Jessie Harrell's Blog, page 28

I've been Tagged (10 random factoids about moi)

 This picture makes me smile. I wish I could see the guy's expression after being tagged.
I was tagged by the awesome Kelly Hasway, who post 10 numerous and unique facts about herself -- you can read them here.  I've now been tasked with doing the same thing, and I hope to be half as entertaining. :)  So, here are 10 facts about moi that you may or may not have always wanted to know...
1.  Sometimes I stay up too late, drawn to my computer screen light a mosquito to a bug zapper. I type really awesome and funny blog posts and then inadvertently delete the whole thing.  (This happened last night with this point, btw.)  Only then do I go to bed.
2.  I was born and raised in Florida, but I don't eat any seafood. Ever. Not fish, not lobsters, not oysters, not crabs. Nada. 
Except canned tuna fish in a tuna salad. Now that's yummy.
3.  I love to sing in my car with the music cranked up. 
4.  I'm tone deaf.  (Note that factoid #3 combined with #4 makes me an unpopular traveling companion. Fact #4 didn't help me with the 7 years of band my mom forced me to take either.)
5.  Speaking of band, the only Letter I received in high school was for marching band. (How lame is that?)
6.  But here's why: I don't like sweating or exercising. At all. I will find just about any excuse to get out of doing either of those activities. I also am risk-adverse and don't like getting injured. That means me and sports don't mix. (I have NEVER broken a bone though.)
7.  I'm also pretty indecisive. Like, before settling on a career as a lawyer (not that I'm settled actually, since I'm writing now too...), I absolutely KNEW I wanted to be a pediatrician, a marine biologist, an actor/director, a family therapist, a Classics professor and earn a degree in hotel/restaurant management.
8.  My biggest pet peeve in the ENTIRE WORLD is getting stuck driving behind someone who is going BELOW the speed limit.  Really.  This is unacceptable driving behavior.  (My children whining at me is a close second.)
9.  I bit my nails my entire life until my first daughter was born and then quit for no apparent reason. I didn't even try, it just happened. To this day, I have no idea why those two events are connected.
10.  I cannot work in complete silence. I need music playing in the background. My current station of choice is Channel 10 (the Pulse) on Sirius XM. I stream it through the internet while I'm at work and listen/sing to it in the car. While writing, my favorite artist to listen to is Joshua Radin.
Now, to tag four other people.  It was hard to narrow this list down, but I'd love to hear some random and quirky facts about these ladies:

Dani Snell
Adrienne Gelbart
Jessica Souders
Christa Desir

If you aren't tagged (and for that, I apologize), feel free to leave me a random factoid of your own. I like knowing I'm not the only semi-neurotic person out there.  :)  Happy Friday!

Destined ARC Giveaway

Exciting news!!  To celebrate ordering my proofs of Destined, I'm holding a contest on Goodreads.  Starting on Saturday, U.S. and Canada residents can enter to win one of two ARC copies. Goodreads runs the contest and will select the two winners on October 17th -- that means the winners will know they're getting the book a full month before it's released.  I hope you'll drop by and enter and then help spread the word.

How do you get there?  Glad you asked ... just click the widget!







  

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    Goodreads Book Giveaway
  

 
  
  

    
        
    
    
  
  

    

      
          Destined
      
      
    

      
          by Jessie Harrell
      
      
    
    

      
        

            Giveaway ends October 17, 2011.
        

        

            See the giveaway details
            at Goodreads.
        

      
      
    
  

  
  
      Enter to win
  
  
  

Happy Debut YA Book Birthday

While there are a ton of book birthdays this week, not many are by debut authors.  I must say though, I'm really looking forward to:

Frost by Marianna Baer


Leena Thomas's senior year at boarding school starts with a cruel shock: Frost House, the cozy Victorian dorm where she and her best friends chose to live, has been assigned an unexpected roommate—confrontational, eccentric Celeste Lazar.
What Celeste lacks in social grace, however, her brother, David, a recent transfer student, makes up for in good looks and charm. But while he and Leena hit it off immediately, Leena finds herself struggling to balance her growing attraction with her fear of getting hurt.
As classes get under way, strange happenings begin to bedevil Frost House—frames mysteriously falling off walls, doors locking by themselves, furniture toppling over. Celeste blames the housemates, convinced they want to scare her into leaving. And while Leena tries to play peacekeeper between her best friends and new roommate, soon the mysterious happenings in the dorm, an intense triangle between Leena, Celeste, and David, and the reawakening of childhood fears all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. But does the threat lie with her new roommate, within Leena's own mind . . . or in Frost House itself?
Frost is a stunning and surprising tale of suspense from debut author Marianna Baer.
Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. 


But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.

Written in rich, seductive prose, this spell-casting novel is a feast for the senses and the heart.


Circle 9 by Anne Heltzel

When your whole life has vanished and only one person knows who you are . . . don't you have to believe him?

Abby doesn't remember what happened the night she woke up in soot-stained clothes, lying next to a burning building with an unfamiliar boy at her side. But her connection with Sam is immediate and intense. And she has no one else: no family, no home, not even a last name.

She and Sam start a new life, just the two of them, and Abby's deliriously happy. Until memories from her past begin to haunt her and suddenly everything she's learned to love turns sinister. It's only a matter of time before her reality cracks apart.

So what do you think - do these interest you?

Book Review: DAEMONS IN THE MIST by Alicia Kat Dillman

Finally getting the girl of your dreams; what could possibly go wrong?

I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I met Kat on twitter and really didn't know what to expect from the novel. I knew it had a super-cool cover that Kat drew herself, and that there'd be love story at the heart of it, but the rest was a surprise. And what a pleasant surprise it was!


She could have been a perfectly normal, albeit a breathtakingly beautiful girl, but she wasn't, for I knew there were secrets hidden behind her eyes.Seventeen year old Patrick Connolly has been drawn to Nualla ever since he first saw her, but as the years pass she seems to take absolutely no notice of him. Until, that is, he rescues her from a confrontation in the school hallway. Little does he know that he's about to be thrust into a world of life altering secrets and things that shouldn't exist, because the fog and mist of San Francisco is concealing more than just buildings.Deliriously captivating and extraordinarily soulful, Daemons in the Mist beautifully weaves together two voices to tell the story of what happens when life leads you down a not so normal path.
I didn't immediately love the book because it started off a little heavy on the telling. But by a few chapters in, I was engrossed with Nualla and Patrick's story. The novel is written in their alternate points of view, which I happen to have a particular weakness for (think Destined).

In short, you have a guy who sticks up for a girl when her ex-boyfriend is bullying her, and that wins her heart. When a chance meeting at the mall brings them back together that Friday night, Nualla convinces Patrick to join her & her friends on a spur of the moment trip to Vegas. And you know what happens when teens with fake IDs get hammered in Vegas and mention marriage... Yep, everything unwinds from there. But what was really cool was that once back in San Fran, Nualla & Patrick do the whole dating/falling in love thing. So it's not like we miss that step because of a mistake the characters make. Their relationship is still very well-developed.

Another thing I really enjoyed were all the twists and turns. I love when I don't see an ending coming, and this book had loads of surprises. I also liked that there was a happy ending but not a perfect ending. I thought the author did a great job with that.

Also, the secondary characters were awesome. It bothered me a little bit that Nualla referred to her patents by their first names given how close they all were, but the parents were still great characters. I also felt like a got to know both Nualla and Patrick's circle of friends, both of which groups felt real to me.

The one thing that bothered me throughout was the typos and grammatical errors. Despite these problems, though, the story line was so engrossing that I was able to overlook the flaws.

Bottom line: I give Daemons in the Mist 3.5 out of 4 Greek coins - a URA*+rating. If you like a great YA love story with paranormal elements and a fast-moving plot, check out this novel. A sequel and an illustrated version are also due out soon.
To get your own copy, check out Amazon or Barnes & Noble (for Nook owners).  You can also explore these other links:

Author site: http://www.katgirlstudio.com/
Author page for this book: 
http://www.katgirlstudio.com/books/young-adult/daemons-in-the-mist/
The publisher's page for this book:
 http://www.koratpublishing.com/our-books/daemons-in-the-mist/

Book Review: DAEMONS IN THE MIST by Alicia Kat Dillon

Finally getting the girl of your dreams; what could possibly go wrong?

I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I met Kat on twitter and really didn't know what to expect from the novel. I knew it had a super-cool cover that Kat drew herself, and that there'd be love story at the heart of it, but the rest was a surprise. And what a pleasant surprise it was!


She could have been a perfectly normal, albeit a breathtakingly beautiful girl, but she wasn't, for I knew there were secrets hidden behind her eyes.Seventeen year old Patrick Connolly has been drawn to Nualla ever since he first saw her, but as the years pass she seems to take absolutely no notice of him. Until, that is, he rescues her from a confrontation in the school hallway. Little does he know that he's about to be thrust into a world of life altering secrets and things that shouldn't exist, because the fog and mist of San Francisco is concealing more than just buildings.Deliriously captivating and extraordinarily soulful, Daemons in the Mist beautifully weaves together two voices to tell the story of what happens when life leads you down a not so normal path.
I didn't immediately love the book because it started off a little heavy on the telling. But by a few chapters in, I was engrossed with Nualla and Patrick's story. The novel is written in their alternate points of view, which I happen to have a particular weakness for (think Destined).

In short, you have a guy who sticks up for a girl when her ex-boyfriend is bullying her, and that wins her heart. When a chance meeting at the mall brings them back together that Friday night, Nualla convinces Patrick to join her & her friends on a spur of the moment trip to Vegas. And you know what happens when teens with fake IDs get hammered in Vegas and mention marriage... Yep, everything unwinds from there. But what was really cool was that once back in San Fran, Nualla & Patrick do the whole dating/falling in love thing. So it's not like we miss that step because of a mistake the characters make. Their relationship is still very well-developed.

Another thing I really enjoyed were all the twists and turns. I love when I don't see an ending coming, and this book had loads of surprises. I also liked that there was a happy ending but not a perfect ending. I thought the author did a great job with that.

Also, the secondary characters were awesome. It bothered me a little bit that Nualla referred to her patents by their first names given how close they all were, but the parents were still great characters. I also felt like a got to know both Nualla and Patrick's circle of friends, both of which groups felt real to me.

The one thing that bothered me throughout was the typos and grammatical errors. Despite these problems, though, the story line was so engrossing that I was able to overlook the flaws.

Bottom line: I give Daemons in the Mist 3.5 out of 4 Greek coins - a URA*+rating. If you like a great YA love story with paranormal elements and a fast-moving plot, check out this novel. A sequel and an illustrated version are also due out soon.
To get your own copy, check out Amazon or Barnes & Noble (for Nook owners).  You can also explore these other links:

Author site: http://www.katgirlstudio.com/
Author page for this book: 
http://www.katgirlstudio.com/books/young-adult/daemons-in-the-mist/
The publisher's page for this book:
 http://www.koratpublishing.com/our-books/daemons-in-the-mist/

Happy Debut YA Book Birthday

Another Tuesday, another debut YA book birthday celebration!  Here are the honorees this week:

Shelter by Harlan Coben

A young adult debut from internationally bestselling author Harlan Coben

Mickey Bolitar's year can't get much worse. After witnessing his father's death and sending his mom to rehab, he's forced to live with his estranged uncle Myron and switch high schools.

A new school comes with new friends and new enemies, and lucky for Mickey, it also comes with a great new girlfriend, Ashley. For a while, it seems like Mickey's train-wreck of a life is finally improving - until Ashley vanishes without a trace. Unwilling to let another person walk out of his life, Mickey follows Ashley's trail into a seedy underworld that reveals that this seemingly sweet, shy girl isn't who she claimed to be. And neither was Mickey's father. Soon, Mickey learns about a conspiracy so shocking that it makes high school drama seem like a luxury - and leaves him questioning everything about the life he thought he knew.

First introduced to readers in Harlan Coben's latest adult novel, Live Wire, Mickey Bolitar is as quick-witted and clever as his uncle Myron, and eager to go to any length to save the people he cares about. With this new series, Coben introduces an entirely new generation of fans to the masterful plotting and wry humor that have made him an award-winning, internationally bestselling, and beloved author.

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle
Anyone who's had something truly crappy happen to them will tell you: It's all about Before and After. What I'm talking about here is the ka-pow, shake-you-to-your-core-and-turn-your-bones-to-plastic kind of crappy."

Sixteen-year-old Laurel's world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel's life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss--a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways.
Jennifer Castle's debut novel is a heart-wrenching, surprisingly witty testament to how drastically life can change in the span of a single moment.September 8

Damage by Anya Parrish


There was a time when I prayed for Rachel to be real—it ended the night she tried to kill me.When Dani was eight, she fell from a building. No one believed her claim that she was pushed by Rachel, her imaginary friend. It took years of therapy to convince Dani that Rachel was a product of her own mind.

Now fifteen, Dani wants to make it as a dancer. But a deadly freak accident sends her a terrifying message: Rachel is back, she's real, and she'll stop at nothing to kill Dani. Complicating matters is Jesse, the school bad boy who's being stalked by his own invisible childhood monster.

When Dani and Jesse join forces to learn why their tormenters are back, their investigation leads to a horrifying discovery—and the secret that binds them to each other.

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey


A boy who can see the world's secrets and unravel spells with just a glance.

Braden's witch eyes give him an enormous power. A mere look causes a kaleidoscopic explosion of emotions, memories, darkness, and magic. But this rare gift is also his biggest curse.

Compelled to learn about his shadowed past and the family he never knew, Braden is drawn to the city of Belle Dam, where he is soon caught between two feuding witch dynasties. Sworn rivals Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe will use anything--lies, manipulation, illusion, and even murder--to seize control of Braden's powers. To stop an ancient evil from destroying the town, Braden must master his gift, even through the shocking discovery that Jason is his father. While his feelings for an enigmatic boy named Trey grow deeper, Braden realizes a terrible truth: Trey is Catherine Lansing's son . . . and Braden may be destined to kill him.

Skyship Academy: The Pearl Wars by Nick James


A devastated Earth's last hope is found in Pearls: small, mysterious orbs that fall from space and are capable of supplying enough energy to power entire cities. Battling to control the Pearls are the Skyship dwellers—political dissidents who live in massive ships in the Earth's stratosphere—and the corrupt Surface government.
Jesse Fisher, a Skyship slacker, and Cassius Stevenson, a young Surface operative, cross paths when they both venture into forbidden territory in pursuit of Pearls. Their chance encounter triggers an unexpected reaction, endowing each boy with remarkable—and dangerous—abilities that their respective governments would stop at nothing to possess.
Enemies thrust together with a common goal, Jesse and Cassius make their way to the ruins of Seattle to uncover the truth about their new powers, the past they didn't know they shared, and a shocking secret about the Pearls.

Looks like there's something for everything this week -- go forth and purchase!

Review: SPELLBOUND by Cara Lynn Shultz

Gotta say -- I wasn't expecting all that much when I started Spellbound .  Mostly because by the time I got around to reading it (thanks, Netgalley!), I'd forgotten what it was supposed to be about.  OMG - I was in for such an awesome surprise.  I loved this book.

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?
Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

Here's what's funny... since I was just coming off reading Always a Witch (and not remembering the premise), I kept thinking that Emma was going to be a witch.  About a third of the way through the book, when there was still no indication that Emma was going to cast a spell, I started wondering what was up.  Ok, as you can probably tell from the synopsis that I've just given you, Emma is not a witch, but she's been BOUND by a SPELL to love the same person life after life. The catch, of course, is that soon after finding her soul mate, she's doomed to die.

The book largely revolves around Emma and an unexpected friend trying to figure out why all the mysterious things are happening in her life. Exploding streetlight, necklaces with ancient meanings, etc. But there's also the chemistry with Brendan, who's a great guy (and totally hot). There were definitely some toe-curling romance scenes between the two of them. So on the global level, I loved the plot, since it combined romance/reincarnation/soulmates with mystery.

On the micro level, I also really liked how the book dealt with some serious teen issues.  For example, Emma has her reasons for not liking alcohol, but it doesn't make her such a prude that she refuses a beer when offered to her. She just acts in moderation, without being preachy, and in a way that I perceived as very realistic.  There's also a case of an almost-date-rape where the victim is further victimized following the attack. I loved how Emma stood up to the bully (even if that wasn't her smartest move ever) and how we got to see some realistic high school drama and rumors.  I know these can be touchy subjects in YA, but they happen and I think it's good to see them portrayed realistically.  Certainly the alcohol wasn't glamorized, but it wasn't ignored either.  I thought it was very well-done.
Overall, I give Spellbound 4 out of 4 Greek coins -- an OMG! rating.  If you love reincarnation and romance and all that good stuff like I do, I think you'll also fall pretty hard for this book.  I'll be anxiously awaiting the sequel next year!

Added bonus -- Cara Lynn Shultz is an absolute sweetheart on twitter.  So start following her.

2 Months & Counting!

Ok, I'm about crawl-out-of-my-skin excited today.  For one, the blog tour for DESTINED officially kicks off in 2 months -- November 1st. 
I'll be posting a separate page here on my blog with the full schedule, but we'll be making stops at Once Upon a Twilight, Mundie Moms, Books with Bite, Stuck in Books, I am a Reader, Not a Writer, and many, many more.  Thank you to everyone who is participating and an even bigger thank you to Damaris at Good Choice Reading for organizing the tour.  You're awesome!

The second reason I'm so excited is that I put the finishing touches on my content edits last night - hip, hip, hooray.  Now, I have two sets of eyes going over it to make sure I don't inadvertently douse you all with typos, and then it's off to the printers.  ARCs here we come!!

What are you excited about today?

Happy Debut YA Book Birthday

August 30th Birthdays --

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley

High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future.It's all a fake.At least, that's what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people's old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he's ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic and about himself will change, when he discovers that the prophecies he's always scorned—Are about him.

Fury by Elizabeth Miles

Sometimes sorry isn't enough....It's winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year's even better--the guy she's been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there's no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em's best friend.On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that's nothing compared to what's really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it's only a matter of time before he's exposed.In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.Em and Chase have been chosen

September 1st Birthday --

Witch Song by Amber Argyle
The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons-but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fade, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.

There are also a lot of well-established authors with titles coming out this week (FYI), so lots to choose from on the shelves.  But, of course, I like to support the newbies!

Review: MOONGLASS by Jessi Kirby

As you may have gleaned from the types of books I read, I'm not as big into contemporary novels as I am paranormal/UF, but I loved the past few I've read (Where She Went and Anna and the French Kiss), and since I used to collect beach glass as a teen (who am I kidding, I still do), MOONGLASS seemed like a must-read for me.

I read once that water is a symbol for emotions. And for a while now, I've thought maybe my mother drowned in both.

Anna's life is upended when her father accepts a job transfer the summer before her junior year. It's bad enough that she has to leave her friends and her life behind, but her dad is moving them to the beach where her parents first met and fell in love- a place awash in memories that Anna would just as soon leave under the surface.

While life on the beach is pretty great, with ocean views and one adorable lifeguard in particular, there are also family secrets that were buried along the shore years ago. And the ebb and flow of the ocean's tide means that nothing- not the sea glass that she collects on the sand and not the truths behind Anna's mother's death- stays buried forever.

There were some things I absolutely loved about this book.  The way Anna's mother's death was slowly explained, so we could understand the true tragedy of it right along with Anna.  The relationship between Anna and her father felt very real and I loved that they were able to grow together when Anna was finally brave enough to face the truth.  I loved how brave and strong Anna was on the surface (cliff diving, cross country running), but that she was still vulnerable on the inside and we got to see that too.

I also liked the fact that Anna really pursued the guy she was interested in, but not in the way it seems to happen in paranormal (you know, that draw where the characters can't stay away from each other).  This seemed more realistic.  She saw a cute life guard, decided she wanted to date him, and then kept putting herself in situations where they'd be around each other.  While Tyler did put her off for awhile (Anna's dad is his boss, after all), and he seemed a little cocky, it all felt very real to me.  I liked that.

The only thing that bugged me was the portrayal of Anna's first new friend, Ashley.  Now, let me just say that based on the Goodreads reviews, A LOT of people liked Ashley so I may be totally alone in this peeve.  But she was this really wealthy girl who was so clueless that she says hurtful things without realizing it's hurtful (like telling Anna she should diet in addition to exercise because imagine how good she'd look then), but turned out to have this generous heart and showered her friends with gifts. 

I'm pretty sure I get what the author was trying to do here, which is show that not all spoiled rich girls are mean, stuck-up snobs.  And that's admirable.  We see too much of that stereotype in YA.  My problem was that these two personality traits just seemed too much in conflict to me.  And this is totally based on my own personal experience.  I know a girl who says the clueless hurtful things, and I know wealthy women who love to give their friends gifts. And those two personalities do not intersect at all.  But really, that was the only thing I didn't love -- and with something so minor, it definitely shouldn't keep you from reading the book.  At let me assure you, the ending is awesome and you will love it.
Overall, I give MOONGLASS 3 out of 4 Greek coins -- a URA* rating.  If you like realistic, issue-based contemporary with a splash of romance, this is the novel for you.