Announcing YA Debut Promotions

hello everyone!!!!

Okay, so I'm sure that those of you who avedly follow my blog have noticed that I haven't been posting at all for a while.  I know this might sound extremely weird, but I didn't want to read books just to review them, I wanted to read books so I could read them and enjoy them, and not have to disect them afterwards.  I know that might sound really weird, but I've been reviewing for a year now, and I just needed a break.  But I'm back now!  Here is a list of the books I've read during my break (listed in the order I read them)!

1. Unraveling (Unraveling #1) by Elizabeth Norris Goodreads / My Mini Review
2. Slide (Slide #1) by Jill Hathaway Goodreads  My Mini-Review: "Really Good!"
3. For Darkness Shows the Stars (For Darkness Shows the Stars #1) by Diana Peterfreund Goodreads / Mini Review
4. Wicked (Pretty Little Liars #5) by Sara Shepard Goodreads  My Mini-Review: "Love this series!"
5. Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson Goodreads / My Mini Review
6. The Serpent's Shadow (The Kane Chronicles #1) by Rick Riordan Goodreads / My Mini Review
7. Killer (Pretty Little Liars #6) by Sara Shepard Goodreads 
8. Heartless (Pretty Little Liars #7) by Sara Shepard Goodreads / My Mini Review
9. Wanted (Pretty Little Liars #8) by Sara Shepard Goodreads / My Mini Review

Yep!  I finished the Pretty Little Liars series!   Well, actually, technically I didn't, because there are actually 12 books out, but in my mind, Wanted  was the last book, because it summed everything up, like who A was (YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE IT!!!!)

Anyway, the real reason I wanted to make this post to let you guys know that I am starting up a promotions post thing called YA Debut Promotions, or YADP for short.  Basically, I will feature debut authors on a day in the month their book releases.  I will be doing reviews, interviews, guest posts, excerpts, and giveaways.  I've actually got about three planned already, one coming up soon.  I can tell you that there will be a giveaway, but I can't tell you what book and author I will be featuring.  Anyway, I just thought I would let you guys know about my new posts, and also to let you guys know that I'm back to blogging, hopefully for another year.  I know that since I haven't been posting some of you have stopped reading, but I hope that you guys will return to following me and reading my posts. :)

Waiting on Wednesday #44

This is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlites upcoming new releases that we're highly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Elite,  by Kiera Cass

Add on Goodreads

Release Date: HarperTeen

Publisher: April 23, 2012

The hotly-anticipated sequel to the New York Timesbestseller The Selection.

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING ON?

LINK ME UP!!

US vs UK #2

US vs UK is a meme hosted by Book Passion for Life.  In this meme, I will post a US and UK cover from the same book, and you guys will vote which one you like best.  I'll keep track of the score, and it will be a running competition!

_________________________________________________

The Score:

US: 1 UK: 0 Draw: 0

US vs UK Round 2

Rift  by Andrea Cremer

My Vote:

I like the US cover.  For one, it's gorgeous.  I also think it's much more intense than the UK cover.  The UK cover is too soft and sweet, while the US is totally kick-ass!

Add on Goodreads:

Help fund future giveaways by buying through this link:

WHICH COVER DO YOU LIKE BEST?

LEAVE A COMMENT TO VOTE!

In My Mailbox #34

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we spotlight the books that we've received for review, swapped, or purchased that week.

FOR REVIEW:

Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout (thank you Spencer Hill Press)

Local Girls by Jenny O'Connell
Rich Boys by Jenny O'Connell
(Thank you Jenny!!)


ARCYCLING:

Josie Griffin Is Not A Vampire by Heather Swain
(Thank you Montana @ The Book Belles)


WON:

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen


what did you guys get this week?
link me up!

Review: Shadow and Bone

Shadow and Bone
by Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Grisha #1
Release Date: June 5, 2012
by Henry Holt and Co.

Purchase / Goodreads

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.
Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

*I won a copy from Mackenzie @ Oh, For The Love of Books!*

This book and I kind of have a love/hate relationship. Some aspects of this book, like the action, I loved, but other aspects of the book, like the story line, I hated. But, overall, the good outweighed the bad.

This book has everything: action, romance, and magic. But there were a few kind of iffy things. The first was the story line/writing. I say that because it wasn't really either of them, but somewhere in the middle. To sum it up, the events were too sudden. There wasn't any build. I think what Bardugo was trying to do was make the book fast paced, but what she ended up achieving was a disconnected story line. She would be talking about spring, and then in the next paragraph, it would be winter, and it’s kind of hard to keep track of as a reader. Also, I kind of wished the book was longer. The characters didn't really get to develop, and not much happened. But, I guess that’s what a second book is for, right?
But, other than that, this book was awesome. I loved how Bardugo went right into it, didn’t mess around, and that there was action from page one. There were some unexpected twists and turns that had me literally gaping at the book. And the ending was superb as well! Action, action, action.

In this book, there were three main characters, the Darkling, Alina, and Mal, but I’m only going to discuss the last two, because if I discuss the Darkling I will most likely give away spoilers. And anyway, if you’ve read this book, you know what I’m talking about :P
A novel with action and magic always needs a great female main character, and Alina fits that description perfectly. She was smart, kick-ass, and a great female protagonist.
I also really liked Mal. In the beginning I thought he was kind of a jerk, but I quickly learned to love him. Go Mal!!

For a debut, this book was good. I kind of compare this book the Study series, by Maria V. Snyder. But I really shouldn’t do that, because I doubt any book, or series, will be as good as those, but, considering, this book was pretty good.

4 PINK FLOWERS

Official Cover Reveal: Tempest by Jenna-Lynne Duncan

Hello all!  Today I am participating in the cover reveal for Tempest, by Jenna-Lynn Duncan.  Read on for some awesomeness!!! :)

Tempest
by Jenna-Lynne Duncan
Series: Tempest #1.5
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Urban Fantasy
Release Date: Late November 2012

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

Add on Goodreads

Hayden Boudreaux couldn't decide which was worse— that he was falling in love with a mortal or that the only way to break his family's centuries-old curse would be to kill her. Of all that he was certain was the more time he spent with her, the more he knew he would do anything to protect Adriana Alexander, including sacrificing his eternity. What he wouldn't expect was that Luke - his brother that hated Ana, who wanted to kill her - would decide he would want her as his own.

The Tempest Series:

Add Hurricane on Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

***This giveaway is hosted by the tour hosts, not me***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday #43

This is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlites upcoming new releases that we're highly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Pivot Point, by Kasie West

 

Pre-Order / Goodreads

Release Date: February 12, 2013

Publisher: HarperTeen

Addison Coleman's life is one big "What if?" As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It's the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie's parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with–her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the "Norms," or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it's not.

In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school–but she never wanted to be a quarterback's girlfriend. When Addie's father is asked to consult on a murder in the compound, she's unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she's willing to live through...and who she can't live without.

WHAT ARE YOU GUYS WAITING ON THIS WEEK?

LINK ME UP!!! :)

Blind Spot Trailer Reveal!

Hello everyone!  Today I am particpating in the Blind Spot Trailer Reveal!  Yaaaay!  Also, I will be helping Laura Ellen promote her contest for a copy of Blind Spot!

Blind Spot
by Laura Ellen
Pages: 336
Format: Hardcover
Release Date: October 23, 2012
by Harcourt Children's Books

Purchase / Goodreads

There’s none so blind as they that won’t see. 

Seventeen-year-old Tricia Farni’s body floated to the surface of Alaska’s Birch River six months after the night she disappeared. The night Roz Hart had a fight with her. The night Roz can’t remember. Roz, who struggles with macular degeneration, is used to assembling fragments to make sense of the world around her. But this time it’s her memory that needs piecing together—to clear her name . . . to find a murderer.This unflinchingly emotional novel is written in the powerful first-person voice of a legally blind teen who just wants to be like everyone else.

BLIND SPOT CONTEST

What’s Your ‘Blind Spot’? Contest:

In Blind Spot, Roz has a visual impairment
that makes her feel insecure. As a result, she become so obsessed with proving she is 'normal' that she loses sight of everything else-- including
clues to a murder.

What's your blind spot? Was it getting on the cheer squad? Is it losing weight? Have you ever wanted something so bad that, like Roz, you lost or almost lost something or someone important to you?

Share it and you could win a signed hardcover of Blind Spot and the chance to have your 'blind spot' story posted on October 26th during Laura Ellen’s blog tour. Some of your favorite authors will be sharing their stories too!

To enter go to Laura Ellen’s website www.lauraellenbooks.com and fill out the contest form any time between October 2nd an midnight EST October 16, 2012.

BOOK TRAILER

The trailer for Blind Spot was produced by Vania Stoyanova at VLC Productions (http://www.vlcphoto.net/. Laura Ellen's 14-year-old son James composed and performed the music for the trailer with Steve 'Oz' Osburn http://www.ozmusic.com/steve_oz.html. It was recorded in Muruga Booker's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muruga_BookerSage Court Studios. 

About Laura Ellen--------------- Goodreads | Website | Twitter 

Laura Ellen is a full-time writer and mother of three who began her career as a teacher in both Language Arts and special education. Diagnosed with juvenile macular degeneration as a teen, she drew upon her own experiences with vision loss to write her debut YA thriller Blind Spot, an emotional and suspenseful page-turner. Born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, she recently moved across country from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Scottsdale, Arizona.

Official Cover Reveal: Lauren by Julia Crane

Hello everyone!  Today I am participating in the cover reveal of Julia Crane's newest book, Lauren.  I've taken a look at this cover, and I gotta tell you, it's good.  I hope you'll stick around!!! :)

Lauren
by Julia Crane
Release Date: October 2012
by Valknut Press

Age Group/Genre: Young Adult/ Fantasy

Cover Design: Mooney Designs

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

Add on Goodreads

A girl with a second chance. A boy with a terrible secret. When the truth is revealed, Lauren's world comes crashing down.For once, seventeen year old Lauren's life is going right. She's attending the college of her dreams, has what appears to be the perfect boyfriend, and is surrounded by her childhood friends. But her boyfriend, Tristan, grows more possessive by the day, and his temper is getting harder to keep in check. When Lauren realizes Tristan is using her for her power, she has to make a choice: Tristan or her world.

About Julia Crane ------------  Goodreads | Website | Facebook | Twitter
Julia crane is the author of the Coexist: Keegan’s Chronicles. She has a bachelors degree in criminal justice. Julia has believed in magical creatures since the day her grandmother first told her an Irish tale. Growing up her mother greatly encouraged reading and using your imagination. Although she’s spent most of her life on the US east coast, she currently lives in Dubai with her husband and three children.

US vs UK #1

US vs UK is a meme hosted by Book Passion for Life.  In this meme, I will post a US and UK cover from the same book, and you guys will vote which one you like best.  I'll keep track of the score, and it will be a running competition!

_________________________________________________

US vs UK Round 1

Breathe by Sarah Crossan

My Vote:

Personally, I like the US cover better.  While the UK cover is more eye-catching with the neon-green, I think the purple works better.  And the US cover has more going on than the UK cover.

Add on Goodreads:

 

Help fund future giveaways by buying through this link:

WHICH COVER DO YOU LIKE BEST?

LEAVE A COMMENT TO VOTE!

In My Mailbox #33

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren, where we spotlight the books that we've received for review, swapped, or purchased that week.

FOR REVIEW:

Poison Princess, by Kresley Cole (from Simon & Schuster)

Touch of Death, by Kelly Hashway x 2 (from Spencer Hill Press)

What We Saw At Night by Jacquelyn Mitchard (from Soho Press)

WON:

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare (won from Think @ Think Books)

WHAT DID YOU GUYS GET THIS WEEK?

LINK ME UP!!