Jessie Harrell's Blog, page 23

Indie Book Fair 2012

Did you find a new Kindle, Nook, or iPad under the Christmas tree? Browse the Indie Book Fair and find a new ebook to break in that reader!


These great new books were released Nov 2011-Feb 2012 by Indie authors, priced right so that taking a chance on a new author doesn't have to break your wallet. (Check out my previous Internet Book Fair for other great Indie finds.)


[Indie = self-published or small-publisher, for the purposes of this post, because no matter how we're published, we're all in this together, trying to get the word out about our books]

Note: Links are given for Amazon, but most authors publish across all e-book formats. Click on the author's name for additional purchasing options, including paper copies.

For Your Browsing Pleasure
Contemporary (Adult)
Build a Man  by Talli Roland (Chick Lit) Slave to the rich, rude and deluded, cosmetic surgery receptionist Serenity Holland longs for the day she's a high-flying tabloid reporter. Unfortunately, every pitch she sends out disappears like her clients' liposuctioned fat, never to be seen again. Then she meets Jeremy Ritchie -- the hang-dog man determined to be Britain's Most Eligible Bachelor by making himself over from head to toe and everything in between -- giving Serenity a story no editor could resist. With London's biggest tabloid on board and her very own column tracking Jeremy's progress from dud to dude, Serenity is determined to be a success, even going undercover to gain intimate access to Jeremy's life. But when Jeremy's surgery goes drastically wrong and Serenity is ordered to cover all the car-crash goriness, she must decide how far she really will go for her dream job. $0.99 on Amazon

The Golden Sky  by Elisa
Hirsch (Memoir) The night I met Cade I never wouldíve thought that two years later, after we were homeless street musicians in Hawaii, we would have a little girl and another baby on the way.  Our son was born with the type of birth defects that make televangelists cringe. The ìdeath homeî gave him a really nice funeral, the kind Iíd never wished to attend. We lost it after that, totally cemented in our grief.  Cade got into drugs, joined a rock and roll band, and I kicked him out of the house. That was how I met: Earl (an old man and unlikely best friend), the ìbig sagî (a middle aged woman who still flashed folks), Todda (the stripper next door), and Chris (a cowboy who fell in love with me). It wasnít until I killed a rogue skunk, and my daughter nearly choked on a fry, that I gave my husband another chance.  But could our marriage recover from the death of our son? $2.99 onAmazon

Someone Else's Fairytale  by E.M. Tippetts (Contemporary Romance)  Jason Vanderholt is the hottest actor under thirty with legions of screaming fans. Chloe Winters is a college student who hasn't gotten around to watching most of his movies. When they meet by chance, he is smitten, but it just isn't her fairytale. In fact, it could be her worst nightmare as her past, attracted by the bright lights of the media, comes back to haunt her. $0.99 on Amazon

Historical Romance
(Adult)
The Dukeís Divorce  by Anne Gallagher Available late January 2012A simple trip to the Scottish Highlands finds the Duke of Cantin with a bride he does not want.  With her impeccable beauty and fiery disposition, Fiona takes Society by storm.  As their prearranged divorce proceedings draw near, can Fiona change his mind? Check author's website.



Literary Fiction
String Bridge  by Jessica Bell Greek cuisine, smog and domestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expecting when she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece. Keen to play in her new shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a 'proper' career and her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer and plots a return to the stage-and the person she used to be. However, the obstacles she faces along the way are nothing compared to the tragedy that awaits ... $6.99 on Amazon ALSO:  Music Sample!
Mystery
Sherwood Ltd.  by Anne R. AllenSherwood. The name immediately conjures up images of Richard Greene, Michael Praed and Russell Crowe. Or maybe that sly fox in the Disney version. Only, in Anne R. Allen's latest rom-com mystery the fox is a coyote and there's no Robin Hood. Or is there? In her usual inimitable fashion Allen peels back the layers, one hilarious subplot after another, until you just never know what's real and what's not. Rather like the Robin Hood legend. When the Manners Doctor, Camilla Randall, flies into Robin Hood airport with a suitcase in one hand and a book contract in the other she thinks she's leaving all her problems behind and is about to start a new life. If you look very carefully you may just spot the Sheriff of Nottingham, Maid Marian and even Little John hidden away. But as for Robin Hood
himself... You'll just have to read it and find out.  $2.99 on Amazon

Short Stories and Anthologies
The Initiate (Cloud Prophet Trilogy)  by  Megg Jensen (YA Fantasy)Over a thousand years ago, the gods left Eloh's people and took their magic with them. To win back their favor, her people sacrifice ten female initiates every ten years. No has ever survived. There has never been a Chosen One. Forced into becoming an initiate, Eloh will try to find a way to beat the odds, stay with her boyfriend, and survive the fires that threaten to consume her. But will her lack of faith in the gods and her disbelief in their magic doom her to a painful death? $0.99 on Amazon

Eight  by Karly Kirkpatrick (YA Paranormal Short Story Collection)Prepare to be thrilled and chilled by Kirkpatrick's eight short tales in EIGHT. These eight stories, while short, pack a big punch. There are demon spirits, zombies, and even some human baddies. Each story comes complete with author's commentary. It also includes the previously unreleased short Grenades. $0.99 on Amazon




{CoverComingSoon} In His Eyes  by The Indelibles (YA Anthology) - Available February 14th Just in time for Valentines Day, The Indelibles bring you a one-of-a-kind young adult anthology! Twenty original short stories, all from the point of view of our favorite male characters - some are old flames from our novels and some were dreamed up especially for this anthology. Let these imminently crushable, swoon-worthy guys show you what romance looks like ñ in his eyes. Add to Goodreads TBR
The contributors to IN HIS EYES include award winners, frequent "Top 100" placers, and hot 2011 debut authors: S.R. Wells, C.K. Bryant, Elle Strauss, Susan Kaye Quinn, Jessie Harrell, Magan Vernon, Lisa Nowak, Heather McCorkle, RaShelle Workman, Ali Cross, Karen Amanda Hooper, Cory Putman Oakes, Laura Pauling, Stacey Wallace Benefiel, Sarra Cannon, Katie Klein, Cheri Lasota

Transcendent: Tales of the Paranormal  by
Lani Woodland, Melonie Piper, Rita Webb, Wendy Swore, Melanie Marks, Heather McCubbin and Evan Joseph (YA Anthology)Discover the secrets of a siren, fly with a hawk girl over the mountains of Montana, and flee supernatural party-crashers as the dÈcor comes to life in this magical journey through paranormal stories. Along the way, watch for ghosts in a haunted house, or ride through the moonlight with a stranger. Save a comatose boy who has lost his soul, and don't forget to bring your garlic and wolfsbane-you never know when the shadows will snag you. Transcendent includes eight stories of magic, love, death, and choice by some of the newest names in young adult fiction. $0.99 on Amazon

Young Adult
Open Minds  by Susan Kaye Quinn (Paranormal/Science Fiction) When everyone reads minds, a secret is a dangerous thing to keep. Sixteen-year-old Kira Moore is a zero, someone who canít read thoughts or be read by others. Zeros are outcasts who canít be trusted, leaving her no chance with Raf, a regular mindreader and the best friend she secretly loves. When she accidentally controls Rafís mind and nearly kills him, Kira tries to hide her frightening new ability from her family and an increasingly suspicious Raf. But lies tangle around her, and sheís dragged deep into a hidden world of mindjackers, where having to mind control everyone she loves is just the beginning of the deadly choices before her. $2.99 on Amazon 
Bound  by C.K. Bryant (Paranormal Romance) When a photo shoot ends in tragedy, Kira discovers her best friend, Lydia,has been keeping a secret. Knowing the truth, and accepting it, will change Kiraís life forever and thrust her into a world of ancient curses, magical objects, and savage enemies. What happens next will challenge everything Kira knows about her world, herself and the shape-shifting warrior sheís falling in love with. No longer the timid mouse her mother accused her of being, but a woman who finds the mental and physical strength to endure and survive. $3.99 on Amazon
Become  by Ali Cross (YA Urban Fantasy)Sixteen-year old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where itís cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, sheís sent back to Earth where she Becomes the evil she despises and the good she always feared. When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her Choice has been madeóthat she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesnít count on, is a reason to want to changeósomething sheís never had beforeóa friend. $3.99 on Amazon

Exiled  by RaShelle Workman (YA SF Romance) Worlds divided them. Chance brought them together. Only love will save them.

An alien princess exiled to Earth. An arrogant boy. One week to get back to her planet or she'll die. And, her only chance for survival? She must help the boy find his soul mate. Piece of cake! $0.99 on Kindle


The Secret of Spruce
Knoll  by Heather McCorkle (Urban Fantasy)Following the tragic death of her parents, Eren Donovan moves to Spruce Knoll to live with an aunt sheís never met. Little does Eren know the entire town of Spruce Knoll is filled with ìchannelersîóa magical group of people who immigrated to the small Colorado town when they were driven out of their own lands. Channelers are tied to the fate of the world. As the world slowly dies, so do theyóand they alone have the power to stop the destruction of Earth. Soon, Eren learns she not only lives among them, but she is one. When she meets local boy Aiden, his charm convinces her that being a channeler may not be all bad though. $4.99 on Amazon 

Destined  by Jessie Harrell (Retelling) When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear. As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.  $0.99 on Amazon


Darkspell  by Elizabeth Mueller (Paranormal Romance) Winter Sky believes she is everything ordinary . . . until she is kissed by Alex Stormhold. As seer of Stormhold Coven, Alex is sworn to be Winterís protector against the darkness that hunts her.  Violently thrust into a magickal realm she always thought impossible, she stumbles upon a disturbing secret of her own. Will love prove thicker than magick? $3.99 on Amazon


Untraceable  by S. R. Johannes (Thriller) Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival. When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe heís dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials, and nature to find him. One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and a secret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Grace travels deep into the wilderness to escape  and find her father. Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships and lives. Soon sheís enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And
itís going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to save everything she loves. $2.99 on Amazon

Rival Demons (Book 5 of the Peachville High Demons Series)  by Sarra Cannon (Paranormal Romance)  Available January 20th After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Order of Shadows, Harper finds herself thrust into the strange and beautiful world of the shadow demons. But crossing through the portal doesn't mean she is safe. The Order of Shadows is determined to bring her home and transfer the Prima line to the Harris family. They send their most vicious hunters after Harper. Hunters who will not stop until they have found their prey. Determined to keep her safe, Jackson takes her deep into an underground world filled with dangers of its own. Here, Harper will begin a journey that will teach her more about herself and her own path than she ever imagined possible. Add to Goodreads TBR

The Legend of Victor Standish: Under a Voodoo Moon  by Roland D. Yeomans (Urban Fantasy/Romance) Can love kill? Yes ... if you love a ghoul who hungers for your flesh only slightly less than she does your heart.  Yet to the lonely street orphan Victor Standish, who has risked his life for a meal, to find love (even for one magical French Quarter night) is worth dying in the morning. $2.99 on Amazon  All profits go to the Salvation Army.



Getting Sideways (Book 2 in the Full Throttle Series)  by Lisa Nowak (Contemporary) Getting shipped off to live with his uncle Race was the best thing that ever happened to fifteen-year-old Cody. Then a wreck at the speedway nearly ruined everything. Codyís making every effort to get his life back on trackówriting for the school paper, searching for the perfect girlfriend, and counting the days until he gets his driversí licenseóbut thereís no escaping the nightmares that haunt him. A chance to build his own car seems like the perfect distraction. Until Cody realizes heíll have to live up to Raceís legendary status. But thatís the least of his worries, considering he doesnít have his dadís permission. All he has to do is the impossible: keep Race from discovering his lie until he can convince his dad that racingís safe. Yeah, sure. Thatíll be easy. $3.99 on Amazon
Tangled Tides  by Karen Hooper (Sea Monster Memoirs) Yara Jones doesnít believe in sea monstersóuntil she becomes one. When a hurricane hits her island home and she wakes up with fins, Yara finds herself tangled up in an underwater world of mysterious merfolk and secretive selkies. Both sides believe Yara can save them by fulfilling a broken promise and opening the sealed gateway to their realm, but they are battling over how it should be done. The selkies want to take her life. The merfolk want something far more precious. Treygan, the stormy-eyed merman who turned Yara mer, will stop at nothing and sacrifice everything to protect his peopleóuntil he falls for Yara.
The tides turn as Yara fights to save herself, hundreds of sea creatures, and the merman who has her heart. She could lose her soul in the processóor she might open the gateway to a love thatís deeper than the oceans. $4.99 on Amazon

Here  by Denise Grover Swank (SF Romance)Sixteen year old Julia Phillips buries herself in guilt after killing her best friend Monica in a car accident. Julia awoke in the hospital with a broken leg, a new talent for drawing and false memories of the accident, in which she dies and Monica lives. The doctors attribute this to her head injury, but no one can explain how a bracelet engraved with her name ended up at the scene of the accident. A bracelet no one has ever seen before. Classmate Evan Whittaker paid Julia no attention before the accident, let alone after. Now suddenly heís volunteering to tutor her and offering to drive her home. She can't ignore that his new obsession started after his two-day disappearance last week and that he wears a pendant sheís been drawing for months. When the police show up one night looking for Evan, he begs Julia to run with him, convincing her that Monica is still alive. Julia agrees to go, never guessing where heís really from.  $2.99 on Amazon

The Veil  by  Cory
Putman Oakes (Paranormal Romance)Seventeen-year-old Addison Russell is in for a shock when she discovers that she can see the invisible world of the Annorasi.  Suddenly, nothing is as it appears to beóthe house she lives in, the woman who raised her, even the most beautiful boy in town all turn out to be more than what they seem.  And when this strange new world forces Addy to answer for a crime that was committed long ago, by parents she has never known, she has no choice but to trust Luc, the mysterious Annorasi who has been sent to protect her.  Or so he says . . . $7.99 on Amazon

Embrace  by Cherie Colyer (Paranormal Romance)Madison is familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it. Change took her long-term boyfriend away from her. It caused one of her friends to suddenly hate her. Itís responsible for the death of a local along with a host of other mysterious happenings. But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks her luck is about to improve. Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome and intriguing Isaac Addington. She quickly realizes heís a guy harboring a secret, but sheís willing to risk the unknown to be with him. Her world really spins out of control, however, when her best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that arenít there and desperately trying to escape their evil. When the doctors canít find the
answers, Madison seeks her own. Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover. $6.99 on Amazon

Onyx Talisman  by Brenda Pandos (Paranormal Romance)Unrest stirs deep in Scotts Valley. Filled with uncertainty, Julia anxiously awaits Nicholasí return. Phil, holds the pieces of Juliaís fragile psyche together, secretly hoping Nicholas stays away forever. But Alora secretly conspires to reclaim her talisman and strip Julia of
everything she holds dear. Little do they know, a war is coming and more than one vampire would like to see the Prince of Vampires overthrown. Can Julia bargain with fate? Find out how it all ends in this explosive grand finale of The Talisman Trilogy. $3.99 on Amazon 

How to Date an Alien  by Magan Vernon (Science Fiction) High school senior Alex Bianchi's estranged father gets her an internship at Circe Operations Center to pad her college applications. But Circe isn't your typical military base. It's an alien-run operation center and not all of the aliens are friendly, especially the one that tries to kill Alex on her first day. When Ace, a dark-eyed Caltian, enters and saves the day, she can't help but be drawn to him. Can these star-crossed lovers survive when they're on the brink of intergalactic war? $2.99 on Amazon



Fireseed One  by  Catherine Stine (Science Fiction/Thriller) Fireseed One is a journey into a tricked-out near-future earth where 18 year-old Varik has inherited a vast ocean farm, following the suspicious drowning of his Marine biologist father. When Marisa, a beautiful and devious terrorist, destroys the world's food source, Varik is forced to travel to a lethal hotzone, teeming with dangerous nomads and a strange cult to search for a magical hybrid plant that may not even exist. The catch? He must take Marisa along, the only person who seems to know way, way too much key information.  $2.99 on Amazon 

The Missing  by M.A. Leslie (Paranormal)Eight-year-old, Ethan Doyle is just a normal kid whose biggest problem in life was to fight for the attention of his busy parents from his older twin siblings. But, after his aunt and uncle tragically die, his family takes in his teenage cousin, Kelsey, and moves to a spooky old, manor house in a new town. At first, everything seems fine, but when he begins to see and speak to a spirit named Lucas, his biggest problem becomes, just staying alive. Lucas was ten years old when the spirits of the house came to him and asked him for help setting their spirits free. Unfortunately, he never made the deadline and as a result the spirits took him and made him a part of the house as well. As he soon finds out, the only way he can save his own soul is to save the souls of the missing boys in the house. With his own deadline in place, Ethan enlists the help of his cousin Kelsey to solve the twenty-year-old mystery of THE MISSING. $0.99 on Amazon

Princess Kandake  by Stephanie Jefferson (Fantasy) Available February 1, 2012 In Nubia a woman can be whatever she chooses. At 14, Kandake knows exactly what she chooses...Prime Warrior of Nubia. But her grandmother has said that she will follow her father on the throne. Refusing to abandon her warrior dreams she continues to train. When her brother is kidnapped, Kandake learns she must be both queen and warrior to win his release! See Author's Website 


Middle Grade
Blink of a Dragon  by Eisley Jacobs (Fantasy)Discovering sheís connected to dragons is one thing, but when another dragon is caught hanging out in the fifth grade, Meia thinks things couldnít get any worse. Is she ever wrong! Trouble is brewing in the cosmos and Deglan believes this new dragon holds the answers, but his hopes are crushed when the leader of the exiled dark dragons ambushes them. The fate of the dragons and possibly the whole world falls to Deglan and Meia as they
search for the only creature powerful enough to send the dark dragons back into the abyss. What they encounter along the way makes the adventure worth fighting for. $6.99
Paperback preorder

New Year's Goals

My new year's goals.  I don't want to call them resolutions -- that makes my goals too predictably broken.  I mean, when have I ever stuck my exercise plan or done anything else I "resolved" to do?  Probably never.  But I'm a goal-oriented person by nature, so I figure if I set some goals for myself, I'll have something to go after.

And if I write them down and share them, now I'm accountable for meeting those goals.  So here goes:
1.  Do a complete and thorough edit of my co-written manuscript.
2.  Work with Nikki to find a home for said manuscript.
3.  Write that companion novel to Destined I've been talking about.
4.  Exercise at least once a week.
5.  Try to be a better teacher to my daughters (i.e., get some patience).
6.  Read, read, read.

Now, I know the last one I'm going to do anyway, but now I've built in a fail-safe.  At the end of 2012 I can guarantee that at least 1 of my goals will have been reached.  LOL!


What are your goals this new year?

Winners Announced

I've now been on contact with both winners from the Midwinters Eve Blog Hop and thought I'd share their selections with you.

Leslie from Illinois picked Clarity
 Mai from the Philippines picked Wither

Congratulations to both ladies and THANK YOU to all who entered and joined the blog.  I hope to see many of you back here in 2012.

Happy Debut YA Book Birthday

Just in time to spend your gift cards or give your new e-readers a work out, we have some debut YA book birthdays this week.
Living Violet by Jaime Reed
Book 1 of The Cambion Chronicles
He's persuasive, charming, and way too mysterious. And for Samara Marshall, her co-worker is everything she wants most--and everything she most fears. . .Samara Marshall is determined to make the summer before her senior year the best ever. Her plan: enjoy downtime with friends and work to save up cash for her dream car. Summer romance is not on her to-do list, but uncovering the truth about her flirtatious co-worker, Caleb Baker, is. From the peculiar glow to his eyes to the unfortunate events that befall the girls who pine after him, Samara is the only one to sense danger behind his smile.But Caleb's secrets are drawing Samara into a world where the laws of attraction are a means of survival. And as a sinister power closes in on those she loves, Samara must take a risk that will change her life forever. . .or consume it.

Archon by Sabrina Benulis
There are some things worse than death . . .For years, Angela Mathers has been plagued by visions of a supernatural being—an angel with beguiling eyes and magnificent wings who haunts her thoughts and seduces her dreams. Newly freed from a mental institution where she had been locked away for two years, Angela hopes that attending Westwood Academy, the Vatican's exclusive university, will bring her peace and a semblance of normality.But Angela isn't normal. With her stain of dark red hair and alabaster skin, she is a blood head—a freak, a monster, and the possible fulfillment of a terrifying prophecy. Blessed with strange, mystical powers, blood heads hold a special place in the Academy. Among them, one special blood head is more powerful than them all: the Archon, the human reincarnation of the dead angel Raziel. And when the Archon arises as foretold, it will rule the supernatural universe.Barely in control of her own life, Angela has no ambition to conquer an entire universe, not when she's suddenly contending with a dangerous enemy who is determined to destroy her and a magnetic novitiate who wants to save her. But the choice might not be her own . . .Torn between mortal love and angelic obsession, the young blood head must soon face the truth about herself and her world. It is she who holds the key to Heaven and Hell—and both will stop at nothing to possess her.
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler
I'm telling you why we broke up, Ed. I'm writing it in this letter, the whole truth of why it happened.

Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.


My friend, co-author and Bookanista has been talking up this one, so I know it's going to be good!

COVER REVEAL:

I met a new author on twitter the other day and her debut YA novel is coming out soon.  She just released her cover today & it's BEAUTIFUL!  So without further ado, I give you ~ OPPRESSION by Jessica Therrien

There are others like her. Many of them. And they have been waiting for her for a long time.
 OPPRESSION tells the story of a young woman who discovers that she belongs to a secret society of individuals with extraordinarily long life spans and unusual abilities. Fearful of prophecies about their only daughter, her parents kept her hidden from the world – and the society – for as long as they could. But when their own untimely deaths leave her to fend for herself, the truth of her origins and the fateful prophecy find her at last. Joining the ranks of such widely popular works as the Twilight Saga, The Hunger Games, and the Mortal Instruments series, Mrs. Therrien's paranormal romance/adventure promises to be the next fan-favorite in its genre.
*Note: The above blurb is not what will be printed on the back cover. ZOVA is still working on that, but what I've seen of it looks awesome. Can't wait to share that with you when it's ready.
Here's an excerpt from the novel:

When I left Cearno's in a state of half sleep, I found the door to my apartment ajar. I grabbed the knob and pushed it open with caution, assuming I had forgotten to close it all the way."Hello?" I asked, just in case.No answer. I shut the door behind me.It wasn't until I reached the top of the stairs that I felt something wet on my palm and realized I had blood on my hand. I made my way to the sink, looking for where I'd cut myself when I heard her."It's not your blood," Kara said from behind me, making me jump a foot in the air."What are you doing here, Kara?" I asked, callous and guarded. The last time I'd seen her, she'd stabbed me in the leg.She was slumped down in the corner, sitting on the floor of my kitchen, a bloody mess.My face registered with shock. "What happened to you?" I waited for an answer, but she only glanced at me briefly, annoyed by the question, and continued staring off into the distance."Are you hurt?" If she wasn't going to talk to me I would find out for myself. I knelt down in front of her, looking over her blood stained hands, arms and face. She seemed fine."It's not my blood either," she said, her eyes finally meeting mine.

Cover Reveal ~ CHOSEN ONES by Tiffany Truitt

My thanks to Entangled Publishing for allowing me to be part of the big cover reveal for Tiffany Truitt's debut YA novel, CHOSEN ONES.  This cover is fabulous and I know you dystopian lovers out there are going to be salivating!  Ready?
And here's the book blurb:

       What if you were mankind's last chance at survival? Sixteen-year-old Tess lives in a compound in what was once the Western United States, now decimated after a devastating fourth World War. But long before that, life as we knew it had been irrevocably changed, as women mysteriously lost the ability to bring forth life. Faced with the extinction of the human race, the government began the Council of Creators, meant to search out alternative methods of creating life. The resulting artificial human beings, or Chosen Ones, were extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.  Life is bleak, but uncomplicated for Tess as she follows the rigid rules of her dystopian society, until the day she begins work at Templeton, the training facility for newly created Chosen Ones. There, she meets James, a Chosen One whose odd love of music and reading rivals only her own. The attraction between the two is immediate in its intensity—and overwhelming in its danger.  But there is more to the goings-on at Templeton than Tess ever knew, and as the veil is lifted from her eyes, she uncovers a dark underground movement bent not on taking down the Chosen Ones, but the Council itself. Will Tess be able to stand up to those who would oppress her, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?

Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads and keep your eyes peeled for it come April 2012.

Mid-Winter's Eve Giveaway Hop

Woot! I'm thrilled to be participating in the mid-winter's eve blog hop! I'm also feeling very fortunate because Kathy at I am a Reader, Not a Writer, has allowed Oasis for YA to co-host the hop with us.  This hop-stop is International if the Book Depository ships to your country.
I'm using Rafflecopter and the only mandatory entry is to follow this blog. You can get an additional 2 points for following me via twitter or following my author fan page on Facebook.  Comments are not mandatory, but are loved. <3
Up for grabs is your choice of ONE of the following YA novels that I loved this year ~ the winner will just have to notify me which ONE they select.  (Note: I will send the paperback version if it is available.)

Destined ~ meWhere She Went ~ Gayle FormanSpellbound ~ Cara Lynn ShultzFalling Under ~ Gwen HayesWither ~ Lauren DeStenfanoDaughter of Smoke and Bone ~ Laini TaylorClarity ~ Kim HarringtonStarcrossed ~ Josephine Angelini





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And don't forget to stop at the other hops when you're done!

Happy Debut YA Book Birthday

Guess what?  There's a debut novelist celebrating her book birthday this week.
Please help me congratulate Helen Landalf on her debut novel, Flyaway.

Stevie Calhoun knows how to take care of herself. It's not like her mom hasn't disappeared before. So why is Aunt Mindy making such a big deal of it now? It's not like Mom's really doing meth. Stevie makes sure of that. Whatever. She'll go home with Aunt Mindy if it will keep her from calling Child Protective Services—but it doesn't mean she'll stay. Mom will come back. Mom always comes back. And Stevie will be there when she does.
But when Stevie meets Alan—frustrating and fascinating and so-different-from-everyone-she-knows Alan—and she starts helping out at the bird rehab center, things begin to look different. Even the tutoring and the ridiculous outfits Aunt Mindy's forcing her into might not be so bad. Not that Stevie would say it out loud. She can't. Because how can anything be good if it doesn't include Mom?


Sounds pretty good, right? Kirkus reviewed it by saying it's realistic teen fiction without the dark elements of Ellen Hopkins.

Anyway, if for some reason I don't make it back on the blog before the holidays (other than my upcoming giveaway hop), let me just wish you all A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Cover Reveal

Don't you love seeing new covers, all sparkly and shiny and fresh?  Well, I know I do, and I've got a great one to share with you today ~ Sleepers by Megg Jensen.



To celebrate the re-launch of SLEEPERS in January of 2012, Megg is giving it a new cover with artwork from the incredible PhatPuppy. Synopsis: An adoptee raised in a foreign land, sixteen-year-old Lianne was content with her life as handmaiden to the queen, until a spell cast on her at birth activated. Now she's filled with uncontrollable rage and access to magic she thought had been bled from her people years ago. Even her years of secret training in elite hand-to-hand combat and meditation can't calm the fires raging inside her.Her heart is torn between two boys, the one she's always loved and the one who always ignored her. But when the kingdom threatens to tear itself apart due to rumors surrounding the queen's alleged affair, who will Lianne protect and who will she destroy?
On sale now for only 99 cents!
Sales outlets for SLEEPERS:http://meggjensen.blogspot.com/p/where-to-buy-meggs-books.htmlMegg on the web:Website: http://www.meggjensen.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/meggjensenauthorTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/meggjensen

Debut Author Challenge 2012

Since I couldn't find any debut YA book birthdays today, I figured I'd bring you up to speed on my 2012 debut author challenge goals... The debut author challenge is hosted by The Story Siren each year and encourages readers to try out books by new authors.  I LOVE THIS!

CHALLENGE OBJECTIVE:

To read & review a minimum of twelve young adult or middle grade debut novels between the dates of January 1st 2012 - January 31st 2013.

RULES & GUIDELINES:

You must have a Blog to post your reviews or be a member of Goodreads.
Your blog must be written in English.
Deadline to join is May 31, 2012.

BOOK GUIDELINES:

Must be a young adult or middle grade title.
Must be the author's YA or MG debut, released in 2012.
If an author has a previous novel published for adults or children, they can still qualify for the challenge.
If an author has a previous YA or MG title, they do not qualify for the challenge.

So far, I've read 21 debuts in 2011.  Not too bad... Here's a list of some YA books that I hope to read in 2012:
Everneath - Brodi Ashton
Touching the Surface - Kim Sabatini
Renegade - J.A. Souders
Incarnate - Jodi Meadows
Sweet Evil - Wendy Higgins
Auracle - Gina Rosati
Of Poseidon - Anna Banks
Harbinger - Sara Wilson Bienne
Elemental - Emily White
Illusminate - Aimee Agresti
Slide - Jill Hathaway
Fracture - Megan Miranda
Born Wicked - Jessica Spotswood
When the Sea is Rising Red - Cat Hellisen
Grace Mercy - Robin LaFevers
A Witch in Winter - Ruth Warburton
The Demon Catchers of Milan  - Kay Beyer

Sure, it's ambitious, but I'm sure I can do it. Plus, these all look SO GOOD.  2012 is shaping up to be a great year and I personally can't wait.