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Today I have a special treat for you. Author Meradeth Houston is here interviewing Tom from The Chemistry of Fate. Take it away guys!
Tom’s only distraction is Ari, the girl he studies with for their chemistry class.
Ari has one goal when she arrives in town: see how much Tom knows about the Sary and neutralize the situation. This isn’t a normal job, but protecting the secrecy of the Sary is vital. If Tom is a threat to exposing the Sary to the public, fate has a way of taking care of the situation, usually ending with the mortal’s death. While Ari spends time with Tom, he becomes more than just an assignment, but how far can a relationship go when she can’t tell him who she really is? When she finds out just how much Tom actually knows about the Sary, Ari is forced to choose between her wings, and her heart.
Thanks so much for hosting me Kelly! I thought I’d give everyone a little introduction to Tom today, and allow you to get to know him a little better (and realize just why I love the guy in all his slightly-nerdy glory).
MH: (I sit down at my desk and take a long sip from a mug of something that is theoretically water. Tom settles uncomfortably into the seat across from me, nervously rubbing his hands together.) Nice of you to join us here today, Tom!
Tom: Thanks for having me. I think. Just what was this job interview for again?
MH: Yeah, about that, we’ll talk once we’re done, m’k? Moving on, tell me Tom, are you currently seeing anyone?
Tom: Wait, what does thathave to do with a job?
MH: (Another sip) It just does. We like to be thorough. So, are you seeing anyone?
Tom: (Looking around like he might bolt for the door any second.) No. I don’t have time.
MH: Don’t have time? Come on, there has to be someone you at least have your eye on? A guy who looks like you (I can’t help eyeing the nice muscles on his arms) doesn’t have trouble getting dates, I’m sure.
Tom: You’re not going to give in until I say a name are you?
MH: Nope. Not a chance.
Tom: There’s a girl I study with for our chemistry class. Without her, I’d probably be flunking. She’s way out of my league though. Nothing’s going to happen.
MH: I’m very sorry to hear you think that. You two haven’t done anything other than study together?
Tom: (Sighs) She’s asked me to grab coffee a few times. But I can’t get involved. I need to keep my grades up.
MH: Why is that so important?
Tom: I’m on a full ride scholarship but the required grades are really high. If I don’t keep them up, so long scholarship and so long college.
MH: Sounds rough.
Tom: Yeah, well, that’s why I need another job…?
MH: We’ll get that to that, I promise. Tell me, do you work anywhere else already?
Tom: I have a job in a genetics lab on campus. I work there part-time.
MH: Do you like it?
Tom: It’s good. My boss is a little crazy, but it keeps me out of student housing.
MH: What’s so crazy about your boss?
Tom: He’s, just, nuts. I mean, yesterday I walked in on him doing a fashion show for himself, singing to Thrift Shop. He saw me and was excited to have an audience for the last of it.
MH: That does sound, random. I’ll bet he keeps work entertaining at least.
Tom: Yeah, definitely. And he’s been really good getting me experience in the lab. Speaking of which, this position, it’s working in a lab right?
MH: (Looking at my watch) I’m so sorry Tom, but I have to run! Thanks for stopping by and we’ll be in touch!
Thanks, Meradeth and Tom! Check out The Chemistry of Fate on Amazon and B&N. It's only $2.99 during the blog tour, so hurry!
Also, Meradeth has a giveaway for you! It's for a $10 Amazon GC and a beautiful journal. Enter below. And be sure to thank her or comment about the interview.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm so excited to have my Month9Books publishing house sister Heather Reid with me today. Ever since seeing Heather's gorgeous cover and reading the blurb, I've been dying to get my hands on Pretty Dark Nothing.
Seventeen-year-old Quinn hadn’t slept a full night in twenty-three days. She’s terrified of the demons that stalk her dreams, pull her into a deep dark nothingness and whisper hauntingly of her death. Exhausted, Quinn dozes off in the school hallway, and Aaron, an amnesiac with a psychic ability, accidentally enters her nightmare. If Quinn can learn to trust her heart, and Aaron can discover the secret locked away in his fragile memory, their combined power could banish the darkness back to the underworld for good. That is, unless the demons kill them first.
Heather L. Reid is both American and British and has called six different cities in three different countries, home. Her strong sense of wanderlust and craving for a new adventure mean you might find her wandering the moors of her beloved Scotland, exploring haunted castles, or hiking through a magical forest in search of fairies and sprites. When she’s not venturing into the unknown in her real life, she loves getting lost in the worlds of video games or curling up by the fire with good story. For now, this native Texan is back in the Lone Star State, settling down with her Scottish husband and dreaming up new novels to write.
Find Heather on Twitter: @HeatherLReid and check out her website: www.heatherlreid.com.
Take it away, Heather! An Interpretation of Dreams
"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before."
Edgar Allan Poe
Last night, fireworks exploded in the sky around our house. Millions of red and blue lights streaked across the night sky. The windows rattled from the concussion echoing across the neighbourhood and I was frightened. I ran for my husband and begged him to wake up. Something strange was going on and we needed to get out of here. Turning on the news, we were shocked to find entire cities had been destroyed by an eerie green death ray (think War of The Worlds). The Earth was under attack and all we could do was watch the devastation play out around us. That’s when I woke myself up.
I’ve always been a vivid dreamer. As a child, I suffered from night terrors and sleep walking. Although I eventually grew out of the sleep walking, the nightmares never went away. I would dream of faceless entities and demons on a reoccurring basis. I spent my pre-teen years trying to rationalize my fear while I spent my nights huddled under my covers with a book and a flash light afraid to fall asleep for fear of what would greet me in my dreams. There were even nights I suffered from severe and terrifying sleep paralysis as well as out of body experiences.
When I got older, I started to control my dreams instead of letting my dreams control me. As I slept, I became aware that I was dreaming and would make choices to change the outcome. Sometimes I would choose to run from whatever was chasing me, or sometimes I would stop the dream and change it completely. It wasn’t until I started reading books about dreams and dream interpretation that I found out about lucid dreaming and became fascinated with the meaning of dreams. Keeping a dream journal helped me reflect on what was going on in my everyday life that might affect me. It helped me take control and understand what my unconscious was trying to tell me. I still have nightmares every now and then, but I understand them now, and I rarely wake up in a cold sweat anymore.
Want to know about lucid dreaming, false awakenings, and dream interpretation? Check out some of these links.
Are you a lucid dreamer? What are your thoughts on the meanings of dreams?
Launch Day for BEWARE OF THE WHITE by Kai Strand!
As is tradition, Terra learns on the Saturday past her twelfth birthday that she is a Natures Spirit. It is her legacy to serve in the peaceful underground city of Concord. Learning she is named in a prophecy and being threatened by the leader of the death tribe…that part breaks tradition.
The Trepidus are the death janitors of the Underworld, responsible for delivering fatalities with a smile and cleaning up after themselves until Blanco, recent leader of the Trepidus, decides the day of reckoning for his species is coming. He begins organizing the creatures and leads them toward an uprising. The prophecy says there is one person who can stop him. Terra.
With Spirit of Security, Frank, protecting her, Terra attempts to complete her training and discover her Spirit talents. Together, they go on a rogue investigation to learn how to defeat Blanco. In the end, it comes down to a battle of the minds. The future of Concord is at stake. Will Blanco, the older, more experienced being win? Or will Terra, the young, new Spirit earn back the peace of the city?
Excerpt:
The creature’s direct gaze caused her to shudder. Pushing off the wall, it seemed to float across the room toward her. No characteristic slapping sound registered when its bare feet flopped with each step. It never blinked and never broke eye contact. A chill enveloped Terra as it stopped an arm’s length away. She wanted to curl up in a ball, sob and plead for it to leave, but Terra instinctively suppressed her fear and stared back at it, erasing all emotion from her face.
“I have come to warn you.” The horrible voice sounded like a thick gel bubbling up through a pipe full of gravel and coarse sand.
The creature’s throat buckled and undulated as if the words physically worked their way up through its vocal cords. Terra expected the words to tumble from its mouth and plunk to the floor, a sort of sick word vomit. She shook from the effort of swallowing past her gag reflex and fought the impulse to turn away.
“You’ve come to warn me? Warn me about what?” Terra asked.
“You have been figured to be the enemy of my beings. My leader has sworn to destroy you.”
Buy it:
About the author
Kai Strand writes fiction for kids and teens. Her debut novel,
The Weaver, was a finalist in the 2012 EPIC eBook Awards. She is a (very lucky) wife and the mother of four amazing kids. The most common sound in her household is laughter. The second most common is, "Do your dishes!" She and her family hike, geocache, and canoe in beautiful Central Oregon, where they call home. Find Kai’s books, links to short stories, download companion documents, and discover all the places to find Kai both virtually and in person on her website:
www.kaistrand.com. She loves to hear from readers, so feel free to send her an email or visit her facebook page, Kai Strand, Author.
Spontaneous Book Giveaway!
This is your lucky day. Kelly’s site has been chosen to host a spontaneous book giveaway. But be quick, your window for opportunity is short.
Like giveaways? There is more to be had on Kai’s
blog and be sure to follow her tour for more Spontaneous Giveaways. Those won't be announced, so only virtual stalkers will have a chance at the extra fun!
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
- Edits I've gotten several new editing clients in the past two weeks, so I'm keeping busy.
- Emailing myself I have an entire folder in my inbox of emails from myself. LOL This is how I keep track of things (along with my day planner). Anyone else email themselves?
- Field Trip This week I'm going on my daughter's kindergarten field trip. We were told to wear clothes that can get dirty because we're going to a farm. And did I mention it's supposed to rain? I hope the weather holds out for us.
- Free Monthly Newsletter My free monthly newsletter goes out at 5pm EST today. If you aren't already signed up but would like to receive it, you can sign up here.
- Romancing the R.A. Cover Reveal and Giveaway I'm participating in the cover reveal for Ashelyn Drake's upcoming New Adult romance through S.B. Addison Books. Check it out.
Noelle Buckman is looking forward to making a fresh start in college, one that doesn’t involve immature high school boys. The second she steps on campus for freshman orientation, she can sense the possibilities. Especially when she spots Andy, a resident advisor who’s not just hot but also thoughtful enough to open doors for a girl.
And Andy has his eye on Noelle. Even when her nerves take control and she thinks she comes off as a hillbilly with no direction, Andy can see what she’s really like and he’s more than a little interested.
But orientation is less than two full days and there’s an entire summer between Noelle and Andy. Will her attempt to romance the R.A. be as short-lived as college orientation?
The giveaway is for a $10 Amazon GC or $10 PayPal cash. Fill out the rafflecopter to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveawayThat's it for me. What's on your mind today?
If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you know I’ve spent the morning searching for and posting new POC releases. I didn’t find many for May.
I did find a few to add for April and they’re posted on the Pinterest board for April. I probably post new titles to Pinterest before I do anywhere else, it’s just easier! When I post there, I quickly tweet or post my finds to FB.
I’ve continue posting new POC books to Pinterest since last year and there is one for May. And, there is always my annual list of books as well. I’ll catch up the April titles on my annual list later; I have a graduation party at the Islamic Center to attend this afternoon!
- P.S. Be Eleven by Rita Williams Garcia; Amistad, 21 May
- How I became a ghost by Tim Tingle; Road Runner Press; 28 May
- Get over it by Nikki Carter; Dafina Press; 28 May
- Death, Dickinson and the Demented life of Frenchie Garcia by Jenny Torres-Sanchez; Running Press Kids; 28 May
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New Books Tagged:
new releases 
Today, I'm happy to share Of Silver and Beasts by Trisha Wolfe!
Excerpt
“What’s your rank, baby blue eyes?” the guy asks, pushing off his cot and stalking toward the prince.
Everything in me screams to act, but I don’t want to declare alliances this early on. Not without understanding the dynamic of placements and bonds already formed among these people. But I’ll not let this hulk of a man harm the prince. I brace my heel against the wall, ready to push off and lunge.
Prince Caben rises to his feet, slowly turning to face him. He straightens his spine, squaring his shoulders. “I don’t have one. And my name is Payne. Not ‘baby blue eyes’, meathead.”
Big guy laughs, his husky voice bounces off the rock walls. “I’m Crew”—he beats his chest hard once, like a barbarian—“and I’ve won three fights. I’ll win the next two and be the one awarded the freedom ring.” He leans down toward Prince Caben, leveling their faces. “So don’t even think about you or your princess over there walking out of here. I’m ranked as a Colossal. The strongest Colossal in Bax’s league.”
Princess? I nearly scoff. Then I realize what the problem with Crew is: he feels threatened by Prince Caben. That revelation almost makes me laugh out right. What does a big stack of muscles like Crew have to fear from the prince?
The other prisons slowly circle around the stand-off in the center of the cell. Tension thickens the musty air. It coils around my spine, tightening my muscles. If I allow the fight to continue without interruption, will the guards stop it? They’d want their fighters in pristine shape, wouldn’t they?
Prince Caben doesn’t back away from Crew. Instead, he moves into his space. I roll my eyes. Stupid, conceited man.
“Freedom ring?” the prince questions. “As in, there’s a chance to leave?” He rubs his chin, and I notice the dark shadow of facial hair that has darkened his features overnight. “Is there a season that has to be won, or can someone gain five wins during their entire imprisonment?”
Crew’s eyebrows pinch together. He’s clearly despondent that he hasn’t succeeded in intimidating the prince. “We’re in a season right now, you weakling. If you don’t win—you’re dead. Which by the looks of you, will happen in your first match.”
Prince Caben nods, as if he’s simply piecing together a jigsaw puzzle and not being told of his demise. “What is the cuff for?” He points to the iron clamp around Crew’s wrist.
“It’s our biometric monitor.” Crew shoves the cuff up close to the prince’s face. “See those three blue lights? Those are my wins. When the fifth lights up, I’m outta’ here.”
“Has anyone ever won the freedom ring before?” Prince Caben asks.
Crew’s massive arms tremble. “No,” he grinds out. “But I will.” He cocks his cuffed hand back, then sends a blow to Prince Caben’s chin.
Hell.
I’m up and racing across the cell before the prince hits the ground. Crew spots me from his peripheral. He turns and swipes the air. I duck, roll, and come up behind him. I jump on the cot and leap onto his back.
“You squirrely little ...” he mumbles, trying to reach over his shoulders to get a hold on me.
Tightening my arms around his thick neck, I squeeze. He gasps for air, and rams my back into the wall. I wheeze as the air whooshes from my lungs, pain splintering through my already bruised chest. But I hold tight, bearing down harder, and cut off his supply of oxygen.
Finally, I feel Crew weaken beneath my hold. He drops to his knees, and I only release him once I’m sure he’s knocked out.
Stepping around the now limp Crew, I glance at all the wide eyes studying me, and meet the prince’s. Fury ignites his stormy blue irises. He picks himself off the floor and heads toward one of the side chambers, throwing the tattered material aside as he stalks inside.
I follow after him. When I step inside the tiny, dank room, my eyes trail Prince Caben as he paces. He reaches each side of the small chamber with three quick strides. Back and forth.
On his third round, I open my mouth and get out a single syllable before he holds up a hand, halting me. He drives his hand through his dark hair. “Thank you for making me look like a spineless jerk.” He shakes his head and faces me.
Taken aback, I say, “This is my duty to protect—”
“No. In your country it was your duty to guard me. In my world and here”—he opens his arms wide—“a man fights his own battles. He does not depend on a woman to fight them for him. You just disgraced me.”
Fire simmers in my core. “I’m still assigned as your protector no matter what realm we inhabit, Your High—” I stop myself before addressing him by title out of habit. “Your pride is polluting your reasoning.”
He laughs. “Yes, well. Thanks to your show out there, I no longer have my pride to worry about.”
Buy Of Silver and Beasts for only $2.99: 
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What do you think of Trisha's latest book?
Summary:
There's more than one way to be powerful . . .
It is during a routine school project that Abby Silva--sixteen and nearly friendless--makes a startling discovery: She is descended from women who were accused of witchcraft back in 1600s Salem. And when Abby visits nearby Salem, strange, inexplicable events start to unfold. Objects move when she wills them to. Candles burst into sudden flame. And an ancient spellbook somehow winds up in her possession.
Trying to harness her newfound power, Abby concocts a love potion to win over her longtime crush--and exact revenge upon his cruel, bullying girlfriend. But old magic is not to be trifled with. Soon, Abby is thrust headlong into a world of hexes, secrets, and danger. And then there's Rem Anders, the beautiful, mysterious Salem boy who seems to know more about Abby than he first lets on.
A reckoning is coming, and Abby will have to make sense of her history--and her heart--before she can face the powerful truth.
My thoughts:
The cover drew me in instantly, and then I read the blurb and knew I had to read this. Abby discovers she's the descendent of one of the most famous witches persecuted in Salem, and as such, she can't ignore that strange things have happened just because she thought about them. She knows she's using magic, and it tempts her to make a few changes in her life. Starting with the boy she's had a crush on for a long time. But this action has some major consequences, since he already has a girlfriend.
If that's not bad enough, Abby is being pursued by a group of witches who want her to join their circle and get vengeance on Salem for the witch trials. Abby doesn't want to be evil, but with the pull of the magic and her connection to the sexy Rem, she has a really hard time separating her human self from her witch self.
This is such a quick, fun read. I could really identify with Abby. What girl wouldn't want to use magic to get what she's always wanted and to put the mean girls in high school in their place. If you like books about witches, definitely pick this one up.
Just for fun:
Abby can't resist doing a few spells on her classmates. If you had magic for a day and could use it on anyone you went to high school with, what would you use it for?
Today, I'm taking part in the release party for A Privilege (The Angel Chronicles book #3) by Amy Lignor. I've got an excerpt and a giveaway for you!
A Privilege:The Angel Chronicles, Book 3The beloved Angel/Warrior team face pure evil in their final climactic story!The first time they were sent down, Irish lives were led. Emily, the angel, ended up embedded in murder and lost in the realm of true love. While Matthew, the warrior, took over a life that left blood on his hands and anger in his soul.
With their second coming, Emily found herself facing an oncoming war that brought her to the shores of America. While Matthew tried desperately to unveil the evil character of a young man who was intent on locking his partner in a ‘gilded’ cage.
Now...Emily and Matthew find that their lives are all their own. Yet, all the memories, hatred, longing and regret have come hand-in-hand with this newfound freedom.
In small town U.S.A., Matthew finds himself loving his new life. From his military school existence to a new, ‘odd’ friend who’s arrived in town, Matthew’s looking forward to graduation and heading off into a brilliant future with Emily by his side.
Emily wants nothing more than to hide. Although doing her best to fit in, she lives a life on the edge, wondering when her past love with reappear to either forgive or seek revenge on the angel who let him down. Battling the shadows that seem to be breaking her soul in two, Emily soon discovers that her small, quiet town has a secret that’s beyond dangerous...
As she and Matthew join forces to help a ‘haunted’ victim, they open the door on a mystery neither of them can believe. A true villain has returned from the past, and not even their heavenly family will be able to save them. This time they’re on their own, as they face a fight that could lead them straight to Hell…and end the angel/warrior team forever.
Excerpt
Without a word, Matthew reached out, took Emily by the hand and pulled her down beside him. He looked into her eyes and smiled. “I knew my Emily was still in there.”
Out of the blue, the room became incredibly hot, as if Gabriel had entered in order to give a lesson to his favorite students. “What?”
“That spark.” He pulled Emily’s face closer before she could push herself away. “You’ve been acting all this time like you’re just here to sit and wait it out until you’re lucky enough to go Home. But you’re still in there, Emily. You still have all that energy and belief in there and you want to do something. That’s the partner I know.”
Shaking her head, Emily listened to her own breathing intensify as she stared at his full lips and wondered why she felt so completely and utterly strange...vulnerable even. “I want to help this girl. This is a job, maybe my only job down here. She saw a ghost and she wants me to help her out, that’s all.”
“And you will.” Matthew captured Emily’s lips, and she could no longer feel the breath in her lungs. Completely different than the one kiss they’d shared up above so long ago, this one was far more demanding, as if Matthew was a young man determined to kiss his human love for the very first time.
Sitting back, Emily practically jumped off the bed.
“I’m sorry,” she heard him whisper behind her. “I guess I was just excited to see you again.”
Not trusting her voice, she remained silent.
“We have jobs, but we also have a life to live. Our own lives this time around. Maybe you should think about adding that into your angelic plans.” Matthew continued softly, “Jason isn’t here, Emily.”
The name being said out loud sent a chill down Emily’s spine. It reminded her of the vow she’d made a long time ago—a vow that an angel couldn’t break.
She cleared her throat. “It doesn’t matter if he’s here. We were sent to do a job, and maybe helping this little girl prove her story is what I need to begin.”
Standing up, Matthew looked as if he was a man who wanted nothing more than to turn back the clock and erase the name he’d spoken aloud. He walked to the open window. “Well, I hope the job goes well. Good luck with it.”
“Matthew,” Emily took a step toward him. “Don’t leave like this.”
He nodded at the book on the bed. “You have your mission, Emily...your job. Ghosts, goblins, lost souls—knock yourself out.” He took a deep breath. “I wonder when you’re going to figure out that the living souls around you would like some of your attention as well.”
Closing her eyes, Emily shed silent tears as she heard his feet hit the ground beneath her window. A friend, a partner, the one who actually listened, was now just an angry young man racing back to The Armory—a place where warriors reigned.
Emily sighed. She’d done it again. No matter how hard she tried to be good, her mouth always got her into trouble. She needed Matthew to understand. She’d made a promise to a young man a long time ago; a promise that was supposed to last for eternity. How was she to know at the time that their eternity would include death by her hand? Had the second time around broken their vow? Emily had no idea. But whatever happened she could not and would not offer Matthew her heart if payment was still due for her past sins. Above all, Matthew was the last person who deserved to be punished for her mistakes.
Author Amy LignorAmy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.
Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.
She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.
Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.
By:
Kelly Hashway,
on 4/14/2013
Blog:
Kelly Hashway's Blog
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Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
1. The Other Marlowe Girl My buddy Beth Fred's second book in The Marlowe Girls series is out! Get it here.
When twenty-four-year-old dance school drop out Kammy Marlowe is evicted by her mother, she goes to her favorite hangout. She finds an unlikely friend in the blunt eye candy, Enrique. But Kammy knows there is no way she and Enrique have a shot because he's her brother-in-law’s brother and has been privy to her wild past.
Enrique swears he’s only interested in the person she is today, but their relationship is tested when her ex-husband's drug dealer attacks her, looking for money. With no options and a money hungry drug dealer on her back, Kammy accepts a position as a dancer at a strip club. But when Enrique shows up at the club, their relationship is over. With no reason to stay in Texas anymore, Kammy auditions for the Bolshevik Ballet and gets the opportunity to go to Russia. Only Enrique is determined to stop her.
Will she give up the chance of a lifetime to stay with the man she still loves?
2. Stomach bug My daughter was sent home sick on Thursday with a stomach bug. That's better, but now she has this awful congestion that makes her sound like a whispering frog. Poor thing.
3. Love All is only $0.99! Amazon has lowered the price of Love All to only $0.99! If you want to snag a copy before book two in the series releases next month, now's the time. You can get it here.
4. Into the Fire Edits I'm up to my chin in edits for Into the Fire, but my editor is amazing, so I'm excited.
5. Less than 4 months until Stalked by Death releases! So... I'm giving away some SWAG. I got these awesome "Ophi in training" pins. Who wants one?
I'll pick three winners on Saturday, April 20. Just fill out the rafflecopter below. Good luck.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
Happy Monday! Here's my mishmash of thoughts:
- Advantage: Heartbreak (May 7th) Less than one month until the second novella in my Game. Set. Match. Heartbreak series releases! This book has so much emotion and tons of swoony moments. I'm really excited for it.
- Reading I'm trying to get caught up with all the books I downloaded to my Kindle recently.
- Switching tenses Last week I finished drafting a new WIP, and now I'm going to switch it from present tense to past tense. I think it will work better that way. *sigh*
- Melinda's Museum Magic I have another picture book coming out soon through G8 Press. I should have a cover image to show you soon!
- Cover Reveal Spencer Hill Press has another cover reveal. It's for Milayna by Michelle Picket.
Everyone needs to be bad once in a while. But for seventeen-year-old Milayna, being good isn't a choice--it's a job requirement. And it's a job she can't quit. Born a demi-angel, Milayna steps in when danger and demons threaten the people around her, but being half-angel isn't all halos and happiness. Azazel, Hell's Angel, wants Milayna's power, and he'll do anything to get it. But he only has until her eighteenth birthday, after which she becomes untouchable.
With the help of other demi-angels, Milayna thwarts the trouble Azazel sends her way. Fighting with her is Chay, a demi-angel who's sinfully gorgeous, and Milayna falls hard. But is Chay her true love... or her nemesis in disguise?
Because when she learns of a traitor in her group, there's no one she can trust... not even the one she loves.
That's it for me. What's on your mind today?
I’m getting behind! My pile of BFYA books is growing! Still, it’s a pleasure to look at that pile because they all stand a chance of being a really good read. The books in that pile have been nominated by BFYA committee members or by the general public as titles that should be on the annual list. The titles nominated are announced each month and the committee members get busy locating copies of the books so that they can be read before each of the ALA conventions.
What don’t I like about the process? The very few titles by authors of color – or featuring characters of color – that we receive. The number is even smaller than the number of the books that are published.
What do I like? I like broadening my reading selections. I avoid monsters, paranormals, werewolves… at all costs, but I cannot avoid them this year! I don’t like reading about murder as entertainment and hate to see that trickle into YA but, I’m reading these books and developing new perspectives. Closing one’s self off from situations isn’t a way to grow.
I also like being able to help get teens reading with the books. I’m getting LOTS of them and am looking for good ways to get them where they’re needed. Please email me if you have suggestions. I’ve been thinking about shipping them down to Henryville, getting them to some of the high schools around here or even taking them to ALA to give them to high schools there. One thing I’ve learned is that schools in small communities are quite conservative, so not all will appreciate some of these books.
I put off posting the new April releases, thinking I might still find a few more titles and maybe I still will. Looking for new books is really getting interesting. I usually go to Amazon to look and every month, struggle with search terms to find new books that have been released by authors of color for teens. I had seen Walter Dean Myer’s latest book, but in searching for it using his name, the title did not come up for me. I had to use the title of the book to find it. I’ve had this happen with other authors as well. Have you?
Last month, I found the following after posting March releases.
Fat Angie e.E. Charlton-Trujillo; Candlewick, March: Angie is broken — by her can’t-be-bothered mother, by her high-school tormenters, and by being the only one who thinks her varsity-athlete-turned-war-hero sister is still alive. Hiding under a mountain of junk food hasn’t kept the pain (or the shouts of “crazy mad cow!”) away. Having failed to kill herself — in front of a gym full of kids — she’s back at high school just trying to make it through each day. That is, until the arrival of KC Romance, the kind of girl who doesn’t exist in Dryfalls, Ohio. A girl who is one hundred and ninety-nine percent wow! A girl who never sees her as Fat Angie, and who knows too well that the package doesn’t always match what’s inside. With an offbeat sensibility, mean girls to rival a horror classic, and characters both outrageous and touching, this darkly comic anti-romantic romance will appeal to anyone who likes entertaining and meaningful fiction.
Lightning Dreamer by Margarita Engle; Harcourt, March: “I find it so easy to forget / that I’m just a girl who is expected / to live / without thoughts.” Opposing slavery in Cuba in the nineteenth century was dangerous. The most daring abolitionists were poets who veiled their work in metaphor. Of these, the boldest was Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda, nicknamed Tula. In passionate, accessible verses of her own, Engle evokes the voice of this book-loving feminist and abolitionist who bravely resisted an arranged marriage at the age of fourteen, and was ultimately courageous enough to fight against injustice. Historical notes, excerpts, and source notes round out this exceptional tribute.
April Releases
- Darius and Twig by Walter Dean Myer; Harper 23 Apr
Darius and Twig are an unlikely pair: Darius is a writer whose only escape is his alter ego, a peregrine falcon named Fury, and Twig is a middle-distance runner striving for athletic success. But they are drawn together in the struggle to overcome the obstacles that Harlem life throws at them.
The two friends must face down bullies, an abusive uncle, and the idea that they’ll be stuck in the same place forever in this touching and raw new teen novel from Walter Dean Myers, award-winning author of Monster, Kick, We Are America, Bad Boy, and many other celebrated literary works for children and teens.
- The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa Harlequin; 30 Apr
click this link to watch the trailer
- The witches of Ruidoso by John Sandoval; Arte Publica April
Young Elijah was sitting on the porch of the Ruidoso Store when fourteen-year-old Beth Delilah and her father climbed down from the stage coach. Blond with lovely pale skin, big blue eyes and “dressed from boot to bonnet in black” in mourning for her mother, she was the prettiest, most exotic thing he had ever seen. And when she bent over to pick up a horned toad, which she then held right up to her face in complete fascination, Elijah learned that it’s possible to feel jealous of an amphibian.
In the last years of the nineteenth century, in the western territory that would become New Mexico, the two young people become constant companions. They roam the ancient country of mysterious terrain, where the mountain looms and reminds them of their insignificance, and observe the eccentric characters in the village: Mr. Blackwater, known as “No Leg Dancer” by the Apaches because of the leg he lost in the War Between the States and his penchant for blowing reveille on his bugle each morning; their friend, Two Feather, the Mescalero Apache boy who takes Beth Delilah to meet his wise old grandfather who sees mysterious things; and Senora Roja, who everyone believes is a bruja, or witch, and who they know to be vile and evil.
Elijah has horrible nightmares involving Senora Roja, death and torture. And when the witch enslaves a girl named Rosa, the pair must try to rescue her from her grim fate. Together, Elijah and Beth Delilah come of age in a land of mountains and ravens, where good and evil vie for the souls of white men and Indians alike.
All book descriptions were shamelessly lifted from Amazon who probably would appreciate your consideration when purchasing your books. I do not work for Amazon. I don’t always shop at Amazon!
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New Books Tagged:
April 2013,
BFYA,
new releases 
Don't forget the April 1st 5 Pages workshop with mentor Lauren Bjorkman opens for submissions starting at 12:00 pm Eastern tomorrow!
We have more great giveaways this week! One person will win the first 3 books in the Zom-B series. We also have a signed copy of Dead River by Cyn Balog and hardcovers of The Stone Demon by Karen Mahoney, Inferno by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Revenge of a Not-So-Pretty Girl by Carolita Blythe, and Nine Days by Fred Hiatt. Enter below to win!
Which of this past week's new releases did you enjoy? Which of this next week's releases are you looking forward to?
THIS WEEK'S GIVEAWAY
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Zom-B Cityby Darren ShanGiveaway of 1st 3 Zom-B BooksLittle, Brown Books for Young ReadersReleased 4/9/2013After escaping a secret military complex amid the zombie apocalypse, B roams the streets of a very changed London, dirty and dangerous and eerily quiet, except for the shuffling of the undead. Once again, B must find a way to survive against brain-eating zombies --and now also against those who have seized control of the city. With danger lurking around every corner and no one to trust, B must decide whether to join the creepy Mr. Dowling in exchange for his protection. When everyone around you is dead, where do you turn for help?
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about Zom-B City?Although Zom-B City is the third book of the series, it is the first not to revolve around a confined location. Much of Zom-B was set in a school under attack from zombies, while all of Zom-B Underground was set in an underground prison complex where soldiers and scientists were conducting experiments on teenagers. In Zom-B City the action opens up, as our main character wanders the streets of London in the wake of a zombie apocalypse.
This was the first chance I had to show the consequences of a living dead uprising, and I loved exploring the deserted streets of a ghost city. We get to meet some survivors, who have all been understandably shaken up and severely disturbed by their encounters with the undead. And we get to meet some creatures who are neither human nor zombie, as it begins to become clear that this will be a zombie series quite unlike any other...Purchase Zom-B City at AmazonPurchase Zom-B City at IndieBoundView Zom-B City on Goodreads* * * *
Dead Riverby Cyn BalogSigned Hardcover Giveaway Delacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 4/9/2013My friends and I are spending prom weekend at a remote wooded cabin on the Dead. The Dead River.
I thought it was going to be just us.
I was wrong.
Nothing is what it seems in this creepy paranormal thriller by Cyn Balog.
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about Dead River?When I was just starting out after college, I had a great job in marketing and was really living the dream-- I was making good money and successful, but I was feeling unfulfilled. When my husband had the opportunity to move to a remote part of the country for his job, people thought I was crazy to
let him accept, because it would be impossible for me to work as a marketing manager out there. But I kept thinking, I'd have all this time to write! And I could experience different parts of the country and THAT would give me things to write about! So I tendered my resignation and we moved to the
desert of California, and a year later, up to Maine. It was a roller coaster ride, which often led me to wonder if it was worth all the work, or if I might have been happier and more successful had I just stayed the course in my boring marketing career.
But even though I moved a few times and traveled a lot as well, trying to accumulate "life experience" to write about, until now, the only place I'd ever written about has been where I grew up-- New Jersey. It's been my rut, the place I just normally fall into whenever I start writing. When I started Dead River, though, I realized it was my first time writing based on an experience that happened during those travels after I left my job. Although so many people thought I was crazy and it was a risky move, I feel like Dead River is a product of those years-- something that never could have happened if we hadn't taken that risk.Purchase Dead River at AmazonPurchase Dead River at IndieBoundView Dead River on Goodreads* * * *
Revenge of a Not-So-Pretty Girlby Carolita BlytheHardcover Giveaway Delacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 4/9/2013Faye doesn't mean to hit the old lady she and her friends are mugging. But she does. The old lady isn't moving, but Faye has no reason to feel guilty for leaving her there. The old lady might be ancient and wrinkly now. But back in the day, she was as beautiful as they come, a famous movie star. And everyone knows that pretty and mean always go together. But Faye does feel guilty. So she comes back. Slowly, Faye and the old lady form an unlikely friendship, one that pulls Faye out of her life with her abusive mother and destructive "friends" and allows the old lady relief from her loneliness. But in an unfair world in which the pretty girls, no matter how mean, always seem to get everything, while Faye gets nothing, will Faye be able to keep from slipping back to her old ways? Will her mother ever be happy? Will her father ever come home to stay? And what if Faye goes her whole life without Michael Jackson ever loving her back? Faye is an honest, straightforward narrator who is likable even in her most flawed moments and will be cheered on by readers of every age and from every walk of life.
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about Revenge of a Not-So-Pretty Girl?My favorite thing about Revenge Of A Not-So-Pretty Girl? I have to cheat a little on this because I actually have two favorite things, which I rank equally. The first is Faye's (my protagonist) voice. Although she's only fourteen, Faye has had a pretty complicated life. She's not had a lot of friends, or support, or kind words come her way. It would be easy for her to look at the world through jaded, pessimistic eyes. And while she doesn't hold back from pointing out certain negatives, she does it in a dry, part-humorous way. I think the humor is what keeps her afloat and keeps her from giving up completely on the possibility of one day being happy and having a good life.
My other favorite part of the book is the idea that we all have the ability to change our lives. It's definitely not easy to do, but it's not impossible. We have to be able to recognize and admit that there might be something keeping us down, keeping us from being the person we should and could be. We have to be able to look into ourselves and say, "I've not been generous," or "I've been mean to a particular person," or "I need to exercise and get better about my health." Once the issue is identified, we can begin working on it. Faye sees her faults, admits to them, and slowly begins to change what's in her control, despite the cards she has been dealt. I think that's pretty inspirational.Purchase Revenge of a Not-So-Pretty Girl at AmazonPurchase Revenge of a Not-So-Pretty Girl at IndieBoundView Revenge of a Not-So-Pretty Girl on Goodreads* * * *
Nine Daysby Fred HiattHardcover Giveaway Delacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 4/9/2013A fast-paced contemporary thriller in the vein of James Patterson and Anthony Horowitz set against the bustling backdrop of Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the border of China. This heart-pounding adventure takes place as two teens, an American teenage boy and his friend, a Chinese girl from his Washington, DC-area high school, must find her father who has been kidnapped - and they only have nine days. Although the characters in the novel are fictionalized, they are based on a real Chinese family who were part of the Chinese Democracy Movement and inspired this story.
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about Nine Days?I think my favorite part of Nine Days is the friendship between the two main characters and how it evolves over the course of their adventures. Originally I thought the book would be mostly about Ethan, the narrator. But as I worked on the manuscript, his friend Ti-Anna, whose character is inspired in part by a real young woman, Ti-Anna Wang, became a more and more important part of the story. The two of them, tenth-grade classmates, set off from Washington, DC, to Hong Kong, without parental permission, of course, after her father disappears there. He is an exile from China, a fighter for democracy, and Ethan and Ti-Anna fear that his activities have somehow gotten him into big trouble. Over nine days, they get drawn deeper and deeper into worlds they don't totally understand, facing unexpected dangers and having to decide whom they can trust and who is leading them into harm.
All along the way, the adventures test their friendship. Sometimes Ethan has to protect Ti-Anna; sometimes she has to rescue him. Under unimaginable pressure, they anger each other, exasperate each other, amuse each other. They are in many ways an unlikely pair from the start. But when it matters, they stand by each other in ways that surprise even them. I like that.Purchase Nine Days at AmazonPurchase Nine Days at IndieBoundView Nine Days on Goodreads* * * *
The Stone Demon (Iron Witch)by Karen MahoneyHardcover Giveaway FluxReleased 4/8/2013The stunning conclusion to the international mega-hit seriesThe just-unleashed demon hordes have delivered an impossible ultimatum to the Order of the Crow: produce the Philosopher's Stone, or suffer a reaper storm of demonic tribulation. If alchemist's apprentice Donna Underwood can't recreate the mythical artifact, the world will be plunged into a devastating modern-day Dark Age. Pitting her dangerously unpredictable powers against a vengeful demon king, two maleficent faery queens, and an immortal magus with his own shadowy agenda, Donna must be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, but this time, even death may not be enough.Author Question: What is your favorite thing about The Stone Demon (Iron Witch)?This is difficult to answer because The Stone Demon is the final book of my trilogy - the culmination of an idea that first took root in my mind way back in 2007. The books, and the characters, are very special to me. But if I had to say just ONE thing that's my favorite, I would have to say how cool it has been to put Donna in so many different locations. The first two books are set pretty firmly in Ironbridge, Massachusetts (the town I created for the ongoing battle between alchemists and fey), but The Stone Demon opens in my own city of London. Donna also travels to more than one kingdom ruled by the demons (I won't spoil any of the details!), as well as returning to Ironbridge for the epic showdown. Oh, and there's one other realm she visits, but again... I'd better not say any more. You'll have to read the book to find out what I'm talking about, but I definitely had a lot of fun coming up with my own vision of some classic folkloric locations. I hope you enjoy traveling alongside Donna, Navin and Xan as we bring The Iron Witch trilogy to a conclusion!Purchase The Stone Demon (Iron Witch) at AmazonPurchase The Stone Demon (Iron Witch) at IndieBoundView The Stone Demon (Iron Witch) on Goodreads* * * *
Infernoby Sherrilyn KenyonHardcover Giveaway St. Martin's GriffinReleased 4/9/2013The heat is on, and a new threat to humanity has risen . . .
Nick has his driver's license and he's not afraid to use it. But turning sixteen isn't what he thought it would be. While other boys his age are worried about prom dates and applying for college, Nick is neck deep in enemies out to stop him from living another day. No longer sure if he can trust anyone, his only ally seems to be the one person he's been told will ultimately kill him.
But life spent serving the undead is anything except ordinary. And those out to get him have summoned an ancient force so powerful even the gods fear it. As Nick learns to command and control the elements, the one he must master in order to combat his latest foe is the one most likely to destroy him. As the old proverb goes, fire knows nothing of mercy, and if Nick is to survive this latest round, he will have to sacrifice a part of himself. However, the best sacrifice is seldom the sanest move. Sometimes it's the one that leaves your enemies confused.
And sometimes, you have to trust your enemy to save your friends. But what do you do when that enemy is you?
Purchase Inferno at AmazonPurchase Inferno at IndieBoundView Inferno on GoodreadsLAST WEEK'S GIVEAWAY WINNERS
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The Rising (Darkness Rising)by Kelley ArmstrongHardcoverHarperCollinsReleased 4/2/2013Winner of the Darkness Rising Trilogy - The Magic ViolinistThe heart-stopping final book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, from
New York Times-bestselling author Kelley Armstrong!
Things are getting desperate for Maya and her friends. Hunted by two powerful Cabals, they're quickly running out of places to hide. And with the whole world thinking they died in a helicopter crash, they can't simply go to the authorities for help. All they have is the name and number of someone who might be able to give them a few answers. Answers to why they're so valuable to the Cabals, and why their supernatural powers are getting more out of control. Maya is unprepared for the truths that await her, but she'll have to face them if she ever hopes to move on with her life. Because she can't keep running forever.
With all the twists, thrills, and romance that have made Kelley Armstrong an international bestseller--plus the surprising return of some favourite characters
--The Rising will keep you under its spell long after the last page is turned.
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about The Rising (Darkness Rising)?My favourite thing about The Rising was that I finally got to wrap up a story line that's been going for six books. This is the culmination of the Darkness Rising trilogy, but it's also the culmination of the Darkest Powers trilogy. At the end of the Darkest Powers, I'd left those characters in a
relatively safe place. Their journey wasn't over, though, as readers realized. They needed firmer ground to stand on and a better solution to their problem. When I left those characters behind, I switched to a new set, clear across North America, facing a similar problem rising from the same
source. Separately, these two groups couldn't solve their problem. Together, though? That was different. They both brought some skills and some knowledge, and when I put the two together, I finally had a winning team.
The thrill of writing The Rising wasn't just about resolving a problem, though. It was bringing those past characters back again, which is always exciting. Having them interact with my current characters--for better or worse--really made this book a lot of fun.Purchase The Rising (Darkness Rising) at AmazonPurchase The Rising (Darkness Rising) at IndieBoundView The Rising (Darkness Rising) on Goodreads* * * *
Rise: An Eve Novelby Anna CareyHardcoverHarperCollinsReleased 4/2/2013Winner - Jeri BairdHow far will you go when you have nothing left to lose?
When she lost her soul mate, Caleb, Eve felt like her world had ended. Trapped in the palace, forced to play the part of the happy, patriotic princess of The New America, and the blushing bride of her father's top adviser, Eve's whole life is a lie. The only thing that keeps her going is Caleb's memory, and the revolution he started.
Now, Eve is taking over where Caleb left off. With the help of Moss, an undercover subversive in the King's court, she plots to take down The New America, beginning with the capital, the City of Sand. Will Eve be able to bring about a new, free world when she's called upon to perform the ultimate act of rebellion - killing her father?
In Rise, Eve must choose who to leave behind, who to save, and who to fight as Anna Carey's epic tale of romance and sacrifice in the chilling dystopia of The New America comes to a stunning conclusion.
Purchase Rise: An Eve Novel at AmazonPurchase Rise: An Eve Novel at IndieBoundView Rise: An Eve Novel on Goodreads* * * *
Unbreakableby Elizabeth NorrisAdvanced Review CopyBalzer + BrayReleased 4/3/2013Winner - Vivien Probst Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she'll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths, and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn't turn himself over within five days.
And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about, someone from her own world, has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they're lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she's in way over her head, and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?
Purchase Unbreakable at AmazonPurchase Unbreakable at IndieBoundView Unbreakable on Goodreads* * * *
White Linesby Jennifer BanashHardcoverPutnam JuvenileReleased 4/4/2013Winners: Tiffany JohnsonChristina KitKayeleen HamblinStacie McAdamsAngela Brown A gritty, atmospheric coming of age tale set in 1980s New York City
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about White Lines?When telling a story, the old adage is usually "write what you know," and with WHITE LINES, I've done just that. My favorite thing about the book is the ay it deals with real issues: divorce, physical and emotional abuse, neglect, drug use and addiction--some of which I've experienced first-hand, some not. What could I tell you about growing up on my own at 17, in the heart of the Lower East Side? Should I tell you about the smell of roasting nuts hovering over the sidewalks in the dead of winter? The way the punks and goths roamed the streets surrounding St. Marks Place like predatory cats, the jangling metal chains on their leather jackets transmitting the most beautiful and melodious music? How the pavement of my stoop burned my thighs at the apex of summer as I sat out there for hours, graffiti streaking the buildings all around me with no parents to beckon me inside as
darkness fell, watching the blue sky downshift into dusk? Or how I found myself one late night outside a club in the meatpacking district, an invite clutched in one sweaty hand, my pulse thudding its own discordant melody of desire and fear in those brief moments before I was chosen from the thrumming crowd, chosen and raised up into the light . . .
Although I've certainly drawn inspiration from my own life, WHITE LINES is a work of fiction, and Cat's story is entirely her own. Well, almost. In those long, hard hours spent bent over our computers,every writer dreams in their secret heart of making an impact, of touching the lives and hearts of her readers, and I'm no exception. Cat's story is absolutely her own, but I hope, in some small, flickering way, it will be yours too, that she can come to live in your heart the way she's occupied mine for almost three years now. That you might offer her a safe haven where the music never stops, and where the rush of love is not merely chemical, but real. Genuine.
I think she'd like that.Purchase White Lines at AmazonPurchase White Lines at IndieBoundView White Lines on Goodreads* * * *
Pretty Ugly (Bluford)by Karyn Langhorne Folan and Paul LanganPaperbackScholastic PaperbacksReleased 4/1/2013Winners: Elizabeth Ziko and Catherine KellyBluford High: It's not just school--it's real life.
Jamee Wills never expected Vanessa Pierce and her friends to go this far. The trouble begins at cheerleading practice when Vanessa starts teasing Angel McAllister, a shy new girl at Bluford High. When the insults turn nasty, Jamee tries to stop them. She wins Angel's friendship but makes many enemies. Now Jamee is a target, and someone is texting lies and pictures of her all over school. Unwilling to tell her family or snitch on her fellow cheerleaders, Jamee is cornered. Will her next move solve her problems--or make them worse?
Purchase Pretty Ugly (Bluford) at AmazonPurchase Pretty Ugly (Bluford) at IndieBoundView Pretty Ugly (Bluford) on Goodreads* * * *
Rottenby Michael NorthropHardcoverScholastic PressReleased 4/1/2013Winner: Sheri LarsenA troubled teen. A rescued Rottweiler. An unlikely friendship.
Jimmer "JD" Dobbs is back in town after spending the summer "upstate." No one believes his story about visiting his aunt, and it's pretty clear that he has something to hide. It's also pretty clear that his mom made a new friend while he was away---a rescued Rottweiler that JD immediately renames Johnny Rotten (yes, after that guy in the Sex Pistols). Both tough but damaged, JD and Johnny slowly learn to trust each other, but their newfound bond is threatened by a treacherous friend and one snap of Johnny's powerful jaws. As the secrets JD has tried so hard to keep under wraps start to unravel, he suddenly has something much bigger to worry about: saving his dog.
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about Rotten?My favorite thing about Rotten is that one of the main characters is a dog: a rescued Rottweiler named Johnny Rotten (JR for short). Dogs have individual personalities, just like people, but very different priorities. Normally when one of my characters encounters something I ask myself, How would he/she respond to it? The answer might be something like: He/she would say something or make a mental note of it or whatever. I asked myself the same question with JR, but the answer was often more like: He'd sniff, bark at, or possibly pee on it. So much more proactive!
I also like the way the two main characters parallel each other. JD is a 16-year-old boy who's been in some trouble, and JR is a dog that's been abused. They both have tough exteriors and have to learn to let down their defenses and trust each other. Purchase Rotten at AmazonPurchase Rotten at IndieBoundView Rotten on Goodreads* * * *
Dark Triumphby Robin LaFeversHardcoverHoughton Mifflin Books for ChildrenReleased 4/2/2013Winner - Nicole Zoltack Sybella arrives at the convent's doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge, but at a price. Naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, the convent views Sybella as one of their most dangerous weapons.
But those assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?
This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats.
Purchase Dark Triumph at AmazonPurchase Dark Triumph at IndieBoundView Dark Triumph on GoodreadsIN STORES NEXT WEEK WITH AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
Mojoby Tim TharpHardcoverKnopf Books for Young ReadersReleased 4/9/2013All Dylan wants is mojo. What is mojo? It's power. The ability to command respect. It's everything Dylan doesn't have. He gets no respect at school, and when he finds the dead body of a classmate, even the police push him around. All the thanks he gets for trying to help the investigation with his crime drama skills is a new nickname at school: Body Bag. So when Dylan hears about a missing rich girl from the other side of town, he jumps at the chance to dive into this mystery. Surely if he cracks a case involving a girl this beautiful and this rich, he'll get not only a hefty cash reward, but the mojo he's looking for.
His investigation takes him into the world of an elite private high school and an underground club called Gangland. As Dylan, along with his loyal friends Audrey and Randy, falls down the rabbit hole, lured by the power of privilege, he begins to lose himself. And the stakes of the game keep getting higher.
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about Mojo?My favorite thing about Mojo? Gangland. That's the underground club where kids from elite private schools hang out .Maybe they know something about the sudden disappearance of the rich and gorgeous blonde, Ashton Browning, and maybe they don't, but Dylan Jones is determined to find out. Beyond the secret door of Gangland, framed posters of gangsta rappers and movie tough guys gleam on the brick walls, the music plays loud, beautiful girls swirl through the dimly lit haze, and the entertainment gets more bizarre with every visit. No wonder Dylan gets addicted to going there. But you know about addictions, don't you? They can be deadly.Purchase Mojo at AmazonPurchase Mojo at IndieBoundView Mojo on GoodreadsMORE RELEASES IN STORES NEXT WEEK
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Renegade (A Ripper Novel)by Amy Carol ReevesPaperbackFluxReleased 4/8/2013Brimming with romance and danger, the suspenseful Ripper series continuesThe Conclave, a secret group with twisted ideals and freakish practices, has been wiped out, thanks to Arabella Sharp. Now there's a new malevolence afoot. Fishermen are getting killed, their partially devoured bodies washing up on the shores of Scotland. Is the Ripper responsible? Or have the Conclave's sinister experiments left behind something more monstrous? Abbie fears the worst when her beloved Dr. William Siddal vanishes. To save the man she loves, Abbie must comply with the Ripper's dreadful orders, and put her own life in grave danger.Purchase Renegade (A Ripper Novel) at AmazonPurchase Renegade (A Ripper Novel) at IndieBoundView Renegade (A Ripper Novel) on Goodreads* * * *
The Shadow Girlby Jennifer ArcherPaperback OriginalHarperTeenReleased 4/9/2013For as long as Lily Winston can remember, she has never been alone. Iris, a shadowy figure who mimics Lily's movements and whispers in her ear, is with her always -- but invisible to the rest of the world. Iris is Lily's secret. But when Lily's father is killed in a tragic accident, his cryptic final words suggest that he and Lily's mother have been hiding secrets of their own. Suddenly, Iris begins pushing Lily more than ever, possessing her thoughts and urging her to put together the pieces of a strange puzzle her father left behind. As she searches for answers, Lily finds herself drawn to Ty Collier, a mysterious new boy in town. Together, Lily and Ty must untangle a web of deception to discover the truth about her family, Iris -- and Lily's own identity.
The Shadow Girl is a chilling, mind-bending mystery filled with stunning twists, haunting reveals, and a realistic setting with a supernatural touch that's perfect for fans of
Before I Fall and
If I Stay. Purchase The Shadow Girl at AmazonPurchase The Shadow Girl at IndieBoundView The Shadow Girl on Goodreads* * * *
Strangeletsby Michelle GagnonHardcoverSoho TeenReleased 4/9/201317-year-old Sophie lies on her deathbed in California, awaiting the inevitable loss of her battle with cancer.
17-year-old Declan stares down two armed thugs in a back alley in Galway, Ireland.
17-year-old Anat attempts to traverse a booby-trapped tunnel between Israel and Egypt.
All three strangers should have died at the exact same moment, thousands of miles apart. Instead, they awaken together in an abandoned hospital, only to discover that they're not alone. Three other teens from different places on the globe are trapped with them. Somebody or something seems to be pulling the strings. With their individual clocks ticking, they must band together if they're to have any hope of surviving.
Soon they discover that they've been trapped in a future that isn't of their making: a deadly, desolate world at once entirely familiar and utterly strange. Each teen harbors a secret, but only one holds the key that could get them home. As the truth comes to light through the eyes of Sophie, Declan, and Anat, the reader is taken on a dark and unforgettable journey into the hearts of teens who must decide what to do with a second chance at life.
Purchase Strangelets at AmazonPurchase Strangelets at IndieBoundView Strangelets on Goodreads* * * *
Moonset (The Legacy of Moonset)by Scott TraceyPaperbackFluxReleased 4/8/2013A new series about teenage witches and their troubling family legacyJustin Daggett, his trouble-making sister, and their three orphan-witch friends have gotten themselves kicked out of high school. Again. Now they've ended up in Carrow Mills, New York, the town where their parents, members of the terrorist witch organization known as Moonset, began their evil experiments with the dark arts one generation ago. When the siblings are accused of unleashing black magic on the town, Justin fights to prove their innocence. But tracking down the true culprit leads him to a terrifying discovery about Moonset's past . . . and its deadly future.Purchase Moonset (The Legacy of Moonset) at AmazonPurchase Moonset (The Legacy of Moonset) at IndieBoundView Moonset (The Legacy of Moonset) on Goodreads* * * *
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Happy release day to my writer friend Faith Sullivan. I met Faith a little while back and through our blogs and Twitter, I've discovered that she's a great person and a great writer. Her first book Heartbeat released in February and I devoured it. Today, I hope you'll help me congratulate Faith on the release of her second book, Unexpected.
September 11, 2001.
A day that forever changes the destiny of college overachiever, Michelle Rhodes.
Shattered, confused and alone, no one understands the trauma consuming her until she meets Connor Donnelly.
A native New Yorker, he believes he can aid in getting her life back on track. But what if he's even more broken inside?
Offering her a chance at a fresh start, Connor convinces Michelle to move in with him. Hiring her to waitress at his bar, their mutual attraction only complicates matters.
As more details surrounding Connor's past emerge, Michelle uncovers the full magnitude of the loss he's trying to hide. Refusing to let her feelings for him hinder his recovery, she makes a decision that winds up hurting them both.
By sacrificing her heart, Michelle thinks she is helping Connor come to terms with his grief. Little does she know, Connor is gambling everything for the sake of having a future with her.
What happens is truly unexpected.
Title: Unexpected
Author: Faith Sullivan
Expected release date: April 2, 2013
Genre:Contemporary Romance
Category: New Adult
Ebook available at: Kindle ($1.99)
http://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-ebook/dp/B00C112I7O
Paperback available at: Amazon ($6.99)
http://www.amazon.com/Unexpected-Faith-Sullivan/dp/1483933695
And here's an excerpt:
Chapter Six
“W...what?” I stutter despite myself.
He gives me a crooked grin. “All night, I’ve been freezing my ass off out here waiting for you. I didn’t think you were gonna show.”
If his first remark didn’t floor me, the second leaves me utterly confused. “Whoa, slow down, buddy. How do you even know my name?”
Again, he laughs. “Does it really matter? I’m here to talk some sense into you.”
The dimples in his cheeks distract me. He has such a cute smile. But I’m not letting him off that easily. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m done with New York.”
“Really? You could’ve fooled me.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because you should never run from something that scares you.” His hazel eyes catch the moonlight as they bore into mine. “And this time, you won’t be alone. I’ll be with you.”
This whole conversation is getting way too intense. Standing up, I wrap my arms around myself. I have to get out of here. This guy is crazy.
I jump as the front door opens and my ex-boyfriend Tony emerges, giving me a hopeful look. We broke up after our senior year. He understood I wasn’t planning on sticking around, so I set him free. He met someone else over the summer, and I only talked to him once on the phone when I got back. But with the way he’s looking at me now, I can tell he feels sorry for me, and that’s something I won’t tolerate.
Inching closer to the steps, I attempt to play it cool. “Oh hi, Tony. It’s good seeing you. I wish I could stay and chat, but I was just leaving.”
“I don’t think so.”
I whirl around. That’s it. Who does this guy think he is? “Listen, you little...” I begin, but Tony interrupts by grabbing my arm.
“Michelle, calm down. There’s no need to freak out,” Tony says, slowly releasing his grip on me. “Do you remember me telling you about Sal, my roommate at school, the one from New York?” I nod, but I can care less at this moment. “Well, this is his older brother, Connor. I kind of told him all about you, and I thought it’d be a good idea if you two met.”
I shake my head and sigh. “So you made him wait out here alone in the cold?”
I can tell Tony’s nervous. He’s running his fingers through his hair. “I thought you’d bolt otherwise.”
“She nearly did,” Connor chimes in.
Frustrated, I slam my fist on the porch railing. “The both of you just stop it, right now! I knew it was a bad idea to come here. I don’t need some random guy from New York giving me advice on how to live my life.”
Pushing off the swing, Connor gets to his feet. “Well, what are you doing with your life then? What’s plan B?”
I advance toward him. “I don’t have a plan B, asshole. I don’t have all the answers, but apparently you do.”
Connor closes the gap between us. “I wish I did, but I think you can figure it out. You were brave enough to take on the big, bad city once. Why not try it again under different circumstances?”
Tony clears his throat, and for a moment, I forgot he was there. “Michelle, Connor owns a bar downtown. He thought you could go back and work for him. Give it another go.”
“I’m no bartender,” I retort.
“You sure aren’t,” Connor fires back.
Tony holds up his hands in an attempt to keep the peace. “Just hear him out, Michelle.”
“Fine,” I say glaring up at him.
“Go on, Connor. Tell her about it,” Tony urges, knowing I may flee at any moment.
Connor’s eyes find mine again, but I look away as he starts speaking. “My family’s owned a pub on Beekman Street for years. Not too long ago, my dad had a heart attack, so I took over. I can offer you a waitressing job plus room and board above the bar for as long as you want it.”
For a minute, I stop and consider the possibility. It actually doesn’t sound that bad, and it’d be a welcome change from my original intention of becoming the next film school prodigy. It would be fresh start, and I wouldn’t be alone. But can I really go back there?
Sensing my trepidation, Connor pats me on the shoulder. “Listen, I know it’s not what you imagined. Tony told me how smart you are and how you were hoping to make it big at NYU. I can understand how working in a bar sounds like a letdown after that. But honestly, I think it’d be good for you.”
“And why do you care about what happens to me?” I ask, raising my eyes to his.
“Because I was there that day, and so were you.”
To celebrate, Faith is offering a giveaway for a $25 Amazon gift card, and yes, it's open internationally because Faith is that awesome! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below:a Rafflecopter giveawayAnd before you go, don't forget to leave a comment to congratulate Faith. :)
Wow! We have some fabulous giveaways this week! One person will win the full Darkness Rising trilogy, signed by Kelley Armstrong. We have hardcovers of Rotten by Michael Northrop, Rise by Anna Carey, and Dark Triumph by R.L. LaFevers, plus 2 paperbacks of Pretty Ugly by Karyn Langhorne Folan and Paul Langan. We have an ARC of Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris and 5 ARCs of White Lines by Jennifer Banash. Thanks so much to all the generous authors and publicists who have provided us with giveaway copies!
THIS WEEK'S GIVEAWAY
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The Rising (Darkness Rising)
by Kelley ArmstrongHardcoverHarperCollinsReleased 4/2/2013Signed Trilogy Giveaway (International)The heart-stopping final book in the Darkness Rising trilogy, from
New York Times-bestselling author Kelley Armstrong!
Things are getting desperate for Maya and her friends. Hunted by two powerful Cabals, they're quickly running out of places to hide. And with the whole world thinking they died in a helicopter crash, they can't simply go to the authorities for help. All they have is the name and number of someone who might be able to give them a few answers. Answers to why they're so valuable to the Cabals, and why their supernatural powers are getting more out of control. Maya is unprepared for the truths that await her, but she'll have to face them if she ever hopes to move on with her life. Because she can't keep running forever.
With all the twists, thrills, and romance that have made Kelley Armstrong an international bestseller--plus the surprising return of some favourite characters
--The Rising will keep you under its spell long after the last page is turned.
What is your favorite thing about THE RISING? My favourite thing about The Rising was that I finally got to wrap up a story line that's been going for six books. This is the culmination of the Darkness Rising trilogy, but it's also the culmination of the Darkest Powers trilogy. At the end of the Darkest Powers, I'd left those characters in a relatively safe place. Their journey wasn't over, though, as readers realized. They needed firmer ground to stand on and a better solution to their problem. When I left those characters behind, I switched to a new set, clear across North America, facing a similar problem rising from the same source. Separately, these two groups couldn't solve their problem. Together, though? That was different. They both brought some skills and some knowledge, and when I put the two together, I finally had a winning team. The thrill of writing The Rising wasn't just about resolving a problem, though. It was bringing those past characters back again, which is always exciting. Having them interact with my current characters--for better or worse--really made this book a lot of fun.Purchase The Rising (Darkness Rising) at AmazonPurchase The Rising (Darkness Rising) at IndieBoundView The Rising (Darkness Rising) on Goodreads* * * *
White Linesby Jennifer BanashHardcoverPutnam JuvenileReleased 4/4/20135 ARC giveawaysA gritty, atmospheric coming of age tale set in 1980s New York City.
Seventeen-year-old Cat is living every teenager’s dream: she has her own apartment on the Lower East Side and at night she’s club kid royalty, guarding the velvet rope at some of the hottest clubs in the city. The night with its crazy, frenetic, high-inducing energy—the pulsing beat of the music, the radiant, joyful people and those seductive white lines that can ease all pain—is when Cat truly lives. But her daytime, when real life occurs, is more nightmare than dream. Having spent years suffering her mother’s emotional and physical abuse, and abandoned by her father, Cat is terrified and alone—unable to connect to anyone or anything. But when someone comes along who makes her want to truly live, she’ll need to summon the courage to confront her demons and take control of a life already spinning dangerously out of control.
Both poignant and raw, White Lines is a gripping tale and the reader won’t want to look away.
What is your favorite thing about WHITE LINES?When telling a story, the old adage is usually “write what you know,” and with WHITE LINES, I’ve done just that. My favorite thing about the book is the ay it deals with real issues: divorce, physical and emotional abuse, neglect, drug use and addiction--some of which I've experienced first-hand, some not. What could I tell you about growing up on my own at 17, in the heart of the Lower East Side? Should I tell you about the smell of roasting nuts hovering over the sidewalks in the dead of winter? The way the punks and goths roamed the streets surrounding St. Marks Place like predatory cats, the jangling metal chains on their leather jackets transmitting the most beautiful and melodious music? How the pavement of my stoop burned my thighs at the apex of summer as I sat out there for hours, graffiti streaking the buildings all around me with no parents to beckon me inside asdarkness fell, watching the blue sky downshift into dusk? Or how I found myself one late night outside a club in the meatpacking district, an invite clutched in one sweaty hand, my pulse thudding its own discordant melody of desire and fear in those brief moments before I was chosen from the thrumming crowd, chosen and raised up into the light . . .
Although I’ve certainly drawn inspiration from my own life, WHITE LINES is a work of fiction, and Cat’s story is entirely her own. Well—almost. In those long, hard hours spent bent over our computers,every writer dreams in their secret heart of making an impact, of touching the lives and hearts of her readers—and I’m no exception. Cat’s story is absolutely her own, but I hope, in some small, flickering way, it will be yours too, that she can come to live in your heart the way she’s occupied mine for almost three years now. That you might offer her a safe haven where the music never stops, and where the rush of love is not merely chemical, but real. Genuine.
I think she’d like that.Purchase White Lines at AmazonPurchase White Lines at IndieBoundView White Lines on Goodreads* * * *
Rottenby Michael NorthropHardcoverScholastic PressReleased 4/1/2013Signed hardcover giveawayA troubled teen. A rescued Rottweiler. An unlikely friendship.
Jimmer "JD" Dobbs is back in town after spending the summer "upstate." No one believes his story about visiting his aunt, and it's pretty clear that he has something to hide. It's also pretty clear that his mom made a new friend while he was away---a rescued Rottweiler that JD immediately renames Johnny Rotten (yes, after that guy in the Sex Pistols). Both tough but damaged, JD and Johnny slowly learn to trust each other, but their newfound bond is threatened by a treacherous friend and one snap of Johnny's powerful jaws. As the secrets JD has tried so hard to keep under wraps start to unravel, he suddenly has something much bigger to worry about: saving his dog.
What is your favorite thing about ROTTEN?
My favorite thing about Rotten is that one of the main characters is a dog: a rescued Rottweiler named Johnny Rotten (JR for short). Dogs have individual personalities, just like people, but very different priorities. Normally when one of my characters encounters something I ask myself, How would he/she respond to it? The answer might be something like: He/she would say something or make a mental note of it or whatever. I asked myself the same question with JR, but the answer was often more like: He’d sniff, bark at, or possibly pee on it. So much more proactive!
I also like the way the two main characters parallel each other. JD is a 16-year-old boy who's been in some trouble, and JR is a dog that's been abused. They both have tough exteriors and have to learn to let down their defenses and trust each other. Purchase Rotten at AmazonPurchase Rotten at IndieBoundView Rotten on Goodreads* * * *
Rise: An Eve Novelby Anna CareyHardcoverHarperCollinsReleased 4/2/2013Hardcover Giveaway How far will you go when you have nothing left to lose?
When she lost her soul mate, Caleb, Eve felt like her world had ended. Trapped in the palace, forced to play the part of the happy, patriotic princess of The New America and the blushing bride of her father's top adviser Eve's whole life is a lie. The only thing that keeps her going is Caleb's memory, and the revolution he started.
Now, Eve is taking over where Caleb left off. With the help of Moss, an undercover subversive in the King's court, she plots to take down The New America, beginning with the capital, the City of Sand. Will Eve be able to bring about a new, free world when she's called upon to perform the ultimate act of rebellion - killing her father?
In Rise, Eve must choose who to leave behind, who to save, and who to fight as Anna Carey's epic tale of romance and sacrifice in the chilling dystopia of The New America comes to a stunning conclusion.
Purchase Rise: An Eve Novel at AmazonPurchase Rise: An Eve Novel at IndieBoundView Rise: An Eve Novel on Goodreads* * * *
Unbreakableby Elizabeth NorrisHardcoverBalzer + BrayReleased 4/3/2013ARC giveaway Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she'll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths, and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn't turn himself over within five days.
And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about - someone from her own world - has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they're lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she's in way over her head, and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?
Purchase Unbreakable at AmazonPurchase Unbreakable at IndieBoundView Unbreakable on Goodreads* * * *
Pretty Ugly (Bluford)by Karyn Langhorne Folan and Paul LanganPaperbackScholastic PaperbacksReleased 4/1/20132 paperback giveaways Bluford High: It's not just school--it's real life.
Jamee Wills never expected Vanessa Pierce and her friends to go this far. The trouble begins at cheerleading practice when Vanessa starts teasing Angel McAllister, a shy new girl at Bluford High. When the insults turn nasty, Jamee tries to stop them. She wins Angel's friendship but makes many enemies. Now Jamee is a target, and someone is texting lies and pictures of her all over school. Unwilling to tell her family or snitch on her fellow cheerleaders, Jamee is cornered. Will her next move solve her problems--or make them worse?
Purchase Pretty Ugly (Bluford) at AmazonPurchase Pretty Ugly (Bluford) at IndieBoundView Pretty Ugly (Bluford) on Goodreads* * * *
Dark Triumphby Robin LaFeversHardcoverHoughton Mifflin Books for ChildrenReleased 4/2/2013Hardcover giveaway Sybella arrives at the convent's doorstep half mad with grief and despair. Those that serve Death are only too happy to offer her refuge, but at a price. Naturally skilled in both the arts of death and seduction, the convent views Sybella as one of their most dangerous weapons.
But those assassin's skills are little comfort when the convent returns her to a life that nearly drove her mad. Her father's rage and brutality are terrifying, and her brother's love is equally monstrous. And while Sybella is a weapon of justice wrought by the god of Death himself, He must give her a reason to live. When she discovers an unexpected ally imprisoned in the dungeons, will a daughter of Death find something other than vengeance to live for?
This heart-pounding sequel to Grave Mercy serves betrayal, treachery, and danger in equal measure, bringing readers back to fifteenth century Brittany and will keep them on the edge of their seats.
Purchase Dark Triumph at AmazonPurchase Dark Triumph at IndieBoundView Dark Triumph on GoodreadsLAST WEEK'S GIVEAWAY WINNERS
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Impostorby Jill HathawayHardcoverBalzer + BrayReleased 3/26/2013Winner: Natalie AguirreWhat if a killer took control of you?
Vee Bell's gift (or curse) of sliding - slipping into the mind of another person and experiencing life, briefly, through his or her eyes - has been somewhat under control since she unwillingly witnessed the horrific deaths of her classmates six months ago.
But just as things are getting back to normal, Vee has a very bizarre experience: she loses consciousness and finds herself in a deserted area, at the edge of a cliff, with the broken body of the boy who took advantage of her on the rocks below.
As Vee finds herself in stranger and stranger situations with no memory of getting there, she begins to suspect that someone she knows has the ability to slide, and that this slider is using Vee to exact revenge on his or her enemies.
Purchase Impostor at AmazonPurchase Impostor at IndieBoundView Impostor on Goodreads
Promises to Keepby Amelia Atwater-RhodesHardcoverDelacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 3/12/2013
Winner: Ben Lee The compendium of creations (SingleEarth, the Bruja guilds, the Midnight empire) intertwine in an exciting, unsettling plot featuring happenings both accidental and deliberate that will forever change the alternate landscape inhabited by vampires, Tristes, shapeshifters et al. It all begins with a wrong turn and a crashed party, and from there it's an epic clash of elements and the promise of more chaos still to come. At the center of the storm is Jay, a young vampire hunter that no one would ever have predicted might be earth's best bet to thwart the rise of a vampire-controlled slave empire called Midnight. Teens will find themselves drawn to Jay, who struggles to prove his worth even while he has his own fears that those who have written him off may be right to do so.
Purchase Promises to Keep at AmazonPurchase Promises to Keep at IndieBoundView Promises to Keep on Goodreads* * * *
Scowlerby Daniel KrausHardcoverDelacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 3/12/2013
Winner: Jemi Fraser Imagine your father is a monster. Would that mean there are monsters inside you, too? Nineteen-year-old Ry Burke, his mother, and little sister scrape by for a living on their dying family farm. Ry wishes for anything to distract him from the grim memories of his father's physical and emotional abuse. Then a meteorite falls from the sky, bringing with it not only a fragment from another world but also the arrival of a ruthless man intent on destroying the entire family. Soon Ry is forced to defend himself by resurrecting a trio of imaginary childhood protectors: kindly Mr. Furrington, wise Jesus, and the bloodthirsty Scowler.
Purchase Scowler at AmazonPurchase Scowler at IndieBoundView Scowler on Goodreads* * * *
Starstruckby Rachel ShukertHardcoverDelacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 3/12/2013
Winner: Victoria Zumbrum “Wit, pluck, darkness, pitch perfect period details, juicy twists, and big heart. This book is one to savor.”--Anna Godbersen,
New York Times bestselling author of the Luxe and Bright Young Things series
A golden age of glam . . .
Every week they arrive in Los Angeles--beautiful and talented young hopefuls who dream of becoming stars. It's all Margaret Frobisher has ever wanted—and when she's discovered by a powerful agent, she can barely believe her luck. She's more than ready to escape her snobby private school and conservative Pasadena family for a chance to light up the silver screen.
The competition is fierce at Olympus Studios and Margaret—now Margo—is chasing her Hollywood dreams alongside girls like Gabby Preston, who at 16 is already a grizzled show-biz veteran caught between the studio and the ravenous ambition of her ruthless mother, and sultry Amanda Farraday, who seems to have it all--ambition, glamour . . . and dirty secrets. Missing from the pack is Diana Chesterfield, the beautiful actress who mysteriously disappeared, and there are whispers that Diana's boyfriend—Margo's new co-star—may have had something to do with it. Margo quickly learns that fame comes with a price, and that nothing is what it seems.
Set in Old Hollywood,
Starstruck follows the lives of three teen girls as they live, love, and claw their way to the top in a world where being a star is all that matters.
Purchase Starstruck at AmazonPurchase Starstruck at IndieBoundView Starstruck on Goodreads* * * *
Strands of Bronze and Goldby Jane NickersonHardcoverKnopf Books for Young ReadersReleased 3/12/2013
Winner: Lysette Lam The Bluebeard fairy tale retold. . . .When seventeen-year-old Sophia Petheram’s beloved father dies, she receives an unexpected letter. An invitation—on fine ivory paper, in bold black handwriting—from the mysterious Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, her godfather. With no money and fewer options, Sophie accepts, leaving her humble childhood home for the astonishingly lavish Wyndriven Abbey, in the heart of Mississippi.
Sophie has always longed for a comfortable life, and she finds herself both attracted to and shocked by the charm and easy manners of her overgenerous guardian. But as she begins to piece together the mystery of his past, it’s as if, thread by thread, a silken net is tightening around her. And as she gathers stories and catches whispers of his former wives—all with hair as red as her own—in the forgotten corners of the abbey, Sophie knows she’s trapped in the passion and danger of de Cressac’s intoxicating world.
Glowing strands of romance, mystery, and suspense are woven into this breathtaking debut—a thrilling retelling of the “Bluebeard” fairy tale.
Purchase Strands of Bronze and Gold at AmazonPurchase Strands of Bronze and Gold at IndieBoundView Strands of Bronze and Gold on Goodreads* * * *
Heart of Glassby Sasha GouldHardcoverDelacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 3/12/2013
Winner: Vivien Probst In a society of liars, who do you trust?It is 1585 in Venice, and three months have passed since Laura della Scala solved her sister's murder after joining the Segreta, a powerful society of women who trade protection for secrets. Now Laura is engaged to her true love, Roberto, and she has never been happier. But the night Laura is sent on her first important mission for the Segreta, Roberto is found with the body of a dead woman in his room. Halim, an irresistibly handsome Turkish prince on a diplomatic visit to the city, identifies the woman as his sister and insists that Roberto be executed for her murder, or the Ottoman Empire will attack Venice. Laura is desperate to save both her city and her fiancé. But as the evidence against Roberto builds and Laura finds herself increasingly drawn to Halim, she begins to wonder whether everything Roberto told her was a lie. What Laura discovers is a conspiracy that involves nearly everyone she knows.
Purchase Heart of Glass at AmazonPurchase Heart of Glass at IndieBoundView Heart of Glass on Goodreads* * * *
Deep Betrayalby Anne Greenwood BrownHardcoverDelacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 3/12/2013
Winner: Valia Lind Once you dive into Deep Betrayal, the sequel to Lies Beneath, you won't come up for air!It's been thirty days, two hours, and seventeen minutes since Calder left Lily standing on the shores of Lake Superior. Not that she's counting. And when Calder does return, it's not quite the reunion Lily hoped for. Especially after she lets her father in on a huge secret: he, like Calder, is a merman. Obsessed with his new identity, Lily's dad monopolizes Calder's time as the two of them spend every day in the water, leaving Lily behind.
Then dead bodies start washing ashore. Calder blames his mermaid sisters, but Lily fears her father has embraced the merman's natural need to kill. As the body count grows, everyone is pointing fingers. Lily doesn't know what to believe—only that whoever's responsible is sure to strike again. . . .
Purchase Deep Betrayal at AmazonPurchase Deep Betrayal at IndieBoundView Deep Betrayal on GoodreadsIN STORES NEXT WEEK WITH AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
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This Is What Happy Looks Likeby Jennifer SmithHardcoverPoppyReleased 4/2/2013If fate sent you an email, would you answer?When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?
What is your favorite thing about THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE?
My favorite thing about This Is What Happy Looks Like might seem a little bit odd, because it’s not a huge part of the book. There was a lot I really enjoyed about writing this story – a lot that made me happy, as the title would suggest. I loved exploring the movie set and the fictional town of Henley; Ellie’s relationship with her mother, and Graham’s drawings; I loved the feel of summer, from the lobsters to the boats to the ocean, and Bagel the beagle, who is based on my own dog. And I loved listing the things that made each character happy.
But strangely enough, my favorite thing about the book is probably Wilbur, Graham’s pet pig, who never even makes an “on screen” appearance. Even so, he’s the catalyst for Ellie and Graham’s entire relationship, and it was so much fun to picture his life in L.A. with Graham, the two of them spending their days by the pool, the very best of friends.
The funny thing about Wilbur is that he was originally supposed to be a dog. When I first got the idea for this book – two strangers connecting over a misdirected email – and was trying to come up with a reason for the first message to go astray, I decided that Graham would be emailing his dog walker and miss a letter in the address, so it would accidentally go to Ellie instead. But I chose to make it a pig at the very last second, completely on the fly (so to speak) – it was one of those things where you sort of decide it without really deciding, and it just kind of happened as I was typing the words. It seemed like an interesting detail about Graham, and just the kind of pet a teen movie star left to his own devices might have…especially a teen movie star who happens to be a fan of Charlotte’s Web.
So even though Wilbur never really makes a cameo, his presence in the novel is one of my favorite things. Maybe he’ll make an appearance in another book one day, but until then, you can probably still find him poolside at Graham’s house, living the good life. Purchase This Is What Happy Looks Like at AmazonPurchase This Is What Happy Looks Like at IndieBoundView This Is What Happy Looks Like on Goodreads* * * *
In the Shadow of Blackbirdsby Cat WintersHardcoverAmulet BooksReleased 4/2/2013In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to seances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she's forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love, a boy who died in battle, returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?
Featuring haunting archival early-twentieth-century photographs, this is a tense, romantic story set in a past that is eerily like our own time.
What is your favorite thing about IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS?
As much as I enjoyed creating my dark 1918 world and plotting out the mystery at the heart of In the Shadow of Blackbirds, it’s the characters themselves who made me passionate about writing this novel. The more drafts I wrote, the further I dove into the lives of my two young leads, Mary Shelley Black and Stephen Embers, from their childhood school days up to their teenage years. I also loved watching the more minor characters come to life, especially the young men in two scenes involving a convalescent home for WWI soldiers. Even though they’re all fictional creations, the history they’re enduring really occurred. I wanted to give a voice to everyone who struggled through the war and the flu that gripped the world that tragic year.
I didn’t go easy on ANY of my characters. No one comes out of this book without emotional and physical scars. Yet I hope readers will view these characters’ stories as examples of how hope, love, courage, and human connection can help even the most damaged souls overcome the world’s darkest moments. Purchase In the Shadow of Blackbirds at AmazonPurchase In the Shadow of Blackbirds at IndieBoundView In the Shadow of Blackbirds on Goodreads* * * *
Fearlessby Cornelia FunkeHardcoverLittle, Brown Books for Young ReadersReleased 4/2/2013Jacob Reckless returns once again to the Mirrorworld--filled with profound characters, extraordinary creatures, and epic life-or-death treasure hunts that could only come from the mind of the master storyteller of our generation, Cornelia Funke. Jacob Reckless has only a few months left to live. He's tried everything to shake the Fairy curse that traded his life for his brother's--legends such as the All-Healing Apple, the Well of Eternal Youth, the blood of a northern Djinn. And yet hope after hope is extinguished. After months of fruitless searching, Jacob journeys through his father's mirror one final time to deliver the bad news to Fox.
But there they hear of one last possibility--an item so legendary that not even Mirrorworlders believe it exists: a crossbow that can kill thousands, or heal one, when shot through the heart. But a Goyl treasure hunter is also searching for the prized crossbow. Jacob must find it first--and somehow convince Fox to do whatever it takes to save him.
What is your favorite thing about FEARLESS?
My favourite thing about FEARLESS.....hmmm. There are so many themes and motives that made me love to work on this book. The most exciting thing was probably that only Book 2 made me realize how huge a world I had found in Book 1! In Reckless I had stepped through the Mirror and had dared to travel a few hundred miles. I had found the Hungry Forest, the valley of the Fairies, Vena, the Royal Fortress of the Goyl, but there was so much more! Fearless made me discover Albion, Flanders, the treasures of Lotheraine, the Dead City in Helvetia's mountains. I met a treasure hunter with Onyx skin, a King wearing a bewitched corset, who hires watermen as his bodyguards, a spoiled Prince, a childeating witch and a Bluebeard. And I realized that Jacob was for sure not the only one who had come through the Mirror to New York. When Fearless opened its treasure chests for me I understood that I had only just begun my journeys behind the Mirror and there'll be at least another three books before this story is told. heavens, Cornelia, I thought. You always thought this would never happened to you but here it is: the one world you will get lost in. The one world you never want to leave again. Purchase Fearless at AmazonPurchase Fearless at IndieBoundView Fearless on Goodreads* * * *
Money Runby Jack HeathHardcoverScholastic Inc.Released 4/1/2013When a heist goes wrong, teen thief Ash finds herself in a high stakes game of cat-and-mouse.
Ashley "Ash" Arthur is a teen thief. Motivated by the thrills as much as the money, she's pulled off some amazing heists with the help of her childhood friend Benjamin, who acts as tech support. Now she's got the world's richest man in her sights, convinced that Hammond Buckland has 2 million dollars hidden away in his corporate HQ.
Ash isn't the only one with an interest in Buckland. The Australian government gets his fortune if he dies on their soil, so they've sent their #2 assassin, Peachey, to kill him. With Ash and Peachey both sneaking around the office building and working at cross purposes, it's only a matter of time before their paths cross and Peachey decides Ash has seen too much to live.
Once it's a matter of life and death, can Ash keep her eye on the prize?
Set over the course of a single night within a single building, this is a page-turning thriller with gadgets, guts, and summer-blockbuster action.
What is your favorite thing about MONEY RUN?
My favourite thing about Money Run is its complexity. While many great books - The Old Man and the Sea, Black Water - are simple, there's something hypnotic about watching a machine with hundreds of moving parts wind toward an unknowable goal.
This comes at a cost - Money Run is difficult to coherently recommend, and it would be impossible to film, even with a sizable budget. But I write to entertain, and the "include everything" approach seems to work.Purchase Money Run at AmazonPurchase Money Run at IndieBoundView Money Run on Goodreads* * * *
Vengeance Boundby Justina IrelandHardcoverSimon & Schuster Books For Young ReadersReleased 4/2/2013The Goddess Test meets Dexter in an edgy, compelling debut about one teen's quest for revenge - no matter how far it takes her.Cory Graff is not alone in her head. Bound to a deal of desperation made when she was a child, Cory's mind houses the Furies, the hawk and the serpent, lingering always, waiting for her to satisfy their bloodlust. After escaping the asylum where she was trapped for years, Cory knows how to keep the Furies quiet. By day, she lives a normal life, but by night, she tracks down targets the Furies send her way. And she brings down Justice upon them.
Cory's perfected her system of survival, but when she meets a mysterious boy named Niko at her new school, she can't figure out how she feels about him. For the first time, the Furies are quiet in her head around a guy. But does this mean that Cory's finally found someone who she can trust, or are there greater factors at work? As Cory's mind becomes a battlefield, with the Furies fighting for control, Cory will have to put everything on the line to hold on to what she's worked so hard to build.
What is your favorite thing about VENGEANCE BOUND?
I love that Cory is such a conflicted/messed up character. She's been through a a lot of trauma and upheaval, not to mention the fact that she's possessed by a couple of mythological creatures! She was a lot of fun to write, precisely because her reliance on violence has made her so bad at making real, meaningful decisions.Purchase Vengeance Bound at AmazonPurchase Vengeance Bound at IndieBoundView Vengeance Bound on Goodreads* * * *
The Collectorby Victoria ScottPaperbackEntangled TeenReleased 4/2/2013 He makes good girls...bad. Dante Walker is flippin' awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell's best, a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.
Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante's an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he'll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:
Collect Charlie Cooper's soul within ten days.
Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that's a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he's come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector and uncover emotions deeply buried.
What is your favorite thing about THE COLLECTOR?
My favorite thing is Dante's voice. It was so fun to write from a cocky, arrogant dude's perspective. I think in teen literature, authors are encouraged to write selfless, likable main characters, so it was fun to stray from the norm for this book and write a character that in the beginning is far from likable. I was a little nervous about trying this, but I'm happy with the results, and hope readers will be too! Purchase The Collector at AmazonPurchase The Collector at IndieBoundView The Collector on GoodreadsMORE RELEASES IN STORES NEXT WEEK
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Stungby Bethany WigginsHardcoverWalker ChildrensReleased 4/2/2013Fiona doesn't remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered-her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right wrist-a black oval with five marks on either side-that she doesn't remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. And she's right. When the honeybee population collapsed, a worldwide pandemic occurred and the government tried to bio-engineer a cure. Only the solution was deadlier than the original problem-the vaccination turned people into ferocious, deadly beasts who were branded as a warning to un-vaccinated survivors. Key people needed to rebuild society are protected from disease and beasts inside a fortress-like wall. But Fiona has awakened branded, alone-and on the wrong side of the wall . . .
Purchase Stung at AmazonPurchase Stung at IndieBoundView Stung on Goodreads* * * *
That Time I Joined the Circusby J.J. HowardHardcoverPointReleased 4/1/2013Lexi Ryan just ran away to join the circus, but not on purpose.
A music-obsessed, slightly snarky New York City girl, Lexi is on her own. After making a huge mistake--and facing a terrible tragedy--Lexi has no choice but to track down her long-absent mother. Rumor has it that Lexi's mom is somewhere in Florida with a traveling circus.
When Lexi arrives at her new, three-ring reality, her mom isn't there . . . but her destiny might be. Surrounded by tigers, elephants, and trapeze artists, Lexi finds some surprising friends and an even more surprising chance at true love. She even lucks into a spot as the circus's fortune teller, reading tarot cards and making predictions.
But then Lexi's ex-best friend from home shows up, and suddenly it's Lexi's own future that's thrown into question.
With humor, wisdom, and a dazzlingly fresh voice, this debut reminds us of the magic of circus tents, city lights, first kisses, and the importance of an excellent playlist.
Purchase That Time I Joined the Circus at AmazonPurchase That Time I Joined the Circus at IndieBoundView That Time I Joined the Circus on Goodreads* * * *
A Corner of White (Colors of Madeleine)by Jaclyn MoriartyHardcoverArthur A. Levine BooksReleased 4/1/2013The first in a rousing, funny, genre-busting trilogy from bestseller Jaclyn Moriarty!
This is a tale of missing persons. Madeleine and her mother have run away from their former life, under mysterious circumstances, and settled in a rainy corner of Cambridge (in our world).
Elliot, on the other hand, is in search of his father, who disappeared on the night his uncle was found dead. The talk in the town of Bonfire (in the Kingdom of Cello) is that Elliot's dad may have killed his brother and run away with the Physics teacher. But Elliot refuses to believe it. And he is determined to find both his dad and the truth.
As Madeleine and Elliot move closer to unraveling their mysteries, they begin to exchange messages across worlds -- through an accidental gap that hasn't appeared in centuries. But even greater mysteries are unfolding on both sides of the gap: dangerous weather phenomena called "color storms;" a strange fascination with Isaac Newton; the myth of the "Butterfly Child," whose appearance could end the droughts of Cello; and some unexpected kisses...
Purchase A Corner of White (Colors of Madeleine) at AmazonPurchase A Corner of White (Colors of Madeleine) at IndieBoundView A Corner of White (Colors of Madeleine) on Goodreads* * * *
Nameless (Tales of Beauty and Madness)by Lili St. CrowHardcoverRazorbillReleased 4/4/2013When Camille was six years old, she was discovered alone in the snow by Enrico Vultusino, godfather of the Seven, the powerful Families that rule magic-ridden New Haven. Papa Vultusino adopted the mute, scarred child, naming her after his dead wife and raising her in luxury on Haven Hill alongside his own son, Nico.
Now Cami is turning sixteen. She's no longer mute, though she keeps her faded scars hidden under her school uniform, and though she opens up only to her two best friends, Ruby and Ellie, and to Nico, who has become more than a brother to her. But even though Cami is a pampered Vultusino heiress, she knows that she is not really Family. Unlike them, she is a mortal with a past that lies buried in trauma. And it's not until she meets the mysterious Tor, who reveals scars of his own, that Cami begins to uncover the secrets of her birth - to find out where she comes from and why her past is threatening her now.
New York Times bestselling author Lili St. Crow thrilled legions of fans with her dark paranormal series Strange Angels. Now she has crafted an evocative update of Snow White, set in a vividly imagined world and populated by unforgettable new characters.
Purchase Nameless (Tales of Beauty and Madness) at AmazonPurchase Nameless (Tales of Beauty and Madness) at IndieBoundView Nameless (Tales of Beauty and Madness) on Goodreads* * * *
Sacrifices (Shadow Grail)by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary EdghillHardcoverTor TeenReleased 4/2/2013The third book in the Shadow Grail series by the New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
The students of Oakhurst Academy believe they have triumphed over the Shadow Knights. But Spirit, Burke, Muirin, Loch, and Addie know better. Under the guise of a company called Breakthrough Adventure Systems, the Shadow Knights have actually taken over the campus. The new regime is brutal, designed to turn the students into soldiers wielding both weapons and magic. Anyone who protests disappears.
Desperate, the group decides that Muirin should go undercover to spy on Breakthrough. But Muirin's act is a little too good, and Spirit begins to fear that her friend's loyalties might have truly changed. Surrounded by enemies and friends who suddenly seem like strangers, Spirit has decide who can - and cannot - be trusted.
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Light: A Gone Novelby Michael GrantHardcoverKatherine Tegen BooksReleased 4/2/2013It's been over a year since all the adults disappeared. Gone.
In the time since everyperson over the age of fourteen disap-peared from the town of Perdido Beach, California, countless battles have been fought: battles against hunger and lies and plague, and epic battles of good against evil. And now, the gaiaphage has been reborn as Diana's malicious mutant daughter, Gaia. Gaia is endlessly hungry for destruction. She yearns to conquer her Nemesis, Little Pete, and then bend the entire world to her warped will. As long-standing enemies become allies, secrets are revealed and unexpected sacrifices are made. Will their attempts to save themselves and one another matter in the end, or will the kids of Perdido Beach perish in this final power struggle?
Light, the sixth and final book in the New York Times bestselling Gone series by Michael Grant, creates a masterful, arresting conclusion to life in the FAYZ.
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Today, I have the pleasure of taking part in a cover reveal that's also a scavenger hunt and giveaway! How awesome is that? Check out the cover of The Kelpie by T.J. Wooldridge.
I can't honestly say I was joking when I suggested to my best friend, Joe – Prince Joseph, eldest son of England's Crown Prince – that we could probably find something the police had missed in regards to the missing children. After all, eleven and twelve year olds like us did that all the time on the telly and in the books we read…
When Heather and Joe decide to be Sleuthy MacSleuths on the property abutting the castle Heather's family lives in, neither expect to discover the real reason children were going missing:
A Kelpie. A child-eating faerie horse had moved into the loch "next door."
The two barely escape with their lives, but they aren't safe. Caught in a storm of faerie power, Heather, Joe, and Heather's whole family are pulled into a maze of talking cats, ghostly secrets, and powerful magick.
With another child taken, time is running out to make things right.
To go along with sharing the simply gorgeous cover, author T.J. Wooldridge has enlisted several of her friends who have helped her in the journey of writing this novel to put together a special treat for you!
Each day of the week, search for individual components of the cover--with a bonus piece of art on Wednesday--at these blogs. Collect the right words per the instructions, and unscramble the line of poetry to be entered to win one of three prizes!
Prize 1
A handmade fused glass kelpie necklace from Stained Glass Creations and Beyond
Prize 2
A handmade necklace from Art by Stefanie of Vic Caswell's rendering of the kelpie from the cover!
Prize 3
An 11x16 poster of the cover of the Kelpie signed by T. J. Wooldridge and artist Vic Caswell
5x7 cards of all the cover aspects featured in the Scavenger Hunt
So, how do you take part in the Scavenger Hunt? Here are the details:
Monday 3/25
Visit the Faery Castle at Kate Kaynak's blog: http://thedisgruntledbear.blogspot.com/
Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, 10th word
Tuesday 3/26
Hop over to Scotland at Stained Glass Creations and Beyond: http://stainedglasscreationsandbeyond.wordpress.com/
Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, 12th word
Check out an artist rendition of Heather MacArthur's family tartan with Aimee Weinstein at tokyowriter.com
Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, first word
Wednesday 3/27
Bonus Art!
Meet Heather's dad, Michael MacArthur, at Valerie Hadden's blog: http://valeriehadden.wordpress.com/
Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, 12th word
Thursday 3/28
Cast your eyes upon the kelpie, itself, with Suzane Reynolds-Alpert at http://suzannereynoldsalpert.blogspot.com/
Scavenger Hunt Goal: 2nd sentence, 2nd word
And feel the snark of Monkey, the fey cat with Justine Graykin at http://justinegraykin.wordpress.com/
Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, 3rd word
Friday 3/29:
Meet Heather's best friend, Prince Joseph at, who's hanging out with author Darby Karchut at http://darbykarchut.blogspot.com/
Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, 17th word
And finally meet Heather, herself, who's hanging out with one of Trisha's editors, Laura Ownbey at http://redpenreviews.blogspot.com/
Scavenger Hunt Goal: first sentence, first word
Collect all the words and put them together in a poetic sentence, and enter them into the rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win one of the three prizes:
THIS WEEK'S GIVEAWAY
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Impostorby Jill HathawayHardcoverBalzer + BrayReleased 3/26/2013What if a killer took control of you?
Vee Bell's gift (or curse) of sliding - slipping into the mind of another person and experiencing life, briefly, through his or her eyes - has been somewhat under control since she unwillingly witnessed the horrific deaths of her classmates six months ago.
But just as things are getting back to normal, Vee has a very bizarre experience: she loses consciousness and finds herself in a deserted area, at the edge of a cliff, with the broken body of the boy who took advantage of her on the rocks below.
As Vee finds herself in stranger and stranger situations with no memory of getting there, she begins to suspect that someone she knows has the ability to slide and that this slider is using Vee to exact revenge on his or her enemies.
Purchase Impostor at AmazonPurchase Impostor at IndieBoundView Impostor on GoodreadsLAST WEEK'S GIVEAWAY WINNERS
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Meridian Trilogy Winner - Michelle M.
Speed of Light (Meridian #3)by Amber KizerHardcoverDelacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 11/13/2012Meridian Sozu is a Fenestra, an angel infused human, destined to transition souls into the next world. Together with Tens Valdes, her soulmate and Protector, they've made a home in Indiana, making sure the dead safely enter the light and aren't stolen by the Dark, known as the Nocti.
Upon rescuing Juliet Ambrose from her terrible childhood, Juliet has become vulnerable without her Protector and grasps at any hope to find her parents, even when it's offered by a proven Nocti, Ms. Asura. Juliet is now faced with the horrible choice between uncovering her past and having a future.
Meanwhile, time may be running out for the hundreds of thousands preparing for the festivities surrounding the Indianapolis 500 car race. As centuries of secrets are revealed, the battles will pit Light versus Dark. Not all with survive as Meridian, Tens, and Julie join forces to try to thwart a potential tragedy.
Purchase Speed of Light (Meridian #3) at AmazonPurchase Speed of Light (Meridian #3) at IndieBoundView Speed of Light (Meridian #3) on Goodreads* * * *
Wildcat Fireflies (Meridian #2 )by Amber KizerHardcoverDelacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 7/12/2011Meridian Sozu is a Fenestra, the half-human, half-angel link between the living and the dead. She has the dark responsibility of helping souls transition safely into the afterlife. If people die without the help of a Fenestra, their souls are left vulnerable to be stolen by the Aternocti, a dark band of forces who disrupt the balance of good and evil in the world and cause chaos.
Having recently lost her beloved Auntie, the woman who showed her what it meant to be a Fenestra, Meridian has hit the road with Tens, her love and sworn protector, in hopes of finding another Fenestra. Their search leads them to Indiana, where Juliet, a responsible and loving teenager, works tirelessly in the nursing home where she and several other foster kids are housed. Surrounded by death, Juliet struggles to make a loving home for the younger kids, and to protect them from the violent whims of their foster mother. But she is struggling against forces she can't understand . . . and even as she feels a pull toward the dying, their sickness seems to infect her, weighing her down. . . .
Will Meri and Tens find Juliet in time to save her from a life of misery and illness? And will Meri and Tens' own romance weather the storms of new discoveries?
Purchase Wildcat Fireflies (Meridian #2 ) at AmazonPurchase Wildcat Fireflies (Meridian #2 ) at IndieBoundView Wildcat Fireflies (Meridian #2 ) on Goodreads* * * *
Meridian (Meridian #1)by Amber KizerHardcoverDelacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 8/11/2009Half-human, half-angel, Meridian Sozu has a dark responsibility.
Sixteen-year-old Meridian has been surrounded by death ever since she can remember. As a child, insects, mice, and salamanders would burrow into her bedclothes and die. At her elementary school, she was blamed for a classmate's tragic accident. And on her sixteenth birthday, a car crashes in front of her family home, and Meridian's body explodes in pain.
Before she can fully recover, Meridian is told that she's a danger to her family and hustled off to her great-aunt's house in Revelation, Colorado. It's there that she learns that she is a Fenestra, the half-angel, half-human link between the living and the dead. But Meridian and her sworn protector and love, Tens, face great danger from the Aternocti, a band of dark forces who capture vulnerable souls on the brink of death and cause chaos
Purchase Meridian (Meridian #1) at AmazonPurchase Meridian (Meridian #1) at IndieBoundView Meridian (Meridian #1) on Goodreads* * * *
Everafter (Kissed By An Angel)by Elizabeth ChandlerHardcoverSimon PulseReleased 3/19/2013Winner - Rosi H.The sweeping saga of Ivy and Tristan comes to a breathtaking conclusion in this final book of the all-new arc in the New York Times bestselling Kissed by an Angel series.It seems the odds are forever against Ivy and her fallen angel. Tristan is still trapped in the body of an accused murderer, and as the two star-crossed lovers try to clear his name, they must battle the dark forces that would keep them apart and destroy them both. The danger is especially great for Tristan since, as a fallen angel, death would mean losing his soul. It's up to Ivy to save the one she loves and, hopefully, find a way for the two of the them to be together for all eternity.
Purchase Everafter (Kissed By An Angel) at AmazonPurchase Everafter (Kissed By An Angel) at IndieBoundView Everafter (Kissed By An Angel) on Goodreads* * * *
Meant to Beby Lauren MorrillHardcoverDelacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 11/13/2012Winner - Tiffany J.Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.
It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").
But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.
Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.
Purchase Meant to Be at AmazonPurchase Meant to Be at IndieBoundView Meant to Be on Goodreads
No Man's Landby S.T. UnderdahlSigned PaperbackFluxreleased 11/8/12Winner - Vivien P. 
Dov Howard is 16 years old and perfectly comfortable in his role as "family failure," the kid who doesn’t stand a chance of living up to his older brother, Brian. As if being a straight-A student and football star aren't enough, Brian has also become a military hero after his National Guard troop gets deployed to Afghanistan. When the family receives word that Brian has been seriously injured, and a mysterious new girl, Scarlett, joins Dov's not-so-merry band of misfits, life as Dov knows it changes forever.
When it becomes clear that Scarlett’s wounds are much more than superficial, and a broken version of Brian arrives back on the home front, Dov finds himself suddenly and deeply immersed in the pain of others. As things go spiraling out of control, will Dov take the easy way out, as he’d always done in the past, or will he be able to step up to the plate and truly be there for the people who need him most?
Buy NO MAN'S LAND on AmazonFind NO MAN'S LAND on GoodreadsIN STORES NEXT WEEK WITH AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
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Shadow on the Sunby David Macinnis GillHardcoverGreenwillow BooksReleased 3/26/2013Durango has always relied on Mimi, once his tough-as-nails squad leader, she is now the bitingly sarcastic artificial intelligence flash-cloned to his brain. Mimi is the only reason he is alive.
Durango has always looked out for his devastatingly beautiful and brave second-in-command, Vienne, now wounded, crushed, missing. Vienne is the only reason he wants to live.
Durango hasn't always despised his father. But he does now. Lyme wants Durango to be the Prince of Mars, and he'll stop at nothing to realize that dream. He'll sacrifice anything and anyone in the name of domination. Even Mimi. Especially Vienne.
Lyme forgot one thing. You don't want to mess with Durango.
Purchase Shadow on the Sun at AmazonPurchase Shadow on the Sun at IndieBoundView Shadow on the Sun on Goodreads* * * *
Going Vintageby Lindsey LeavittHardcoverBloomsbury USA ChildrensReleased 3/26/2013When Mallory discovers that her boyfriend, Jeremy, is cheating on her with an online girlfriend, she swears off boys. She also swears off modern technology. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory decides to "go vintage" and return to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn't cheat on you online). She sets out to complete grandma's list: run for pep club secretary, host a dinner party, sew a homecoming dress, find a steady, do something dangerous. But the list is trickier than it looks. And obviously finding a steady is out . . . no matter how good Oliver (Jeremy's cousin) smells. But with the help of her sister, she'll get it done. Somehow. Lindsey Leavitt perfectly pairs heartfelt family moments, laugh-out-loud humor, and a little bit of romance in this delightful contemporary novel.
Purchase Going Vintage at AmazonPurchase Going Vintage at IndieBoundView Going Vintage on GoodreadsMORE RELEASES IN STORES NEXT WEEK
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Period 8by Chris CrutcherHardcoverGreenwillow BooksReleased 3/26/2013In this full-length novel from Chris Crutcher, his first since the best-selling Deadline, the ultimate bully and the ultimate good guy tangle during Period 8.
Paul "the Bomb" Baum tells the truth. No matter what. It was something he learned at Sunday School. But telling the truth can cause problems, and not minor ones. And as Paulie discovers, finding the truth can be even more problematic. Period 8 is supposed to be that one period in high school where the truth can shine, a safe haven. Only what Paulie and Hannah (his ex-girlfriend, unfortunately) and his other classmates don't know is that the ultimate bully, the ultimate liar, is in their midst.
Terrifying, thought-provoking, and original, this novel combines all the qualities of a great thriller with the controversy, ethics, and raw emotion of a classic Crutcher story.
Purchase Period 8 at AmazonPurchase Period 8 at IndieBoundView Period 8 on Goodreads* * * *
Wastelandby Susan Kim and Laurence KlavanHardcoverHarperTeenReleased 3/26/2013Welcome to the Wasteland. Where all the adults are long gone, and now no one lives past the age of nineteen. Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan's post-apocalyptic debut is the first of a trilogy in which everyone is forced to live under the looming threat of rampant disease and brutal attacks by the Variants - hermaphroditic outcasts that live on the outskirts of Prin. Esther thinks there's more to life than toiling at harvesting, gleaning, and excavating, day after day under the relentless sun, just hoping to make it to the next day. But then Caleb, a mysterious stranger, arrives in town, and Esther begins to question who she can trust. As shady pasts unravel into the present and new romances develop, Caleb and Esther realize that they must team together to fight for their lives and for the freedom of Prin.
Purchase Wasteland at AmazonPurchase Wasteland at IndieBoundView Wasteland on GoodreadsLoading...
Poison Me by Cami CheckettsJake Merrill was raised by his grandmother, Ruby, and her hilarious friends. After a suspicious death at the retirement home where Ruby lives, she enlists Jake and Chanel, the beautiful activities director, to help her find the killer.
But secrets Ruby has kept for decades threaten her family and the man she’s always loved but could never have. Chanel’s unstable ex-boyfriend, a presumably dead relative, and vicious criminals add to the confusion. Time is running out as Jake, Chanel, and Ruby desperately search for clues to solve the murders and fight to save those they love.
Praise for Poisen MePoison Me made me laugh out loud and thoroughly enjoy myself. I wish I had a friend like Ruby! Snappy dialogue, romance, and a strong sense of family made this book well worth reading.
Rachel Ann Nunes, bestselling author of Line of Fire and Before I Say Goodbye
Author Cami Checketts
Cami is a part-time author, part-time exercise consultant, part-time housekeeper, full-time wife, and overtime mother of four adorable boys. Sleep and relaxation are fond memories. She's never been happier.
A portion of the proceeds from Cami's books will be donated to The Child & Family Support Center. For more information on this worthy cause, please go to www.cachecfsc.org Book BlogFitness BlogFacebookTwitterBlog Tour Giveaway
$50 doTERRA Oil basket and $35 wholesale membership, $50 Kate Ryan Skincare GC, $50 Amazon GC. Ends 3/30/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Summary:
R is having a no-life crisis—he is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he is a little different from his fellow Dead. He may occasionally eat people, but he’d rather be riding abandoned airport escalators, listening to Sinatra in the cozy 747 he calls home, or collecting souvenirs from the ruins of civilization.
And then he meets a girl.
First as his captive, then his reluctant guest, Julie is a blast of living color in R’s gray landscape, and something inside him begins to bloom. He doesn’t want to eat this girl—although she looks delicious—he wants to protect her. But their unlikely bond will cause ripples they can’t imagine, and their hopeless world won’t change without a fight.
My thoughts:
I admit that I read this book because I'm dying to see the movie and I prefer to read the book before I see the movie adaptation. Having said that, I wish I would've read the book before I saw the movie trailer. Why? I love the trailer. It cracks me up. I thought the book would be more comedic than it is. Having said that, I did really enjoy the book.
I remember people saying zombies will never be big because they aren't sexy. Enter R. Even though I was grossed out by him describing the body parts he was eating, I still fell for him. He is trying to hold on to his humanity and be more like the living. How can you not swoon over that? I did. I wasn't crazy about Julie's character though. She was really mean to R's best friend M, and I didn't see a reason for it. He was helping to protect her. If she could see the humanity in R, I felt she should've seen it in M, too.
The dynamic between R and Julie was very well done though. There's plenty of conflict but I rooted for them despite everything they had working against them. I have to admit the ending was predictable, but even though I knew how the book was going to end, I still enjoyed it. It was the logical ending for them in my mind.
Just for fun: Can a zombie be sexy?
Today I have Lissa Basso, author of the YA novel A Shimmer of Angels with me!
Sixteen-year-old Rayna sees angels, and has the medication and weekly therapy sessions to prove it. Now, in remission, Rayna starts fresh at a new school, lands a new job, and desperately tries for normalcy. She ignores signs that she may be slipping into the world she has tried so hard to climb out of. But these days, it’s more than just hallucinations that keep Rayna up at night. Students are dying, and she may be the only one who can stop it. Can she keep her job, her sanity, and her friends from dying at the hands of angels she can't admit to seeing?
Welcome, Lisa! I’m happy to have you here today to talk about your recent release, A Shimmer of Angels, which I loved!
Thanks so much for having me! *does virtual back flips for the crowd*
I’m a big fan of angel books, but I can imagine you had to do a lot of research. Can you tell us a little about the research you had to do for this book?
Should I begin at the beginning? *snort* Okay. First I started with a little angel research: names, legends, myths, bible verses, anything angel-related I could pull out of the library and internets (yes, internets). As you can imagine, this took a lot of time to sift through. After that was done, I turned my attention to my main character, Rayna, and her past, mainly doing research on mental health facilities, psychology, and current mental health laws. All the time I put into the research phase was well worth it when I started writing. But no matter how thorough your research, there's always something else that comes up. :)
Rayna has a gift but it’s mistaken for an illness at first, and wow does it enhance the story line. How did you come up with the idea to have her family think she’s mentally ill?
I knew Ray was going to be the only one on Earth able to see the angels. Since her world is grounded in the real world, I thought about how a real family would handle that. They'd be concerned at first, and when Ray's actions became more erratic and she started coming unhinged, her dad would have no choice but to have her checked out by a doctor and put her in therapy. The ideas grew from there.
You have two angels in this book who get Rayna’s attention. I couldn’t decide who I liked more, Cam or Kade. Did you want your reader to have just as hard a time choosing between them as Rayna? How did you go about accomplishing this?
I so did. When I first got to know Cam and Kade (during the character interviews) I fell (pun intended). Hard. I loved them both so much. And when I put Rayna into scenes with both of them, I noticed how much she took her own shine to each boy. I've read a lot of YA books with love triangles. Most of the time you can guess exactly who the main character is going to choose. I love mystery, so I wanted to keep the reader guessing. To do that, I introduced Cam and Kade in ways that showed peeks into both their good and not-so-gravy sides. I wanted the reader to get to know both of them before Ray's decision swayed them in either direction. I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing "Team Cam" and "Team Kade".
Okay, well I'm Team Both because I love them both!
Just for fun:
Angel or fallen angel? Hmmm. Probably Fallen angel. ;)
Describe A Shimmer of Angels in three words: Mystery. Psychology. Angels.
If you had wings for a day, what would you do? I would fly. Normally I hate flying (in planes), but if I'm in charge and I know how to work those suckers, I'm taking my new wings out for as many spins as I can manage before they disappear. Or I pass out from exhaustion.
Thanks for being here today, Lisa.
This has been great! Thank you again so much for having me, Kelly!
That's not all. You can enter to win a copy of A Shimmer of Angels, a messenger bag, stainless water bottle, journal, keychain, and postcard pack. This is open to US and Canada only. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Hi, everyone! I'm really excited today because I have Shannon Duffy with me. She's my publishing house sister, a great friend, and the author of the middle grade novel Gabriel Stone and the Divinity of Valta, which released yesterday from Month9Books.
First, here's the synopsis and my review of Gabriel:
Synopsis:Gabriel Stone is a twelve-year-old boy still reeling from the unsolved disappearance of his mother. With a dad who’s hard to relate to, and mounting pressures at school, Gabriel lets off steam by hiking in the place where his mother was last seen. There, Gabe and friends find a crystal that proves not only beautiful, but magical beyond their wildest dreams. Only, magic and beauty come with a price: in order to return home, they must save the dying world of Valta.
My thoughts:Gabriel is a very likable character that made me feel for him right from the start. And his two best friends, Piper and Brent are so much fun, especially with the way they bicker with each other. Gabriel is desperate to find out what happened to his mother, but instead he finds a whole other world, a world that is going to die unless Gabriel can find the divinities and save them all.
The creatures Duffy cooked up in the book are amazing. I mean look at the flying tiger on the cover! I also loved that everything in Valta is the opposite of Gabriel's world, which makes navigating a little... backwards. The three friends meet a great cast of characters on their journey and they learn a lot about themselves on the way.
This is a great adventure with characters you'll want to read more about, and you can in the rest of the series.
Please welcome, Shannon Duffy!
Hi, Shannon! Okay, I have to ask, of all the great creatures in Valta, who's your favorite?That's soooo tough to answer! Of course I love Gabriel cause he's based on my son. And Brent is based on my awesome newphew so love him too. Loove Piper's spunk. But I have to say I really do love Finley the monkey. He's just so cute and sweet that I wish I could get some magic dust to make him real and bring him home with me. hehe
I know your son's name is Gabriel. How similar is he to the Gabriel in your book?I have to say a lot. My son will kill me for saying this, but he is the same with the horror movies. He's so interested to watch them, but when it gets dark he wants to then sleep in my room. I don't let him watch them anymore....and he does sleep with a nightlight, but hey, so do I. LOL And my Gabe is based on the Gabe in the book as far as looks too, and he has a strong, leader type personality I'd say. So, yeah, he's a lot like Gabriel in the book. :)
Which of your characters would you not want to meet in a dark alley?Duke Malgor for one. He is just pure evil and doesn't care who he has to step on to get what he wants.
Can you tell us anything about the second book in the series?Well you can expect Gabriel, Brent, and Piper to return to Valta to go on another different, but very important (and dangerous) quest. You'll see the return of some familiar characters and be introduced to some new cool ones, too.
Just for fun:Favorite animal: Dogs--I have three.Best comfort food: Hmmm French Fries.Superpower you wish you had: To heal people.
Thanks for coming by today, Shannon!Thanks so much, Kelly for inviting me to your blog today!
~Shannon
Shannon Duffy grew up on the beautiful east coast of Canada, and now lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and son, Gabriel. She’s mom to one boy, and several pets. Shannon loves writing, reading, working out, soccer, and the sport of champions: shopping. Shannon Duffy is available for quotes, signings, video or podcast appearances, and all opportunities relative to GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA.
GABRIEL STONE AND THE WRATH OF THE SOLARIAN, Book 2 in the Gabriel Stone series will be available from Month9Books in February 2014!
ABOUT MONTH9BOOKS:
Month 9 Books is a publisher of speculative fiction for teens and tweens… where nothing is as it seems. Month9Books will donate proceeds from each of its annual charity anthologies to a deserving charity. Individually, authors may donate his or her advances and royalties to a charitable organization. Month9Books will also release 10-12 non-charitable titles annually.GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA is Month9Books’s first Middle Grade release. Month9Books is distributed by Small Press United, a division of IPG. You may visit www.month9books.com for more information. Goodreads GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15841297-gabriel-stone-and-the-divinity-of-valta Feel free to leave a comment for Shannon or answer my "Just for fun" questions.
THIS WEEK'S GIVEAWAY
The Canticle of Whispers (The Agora Trilogy)
by David Whitley
signed hardcover
In The Canticle of Whispers, the final volume of the Agora trilogy, Mark and Lily lead the revolution to unseat the powerful elite while confronting the dark and twisted nature of their destinies.
Over the course of their travels, Mark and Lily have seen the dark side of capitalist society and the terrifying side of utopian community. Now they journey deep underground to a world populated by people terrified of physical touch but capable of creating mesmerizing song. Here they discover the seat of Agora's power and try to right the wrongs of their forefathers--but can they succeed without sacrificing themselves? In this gripping conclusion to a trilogy that is at once timely and prophetic, David Whitley pushes his characters and his world to the brink in order to find redemption from the past.
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about The Canticle of Whispers?
My favourite thing about “The Canticle of Whispers”? Definitely the very, very ending. After all the excitement of the grand finale, after all the questions have been answered and every character has seen their life turned upside-down, I have a little coda that has been completely formed in my mind since I first started writing the trilogy, all the way back in late 2006. Reaching that scene felt wonderful, not just because the story was, in a sense, complete, but because it’s a very quiet, gentle moment at the end of the most dramatic, tumultuous novel I’ve ever written! But to actually say what happens would be a spoiler… you’ll have to read the book to find out!
Buy The Canticle of Whispers on Amazon
Find The Canticle of Whispers on Goodreads
LAST WEEK'S GIVEAWAY WINNERS
The Gathering Darkby Christine JohnsonHardcover
WINNER: LILLIANA mysterious teen boy knows the secrets of Keira’s dangerous hallucinations in this gripping romantic fantasy from the author of Claire de Lune.Keira’s hallucinating. First it’s a door hovering above the road; then it’s a tree in her living room. But with her parents fighting and her best friend not speaking to her, Keira can’t tell anyone about her breakdown.
Until she meets Walker. They have an electric connection, and somehow he can see the same shadowy images plaguing Keira.
But trusting Walker may be more dangerous than Keira could have ever imagined. The more she confides in him, the more intense—and frightening—her visions become. Because Walker is not what he appears to be. And neither are her visions.
Order The Gathering Dark on AmazonView The Gathering Dark on Goodreads* * * *
The Lives We Lost: (Fallen World)by Megan CreweSigned Hardcover
WINNER: CHRISTINA KITFirst, the virus took Kaelyn's friends. Then, her family. Now it's taken away her home.
But she can't look back--the life she once had is gone forever. A deadly virus has destroyed Kaelyn's small island community and spread beyond the quarantine. No one is safe. But when Kaelyn finds samples of a vaccine in her father's abandoned lab, she knows there must be someone, somewhere, who can replicate it. As Kaelyn and her friends head to the mainland, they encounter a world beyond recognition. It's not only the "friendly flu" that's a killer--there are people who will stop at nothing to get their hands on the vaccine. How much will Kaelyn risk for an unproven cure, when the search could either destroy those she loves or save the human race?
Megan Crewe's second volume in the Fallen World trilogy is an action-packed journey that explores the resilience of friendship, the ache of lost love, and Kaelyn's enduring hope in the face of the sacrifices she must make to stay alive.
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about The Lives We Lost: (Fallen World)?
I'd have to say my favorite thing about THE LIVES WE LOST is how much the characters change and grow--especially my main character, Kaelyn--as they're faced with new problems, new allies and enemies, and shifting dynamics within their relationships. I love that an apocalyptic scenario lets me push my fictional people to their limits, and see just what they're capable of and where their breaking points are.Order The Lives We Lost: (Fallen World) on AmazonView The Lives We Lost: (Fallen World) on Goodreads* * * *
Hattie Ever Afterby Kirby LarsonSigned HardcoverWINNER: SARAHAfter leaving Uncle Chester's homestead claim, orphan Hattie Brooks throws a lasso around a new dream, even bigger than the Montana sky. She wants to be a reporter, knowing full well that a few pieces published in the
Arlington News will not suffice. Real reporters must go to Grand Places, and do Grand Things, like Hattie's hero Nellie Bly. Another girl might be stymied by this, but Hattie has faced down a hungry wolf and stood up to a mob of angry men. Nothing can squash her desire to write for a big city newspaper. A letter and love token from Uncle Chester's old flame in San Francisco fuels that desire and Hattie jumps at the opportunity to get there by working as a seamstress for a traveling acting troupe. This could be her chance to solve the mystery of her "scoundrel" uncle and, in the process, help her learn more about herself. But Hattie must first tell Charlie that she will not join him in Seattle. Even though her heart approves of Charlie's plan for their marriage, her mind fears that saying yes to him would be saying no to herself. Hattie holds her own in the big city, literally pitching her way to a byline, and a career that could be even bigger than Nellie Bly's. But can making headlines compensate for the pain of betrayal and lost love? Hattie must dig deep to find her own true place in the world. Kirby Larson once again creates a lovingly written novel about the remarkable and resilient young orphan, Hattie Inez Brooks.
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about Hattie Ever After?My favorite thing: that it's done! It was a very hard book for me to write, as I felt tremendous pressure not to disappoint the readers who'd asked for more of Hattie's story. I did get a boost at ALA Midwinter this past weekend when I was walking toward the Random House booth and I heard a librarian shriek with excitement: "Look! There's a new Hattie story!" She didn't even realize I was behind her, which made overhearing her reaction even more fun.
On another note, I would have to say another thing that I loved about the book was getting the chance to spend more time with Hattie (I wish I could be as bold and adventuresome as she is). I realized she had some more growing to do and I was honored to be part of that process.Order Hattie Ever After on AmazonView Hattie Ever After on Goodreads
lovely, dark, and deep by Amy McNamara
HardcoverWINNER: CANDACE CONNOR
I came here because it’s pine-dark and the ocean’s wild. The kind of quiet-noise you need when there’s too much going on in your head. Like the water and the woods are doing all the feeling and I can hang out, quiet as a headstone, in a between place, a place that could swallow me if I need it to.I came here because it’s pine-dark and the ocean’s wild. The kind of quiet-noise you need when there’s too much going on in your head. Like the water and the woods are doing all the feeling and I can hang out, quiet as a headstone, in a between place, a place that could swallow me if I need it to.lovely, dark, and deep is a resonant debut novel about retreating from the world after losing everything—and the connections that force you to rejoin it.
Since the night of the crash, Wren Wells has been running away. Though she lived through the accident that killed her boyfriend Patrick, the girl she used to be didn’t survive. Instead of heading off to college as planned, Wren retreats to her father’s studio in the far-north woods of Maine. Somewhere she can be alone.
Then she meets Cal Owen. Dealing with his own troubles, Cal’s hiding out too. When the chemistry between them threatens to pull Wren from her hard-won isolation, Wren has to choose: risk opening her broken heart to the world again, or join the ghosts who haunt her.
Buy Lovely, Dark and Deep on AmazonFind Lovely, Dark and Deep on Goodreads
Passion Blue by Victoria Strauss
HardcoverWINNER: CANDACE CONNOR
Be sure you know your true heart’s desire, or you may find yourself surprised by what you receive.
This is the warning the Astrologer-Sorcerer gives Giulia when she pays him to create a magical talisman for her. The scorned illegitimate daughter of a Milanese nobleman, Giulia is determined to defy the dire fate predicted by her horoscope, and use the talisman to claim what she believes is her heart’s desire: true love and a place where she belongs–not likely prospects for a girl about to be packed off to the cloistered world of a convent.
But the convent of Santa Marta is full of surprises. There are strict rules, long hours of work, and spiteful rivalries…but there’s also friendship, and the biggest surprise of all: a workshop of female artists who produce paintings of astonishing beauty, using a luminous blue mixed from a secret formula: Passion blue. Yet as Giulia begins to learn the mysteries of the painter’s craft, a forbidden romance beckons her down a path of uncertainty and danger. She is haunted by the sorcerer’s warning, and by a question: does she really know the true compass of her heart?
Set in Renaissance Italy, this richly imagined novel about a girl’s daring journey towards self-discovery transports readers into a fascinating, exotic world where love, faith, and art inspire passion–of many different hues.
Buy Passion Blue on AmazonFind Passion Blue on Goodreads IN STORES NEXT WEEK WITH AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
The Sweet Revenge of Celia Doorby Karen FinneyfrockHardcoverThat's the day the trouble started.
The trouble that nearly ruined my life.
The trouble that turned me Dark.
The trouble that begs me for revenge.
Celia Door enters her freshman year of high school with giant boots, dark eyeliner, and a thirst for revenge against Sandy Firestone, the girl who did something unspeakable to Celia last year.
But then Celia meets Drake, the cool new kid from New York City who entrusts her with his deepest, darkest secret. When Celia's quest for justice threatens her relationship with Drake, she's forced to decide which is sweeter: revenge or friendship.
This debut novel from Karen Finneyfrock establishes her as a bright, bold, razor-sharp new voice for teens, perfect for fans of
The Perks of Being a Wallflower and
Will Grayson, Will Grayson.
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door?My favorite part of the book are the early scenes involving Drake and Celia, when they are getting to know one another. There is such a blossoming that happens when you make a true friend and I love getting to live out that feeling through the characters.Order The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door on AmazonView The Sweet Revenge of Celia Door on GoodreadsMORE RELEASES IN STORES NEXT WEEK
The Different Girlby Gordon DahlquistHardcoverVeronika. Caroline. Isobel. Eleanor. One blond, one brunette, one redhead, one with hair black as tar. Four otherwise identical girls who spend their days in sync, tasked to learn. But when May, a very different kind of girl—the lone survivor of a recent shipwreck—suddenly and mysteriously arrives on the island, an unsettling mirror is about to be held up to the life the girls have never before questioned.
Sly and unsettling, Gordon Dahlquist’s timeless and evocative storytelling blurs the lines between contemporary and sci-fi with a story that is sure to linger in readers’ minds long after the final page has been turned.
Order The Different Girl on AmazonView The Different Girl on Goodreads* * * *
The 39 Deaths of Adam Strandby Gregory GallowayHardcoverAdam Strand isn’t depressed. He’s just bored. Disaffected. So he kills himself—39 times. No matter the method, Adam can’t seem to stay dead; he awakes after each suicide alive and physically unharmed, more determined to succeed and undeterred by others’ concerns. But when his self-contained, self-absorbed path is diverted, Adam is struck by the reality that life is an ever-expanding web of impact and forged connections, and that nothing—not even death—can sever those bonds.
Order The 39 Deaths of Adam Strand on AmazonView The 39 Deaths of Adam Strand on Goodreads* * * *
How to Lead a Life of Crimeby Kirsten MillerHardcoverA Meth Dealer. A Prostitute. A Serial Killer.
Anywhere else, they’d be vermin. At the Mandel Academy, they’re called
prodigies. The most exclusive school in New York City has been training young
criminals for over a century. Only the most ruthless students are allowed to
graduate. The rest disappear.
Flick, a teenage pickpocket, has risen to the top of his class. But then Mandel
recruits a fierce new competitor who also happens to be Flick’s old flame.
They’ve been told only one of them will make it out of the Mandel Academy. Will
they find a way to save each other—or will the school destroy them both?
Order How to Lead a Life of Crime on AmazonView How to Lead a Life of Crime on Goodreads* * * *
Mind Gamesby Kiersten WhiteHardcoverTwo sisters, bound by impossible choices, are determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.
James's frozen face melts into a smile. "Do you want to know the trick to getting in trouble under the watchful eye of a psychic?"
I think of the nailed-shut windows. I think of Clarice. I think of the two, the two, the two who are now zero. Tap tap. "Yes, I absolutely do."
"Don't plan it. Don't even think about it. The second you get an inkling of what you could do, do it then. Never plan anything ahead of time. Always go on pure instinct."
I smile. "I think I can do that."
Order Mind Games on AmazonView Mind Games on Goodreads* * * *
Crash and Burnby Michael HassanHardcoverOn April 21, 2008, Steven "Crash" Crashinsky saved more than a thousand people when he stopped his classmate David Burnett from taking their high school hostage armed with assault weapons and high-powered explosives. You likely already know what came after for Crash: the nationwide notoriety, the college recruitment, and, of course, the book deal. What you might not know is what came before: a story of two teens whose lives have been inextricably linked since grade school, who were destined, some say, to meet that day in the teachers' lounge of Meadows High. And what you definitely don't know are the words that Burn whispered to Crash right as the siege was ending, a secret that Crash has never revealed.
Until now.
Michael Hassan's shattering novel is a tale of first love and first hate, the story of two high school seniors and the morning that changed their lives forever. It's a portrait of the modern American teenage male, in all his brash, disillusioned, oversexed, schizophrenic, drunk, nihilistic, hopeful, ADHD-diagnosed glory. And it's a powerful meditation on how normal it is to be screwed up, and how screwed up it is to be normal.
Order Crash and Burn on AmazonView Crash and Burn on GoodreadsLoading...
By: Martina at Adventures in YA Publishing,
on 2/22/2013
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THIS WEEK'S GIVEAWAY
Wicked Kiss (Nightwatchers)by Michelle Rowensigned paperbackMy kiss can kill.I used to be ordinary Samantha Day, but that's changed. Now, after one dark kiss from a dangerous boy, I can steal someone's soul…or their life. If I give in to the constant hunger inside me, I hurt anyone I kiss. If I don't…I hurt myself.
Bishop is the one whose kiss I crave most, but if I kiss him, I'll kill him. Then there's another boy, one I can't hurt. One whose kiss seems to miraculously quell my hunger. They're both part of a team of angels and demons that's joined forces in my city to fight a mysterious rising darkness, an evil that threatens everyone I know and love. I just wonder if I'll be able to help Bishop—or if I'm just another part of the darkness he's sworn to destroy….
NIGHTWATCHERS: When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising…Author Question: What is your favorite thing about
Wicked Kiss?
WICKED KISS is the sequel to DARK KISS, so my favorite thing about this book is getting the chance to explore the story and the histories and the interactions between my characters much further than I did in book one. Things get pretty twisty and dark for Samantha in WK as she navigates a scary city filled with enemies and friends -- but sometimes it's hard to be able to tell which is which!Buy WICKED KISS on AmazonFind WICKED KISS on GoodreadsLAST WEEK'S GIVEAWAY WINNERS
The Canticle of Whispers (The Agora Trilogy)by David Whitleysigned hardcoverWINNER: BN100In The Canticle of Whispers, the final volume of the Agora trilogy, Mark and Lily lead the revolution to unseat the powerful elite while confronting the dark and twisted nature of their destinies.
Over the course of their travels, Mark and Lily have seen the dark side of capitalist society and the terrifying side of utopian community. Now they journey deep underground to a world populated by people terrified of physical touch but capable of creating mesmerizing song. Here they discover the seat of Agora's power and try to right the wrongs of their forefathers--but can they succeed without sacrificing themselves? In this gripping conclusion to a trilogy that is at once timely and prophetic, David Whitley pushes his characters and his world to the brink in order to find redemption from the past.
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about
The Canticle of Whispers?
My favourite thing about “The Canticle of Whispers”? Definitely the very, very ending. After all the excitement of the grand finale, after all the questions have been answered and every character has seen their life turned upside-down, I have a little coda that has been completely formed in my mind since I first started writing the trilogy, all the way back in late 2006. Reaching that scene felt wonderful, not just because the story was, in a sense, complete, but because it’s a very quiet, gentle moment at the end of the most dramatic, tumultuous novel I’ve ever written! But to actually say what happens would be a spoiler… you’ll have to read the book to find out!Buy The Canticle of Whispers on AmazonFind The Canticle of Whispers on GoodreadsThe Cadet of Tildorby Alex Lidell Swag Giveaway WINNER: CHLOE B.There is a new king on the throne of Tildor. Currents of political unrest sweep the country as two warring crime families seek power, angling to exploit the young Crown's inexperience. At the Academy of Tildor, Cadet Renee de Winter fights to maintain her spot as an elite soldier in training—with no help from her instructor, a notorious commander recalled from active duty. But when an underground crime lord goes too far, Renee and her best friend Alec are thrust into a world rife with crime and conspiracy, struggling between what they want, what is lawful, and what is right.
Buy The Cadet of Tildor on AmazonView The Cadet of Tildor on Goodreads
IN STORES NEXT WEEK WITH AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
Killing Rachel (The Murder Notebooks)by Anne CassidyHardcoverIt's been five years since Rose's mother and Josh's father disappeared while on a dinner date. Police inquiries have gone nowhere and the case, it seems, is closed: Rose and Josh have been told that the police officially believe their parents are dead. But they still hold out hope that they are alive-particularly since their discovery of several cryptic notebooks that detail police cases their parents may have been investigating. Then Rose starts to receive odd, desperate messages from Rachel, her former best friend, about seeing Rose and Josh's parents . . . alive . . . a few towns away. But before Josh and Rose can investigate, Rachel is murdered.
The closer Rose and Josh get to uncovering the secret of their parents' disappearance . . . the more people seem to die. Can they uncover the secret of the Butterfly project before it's too late?
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about Killing Rachel (The Murder Notebooks)?
My favourite thing about KILLING RACHEL is the relationship between Rose and Rachel. The brilliant thing about crime plots is that they act as engine to propel the reader through your book. This enables you to bring all sorts of themes/concerns in. I have always been fascinated by the intensity of teenage friendships probably based on my own experience of being a needy teen. Because her mother has vanished Rose feels completely alone in the world. When she meets Rachel she is overwhelmed by the feelings she experiences for her. It comes as a terrible blow when she realises that Rachel is not what she seems. This is Rose’s first experience of a broken heart. I don’t think this is too strong an expression to use. I had my heart broken by friendship when I was a teenager. Of all the four books in THE MURDER NOTEBOOKS series KILLING RACHEL is probably the most autobiographical.
Order Killing Rachel (The Murder Notebooks) on Amazon
View Killing Rachel (The Murder Notebooks) on Goodreads
* * * *
Dualedby Elsie ChapmanHardcoverTwo of you exist.
Only one will survive.
The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.
Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.
Elsie Chapman's suspenseful YA debut weaves unexpected romance into a novel full of fast-paced action and thought-provoking philosophy. When the story ends, discussions will begin about this future society where every adult is a murderer and every child knows there is another out there who just might be better.
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about Dualed?My flawed characters. I think they're honest.Order Dualed on AmazonView Dualed on Goodreads* * * *
The Trouble with Flirtingby Claire LaZebnikPaperback OriginalFranny's supposed to be working this summer, not flirting. But you can't blame her when guys like Alex and Harry are around. . . .
Franny Pearson never dreamed she'd be attending the prestigious Mansfield Summer Theater Program. And she's not, exactly. She's working for her aunt, the resident costume designer. But sewing her fingers to the bone does give her an opportunity to spend time with her crush, Alex Braverman. If only he were as taken with the girl hemming his trousers as he is with his new leading lady.
When Harry Cartwright, a notorious flirt, shows more than a friendly interest in Franny, she figures it can't hurt to have a little fun. But as their breezy romance grows more complicated, can Franny keep pretending that Harry is just a carefree fling? And why is Alex suddenly giving her those deep, meaningful looks? In this charming tale of mixed messages and romantic near-misses, one thing is clear: Flirting might be more trouble than Franny ever expected.
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about The Trouble with Flirting?The way we see Harry Cartwright evolve, first as Franny's friend, and then as something more. She's so dismissive of him at the beginning, so quick to categorize him as "just a flirt," and it still gives me a thrill to watch him break down her defenses. I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say this: it IS true that writers can fall in love with their characters!Order The Trouble with Flirting on AmazonView The Trouble with Flirting on Goodreads* * * *
Revenge of the Girl With the Great Personalityby Elizabeth EulbergHardcoverA hilarious new novel from Elizabeth Eulberg about taking the wall out of the wallflower so she can bloom.
Don't mess with a girl with a Great Personality.
Everybody loves Lexi. She's popular, smart, funny...but she's never been one of those girls, the pretty ones who get all the attention from guys. And on top of that, her seven-year-old sister, Mackenzie, is a terror in a tiara, and part of a pageant scene where she gets praised for her beauty (with the help of fake hair and tons of makeup).
Lexi's sick of it. She's sick of being the girl who hears about kisses instead of getting them. She's sick of being ignored by her longtime crush, Logan. She's sick of being taken for granted by her pageant-obsessed mom. And she's sick of having all her family's money wasted on a phony pursuit of perfection.
The time has come for Lexi to step out from the sidelines. Girls without great personalities aren't going to know what hit them. Because Lexi's going to play the beauty game - and she's in it to win it.
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about Revenge of the Girl With the Great Personality?I think my favorite part of Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality is the chapter titles. I've never done chapter titles before, but decided
to do funny twists on familiar sayings or titles. They were definitely my favorite part of writing the book as I got to be super silly. My favorite is "Primpin' Ain't Easy" although "The Best Laid Plans of the Bitter and Fed Up" also makes me giggle.Order Revenge of the Girl With the Great Personality on AmazonView Revenge of the Girl With the Great Personality on Goodreads* * * *
The Summer Princeby Alaya Dawn JohnsonHardcoverA heart-stopping story of love, death, technology, and art set amid the tropics of a futuristic Brazil.
The lush city of Palmares Tres shimmers with tech and tradition, with screaming gossip casters and practiced politicians. In the midst of this vibrant metropolis, June Costa creates art that's sure to make her legendary. But her dreams of fame become something more when she meets Enki, the bold new Summer King. The whole city falls in love with him (including June's best friend, Gil). But June sees more to Enki than amber eyes and a lethal samba. She sees a fellow artist.
Together, June and Enki will stage explosive, dramatic projects that Palmares Tres will never forget. They will add fuel to a growing rebellion against the government's strict limits on new tech. And June will fall deeply, unfortunately in love with Enki. Because like all Summer Kings before him, Enki is destined to die.
Pulsing with the beat of futuristic Brazil, burning with the passions of its characters, and overflowing with ideas, this fiery novel will leave you eager for more from Alaya Dawn Johnson.
Author Question: What is your favorite thing about The Summer Prince?My favorite thing about The Summer Prince is probably that I wrote it in the first place. Just personally, this book was one of the best terrible decisions I've ever made. I should have been writing this completely different book which I already had under contract (and I needed the money!) but instead I decided to chuck all common sense and leave home for three weeks and go on a journey that ended in me feverishly writing this book for the next year. I could also say that I love what this book does as science fiction, one of my favorite genres: it envisions a future that's not just about the US or about white people, that is cautiously optimistic, that is neither utopian nor dystopian, and that embraces a wider range of human love and expression. Also, I love that it's about art--somehow June's journey
as an artist ended up mirroring my own journey to become a better writer.Order The Summer Prince on AmazonView The Summer Prince on GoodreadsMORE RELEASES IN STORES NEXT WEEK
The Madness Underneath (The Shades of London)by Maureen JohnsonHardcoverAfter her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Devereaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance to get back to her friends. But Rory’s brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she’s become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She soon finds out that the Shades—the city’s secret ghost-fighting police—are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it’s too late.
In this follow-up to the Edgar Award-nominated THE NAME OF THE STAR, Maureen Johnson adds another layer of spectacularly gruesome details to the streets of London that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Order The Madness Underneath (The Shades of London) on AmazonView The Madness Underneath (The Shades of London) on Goodreads* * * *
Also Known Asby Robin BenwayHardcoverBeing a 16-year-old safecracker and active-duty daughter of international spies has its moments, good
and bad. Pros: Seeing the world one crime-solving adventure at a time. Having parents with super cool jobs. Cons: Never staying in one place long enough to have friends or a boyfriend. But for Maggie Silver, the biggest perk of all has been avoiding high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations.
Then Maggie and her parents are sent to New York for her first solo assignment, and all of that changes. She'll need to attend a private school, avoid the temptation to hack the school's security system, and befriend one aggravatingly cute Jesse Oliver to gain the essential information she needs to crack the case . . . all while trying not to blow her cover. Order Also Known As on AmazonView Also Known As on Goodreads* * * *
Pulseby Patrick CarmanHardcoverFrom New York Times bestselling author Patrick Carman, a teen fantasy-adventure of epic proportions. In 2051, some teens have a “pulse,” the power to move objects with their minds. Compulsively readable, with thrilling action scenes and a tender love story.
The year is 2051, and the world is still recognizable. With the help of her mysterious classmate Dylan Gilmore, Faith Daniels discovers that she can move objects with her mind. This telekinetic ability is called a “pulse,” and Dylan has the talent, too.
In riveting action scenes, Faith demonstrates her ability to use her pulse against a group of telekinesis masters so powerful they will flatten their enemies by uprooting street lights, moving boulders, and changing the course of a hurtling hammer so that it becomes a deadly weapon. But even with great talent, the mind—and the heart—can be difficult to control. If Faith wants to join forces with Dylan and save the world, she’ll have to harness the power of both.
Patrick Carman’s Pulse trilogy is a stunning, action-filled triumph about the power of the mind—and the power of love.
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Today I'm happy to share the cover of Meradeth Houston's latest novel, The Chemistry of Fate, due to release April 2013.
The chemistry between Ari and Tom is reactive, but a deadly secret in a family journal will tear them apart if they can’t avoid fate.
“They are everywhere, can be anyone, and are always the last person you’d expect.” When Tom stumbles across his grandfather’s journal, he’s convinced the old man was crazier than he thought. The book contains references to beings called the Sary, immortals who are assigned to save humans on the verge of suicide. They certainly aren’t allowed to fall in love with mortals. Which the journal claims Tom’s grandfather did, resulting in his expulsion from the Sary. As strange as the journal seems, Tom can’t get the stories out of his head; especially when he finds the photo of his grandfather’s wings.
Tom’s only distraction is Ari, the girl he studies with for their chemistry class.
Ari has one goal when she arrives in town: see how much Tom knows about the Sary and neutralize the situation. This isn’t a normal job, but protecting the secrecy of the Sary is vital. If Tom is a threat to exposing the Sary to the public, fate has a way of taking care of the situation, usually ending with the mortal’s death. While Ari spends time with Tom, he becomes more than just an assignment, but how far can a relationship go when she can’t tell him who she really is? When she finds out just how much Tom actually knows about the Sary, Ari is forced to choose between her wings, and her heart.
THE CHEMISTRY OF FATE is a companion to COLORS LIKE MEMORIES and is set before the latter takes place.
What do you think?
Summary:
Something evil this way comes...sadly for it, Peter Saints awaits.
Peter Saint's life stinks. But things are about to get much worst. First, his parents are murdered in front of him. Then another victim dies in his arms. Visions plague Peter with warnings that something wants him for a sinister cause. It desires the one thing that Peter refuses to give—his blood. Peter carries within him the one gift or curse that could unlock a secret to destroy the human race. On the run with Angel, a scruffy kid, Peter starts to unravel the mystery. It's the one treasure the heavens sought to hide from the world. Unfortunately, when Peter finds the answer that he hopes will save the girl he loves, he opens the door to a great evil that happens to be salivating to meet him.Prices/Formats: $3.99 ebook, $12.99 paperback
Ebook Release: February 16, 2013
Paperback Release: May 18, 2013
Publisher: Phenomenal One Press
ISBN: 9780985025137
Pages: 368
My thoughts:From having read Bandits, I knew LM Preston could nail male POV, and she does exactly that in Purgatory Reign. Peter is a character that you root for right from the start. He's had a really tough life, and just about everyone around him winds up dead. But then he's given a gift, although he sees it as a curse, at least a first, and it sends him running for his life.The action scenes are really well done, keeping tensions high and the pace quick. Peter's relationships with Angel and later Kyle are fully developed with lots of twists. While I did predict one big twist, it didn't take away from the story at all. The books does stand on its own, but it definitely implies there will be a sequel, one I'm looking forward to reading.
The blog tour includes a giveaway, so be sure to enter below!a Rafflecopter giveaway
By: Martina at Adventures in YA Publishing,
on 3/15/2013
Blog:
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We have three awesome giveaways this week!! The full MERIDIAN trilogy, EVERAFTER by Elizabeth Chandler, and MEANT TO BE by Lauren Morrill.
How was your week? Did you read anything amazing this week? Get a lot of writing done? We want to hear about it!
THIS WEEK'S GIVEAWAY
Everafter (Kissed By An Angel)by Elizabeth ChandlerHardcoverSimon PulseReleased 3/19/2013The sweeping saga of Ivy and Tristan comes to a breathtaking conclusion in this final book of the all-new arc in the New York Times bestselling Kissed by an Angel series.It seems the odds are forever against Ivy and her fallen angel. Tristan is still trapped in the body of an accused murderer, and as the two star-crossed lovers try to clear his name, they must battle the dark forces that would keep them apart and destroy them both. The danger is especially great for Tristan since, as a fallen angel, death would mean losing his soul. It�s up to Ivy to save the one she loves and, hopefully, find a way for the two of the them to be together�for all eternity.
Purchase Everafter (Kissed By An Angel) at AmazonPurchase Everafter (Kissed By An Angel) at IndieBoundView Everafter (Kissed By An Angel) on Goodreads* * * *
Speed of Light (Meridian #3)by Amber KizerHardcoverDelacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 11/13/2012Meridian Sozu is a Fenestra, an angel infused human, destined to transition souls into the next world. Together with Tens Valdes, her soulmate and Protector, they've made a home in Indiana, making sure the dead safely enter the light and aren't stolen by the Dark, known as the Nocti.
Upon rescuing Juliet Ambrose from her terrible childhood, Juliet has become vulnerable without her Protector and grasps at any hope to find her parents, even when it's offered by a proven Nocti, Ms. Asura. Juliet is now faced with the horrible choice between uncovering her past and having a future.
Meanwhile, time may be running out for the hundreds of thousands preparing for the festivities surrounding the Indianapolis 500 car race. As centuries of secrets are revealed, the battles will pit Light versus Dark. Not all with survive as Meridian, Tens, and Julie join forces to try to thwart a potential tragedy.
Purchase Speed of Light (Meridian #3) at Amazon Purchase Speed of Light (Meridian #3) at IndieBoundView Speed of Light (Meridian #3) on Goodreads* * * *
Wildcat Fireflies (Meridian #2 )by Amber KizerHardcoverDelacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 7/12/2011Meridian Sozu is a Fenestra�the half-human, half-angel link between the living and the dead. She has the dark responsibility of helping souls transition safely into the afterlife. If people die without the help of a Fenestra, their souls are left vulnerable to be stolen by the Aternocti, a dark band of forces who disrupt the balance of good and evil in the world and cause chaos.
Having recently lost her beloved Auntie�the woman who showed her what it meant to be a Fenestra�Meridian has hit the road with Tens, her love and sworn protector, in hopes of finding another Fenestra. Their search leads them to Indiana, where Juliet, a responsible and loving teenager, works tirelessly in the nursing home where she and several other foster kids are housed. Surrounded by death, Juliet struggles to make a loving home for the younger kids, and to protect them from the violent whims of their foster mother. But she is struggling against forces she can't understand . . . and even as she feels a pull toward the dying, their sickness seems to infect her, weighing her down. . . .
Will Meri and Tens find Juliet in time to save her from a life of misery and illness? And will Meri and Tens' own romance weather the storms of new discoveries?
Purchase Wildcat Fireflies (Meridian #2 ) at Amazon Purchase Wildcat Fireflies (Meridian #2 ) at IndieBoundView Wildcat Fireflies (Meridian #2 ) on Goodreads* * * *
Meridian (Meridian #1)by Amber KizerHardcoverDelacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 8/11/2009Half-human, half-angel, Meridian Sozu has a dark responsibility. Sixteen-year-old Meridian has been surrounded by death ever since she can remember. As a child, insects, mice, and salamanders would burrow into her bedclothes and die. At her elementary school, she was blamed for a classmate�s tragic accident. And on her sixteenth birthday, a car crashes in front of her family home�and Meridian�s body explodes in pain. Before she can fully recover, Meridian is told that she�s a danger to her family and hustled off to her great-aunt�s house in Revelation, Colorado. It�s there that she learns that she is a Fenestra�the half-angel, half-human link between the living and the dead. But Meridian and her sworn protector and love, Tens, face great danger from the Aternocti, a band of dark forces who capture vulnerable souls on the brink of death and cause chaos
Purchase Meridian (Meridian #1) at AmazonPurchase Meridian (Meridian #1) at IndieBoundView Meridian (Meridian #1) on Goodreads* * * *
Meant to Beby Lauren MorrillHardcoverDelacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 11/13/2012Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.
It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").
But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.
Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.
Purchase Meant to Be at AmazonPurchase Meant to Be at IndieBoundView Meant to Be on GoodreadsLAST WEEK'S GIVEAWAY WINNERS
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Sacredby Elana K. ArnoldHardcoverDelacorte Books for Young ReadersReleased 11/13/2012WINNER: gsmarlene A grieving girl meets a boy with mystical powers in this passionate love story.Growing up on Catalina Island, off the California coast, Scarlett Wenderoth has led a fairly isolated life. After her brother dies, her isolation deepens as she withdraws into herself, shutting out her friends and boyfriend. Her parents, shattered by their own sorrow, fail to notice Scarlett's pain and sudden alarming thinness. Scarlett finds pleasure only on her horse, escaping to the heart of the island on long, solitary rides. One day, as she races around a bend, Scarlett is startled by a boy who raises his hand in warning and says one word: "Stop."
The boy—intense, beautiful—is Will Cohen, a newcomer to the island. For reasons he can't or won't explain, he's drawn to Scarlett and feels compelled to keep her safe. To keep her from wasting away. His meddling irritates Scarlett, though she can't deny her attraction to him. As their relationship blossoms into love, Scarlett's body slowly awakens at Will's touch. But just when her grief begins to ebb, she makes a startling discovery about Will, a discovery he's been grappling with himself. A discovery that threatens to force them apart. And if it does, Scarlett fears she will unravel all over again.
Purchase Sacred at AmazonPurchase Sacred at IndieBoundView Sacred on GoodreadsIN STORES NEXT WEEK WITH AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
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The Art of Wishingby Lindsay RibarHardcoverDialReleased 3/21/2013He can grant her wishes, but only she can save his life.Margo McKenna has a plan of attack for everything, from landing the lead in her high school musical to dealing with her increasingly absent parents. But when she finds herself in possession of a genie's ring and the opportunity to make three wishes, she doesn't know what to do. Especially since Oliver--not blue-skinned, not bottle-dwelling, but a genie nonetheless--can see more than what she's willing to show him. With one peek into her mind, he can see the wishes that even Margo herself doesn't know she wants.
But Oliver comes with more than just mind-reading abilities, a flair for magic, and the prettiest eyes Margo's ever seen. Someone from his past is hunting him--someone bent on killing him, along with all the other genies in the world, for the sake of honor. And as Margo soon discovers, it will take more than three wishes to save him.
A whole lot more.
Purchase The Art of Wishing at AmazonPurchase The Art of Wishing at IndieBoundView The Art of Wishing on Goodreads* * * *
Pretty Girl-13by Liz ColeyHardcoverKatherine Tegen BooksReleased 3/19/2013Pretty girl
13 when she
went missing
lost
to her family
to her friends
to the world
found
but still missing
her self
In Liz Coley's alarming and fascinating psychological mystery, sixteen-year-old Angie Chapman must piece together the story of her kidnapping and abuse.
Pretty Girl-13 is a disturbing�and ultimately empowering�page-turner about accepting our whole selves, and the healing power of courage, hope, and love.
Purchase Pretty Girl-13 at Amazon Purchase Pretty Girl-13 at IndieBound View Pretty Girl-13 on Goodreads* * * *
17 & Goneby Nova Ren SumaHardcoverDutton JuvenileReleased 3/21/2013Seventeen-year-old�Lauren�is having visions of girls who have gone missing. And all these girls have just one thing in common�they are 17 and gone without a trace. As Lauren struggles to shake these waking nightmares, impossible questions demand urgent answers: Why are the girls speaking to Lauren? How can she help them? And . . . is she next? As Lauren searches for clues, everything begins to unravel, and when a brush with death lands her in the hospital, a shocking truth emerges, changing everything.
Purchase 17 & Gone at AmazonPurchase 17 & Gone at IndieBoundView 17 & Gone on Goodreads
MORE RELEASES IN STORES NEXT WEEK
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Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices)by Cassandra ClareHardcoverMargaret K. McElderry BooksReleased 3/19/2013Don’t miss The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, soon to be a major motion picture in theaters August 2013.Danger intensifies for the Shadowhunters as the
New York Times bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy comes to a close.
If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you do it?
The clock is ticking. Everyone must choose.
Passion. Power. Secrets. Enchantment.
Danger closes in around the Shadowhunters in the final installment of the bestselling Infernal Devices trilogy.
Purchase Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices) at AmazonPurchase Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices) at IndieBoundView Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices) on Goodreads* * * *
OCD, The Dude, and Meby Lauren Roedy VaughnHardcoverDialReleased 3/21/2013With frizzy orange hair, a plus-sized body, sarcastic demeanor, and "unique learning profile," Danielle Levine doesn't fit in even at her alternative high school. While navigating her doomed social life, she writes scathing, self-aware, and sometimes downright raunchy essays for English class. As a result of her unfiltered writing style, she is forced to see the school psychologist and enroll in a "social skills" class. But when she meets Daniel, another social misfit who is obsessed with the cult classic film
The Big Lebowski, Danielle's resolve to keep everyone at arm's length starts to crumble.
Purchase OCD, The Dude, and Me at AmazonPurchase OCD, The Dude, and Me at IndieBoundView OCD, The Dude, and Me on Goodreads* * * *
Fox Forever (Jenna Fox Chronicles)by Mary E. PearsonHardcoverHenry Holt and Co. (BYR)Released 3/19/2013Locke Jenkins has some catching up to do. After spending 260 years as a disembodied mind in a little black box, he has a perfect new body. But before he can move on with his unexpected new life, he�ll have to return the Favor he accepted from the shadowy resistance group known as the Network.
Locke must infiltrate the home of a government official by gaining the trust of his daughter, seventeen-year-old Raine, and he soon finds himself pulled deep into the world of the resistance�and into Raine�s life.
Mary E. Pearson brings the story she began in
The Adoration of Jenna Fox and continued in
The Fox Inheritance to a breathtaking conclusion as Locke discovers that being truly human requires much more than flesh and blood.
Purchase Fox Forever (Jenna Fox Chronicles) at Amazon Purchase Fox Forever (Jenna Fox Chronicles) at IndieBound View Fox Forever (Jenna Fox Chronicles) on Goodreads* * * *
Tiger: A Dark Eyes Novelby William RichterHardcoverRazorbillReleased 3/21/2013A vigilante fights for justice at any cost. Wallis Stoneman isn’t like other teenage girls. She’s beautiful, fearless, and deadly.
Wally lives alone in her Brooklyn loft. She’d be a regular teenager, except that she’s the daughter of a Russian assassin. Crime is in Wally’s blood, but she uses her legacy for good: she solves missing persons cases for the Ursula Society, an under-the-radar organization that uses oft-illegal tactics to find people the police have given up on.
The person Wally most wants to find? Tiger, her own fugitive brother. But the closer Wally gets to finding Tiger, the more dangerous her search becomes. And Klesko, Wally and Tiger’s sadistic father, is again at large. With two highly-skilled con men against them, Wally and Tiger band together to destroy a conspiracy in which they—and their hearts—are mere pawns.
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How do you find these?
These all look interesting, especially 2 and 4.
Medeia,
I agree!
Evelyn,
I scour Amazon and bn.com. Sometimes, I go through publishers catalogs or visit authors sites. Voya can be a good source, too. There is no one place to look. You’d think Amazon or bn.com would be a one stop source, but it can be difficult to search.