Lindsay Cummings

The Best Day EVER. My First Book Signing!!

2014-04-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

Today was incredible.
And I don't say that because I'm a dramatic author, who fantasizes about days like today (because I totally am, and I totally do fantasize about days like today…)

When I first signed my contracts with HarperCollins, I felt like I was in a dream.

When I announced the book deals, I felt like I was in a dream.

When I saw my book covers, and revealed them, I felt like I was in a dream.

But today was different. It was real. And it all FELT very, very real. So real that I wanted to cry. It was the first moment, honestly, that I felt like a REAL writer. Not when I signed the contract. Not when I saw the cover, or shared it online, or got to hold the ARC of my book in my hands for the very first time. Those were great days.

But today was THE day.

I got to sign copies of both The Murder Complex and Balance Keepers#1, and I had an actual signing line. A real line, full of REAL readers!

There were 500 teens, packed into a room, and they were loud and crazy and they pushed and shoved, but most beautiful of all, they LOVED books. I mean really loved them.

I had so many teens who KNEW about The Murder Complex and Balance Keepers. I had so many people get upset when I ran out of ARCS, and I ran out fast! I had teens say, "NO I WANTED THAT BOOK!" And I apologized profusely, with a huge this isn't real smile on my face. I had a girl comment on how adorable my pet hedgehog Hedwig was, and I thought "YOU KNOW ABOUT MY PET HEDGEHOG?…wait…you know about ME?!"

And for the 45 minutes in sat in that chair, scribbling my name over and over in my own books, fragments of myself placed into pages, it was this moment where all the noise and the chaos disappeared, and it was my voice in my mind, saying over and over again, "this is real, Lindsay. You made it. You really, really made it."

As a writer, I often feel lonely and forgotten, and unimportant, when I'm sitting in my apartment with my pajamas on, writing away, with nothing but the sound of my fingers tapping the keyboard and the occasional bark from my dogs. It's a long wait to publication. I'm still not there, but I'm close. Like, next month close.

Today I was noticed, by people that thought I was someone, someone who did important things, and who made a difference in their lives.

I wanted to cry. I almost did.

Instead, I smiled and held it together and signed tons of copies, and passed out bookmarks and tshirts and smiled and soaked it all in.

Because it's only just the beginning.

And if this is only the beginning…..it's going to be a beautiful, wild ride. I'm so grateful. I'm so humbled and blessed and overwhelmed by the fact that this is my career. This is my life. God gave me a talent and a love for writing, and my agent noticed me, and she helped HarperCollins notice me, too.

To everyone involved in this journey….Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I couldn't be more grateful.

Today, I am the luckiest girl in the world.

Between the Spark and the Burn….AMAZING

2014-04-07T11:15:00.000-07:00

Between the Spark and the Burn by April Genevieve Tucholke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gorgeous and haunting----even better than its predecessor!

If I could give this book a million stars, I would.

When I first opened up Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, I was floored by Tucholke's writing style. It was lyrical, horrifyingly real, and so unique that I was plucked from my tiny apartment and thrown into the book's setting, almost like I was right there beside Violet and River in Echo.

Book two, Between the Spark and the Burn, did exactly that. And then some. I was worried about this sequel taking on a new setting, especially when the town of Echo had become so close to my heart from the first book. But as always, Tucholke proved me wrong. Her writing style was just a deliriously and wonderfully haunting as ever, and the characters came to life off of the page.

I felt, while reading this, that I was under River's Glow, that I was racing across the country in a car with Violet and Neely, Sunshine and Luke, chasing strange radio rumors in search of a boy who might---or might not---be the devil.

The way Tucholke weaves her sentences, her settings, her characters, all together, is fascinating. I don't think anyone has her style or her flair, and while the story in itself is incredible, the writing is what does it for me.

I am so sad to be leaving this series behind. I wish it could go on and on, and the way Tucholke left book two, it's quite possible that it could in the future.

Amazing job. I can't give this one enough praise.

View all my reviews

Booknerdigans.com Contest!

2014-03-26T14:23:00.002-07:00

Hey there Booknerdigans!!
As many of you know, I'm finally launching the booknerdigans.com website!

I started this hashtag in 2012, and since then, it's started to explode! It's so fun to see people using it and creating bookish conversations with each other all over social media!

So, a few Instagram bloggers, writers, and me, are going to be running it! The site will have weekly videos, reviews, giveaways, fandom news, etc, and it'll be loads of fun!

Now this is where you come in!

THE CONTEST

We need a header! We're going to be running a contest, so that you guys, with photoshop skills or drawing skills or editing skills, can have a chance to have YOUR header displayed on booknerdigans.com for all to see!

The rules:

just don't use copyrighted images, unless you own them. I don't want to get sued ;) (Try getting free stock images online, there's loads if you google them)
you have until next Friday to get your edit in!
You can either tweet me the link @lindsaycwrites, or tag it to Instagram under #booknerdigansheader
(I am not good at this photoshop stuff, so I don't know the dimensions. Do a typical website's header dimensions, and if you win, we can adjust to fix!)
good luck!

ERASED by Jennifer Rush

2014-03-17T16:11:00.002-07:00

They thought they had escaped. They were wrong.

After fleeing the Branch with Sam, Cas, and Nick, Anna is trying to make sense of the memories resurfacing from her old life. At the same time, she's learning how to survive in hiding, following Sam's rules: Don't draw attention to yourself. Always carry a weapon. Know your surroundings. Watch your back.
Then a figure from Anna's childhood reappears. Is it a Branch setup, or could it be the reunion Anna has hoped for? Uncertain of where her loyalties lie, Anna must fight to learn the truth -- before she is betrayed again. Ultimately, the answers hinge on one question: What was the real reason her memories were erased?
Jennifer Rush delivers a thrilling sequel to Altered in a novel packed with mysteries, lies, and surprises that are sure to keep readers guessing until the last age is turned.
AVAILABLE NOW FROM LITTLE BROWN BOOKS

This series is easily one of my new favorites.

I fell in love with book 1, ALTERED, flying through it in a day. I moved right onto book 2, and flew through that in half a day!

This isn't really going to be a review. It's going to be more of a "ZOMG I AM FANGIRLING BUY THIS SERIES NOW" post.

Why did I love it so much? Because it was SO unique. So different from what I expected! I didn't realize there would be so much action, mystery and betrayal! This is the perfectly webbed story, where things don't make sense in the beginning---you're following right along with Anna and the boys, as they figure everything out. And you NEVER know what's going to happen next. You don't know who to trust!
You don't even know if you can trust Anna....or Sam, her sexy love interest, who is so multi-faceted.

I loved the writing style, so punchy and fast paced. I LOVED the characters, and I honestly don't know how Jennifer Rush made them all so unique and so loveable, even the douchebaggish one, Nick! The Branch is a great "bad guy" type of corporation, and they aren't afraid to kill to get what they want.

But neither are Anna and the boys. I just LOVE that in a YA book, where an author isn't afraid to push the limits and just do some wicked good killing scenes.

I can't say a bad thing about this series. Other than the fact that it kept me from sleeping for a full 2 nights in a row, and now, I am DYING for book 3.

Get a copy NOW!

And check out the other books in the series!

BURN OUT by Kristi Helvig---A Killer SciFi

2014-03-13T09:59:00.000-07:00

"A scorching series opener not to be missed." - Kirkus

A futuristic blend of Beth Revis's Across the Universe and Lenore Appelhans's Level 2, Burn Out will satisfy the growing desire for science fiction with a thrilling story of survival, intrigue, and adventure.

Most people want to save the world; seventeen-year-old Tora Reynolds just wants to get the hell off of it. One of the last survivors in Earth's final years, Tora yearns to escape the wasteland her planet has become after the sun turns "red giant," but discovers her fellow survivors are even deadlier than the hostile environment.

Holed up in an underground shelter, Tora is alone--her brilliant scientist father murdered, her mother and sister burned to death. She dreams of living on a planet with oceans, plants, and animals. Unfortunately, the oceans dried out ages ago, the only plants are giant cacti with deadly spines, and her pet, Trigger, is a gun--one of the bio-energetic weapons her father created for the government before his conscience kicked in.

When family friend, Markus, arrives with mercenaries to take the weapons by force, Tora's fury turns to fear when government ships descend in an attempt to kill them all. She forges an unlikely alliance with Markus and his rag-tag group of raiders, including a smart but quiet soldier named James. Tora must quickly figure out who she can trust, as she must choose between saving herself by giving up the guns or honoring her father's request to save humanity from the most lethal weapons in existence.

Coming April 8th, from EgmontUSA

My Initial Reaction: Holy Crap.

This book is SO good, you guys. I'm a major fan of scifi, and always have been. But reading scifi books really started a few years ago, when I picked up ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis. I devoured those books, and when I was done, I was pretty disappointed to find out that there just wasn't a ton of recent YA like it.

I wanted actual SPACE stuff. Spaceships. Weapons. Aliens. Crazy stuff like that.

That hunger was sated when I watched all of FIREFLY in a course of just a few days. The show sucked me in---the characters, the drama, the amazing plots, and the badA fight scenes.

So, naturally, when I saw the cover reveal for BURN OUT---I wanted that freaking book.

And I got to know the author, Kristi Helvig, over the YA Valentines blog, which we are both members of. She's so sweet and hilarious, so I just knew I'd love her book.

Finally, the day came when I got my hands on on ARC of BURN OUT.

And guys, this book rocked my face off.

Seriously. It's so good.

It has all the perfect elements that I love in a scifi. Action, weapons, advanced technology, spaceships, characters who are a little off their rockers.

The main character, Tora, is a total spitfire. I could really relate to her, and she never really disappointed me. I loved that about her. She always did what she thought was right. Even if that meant leaving herself in isolation because she didn't really trust the people who wanted her dad's weapons.

And by the way, the weapons are super cool. I want a wicked laser-gun thingy. Maybe the author is handing some out as swag...

Overall, if you're looking for something fast-paced, futuristic, and super fun, you'll love Burn Out. This book is great, because you never know who to trust, and your opinions will constantly change---which will keep you hooked.

This is a killer debut, and I am sooo excited for the sequel!

Buy a copy!

PRETTY SLY Review

2014-03-06T10:31:00.001-08:00

Sequel to Pretty Crooked...

Willa Fox was told to stay out of trouble. In fact, it was an order from a very serious juvenile court judge.

However, that was before Willa found her house ransacked and a mysterious email from her mother telling Willa she had to leave Paradise Valley for a while and not to come looking for her. Willa knows her mom’s in danger and that no one at school will miss her after her recent sticky-fingered stunts with the Glitterati. So with the help of her pal Tre and with her degenerate crush Aidan as her wingman, Willa violates her probation and hits the California highway in search of her mom.

But when Willa and Aidan’s journey turns dangerously criminal and they wind up being the focus of a national manhunt, they realize it’s sometimes easier to escape the law than the truth—and that everything Willa thought she knew about her mom, and her life, was wrong.

Pretty Sly is Elisa Ludwig’s fast-paced sequel to Pretty Crooked, the second book in a trilogy that’s pitch-perfect for fans of Ally Carter. With a daring heroine who has one-of-a-kind spunk, a roller-coaster Bonnie and Clyde romance, a thrilling mystery, and a shocking twist ending, this book will have readers rooting for Willa as she makes the wrong choices to do the right thing. Fans will be eagerly awaiting the series conclusion.
March 18, 2014, from Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins

A fun series---book 2 will draw in younger teen readers for sure!

You all know, if you've been reading my blog for a while, that I'm not a very big contemp fan. I LOVE scifi books, dark and bloody things. So when I picked up Pretty Crooked, book 1 in this trilogy, I didn't really know what to expect. But I actually enjoyed it. It was lots of fun, and it had just enough of an edge to it that I was pleasantly surprised! So, well done Elisa Ludwig, for drawing in a pretty much scifi/para/horror only reader, to a contemp!

PRETTY SLY delivers the same fun, sometimes a bit snarky writing that book one did.

(And I have to say, the new covers are GREAT. I think they'll draw in a whole new group of readers!) Once again, I found myself drawn to Willa (our main character). And although she may do things I wouldn't do in real life, and her thought process along the way was also way different from mine (I'd give up before I even stole a pack of gum at a drugstore), I found myself thinking "I want to hang out with this chick."

I will say---there is a darker aspect to this sequel than I expected, and that's what had me still turning pages. The word starts with a K and ends with a G, and it's NOT kissing (although that happens, too. So that's always a plus).

Overall, a fun series, and I'll be picking up book 3 next year to see how it all comes to an end!

Buy a copy today!

The Fear Trials COVER REVEAL!

2014-03-03T16:20:00.001-08:00

Meadow Woodson has been trained to survive. This is a prequel to The Murder Complex, by Lindsay Cummings, and it is set in a blood-soaked world where the murder rate is higher than the birth rate. For fans of Moira Young's Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson's father calls it The Fear Trials, and it is a rite of passage in their family. Meadow is up against her brother Koi. The Fear Trials will both harden her and make her brave. If Meadow wins, she will get a weapon of her own and the right to leave the Woodsons' houseboat without her father or mother at her side. Set in the violent, complex, and mysterious world of The Murder Complex, and introducing Meadow Woodson—a teenage girl trained to survive no matter what the cost—and her family, who are together for the last time on their houseboat in the Florida Everglades.(less)

ebook, 100 pages

Expected publication: May 27th 2014 by Greenwillow / HarperCollins

Preorder it now!
Add to Goodreads!!

GIVEAWAY! Win a SIGNED first edition of TREMOR.

2014-02-26T14:18:00.000-08:00

In the year 2051, some people have a second pulse…

Like all who have “the pulse,” Faith Daniels and Dylan Gilmore have telekinetic powers—they can move objects with their minds. But there are five “second pulses” in the world who have an even greater power: Almost nothing can harm them. They are virtually indestructible.

Both Faith and Dylan have the second pulse. But the other side has second pulses, too, and they’ve been training for a war that has been brewing their entire lives. As Dylan executes a plan to infiltrate enemy grounds, he’ll have to face his only weakness, and a family secret that will threaten his very existence.

Together, Faith and Dylan are the only hope this world has left, but they must go their separate ways in order to accomplish their plan. Will their love survive?

With richly developed characters and heart-pounding action scenes, the second book in Patrick Carman’s Pulse trilogy continues the electrifying dystopian story of love and revenge.
out NOW from Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins

ENTER TO WIN A SIGNED COPY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Watch the trailer!

COVER REVEAL! Balance Keepers#1-The Fires of Calderon

2014-02-22T06:47:00.000-08:00

The first book in an epic middle grade fantasy adventure series that takes place in an underground society at the center of the earth. Packed with action, humor, magic, and mystery.

After following a mysterious map into the woods and then under the woods, eleven-year-old Albert Flynn learns he’s a Balance Keeper—someone with special magical skills for fixing problems in three underground Realms at the Core of the earth. His new job is important; if the realms fall out of balance, the world above could be in great danger.

Albert and his Balance Keeper teammates Birdie and Leroy arrive in the Core not a moment too soon. There’s an Imbalance in the Calderon Realm and it’s threatening to bury Albert’s hometown of New York City in a mountain of ash.

The three must train hard completing mental and physical challenges, but above all, they must harness the power of their Tiles—unique superpowers given to each Balance Keeper. So far, Albert’s mastered the art of not mastering his Tile....

With the situation in Calderon growing worse every day, can Albert, Leroy, and Birdie restore balance before New York is destroyed forever? Will Albert master his Tile before it’s too late?

Perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, The Unwanteds, and the classic Journey to the Center of the Earth.

I freaking LOVE IT! When I first opened the email and got a chance to see the cover...I cried.

Seriously. I cried like a baby. Because it was EVERYTHING I ever imagined it to be, and so much more. This cover image is from one of my favorite scenes in the book, and the "dragon" (AKA the Guildacker) looks wicked cool!

The process of this book cover was amazing as well. The artist started out with a black and white sketch, and slowly, over time, I kept getting updates...and then BAM! It came in full color. And I cried.

This is book one in a trilogy, and it comes out September 23, from Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins. I hope you guys LOVE it as much as I do! Thanks to everyone who helped put this book together on the Katherine Tegen team. You guys rock!

Buy a copy:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

International at The Book Depository

Add it on Goodreads!

Split Second by Kasie West

2014-02-19T17:12:00.001-08:00

Life can change in a split second.

Addie hardly recognizes her life since her parents divorced. Her boyfriend used her. Her best friend betrayed her. She can’t believe this is the future she chose. On top of that, her ability is acting up. She’s always been able to Search the future when presented with a choice. Now she can manipulate and slow down time, too . . . but not without a price.

When Addie’s dad invites her to spend her winter break with him, she jumps at the chance to escape into the Norm world of Dallas, Texas. There she meets the handsome and achingly familiar Trevor. He’s a virtual stranger to her, so why does her heart do a funny flip every time she sees him? But after witnessing secrets that were supposed to stay hidden, Trevor quickly seems more suspicious of Addie than interested in her. And she has an inexplicable desire to change that.

Meanwhile, her best friend, Laila, has a secret of her own: she can restore Addie’s memories . . . once she learns how. But there are powerful people who don’t want to see this happen. Desperate, Laila tries to manipulate Connor, a brooding bad boy from school—but he seems to be the only boy in the Compound immune to her charms. And the only one who can help her.

As Addie and Laila frantically attempt to retrieve the lost memories, Addie must piece together a world she thought she knew before she loses the love she nearly forgot . . . and a future that could change everything.
OUT NOW from HarperCollins!

I loved book one, Pivot Point! And Split Second totally delivered!

This series is just so much fun. It's unique in the YA genre, and I absolutely loveeeee the way these are written. Kasie West manages to write an intense, shock-worthy story, while still giving it an air of adorableness. Some of her sentences just crack me up. Her characters burst off of the pages. And from what I've experienced, going to a Kasie West signing...she is the cutest and sweetest author ever!

One thing I loved about this sequel is that the reader also gets to experience Addie's best friend Laila's point of view.

I always think that's a risk, changing up what readers are used to in book one. But I think this actually made it THAT much better. Laila's chapters actually became my favorite ones to read! But don't be fooled. You'll still be dying and dying some more, for Trevor. (As I'm writing this review, my dogs are howling to a siren out back. And while that's totally distracting, I can still see Trevor's face in my mind. Which means that boy keeps my attention, yo!)

Overall, this book gets a rockin set of stars from me. I love a book that keeps me up late into the night, and Split Second did that, and when I was done, I was upset...I wanted more!! I'm pretty sure this was a duology...which means it's all over. (sad Lindsay). But I know West will have plenty more successes in the future. I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes up with!

Congrats to Kasie West on another great read---Grab a copy today!

My Book Sold to PORTUGAL!

2014-02-11T16:36:00.001-08:00

THE MURDER COMPLEX sold to Portugal!

The publisher, SAIDA DE EMERGENCIA, is awesome--lots of books you guys might recognize, such as the House of Night series, by PC and Kristin Cast, and authors like Nora Roberts, Karen Marie Moning, and more!

I'm super stoked about this! It'll be cool to see my little book translated into another language, and how AWESOME to imagine readers across the globe getting to meet Meadow and Zephyr!

Thanks to the awesome team at HarperCollins for handling the sale. You guys rock!

Bree Despain's New Series- Into the Dark- THE SHADOW PRINCE

2014-02-10T15:49:00.001-08:00

Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.

Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.

Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds
Releases March 11,2014 from EgmontUSA

What a fun book!

I'm super excited to have been given the chance to read this one early. INTO THE DARK, the first installment in Bree Despain's new series, is such a fun read! I was a fan of Despain's first series, THE DARK DIVINE, so I was really looking forward to diving in to this one.

When I saw the cover, it made me even more excited. It's super unique---a really cool cover concept that draws the reader right in. When I got a physical copy of the book, I was a little bit scared. This sucker is HUGE. Sometimes, reading book 1 of a series can be a little daunting when you start out---but the first chapter is awesome.

Haden, a prince of the Underrealm, starts out the story. He's looked down upon, and he's sort of a mess. But he's a hot mess, and I love him. Haden starts his journey entering the mortal world, and we run into the other narrator of this story, Daphne---who just so happened to be an awesome character to me, because she's into music.

I grew up competing in school choir, so it was fun to see this type of character in a Ya that wasn't contemporary. That was a refreshing twist.

Despain has a great writing style. Easy to read, easy to get into. The story is fresh and fun---an epic journey that draws these two narrators together in a slow, steady way. I don't like to give away much in my reviews---so I'll simply say that, even if you're not into mythology, you should give this one a try!

Readers will get a bit of a taste of Brodi Ashton's Everneath series, so if you enjoyed that one, then INTO THE DARK- THE SHADOW PRINCE- will probably draw you in!

Get a copy

Win an ARC of The Murder Complex!

2014-01-31T19:57:00.003-08:00

Win an ARC of The Murder Complex!

To ENTER:

Leave a comment below, with a way to contact you. That's it!

Giveaway ends on Feb 14th.

GET EXTRA ENTRY POINTS!!!

-Add TMC on Goodreads

-Add The Fear Trials (the murder complex prequel novella, coming may 27) on Goodreads

-Add The Fires of Calderon (Balance Keepers book 1) on Goodreads

-Tweet the giveaway, once a day if you'd like! Include @lindsaycwrites if you do! :)

GOOD LUCK!

There is also a duplicate giveaway on my INSTAGRAM, if you'd like to enter there, as well! @authorlindsaycummings

CRUEL BEAUTY by Rosamund Hodge

2014-01-29T17:09:00.002-08:00

Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl's journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

Buy your copy now!

MY REVIEW
wow...After finishing this book, I am horribly, beautifully broken. amazing. deserves 10, 000 stars. wow.
I grew up loving the story of Beauty and the Beast. Naturally, I had super high expectations for CRUEL BEAUTY...and when I opened it, and the story sucked me right in, I was very very pleasantly surprised. I loved it more than I thought I would.

The writing style in itself deserves an entire 5 star review. Gorgeous sentences, gorgeous descriptions. It nearly killed me.

Ignifex, the "Gentle Lord", was absolutely swoon-worthy. A definite book boyfriend, and YA readers will love him.

Not to mention the main character, Nyx, who is strong and courageous and incredibly snappy with every word she says. I loved her! She never thought twice about hurting someone---and that was very refreshing, to read a very real YA character like her, who acted on impulse.

I can't say enough good things about this one. I'll be purchasing a finished copy soon, and will recommend to all readers of fantasy/romance/adventure. AMAZING!!

EVERTRUE by Brodi Ashton

2014-01-21T09:38:00.000-08:00

Now that Nikki has rescued Jack, all she wants is to be with him and graduate high school. But Cole tricked Nikki into feeding off him, and she’s begun the process of turning into an Everliving herself... which means she must feed on a Forfeit soon — or die.

Terrified for her survival, Nikki and Jack begin a desperate attempt to reverse the process using any means possible. Even Cole, who they expected to fight them at every turn, has become an unlikely ally — but how long can it last? Nikki needs to feed on Cole to survive, Cole needs Nikki to gain the throne in the Everneath, Jack needs Nikki because she is everything to him — and together, they must travel back to the Underworld to undo Nikki’s fate and make her mortal once more. But Cole isn’t the only one with plans for Nikki: the Queen has not forgotten Nikki’s treachery, and she wants her destroyed for good. Will Nikki be forced to spend eternity in the Underworld, or does she have what it takes to bring down the Everneath once and for all?

In this stunning conclusion to the Everneath trilogy, Brodi Ashton evokes the resiliency of the human spirit and the indomitable power of true love.

Releases January 21, 2014 from Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins

My Review:

AMAZING end to an AWESOME series. I loved books 1 and 2 of Brodi Ashton's series. I've always loved the Persephone myth, and this is the most unique and fun twist on it. I read all three of them in one week, and totally fell in love with the characters...especially COLE. OMG COLE.

In book 1, we got lots of the real world, and Nikki's struggle about coming back to life, and her fear of returning to the Everneath. In book 2, we got lots of the Everneath...in book 3, we get a mix of both worlds. And it's AWESOME.

This book is super fast-paced and fun...we get an entirely different side of Cole...and Brodi Ashton gives this story a wicked twist with his character. We get to see lots about him and his past life, which I've been dying for since the first book. There's some deaths (won't spoil who), some steamy kissing scenes( YES!) and some more puzzle-solving on Nikki's side.

Overall, this series is great for people who want some light fantasy, some hot dudes, and an evil douchey villainess. I give Brodi Ashton 5 stars for having such a great imagination, and creating such an awesome world. Congrats on finishing up your awesome trilogy, girl! You deserve it...and your covers, btw, are absolutely gorgeous. I'm sad it's over...but I'm ready to see what you've got up your sleeve next.

Buy your copy today!

Avalon by Mindee Arnett---AMAZING

2014-01-05T18:57:00.001-08:00

A ragtag group of teenage mercenaries who crew the spaceship Avalon stumble upon a conspiracy that could threaten the entire galaxy in this fascinating and fast-paced sci-fi adventure from author Mindee Arnett.

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

Avalon is the perfect fit for teens new to sci-fi as well as seasoned sci-fi readers looking for more books in the YA space-and a great match for fans of Joss Whedon's cult hit show Firefly.
January 28, from Balzer+Bray, Harpercollins

Get a copy!

My Review
One of the best YA scifi books I have EVER read. FREAKING LOVED IT!! sooo good. I recently become a big fan of the show Firefly, and was devastated to discover there was only 1 season. I watched it all within a few days, and then I was crushed when it ended.
And then came the cover reveal for AVALON...and it is gorgeous. When I heard that AVALON was pitched as a Firefly-esque book, I picked up a review copy...and it sucked me in immediately, from page one.
This story is so unique. It's set in space, but instead of the typical alien story, this one completely breaks the boundaries. Space pirates....seriously. The characters are all perfect. There aren't any characters that don't matter, and the villain is absolutely horrendous. He's done so well, in a way that really makes the reader HATE him.
The settings, on both spaceships, are amazing. I could see this book becoming a KA movie, with amazing sets and really cool effects. The writing does that for you already, page by page. To see it come to life on the big screen would be absolutely awesome.
Mindee Arnett really pushes the boundaries on this one, and her writing style is unique.
I spent 2 nights up in a row reading it. I'm obsessed with this series, and I can't wait to pick up the novella, PROXY! :)

Author Assistant Needed!

2014-01-03T16:05:00.003-08:00

Applications now CLOSED!

2014 is here.

And that means I have THREE books coming out.

Yes.
Three.

The Murder Complex prequel, THE FEAR TRIALS, is dropping on May 27th.
The Murder Complex, the first book in the series, is coming June 10th.
And my MG book, THE BALANCE KEEPERS, comes out in the fall (date to come).

I'll be traveling, having book due dates for sequels, trying to write new things, revise old things, trying to stay active on social media, trying to stay sane...trying to remember to shower, (but NOT trying to remember to eat, because I do plenty of that)....etc.

And guys.

I'll be honest. I struggle with a LOT of anxiety in life. Lots. I'm a constant worrier, and often, I forget that I just need to take a chill pill, release the world isn't out to get me, and God's taking care of me. Ever since I went from "I'm a writer" to "I'm a published author," I've taken on a lot of extra fears and worries.

I am not a fearless person.

For the most part, I am...but when it comes to doubting myself, and worrying about the future...it chokes me.

Lately, all of this extra businessy responsibility has taken a toll on me health-wise, and I just can't do it. I told myself I'd never do this...that I'd be THAT person, that handles everything on their own. But now that I've come to reality, or rather, been punched in the face by it...I've realized something.

Sometimes, it's okay to ask for help, and not be ashamed of needing it.

I need an assistant.

What the job entails:
-answering emails
-running my calendar
-promoting online
-running a Facebook/tumblr/instagram (NOT my personal ones...I will still run those! :)
-helping to set up events with bookstores, libraries, schools, etc.
-possibly attending events with me when you're nearby (so if you live in TEXAS, this is a plus, but not required)
-giving me feedback on my current works in progress
-helping keep my crazy self in check

Time Commitment:
- around 10 hours a week

What you get in return:
-I'm poor...newly married and a baby author...so I can't pay. I know that this job will take work, and love, and the person who's going to do all this for me is going to be AWESOME...they'll deserve a million bucks. But the money just isn't there to give.
-What I CAN give is my knowledge about the business, and if you're a writer, I'll give you my input on your work! I want to help you figure out this industry, and help you understand how to make it!
-I'll send you fun things in the mail, including ARCs, finished copies, ARCs of review books I'm reading, little fun random gifts, etc.

Requirements:

US or Canada only
must be 15 or older
must be an avid reader, writer, or book lover...all of the above helps!
You must know the publishing industry fairly well
must be good with social media and working with email
must be trustworthy and able to keep a secret.
must have strong communication skills
must be ridiculously awesome

How to apply:

Please send me an email at lindsaycummingsbooks AT gmail DOT com with:

-a bit about yourself

-why you want to apply

-what you think you can bring to the position

Q&A Video posted!

2013-12-30T10:52:00.000-08:00

Amazing Read- UNHINGED by AG Howard

2013-12-13T17:12:00.003-08:00

Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she's always dreamed of.

That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs.

As prom and graduation creep closer, Alyssa juggles Morpheus’s unsettling presence in her real world with trying to tell Jeb the truth about a past he’s forgotten. Glimpses of Wonderland start to bleed through her art and into her world in very disturbing ways, and Morpheus warns that Queen Red won’t be far behind.

If Alyssa stays in the human realm, she could endanger Jeb, her parents, and everyone she loves. But if she steps through the rabbit hole again, she'll face a deadly battle that could cost more than just her head.

RELEASES 1-7-14 from Amulet Books

This book was AWESOME. Even better than Book 1, SPLINTERED, which was totally mind-trippy and very Tim Burton-esque.

Unhinged starts several months after Alyssa and Jeb have escaped Wonderland. Everything seems like it's back to normal...Alyssa's family is happy again, and she's got her boyfriend. She doesn't mind the whispering of the bugs anymore, because she knows she's not crazy.

But then Wonderland starts creeping into the real world, and things get trippy all over again.

I love the way AG Howard mixes two worlds into one. She's got an incredible gift for imagery, and she has quite the imagination! (Tim Burton should hire her on to help with set designs and costumes and stuff...just sayin!)

I was sort of Team Jeb in book one...but in book 2, he made me really mad. It wasn't his fault, and that's why I kept reading--I wanted to know what the crap was going on with him. There's Wonderland forces at work behind it all, and Alyssa desperately wants to save him, her world...herself

In UNHINGED, Morpheus became my guy. The dude is sexy as can be, for a moth/man/thing. This time, we get to see a few softer moments with Morpheus...a sexy kissing scene...and we discover that Alyssa and Morpheus' relationship goes far deeper than they both thought.

Overall, I loved this book! It was fun, fast-paced, and the entire time, you have no idea who the villain really is, or who you're rooting for. Not to mention, THE ENDING. You guys, this ending killed me. It's a great ending, a perfect ending....but OMG. #ugh. I can't wait for book 3, ENSNARED, to come out in 2015! So far away! SOBS.

Buy your copy! And check out book 1, SPLINTERED, if you haven't already!

Bloodstone by Gillian Philip

2013-11-20T19:47:00.002-08:00

Bloodstone is the second novel in Gillian Philip’s critically acclaimed Rebel Angels series, debuting in the United States for the first time.

For centuries, Sithe warriors Seth and Conal MacGregor have hunted for the Bloodstone demanded by their Queen. Homesick, and determined to protect their clan, they have also made secret forays across the Veil. One of these illicit crossings has violent consequences that will devastate both their close family, and their entire clan.

In the Otherworld, Jed Cameron, a feral, full-mortal young thief, becomes entangled with the strange and dangerous Finn MacAngus and her shadowy uncles. When he is dragged into the world of the Sithe, it’s nothing he can’t handle until time warps around him, and menacing forces reach out to threaten his infant brother. In the collision of two worlds, war and tragedy are inevitable, especially when treachery comes from the most shocking of quarters….

Get your copy now!

Review:

I don't usually read adult books...but after being asked to read book 1 by Tor, I went for it. I really enjoyed the first one, fast-paced and fun, with good crossover appeal.

Book 2 was just as good. Some aspects of it, such a SETH, were better. :)
(Side note: as a horse owner, I LOVE how often we get to see horses in this series, and how real they seem!) The writing style is great---beautiful, prose-y sentences mixed with short and choppy that pack a punch. I love a story where you fall right into another world, and Gillian Philip does that perfectly. Though the setting in book 2 is totally different from book 1, you still get the same feelings...the same action scenes, the same parts where you sort of want to throw the book across the room...then run over, pick it up, say you're sorry, and start reading again.

Gillian Philip does a wonderful job of telling a masterful story---I'll be waiting another year for book 3.

COVER REVEAL and CONTEST---THE MURDER COMPLEX

2013-11-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting for this day for a LONG time. I signed my contract with HarperCollins 2 years ago...

And the cover reveal is finally here.

I know you guys probably won't read this. If you're like me, when you see a cover reveal, you usually scroll straight to the bottom. That's where the good stuff is! But I want to give a well-deserved THANKS to the people involved in this cover.

Thank you to Virginia Duncan, my editor at Greenwillow, who helped make this book's INSIDES as gorgeous as the outside. She's a genius with words.

Thanks to Martha Mihalick, for coming up with the wickedly awesome tagline for the cover! It blows my mind! Thanks to the art director at Greenwillow, Paul Zakris, for helping make this cover shine!

Thanks to the cover designer, Matt Roeser, who put a face to Meadow and Zephyr's story, and made it CREEPY and CHILLING and blood-red and....I love it. Thank you.

Thank you to Epic Reads, for being marketishly awesome.

Thanks to my agent, Louise Fury, for making this all happen.

I love you all. You are rocking my world.

What are you waiting for?!
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE COVER!!! Look at the subtle barcode on her forehead! It makes me smile! Look at her freaking white-blonde hair! Her "You're about to DIE" expression in her eyes! Everything about her is PERFECT.

Then, enter the GIVEAWAY BELOW for a chance to win your own SIGNED Advanced Reader's Copy!!!

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An action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic debut thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate. For fans of Moira Young's Dust Lands series, La Femme Nikita, and the movie Hanna.

Meadow Woodson, a fifteen-year-old girl who has been trained by her father to fight, to kill, and to survive in any situation, lives with her family on a houseboat in Florida. The state is controlled by The Murder Complex, an organization that tracks the population with precision. The plot starts to thicken when Meadow meets Zephyr James, who is-although he doesn't know it-one of the MC's programmed assassins. Is their meeting a coincidence? Destiny? Or part of a terrifying strategy? And will Zephyr keep Meadow from discovering the haunting truth about her family? Action-packed, blood-soaked, and chilling, this is a dark and compelling debut novel by Lindsay Cummings. Releases June 10th, 2014!

PREORDER THE MURDER COMPLEX NOW!!!
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Powell's Books
The Book Depository(ships free worldwide)
IndieBound

...and if you CAN'T wait until June...check out and preorder THE FEAR TRIALS- a Murder Complex Prequel Novella coming May 27th from HarperTeen Impulse.

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Cover Reveal for The Murder Complex TOMORROW!

2013-11-08T15:39:00.000-08:00

Be here.

7am.

It's happening.

THE MURDER COMPLEX IS COMING FOR YOU.

Giveaway!! Win a BOX SET of the Unwind Series!

2013-10-29T06:28:00.003-07:00

Want to WIN a box set of the Unwind series by Neal Shusterman?

Just enter below!

Haven't read book 1? Read below!

Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.

The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.

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I recently got a chance to review the 3rd book in this series, UNSOULED. It blew my mind!! When I first read UNWIND, I didn't realize it was a series. The book is so incredible...a chilling look at what I hope never becomes the future of America. As I got into book 2, I was pleasantly surprised to see it was even better than book 1. And then came UNSOULED....Book 3 is amazing. The plot bounces back and forth from the 3 main characters Connor, Risa, and Lev, as usual...but it also brings in some of the favorite bad guys from book 2. Neal Shusterman has outdone himself yet again with this one. He continues to keep the story horrifying and beautiful all at once, and I never found myself wanting to put the book down. The different stories he manages to weave into one are so impressive. They fit together like puzzle pieces. His writing style sucks you right into the characters' minds, and just when you think everything is going to be fine...you realize how wrong you were. And then you realize that Neal Shusterman is in the business of breaking hearts in the best of ways. Bravo on book 3. I cannot wait to read book 4, because Shusterman seems to get better and better with each book!

My Wedding!

2013-10-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

I got married! Here's a quick video with pictures for those of you who couldn't make it!

GIVEAWAY! Celebrate the Cover Reveal for EXILE by Kevin Emerson!

2013-10-10T11:58:00.002-07:00

Let's celebrate the amazing cover reveal for Kevin Emerson's upcoming book EXILE!

What's it about?

Catherine Summer Carlson knows how to manage bands like a professional—she’s a student at the PopArts Academy at Mount Hope High, where rock legends Allegiance to North got their start. Summer knows that falling for the lead singer of her latest band is the least professional thing a manager can do. But Caleb Daniels isn’t an ordinary band boy—he’s a hot, dreamy, sweet-singing, exiled-from-his-old-band, possibly-with-a-deep-dark-side band boy. And he can do that thing. That thing when someone sings a song and it inhabits you, possesses you, and moves you like a marionette to its will.

Summer also finds herself at the center of a mystery she never saw coming. When Caleb reveals a secret about his long-lost father, one band’s past becomes another’s present, and Summer finds it harder and harder to be both band manager and girlfriend. She knows what the well-mannered Catherine side of her would do, but she also knows what her heart is telling her. Maybe it’s time to accept who she really is, even if it means becoming an exile herself. . . .

On sale in April 2014, Kevin Emerson’s EXILE is a witty and passionate ode to love, rock and roll, and the freedom that comes in the moment when somebody believes in you, even if you’re not quite ready to believe in yourself.
EXILE releases April 2014 from Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins
Be sure to check out Kevin's other series, THE ATLANTEANS

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Enter the Rafflecopter BELOW for your chance to win ANY book of your choice, from any genre! If you can receive shipping from The Book Depository, anyone can enter! :)

You can ALSO gain extra points, by going to Cuddlebuggery's blog and entering the official contest to win 1 of 3 ARCs of Exile!! Go enter for an ARC now!

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