Bookish Bits #4

Bookish Bits is a meme hosted here at Emily's Crammed Bookshelf that features new bookish news, such as giveaways, new releases, and cover reveals!  Posted every Saturday.

New Releases (Dec 16-Dec 22):

Scent of Magic (Healer #2) by Maria V. Snyder (December 18, 2012 from Mira) Purchase

The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds) by Alexandra Bracken (December 18, 2012 from Disney Hyperion) Purchase

Cover Reveals:

Dear Cassie by Lisa Burstein (Entangled Teen)


Sneak Peeks:

• Fracture by Megan Miranda @ Reading Lark
• Prophecy by Ellen Oh @ Badass Bookie
• Renegade by J.A. Souders @ Reading Angel

Young Adult Debut Promotions: Elizabeth Richards Author of Black City

Young Adult Debut Promotions (YADP) is a post I do to help out debut authors, and to get them noticed.  My posts will definitely include a feature of the book, a feature of the author, and a giveaway, with an interview, guest post, or excerpt optional.

Today I am featuring...


Elizabeth Richards
And she will be doing an interview and giveaway!

~The Book~

Black City

by Elizabeth Richards

Series: Black City #1
Pages: 384
Format: Hardcover

Release Date: November 13, 2012

by G.P. Putnam's Sons (an imprint of Penguin)

Paperback Release: May 7, 2013

by Speak (an imprint of Penguin)

Goodreads / Purchase

A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war.

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths

~The Black City series~

Phoenix

by Elizabeth Richards

Series: Black City #2

Pages: 400

Format: Hardcover

Release Date: June 4, 2013

by Putnam Juvenile (an imprint of Penguin)

NOTE: This is (obviously) not the book I planned on featuring in this post.  The reason I am putting a picture in is it is one of Elizabeth Richards's Upcoming Books and it deserves some publicity too.

WARNING: Since this is the second in a series, the summery might be spoilery for the first book.  If you haven't read Black City you might not want to read the summery below. 

Goodreads / Pre-Order

Weeks after his crucifixion and rebirth as Phoenix, Ash Fisher believes his troubles are far behind him. He and Natalie are engaged and life seems good. But his happiness is short-lived when he receives a threatening visit from Purian Rose, who gives Ash an ultimatum: vote in favor of Rose’s Law permanently relegating Darklings to the wrong side of the wall or Natalie will be killed.

The decision seems obvious to Ash; he must save Natalie. But when Ash learns about The Tenth, a new and deadly concentration camp where the Darklings would be sent, the choice doesn’t seem so simple. Unable to ignore his conscience, Ash votes against Rose’s Law, signing Natalie’s death warrant and putting a troubled nation back into the throes of bloody battle.

~Author Interview~

1. Could you tell us a bit about yourself? Twitter style, 140 characters!
Sci-fi/fantasy and horror geek, who spends her time daydreaming about supernatural boys, dystopian worlds, and forbidden love.

2. Why did you become a writer?
It was something I always wanted to do, even as a little girl.  I was forever making up these epic storylines with my dolls, and then as I got older I started writing my ideas down in notebooks. Nothing made me happier than getting lost in a world that I’d created, and I knew this is what I wanted to do. It took me a long time to pluck up the courage to write my first book, but since leaving university, nearly all of my jobs have been in publishing, so it was inevitable that one day I’d be doing this for my career.

3. Who were your biggest influences?
My biggest influence is JK Rowling. I’m a huge fan of the Harry Potter series. Those books have played a massive role in my life, and it was after reading those novels that I decided to try writing my own book. So she’s played a key role in my career!

4. What is your favorite song?

It’s very cheesy, but I love, love, love She’s Like The Wind from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.”

5. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Ben and Jerry’s Cookie Dough ice cream! Om nom nom.

6. What kind of books do you like reading in your spare time?
 thoroughly enjoy dystopian novels, such as Divergent or the Hunger Games, and anything with a hot supernatural boy in it! I also love action books, like the Alex Rider series, and of course Harry Potter! I’ve read those books so many times, I’ve lost count.

7. How and when did you come up with the idea for Black City?

The idea first came to me back in 2009...gosh, it’s crazy to think it was that long ago! The concept came to me while I was watching a movie one night. The character of Ash just popped into my head, and I couldn’t stop thinking about this drug-dealing, supernatural boy who gets a heartbeat when he meets his true love. I knew I had to write a story about it him, so as soon as the movie finished, I wrote a scene between him, Natalie and Beetle. The rest of the story just fell into place after that. But it all began with Ash.

This or That
1. Ebooks or hardcovers/paperbacks?
Hardcovers. I think ebooks are awesome, but you can’t beat the feel of a real book!

2. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate?

Milk chocolate every time.

3. Cats or dogs?

Dogs!

4. Team Peeta or Team Gale?
Team Peeta. He’s so brave, and sticks to his morals.

5. Hotels or home?

Home.

~Get to know Elizabeth Richards~

Bio:

Elizabeth Richards is a YA author who loves books about supernatural boys, kissing and blood. Elizabeth recently signed a three-book deal with Putnam, Penguin. BLACK CITY, Book #1 of the BLACK CITY trilogy will be published in North America in November 2012.

Connect:

Goodreads | Twitter | Website | Facebook

~Giveaway~

The Prizes:

Signed Black City & Phoenix Bookmarks

*Unfortunately I can't show them because for some reason the picture won't upload :( *

The Rules:

~There will be one winner

~Giveaway ends on December 25, 2012 @ 11:59 P.M.
~This giveaway is INT


NOTE:
There are actually a total of 9 entries possible!  I added them up wrong and a very intelligent person noticed and let me know.

Thanks for checking out this post!  If you could share it with a friend that would be really great.  The whole point of this post was to get an awesome debut author noticed, so if you could help that would be great!

Review: The Pledge

The Pledge
by Kimberly Derting
Series: The Pledge #1
Format: Paperback
Release Date: November 15, 2011
by Margaret K. McElderry

Goodreads / Purchase

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime

The Pledge has gotten a lot of mixed reviews, so I was kind of nervous to read it.  But I am happy to announce that I loved it!  The idea, first off, was awesome.  The originality was so cool to read.  I loved how Derting set up the society, where you can only speak the language of your caste, and have to look away if a member of a caste above you is speaking in there own particular language.  The monarchy, the society, the world, everything, was awesome, and Derting explained it in a very easy-to-understand-yet-not-boring way.  The writing was very, very good, and the staging was perfect.  I could never guess where the story was going to go next, and there were several twists that I didn’t see happening in a million years and left me with my mouth hanging open.  The story telling was perfect, and…gosh, it’s just such a great book.

I don’t think anyone (by anyone I mean any girl) will complain if a smoking hot big muscular guy was introduced, and I certainly didn’t object.  I LOVED Max!!!!!  He was so loyal and nice and sweet and hot and sexy and hot and I said that already but he was seriously HOT!  Gosh…I just loved him!

I also really liked (and am totally jealous of for the above reasons) Charlie.  She was really kick-butt, smart, and kind of defiant, which I liked.  I loved how close her and her sister were, and that made the story that much sweeter.

The sequel to this book, The Essence, is coming out in January 2013, and I think I might die if I don’t get my hands on it soon.  I NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS!!!!

5 pink flowers

V is for Virgin Blog Tour Stop

Hello everyone!  It's been a while since I've participated in a blog tour, so I decided to get back in the swing of things by joining this blog tour hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.  Today I have an awesome interview, guest post, and giveaway, so read on!!

V is for Virgin
by Kelly Oram
Release Date: December 11, 2012
by Bluefields

Goodreads / Purchase

When Val Jensen gets dumped for her decision to stay a virgin until marriage, the nasty breakup goes viral on YouTube, making her the latest internet sensation.

After days of ridicule from her peers, Val starts a school-wide campaign to rally support for her cause. She meant to make a statement, but she never dreamed the entire nation would get caught up in the controversy.

As if becoming nationally recognized as “Virgin Val” isn’t enough, Val’s already hectic life starts to spin wildly out of control when bad boy Kyle Hamilton, lead singer for the hit rock band Tralse, decides to take her abstinence as a personal challenge.

How can a girl stay true to herself when this year’s Sexiest Man Alive is doing everything in his power to win her over.

~Author Interview~



1. Why did you become a writer? 

It’s always been a hobby of mine since I was a little kid. Eventually enough people told me I needed to do it “for real” that I decided to make a career of it.

2. Who were your biggest influences? 

I’d say Meg Cabot, Kelley Armstrong have had the most influence on my writing style, and I’d kill for a tenth of the brilliance that John Green has. If I aspire to be like anyone, it’s him or Meg.

3. Is there a special routine you like to do before you write? 

Ha! Putting both babies down for a nap first helps but is hardly ever possible, so usually I turn on Yo Gabba Gabba, pop myself some popcorn, chug a Diet Dr. Pepper and hope for the best.

4. Is there a special place you like to write? 

I love to write at the library, but I usually end up on the living room couch, again where I am joined by my two babies and DJ Lance Rock. (There’s a party in my tummy! So yummy! So yummy!)

5. What is your favorite movie? 

Die Hard (The first one. Best. Movie. Ever.)

6. Favorite food? 

Steak and potatoes or pot roast.

7. Favorite book? 

The Host by Stephenie Meyer.

8. When and how did you get the idea for V is for Virgin?

 A few years ago I was between stories and I asked my brother what I should write about next. His answer was that I should write a book where he was a “hot famous rock star who got all the chicks”. I was feeling generous that day and decided to run with it.

9. Is there another book in the works? If so, what can we expect?

My next book is set to release summer 2013. It’s a YA paranormal romance titled Chameleon and is the first in a 4-book series. You have no idea how excited I am to finally share my fantasy side with the world because I am really a supernatural junkie at heart. You can expect magic and monsters and prophecy and betrayal, and, of course, plenty of hot tempers, sarcastic banter and hot boys. It’s also my first real love triangle, so I had some fun with that. I’ve also got two more Jamie Baker books in the works! Yay

_________________________________________

Thank you Kelly for answering all my questions!  Seriously, this is my favorite interview I've ever done, you're answers are so funny!

~Giveaway~



TOUR GIVEAWAY

$30 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Open Internationally

Ends 1/6/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Kelly Oram: Goodreads | Twitter | Website 

Kelly Oram wrote her first novel at age fifteen–a fan fiction about her favorite music group, The Backstreet Boys, for which family and friends still tease her. She's obsessed with reading, talks way too much, and loves to eat frosting by the spoonful. She lives outside of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and four children

US vs UK #5

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: 3 UK: 0 Draw: 1

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, by Jennifer E. Smith

VS

My Vote:

I really love both of these covers...ugh I can't decide.  They're both awesome by their own right...but I think I like the UK cover just a teensy bit more.

Links: Goodreads / Purchase

Which cover do you like best?

Leave a comment to vote!

__________________________________________


Last week's winner was...it's a draw!
Click here to view last week's covers!!!

In my Mailbox #40

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:

Touch of Power (Healer #2) by Maria V. Snyder [Goodreads] (from Maria V. Snyder)





Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters by Suzanne Weyn [Goodreads]

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater[Goodreads]

(from Scholastic Press)

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass [Goodreads] (from Bloomsbury)

Who Done It? Anthology [Goodreads] (from Soho Teen)

Revel by Maurissa Guibord [Goodreads]

Deep Betrayal by Anne Greenwood Brown [Goodreads]

Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson [Goodreads]

(from Random House)

WON:

The Murmurings by Carly Anne West [Goodreads]

BOUGHT:

Switched by Amanda Hocking [Goodreads]

I have a lot of books that I haven't featured yet so I'm just doing them all today!

Bookish Bits #3

Bookish Bits is a meme hosted here at Emily's Crammed Bookshelf that features new bookish news, such as sneak peeks, new releases, and cover reveals!  Posted every Saturday.

New Releases (Dec 9-Dec 15):

Opal (Lux #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (December 11, 2012 from Entangled Publishing) Purchase

Princess of the Silver Woods (Princess #3) by Jessica Day George (December 11, 2012 from Bloomsbury) Purchase

All the Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen (December 11, 2012 from Entangled Publishing) Purchase

Cover Reveals:

Antigoddess (Antigoddess #1) by Kendare Blake (Tor Teen)

After Eden (After Eden #1) by Helen Douglas (Bloomsbury)

Hunted (Guardians Legacy #3) by Ednah Walters (Spencer Hill Press)

Charm & Strange by Stephanie Kuehn (St. Martin's Griffin)

Fault Line by Christa Desir (Simon Pulse)

The Neptune Project by Polly Holyohe (Disney Hyperion)

Sneak Peeks:

• Touch of Power Chapter 1 Sneak Peek on Maria V. Snyder's website!

In my Mailbox #39

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:

The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington
(from Scholastic Press)

Ashes of Twilight by Kassy Tayler
(from St. Martin's Griffin)

TRADED:

Beta by Rachel Cohn

WON:

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

BOUGHT:

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

I have a lot of books that I haven't featured yet so I'm just doing them all today!

In My Mailbox #38

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:


Timekeeper by Alexandra Monir
Flutter by Gina Linko
(from Random House)

Velveteen by Daniel Marks
Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould
(from Random House)

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepard
Asunder by Jodi Meadows
(from Harper Collins)

I have a lot of books that I haven't featured yet so I'm just doing them all today!

Review: Timeless

Timeless
by Alexandra Monir
Series: Timeless #1
Format: Paperback
Release Date: January 11, 2011
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Goodreads / Purchase

When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor’s world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she’s never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century’s worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life – a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually.
Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves – a quest that will determine the fate of both of their lives.

*A copy was provided by Delacorte Press for review purposes*

*****There are a few spoilers in this review, but they will be marked off with brackets and be in smaller font.  Example: [spoiler, spoiler, ladidada]

Time-travel, for some reason, isn’t a genre that I usually read.  I’ve read several time-travel books that I’ve really enjoyed, so I think it will become a genre I will read more.  Timeless is a huge reason to get into this genre.  The idea was so original, and the means by which Michele was able to travel back in time was very imaginative.  The writing was truly superb, and the staging was very good.  The romance was awesome as well, although I did have a bit of a problem with it.  [I feel like their falling in love was too sudden, and after their break-up they got over it really quickly.  It was like insta-romance, insta-hate ].  But, other than that I really enjoyed this book.  Also, the ending was a humungous cliff-hanger!  I can’t believe it ended like that, and I need the second book ESTASAP (Even Sooner Than As Soon As Possible) because I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!!!!!!

I really loved the main characters in this book.  Phillip was awesome, so nice and polite.  And also totally cute.  [I felt so bad for him when Michele dumped him].

Aside from her one bad decision, I also really liked Michele.  She was smart, and kick-butt in her own way.  And also, I’ve always wanted to try to write songs, and it was so cool that Alexandra Monir Michele wrote them in this book!

I’m just going to end this review right now because I’m going to read the second book to find out what happens after that cliffhanger! :P

4 pink flowers

Waiting on Wednesday #47

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:

Spirit and Dust, by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Goodreads / Pre-Order

Release Date: May 14, 2013

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Daisy Goodnight can speak to the dead. It’s not the result of a head injury or some near-death experience. She was just born that way. And she’s really good at it. Good enough to help the police solve the occasional homicide.

But helping the local authorities clear cold cases is one thing. Being whisked out of chemistry class by the FBI and flown to the scene of a murder/kidnapping in Minnesota? That’s the real deal.

Before the promotion can go to Daisy’s head, she’s up to her neck in trouble. The spirits are talking, and they’re terrified. There’s a real living girl in danger. And when Daisy is kidnapped by a crime boss with no scruples about using magic—and Daisy—to get what he wants, it looks like hers is the next soul on the line.

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Link me up!!