The Best Reader [Search results for new adult] 

I'm very addicted to NA and was super happy to help host a feature for New Leaf. I have Colina Brennan here today with an interview and a little game of"3 truths and a lie". Try to pick out her lie: ) Also, check out the huge giveaway below.

Colina Brennan — Interview Addicted to NA 2013

Tell us what ADDICTED TO YOU is about in 140 characters or less.
Addicted to You is about Leah, who has no interest in love because she's convinced everyone eventually lets you down. Then she meets Will. Dun dun dun!: P

What does “New Adult” mean to you?
New Adult encompasses that time in your life when you’re trying to find your way in a world where you’re no longer a child but you’re not quite an adult yet either. Discovering how to be completely independent can be daunting—some people fail and others flourish. Either way, it’s bound to be filled with accomplishments and missteps and plenty of quiet adventures.

What New Adult book is on top of your TBR pile?
Subject to Change by Alessandra Thomas. If only my To Do list wasn’t a mile long!

Is this book part of a series?
Yes. There will be a second novel in the Addicted to You universe, which will focus on a separate couple.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
Probably the scene where Leah and her brother run into Will at the party. A lot of things happen between the beginning of the night and the end of it, and it was fun writing about how their relationship subtly shifts.

Who’s your favorite character to write and why?
Leah, because it was amusing to push her character and see how she’d respond. There were times I actually had to scale her back a bit and soften her up because she already comes off a little harsh.

What keeps you awake at night?
My mind often has a hard time shutting down when I’ve spent the last couple hours trying to work through a plot point. The sad thing is that I rarely work through the problem. I sort of just lie there feeling annoyed with myself.

What’s your greatest fear?
In terms of writing, probably failure. I literally made myself sick worrying as Addicted to You’s release date loomed closer. Times like this I wish I drank.

What other jobs did you do to support your writing?
I’ve done everything from cashiering to call center to fixing computers.

What else did you consider doing with your life?
For a while, I wanted to be an English teacher. But I’m really not cut out for standing in front of a bunch of people and trying to teach them things. I get butterflies in my stomach and I end up talking too fast and it’s all quite embarrassing.

Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand? Or something else?
I write on my laptop. When I’m away from my laptop, I’ll scribble on whatever is available whether that’s a napkin or the back of receipt.

What is your daily routine like?
I wish it was more exciting, but I spend 80% of my day entertaining my son and doing boring household chores. I write when he naps, but I can rarely make any real progress until after he’s asleep for the night. (That’s my cover story. I’m really an international cat burglar.)

What book/s are you reading at present?
Fixed on You by Laurelin Paige.

Laptop or desktop for writing?
Laptop for the convenience and mobility.

Your favorite gadget?
My iPhone.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Focus! Stop dawdling and go after your dream.

Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
J.R.R. Tolkein. How awesome would it be to be able to pick his brain?

What book do you wish you had written?
Before I Fall. Gosh, that book is brilliant.

3 TRUTHS AND A LIE
Colina Brennan, NA Author

1. I can de-bone a chicken wing in less than a minute.

2. While camping, I once fought off a raccoon to save my veggie burger. (It wasn’t worth it.)

3. When I worked fast food as a teen, I amused myself by taking drive through orders in different accents.

4. I once decided going down a giant hill on roller blades would be a good idea. (It wasn’t.)

Which one is the lie?

Addicted to You by Colina Brennan
Published: June 25th, 2013
Reading Level: New Adult
When twenty-one-year-old Leah Carter's latest one night stand burglarizes her apartment, her roommate forces her to attend therapy for sex addicts. Leah insists she isn't a sex addict; she just doesn't do relationships. After all, sooner or later, everyone lets you down.

At first, the group sessions are little more than an education on how to be promiscuous. Until she meets the newest addict—blue eyes, killer body, and a smile that tempts relapse.

Psychology student Will McLean is posing as a fellow addict while researching a case study on unusual addictions. But the more he learns about Leah, the more certain he is that his desire to break through her walls and unearth her secrets has nothing to do with his assignment.

As the uncertainties spike alongside the sexual tension, the only thing Leah knows for sure is that falling in love would be disastrous. Too bad love might be one addiction she can't kick.

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Colina's Social Media Platforms:
Blog: http://colinabrennan.blogspot.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BrennanColina Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrennanColina Tumblr: http://colinabrennan.tumblr.com/ Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7068218.Colina_Brennan New Leaf
Twitter: @NewLeafLiterary (Hashtag: #NAaddict) Tumblr: http://newleafliterary.tumblr.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewLeafLiterary ' Agent Suzie Townsend's Blog: http://confessionsofawanderingheart.blogspot.com/

Top Ten Books that Inspire Me
1) The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
This book made me fall in love with the idea of storytelling. The first time I read it, I discovered that many of the bedtime stories my father told me were actually inspired by the world that J.R.R. Tolkien created. I thought it was so cool, and I decided I wanted to write stories that could inspire people the same way. It was also where my love of fantasy started, a love that inspired me to write and publish my first book, Beckoning Light.

2) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
I'm a huge Jane Austen fan, and I've read Pride and Prejudice countless times. It inspired my love of romance and flawed characters. If I could travel back in time, I'd love to meet Jane Austen.

3) Portal by Imogen Rose
This YA Time Travel Romance inspired me to self- publish. I loved the story and knew it was something that probably wouldn’t have been traditionally published originally because it was so unique, and it didn’t fit within the traditional categories. I was so impressed, that it gave me that final push to take the indie plunge.

4) Flat-out love by Jessica Park
This is my favorite NA book. It inspired me to try writing in the NA category, and it reminded me of how great books with a twist are. I'd been reading almost exclusively paranormal and fantasy, and Flat-Out Love rekindled my love of contemporary.

5) Moby Dick by Herman Melville
This is my favorite book. Melville captures obsession like no one else. You feel the emotion even though it's a book that takes place almost entirely on a whaling ship. Moby Dick inspires me to challenge myself to play with genres and to experiment with my writing.

6) Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
I love Agatha Christie, and this is my favorite mystery of hers. She instilled in me a love of mystery and intrigue. I especially love how timeless it is, it’s still so great after all these years.

7) Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
I read the first five books on my honeymoon. Reading the series was the first time I discovered Internet fandom. I used to read Muggle net with my friends when we were supposed to be listening to law school lectures. It’s such a fantastic world that never leaves you.

8) Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.
Twilight reintroduced me to YA, and paranormal. I Loved Bella and the voice. It made me feel confident about writing first person even if it isn't what you were"supposed to do."

9) Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Mull is the king of writing a series where all of the books tie together perfectly. Hints he drops in book one, tie together in the final book. I strive to do the same in my series, and I aim to make every detail count. Chances are if it’s in my book, it's there for a reason even if it takes a few books to see it. The same goes with my characters.
10) Let Me Call You Sweetheart by Mary Higgins Clark
I picked up one of her books at the library in sixth grade, and read every book of hers within a few months. This was the one that stuck with me longest. Mary Higgins Clark was one of my early transitions into adult fiction, and I still have so many fond memories of curling up with one her books.

Wrecked by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Published: April 30th, 2013
Reading Level: New Adult
ebook edition: 285 pages
Series: Clayton Falls, #3
Summary:
When your past catches up, it's time to stop running.

Jake Mathews messed up yet again— but this time his misstep lands him in the hospital. He wakes up to find the girl of his dreams and the memory of having his deepest secret revealed.

Emily Taylor needs a break. She's been working double shifts as a nurse just to pay the bills while trying to heal a broken heart. The last thing she needs is to fall for a patient.

Strapped with community service and the knowledge that he's disappointed everyone in his life, Jake is determined not to let Emily slip through his fingers. Emily wants Jake, but can she really open herself up to heartache again?

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Author Bio:
Alyssa Rose Ivy is a Young Adult and New Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance

and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

Links:
Website: http://www.alyssaroseivy.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlyssaRoseIvy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlyssaRoseIvy
WRECKED Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16208128-wrecked
Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5047249.Alyssa_Rose_Ivy

I just read Frigid a few weeks ago and I absolutely loved it!! Kyler was so swoon-worthy and Syd was his perfect match!
Today I have Kyler here for a question as part of the blog tour.

12. Ever have those superhero fantasies? What superhero do you wish you could be, even for only one day? Why that hero and those powers?
I think I would be Thor. Not only is he a god who wields a hammer and can kick everyone’s ass with his bare hands, he also gets to hook up with Natalie Portman in the movie. I think I’d be okay with that.

You can check out a video of ALL of Kyler's questions he was asked by visiting StuckInBooks tomorrow, 7/26
http://stuckinbooks.com

Frigid by Janenifer. L. Armentrout Published: July 15th, 2013 (Spencer Hill Press) Reading Level: New Adult For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.

But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

GIVEAWAY

The giveaway is a $200 gift card to Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Book Depository or any indie bookstore of the winner's choice.

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This giveaway is for paperback ARC copies of Frigid. There are three winners. This is US/Canada only.
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Author bio:

# 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Janenifer L. Armentrout (aka J. Lynn) Lives in West Virginia.

All the rumors you heard about her state aren’t true.

Well, mostly. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.

She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don't Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion), and new YA paranormal series with Harlequin Teen.

Jennifer also writes New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn. The Gamble Brothers Series (Tempting the Best Man/Tempting the Player) and Wait for You. Under her pen name, she is published with Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Social media links

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4476934.Jennifer_L_Armentrout

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JLArmentrout

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout?fref=ts

Website: http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/

Blog: http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/blog/

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Frigid-J-Lynn/dp/1939392756

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/frigid-j-lynn/1114986686?ean=9781939392756

The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Frigid-Lynn/9781939392756

Kristie Cook is here today to show us the brand new covers for her Soul Savers series, Promise and Purpose.

Leave a comment below telling us what you think about the new cover and enter for a chance to win some awesome swag!

Can you talk a little bit about the old covers vs. the new covers and how the change came about?

The old covers are pretty. The new ones are gorgeous. ‘nuff said. Haha! Okay, I’ll be serious. The old covers are symbolic, but no one gets the symbolism until I explain it, so it’s pretty much lost on everyone. And for some reason, the flowers seem to give the impression that the books are Young Adult, but they’re not. I also didn’t know how to carry the look out through the entire Soul Savers series. I’d hoped to find a professional cover artist by now who could take my vision and turn it into art and I did – author Brenda Pandos. She did an amazing job and we now have a theme to work with for the rest of the series.

What’s your favorite thing about the new covers?

Oh, so not fair. I love everything about them. One thing that’s important to me is not giving the reader a pre-conceived idea of what the main characters look like. I want the reader to take the basics I give them and make them their own. But I still wanted people on the covers, so I’m really happy with how the people are there, but not. The whole scene for each one just really encapsulates the stories. What’s your favorite thing?

It’s amazing that each book has some additional content; can you talk a bit about those changes and how it’ll impact anyone who’s already read the first two books in the series?

Promise – By the time PROMISE went to publication, it had been manipulated a lot, always in the best interest of the story. But in my heart, I always felt a little dissatisfied with it because, for me, it wasn’t “what really happened.” The order of events was changed up and scenes were altered or deleted when they shouldn’t have been. One scene has a change that isn’t huge but comes up in future books, the events have been returned to the order in which they really happened and a scene that had been deleted is now back in, providing some character insight that I think is much needed. There are some other minor changes, too—bringing back a sentence here or there that had been deleted and getting rid of others that shouldn’t have been added.

Purpose – The changes in PURPOSE are much less extensive than those in PROMISE. When I first wrote the books, they were actually one book and the middle section, the bridge between the two, was a series of letters Alexis had written Tristan on each of their anniversaries. Although she couldn’t send them, this was her way of keeping him updated on her and Dorian’s lives – and also bringing the reader up to speed. When I split the books, I took the letters out and tried to weave those things into the story. However, a lot of readers have the wrong impression of what Alexis had been like over the years and why she’s such a mess in the beginning of PURPOSE. The reason is not what everyone seems to think! I haven’t put the letters back in, but I’ve made some tweaks to the first few chapters to give the reader a better understanding of the past and the present. I may post the letters on my website or blog one of these days.

For the last year, I’d had a secret fantasy to go back and make all these changes. With the new covers and a few other additions – such as adding an excerpt of the next book – we had to obtain new ISBNs, which is basically the new bar code that says “this is a different book.” Since we have to go through all that anyway, we figured we may as well make it worth it. So my publisher let me fulfill my fantasy. Isn’t she awesome?

If you’ve already read PROMISE and PURPOSE, you don’t have to read the new releases to understand the future books. The one change in PROMISE that comes up in later books isn’t major enough to throw you into a big state of confusion if you haven’t read it. But if you’re up for reading them again, I think you’ll get a better grasp of Alexis and Tristan and what motivates their behavior in these two books. Also, PURPOSE has an excerpt of DEVOTION, Book 3, at the end.

When will we be able to purchase the books with the new covers and content? And for those of us with eReaders, when will they be available for download?

They’ll go live on Kindle hopefully by early next week and on Nook about the same time. It might take a week or two before they’re up on the other ereaders. They’ll be available in paperback format on my publisher’s store website ( http://www.readourwrites.com/ ) and Amazon in the next week or so and on other retailer sites in a month or two (sorry, but those guys just take longer to update their sites).

And lastly, can you go over some dates with us? For the novella, Genesis and the third book in the Soul Savers series – Devotion? When will we get a chance to see those covers and when will they be available for purchase?

GENESIS comes out October 28, 2011. The cover will be revealed later this month. I can’t wait!

DEVOTION comes out February 10, 2012. I expect the cover to be ready to share in September or October. I know it will be gorgeous, too.

Kristie, Thanks so much for stopping by both — A Life Bound By Books & Confessions of a Bookaholic — and for sharing the new covers with everyone. We can’t wait to re-read the first two books and the new content and to read Genesis & Devotion!

Thank you so much for having me! It’s always a pleasure to visit both of you and all your followers. I can’t wait to hear what you think. And seriously – what is your favorite thing about the new covers? Fill out the form and enter to win a Soul Savers Series swag pack. Two chances to win – one on each blog — here and at A Life Bound By Books!

Kristie has another giveaway going on over at her blog. Be sure to visit, check it out and enter to win some amazing prize packs! ~USE GOOGLE~

Kristie is giving a lucky winner a Soul Saver Series swag pack! Two chances to win — one here and one on Lisa's blog!! So enter here and over at
A Life Bound By Books!

Now, are you ready to see the new cover?!? Promise (Soul Savers #1)

OLD COVER

NEW COVER To see the cover of Purpose (Soul Savers #2) check out A Life Bound By Books.

Giveaway Prize:

• 1 winner will receive a Soul Savers swag pack.

• You must be at least 18 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 August 22nd.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

Find Kristie Cook
Kristie Cook | Soul Savers Series | Goodreads | Twitter

I think the new covers fit the story perfectly! I can't wait to see what the next cover will be like. I think that now people can glance at the cover and get an idea of the story. Plus, it doesn't look YA anymore (especially Promise!). Great job Kristie and Brenda!! Now I'll have to add these to my collection!!

Today is the final day of my Indie/New Adult feature where I share my thoughts on some titles that have been published recently in the New Adult category. I've read so many it was just easier to do mini-reviews and bunch them together. Hopefully you have enjoyed the feature and have found several books you'd like to read. My most surprising finding with these was that most of the New Adult books we see as popular, were not my absolute favorites. Most of my 5 star reviews (which posted Monday) are more obscure titles that haven't had as much success. It really shows me that books shouldn't be judged by covers or blurbs. Some really can end up surprising you. I can't imagine the past year without having read these Indie titles. My advice would be DO NOT shut Indie books out. I'm thrilled to see that Indie authors are now having so much success and I do believe this has opened up doors for bloggers to be more accepting of these titles: )
The books featured today got a 3 star rating from me. They may not have been favorites but they were still enjoyable.

The Wild Ones by M. Leighton
Add to Goodreads

This book is about Camille and Trick. Camille is from a well-off family and Trick is not. He works for her dad but she can't help but notice how hot he is. Trust me, she mentions it a lot. Trick was okay in this book but Camille was annoying as heck. Her internal ramblings about Trick's hotness was just too much. The plot is a little too dramatic during some parts. Other parts bored me a bit. I felt that with a little more work this could have been much more well-rounded and enjoyable. I know Michelle has had huge success with her books, which is great, but this one just didn't grab me as much as I would have liked.

Lengths by Steph Campbell and Liz Reinhardt Add to Goodreads
I really liked this book cover and that's what originally made me want to read it. The story itself, however, was a bit disappointing. There is a crap-ton of cursing in this book. I'm an adult so it's not like they are new words to me but it was just too much. I don't need to read the F word a million times. It just made the characters seem immature. Deo was an okay character but Whitley didn't grab me. Her backstory was important and heart-breaking but I just never really felt bad for her. There was something missing and the story just never really took off for me. Lots of potential but the characters and language really brought it down.

The Crimson Hunt by Victoria H. Smith
Add to Goodreads

I was really interested in this story in the beginning. I wanted to know the mystery behind Luca and I did enjoy reading about Ariel and how they were somehow connected, due to her past. This book does have quite a few surprises and twists. I would say that the first half was much better than the second. Once I stopped reading for a while I realized I had no desire to pick it back up. It took me a while to actually jump back in and see what happened. I'm not sure why that was. I even skipped a few parts towards the end. But I wouldn't count this one out. I'm a hard sale on science fiction titles so it could have just been me. I do plan to see what else this author writes in the future.

Bound Together by Eliza Jane Add to Goodreads
Such a cute cover and the summary really made this book seem interesting. It starts out with Zoey trying to escape her homelife. She takes care of her siblings and has a lot of stress on her plate. I enjoyed the whole set up to this story. I felt bad for Zoey and couldn't imagine being seventeen in that situation. She goes on a class trip and has a friends-with-benefits relationship with Matt, even though they never get along. Zoey really uses him for the affection she's missing, then she throws him away after she's done. It hurts Matt a lot. I think the way Zoey treated Matt was really the downside of this book to me. I didn't understand why she was so mean but then would mess around with him? Why not just leave him alone? Without that aspect of the story I would have really enjoyed it a lot more.

Bound Together by Marie Coulson Add to Goodreads
Yes, another book, same title. Another book that had huge potential but just fell off after a while. Here we meet Layla, an"independent" co-ed who meets rich, handsome Jared. The writing in this book was okay. The biggest turn-off for me was just how darn obsessed the characters became with each other. It was a bit scary. Layla was in a million pieces every time Jared did something stupid and Jared bought her the world to make up for it. Yes, I've read Fifty Shades and actually enjoyed the series. This felt like a sort-of interpretation of that but just not as good. I would have ran from Jared as fast as I could if I was Layla. I actually didn't want them together. I wanted her to find another guy who was actually nice and didn't try to buy her off. But again, it was much more fun in the beginning of the story when they just hated each other.

High School Hangover by Stephanie Hale Add to Goodreads
This book reminded me a lot (A LOT) of From What I Remember by Stacey Kramer & Valerie Thomas. But while I loved that story, I wasn't as fond of this one. Laney goes to a party, gets drunk on an energy drink, and ends up kidnapped. The set up for this plot was okay but parts just seems missing in it. I did really enjoy Jack, the guy who ends up on this journey with her. He was great and a fun addition to the story. I just wasn't as invested in the story as I should have been. By the end I was just waiting for it to all be wrapped up so we can see what really happened the night of the party. I would probably still see what this author comes up with in the future though.

I'll Be Here by Autumn Doughton Add to Goodreads
This book starts with Willow being dumped by her long-term boyfriend. An old friend, Alex, comes back in her life and they are able to re-connect. I would say that overall this book was cute but that's about it. A nice read that brings back all the feelings of high school and first loves. Some things got a bit repetitive with the way Willow saw Alex and she could be annoying at times, but I'm still glad I read this one. I will saw that Willow was hilarious! She really made this story for me. It would have been much better with some more plot work and edits in writing but the characters were pretty enjoyable and nice to get to know. I'll be checking out more of Autumn's work.

Everything Changes by Shey Stahl Add to Goodreads This one is hard for me to review. I loved the plot and story line. A quiet boy, races motorcycles, love it. However, some parts of the story are very, very repetitive. We are told that she is seventeen… often. Other parts just seemed to tell the same bit of story over and over. Ex: how much Ro missed Parker when he was away. There are also still quite a few errors in this story. I can overlook a few but honestly, I felt that if this book would have been edited better it may have been incredible. I did enjoy the first part much better than the last. I didn't understand their conflict completely. I felt they just needed to say"HEY, here is what I am feeling". I know they were young but it just got a little old after a while. But again, the plot was great. I loved how the characters got together and that we get to meet them years before now (90s). The first part had me completely hooked and it brought back fond memories of that first love. Ro's best friend and Parker's brother were great. I enjoyed getting to know them. It just needs some work. I'm still glad I read it though.

Rush Me by Allison Parr Add to Goodreads Ohh, I loved this book in so many ways. Truly, I did. Ryan was fantastic and his football teammates? OMG I'd marry them all! The biggest issue in this story was Rachel. She starts off by calling them all dumb jocks and then wanting to hang out with them? Umm, sorry, I'd be kicking your butt out! She was so judgmental and hard to like. But the rest of the characters? Fantastic!! Who doesn't love football players? Especially when they are so darn cute and nice. With some adjustments to Rachel's personality I would have really loved this book a lot more. Sometimes I didn't understand her decisions or internal dialogue. But I'd still like to see what else this author comes up with.

Born to Fight by Tara Brown Add to Goodreads
I reviewed the first book in this series yesterday and gave it 4 stars. I just felt like everyone was spinning their wheels in this one. The characters made very little progress with anything and there are a lot of scenes that we re-visit from book one. The biggest discovery is about Emma and where she came from. That was surprising but a lot is still the same with Will, Jack, and Anna. By the end of this book I felt they were in the same spot as the end of book one. A ton of potential with this series and I do want to know how it ends but I just hope book three gives us something new to look forward to.

ALL OF THESE BOOKS WERE RATED

Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony & Rodrigo Corral
Publisher: Razorbill (February 2nd, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 272 pages
After her mother died, Glory retreated into herself and her music. Her single father raised her as a piano prodigy, with a rigid schedule and the goal of playing sold-out shows across the globe. Now, as a teenager, Glory has disappeared. As readers flash back to the events leading up to her disappearance, they see a girl on the precipice of disaster.

Click to expand
Chopsticks is such a cool book and Penguin has developed some creative ways to be interactive with the book. You can download the book app and go to the website.

There are so many beautiful images in this book. It's a lot of fun to browse through. By downloading the app, you can really interact with the story and the photographs.

You can view a demo of the app here.

Official Website http://www.chopsticksnovel.com Chopsticks App http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chopsticks-novel/id497983366?mt=8=4

Prize:

• One (1) winner will receive: · A copy of Chopsticks · $10 iTunes gift card to experience the Chopsticks app

• You must be at least 13 (or have permission) to enter.
• Name and email must be provided.
• Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
• Contest is US only and ends April 20th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

About the book CHOPSTICKS was born out of the desire to tell a story with multiple medias, without losing the fundamental truths which make reading fiction an emotional human experience.
The novel’s digital format will still allow you to encounter the lives of Frank and Glory, the characters that fill the pages, but the additional videos, songs and digital links will create a new novel experience.
CHOPSTICKS is a novel, an app, a website. It is a collage of original drawings, objects, text, sounds, and video. It is a love story. It is a mystery. Read it. View it. Experience it.
About the authors Rodrigo Corral runs Rodrigo Corral Studio and is the creative director at Farrar, Straus and Giroux. He has designed covers for the Pulitzer Prize winning author Junot Diaz and the bestselling author Chuck Palahniuk among many others. He also designed the New York Times bestselling books Decoded by Jay-Z, Classy by Derek Blasberg, and Influence by Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen. He has taught at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and lectured around the country. Through it all, he remains deeply committed to transcending the visual possibilities in art, in culture, and throughout the universe. www.rodrigocorral.com
Jessica Anthony’s debut novel, The Convalescent (McSweeney’s/Grove 2009), was an ALA Adult Notable Book, a B&N “Discover Great New Writers” selection, an Editor’s Choice in the San Francisco Chronicle, and has been taught in several universities across the country. Her short fiction can be found in Best New American Voices, Best American Nonrequired Reading, McSweeney’s, New American Writing and elsewhere. She was raised amidst the farms and bowling alleys of Upstate New York, and currently teaches at Bates College and Southern New Hampshire University.

1. Can you share with us something people would be surprised to find out about you?

Through Twitter and blogs, I'm such a chatterbox online that most people would be surprised to know that I'm pretty shy in real life. It takes me a while to warm up to a crowd and most social activities leave me a bit overwhelmed — I'd much rather hang out with a close friend one-on-one. Maybe it would be different if everyone in real life was as fun and awesome as book bloggers, but I think you guys are a rare breed.: -)

2. You share a lot of"high school memories" on your blog. Can you tell us your most embarrassing high school moment?

Um, that would be the time I decided to tell my crush how much I loved him. In writing. In a four-page letter. I think I may have casually thrown in the word"soulmate." His"I'm really flattered" response was mortifying enough, but when his whole football team got hold of the letter… let's just say I had to feign the flu so I could miss a week of school until the drama died down. Fortunately we didn't have texting or the Internet back then, otherwise I think my faux pas would've gone viral!

3. Twenty Boy Summer involves a secret first love and a horrible tragedy that follows. Where did you get the inspiration for this book?

I was inspired to write Twenty Boy Summer by the teens I met through my work with the National Donor Family Council, and organization that supports families whose loved ones have died and donated organs or tissues. I wanted to share a little bit of their stories, their fears, their hopes, and their courage. But as I was writing about the tragedy, I was also thinking about how life goes on, even when we don't want it to. So even though Anna and Frankie are reeling from Matt's death, they're also still dealing with everyday life stuff like clothes and makeup, boys, best friend drama. It's all part of life, and that's what I wanted to write about.

4. What advice would you give teens who are currently struggling with high school and first love?

This sums it up right here: you're not alone. And it gets better. Just like with bullying or any other struggle in high school, things do get better. Whether you're suffering from a broken heart, dealing with harassment, stressed about grades or family stuff, or just trying to figure out where you belong in this world, you *have* to struggle with that stuff — it's part of being alive and coming into your own. When you give up, that's it, it's over. But if you fight, struggle, question things, wrestle with the issues, if you can get through it, you'll come away stronger, wiser, and ready for things to get better. I don't mean to go all"After School Special," but I truly believe that. And besides, crappy high school experiences make for awesome YA books later in life!: -)

5. Fixing Delilah deals with complicated issues between a mother and daughter. What do you hope teen girls take from reading this book?

There is something important I hope both teen girls *and* their mothers take away from Fixing Delilah, and it's this: there is an entire world inside each of us — our secrets, our hopes and fears, our dreams and wishes, our mistakes and shame, our life experiences. We can never know everything about another person, but we can assume that we have this in common: we're all capable of screwing up, and we're all capable of immense love. I hope that moms and daughters remember that and come away from Delilah's story with a new appreciation for one another, even when things aren't perfect.

6. Your books focus on new discoveries and secrets revealed over the summer. Why do you think summer is such a time of change and new beginnings?

Because most teens have summers off in between school years, it's naturally a time to reflect on the previous year and think about how things might be different in the coming year. On summer break, we're away from a lot of the people and pressures we're faced with every day at school, and having that distance often gives us a new perspective on how things are and how we want them to be. Returning to school each fall is like a forced fresh start — new classes, new classmates, new challenges — and we face it with the knowledge and experience we gained over the summer. We've all seen some of our classmates come back from a summer break completely transformed, often as if they're entirely new people. Summer just does that, I think.

7. Can you share with us any projects you are currently working on?

I'm currently working on a new young adult contemporary, but I'm not ready to share too much about it yet! I will tell you that unlike my first two novels, this one is set in the winter, and it features such things as cupcakes, ice skating, a pet hamster, and very adorable hockey boys.: -) I'll be chatting more about it soon, so you can visit my web site for updates in the next few weeks!

Thanks again for hosting me today, Jessica! I hope readers enjoy Fixing Delilah!

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (December 1st, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 320 pages Things in Delilah Hannaford's life have a tendency to fall apart.

She used to be a good student, but she can't seem to keep it together anymore. Her"boyfriend" isn't much of a boyfriend. And her mother refuses to discuss the fight that divided their family eight years ago. Falling apart, it seems, is a Hannaford tradition.

Over a summer of new friendships, unexpected romance, and moments that test the complex bonds between mothers and daughters, Delilah must face her family's painful past. Can even her most shattered relationships be pieced together again?

Find Sarah Ockler Sarah Ockler / Twitter / Blog / Goodreads

Pre-Order Fixing Delilah Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / IndieBound

Thanks to the amazing Sarah Ockler for the interview and The Teen {Book} Scene for the tour opportunity!
USE GOOGLE to follow the other blogs on the tour and stop back by Tuesday, December 14th for my review of Fixing Delilah.

Alyssa Rose Ivy is stopping by today for a guest post to celebrate her recent release, The Hazards of Skinny Dipping.

If I had a Bucket List…
Maybe it’s because I’m optimistic I’ll have time to do everything I want, but I don’t actually have a bucket list. However, I do have plenty of things that would be on one.

I’d love to travel more. There are so many places I’ve never been that I hope I get the chance to see. I’m starting to get the travel bug more and more lately, and I could probably fill an entire notebook with the places I’d visit. First I need to see the rest of the U.S. (my experience with the west coast is pitifully small), but then the sky’s the limit.

Relating to wanting to see more of the world, I want to sail a boat around the world. Being completely honest, I don’t actually want to be the one to sail, I’d like someone else to sail me around the world (or at least on a long trip). I love water and boats, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.

I want to learn how to play piano. When I was younger I played both the viola and the guitar, but I’ve never played the piano. Sometime when I have more free time, I’m going to.

More than anything, it’s the personal experiences I hope I get to have. I want to watch my kids grow up, their graduations, weddings, and I want the chance to meet my grandchildren. If I get to see those things, I’d die a happy person.

The Hazards of Skinny Dipping by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Published: May 17th, 2013
Reading Level: Young Adult
288 pages
Summary:
This isn't a deep book about first loves or self-discovery. If you want a book like that, I'd be happy to recommend one, but I don't have that kind of story to tell. Instead my story is about rash decisions and finding out that your dream guy is bad in bed. It's the story of when I finally went skinny dipping, and how my life was never the same again. Oh, and it's also the story of my freshman year of college and realizing Mr. Right might have been there all along.

Author Bio: Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.
Links: Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlyssaRoseIvy Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5047249.Alyssa_Rose_Ivy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlyssaRoseIvy Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/alyssaroseivy/ Website: http://www.alyssaroseivy.com/

SNAP DECISION: MAYBE TONIGHT? By Bridie Clark On Sale August 6, 2013 Paperback: 224 pages Summary: Maybe Tonight? opens as the reader is getting ready for the most exciting party of the year—Midwinter’s Night Dream, set in the frosty woods just off campus—with her roommates and best friends Annabel Snow, Spider Harris, and Libby Monroe. Choices unfold quickly and the reader must decide which risks to take in pursuit of social status, adventure, success, and love.
Guest Post by Bridie Clark on NYC!
New York City seems to work its way into everything I write. My first two adult novels, Because She Can and The Overnight Socialite, take place there. And although the Snap Decision series—my first foray into the YA world—is set on the leafy green New Hampshire campus of Kings Academy, somehow the reader gets invited to party with A-list celebs in Manhattan. That happens to every freshman girl, right? I don’t know, a book just doesn’t seem complete until it sticks a toe into New York City.

I don’t live in the city anymore and it hurts me to admit that. I think it’s temporary. Well, maybe not exactly temporary—but not permanent, either. I love New York, love everything about it, and I’ve been there many a stinking-hot August.

I wrote and then rewrote my first novel in New York, while living in a shoebox studio apartment on Christopher Street. Every day I would break from writing to run down to the Hudson River, fighting against the steady current of cross-dressing teenagers emerging from the subway. When the doorbell of my studio rang, it was almost always my now husband with a bag of Westville take-out. We would eat on a blanket spread out on the floor. When the book came out, we were married and living on the Upper West Side and we had a table (a horrible, sharp-edged glass table that has since vanished without a trace… poof). In the next blink, we were living on East 66th Street. I was pregnant and working on my second book. When our daughter was born, it proved hard to focus where I could hear her (I would elbow out our amazing babysitter to get to the babe’s dirty diaper), so I spent a few hours each day at the Society Library on 79th Street. I loved that place. Not only was it practically free, it was teeming with writers who seemed so industrious and legit that I would have been ashamed to surf the internet in their presence.

Now I just make it into the city to see friends. Don’t love this as much as I thought I would (other than the seeing my friends part). My feeling about New York is that you’re either in or you’re out. Stopping by occasionally feels touristy. I don’t want to be a tourist in a city that used to feel like home. Maybe someday it’ll be home again. Until then, it’ll be one for my characters. GIVEAWAY:

Snap Decision: Are you going out or staying in tonight? One (1) winner receives: · Copy of Snap Decision: Maybe Tonight? andwinner’s choice: Either a $15 Fandango gift card for a night out or a $15 iTunes gift card for a night in.
Giveaway open to U.S. addresses only. Prizing & samples courtesy of Macmillan.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Learn more about the book at http://www.macteenbooks.com/books/spring2013/maybetonight.php
Learn more about the author at http://www.bridieclark.com/
Follow Macmillan and Bridie Clark on Twitter and join the conversation using #MaybeTonight

About the Author Bridie Clark has worked as a book and magazine editor and written for the New York Times, Vanity Fair, and New York magazine. Her novels Because She Can and The Overnight Socialite have been published in nineteen countries and featured in dozens of magazines and newspapers, including the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and Glamour UK. She was born in West Hartford, Connecticut and currently lives in Greenwich, Connecticut.

This week I've been giving you some mini-reviews from Indie/New Adult books that have been released over the past year or so. I'd read a ton of them so it's easier to review a few at once. Monday had the books that got a 5 star review from me and yesterday featured the 4 star books. Today is another batch of 4 star books. Hopefully you will find a few you'd like to add to your list.

Fallen Crest High by Tijan
Add to Goodreads

As far as new adult authors go, Tijan is not one that pops up often. I happened to find this book while browsing one day and was so glad that I did. This is really one of those books where the characters stay with you. You may not love every aspect of the story, but you can't help but keep reading till it's finished. Mason and Logan (the bothers) were great in their own ways and Sam has the misfortune of living with them after her mom decided to marry their dad. This book is pretty complicated with all the plots, sub-plots, and characters but I definitely want to see what happens in the new book.

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover Add to Goodreads
This one is easy to spoil because there is a lot going on. Tons of tragedy! When Sky meets Dean she has no idea of their past. Sky has been through more than many people could imagine. It was sad to see how broken she was but I was glad that Dean could be there for her. At times the drama seemed a bit too much but it was still a well written story with a lot of great moments between the characters. Dean was my favorite. You can't help but love him and hope that these characters can somehow find happiness through all the heartbreak. Not sure when/if I'll read the next one but so many people loved this one.

Play With Me by Piper Shelly Add to Goodreads
You know how sometimes you just want a light, sweet book to read? This one is perfect for those times! This was one of the cutest romances ever. Liza is a cutie! Poor girl has been in love with her best friend Tony forever and he comes back from soccer camp in love with another *sigh*. So, she has a plan to become sporty herself in hopes he will notice her. What she doesn't plan for is the soccer captain, Ryan, to start paying attention to her. They have so many of those cute moments that have you saying"awww." The ONLY complaint I had about this story was that it was just too short! I wanted more! Of course, there is now a version in Ryan's POV but still… I wish this one would have been a bit longer. But, I totally recommend it.

If You Stay by Courtney Cole Add to Goodreads
Some books say they have bad boys but this one is really bad. Pax is a jerk, 100%! He has money to burn but is rude, disrespectful, and has a whole slew of drug issues. Not the easiest character to like but I liked that there was no doubting his personality. Everyone knew immediately what type of guy he was. Mila is a sweetheart who can't help but try to help Pax. Even though she is told to forget about ever changing him, she can't help but have hope that he will get better. It took a while for their sparks to really heat up but I liked seeing Pax change. Much is the story is from his POV and it was easy to see how Mila got under his skin. Courtney Cole is a great author and I look forward to reading more from her.

Someone to Love by Addison Moore Add to Goodreads
This is a light story and a nice college-age romance but there was something lacking. Maybe it was depth for the character? Not sure. But, in this book, Kendall wants to be a player and she goes to the king of all players, Cruise, for help. She says she's determined to learn how to play guys. The overall story was fun to read but I'm not sure I fully bought the whole"wanting to be a player" thing. I think that with more work this book could have hit it out of the park but for something light and fluffy, it's a pretty good read. I've seen other people with some mixed feelings about this title.

Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A Tucker Add to Goodreads
This is a very intense story. Kacey has had a really hard life and all she wants to do is find safety and take care of her little sister. They move into a rundown apartment and she starts working to try to take care of the bills. Then Trent moves next door. Kacey tries to brush off her feelings for him but they are drawn to each other. I really enjoyed this book and all the side characters/plots too. It's depressing at times but I couldn't stop reading. The overall idea is a bit predictable but I still found myself rooting for the characters and wanting to find out what will happen next. I will probably check out the next book in the series because it focuses on Kacey's sister.

After Tuesday by Renee Ericson Add to Goodreads
This book is about Ruby, a young girl dealing with an alcoholic father. I liked this book for a lot of reasons. One big reason is that her dad, although sick, wasn't a complete jerk. He seemed like he wanted to be a good dad and that's something rarely seen in YA books. Then Ruby gets to know Brent, a guy from school, and she's forced to balance her real life with that of a normal teenager. She tries to hide her issues at home but that isn't easy. Soon both collide and she has to rely on someone else. Sometimes I just wished she would have been honest with Brent early on instead of hiding things. But I did like the way the author portrayed the relationship and the issues Ruby had with her dad. He wasn't just thrown to the side like some novels do.

Breathe Into Me by Amanda Stone Add to Goodreads
This was another complex story and in the end I was scratching my head a bit. Kelsey had some really craptastic luck. She had a horrible tragedy 6 years before she heads to college and all she wants is to escape it. She has her best friend Jessi, who I loved, and soon she meets bad-boy Kane. But Kane isn't really bad. He was actually much nicer than I expected. Sometimes I wanted to shake Kelsey for being so darn trusting of guys-who-shall-remain-nameless, especially after what she had been through. Plus, I wasn't happy with the fact she judged Kane so quickly when something happened with him. I don't want to spoil anything but I do think this is definitely worth the read. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

Picture Perfect by Alessandra Thomas Add to Goodreads
It's pretty hard to find a good story that doesn't involve a girl who is a perfect size 4. Cat used to be a model but now she can't fit into anything in her closet. She had an accident and, after sitting for nearly a year, she's going back to school as a size 12. One thing I really liked about this story is that all of Cat's friends didn't shun her because of her size. It's not like it's the worst thing in the world so it sucks when books act like the character can't have friends if she's beyond a size 10. Cat did have friends and, really, she is the biggest issue blocking her own happiness. When Nate steps in Cat finally starts to see herself as more than a size. He helps her break down her walls and be happy again. Sometimes I just wanted her to get over things but I tried to understand where she was coming from. This book was really enjoyable and had a very unique plot (and twist).

Unbroken by Melody Grace Add to Goodreads
This book has one of my all-time favorite lines ever…
"Mom always told me there are two kinds of love in this world: the steady breeze, and the hurricane. Emerson Ray was my hurricane… "
Love it! This book is great for a summer read. Juliet is forced to go back to her summer beach home for a while and she runs into her old flame Emerson. I enjoyed this story but nothing really stood out to me as memorable. There is some cheating, which I hate, but it didn't ruin the book for me. The characters definitely have chemistry and there are several hot moments to enjoy.
ALL OF THESE BOOKS WERE RATED

The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski
Published: November 15th, 2013
Reading Level: New Adult
Series: The Edge of Never, #1
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Summary:
Sometimes life takes you off course..

THE EDGE OF NEVER

Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett thought she knew exactly where her life was going. But after a wild night at the hottest club in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, she shocks everyone-including herself-when she decides to leave the only life she's ever known and set out on her own. Grabbing her purse and her cell phone, Camryn boards a Greyhound bus ready to find herself. Instead, she finds Andrew Parrish.

Sexy and exciting, Andrew lives life like there is no tomorrow. He persuades Camryn to do things she never thought she would and shows her how to give in to her deepest, most forbidden desires. Soon he becomes the center of her daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But there is more to Andrew than Camryn realizes. Will his secret push them inseparably together-or destroy them forever?

Review:

Here is the mini-review I had up on Goodreads right after reading it.

10 stars!! This is one of the best books I've read this year and absolutely one of the best New Adult books out there. It will make you laugh, cry, and swoon! Guaranteed: ) I want to read it again and again!!

Camryn is running away. She's tired of her life and wants to just … go. She jumps on a Greyhound bus and has no idea where she will end up. On that bus she meets Andrew. I loved the way Camryn and Andrew interacted. It wasn't"insta-love" or forced. They had fun conversations.

Eventually the two end up on a road trip together. The first half of this book is just a feel-good journey. The characters have fun, get to know each other, and pieces of their lives fall into place.
But there is a big secret! Andrew has been hiding something and it comes forward in a big way. I cried… lots. I was really thrown for a loop on that one. I wasn't expecting it at all. And the ending?? HOLY GOODNESS!

This is just one of those books that you just have to read in order to really understand the emotional connection it has. It is so incredibly written and I really can't wait to see what happens next!

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Fractured Souls by Jessica Sorensen
Published: June 30th, 2013
Reading Level: New Adult
Series: Shattered Promises, #2
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Summary:
Gemma thought she had said her good-byes and had felt every possible emotion she could before her soul was detached again. Deep down inside, she hoped she’d never wake up from it because, in her eyes, life without emotion and memories isn’t worth living.

But she does wake up and discovers she can still feel and remember everything she experienced over the last few months. Alex is also telling her that everything’s okay, that he didn’t betray her, and that what she thought happened really didn’t.

Gemma isn’t sure if she can trust Alex, so she tries to keep her distance from him, even though the electric connection and her desire make it nearly impossible. The only person she can trust is Laylen, but even that becomes complicated when the lines of their friendship begin to blur.

While Gemma struggles with her emotions and relationships, she searches for her mother, entering a dangerous world of secrets, seduction, and evil. The further she digs into her mother’s secrets and past, the more she wonders what waits for her at the end of her search and if maybe some things are better left in the dark.

Review:

I loved how we get to see more of Laylen in this story. I definitely have a soft spot for him. Gemma has a connection with him and that connection is explored a bit in this book. There's one incredibly HOT scene you guys gotta check out!

As for Alex, I enjoy him but I'm not as in love with him in this book. I feel like he isn't being completely honest about a lot of things and it makes me not trust his words or actions. I know he loves Gemma but I feel he took a little step back in this book for me. I just want to see him open up more and share what he knows.

Gemma goes through quite a bit and I feel bad for her and her situation. She's trying to find her mother, she's forced to learn about a whole new world so quickly, and she's suffering from visions and other things she can't fully understand yet.

I truly love all of Jessica Sorensen's books. New Adult paranormal series are hard to find so this one is a blast to read. If you are looking for something in that category, I strongly recommend this series. I'll be waiting to see what happens next and I can't wait to read more about Laylen!

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My Favorite Mistake by Chelsea M. Cameron
Published: September 29th, 2012
Reading Level: New Adult
Paperback: 370 pages
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Summary:
Taylor Caldwell can't decide if she wants to kiss her new college roommate or punch him.

On the one hand, Hunter Zaccadelli is a handsome, blue-eyed bundle of charm. On the other, he's a tattooed, guitar-playing bundle of bad boy. Maybe that's why Taylor's afraid of falling in love with him, or anyone else. She doesn't want to get burned, and even though her other roommates adore him, she wants him gone before it's too late.

Hunter himself has been been burned before, but the fact that Taylor calls him out on his crap and has the sexiest laugh ever make him decide maybe love isn't a lost cause. They make a bet: if she can convince him she truly loves or hates him, he'll leave the apartment--and leave her alone. The problem is, the more time they spend together, the less she hates him, and the more she moves toward love.

But when the man who holds the key to Taylor's fear of giving up her heart resurfaces and threatens to wreck everything, she has to decide: trust Hunter with her greatest secret, or do everything in her power to win that bet and drive him away forever.

Review:

Taylor is determined to have Hunter move out. Hunter and Taylor have both had a lot of tragedy in their lives and, for Taylor, it has made her very angry and closed off. But the more Taylor tries to push Hunter away, the more determined he is to break down her walls.

There were times when Taylor's personality was a turn off but I tried to understand where she was coming from. She had been through a lot and it was easy to see why she'd refuse to let any guy close to her. There are so many light-hearted, funny moments in this story but the underlying idea is very deep and personal for the characters.

Another great aspect of this story was the side characters. I really love it when a story seems like a real tale of college life. We all know that college life isn't just revolved around a romance. There are classes and friends and lots of drama. Bringing that into a story makes it much more well-rounded and believable.

I was super excited to see that Chelsea Cameron was continuing this series. If you love New Adult titles with a sexy bad boy and a snarky, tough heroine, this is the story for you.

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Unbreakable by Rebecca Shea
Published: July 30th, 2013
Reading Level: New Adult
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Summary:
Jessica Harper is the epitome of perfection. She’s a good daughter, makes excellent grades, and always strays on the safe side of life. The last thing she thought would ever happen was falling in love with her best friend’s brother. But sometimes fate just has a way of bringing two people together.

Wide receiver for the University of Arizona, Gabe Garcia, seems to have it all. When his feelings for Jessica come to surface, Gabe will give up everything to be with her.

But what happens when a tragedy abruptly changes the course of your life? For Jessica and Gabe, everything they thought they knew about each other will be questioned. Sometimes, there are scars in life that are cut too deep to completely heal.

Will their love prove to be unbreakable, or will it shatter and prove fate is just another lie?

Review:

Needless to say, I love Gabe! This book is told from a few different points-of-view. First, we have Jessica, a young girl getting ready to graduate high school with her best friend. She's smart, funny, and in love with her best friends brother, Gabe. She has known Gabe most of her life and even lives with him and his family while her dad is away. FUN! They have some great times together and their friendship is ready to go to the next level.

Now, as for Gabe, yeah he is pretty incredible! He's sexy, athletic, and sweet. He's had feelings for Jessica for a while and they both seem to be in the place where those feelings are coming to the surface. I loved the family vibe in this story. I could really sense the connection between everyone.

But, even after Jessica and Gabe end up together, things don't stay perfect for long. Something happens that puts their love to the test. I won't do into details on it but it drastically changes their relationship and the way Jessica sees her life.

I was loving every single word of this book in the beginning. The scenes were super hot, the characters had personality and chemistry, and the plot was flowing nicely. That doesn't really change, but I just lost focus during the end of the novel. A new character steps in and I just didn't feel as connected with him or his story. He was okay, but his POV felt a little unnecessary to me. Either way, this is a wonderful New Adult novel and I do plan to read the next book in the series.

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Giveaway

Rebecca is giving away:

* 5 ebooks

* 10 signed paperbacks

* $25 gift card (Amazon or B&N)

* GRANDPRIZE is a Kindle Paperwhite

Rafflecopter Widget:
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St. Martin's has a great new promotion for Fated, book one in #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël's new Soul Seekers series.
When fans pre-order Fated in any format (print, e-book or audiobook) and submit their receipt, they will receive a pair of soul seeker inspired earrings–while supplies last. They look so cute!
Check out the rules by visiting http://stmartins.com/fatedpreorder St. Martin's be mailing out the earrings approx. 4-6 weeks after Fated goes on-sale (5/22).
If you want to read more about Fated, you can read an excerpt & a special bonus scene on the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/soulseekersseries.

Fated by Alyson No ël Publisher: St. Martin's Press (May 22nd, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 308 pages Series: Soul Seekers #1 The first book in a magnificent new series about a girl who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead by #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël.

Lately strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, and glowing people appear out of nowhere. Worried that Daire is having a nervous breakdown, her mother packs her off to stay in the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico with a grandmother she’s never met.

There she crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes who she’s encountered before… but only in her dreams. And she’ll get to know her grandmother—a woman who recognizes Daire’s bizarre episodes for what they are. A call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, one who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead. Her grandmother immediately begins teaching her to harness her powers—but it’s an art that must be mastered quickly. Because Dace’s brother is an evil shape-shifter who’s out to steal her powers. Now Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and find out if Dace is one guy she’s meant to be with… or if he’s allied with the enemy she’s destined to destroy. I can't wait to read Fated and I'm already in love with the cover. Anyone else excited to check out this new series?

Infinity by Sedona Venez
Published: January 15th, 2013
Reading Level: New Adult
eBook: 218 pages
Source: Author
Series: Valkyries: Soaring Raven #1
Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Summary:
Infinity discovers a dark secret from her past that rocks everything she knows to be true.

A troubled 22-year-old superstar singer, Infinity has a bad reputation for drugs and hard partying. Now, she is on the road to a comeback with her controversial tour. But everything about doing the concert feels wrong from missing employees, to anonymous threats about ruining her career. She is dealing with a powerful corporation that is determined to kill her and everyone she loves. She is also battling for control of her life and career from a relationship that crossed the fine line between love and obsession. Infinity knows too much, even though she doesn't realize it. Secrets have been kept and these secrets are powerful enough to destroy her and everyone she loves.

Now she must put her safety and trust in the hands of sexy, tattooed and delicious Torch Channing and Boulder Vigari, hired to keep her from getting killed. Boulder wants to make her his. He won't stop until he claims her. Torch struggles with his primal need to possess her and his hatred of everything she represents.

Infinity is determined to protect her heart while dealing with the pressure of pulling off another successful tour without spiraling into another mental meltdown.

Review:

Her relationship with her mother was another interesting area. They didn't have a typical mother-daughter relationship. But they do seem to have a great bond. The world we get to know in this book is very complex. There are several paranormal creatures — Valkyries, vampires, werewolves, other shifters and more!

Infinity's friends, Zoe and Diego, were fabulous! They had some fantastic interactions and I felt it allowed us to really see more of Infinity's personality. I was first interested in this story because of the paranormal elements. It's rare to see a New Adult story with a paranormal twist. I really enjoyed learning about the world, but at times I was a bit confused. Sometimes it was hard to keep up with the plot and I had to go back and slowly read through it again. It's important to do that with this story because there are times when a lot is told to us quickly.

Overall this was a solid story. There are parts that could have been taken out, or altered a bit to make it better. Some things were a bit repetitive but I will still read book 2!

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I am super excited to be a stop on the tour for EASY by Tammara Webber. I knew when I first spotted this book that I would love it and it is truly one of my all-time favorite books. It didn't surprise me at all to hear that it was picked up by Penguin. If you are interested in a New Adult title, you gotta pick this one up!

Tammara Webber’s TOP 5 YA Novels:

The Truth About Forever

Please Ignore Vera Dietz

If I Stay/Where She Went

Lea ving Paradise

Graceling

Easy by Tammara Webber
Publisher: Berkley Trade (November 6th, 2012)
Reading Level: New Adult
Paperback: 310 pages
Rescued by a stranger.
Haunted by a secret
Sometimes, love isn’t easy…
He always saw her, but never knew her. Until thanks to a chance encounter, he became her savior…

The attraction between them was undeniable. Yet the past he’d worked so hard to overcome, and the future she’d put so much faith in, threatened to tear them apart.

Only together could they fight the pain and guilt, face the truth—and find the unexpected power of love.

Prize:

• 1 winner will receive a paperback copy of EASY.

• 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 November 16th.
• Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

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B arnes & N oble | A mazon | I ndiebound

Next Tour Stop
Monday, November 5th — GONE WITH WORDS blog (http://www.gonewiththewords.com/)

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.

Today is the release day for 2 amazing books -- Sweet Venom and Vanish.
To celebrate this, Tera Lynn Childs and Sophie Jordan are here today to share some of their favorite romantic novels.

Favorite Romantic Novels Favorite Romantic Books by Tera Lynn Childs

Romantic books have been such a big part of my life and my career, it’s hard to narrow this down to a manageable list. I have about fifty romances on my forever keepers shelves. But if I have to pick some favorites, here goes:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I first read this in my freshman Lit Hum class at Columbia and it turned my world upside-down. Here was a book I loved—swoon, Darcy, swoon—and it was considered important enough to be studied in an Ivy League literature class. This is the moment that I realized a book can be both popular and important. And a romance novel, to boot.

The Magic of You by Johanna Lindsey. When I first decided to try this whole writing thing, I literally devoured the romance section at my local bookstore. Johanna Lindsey was my first auto-buy author. She is the master of The Moment, that line that just takes your breath away. In this book, it’s Warren (after Amy’s been chasing him the entire book) saying, “You can’t give up on me!”

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn. I cannot begin to describe in a few sentences how much I love this book. It is just one of the most powerful romances I’ve ever read. Julia Quinn is genius at creating characters who absolutely cannot possibly make it work, and then making it work. Simon and Daphne are a close second to Darcy and Elizabeth for my favorite romantic couple of all time. I dare anyone to read this book and not cry a dozen times. I always do.

Favorite Romantic Books by Sophie Jordan

What’s my favorite romantic book!?!?! Wow – that’s like asking a food junkie to pick her fav dish (which would be tough for me, too)! There are just so many choices – especially since romance has been my favorite genre for so long. Okay, here’s my list: The Magic of You by Johanna Lindsey. It’s a historical romance featuring one of the strongest, take-charge heroines ever! It’s really a stand-out historical romance. When I first read it years ago it felt so new and fresh. And when I reread it now, I can still say the same thing. It has that universal, timeless appeal.

Second choice would probably be … Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey. Another historical romance. The books are connected, too. I just love the tension of a girl disguising herself as a boy. Oh, the fireworks when the truth is revealed! Hm, contemporary romance would have to go to Susan Elizabeth Phillips’s Nobody’s Baby But Mine. It features an outrageous premise … but is an amazingly emotional and very “real” story. My favorite romantic suspense novel is Linda Howard’s Open Season – it has the perfect balance of suspense and romance, but at its core it’s an ugly duckling story. I know these qualify as my favorites because they’re all books I’ve read multiple times. That’s always my gauge.

As for young adult novels … hm, there are so many where the romance is really strong and at the core. They might as well be called a young adult romance. I’ll choose The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting and Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. Both books have some hot boys and empathetic, likeable heroines. But it’s no easy road to a happily ever after for these characters. Just like in the adult romance books I listed above, you get tons of agonizing conflict. And in the meantime tons of tension and steamy chemistry that sizzles on every page. These are the titles that pop in my head right off the bat … but ask me a year from now and I’m sure I’ll have new titles to add.

Vanish by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: HarperTeen (September 6th, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 304 pages
Series: Firelight #2
To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (September 6th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 352 pages Series: Sweet #1 Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful gorgon maligned by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

Sophie and Tera Lynn’s upcoming tour stops:
September 7 @ 7 PM Blue Willow Bookshop Houston, TX September 8 @ 7 PM Books & Co Dayton, OH September 9 @ 7 PM Magic Tree Bookstore Chicago, IL October 1 Austin Teen Book Festival Austin, TX
The next blog tour stop: Thursday, September 8 – The Bookish Brunette About the authors:
Tera Lynn Childs (Authora neo) is a newly discovered species of author fish who always dreamed of being a mermaid, but never got closer than a career as a competitive swimmer. She loves to spend as much time as possible in and around water (right up until her fingertips turn all pruney) in the vain hope that one day her legs will magically turn into fins. When stuck on land, Authora neo can be found writing in coffee shops across the country, prowling for cool mermaid gear on Etsy, and spending way too much time online. Visit her at http://teralynnchilds.com. Sophie Jordan grew up in the Texas hill country where she wove fantasies of dragons, warriors, and princesses. A former high school English teacher, she's also the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Avon historical romances. She now lives in Houston with her family. When she's not writing, she spends her time overloading on caffeine (lattes and Diet cherry Coke preferred), talking plotlines with anyone who will listen (including her kids), and cramming her DVR with true-crime and reality-TV shows. Sophie also writes paranormal romances under the name Sharie Kohler. Visit her at www.sophiejordan.net.

Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (April 5th, 2011)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardback: 264 pages
Source: Won ARC
Series: If I Stay #2
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
It's been three years since the devastating accident.. three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future — and each other.
Review: Spoilers! I started reading this book right after I finished If I Stay. Although I wasn't crazy bout If I Stay, everyone I talked to said that Where She Went was much better. They were right!

Where She Went is from Adam's point-of-view. It's 3 years after the accident and since Mia left for New York. Adam is a famous rock-star and Mia is a musician but they haven't spoken in years.

Adam is shocked that Mia just left without a word since. Now he finds himself in New York getting ready for a tour and all the memories return. Sometimes it's difficult to find a story with a great male POV but this one has it. I really enjoyed Adam and hearing about his adventures. Even though he was far from a"good guy" he was much more likeable than Mia had been in If I Stay. I believed him more and he showed more emotion.

Adam runs into Mia and they have 1 special night together. She takes him around New York to explore the city before they both go off on tour. Their relationship is strained at first. It takes a long time for Adam and Mia to reconnect. For obvious reasons, Adam is mad. He doesn't understand how someone he loved could leave like that. To make matters worse, Mia doesn't really acknowledge his pain or what she did to him.

The setting and plot in Where She Went was much more interesting to me. We get a glimpse of New York and flashbacks of how Adam got to where he is now, but it wasn't too much. I was still able to stay connected with their present-day time together.

Again, the only downside of this book was Mia. I was furious with her! She left, didn't say a word, then ignored the subject for most of the time they were together. I believed Adam loved her, but I honestly wasn't convinced she felt the same.

Where She Went far surpassed If I Stay, in my opinion. Adam is a fantastic character and his POV truly allowed me to see his personality and his true essence.

Recommended: I would recommend readers check out book 1, If I Stay first. It wouldn't be a must but it would help to understand what's going on. Readers who love contemporary or more emotional reads would enjoy this.

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