly, I think many questions are raised in this book about life and death, about what life really is, and about what we take for granted. But it is also dives into perceptions and how they can rule our lives, even though we don't know the whole story.
How does OTBS differ from a young adult novel, written for full-fledged teens?
Well in OTBS, Gabby is in 8th grade. There is no love – just crushes on boys. Not much kissing (bummer right? :). I think the plot is still very layered but I do think it's not as complicated or as dark as true YA view would be. I think it walks the line between Mg and YA by allowing Gabby to have selfish internal motives yet still getting her to see her role in the larger world as a whole.
Do you think it's important to have books specifically for tweens, to help bridge the gap between chapter books and YA? Why or why not?
I do. There are not many 13 or 14-year-old characters. I think there is a big difference between 10 and 14. So middle grade doesn't work for tweens. They are in a tough spot. They are too old for MG books but their parents don't want them reading YA yet. I think we will see a tween market develop more over time.
I certainly hope so! Anyway, thank you, S.R., for joining us today. And for all of you, please check out some of the early praise for On the Bright Side, watch the awesome book trailer, and then head over to Amazon or Barnes & Noble to grab your own copy for only $.99!
"S.R. Johannes delivers a cute paranormal thrill ride for middle graders! Even in death there is a BRIGHT SIDE!" - Addison Moore, author of the bestselling Celestra series and soon to be TV show Clever and charming, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is the story of a reluctant guardian angel, her still-breathing crush, and the frenemy she's assigned to protect. A great read! -Suzanne Young, author of A Need So Beautiful, A Want So Wicket (6/12), and The Program (2013)
"With a smart, snappy heroine and a heart-warming crush, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is a page-turning new take on guardian angels that left me begging for a sequel!" - Gretchen McNeil, author of Possess and Ten (9/12) (Balzar + Bray)
On the Bright Side, is a new "tween" paranormal story with a humorous twist. The story follows Gabby, a disgruntled tween angel who has just been assigned to protect her school nemesis and ex-best friend. To make things worse, that ex-bff is is dating Gabby's longtime crush. Instead of protecting Angela, Gabby pulls a few harmless pranks on her. Totally harmless, really, just a little spinach in the teeth, toilet paper stuck to her shoes, maybe a trip in the hallway in front of a crowd, nothing too horrific, right?Soon, Gabby gets out of control with her pranks and is put on probation by her SKYAgent, who has anger management issues of his own. Determined to right her wrongs, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to Earth for just one day. Without knowing, she kicks off a series of events and learns what can happen when you hate someone to death.Sounds awesome, right? But I wanted to dig a little deeper into the mind that created On the Bright Side, so I asked S.R. some questions and got some pretty great answers.
Your new novel, On the Bright Side, is written for the middle grade crowd, or tweens. Why was writing for this group important to you?
This book set out to be YA. But then when I realized a lot of dark angel books were coming out, I switched it to tween. I really wanted to do a funny book about death and I thought a tween book would be more appropriate than YA.
The National Children's Book and Literary Alliance lists numerous reasons that books are good for kids -- among them are these things:
Books let kids try on the world before they have to go out into it.
Books help us to understand ourselves, to find out who we are.
Books help kids to chart their own moral and ethical course.
Books create questions.
How does OTBS achieve any of these goals? Was that your intention when writing it or were you just trying to tell a good story?
Wow you are really smart huh :) Um I guess all of those.
OTBS allows Gabby to go out into a different world alone and she has to take care of herself. Without her parents around. She's expected to take care of herself.
Seeing someone's full life gives her a perspective of other people she never has. This view changes her as a person.
In protecting Angela, Gabby must learn control, forgiveness, and understanding. She goes from pranking her to saving her life, learning that you are happier as a person if you are good to others.
And lastly, I think many questions are raised in this book about life and death, about what life really is, and about what we take for granted. But it is also dives into perceptions and how they can rule our lives, even though we don't know the whole story.
How does OTBS differ from a young adult novel, written for full-fledged teens?
Well in OTBS, Gabby is in 8th grade. There is no love – just crushes on boys. Not much kissing (bummer right? :). I think the plot is still very layered but I do think it's not as complicated or as dark as true YA view would be. I think it walks the line between Mg and YA by allowing Gabby to have selfish internal motives yet still getting her to see her role in the larger world as a whole.
Do you think it's important to have books specifically for tweens, to help bridge the gap between chapter books and YA? Why or why not?
I do. There are not many 13 or 14-year-old characters. I think there is a big difference between 10 and 14. So middle grade doesn't work for tweens. They are in a tough spot. They are too old for MG books but their parents don't want them reading YA yet. I think we will see a tween market develop more over time.
I certainly hope so! Anyway, thank you, S.R., for joining us today. And for all of you, please check out some of the early praise for On the Bright Side, watch the awesome book trailer, and then head over to Amazon or Barnes & Noble to grab your own copy for only $.99!
"S.R. Johannes delivers a cute paranormal thrill ride for middle graders! Even in death there is a BRIGHT SIDE!" - Addison Moore, author of the bestselling Celestra series and soon to be TV show Clever and charming, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is the story of a reluctant guardian angel, her still-breathing crush, and the frenemy she's assigned to protect. A great read! -Suzanne Young, author of A Need So Beautiful, A Want So Wicket (6/12), and The Program (2013)
"With a smart, snappy heroine and a heart-warming crush, ON THE BRIGHT SIDE is a page-turning new take on guardian angels that left me begging for a sequel!" - Gretchen McNeil, author of Possess and Ten (9/12) (Balzar + Bray)
February 1, 2012
THE FOURTH STALL PART 2 (Giveaway Included!)
I'm not sure if you remember when I read and reviewed The Fourth Stall, a debut MG by Chris Rylander. (If you want to check out my review, go here. I'll wait.) Anyway, the short version is this: the book was funny and original and I thought it was a great read for boys.
I couldn't believe it when Chris's publisher, Walden Pond Press, contacted me and asked if I'd like an ARC of The Fourth Stall Part II to review and to host a giveaway. Um.... YES! (And thank you, by the way!)
Here's the book summary:
The life of crime is good.Mac has taken down legendary high school crime boss Staples, business has been booming, and Mac and Vince are getting ready for middle school baseball tryouts. But this can't last. Mac has always tried to keep his friends close and his enemies closer. But what happens when you can't tell the difference?
This dilemma walks into the fourth stall in the form of Trixie Von Parkway—an eighth grader with a mean look and an even meaner predicament. The new science teacher is terrorizing her, and she needs Mac to get him off her back. Seems simple enough, but as Mac starts to dig deeper, he finds even more trouble brewing at his school, including a new administrator bent on destroying his business, and indications that Trixie isn't who she claims to be. In the past, the worst thing that could have happened to Mac was that he might lose a little money, maybe catch a beating. In The Fourth Stall Part II, though, there's going to be much more on the line than that.
Just like the original novel, this book is fun and full of quirky characters and predicaments that will leave you scratching your head. A couple of my favorite lines were these:
* Dr. George wasn't a real doctor, like the kind you'd go to if you were sick. Apparently you can become, like, another kind of doctor, too. I'm not sure exactly how that works, but all I know is that in my experience that fake doctors like Dr. George were usually a lot meaner, and thought they were the smartest people alive. (Page 34 - take that you PhD's!)
* He could out-cool and out-spy James Bond with nothing but a used toothbrush and seventeen cents. (Page 172)
The book is fully of these witty, age-appropriate insights. And Ryalnder is the master of putting your character in a bad situation ... and then making it worse. Poor Mac is in trouble so deep in this novel, you won't think he'll ever escape.
The bottom line is this ~ if you know a boy reader in the 3rd grade and up (especially if they have a rockin' sense of humor and/or like baseball trivia) you MUST get this series for him. Or better yet, you could WIN it for him. Walden Pond Press will be giving away a paperback copy of The Fourth Stall, a hardback copy of The Fourth Stall Part II, and an autographed bookplate.
You can enter through the Rafflecopter form below. The contest will remain open through 12:01 AM on release day, February 7, 2012, and the prizes will be shipped to the winner direct from the publisher. In the meantime, why don't you enter and then go stalk the author? (Authors like being stalked.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
<a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&am... need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.
I couldn't believe it when Chris's publisher, Walden Pond Press, contacted me and asked if I'd like an ARC of The Fourth Stall Part II to review and to host a giveaway. Um.... YES! (And thank you, by the way!)Here's the book summary:
The life of crime is good.Mac has taken down legendary high school crime boss Staples, business has been booming, and Mac and Vince are getting ready for middle school baseball tryouts. But this can't last. Mac has always tried to keep his friends close and his enemies closer. But what happens when you can't tell the difference?
This dilemma walks into the fourth stall in the form of Trixie Von Parkway—an eighth grader with a mean look and an even meaner predicament. The new science teacher is terrorizing her, and she needs Mac to get him off her back. Seems simple enough, but as Mac starts to dig deeper, he finds even more trouble brewing at his school, including a new administrator bent on destroying his business, and indications that Trixie isn't who she claims to be. In the past, the worst thing that could have happened to Mac was that he might lose a little money, maybe catch a beating. In The Fourth Stall Part II, though, there's going to be much more on the line than that.
Just like the original novel, this book is fun and full of quirky characters and predicaments that will leave you scratching your head. A couple of my favorite lines were these:
* Dr. George wasn't a real doctor, like the kind you'd go to if you were sick. Apparently you can become, like, another kind of doctor, too. I'm not sure exactly how that works, but all I know is that in my experience that fake doctors like Dr. George were usually a lot meaner, and thought they were the smartest people alive. (Page 34 - take that you PhD's!)
* He could out-cool and out-spy James Bond with nothing but a used toothbrush and seventeen cents. (Page 172)
The book is fully of these witty, age-appropriate insights. And Ryalnder is the master of putting your character in a bad situation ... and then making it worse. Poor Mac is in trouble so deep in this novel, you won't think he'll ever escape.
The bottom line is this ~ if you know a boy reader in the 3rd grade and up (especially if they have a rockin' sense of humor and/or like baseball trivia) you MUST get this series for him. Or better yet, you could WIN it for him. Walden Pond Press will be giving away a paperback copy of The Fourth Stall, a hardback copy of The Fourth Stall Part II, and an autographed bookplate.
You can enter through the Rafflecopter form below. The contest will remain open through 12:01 AM on release day, February 7, 2012, and the prizes will be shipped to the winner direct from the publisher. In the meantime, why don't you enter and then go stalk the author? (Authors like being stalked.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
<a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&am... need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.
January 31, 2012
Happy Debut YA Book Birthday
Hey there boys and girls... we've got a busy debut YA book birthday week! You read for this stellar list?
Today
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why. NOSOUL Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame? HEART Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies--human and creature alike--let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?
Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned. The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes. There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back. Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren't always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it's hard for her to forget that people weren't always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It's hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different. Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow. That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.
The Edumacation of Jay Barker by Jay Clark
Meet Jay Baker . . . or, as he is not-so-affectionately called by his opponent in the freshman-class presidential election--no comment.
A few random bullet points about Jay:He is stupidly in love with his best friend, cheerleading dynamo Cameo "Appearance" Parnell.He is also trying to score (points) with earthbound tennis-playing goddess Caroline Richardson.He is fighting a losing battle with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.He rocks a touché array of pop-culture references, jokes, and puns.His family life cookie is about to crumble.Root for Jay as he exchanges ego-blows with his mortal enemy, gets awkward around his dream girl(s), loses his marbles in a Bermudian love triangle, watches his parents' relationship implode, and, finally, learns to keep it real and be himself(ish). February 1
Angelina's Secret by Lisa Rogers
As a child, Angelina spent years in counseling learning that Josie, her imaginary friend, wasn't real, but it turns out her childhood friend wasn't imaginary after all. Now Angelina has to accept she's either (A) crazy or (B) able to see ghosts. Wanting to believe in her sanity, she chooses (B) and welcomes Josie back into her life. But even Josie can't help her deal with Shelly, the spirit of a confused teenager, and things go very, very wrong. When Angelina finds herself in a psychiatric hospital, she faces a choice: she can spend the rest of her life pretending to be someone she isn't, or she can embrace who she is and take a chance that she may never get to go home.
February 2
This One Time with Julia by David Lampson
The story of Joe, a boy who can fall in love but can't grow up
After Joe's parents died, he stopped growing up. He doesn't know where his money comes from. His diet consists primarily of cheeseburgers from McDonald's. He plays basketball on the level of
a pro, but he has only ever played on the streets.
Then his brother disappears, and Julia shows up. Joe falls in love with Julia as quickly as his twin brother, Alvin, did. And like Alvin did before him, he runs away with Julia to her parents' hotel. There, he's so blinded by her seductive, dysfunctional family that he can't see the truth of his brother's disappearance
… until he accidentally stumbles upon Alvin's killer.
Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne
When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn't expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she's going crazy. Fast.
But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she's come home. She's even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.
Faye knows she's the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can't trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her - and the rest of the world too.
Rich, compelling writing will keep the pages turning in this riveting and tautly told psychological thriller.
Is your TBR list ready??
Today
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
NEWSOULAna is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why. NOSOUL Even Ana's own mother thinks she's a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she'll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame? HEART Sam believes Ana's new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana's enemies--human and creature alike--let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else's life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?
Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned. The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes. There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back. Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren't always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it's hard for her to forget that people weren't always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It's hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different. Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow. That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.The Edumacation of Jay Barker by Jay Clark
Meet Jay Baker . . . or, as he is not-so-affectionately called by his opponent in the freshman-class presidential election--no comment.A few random bullet points about Jay:He is stupidly in love with his best friend, cheerleading dynamo Cameo "Appearance" Parnell.He is also trying to score (points) with earthbound tennis-playing goddess Caroline Richardson.He is fighting a losing battle with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.He rocks a touché array of pop-culture references, jokes, and puns.His family life cookie is about to crumble.Root for Jay as he exchanges ego-blows with his mortal enemy, gets awkward around his dream girl(s), loses his marbles in a Bermudian love triangle, watches his parents' relationship implode, and, finally, learns to keep it real and be himself(ish). February 1
Angelina's Secret by Lisa Rogers
As a child, Angelina spent years in counseling learning that Josie, her imaginary friend, wasn't real, but it turns out her childhood friend wasn't imaginary after all. Now Angelina has to accept she's either (A) crazy or (B) able to see ghosts. Wanting to believe in her sanity, she chooses (B) and welcomes Josie back into her life. But even Josie can't help her deal with Shelly, the spirit of a confused teenager, and things go very, very wrong. When Angelina finds herself in a psychiatric hospital, she faces a choice: she can spend the rest of her life pretending to be someone she isn't, or she can embrace who she is and take a chance that she may never get to go home.February 2
This One Time with Julia by David Lampson
The story of Joe, a boy who can fall in love but can't grow up After Joe's parents died, he stopped growing up. He doesn't know where his money comes from. His diet consists primarily of cheeseburgers from McDonald's. He plays basketball on the level of
a pro, but he has only ever played on the streets.
Then his brother disappears, and Julia shows up. Joe falls in love with Julia as quickly as his twin brother, Alvin, did. And like Alvin did before him, he runs away with Julia to her parents' hotel. There, he's so blinded by her seductive, dysfunctional family that he can't see the truth of his brother's disappearance
… until he accidentally stumbles upon Alvin's killer.
Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne
When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn't expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she's going crazy. Fast. But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she's come home. She's even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red.
Faye knows she's the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can't trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her - and the rest of the world too.
Rich, compelling writing will keep the pages turning in this riveting and tautly told psychological thriller.
Is your TBR list ready??
January 26, 2012
Young Adult Giveaway Hop
As a writer of YA and a moderator on yalitchat, you can be sure that YA lit is my passion. So of course, I HAD to join in the Young Adult Giveaway Hop hosted by Kathy at I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Down the Rabbit Hole. (Plus, there's a really pretty, ethereal badge.)
Ok, for many of you, this won't come as a surprise, but... the prize this time is a copy of DESTINED. The novel has been getting rave reviews and is consistently one of the Kindle best sellers for children's (YA) romance. So if you haven't had a chance to read it yet, I want to give you that opportunity. For FREE.
Details:
* If the winner is from the U.S., they will receive an autographed, paperback copy of DESTINED and a bookmark.
* If the winner lives outside the U.S., I will send them a copy of the novel from The Book Depository (if they ship to your country -- if not, please do not enter).
* Entrants should be 13 or older.
* Winner must respond to my notification email within 48 hours, or I will select a new winner.
So what are you waiting for? Fill out that rafflecopter form and then get yourself hopping to another blog for more chances to win awesome YA novels.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
<a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js">... need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.
Ok, for many of you, this won't come as a surprise, but... the prize this time is a copy of DESTINED. The novel has been getting rave reviews and is consistently one of the Kindle best sellers for children's (YA) romance. So if you haven't had a chance to read it yet, I want to give you that opportunity. For FREE.
Details:* If the winner is from the U.S., they will receive an autographed, paperback copy of DESTINED and a bookmark.
* If the winner lives outside the U.S., I will send them a copy of the novel from The Book Depository (if they ship to your country -- if not, please do not enter).
* Entrants should be 13 or older.
* Winner must respond to my notification email within 48 hours, or I will select a new winner.
So what are you waiting for? Fill out that rafflecopter form and then get yourself hopping to another blog for more chances to win awesome YA novels.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
<a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js">... need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.
