Jennifer Echols has some great covers. (Remember the
makeovers of her illustrated-cover books into photographic covers? Love that!)
Her 2012 book,
Such a Rush, is no exception. Jennifer's here to share her Cover Story:
"When the publisher asked me for my input on the cover, I told them a big sky would be good, but we would also need to see the characters Leah and Grayson to make it evident to readers that the book is a romance. They came back with two possibilities. One looked like the back cover, showing the small-town airport with an airplane overhead, except that Leah and Grayson were also lying in the grass. The other looked like the front cover...."
Read Jennifer's
full Cover Story on melissacwalker.com.
Best Young Adult Books: Top Picks from YA Bloggers in the Know, #3
By Nicki Richesin, The Children’s Book Review
Published: June 9, 2012
Michelle and Andi, the masterminds behind Galleysmith, kindly agreed to choose not 5, but their 10(!) most swoon-worthy and gripping new summer reads. We’re ready to grab a beach blanket, a pina colada, and dive into these books. Thanks to Michelle and Andi for making our summer reading list even better.
The Ten Most Anticipated YA Summer Reads
When The Children’s Book Review asked that I stop by and tell you all about my five most anticipated summer reads I thought to myself, “only five?!?” You see, on my blog Galleysmith my colleague Andi and I have The List of Ten. The purpose of this list is to plot out our next ten reads to avoid the indecision that sometimes accompanies book selection. Moreover, it’s intended to help us keep our reading varied by being comprised of various formats, genres and ages. Have no fear, readers! The list below doesn’t follow our usual rules of formation nor does it come with any of the usual selection indecision. We’re thrilled to share with you some of our most anticipated forthcoming summer releases and we couldn’t just stop at five!
By Courtney Summers
Zombies! Need I say more? ZOMBIES. And not just the flesh eating terrifying kind. The kind that have heart and soul despite their undeadliness. Oh, and it’s Courtney Summers one of the all-time best writers I’ve read.
Ages 13-17 | Publisher: St. Martin’s Press | June 19, 2012
by Jenny Han and Siobahn Vivian
Jenny Han wrote one of my favorite series ever (the amazing Summer series which I encourage you to pick up) and Siobahn Vivian is equally amazing at writing empowered and independent female characters. Together I have no doubt they will work magic with their story about girls seeking revenge on those that have wronged them.
Ages 14 and up | Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers | September 18, 2012
By Jennifer Echols
The queen of contemporary drama, Echols has yet to disappoint me with any of her work. She writes romance like nobody’s business! When she announces a new book I’m all about pressing that “pre-order” bu
Jennifer Echols has a new book out--yay! She stopped by on her GCC tour to talk about the cover for Love Story. (Check out her previous Cover Stories for Going Too Far and Endless Summer.) Here's Jennifer!
"I asked for [my character] Erin in the foreground, looking over her shoulder at Hunter at a desk writing in the background. My publisher doesn’t ask me for my input--I just give it, LOL! I didn’t really think they would follow my advice, because my covers are all from stock photos, not photo shoots, and a cover as specific as the one I asked for would have been hard to find. So I also sent them pictures of what the characters should look like. And I asked that above all, the heroine should look happy.
"When I first saw the cover, I thought, 'The heroine is happy! Hooray!' and also 'Why does the heroine have a diamond stud in her nose?'..."
Read the rest of Jennifer's Cover Story at melissacwalker.com.
The winners are...Tiffany Drew, whose favorite love story is Romeo and Juliet!
AND
Erin @ Let's Evaluate, whose favorite love story is Allie and Noah from The Notebook! Congratulations winners! You've both been contacted. I hope you enjoy
Love Story!
Erin Blackwell left behind a life of comfort in Kentucky for a life of dreams in New York City. Unfortunately, that decision meant that her inheritance went to her grandmother's stable boy, Hunter Allen. But the past is the past, and Erin's just trying to move on -- or so she thought. For her first creative writing assignment, Erin writes the love story she wishes she'd had with Hunter, before everything fell apart -- never imagining in her wildest dreams that he would see it. When an unfortunate twist of fate makes Hunter the newest student in Erin's class, it sets off a story of longing, heartbreak and betrayal that will change Erin's future and show her the past in a devastating new light.
In
Love Story,
Jennifer Echols crafts a sexy tale of star-crossed love and forbidden romance. The class assignments sprinkled throughout the text are an innovative and enjoyable way of recounting Erin and Hunter's shared history, showing readers how they arrived at this complicated juncture. Though the salacious elements in the initial assignments seem a little gratuitous for an intro level college course, the stories improve drastically over the course of the novel. The most powerful stories are the truest ones, showing the tragedy and loss that made them who they are today and revealing insightful parallels between Erin's own story and that of her mother. The Kentucky horse racing lifestyle also comes alive through these stories, though most of the novel is set in New York City, and is crucial to understanding the complex dynamic between the former heiress and her stable boy.
Still, at times it was difficult to connect with Erin. She began the novel seeming proud and judgmental, then digressed into insecurity about her relationship with Hunter and the future of her writing career. Her tendency to jump to the worst conclusion and then act impulsively on that assumption quickly became exasperating. However, her willingness to strike out on her own was admirable, and her relationship with her grandmother will hit home for anyone who's fought their family for control of their own life. Hunter, on the other hand, is a much more compelling character. He possesses that classic southern charm which is so hard to resist, though he can sometimes be a little too controlling in his drive to rescue the damsel in distress -- coming off more macho than gentlemanly. Nonetheless, the mystery of his true nature and motivations will intrigue readers as they puzzle out how the smitten little boy became the aloof young man.
Unfortunately, the stories -- while steamy -- are an immature way to work out deep-rooted problems. Things begin to look promising when Erin and Hunter finally assess their relationship, rather than toying with each other, but an unfortunate twist sends them spiraling off course again. They refuse to confront or even acknowledge the issue, and their failure to communicate and willingness to manipulate one another feels more like lust than love, making it difficult to believe in a happy ending. Despite the magnitude of the situation, Erin fails to have a believable emotional response, instead making self-destructive and irrational decisions that are never acknowledged by her or the novel itself -- ultimately leaving me uncomfortable about their entire relationship.
Rating: 
Disclosure: I received an advance copy of
Lori lives for the summer- the time of year when she can spend all day with the cute Vader brothers next door without anyone getting suspicious of her massive crush on older Sean. Lori, her brother, and the three Vader boys, Cameron, Sean,and Adam, work at the marina together and perform on the same wakeboard team. Lori has always been just one of the guys, but this summer she is determined to
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OMG! Thanks!
I will email you back right now. [:
Erin @ Let's Evaluate