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Everlasting by Angie Frazier Publisher: Scholastic Press (June 1st, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 336 pages Series: Everlasting, book #1 Source: Won Rating 5 of 5 stars
Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty.

On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous—and alluring—magic.

The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who—and what—matters most.

Beautifully written and feverishly paced, Everlasting is an unforgettable journey of passion, secrecy, and adventure.
Review: I will be the first to admit that I am typically not a big historical YA fan, however, Everlasting blew me away! This was so far from the normal stories where the girl is soft spoken and afraid to take chances. I loved this book from the first page!

Everlasting is from the perspective of Camille, a young girl who is engaged to be married in 1855. Before her marriage she decides to take one last voyage on her father's ship. She has always been close to her father and knows she will miss this special time with him. Once they get started she learns of a change in course but she has the utmost trust in her father. One of the crew members on board is Oscar, the young sailor who stole my heart… uhh, I mean Camille's heart.

I enjoyed the playful back and forth banter and slight flirtations between the two. But Camille knows that any respectable young lady must marry more than a sailor and she has just who is best suited for her in Randall, the guy she is set to marry. Angie had this ability of making just the slightest eye contact or touch electrifying between Camille and Oscar. That, along with their journey at sea, helped make this one magical story.

Once the storm comes and Camille loses her father she gains some insight into what he may have been keeping from her and exactly where he had planned to go on their final trip. Determined to finish his wishes Camille goes to places unknown to unlock the secrets.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat. The writing, characters, setting, and plot were all exquisitely presented in Everlasting. The chemistry between Camille and Oscar, the love she had for her father, and the world of a sailor were all written with such clarity and warmth that you can't help but get sucked into the story and feel as if you are with them on their journey.

Camille's strength throughout is something to be envied and she is a character I will never forget. The kindness and bravery of Oscar is something I think most girls can't help but swoon over. Even the hilarious moments brought on by a lovely character they meet along the way, adds up to be probably the best historical story I have read and one of the best written stories I have read this year.

Everlasting brings readers on an adventure they will never forget. Passion, determination, and bravery are just a few of the aspects of this story that come through the most. I am sure that The Eternal Sea will not be a disappointing continuation of Camille's quest to discover true happiness.

The Eternal Sea, book #2, will be released June 1st, 2011. Cover art has not been released yet.
Find Angie Frazier Angie Frazier / Blog / Twitter / Goodreads

Purchase Everlasting Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Book Trailer

1. Everlasting was your debut novel. What has been the most surprising part of the process from writing to promotion?
The most surprising part was discovering just how much marketing the authors must do themselves. My expectations were so far above the reality, so with my next few books I feel I much better prepared to be my own advocate.

2. You have done a lot of historical research in the past. What was the most fascinating thing you learned during that experience?
So many amazing tidbits captured my imagination. When researching, it’s a risk that I’ll stumble onto something that will distract me and make me want to write a new book! For Everlasting, I loved learning about sailing and a sailors life at sea. The superstitions, the work sailors were expected to do, the risks and the dangers of the ocean. All very fascinating!

3. If you could go back in time, what time period would you like to visit, and why?
Regency England would be my first stop, and the next would be Civil War era America. Someone better invent a time machine, pronto.

4. Your next book, The Midnight Tunnel: A Suzanne Snow Mystery, is set to be released next March. Can you tell us about this story?
Zanna is an 11-year-old girl who lives at the grand hotel her parents manage in New Brunswick, Canada. All she wants is to be a detective like her famous uncle, Bruce Snow. When a young guest goes missing and her uncle writes off the case as unsolvable, Zanna sets out to prove him wrong. I’m really excited about this new mystery series! It’s a fun one.

5. What other things do you have in the works right now?
Other than a few more Suzanna books and a possible third Everlasting novel, I am concentrating on a new historical paranormal YA. All I can say is Paris, 1899, and gargoyles. I’m still figuring it out!

Everlasting by Angie Frazier Publisher: Scholastic Press (June 1st, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 336 pages Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty.

On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous—and alluring—magic.

The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who—and what—matters most.

Beautifully written and feverishly paced, Everlasting is an unforgettable journey of passion, secrecy, and adventure.

Find Angie Frazier Angie Frazier / Blog / Twitter / Goodreads

Purchase Everlasting Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

1. Everlasting was your debut novel. What has been the most surprising part of the process from writing to promotion?
The most surprising part was discovering just how much marketing the authors must do themselves. My expectations were so far above the reality, so with my next few books I feel I much better prepared to be my own advocate.

2. You have done a lot of historical research in the past. What was the most fascinating thing you learned during that experience?
So many amazing tidbits captured my imagination. When researching, it’s a risk that I’ll stumble onto something that will distract me and make me want to write a new book! For Everlasting, I loved learning about sailing and a sailors life at sea. The superstitions, the work sailors were expected to do, the risks and the dangers of the ocean. All very fascinating!

3. If you could go back in time, what time period would you like to visit, and why?
Regency England would be my first stop, and the next would be Civil War era America. Someone better invent a time machine, pronto.

4. Your next book, The Midnight Tunnel: A Suzanne Snow Mystery, is set to be released next March. Can you tell us about this story?
Zanna is an 11-year-old girl who lives at the grand hotel her parents manage in New Brunswick, Canada. All she wants is to be a detective like her famous uncle, Bruce Snow. When a young guest goes missing and her uncle writes off the case as unsolvable, Zanna sets out to prove him wrong. I’m really excited about this new mystery series! It’s a fun one.

5. What other things do you have in the works right now?
Other than a few more Suzanna books and a possible third Everlasting novel, I am concentrating on a new historical paranormal YA. All I can say is Paris, 1899, and gargoyles. I’m still figuring it out!

Everlasting by Angie Frazier Publisher: Scholastic Press (June 1st, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 336 pages Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty.

On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous—and alluring—magic.

The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who—and what—matters most.

Beautifully written and feverishly paced, Everlasting is an unforgettable journey of passion, secrecy, and adventure.

Find Angie Frazier Angie Frazier / Blog / Twitter / Goodreads

Purchase Everlasting Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Everlasting is an amazing story that blew me away! I highly recommend it and my review will be coming up tomorrow. Until then I have a special guest from the book, Samuel. * This interview does contain spoilers.

J: Thanks Samuel for stopping by. I'd love to know- what was your reaction when you found out your mother had another child before you?
Samuel: At first, I didn’t want to believe it. But my mother had always been secretive and quiet. She’d never really spoken much about her past, so I’d always assumed there was something she was keeping locked away. After my initial disbelief, it all made a lot of sense. I was just happy to finally know what my mother’s secret was.
J: What was your initial thought when you first saw Camille and knew she was your sister?
Samuel: I felt as if I already knew her. Like I wasn’t alone anymore, if that makes any sense.
J: How did you manage to take care if your mother during her illness?
Samuel: It wasn’t something I had to think about—it was just something that I did. She needed me, and there was no one else to care for her. So I did it.
J: With everything that happened, what is your biggest regret?
Samuel: I wish I had listened to Camille when she warned me about my father. I was jealous that she’d known him before I did. I felt like I’d been left out of everything, while she’d been included. I regret feeling jealous.
J: What do you hope for in the future regarding your relationship with Camille?
Samuel: I want to know my sister better, and I want her to be able to look at me without seeing my father. He was her worst enemy, and I don’t want her to always wonder if, deep down, I am more like him than I am our mother. I think it might be a while before I can convince her.

Everlasting by Angie Frazier Publisher: Scholastic Press (June 1st, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 336 pages Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty.

On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous—and alluring—magic.

The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who—and what—matters most.

Beautifully written and feverishly paced, Everlasting is an unforgettable journey of passion, secrecy, and adventure.

The sequel, The Eternal Sea, will be released June 1st, 2011! This is a"teaser" Angie released of the cover. Love it!

Find Angie Frazier Angie Frazier / Blog / Twitter / Goodreads

Purchase Everlasting Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Thanks to Angie Frazier for allowing me to borrow Samuel and The Teen {Book} Scene for the tour opportunity!
USE GOOGLE to follow the other blogs on the tour and stop back by later today for my review of Everlasting.

The Eternal Sea by Angie Frazier
Publisher: Scholastic Press (June 1st, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 368 pages
Source: Publisher
Series: Everlasting #2
Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Romance and adventure are just around the corner..
After the thrilling journey that led Camille through the dangerous discovery of love, secrets, and a magical stone that grants immortality, Camille has everything she wants. She's escaped the men who wanted her dead, and now she is ready to build a new life with Oscar, her one true love. But things are not to be so simple. Oscar is acting strangely, and before they can even board a ship from Australia back home, to San Francisco, Camille learns that the journey is not over. If she does not follow the magic of the curse of Umandu, her life and Ocar's could be in grave danger.
Review: I was actually surprised by how much I honestly enjoyed book one, Everlasting. I must say that this series continues to stun me as it continues. The Eternal Sea picks up there Everlasting left off. We see Camille go off on another journey that is packed with action, suspense, and even more romance.

A newer aspect of this story was the addition of a nice love triangle. Gotta love those! I really enjoyed getting the chance to learn about Randall. Although we know about him all along, this book really gives us a chance to understand him. He was not at all who I expected him to be. I will even admit that I went back and forth on who I liked best, him or Oscar. Shocking, but true! He was very well developed in the story and gave the book exactly what it needed. I enjoyed his interactions with Camille. It was obvious that he cared for her deeply.

The Eternal Sea takes us deeper into the legend that started Camille's journey. We also get a more in-depth look into her personality. I could relate to her and understand the difficulty of her decisions in this story. Her fighting spirit came forward and kicked butt! I loved it. I always enjoy a strong character and Camille is that and more. Sometimes I wasn't sure how she would continue but she always did.

This series has a fantastic list of characters; some new, some old, and some we don't see as often as we did in Everlasting. But they all bring so much to the plot. I did find that this book took me a little longer to get back into the story, but by the middle of the book I was completely hooked and couldn't put it down! I just had to know what was happening next and how the romance would heat up.and with who.

I am so excited for the next book! Angie has created a magical series with a complex plot, engaging characters, and a powerful heroine that will keep you at the edge of your seat!

Find Angie Frazier Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

Purchase Everlasting Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

The Eternal Sea (Everlasting #2) by Angie Frazier (Scholastic Press 6/1/2011) Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari (Scholastic 6/1/2011) Stupid Fast by Geoff Herback (Sourcebooks Fire 6/1/2011)

The Vampire Stalker by Allison van Diepen (Point 6/1/2011) The Ivy: Secrets (The Ivy #2) by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur (Greenwillow 6/1/2011) Forgiven (Faithful #2) by Janet Fox (Speak 6/2/2011)

He's So Not Worth It (He's So/She's So Trilogy #2) by Kieran Scott (Simon and Schuster 6/7/2011) The Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski (HarperTeen 6/7/2011) Nyx in the House of Night (House of Night) by P.C. Cast and others (Smart Pop 6/7/2011)

Everlasting (The Immortals #6) by Alyson Noel (St. Martin's Griffin 6/7/2011) My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (6/7/2011) Chicks Kick Butt (Shifters) by Various Authors (Tor Books 6/7/2011)

Crush Control by Janenifer Jabaley (Razorbill 6/9/2011)

Possession (Possession #1) by Elana Johnson (Simon & Schuster 6/7/2011) Hereafter (Hereafter #1) by Tara Hudson (HarperCollins 6/7/2011) Forgotten by Cat Patrick (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 6/7/2011)

If you know of any other new releases for June 1st-13th feel free to add them in the comments so others will know about them!

I am kicking off the tour for Angie Frazier's new book The Eternal Sea. This is the 2nd book in the Everlasting series and it is released tomorrow.

I'm happy to have one of my favorite characters, the lovely Camille, here with me today to give us an update on her adventures.

Hello Camille. So happy you could be on my blog today.

J: What was it like when you found out the truth about your mom and brother?

C: I felt like such a fool. I’d spent my life putting together a picture of my mother—a picture I loved and cherished—only to discover she was nothing at all like I’d imagined. I’m glad to have a brother, though I’m starting to realize that family isn’t always easy.

J: How were you doing emotionally once you were able to settle in at your mother's home and think about what you had been through?

C: I think I slept for two full days once I arrived back in Port Adelaide. Not just because I was exhausted from everything I’d been through, but because I also didn’t want to think about my father. I wasn’t ready to accept that he was gone for good.

J: What hurt you the most when Oscar started acting differently?

C: Everything, really. But maybe the most hurtful thing was thinking I’d been lied to. That I’d been tricked in some way. My father had kept secrets from me, my mother hadn’t been the person I’d always imagined she was, and then, it seemed as if Oscar was going to let me down as well.

J: What were the first words that popped into your head when you saw Randall?

C: “No, no, no!” Followed by a few unsavory expletives that don’t necessitate repeating.

J: Did you ever think that the stone would let you go after you had first used it?

C: I can honestly say that I did. I think I was so wrapped up in actually being able to get to the stone before McGreenery, and then get my father back, that I never pondered what price I might have to pay. I admit now to how naïve that was.

J: What are you hoping for now? Any future wishes or goals?

C: I had just wanted to be able to go home, and a part of me still does want that. But another part of me knows the stones aren’t finished with me just yet. I feel caught. Maybe, like Ira usually suggests, a change of scenery is in order.

The Eternal Sea by Angie Frazier
Publisher: Scholastic Press (June 1st, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 368 pages
Series: Everlasting, #2

Romance and adventure are just around the corner..
After the thrilling journey that led Camille through the dangerous discovery of love, secrets, and a magical stone that grants immortality, Camille has everything she wants. She's escaped the men who wanted her dead, and now she is ready to build a new life with Oscar, her one true love. But things are not to be so simple. Oscar is acting strangely, and before they can even board a ship from Australia back home, to San Francisco, Camille learns that the journey is not over. If she does not follow the magic of the curse of Umandu, her life and Ocar's could be in grave danger.

Find Angie Frazier Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

Purchase The Eternal Sea Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

I am "stealing" this from The Story Siren. If you want to find out more about it in my blog. Anyway, these are books I got this week at the bookstore, library, and in the mail, of course. This week was the winter season Library Sale... yes, I said LIBRARY SALE! The great thing about library sales are that the books are not in perfect condition — which means that when my students dog-ear the pages, break the spines, tear the covers, or sneeze on the pages (yes, that happens) it doesn't really matter! I love it! I got three bags worth for $6! For Review: Won: From the library: Purchased:

• "Midnight for Charlie Bone" (Audio)
• "Tuck Everlasting" (Audio)
• "Burned"
• "The Book Thief" (Second copy)
• "The Au Pairs" (Second copy)
• "City of Ashes"
• "The Time Capsule"
• "Where Are the Children" (one of my FAVORITES from High School!)
• "Crusade"
• "Brian's Winter"
• "Titanic Crossing" (favorite from Middle School)
• "The Secrets of Sarah Revere"
• "The Battle of the Labyrinth"
• "The Diary of a Teenage Girl: I Do"
• "Holes"
• "Brinsingr"
• "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen"
• "Fahrenheit 451"
• "Eldest"
• "The Lightning Thief" (second copy)
• "Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code"
• "Pretty Little Liars #1" (third copy)
• "The au pairs: Skinny-Dipping"
• "Speak" (third copy)
• "The Virginity Club"
• "The Year of Secret Assignments"
• "I Am Not Esther"
• "The Sight" (exciting find!)
• "Flawless"
• "Flawless" (second copy)
• "Ghostgirl" (MOST EXCITING FIND)
• "Blood Promise"
• "The Truth About Sparrows"
• "Jane and the Genius of the Place"
• "Jane and His Lordship's Legacy"
• "13 Little Blue Envelopes"

I had starred this post awhile ago — like in April at Good Books and Good Wine and have been meaning to put together a post. I can now cross this off my endless To Do list!

I did okay (read 24/100) — but I'd like to have done much better. I look forward to reevaluating where I stand later on in the year!

Read
On my TBR List

100. Hate List by Jennifer Brown
99. Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix
98. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
97. Among The Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
96. Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Claus
95. Forever by Judy Blume
94. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
93. Tithe by Holly Black
92. Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
91. Wings by Aprillynne Pike
90. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green
89. Angus, Thongs And Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
88. Marked by PC And Kristin Cast
87. Maximum Ride series by James Patterson
86. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
85. 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
84. I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak
83. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
82. The Mediator series by Meg Cabot
81. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
80. Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
79. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
78. Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen
77. Evernight by Claudia Gray
76. If I Stay by Gayle Foreman
75. Life As We Knew It series by Susan Beth Pfeffer
74. Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
73. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
72. Alana: The First Adventure series by Tamora Pierce
71. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
70. Unwind by Neil Shusterman
69. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
68. Paper Towns by John Green
67. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
66. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith
65. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
64. The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time by Mark Haddon
63. The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
62. Blue Bloods series by Melissa De La Cruz
61. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
60. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
59. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
58. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
57. Eragon by Christopher Paoloni
56. Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine
55. The Vampire Diaries by LJ Smith
54. Fallen by Lauren Kate
53. The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
52. The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot
51. Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke
50. Number The Stars by Lois Lowry
49. Lord Of The Flies by William Golding
48. The Maze Runner by James Dashner
47. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares
46. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
45. The Summoning series by Kelley Armstrong
44. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
43. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
42. Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card
41. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
40. Wake series by Lisa McMann
39. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
38. Are You There God? It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume
37. Looking For Alaska by John Green
36. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
35. A Great And Terrible Beauty series by Libba Bray
34. His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman
33. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
32. Romeo And Juliet by William Shakespeare
31. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
30. Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr
29. Forest of Hands And Teeth by Carrie Ryan
28. Holes by Louis Sacher
27. The Outsiders by SE Hinton
26. The Catcher In The Rye by JD Salinger
25. The Princess Bride by William Goldman
24. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
23. The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
22. Uglies series by Scott Westerfield
21. Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia
20. Poison Study series by Maria V. Snyder
19. Book Thief by Markus Zusak
18. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carlson Levine
17. Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead
16. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
15. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
14. Anne of Green Gables series by LM Montgomery
13. The Giver by Lois Lowry
12. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
11. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
10. Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
9. A Wrinkle In Time series by Madeline L'engle
8. Graceling series by Kristin Cashore
7. Percy Jackson And The Olympians by Rick Riordan
6. Nick And Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
5. Pride And Prejudice by Jane Austen
4. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
3. Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer
2. Harry Potter series by JK Rowling
1. The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins

Tonya Hurley is here today to talk about her book Precious Blood. There's also a fantastic contest that you can sign up for below!

Saints and Sinners Tour By Tonya Hurley
PRECIOUS BLOOD is the tale of three Brooklyn teenagers – Lucy, Cecilia and Agnes – who are at the lowest point of their lives when they encounter Sebastian, an enigmatic guy who believes that each of them may be the incarnation of a namesake historic female martyr.

These martyr legends are some of the first young adult stories that we have. These girls are possibly the first young adult superstars on record – their tales of passion, strength, struggle, the supernatural, suffering, and devotion are what all good love stories are made of.

In the book PRECIOUS BLOOD, the first in THE BLESSED trilogy, Cecilia, Agnes and Lucy are three girls struggling to make it in a gritty, modern day Brooklyn- looking for love, for fame, and for who they really are.

AGNES of THE BLESSED Trilogy

Agnes is in love with love. And, when Sebastian comes to her that fateful night in the emergency room, after her suicide attempt, she is ready to believe in love, and him, whole-heartedly. She is the youngest of the three girls, and a headstrong, hopeless romantic, consumed with the notion of ideal love.

A rebellious bohemian in both dress and attitude, Agnes is an open-minded, carefree spirit most comfortable in her long skirts and thrift store jewelry finds, writing journal entries in her homespun and loungy bedroom with cozy knitted blankets, silk robes, and embroidered cushions everywhere smelling of incense and burning candles. Hers is a world of vintage boutiques and flea market scores, which define her unconventional style and her artsy personality as well as her loyalty to the past and ability to see beauty in things. While she may be a sentimental daydreamer, Agnes is no pushover. She finds herself constantly at odds with her overbearing, divorced and decidedly more practical mother, Martha, with whom she shares a Park Slope brownstone. Martha pushes her toward guys with big futures and family money but Agnes pushes back, holding out for something genuine. Something real. Something everlasting.

Photo Credit: N atalie Shau

Precious Blood by Tonya Hurley
Published: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (May 14th, 2013)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Summary:
What if martyrs and saints lived among us? And what if you were told you were one of them?
Meet Agnes, Cecilia, and Lucy. Three lost girls, each searching for something. But what they find is Beyond Belief.
The story begins in PRECIOUS BLOOD and continues in PASSIONARIES, available 1/7/14.

Prize:

The Patron Saints of Summer Prize Pack One (1) winner receives:

· Earbuds (courtesy of Cecilia, Patron Saint of Music) · Sunglasses (courtesy of Lucy, Patron Saint of Sight) · Essie Chastity Nail Polish (courtesy of Agnes, Patron Saint of Chastity) · Copy of Precious Blood

· AND an Agnes t-shirt

Giveaway open to U.S. addresses only. Prizing & samples courtesy of Simon & Schuster.

Rules:

• You must be at least 13 to enter.
• Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US Only and ends July1st
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Learn more at http://theblessed.com Like The Blessed on Facebook Follow The Blessed and Tonya Hurley on Twitter and join the conversation using #PreciousBlood Follow The Blessed on Pinterest
About the Author
Tonya Hurley is the New York Times best-selling author of the highly acclaimed “ghostgirl “ book series; creator, writer and producer of animated and live action hit television series; writer and director of independent films; writer and director of commercials for Playstation, Gameboy and Warner Home Video; and creator of groundbreaking videogames. Her new young adult trilogy, THE BLESSED, begins with Precious Blood.

Praise for Precious Blood
“Our new favorite dark, sexy rock-n-roll thriller.” (SugarScape.com)
“Intriguing premise, fiery dialogue, and digs about celebrity-obsessed culture that moves at the speed of Twitter… ” (Publishers Weekly)
"… Hurley brings her deadpan wit and blackest humor to the first tale in this trilogy about spirituality, sacrifice and supernatural romance." (MTV Hollywood Crush)

The rest of the Saints and Sinners tour:
Monday, June 17: Meet Agnes the girl at Confessions of a Bookaholic and Agnes the Saint at Candace’s Book Blog.

Tuesday, June 18: Meet Cecilia the girl at Bewitched Bookworms and Cecilia the Saint at A Life Bound by Books.
Wednesday, June 19: Meet Lucy the girl at The Reading Date and Lucy the Saint at All Things Urban Fantasy
Thursday, June 20: Meet Sebastian the boy at Vampire Book Club and Sebastian the Saint at The Book Cellar.
Friday, June 21: In Bed With Books has a Q&A with Tonya.

Tomorrow the 16th, through the 31st, these 16 amazing authors will be featured on 16 blogs. I am honored to be one of them! A new interview will be posted each day and we have lots of wonderful swag to give away. Along with this, we each get a book from one of the authors to give away. Mine is Magician's Muse by Linda Joy Singleton.

But that's not all! Over at the Crossroads Tour page, you can read the details of the big giveaway! Here is what she says about the tour and giveaway.
HOW THE TOUR WORKS:
Each day of The Crossroads Tour, a new research question will be revealed here on The Crossroad Blog Tour main page (http://judithgraves.com/events/the-crossroads-tour/), and each day the answer to that question will be found within one of the 16 different blog posts by Crossroads Tour authors. Your job is to get the question, read the blog posts, and collect all 16 answers by the end of the tour, on Halloween.
Send your answers to judithgraves at ymail dot com by midnight on October 31^st to win a fab grand prize consisting of:

• signed copy of Under My Skin by Judith Graves
• copy of Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble
• copy of Freaksville by Kitty Keswick
• gothic stickers
• funky Halloween decorations
• a DVD featuring Classic Horror Films
• a $10 gift certificate for Leap Books
• a Leap Books T-shirt

The Immortals: Everlasting (The Immortals #6) by Alyson Noel (Macmillian Children's Books 7/1/2011) Fins Are Forever (Fins #2) by Tara Lynn Childs (Katherine Tegen Books 7/1/2011) Settling (Solid #2) by Shelley Workinger (CreateSpace 7/4/2011)

Original Sin (Personal Demons #2) by Lisa Desrochers (Tor Teen 7/5/2011) Twisted (Pretty Little Liars #9) by Sara Shepard (HarperTeen 7/5/2011) Sirensong (Faeriewalkers #3) by Janena Black (St. Martin's Griffin 7/5/2011)

Paradise by Jill S. Alexander (Feiwel & Friends 7/5/2011) Falling For Hamlet by Michelle Ray (Poppy 7/5/2011) Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3) by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic Press 7/12/2011)

Sass & Serendipity by Janenifer Ziegler (Delacorte Books for Young Readers 7/12/2011) Dragon's Oath (House of Night Novellas #1) by P.C. & Kristin Cast (St. Martin's Press 7/12/2011) Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore (Delacorte Books for Young Readers 7/12/2011)

Starstruck by Cyn Balog (Delacorte Books for Young Readers 7/12/2011) Sometimes it Happens by Lauren Barnholdt (Simon Pulse 7/12/2011) Undercurrent (Siren Trilogy #2) by Tricia Rayburn (EgmontUSA 7/12/2011)

Lost Voices (Lost Voices #1) by Sarah Porter (Harcourt Children's Books 7/4/2011) Luminous by Dawn Metcalf (Dutton Children's Books 7/7/2011) Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris (Delacorte Press 7/12/2011)
If you know of any other new releases for July 1st-13th feel free to add them in the comments so others will know about them!