In the Best Worlds

All the Bright Places - Jennifer Niven

2015-01-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

Synopsis: Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.

This isn't my "kind of book." I usually steer clear of tough subjects, issue books, etc. I'm thrilled books about drug usage, terminal diseases, grief, or mental illness are out there and we're seeing a broader spectrum of humans represented - now more than ever. But if I'm being totally honest as a reader, I'm not usually the best audience for such books. I'm a naturally empathetic person - more than I want to be sometimes and I feel great pain for people in pain. So well written books that portray the devastation of loss, of sickness, of darkness usually just cut me deeper than I feel I need to be cut - considering how much I read. Still some of these books end up being the ones that stick with me, even if they aren't always my favorite, because they usually leave a lasting impression on my emotional state. Books that explore tough topics are usually the ones that are immediately altering - 13 REASONS WHY by Jay Asher, FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green, and IF I STAY by Gayle Forman to name a few. I wind up deeply affected by these characters and they all set the world sliding a few notches into a new lens. So why don't I pick them up more often? Because it's a huge gamble - if they're poorly written, or if I can't quite relate then it's hugely disappointing. And it doesn't seem to quite honor the hugeness behind the reason that story is out there. If it doesn't have the big emotion behind it, how are we supposed to get inside the minds of those who aren't like us? It's more likely I'll pick up a tough book without emotion and it will just be bleak. And I guess, even the ones with the big emotion behind it - they're epic and changing and in the right hands they're life-saving - but a girl can only handle so much pain, loss, struggle and BIG LOVE, even in a fictional sense every once in a while.

I've begun this post with a tangent, I apologize. I'm leaving it anyway because I feel it needs to be said. I think you should know where I'm coming from when I say - read. this. book. I don't pick up books that begin with potential suicide. But a combination of hearing good things from other readers, a remarkable cover, and that inexplicable, magical energy drawing me to read this book right away had me hanging out with the sparks of humanity that are Theodore Finch and Violet Markey. These two have such charisma that even in their darkest moments, they draw in the reader to want to know them, to want to be next to them, to want to love them enough. The balance between these two is so fragile and it didn't take much for my heart to be completely in love with both of them. Which led to this strange feeling of soaring and sinking simultaneously as the book goes on. Where Violet goes, I go. Where Finch goes, I go. And both journeys have their own highs and lows.

There's a great surface story - the saving grace of kindred souls, the unexpected love story, the mania of depression, the loss of a sister and best friend, the commentary of the anticipation of graduation. But I want to talk about the things happening underneath. As Violet says, "It's not what we take with us, but what we leave behind." Violet and Finch grow closer as they're tasked with wandering. For a high school project they have to see the sights of Indiana - which seems like a funny task, but they take it and make it into a no-wonder-too-small situation (which I adore). They begin with the highest point in the state - a hill - and then a home-built roller coaster. Finch is very adamant about leaving something behind - to say you were there. And in a book that is so pre-occupied with death and with loss, it's a poignant act. This simple act of just leaving a piece of themselves behind, makes their characters more permanent...and just...more. And then it goes beyond things to say - it's the people we leave behind that are a true mark of who we are.

And usually this is a morbid thing. Leaving people behind. But this might be the first time I've drawn a conclusion that doesn't see that as negative. Because we influence people - and this even draws back to 13 REASONS WHY in a really great way - whether we mean to or not. And those people we have the biggest influence on - well they are our landmarks. They are the - yeah, I'm going there - bright places in the universes we create for ourselves. The need to leave a mark to say I was here is underlined in this beautiful story - and I've come out with it to say that we all leave that I was here across the lives we touch. Our greatest achievements, our best moments, our immortal and spectacular selves are stored in each other. And this revelation is channeled through Violet and Finch in a way that elevates these characters and makes them beings that will forever be a part of who I am.

Best of 2014

2014-12-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays, friends! I'm just popping in with my favorite reads of the year - and I've happily dragged Jackie along to chime in with her top reads of 2014 as well. This was a bit of a tough list to pick out because I honestly was a tough reader to please these last few months. But I came up with a few that were actually spectacular and Jackie had some fantastic reading this year as well.

Hannah's Best Of

Open Road Summer by Emery Lord

This book is a Taylor Swift song and I loved every minute of it. It was really easy to let Emery Lord onto my shelves and into my heart. Keep an eye out for The Start of Me and You coming this spring - it's another amazing, amazing contemporary from an author who's become an insta-read for me.

My True Love Gave To Me edited by Stephanie Perkins

Reading MTLGTM has become a new (planned) tradition for me. I'm definitely going to return to this book in the holiday season to pull me into the excitement and magic that comes with this time of year. And you get a bundle of fabulous authors all in one go - Rainbow Rowell made me cry (yet again, because she's perfect), Myra McEntire made me laugh, and don't even get me started on how Laini Taylor proves again how she's one of the most skilled storytellers out there.

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

I didn't know if she could top Etienne St. Clair or Cricket Bell, but Josh certainly belongs in the wonderful pool of Perkins' boys who aren't perfect, but perfect for who they end up with. And of all the Perkins' girls, I think I'd most like to be Isla. This one was well worth the wait.

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Another fantastic addition to an epic, epic fantasy. I'm not a fan of faeries, honestly, but for Sarah Maas and Celaena, I'm all in. I so can't wait to see where this series leads.

Jackie's Best Of

Scan by Walter Jury and Sarah Fine

This book blew me away. I was so surprised by how much I loved this one. The relationship in the story hooked me immediately, and the plot was so different from everything I've read. Loved it.

Love and Other Theories by Alexis Bass

I cannot gush enough about this book. NO OTHER book has made me feel the emotions that this one has. Alexis Bass nails life as a girl in high school...or at least what mine felt like. Incredible. It's a must read.

A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier

I got my history on with this book and was absolutely blown away by the authenticity. The world is spot on incredible.

The Treatment by Suzanne Young

This was an excellent sequel to a book I loved. Suzanne Young just gets me. The action and tension are awesome.

I'll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson

It's such a touching story and the writing is stand-out beautiful. This is such an important book
.

Hannah here: I had to throw in a few words on this one as well. It's a book I'm adding to my list of best of the year, too. Jackie and I so rarely like the same book - it's shocking really, considering how good of friends we are that we can never agree on things like best books (although she does have a fantastic list this year...) or even whether a book is good or not. But this one - we are totally on the same page. It's so, so beautiful, I'm highlighting practically every other sentence. If you haven't picked up this one yet, Jackie and I both recommend you do.

Jackie and I would love to hear what your top reads were!

Why I Haven't Let Go

2014-12-12T10:46:00.001-05:00

You've probably noticed it's been pretty quiet around these parts for a few months now. It's because really cool, exciting, and sometimes scary things are happening in my life. My job has changed, my time has changed and my reading has changed.

I've had to come to terms with the fact that my blog was the sacrifice. It was the piece I had to set to the side to let myself grow. And just last week, as Best of 2014 lists started showing up and I had the feeling that I didn't deserve to post my own since I've been silent on this front since March, I thought - It's time to write a farewell post and let the blog be a completed chapter of my life.

I've thought about writing this post - a goodbye post - for months now. Ever since I got my new job, which is so demanding but kind of awesome in a way that makes me feel like I've found my calling, there just hasn't been time for much personal reading, let alone blogging. But I haven't been able to pull this post together. I was serious last week - it's been long enough, and it's time. But today, I'm just not able to do it.

I just can't let go to this piece of my life, because it's a big, important part of why I am where I am today. I'm fairly confident in saying this blog changed my life and pushed me where I needed to go. I started in grad school, when I was unhappy and misplaced. YA was my comfort, my saving grace, my happy place. And I started the blog as a simple way of tracking what I was reading and just having a place to talk about the books I loved. And in 2 years, I grew a body of work that I'm really proud of.

I am so proud of this blog. And I'm not afraid to say that.

Because it became more than the books. It was a way of dedicating myself to something I was passionate about, a way of growing an expertise and indulging in a love. It showed me that I wanted to be working with books, it brought me back to an old dream and into publishing. And this blog was brought up in every interview I've been on since I set foot in the publishing world. I'm fairly certain the fact that I knew how to write about books, that I obviously loved reading, that I was dedicated to this world to the point that I posted nearly 5 times a week for 2 years - was a selling point to my interviewers. It gave me a portfolio, in a sense - and one that I created because of love and not obligation. I want to contribute a good deal of my career to this blogging foundation.

The other reason I can't let go is because I still want to feel some kind of connection to the amazing book blogger community. I have blogger friends, who I haven't been so connected with since I've let the blog slip to the wayside. I miss them. I miss talking books - I miss having go-to people who's recommendations I trust implicitly. I know they're still there, and I do occasionally check in or run into them at book events, but I'm a faded part of this world and it's harder to connect. Twitter is a big part of this. In restructuring my tweets to be more personal and less about books, I fear I've lost that platform, and it feels a little like standing outside the circle. But with this blog, still somewhere in my periphery, there's a hint of that connection back into this group - this warm, loving, community that is something truly spectacular.

So, today, I'm not saying goodbye. I'm saying, this blog isn't what it was, but it's still here and it's still a piece of me. I might post my Top Books of 2014 tomorrow, but I can't make promises. I might throw up a review now and then, but I have no idea when I'll have time. But I'm still around, and maybe no one else is. And that's okay. Maybe I just needed to write a little love letter to my blog for being so important.

So this isn't goodbye, quite yet.

Blog Tour: Breaking Fences by Juliana Haygert

2014-06-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

I'm stoked to welcome you to my stop on the blog tour for Breaking Fences by Juliana Haygert hosted by YA Bound.

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Review

Juliana Haygert is an auto-read author for me: if she writes it, I'm going to read it. And so far she hasn't failed to make me fall in love with her characters and pull me into their world. I loved Bia as a secondary character in Breaking the Reins, so I knew going in this would be good. But even Bia surprised me with her vulerability. And I don't know where Juliana pulls her heroes from, but they're always fantastic and this one was particularly lovable. The horses, too, make this series special, as they really do act as characters that play an important role in the story.

I knew I'd love Bia and I was eager for her story, but like I said, she still surprised me. She's such a firecracker, but circumstances mellow her. I really like the internal struggle she has between keeping her head down and letting her spirit get the best of her. Although her circumstances are bullies that seem rather out of place in a college setting - I'll admit it kept me on my toes. What I kind of love, though, is that Bia seems to have the personality of a horse. She's high-spirited, loveable to some and will get agitated around others, and she spooks easily.

So then there's Garrett, who's just completely wonderful. He has this complex family story that shapes who he is. I was completely intrigued by him and his history. Garrett is so wonderfully layered that I couldn't help but savor it as Bia managed to pull away his layers. And then there's this one scene - that just goes to show that Juliana writes kissing better than anyone - and I dare you not to completely fall for him.

Then there's Midnight and Tom. One a horse, the other the stable hand, that are some of the best secondary characters. These two, and Garrett and Bia of course, make me want to start hanging around horse stables. They make it seem like the best thing in life is caring for horses and hanging out with one another.

Juliana manages to stay true to the new adult genre while bringing something different to the table. Breaking Fences is an awesome follow up to Breaking the Reins - which, by the way, if you haven't read yet, you need to - and I'm really hoping we'll get more from this Breaking world.

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About the Book

All Beatriz “Bia” Fernandes wants is to prove herself—to her family and friends—though it’s hard to prove anything with an overbearing father and three famous polo-playing older brothers. After her acceptance into college results in a heated family argument, the Brazilian girl leaves everything behind to find her own American dream.

College life away from home is perfect until the people she believes to be her friends turn on her. With lies and rumors threatening to suffocate her, Bia turns to her only freedom. Riding.

But one thing gets in the way of her escape. Garrett Blackwell and his bad cowboy attitude. Working at the ranch is his obligation, bugging Bia is his newfound hobby. His thick skin and easy grin don’t hide what Bia already knows—this misunderstood and lonely cowboy fights his own demons. Brushing horses’ coats and mucking out stalls shouldn’t be this sexy, and it isn’t long before he becomes a part of her distraction.

However, escaping won’t solve her problems, and it’s up to Bia to break down the fences around her and prove her strength—not to her family and friends, but to herself … and for Garrett. Because standing on her own doesn’t have to mean standing alone.

** Companion novel of Breaking the Reins. Can be read out of order **

Book Links: Amazon :: B&N :: Kobo :: iBooks :: Goodreads :: Book 1 Goodreads

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About the Author

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

Find Juliana Online: Website :: Goodreads :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Pinterest

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Giveaway

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Blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours

Find You in the Dark Paperback Release

2014-06-17T06:00:00.000-04:00

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I'm so thrilled to help celebrate the paperback release of Find You in the Dark! A. Meredith Walters is absolutely one of my favorite New Adult authors and I've been following her career very closely. I read Find You in the Dark way back when NA was just emerging and I fell in love immediately. Maggie and Clayton are characters that will always have a place in my heart. I hope you'll all go out and get your copy today, whether you've read her or not! I can't recommend this amazing author enough and it's fantastic to see her flourishing.

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About the Book

Maggie Young had the market on normal. Normal friends, normal parents, normal grades.. normal life. Until him.

Clayton Reed was running from his past and an army of personal demons that threatened to take him down. He never thought he had a chance at happiness. Until her.

Maggie thought their love could overcome anything. Clay thought she was all he needed to fix his messy life. That together, they could face the world. But the darkness is always waiting.

Sometimes the greatest obstacle to true love is within yourself.

AMAZON PAPERBACK :: AMAZON KINDLE :: B&N - PAPERBACK & KINDLE

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About the Author

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal romance including The Find You in the Dark and Bad Rep series as well as the upcoming stand alone romance, Reclaiming the Sand, and a dark new adult series for Gallery Books.

A. Meredith spent ten years as a counselor for at risk teens and children. First working at a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault program and then later a program for children with severe emotional and mental health issues. Her former clients and their stories continue to influence every aspect of her writing.

When not writing (or being tortured with all manner of beauty products at the hand of her very imaginative and extremely girly daughter), she is eating chocolate, watching reality television that could rot your brain and reading a smutty novel or two.

A. Meredith is represented by Michelle Johnson with the Inklings Literary Agency.

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Blog Tour: I Become Shadow by Joe Shine

2014-06-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

Hi all! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for I Become Shadow by Joe Shine, out from Soho Teen!

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Review

I love the concept for this novel. I wouldn't necessarily call it new adult, it's rather on the YA side, but it's still cool to see college-aged characters branching beyond the contemporary genre. Even better, Ren is the kind of heroine you can really get behind and root for. This book is doing something a little different and that's really all I needed to hear to jump on board.

One of my favorite things about this book is the way the love interest is handled. I feel a little like this bypasses a lot of other great things about this book, but I just have to say that I love that it's not a focus and it's still unexpected. There is the hint of a triangle happening, but it's different than any triangle I've read before. I'm at a bit of a loss how to explain this without spoiling, but there's the guy you swoon over and then the one who is endearing and it seems to me that Ren doesn't make the obvious choice, ever, and I enjoyed being kept on my toes.

I had a little bit of an issue with the structure. I'm not entirely sure a linear narrative best served the story, but it did create an opportunity to get Ren's voice out there. She's snarky and tough in the best way possible and it's great the way that personality shines through in her narration.

This is a great thriller that brings out a new voice and a different twist on your typical YA elements. The pages kept turning in anticipation of what Ren would do next. There's a lot of fun and adventure in this book.

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About the Book

This debut thriller combines a pulse-pounding thriller (like False Memory or Starters) with a new adult coming-of-age story set at Texas A&M University.

When Ren Sharpe was fourteen, she was kidnapped by a shadowy organization called FATE and trained to be a human weapon.

Now, four years later, she receives her assignment: protect Gareth Young at all costs. Currently a student at Texas A&M, Gareth will someday change the world. FATE calls people like Gareth FIPs -future important people - and they're everywhere, each with a FATE-trained shadow.

But when disaster strikes, Ren will have to turn on her maker. Together with Junie, a fellow abductee and the one person she trusts, Ren takes Gareth on the run.

Because whatever else happens, failure is not an option.

Book Links: IndieBound :: B&N :: Amazon :: Goodreads

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About the Author

Joe Shine grew up in Austin, TX (the greatest city ever), and is a graduate of Texas A&M University. He has an MFA from the Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California, and after brief stints in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, Joe returned home to Austin (repeat: the greatest city ever). Joe has a normal human job like most everyone else but hopes to become a full-time writer one day, and this is where you, the reader, must do him a really big solid and love I Become Shadow, his first novel.

Find Joe Online: Goodreads :: Twitter

Royally Lost Blog Tour: Review + Excerpt

2014-05-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Royally Lost by Angie Stanton. After you check out my review and an excerpt, you should check out some of the other awesome blogs taking part in this tour. The full schedule is here!

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Review

This book has all things I love: traveling, royalty and well...does there need to be more? I love this cover, I love the concept and was so excited for a fun jaunt around Europe with a beautiful prince in tow. As a fan of movies like The Prince and Me and more recently, books like Suddenly Royal, this was right up my alley.

This is a great, light book that would be great company on a trip to the beach or as you travel across Europe. I can't help but enjoy myself when books take me to different places. And there's always something I completely connect with when a main character is traveling for the first time. It's always an adjustment and a little scary - but you have to go through that before it gets good. And with this book - it does just that. The prince stuff is all great - he's adorable and wonderful and all things you want your prince to be. But it's really when Becca has to stand on her own and how she grows into who she is because of her travels that I really came to adore this book.

That said, I also have to throw in a word about Becca's brother Dylan. I had to include the excerpt with him, because he's just the best. He may be the brightest character in this book. I love his balance of annoying brother and really great ally. He was always helping Becca in ways that were really adorable I kind of want to read his story.

If you're looking for a read to get you in the mood for summer, this is a great place to start. Becca starts out a little whiny and some of the dialog is a little too unnatural, but it grows out of that as Becca comes into herself. I love where she ends up by the end.

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Excerpt

"So how was your date with Nikolai?"

Becca glared at her brother, Dylan.

"Uh-oh. Did he stand you up?" Dylan held a rolled-up magazine.

She frowned, frustrated that she'd been so easily played. "Yeah, you could say that."

"This might explain why." Dylan held the magazine under her face, forcing her to look at the glossy picture of a guy who looked exactly like Nikolai.

She took the magazine and examined it closer. Her breath caught in her throat. "That's Nickolai!"

She'd recognize him anywhere. She couldn't read the foreign headline, but it ended with an exclamation point. "Dylan where did you find this?"

He grimaced and shrugged. "It was at every newspaper stand I saw today."

"Why is he on the cover? Did he do something wrong?" She paged through the magazine, holding her breath. Confusion turned to shock when she saw a two-page spread filled with pictures of Nikolai. Nikolai at the beach; a picture of him playing polo; a picture of him in a tuxedo with a girl wearing a glittering gown. Then Becca's eyes landed on a formal picture of Nikolai in uniform, with a sword at his belt, standing next to a young girl. A stern man and austere woman sat in gilded chairs; both adults wore crowns.

Her jaw dropped open.

"Why is Nikolai in that picture with people wearing crowns? Who is he?" she asked. Her heart pumped so fast she could feel the blood pulse through her temples. "And why did he lie about his identity?"

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About the Book

Author: Angie Stanton

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: May 6, 2014

Summary: Dragged on a family trip to Europe’s ancient cities, Becca wants nothing more than to go home. Trapped with her emotionally distant father, over-eager stepmother, and a brother who only wants to hook up with European hotties, Becca is miserable. That is until she meets Nikolai, a guy as mysterious as he is handsome. And she unknowingly finds herself with a runaway prince.

Nikolai has everything a guy could ask for-he's crown prince, heir to the throne, and girls adore him. But the one thing he doesn't have...is freedom. Staging a coup, he flees his kingdom and goes undercover on his own European tour.

When Nikolai and Becca meet, it’s their differences that draw them together. Sparks fly as they share a whirlwind of adventures, all the while dodging his royal guard. But Becca's family vacation ends in a matter of days. Will Nikolai and Becca be forced to say goodbye forever, will his destiny catch up to him, or will they change history forever?

You can order a SIGNED copy from Angie's local bookstore (support your indies!!) here!

Or else there's: Amazon :: B&N :: Goodreads

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About the Author

Angie Stanton never planned on writing books; she wanted to be a Rockette. However, growing up in rural Wisconsin, with her brothers' 4-H pigs as pets, dance didn't work out. Instead she became an avid daydreamer. After years of perfecting stories in her head, she began to write them down, and the rest is history.

Angie is the author of six books including Royally Lost, Rock and a Hard Place, and Snapshot. She graduated with a Journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin, and is a proud double finalist of the National Readers Choice Awards for Love 'em or Leave 'em.

Find Angie Online: Website :: Twitter :: Facebook

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Giveaway

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Ask Me Blog Tour: Guest Post

2014-04-11T06:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Ask Me by Kimberly Pauley. I'm excited to have Kimberly on the blog today with a guest post!

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Guest Post

ASK ME is not a funny book. That might seem like an obvious thing, as it’s billed as a “dark, paranormal mystery” and even “Paranormal gets a Stephen King makeover” (which, let me just say right now that I never ever dreamed one of my books would be mentioned in the same paragraph as Stephen King), but it kind of freaks me out a bit. All of my other books have been funny. I mean, I’ve written about a girl who talks to cats…in particular, a pink cat named Rufus Brutus the Third. Sure, there’s danger in Cat Girl’s Day Off, but a literal horde of cats come to the rescue.

There are no cats in ASK ME and no overt jokes. Of course, it wouldn’t be me if there weren’t some funny bits, but in this case, it all takes the form of cringe worthy embarrassment for the main character, Aria. After all, when you’re an Oracle that has to answer every question you hear with the truth (or some cryptic variation thereof), you’re bound to say some pretty embarrassing things. If Aria were to come to life, I’m pretty sure she’d want to slap me for all the things I put her through.

So, why does this make me nervous? People write non-funny books all the time, right? You know, like every Nicholas Sparks book ever.

Well, I can’t help but wonder how my current fans will react to something so entirely different. And, when you’re known for one thing (wacky, quirky, fairly silly books), people often want to pigeonhole you and keep you in that box. On the other hand, people who don’t read funny stuff and have never read my other books might take a chance on me now. That’s great, but still slightly terrifying. All these NEW people are going to read MY book and compare me to, oh, I don’t know, STEPHEN KING.

Talk about terrifying.

The thing is, I had a lot of fun writing ASK ME. Not the same kind of fun I had writing my other books (yes, I do make myself laugh out loud sometimes while writing…there are probably a few baristas that think I’m pretty strange…), but fun nonetheless. It’s a different experience writing dark, trying to make the pulse pound, rather than the giggles fly. Humor, in some ways, is a more cerebral thing to write, whereas writing ASK ME was more visceral.

I let myself delve into deeper, more emotional places while writing. And, since the book is set in a fictional small town in Florida much like the one I grew up in, I was able to draw on my own sense memory and really, truly try to connect Aria to where she was. The setting really resonated for me…and I hope it resonates for readers as well.

So, even though ASK ME isn’t funny and probably won’t make you laugh out loud, I hope it hits a chord deep inside you instead. I hope you feel the book like I did writing it.

After all, you can always have a good laugh later when you need to shake off the cobwebs and climb back into the real world, right?

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About the Book

Ask Aria Morse anything, and she must answer with the truth. Yet she rarely understands the cryptic words she‘s compelled to utter. Blessed—or cursed—with the power of an Oracle who cannot decipher her own predictions, she does her best to avoid anyone and everyone.

But Aria can no longer hide when Jade, one of the few girls at school who ever showed her any kindness, disappears. Any time Aria overhears a question about Jade, she inadvertently reveals something new, a clue or hint as to why Jade vanished. But like stray pieces from different puzzles, her words never present a clear picture.

Then there’s Alex, damaged and dangerous, but the first person other than Jade to stand up for her. And Will, who offers a bond that seems impossible for a girl who’s always been alone. Both were involved with Jade. Aria may be the only one who can find out what happened, but the closer she gets to solving the crime, the more she becomes a target. Not everyone wants the truth to come out.

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About the Author

Kimberly Pauley is the award-winning author of Sucks to Be Me, which was honored on the YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list, and a paranormal mystery starring an oracle, called Ask Me. Born in California, she has lived everywhere from Florida to Chicago and has now gone international to live in London with her husband and son. She is also the founder of YA Books Central, one of the first and largest teen book websites in the world. Visit her online at www.kimberlypauley.com

Find Kimberly Online: Website :: Twitter :: Facebook :: Soho Teen

Excerpt Reveal: All Lined Up by Cora Carmack

2014-04-02T09:30:00.000-04:00

Ah! You guys know how much I love Cora Carmack, yes? Well, I do and I'm so excited to share an amazing excerpt from her new book, coming in May. Which, did I mention, centers around college football? Yes, please. Check out the excerpt and let me know what you think!

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About the Book

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack follows up her trio of hits—Losing It, Faking It, and Finding It—with this thrilling first novel in an explosive series bursting with the Texas flavor, edge, and steamy romance of Friday Night Lights.

In Texas, two things are cherished above all else—football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both.

Dallas Cole loathes football. That's what happens when you spend your whole childhood coming in second to a sport. College is her time to step out of the bleachers, and put the playing field (and the players) in her past.

But life doesn't always go as planned. As if going to the same college as her football star ex wasn’t bad enough, her father, a Texas high school coaching phenom, has decided to make the jump to college ball… as the new head coach at Rusk University. Dallas finds herself in the shadows of her father and football all over again.

Carson McClain is determined to go from second-string quarterback to the starting line-up. He needs the scholarship and the future that football provides. But when a beautiful redhead literally falls into his life, his focus is more than tested. It's obliterated.

Dallas doesn't know Carson is on the team. Carson doesn't know that Dallas is his new coach's daughter.

And neither of them know how to walk away from the attraction they feel.

Pre-order Links: Amazon :: Barnes and Noble

Add to Goodreads

-------------------------------

Excerpt

Excerpt Reveal: All Lined Up by Cora Carmack by WilliamMorrowBooks

Or you can find it here.

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About the Author

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

Find Cora Online: Website :: Twitter :: Facebook :: Goodreads

Blog Tour: Playing Pretend by Juliana Haygert

2014-03-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Playing Pretend by Juliana Haygert, organized by YA Bound Blog Tours. Check out my review, enter the giveaway and then check out the other stops on the tour here!

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Review

The best part about this book is that it's exactly like watching a rom-com, except you're reading so you get so much more. I've always been a sucker for the First Daughter and Catching Liberty kind of movies and this reminded me a lot of that. It's just a fun story about growing up and finding your own voice. Plus, there's not only an awesome romance, but a great friendship as well.

The book just dove right into the developing relationship between Charlotte and Mason, which was a little different. I like that it immediately threw off what I've come to expect from NA novels. It wasn't a meet-cute kind of situation and it wasn't suppressed feelings because of a dark past kind of thing. It was two people who liked each other just going all out. Until Charlotte goes home after Spring Break and back to real life. The way Charlotte and Mason meet up again is a little too coincidental, but for what this book is, it's easy to roll with.

I think Charlotte's relationship with her mother is really well done. It's a smothering and demanding relationship, but it isn't too crazy. I mostly love that it sets up Charlotte to have this kind of awesome secret life, which includes a fantastic friend and then, of course, Mason. It was fun to watch Charlotte's secret life. And Mason is definitely swoon-worthy. For what he goes through to be with Charlotte, he has to be the most patient and understanding dude ever. But that's why it's easy to love him.

Playing Pretend is a quick read, but it has the smart rom-com thing going for it. Basically I love Juliana Haygert, and she's proven herself with urban fantasy in her Everlast Trilogy, with darker contemporary in Breaking the Reins, and now with the sweeter side of contemporary in Playing Pretend. I'd definitely recommend her for anything you're craving in the new adult field.

----------------------------

About Playing Pretend

Playing Pretend

by Juliana Haygert

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Word Count: 65,000Release date: March 2014

Cover: Berto Designs

As the Governor’s daughter, Charlotte McClain is an expert in playing pretend. High society, the men her mother shoves in her direction and a Pre-Law major are all a part of her perfect pretense. But when she pretends to be a nobody during Spring Break, she meets someone who rocks her world.

Mason Rowell knows heartbreak and Spring Break don’t mesh well, so he allows the mysterious Charlotte to seduce him. What should have been a fling, results in something deeper. After Spring Break has long since passed, he moves to Washington to pursue his graduate degree, but what he never expected to find living among the rich and pompous, was the girl who gave him the strength to change and the desire to start anew.

When the guy Charlotte can’t forget goes from a sensual memory to temptation in the flesh, her facade is put to the test. If she surrenders to his charms, she risks ruining her mother’s perfect career and master plan. Playing pretend is what Charlotte does best, but how long can she pretend she doesn't love the man who made her proud of her true self?

**A light, sexy NA Contemporary Romance**

Book Links: Amazon :: B&N :: Kobo :: iBooks :: Createspace :: Goodreads

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About the Author

New Adult author and contributor at NA Alley blog.

Author Links: Website :: Blog :: Twitter :: Facebook :: Goodreads :: Pinterest

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Giveaway

RULES AND RESTRICTIONS:

Contest is void where prohibited. Entrants must be 13 or else have parent or guardian’s permission to enter. Winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond or another winner’s name will be selected. Winning entries will be verified for authenticity.

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Blog Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Release Day Launch: Best Kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine

2014-03-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

I'm extremely excited to participate in spreading the word about Chelsea Fine's BEST KIND OF BROKEN! BEST KIND OF BROKEN is a New Adult contemporary romance and is the first book in the Finding Fate Series. It's available TODAY so after reading these hot teasers and entering the giveaway be sure to go out and grab your copy!!

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About the Book

SOMETIMES MOVING ON MEANS MOVING IN

Pixie Marshall wishes every day she could turn back time and fix the past. But she can't. And the damage is done. She's hoping that a summer of free room and board working with her aunt at the Willow Inn will help her forget. Except there's a problem: the resident handyman is none other than Levi Andrews. The handsome quarterback was once her friend-and maybe more--until everything changed in a life-shattering instant. She was hoping to avoid him, possibly forever. Now he's right down the hall and stirring up feelings Pixie thought she'd long buried . . .

Levi can't believe he's living with the one person who holds all his painful memories. More than anything he wants to make things right, but a simple "sorry" won't suffice--not when the tragedy that scarred them was his fault. Levi knows Pixie's better off without him, but every part of him screams to touch her, protect her, wrap her in his arms, and kiss away the pain. Yet even though she's so close, Pixie's heart seems more unreachable than ever. Seeing those stunning green eyes again has made one thing perfectly clear--he can't live without her.

"By turns humorous and heartbreaking, Best Kind Of Broken has become one of my favorites!" --- CORA CARMACK, New York Times bestselling author of Losing It.

"You'll fall for Pixie and Levi, just like I did!" --- JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT (J. Lynn), #1 New York Times bestselling author of Wait For You

"Tangled with friendship, history and heartbreak--not to mention a huge dose of humor--Chelsea Fine's New Adult novel is not to be missed! Beyond an incredibly HOT read, Pixie and Levi's longing for each other will have you rooting for them till the very end." --- JAY CROWNOVER, New York Times bestselling author of Rule

"This book destroyed me. Tore me into little tiny pieces. But somehow with lots of laughs and some very steamy times, Chelsea put me back together again! Chelsea Fine's style is witty, visceral and fresh. All I wanted to do was crawl inside this book and live with the characters. And now all I want is MORE." --- CHELSEA M. CAMERON, New York Times bestselling author of My Favorite Mistake

"Sandwiched between laugh out loud moments and some serious heat, Best Kind of Broken is an unforgettable story of loss and forgiveness that will leave your heart aching." --- LISA DESROCHERS, USA Today bestselling author of A Little Too Far

Book Links: Amazon :: Barnes and Noble :: Goodreads

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Excerpt

Levi is so distracting. His arms are all raised, and his shoulders are all broad, and he’s fixing crap, and it’s just…it’s just…annoying.

With a huff and a puff and some choice words in my head, I grab my sliced bell peppers and force my feet to the stove. I throw the vegetables into a frying pan, grab a wooden spoon, and ignore Levi’s close proximity.

My body hums.

I ignore that too.

I steal a glance in his direction and watch as the corded muscles in his forearm flex as he unscrews something on the fire alarm box. Why does he have so many muscles in his forearm? That can’t be healthy.

I drop my eyes to the frying pan and focus on bell peppers, because bell peppers are interesting and they don’t have backs the size of Alaska or copious amounts of forearm muscles.

The forearm muscles that I’m not thinking about lightly brush my shoulder and the humming inside my body knots together and zips around like a bumblebee on crack.

I casually turn down the heat on the stove, like that’s the reason I’m suddenly a human vibrator, and go back to stirring. Levi goes back to screwing.

Bell peppers.

I’m thinking about bell peppers.

He brushes against me again, except this time his forearm grazes my breast and my body immediately goes wild like I’m some love-starved teenager and the humming dives low in my belly and the stove gets hotter and my breaths get shallow and suddenly bell peppers are the sexiest vegetable on earth.

From the corner of my eye, I catch his Adam’s apple bobbing with a nervous swallow, which can only mean one thing. The boob brush was an accident.

Well crap.

If he had been trying to cop a feel with his Hulkish forearm, I could have responded with some kind of snarky “you’re a pervert” comment. But it wasn’t on purpose and somehow that makes it sexier and now the cracked-out bumblebee is buzzing in my nether regions and my hands are starting to tingle and why the HELL is this stove so hot?

I turn the burner down another notch and take a slow, deep breath. I have a boyfriend. A great boyfriend. So this sexual frustration I feel around Levi is nothing to get my bee-loving panties in a bunch about. I just need to calm down.

Levi lowers his arm for a moment, his eyes still on the alarm, and stretches his neck.

Ah, the neck stretch. The universal sign of stress. Well at least I’m not alone in my frustration. My hot, distracting, pants-are-so-inconvenient frustration.

Wait, what?

Who said anything about pants? I am NOT thinking about pants—or lack thereof. Damn you, bell peppers!

I toss the wooden spoon to the side and move back to the counter where the threat of being turned on by a handyman or, you know, a sautéed vegetable is much less severe.

I bite back a groan. What was I thinking, living under the same roof as Levi? There’s no way I’ll survive the summer.

Hell, I can barely survive breakfast.

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About Chelsea Fine

Chelsea lives in Phoenix, Arizona where she spends most of her time writing stories, painting murals, and avoiding housework at all costs. She’s ridiculously bad at doing dishes and claims to be allergic to laundry. Her obsessions include: superheroes, coffee, sleeping-in, and crazy socks. She lives with her husband and two children, who graciously tolerate her inability to resist teenage drama on TV and her complete lack of skill in the kitchen.

Find Chelsea Online: Website :: Facebook :: Twitter :: YouTube :: Instagram :: Goodreads

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Giveaway

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The Fine Line - Alicia Kobishop

2014-03-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

Synopsis: High school senior Liv Evans has one rule: No attachments. She’s lost enough in her life and has vowed to do whatever it takes to make sure she never again feels the emptiness of losing someone she loves. Boys are a fun distraction, but a serious relationship is something she’d rather live without. Her determination for a future free of pain and heartbreak is put to the test when she meets–and quickly forms an unexpected bond–with Logan Tanner.

Logan has always been a free spirit, but ever since a life-changing event took place, which left him doubting the integrity of those who are closest to him, he’s taken that term to a whole new dangerous level. Learning the hard way that life is too short for worries or work–and that women can’t be trusted–Logan has exchanged steady work for street racing. When Liv walks into his world, everything he thought he knew about life and women is challenged.

In The Fine Line, Liv and Logan will discover if it’s possible for true love to have a future, or if history is destined to repeat itself.

For some reason, the beacon of street racing just called out to me from this book. I didn't know this was a thing I liked to read about until Katie McGarry came along, but apparently street racing is an awesome angle. It was the racing that brought me in, but it was the crazy relationship that made me stay.

I've decided that the romances I love are weirdly the ones where I get so frustrated that I feel the need to step into the book and talk some sense into the characters. Which is exactly what Liv and Logan did to me. Liv was just so stubbornly set in her ways that I just wanted to shake her. The point where she kind of starts fighting herself, I just got so wrapped up in Logan's efforts to win her over and get her to go with her feelings. The thing is, I'm very much with Liv - in terms of pessimism about love - but there's a point where you have to give in when it comes along and she took a lot longer to figure that out than most do. So I found myself wrapped up in Logan's pursuit and I just couldn't wait to see what it took for them to finally find their way to one another.

I really wish the street racing had been a larger part of the story. It makes an appearance at the beginning, very briefly in the middle and then the end. It kind of gets dropped while the focus goes to developing Liv and Logan's relationship and then it's picked back up once their personal drama stops. I just wanted more. There's a lot that goes down near the end that would have so much more impact if it had been developed throughout the entire book.

I really enjoyed this new adult. It was a quick read and it was definitely easy to get wrapped up in. Logan was a hero worth loving, even if Liv drove me crazy. If you're into character driven books that get you all tangled in their emotions, this is a great one for you.

Taking Something Tour: Review + Giveaway

2014-02-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my stop on the tour for Taking Something by Elizabeth Lee!

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Review

I just have to give major props to Elizabeth Lee for taking a character I so thoroughly loathed in Give Me Something and turning him into someone I cared about and rooted for. It's pretty impressive. Nick is still up to his conning ways and he doesn't exactly shine as a changed man in the beginning. I was nervous about the whole pop star angle, but she even managed to twist that plot line around. Everyone seems to be manipulating each other for one reason or another and maybe seeing someone else do worse than Nick made him more likable.

But of course, as he actually finds someone who sees through him and makes him vulnerable, I actually started to like him. I was totally caught up in this book trying to figure out how he was going to get himself out of his own messes and make it all okay. He makes a lot of decisions and does some things that are questionable, but I realized how much he'd wormed his way into my good graces when I started making excuses for his behavior. I wanted him to come out on the good side of things and I'm officially a fan of Nick's.

Gia was harder for me to understand. I love that she had her own storyline that we only get to see little by little, but I wanted to connect with her more. It was a bold move for Elizabeth to tell the whole story through Nick's perspective and it paid off in a lot of ways. But the girl in me wanted to know more about the girl in the story. Sadie was a treat though (I meant that sarcastically). I don't even know where to start with that hot mess of a girl.

With this departure from Elizabeth Lee's usual country setting and good country boys, I think she's branched out into a good place. She's been an automatic read for me since I read Shattered and I just continue to enjoy everything she writes. So if you haven't given her books a shot, just know that she's one of my most highly recommended new adult authors.

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About the Book

I know what you're thinking. “You were such a jerk, Nick!” Believe me, I know I screwed up the best thing I had going in my life, but that was kind of my thing. I’d learned how to run cons before I could even form complete sentences, and I'd always been selfish. But I changed. Lila forgave me, my brother and I were getting along, and I was trying to make a name for myself in the music world.

At least that was what I was trying to do when I negotiated my way into the recording studio with pop superstar Sadie Sinclair. I thought it would be a piece of cake—charm my way into her heart and into her record label's good graces.

Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I got mixed up in a web of lies, manipulation, and deception. A web that had me questioning my motives and desires altogether.

Was the fame and fortune really worth the price?

Add to Goodreads

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About the Author

When I'm not writing or playing the part of wife and mother, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing back-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand. Here's the thing about being born and raised in a small town—you have a very vivid imagination! Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that!

Find Elizabeth Online: Facebook :: Twitter :: Website :: Goodreads

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Giveaway

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Tour Schedule

February 17

Movies, Shows & Books – Author Interview

In The Best Worlds – Review Only

The Phantom Paragrapher – Review Only

The Indie Express – Review Only

February 18

Read This~Hear That – Playlist

Blimey! I Fancy Reading – Review Only

Roxy’s Reviews – Review Only

Stormy Day Reading Books – Review Only

Pretty Lil Page Turner’s – Review Only

Paperbook Princess – Review Only

February 19

Comfort Books – Guest post

2 Bookaholics – Excerpt

Halos and Horns Book Blog – Review Only

Cocktails & Books – Review Only

In My Room Reading – Review Only

Into the Hall of Books – Review Only

February 20

Reader Girls – Excerpt

Scandalous Book Blog – Character Interview

Mrs Leif’s Two Fangs About It – Excerpt

Rumpled Sheets Blog – Review Only

Ramblings From This Chick – Review Only

February 21

Living in a Bookworld – Excerpt

Lovin’ Los Libros – Review Only

Sleepless Nights Filled with Endless Books – Review Only

Smart & Savvy with Stephanie – Review Only

Deal Sharing Aunt – Review Only

February 22

Kassie’s Book Thoughts – Author Interview

Sofia Loves Books – Review Only

Biblio Belles – Review Only

Mean Girls Luv Books – Review Only

Not Everyone’s Mama – Review Only

February 23

Read-Love-Blog – Guest Post

My Favorite Things – Review Only

Book Freaks – Review Only

Books Unhinged Book Blog – Review Only

The Boyfriend Bookmarks – Review Only

February 24

Stuck in YA Books – Guest Post

Books I Think You Should Read – Review Only

Above Average Below Special – Review Only

Group Therapy Book Club – Review Only

February 25

Southern Belle Book Blog – Excerpt

StarAngel’s Reviews – Review Only

Lustful Literature – Review Only

True Story Book Blog – Character Interview

Romance Addict Book Blog – Dream cast

February 26

Fabulously Girly Book Blog – Review Only

Once Upon a Twilight – Review Only

Girl With Books – Review Only

Seeking Book Boyfriends – Review Only

Book Addict Mumma – Review Only

Fiddle Fadle – Guest Post

Persefone Series Blog Tour: Guest Post + Review

2014-02-17T08:30:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my stop on the tour for the PERSEFoNE Series by Michelle Gagnon! I have a guest post from Michelle as well as my own review of Don't Look Now, and then there's an amazing giveaway at the bottom of this post. You can also check out the other stops on this tour here.

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Guest Post: Michelle's Dream Cast

NOA:

There’s an AMAZING Australian film called, “Tomorrow, When the War Began,” (if you haven’t seen it yet, put it on your to-be-watched list immediately!) The lead actress in it was incredible; the whole time I was watching the movie, all I could think was that if you chopped her hair short and dyed it black, she’d be a perfect Noa. Her name is Caitlin Stasey, and I’d be shocked if we didn’t end up seeing a lot more of her in the future.

PETER:

I really love Dylan Minnette, the actor who played the son in the (sadly) short-lived series AWAKE. He didn’t have much of a chance to display humor in that role, but he’s such a talented actor that I believe he’d be a perfect Peter.

AMANDA:

AnnaSophia Robb. She’s got the right look, and I think she might manage to make Amanda more sympathetic. I get A LOT of emails from Amanda-haters; she’s a tricky character, in that she’s moralizing and judgmental; but a lot of that is a cover for her insecurity and vulnerability. So a really likeable actress like AnnaSophia could help humanize her.

ZEKE:

Zeke really needs to be a heartthrob: dark, moody, brooding. Tyler Posey definitely fits that bill, and I love him in Teen Wolf.

I add a bunch of new folks to the cast in DON’T LOOK NOW, most notably Teo and Daisy. They’re a bit younger than the others, and rougher around the edges.

TEO:

For Teo, I’d love to see Jake Austin (my kid is a huge Wizards of Waverly Place fan!)

DAISY:

The actress who plays Daisy really needs to capture that punk-rock look, while still appearing fragile and doll-like (which isn’t easy!) I think Joey King would totally nail it, especially with blue hair.
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Review of Don't Look Now

When I picked up Don't Turn Around, I was surprised by how much I found myself wrapped up in the characters and their unique abilities. This series isn't the kind I usually pick up, but with emotions and stakes I can really get involved in, this is just a great series that keeps getting better.

I didn't get a chance to re-read Don't Turn Around before I picked up the second book, but the story does a great job at effortlessly blending in a recap while still moving on with the story. There were a few characters that were slow to jog my memory, but not enough to pull my mind out of the book. This book was quite different from the first book, but the stakes were higher. There was a lot more action this time around and less hacking. And I actually missed the hacking excitement a bit in this book. It was a big reason I was drawn to the series in the first place.

Still, these characters are just incredible. Noa is just so smart and it's easy to see why people follow her. It's great, though, that she's vulnerable and strong at the same time. I didn't really like Amanda in the first book, but I came to feel for her in this one. Peter confused me a bit, but I have to admire him for the way he always rises to the challenges ahead of him.

I think what I love so much is how much this story seems to fluctuate. It's tough and soft, one minute it's a million miles an hour and everyone is relying on timing, the next minute it's quietness with a computer while they're all relying on knowledge. This is just a smart series and I'm anxious to see what happens next.

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About the Series

DON'T TURN AROUND (PERSEFoNE #1)

Sixteen-year-old Noa has been a victim of the system ever since her parents died. Now living off the grid and trusting no one, she uses her hacking skills to stay anonymous and alone. But when she wakes up on a table in a warehouse with an IV in her arm and no memory of how she got there, Noa starts to wish she had someone on her side.

Enter Peter Gregory. A rich kid and the leader of a hacker alliance, Peter needs people with Noa’s talents on his team. Especially after a shady corporation threatens his life in no uncertain terms. But what Noa and Peter don’t realize is that Noa holds the key to a terrible secret, and there are those who’d stop at nothing to silence her for good.

Don’t Turn Around: Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble :: IndieBound :: iTunes

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DON’T LOOK NOW (PERSEFoNE #2)

Noa Torsen is on the run. Having outsmarted the sinister corporation Pike & Dolan, Noa and her friend Zeke now move stealthily across the country, protecting runaways before they become test subjects for P&D's horrific experiments. Noa knows all too well what that feels like: Whatever they did to her has left her exhausted and scared.

Back in Boston, Peter anxiously follows Noa's movements from his computer, using his hacker skills to feed her the information she needs to stay alive. But he's desperate to do something more, especially when he learns what P&D has done to his ex-girlfriend Amanda.

Then, in an explosive confrontation, Noa and her team are trapped in the one place they thought was safe. It will take everything Noa and Peter have to bring down the corporation before it gets them first. And with no one to trust and enemies hiding at every turn, they may be the only people alive who can.

This stunning second book in the critically acclaimed Don't Turn Around trilogy raises the stakes to their absolute limit and will leave readers begging for the exciting conclusion, Don't Let Go.

Don't Look Now: Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble :: IndieBound :: iTunes

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About the Author

Michelle Gagnon is the international bestselling author of thrillers for teens and adults. Described as “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for teens,” her YA technothriller DON’T TURN AROUND was recently nominated for a Thriller Award by the International Thriller Writer’s Association, and was selected as one of the best teen books of the year by Entertainment Weekly Magazine, Kirkus, Voya, and the Young Adult Library Services Association. Book 2 in the PERSEFONE trilogy, DON’T LOOK NOW, is on sale now. She splits her time between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Author Links: Website :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Tumblr :: Pinterest :: Goodreads

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Giveaway

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Love-A-Thon Mini Challenge #3: Mad Lib

2014-02-15T19:00:00.000-05:00

It's Love-a-Thon time! If you want to know more about this event, put together by the lovely Alexa and Katelyn, check it out here. It's the second mini challenge which is a bookish Mad Lib! The underlined, bolded words are the ones I came up with - which I attempted to do without knowing where they'd fit in.

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One day, I was CARTWHEELING with CHAOL. Out of the blue, a GRAPEFRUIT came out of nowhere! It was so CLUMSY, VOLUPTUOUS and JUICY. At first, we were afraid, we were petrified, but we SCATTERED. We hopped on SCOOTERS to make our getaway.

As we escaped, we turned up the radio because MMMBOP came on and made me KICK. Everything was extremely smooth sailing until a LION appeared in the middle of the road. We swerved to avoid it, but while CHAOL stayed on THE SCOOTER, I got thrown onto my side in the woods. I couldn't get up, and felt COLORFUL as I lay there staring up at the trees. What was I going to do? I heard a WHOOSH among the leaves, and felt RAGE. Surely, this was going to be my end. As my eyes fluttered shut, the last thing I saw was a head of PERIWINKLE hair and CERULEAN eyes.

When I woke up again, I was on a LOUNGE CHAIR. My body hurt a whole lot less, and I could sit up. There was a FROG and A CLOCK in the room, along with BROWNIES and GRAPEFRUIT JUICE. The door suddenly opened to reveal JOHN AFTER, a concerned look on his face. I blushed and averted my gaze, but he WIGGLED and said, "Don't be shy. It's okay."

He came over to sit by me, and we started talking after I told him my name. We chatted about CURLING, STAMP COLLECTING and FAN FICTION and realized we had a ton in common! I thought he was CRAZY and couldn't help feeling a little swoony.

Just as he reached out for my hand, the door crashed open and in came ETIENNE ST. CLAIR. "Don't let him charm you away, my love!" He yelled, running at JOHN AFTER. They each had SPATULAS in their hands and began to fight. "Stop!", I yelled, feeling so GIDDY. They didn't listen to me. Before I could intervene, JOHN AFTER fell to the floor and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"What was that?" I asked, staring at the empty space. ETIENNE ST. CLAIR dropped his weapon, and came over to me. "Magic, but you are safe now, MUFFIN." He hugged me close, and I suddenly knew that this was the real deal and not just a dream.

Just as CHASING CARS started playing in my head, I woke up. I cursed my COOL luck. Why had it only been just a dream?

Love-A-Thon Mini Challenge #1: Book Spine Poetry

2014-02-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

It's Love-a-Thon time! If you want to know more about this event, put together by the lovely Alexa and Katelyn, check it out here. It's the first mini challenge which is book spine poetry! So here's my bookish poem:

If I Lie

Before I Fall

This Song Will Save Your Life

Unremembered

Ask the Passengers

All The Truth That's In Me

Book Blogger Love-A-Thon: Interview with The Runaway Reader

2014-02-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

Hey friends! It's Love-a-Thon time! If you want to know more about this event, put together by the lovely Alexa and Katelyn, check it out here. That said, I'm so excited to introduce you to Annie from The Runaway Reader! I've had the pleasure of interviewing this amazing blogger, so learn a little more about her and make sure you check out her fantastic blog!

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Tell us three random things about yourself.

I am 14 years old, I'm an only child and I love chocolate.

What has been one of your favorite moments of being a blogger?

It's hard to pinpoint individual moments because blogging has just generally been so much fun. I'd say one of my favourite moments though was participating in the very same Book Blogger Love-a-Thon last year. Back then, I didn't have much experience blogging yet so being a part of that event was a really great way for me to open up to the blogging community. It was so much fun, plus I met some really awesome bloggers!

What is one book that you wish you had written?

Harry Potter, for sure! (I know that's technically seven books) It has one of the most intricate storylines I've ever seen in a book and I just think it would be so cool to know that you're the mastermind behind this gigantic phenomenon. It's why I admire JK Rowling so much - you got to have a pretty wicked imagination to create something so great like Harry Potter!

What authors do you have on your auto-buy list?

Wendy Mass because all her books are so, so sweet. Patrick Ness because he's such a masterful storyteller. And Sophie Kinsella because she cheers me up and makes me laugh like no one else!

Which genre would you love to see more of?

I would love to see more historical fiction. It's one of my favourite genres but I feel like in Young Adult especially, there just isn't such a great selection. So write more historical fiction, authors!

What are your five desert island books?

Tough, tough question! I actually remember doing a Top Ten Tuesday post for this topic a while ago so it's interesting to see it again! My first pick would probably be Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery just because I love that book so much. And Harry Potter too (I know I'm cheating with a series) because I also love them so much and they'd definitely provide me with tons of reading material. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins for something light and fun, as well as a chunkster like War and Peace to keep me thinking. I'd probably also bring something inspirational like The Happiness Project to keep my spirits up.

Finish these sentences:

My dream job is... not surprisingly, a blogger! How cool would it be to get paid to do your hobby? Plus, being a blogger means that I don't have to be stuck in a dingy office and can literally do my work from anywhere that has internet access.

My favorite TV show to marathon is... New Girl. In my opinion, it's been going downhill since the last season but it's so hilaribad that I just can't help but enjoy it.

We could be best friends if... you don't mind me wanting to talk all the time.

Find Annie Online: Blog :: Twitter :: Goodreads :: Tumblr

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Now go forth and love her blog!

Blog Tour: Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen

2014-02-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

I'm just thrilled to be a part of the tour for Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen hosted by Book Nerd Tours! Check out my review and then there's an amazing giveaway at the bottom of this post. You can also check out the other stops on this tour here.

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Review

Scarlet totally captured my heart two years ago and I've anxiously waiting for more. Thankfully, Lady Thief more than satisfied my need for more Robin Hood in my life. One of the things that made Scarlet so incredible was the twist on a beloved classic - a twist that wrote women back into history and put them in the hero's shoes.

In Lady Thief, I was reminded just how strong of a character Scarlet is and how incredible she is. It's just now so difficult to fathom a version of Robin Hood where Will Scarlet is a man now. It's always been a great tale, but it's just vastly greater with the addition of a strong heroine. When she's made to dress up and play the part of a Lady, she just does it so well. And by that, I mean, she fights it the whole way. I admire the way she never, ever gives in to any kind of pressure to be someone she isn't.

And let's just talk about Robin for a minute. He's never been the centerpiece of this version, but there's a whole lot of him in this book. And I freaking love it. The romance and the tension in this book is intense and perfect. Not to mention, Rob has always been a hero, but somehow he reveals his weaknesses and it makes him even stronger.

I'm just in love with this version of Robin Hood. I will say I wish I had the time to re-read Scarlet before jumping in to Lady Thief, but it all came back to me before too long. The dialect also threw me more than it did in the first book, but that also got easier as I got into the swing of it. I didn't know going in that there would be another book after this one, so the ending threw me for a loop. But I'm so excited that there will be more of these characters.

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About Lady Thief

Scarlet’s true identity has been revealed, but her future is uncertain. Her forced marriage to Lord Gisbourne threatens Robin and Scarlet’s love, and as the royal court descends upon Nottingham for the appointment of a new Sheriff, the people of Nottingham hope that Prince John will appoint their beloved Robin Hood. But Prince John has different plans for Nottingham that revolve around a fateful secret from Scarlet’s past even she isn’t yet aware of. Forced to participate at court alongside her ruthless husband, Scarlet must bide her time and act the part of a noblewoman—a worthy sacrifice if it means helping Robin’s cause and a chance at a future with the man she loves. With a fresh line of intrigue and as much passion as ever, the next chapter in Scarlet’s tale will have readers talking once again.

Book Links: Indiebound :: B&N :: Amazon :: Goodreads

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About the Author

I am shamelessly addicted to staying up far too late (it feels like stealing time), diet coke (it burns so good), Scotland (stupid country stole my heart and won't give it back. Interpol has been ineffective for prosecution) and thieves (so I guess I'm not that mad at Scotland).

Find A.C. Gaughen Online: Website :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Tumblr

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Giveaway

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Cover Reveal: All Lined Up by Cora Carmack

2014-02-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

We're extremely excited to bring you the cover for ALL LINED UP, the first book in Cora Carmack's highly anticipated Rusk University Series! ALL LINED UP is a New Adult Contemporary Romance novel published by William Morrow (an imprint of HarperCollins). It is due to be released on May 13, 2014!!

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About All Lined Up

In Texas, two things are cherished above all else—football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both.

Dallas doesn't know Carson is on the team. Carson doesn't know that Dallas is his new coach's daughter.

And neither of them knows how to walk away from the attraction they feel.

“Laughter + heartache + hot sexual tension = the perfect Cora Carmack book.”

—Monica Murphy

Book Links: Amazon :: Barnes & Noble :: iTunes :: Goodreads

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About Cora Carmack

Find Cora Online: Website :: Twitter :: Facebook :: Author Goodreads

In the Lyrics Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway

2014-02-12T00:33:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the blog tour for In the Lyrics by Nacole Stayton! I have an excerpt and a giveaway for you today.

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Excerpt

“Do you know the first thing that I noticed about you?”

She shakes her head no.

“It was your confidence. I had just gotten to town and was going to grab a bite to eat and then call Dusty, but I saw this girl sitting on the street corner.”

“I felt like you were staring holes in my head,” she says softly.

“Truthfully, I was. Anyway, once you started to sing…it was like…ya know when your favorite song comes on the radio and you’re jammin’, listening to every word, your heads bobbin’, and you’re just feeling the music, but then your phone rings and you know it’s a call you can’t miss? There’s a split second where you debate on pressing forward to voicemail so you can finish the song, but you’ve been waiting for this call, so you turn down the radio knowing you’ll miss your favorite part just to answer it. It was like you were my favorite song, and I was forwarding my calls to voicemail. In that moment, I didn’t care who was standing around me. All I was worried about was tuning in to you, listening to your voice.”

“I love you.” Those three simple words are spoken, and much to my amazement it’s Hensley that says them first.

Clutching her face hard in my hands, I kiss her. I kiss her for being so darn dumb and insecure, for acting like a jealous girl, and more importantly, for loving me through it all.

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About the Book

Title: In the Lyrics

Author: Nacole Stayton

Publication Date: February 7, 2014

Hensley Bradley is the definition of the girl-next-door. She’s kindhearted, beautiful, and talented. Bored with her mundane life, thoughts of fleeing her small town begin to consume her. With aspiring dreams to use her voice as a one-way ticket, she suddenly discovers that music might not be her only passion.

After a fallout back home, Colby Grant decides to leave his family’s farm, determined to show his father he’s more than just a wanna-be country singer. With his All-American good looks, it doesn’t take long for girls in his new town to focus their eyes on him. But things aren’t what they appear from the outside, and it isn’t long until Colby feels he doesn't fit into the perfect world that so quickly embraced him.

A chance encounter places Hensley in Colby’s path, but it isn’t her natural beauty that first captures his attention – it’s her voice.

When love and music mix, will the combination blossom into a beautiful melody or wither into a heart-wrenching tune?

Add to Goodreads

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About the Author

Nacole Stayton is twenty-something years young and currently resides in the Bluegrass State. She spends her days working at a local hospital in the billing department and nights writing vigorously on her current novel. She has a passion for helping others and wears her University of Kentucky gear proudly. While her husband loves all things outdoors, Nacole enjoys the finer things in life, like getting pedicures while reading on her Kindle Fire. She is passionate about her faith, family, and The Bachelor.

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Giveaway

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Cover Reveal: Get Even by Gretchen McNeil

2014-02-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the the Official Cover Reveal for Gretchen McNeil's GET EVEN (Get Even #1)

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About the Book

Release Date: September 16th 2014

Publisher: Balzer+Bray

SYNOPSIS:

Follows the secretive exploits of four high school juniors - Kitty, Olivia, Margot and Bree - at an exclusive Catholic prep school.

To all outward appearances, the girls barely know each other. At best, they don't move in the same social circles; at worst, they're overtly hostile.

Margot Mejia – academically ranked number two in her class, Margot is a focused overachiever bound for the Ivy League.

Kitty Li – captain of the California state and national champion varsity girls' volleyball team, she's been recruited by a dozen colleges and has dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal.

Olivia Hayes – popular star of the drama program, she's been voted "most eligible bachelorette" two years running in the high school yearbook and has an almost lethal combination of beauty and charm.

Bree Deringer – outcast, misfit and the kind of girl you don't want to meet in a dark alley, the stop sign red-haired punk is a constant thorn in the side of teachers and school administrators alike.

Different goals, different friends, different lives, but the girls share a secret no one would ever guess. They are members of Don't Get Mad, a society specializing in seeking revenge for fellow students who have been silently victimized by their peers. Each girl has her own reason for joining the group, her own set of demons to assuage by evening the score for someone else. And though school administration is desperate to find out who is behind the DGM "events", the girls have managed to keep their secret well hidden.

That is until one of their targets – a douchebag senior who took advantage of a drunk underclassman during a house party, videotaped it on his phone, and posted it on YouTube – turns up dead, and DGM is implicated in the murder.

Now the girls don't know who to trust, and as their tenuous alliance begins to crumble, the secrets they've hidden for so long might be their ultimate undoing.

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16005219-get-even?from_search=true

Pre-Order Links Will be available in the coming months, keep an eye on your favorite retailer for more information!

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About the Author

Gretchen is a former coloratura soprano, the voice of Mary on G4's Code Monkeys and she currently sings with the LA-based circus troupe Cirque Berzerk. She is a founding member of vlog group the YARebels where she can be seen as "Monday," and she is an active member of both The Enchanted Inkpot, a group blog of YA and middle grade fantasy writers, and The Apocalypsies, a group blog of 2012 children's debut authors.

You can find Gretchen on Twitter, Facebook, and on her blog.

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Giveaway

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Historical Heartthrobs Blog Tour: Interview with Kelly Murphy

2014-02-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to have Kelly Murphy on the blog today answering my questions. I have to say this is one of the most fun books I've come across lately, and appropriately, this interview was just a blast. I think you'll find you can't help but fall in love with Historical Heartthrobs and Kelly Murphy.

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Interview

In the Best Worlds: What were you like as a teenager?

Kelly Murphy: HAHA, I was a little weirdo. Gangsta rap was big when I was a teen, so I cornrowed my hair everyday and wore huge hoop earrings and listened to Mary J. Blige exclusively with almost no cultural awareness. I was big on Krispy Kreme donuts and melodramatic poetry. It was fun!

ItBW: What inspired you to write a book like Historical Heartthrobs?

KM: History gets a bad rap a lot of the time because it’s often presented in a super boring way. That’s a shame because historical figures are often total nutcases, and that’s what makes them incredibly fascinating people to study. The book was an effort to showcase the wild sides of a lot of these people and expose what makes them tick, which is often what leads to making them extraordinarily powerful.

ItBW: Your bio says that you currently work in publishing. Was there anything surprising about publishing from the perspective of an author?

Great question! Just the reality of being an author is really startling—and awesome. After working on the campaigns for hundreds of books for authors around the world, I didn’t realize that nothing could prepare me for the feeling of actually being published and turning the pages in your hands for the first time.

ItBW: Was there anything great that you found out while researching for this book that you weren’t able to include?

KM: Definitely! Here’s a terrible tidbit from Stalin: When his son Yakov survived a suicide attempt, Stalin disgustedly said, “He can’t even shoot straight.” Also, check out Greek statesman Pericles—no one really talks about him, but he was so well-rounded and influential that there was a whole “Age of Pericles” era named after him.

ItBW: If you had the opportunity to date someone from this book, who would it be? What do you think that date would look like?

KM: Oh my goodness, so many choices! Dark and mysterious is definitely my type, so maybe Bugsy Siegel? I don’t think that date would be great, though—I imagine he’d take me out to a fancy dinner, I’d wear a knee-length faux-fur coat, then he’d probably get an urgent and illicit call in the middle of dinner and make a super-smooth but also rude exit to go plan a giant heist or something.

ItBW: Which two people profiled in this book would make the best couple? What do you imagine their relationship would look like?

While they probably wouldn’t actually be super compatible, I would love to witness sparks fly with Dorothy Parker and Lord Byron. A wild child duo with acerbic, unconventional wit, and a serious disrespect for authority would definitely be a love story to tune in for.

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ItBW: Finish these sentences…

If I could have been a teenager in any era it would have been….

The late sixties—so much chaos, so many intellectuals, so much social progress!

I think Teddy Roosevelt is…

A pretty chill dude and I’m digging the environmentalist streak, but not really my type ;)

The historical figure I wish could be my best friend is…

Gloria Steinem! If you’re listening, Gloria, I’m always down for lunch.

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About the Book

History comes alive in Historical Heartthrobs, especially when reading it causes you stop and consider the likes of Eva Peron, Lord Byron and Ernest Hemingway as potential members of your dating pool. Some items for consideration: Nikola Tesla was a brilliant inventor who made Victorians swoon, but he seems incapable of swooning back. Che Guevara had the smoldering good looks, but would he only look out for himself in a relationship? And what about Nelly Bly? Was it legal to look that good in 1884? Historical Heartthrobs includes both men and women from a wide range of countries, ethnicities, and historical epochs. Some are artists, some are scientists, and many are political or military leaders, but all have had a lasting impact on human life—and a sizable impact on their admirers as well.

Book Links: IndieBound :: Amazon :: B&N :: Book Depository :: Zest Books

And as a bit of a bonus - check out this slideshow previewing the book on Flavorwire: http://flavorwire.com/432180/6-historical-heartthrobs-were-still-crushing-on/

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About the Authors

Born and raised among the sprawling cornfields of rural Pennsylvania, Kelly Murphy now writes from her child-sized apartment in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Her articles have appeared in Brokelyn, Brooklyn Based,Chic Today, NCTE’s The Council Chronicle, and various other publications. A Penn State graduate, Kelly currently works in publishing. Hallie Fryd is the author of Scandalous!: 50 Shocking Events You Should Know About (So You Can Impress Your Friends), which was a Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Winner in 2012.

Find Kelly Online: Facebook :: Twitter :: Tumblr

Cover Reveal: Reclaiming the Sand by A. Meredith Walters

2014-02-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

Check out this gorgeous cover for A. Meredith Walters's new novel. Anyone else having trouble imagining waiting until March 17th to read Reclaiming the Sand?

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About the Book

Bully and victim.  

Tormenter and tormented.  

Villain and hero.   

Ellie Mccallum was the bully. The Tormenter. The Villain. Taking what she wanted, stomping over anyone that got in her way. Feelings, futures, and relationships be damned. She felt no emotional connection to anyone or anything. A sad and lonely existence for a young woman who had come to expect nothing more for herself. Her only happiness coming from making others miserable.

  Particularly Freaky Flynn.

  Growing up, Flynn Hendrick was known only as “Freaky Flynn.” He lived a life completely disconnected even as he struggled to become something more than that boy with Asperger's. He was taunted and teased, bearing the brunt of systematic and calculated cruelty, ultimately culminating in a catastrophic turn of events that brought Ellie and Flynn’s worlds crashing down.

  But then Flynn and Ellie grew up.   

And moved on.  

Until years later when their paths unexpectedly cross again and the bully and the freak are face to face once more.  

When labels come to define you, finding yourself feels impossible. Particularly for two people disconnected from the world who inexplicably find a connection in each other.   

And out of the wreckage of their tragic beginnings, an unlikely love story unfolds.

  But a painful past doesn’t always want to let go. And old wounds are never truly healed…and sometimes the farther you try to run from yourself the closer you come to who you really are.

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About the Author

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal romance including The Find You in the Dark series, Bad Rep and its upcoming sequel.

A. Meredith spent ten years as a counselor for at risk teens and children. First working at a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault program and then later a program for children with severe emotional and mental health issues. Her former clients and their stories continue to influence every aspect of her writing.

When not writing (or being tortured with all manner of beauty products at the hand of her very imaginative and extremely girly 6 year old daughter), she is eating chocolate, watching reality television that could rot your brain and reading a smutty novel or two.

A. Meredith is represented by Michelle Johnson with the Inklings Literary Agency.

Find Meredith Online: Twitter :: Facebook :: Goodreads

Release Day Launch: Be With Me by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2014-02-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

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About the Book:

From the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Wait for You Do Teresa and Jase have a real shot at getting together or will life get in the way? Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she's in love with her big brother's best friend, but he hasn't spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, life-changing kiss. Then she got out of a terrible relationship. Now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It's time for plan B: college. And maybe she'll have a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real. Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he's not telling anyone—especially not his best friend's incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn't have time for a relationship. But it doesn't help that all he can think about is kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him. As they're thrown together more and more, Jase and Teresa can't keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they're willing to risk to be together and what they're willing to lose if they're not...

Book Links: Amazon :: Barnes and Noble :: Goodreads

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Excerpt:

“You got a visitor, Tess.” He rested his chin atop my head, which caused my pulse to try

to outrun my heart. “Two of them to be exact.”

“Okay.”

There was a pause. “Are your eyes closed?”

“No.”

His chin slid off my head and then his chest rumbled as he laughed. “Your eyes are

closed.” He laughed again. “Open them up.”

Cursing under my breath, I pried one eye open and then jerked against him. His arm

tightened. “Oh wow …”

The black-and-white horse was the closest, standing mere feet away from me. The brown

one wasn’t too far, shaking its head and making soft snorts. My eyes were wide as they bounced

between the two creatures. “They’re not carnivorous, right? Because at their size, they could eat

me.”

Jase laughed deeply as his hand shifted up, resting in the center of my stomach, just

below my breasts. “Horses do not eat people, you little idiot.”

I started, eyes narrowing. “There’s always a first.”

The lips pulled back on the black-and-white horse as if it was smirking at me.

“This one right here? Mr. Friendly? Jack calls him Bubba One,” he said in a quiet,

calming voice. But air hitched in my throat when his thumb moved in a slow circle over the thin

material of my tank top, hitting against the wire in my bra. “And the brown one is Bubba Two.”

Mouth dry, I wetted my lips. “That’s good for remembering names.”

He chuckled as his pinkie and forefinger started to move up and down, reaching my belly

button and then sliding back up. It was almost as if he was unaware of what he was doing, or the

electrifying response the tiny motions were dragging out of me. “I think so too, but his real name

is Lightning.”

Said horse shook his head, tossing the shaggy mane.

“Lightning seems to be a more suitable name,” I admitted, relaxing as the seconds

passed. Maybe that was his intention. Distract me with the soft, almost innocent touches. It was

working. “What about Bubba Two?

“Ah, the one who is staring at the pail like it’s the holy mecca of grain?” His cheek

grazed mine as I laughed. “That’s Thunder. And we’re going to feed them. Together.”

The friction his fingers created with my shirt sent tiny shivers up and down my back.

“With our hands?”

His answering laugh tipped the corners of my lips up. “Yes. With our hands.”

“After checking out the choppers on them, I’m not so sure about that.”

“You’ll be okay.” He slid his hand off my stomach and wrapped it around my wrist.

Slowly, he lifted my hand out in front of me. “Hold still.”

My heart lurched. “Jase—”

Lightning trotted forward and pressed his wet nose against my hand. I cringed, waiting

for him to eat my poor fingers. The horse didn’t. Nope. It nudged my hand as it whinnied softly.

He guided my hand up over Lightning’s jaw, all the way to the pointy, twitchy ears.

“See?” he murmured. “That’s not too bad, is it?”

I shook my head as my fingers curled along the soft coat. Lightning seemed to anticipate

the direction of the petting, pressing his long head against my hand as my fingers tangled in his

mane. It wasn’t bad at all.

Jase shifted behind me, and in an instant all thoughts of the horses evaporated. His hips

lined up against my backside, and I bit down on my lower lip as I focused on the white splotch

covering Lightning’s muzzle.

I could feel him—feel Jase. And there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that he was

affected by how close we were standing. That knowledge and the hard length of him left me

dizzy, just like it had done that Saturday night. An all too warm flush spread down my neck. In

the back of my head, I was rationalizing his physical reaction. He was a guy. Our bodies were pressed

together. If a wind blew on a guy’s private area, they got hard. So I should just ignore it,

but my body was so not on board with my head. My body was operating on a different playing

field. An ache centered low in my stomach. A sharp and sweet yearning raced through my veins.

“Not so scary, right?” His voice was deeper, richer. “They’re like dogs. Well, like a dog

that can carry around two hundred pounds, if not more.” Hand sliding off mine, he stepped back,

and the sudden emptiness of his body was like a cold shock. “Trust me.”

Then he smacked my ass.

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About the Author:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.
She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Find Jennifer Online: Website :: Twitter :: Facebook :: J. Lynn Goodreads :: Jennifer L. Armentrout Goodreads

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Giveaway:

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Release Day Launch: Seeking Her by Cora Carmack

2014-01-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

More Jackson Hunt! Happy release day to Seeking Her by Cora Carmack! I'm just going to say this again - MORE JACKSON HUNT!

------------------About the Book------------------

Jackson Hunt gets his turn in this Finding It prequel novella …
Jackson Hunt hasn't been out of the military for long, but he needs to get a job and find a sense of normalcy if he is going to keep his demons at bay. The job that falls into his lap, though, is anything but normal.
Becoming bodyguard (and babysitter) to spoiled rich girl Kelsey Summers isn't exactly what he had in mind, but it's a chance to travel, to get away. The catch: Kelsey's father doesn't want her to know she's being followed.
She's vibrant and infuriating, exciting and reckless, mysterious and familiar. When Jackson sees her falling into the same patterns he suffered years ago, he decides it's time to stop watching and help her instead. But getting to know Kelsey is more difficult than he thought, especially because the more he knows her, the more he wants her.

Book Links: Amazon :: B&N :: Goodreads

-----------------------Excerpt-----------------------

I was going to have to find some way to cope with this. If not, I was better off calling Mr. Summers and suggesting he find someone else to take over his daughter-watch.

I felt a pang of something at that thought. It was a general kind of discomfort, and I wasn’t sure whether it was the thought of returning home or something else that made that thought so unappealing.

After the cooling walk earlier, and now standing under the cool, calming rush of water, it was easier to think that I could control myself, but I knew better. It always seemed easier in my head than it really was.

I wiped the water from my eyes, and tried to think of some other way to deal. There was always the hope that Kelsey would get bored. That she would mellow out. If she only partied a couple nights a week, I should be able to resist. But that seemed unlikely.

All that restless energy; the way she’d soaked up the attention from the people around her. I couldn’t see her giving that up. And it was working for her. She was still in the phase where partying made her feel good. That was the one thing that helped me stay clean. The few times I’d slipped up since I started the program had left me miserable and angry, and even more frustrated than when I started. I’d found new ways to chase the high. And maybe that wasn’t any healthier, not when one way involved being in the midst of flying bullets.

It wasn’t the same kind of rush, but it did the trick. I pictured Kelsey again, laughing with her head thrown back, her shirt falling off her shoulder and displaying the gentle curve of her neck. It reminded me of the way she’d tossed her head back that first day out in the woods.

The memory of that caused a different kind of rush in me, and I groaned, pressing my forehead into the tile. Before I could help myself, I pictured her long legs straddling that guy in the gardens. The bright green material of her bra, and the way it conformed to her perfect chest. She leaned back, her fingertips trailing from the bark of the tree to his shoulders.

In an instant, the memory shifted into fantasy, and those were my shoulders she clung to, not his.

That was my undoing. There was only so much resisting I could do in one night.

-----------------About the Author-----------------

Find Cora Online: Website :: Twitter :: Facebook :: Goodreads

----------------------Giveaway----------------------

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