Summer Reading with Cheyanne Young + GIVEAWAY!

I have only had the pleasure of reading 1 of Cheyanne's books, (which you can win a copy of below!) But I REALLY enjoyed it! Below you can find some books that Cheyanne recommends you read this summer.

Cheyanne Young’s top 5 Summer Reads

 

1. Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
Colie expects the worst when she’s sent to spend the summer with her eccentric
aunt Mira while her mother, queen of the television infomercial, tours Europe. Always
an outcast — first for being fat and then for being “easy” — Colie has no friends at
home and doesn’t expect to find any in Colby, North Carolina. But then she lands a
job at the Last Chance Cafe and meets fellow waitresses Morgan and Isabel, best
friends with a loving yet volatile relationship. Wacky yet wise, Morgan and Isabel
help Colie see herself in a new way and realize the potential that has been there all
along.

Sarah Dessen is my favorite author, so I’d recommend every book of hers for every
occasion in your life. However, for the sake of other books, I’ll keep it to just this one.
Keeping the Moon is my favorite of Sarah Dessen’s books and it’s a perfect summer
read about making new friendships, new love interests, and finding out who you
really are.


2. Sugar by Deirdre Riordan Hall
I’m the fat Puerto Rican–Polish girl who doesn’t feel like she belongs in her
skin, or anywhere else for that matter. I’ve always been too much and yet not
enough.
Sugar Legowski-Gracia wasn’t always fat, but fat is what she is now at age
seventeen. Not as fat as her mama, who is so big she hasn’t gotten out of bed in
months. Not as heavy as her brother, Skunk, who has more meanness in him than
fat, which is saying something. But she’s large enough to be the object of ridicule
wherever she is: at the grocery store, walking down the street, at school. Sugar’s life
is dictated by taking care of Mama in their run-down home—cooking, shopping, and,
well, eating. A lot of eating, which Sugar hates as much as she loves.
When Sugar meets Even (not Evan—his nearly illiterate father misspelled his
name on the birth certificate), she has the new experience of someone seeing her
and not her body. As their unlikely friendship builds, Sugar allows herself to think
about the future for the first time, a future not weighed down by her body or her
mother.
Soon Sugar will have to decide whether to become the girl that Even helps
her see within herself or to sink into the darkness of the skin-deep role her family
and her life have created for her.

I had the pleasure of getting an ARC of this book and it blew me away. Hands down
my favorite book of the year, and there’s something about it that makes you refuse to
put it down after you start reading. That’s why I’m recommending this book as a
summer read, because you’ll need to be out of school/work and any other
obligations before you start this powerful book.

3. The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Money can't buy a good first impression.
Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers learned early that the rich are not to be
trusted. And after years of studying them from behind the cash register of her mom's
porcelain-doll shop, she has seen nothing to prove otherwise. Enter Xander
Spence—he's tall, handsome, and oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and the
fact that he seems to be one of the first people who actually gets her, she's smart
enough to know his interest won't last. Because if there's one thing she's learned
from her mother's warnings, it's that the rich have a short attention span. But just
when Xander's loyalty and attentiveness are about to convince Caymen that being
rich isn't a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their
relationship than she'd ever realized. With so many obstacles standing in their way,
can she close the distance between them?

Okay, yeah. There’s three books in this series, and they are all absolutely amazing.
They are what I consider the perfect first love story. I’m only recommending this one
because it’s the one I read first and that’s why it’s my favorite. THEY ARE ALL
AMAZING. The dialogue is witty and charming and the boy is swoony in all the best
ways. READ THIS BOOK.

4. I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios
If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future
would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at
Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar
and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar can taste the
freedom--that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart.
Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she's
ever worked for is on the line.
Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the
Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the
cocksure boy he used to be.
What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise--a quirky
motel off California's dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared
isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper.

This book is dynamite!! In fact, don’t even read that summary because it doesn’t do
the book justice. Heather Demetrios became an instant read author for me with this
book. For the rest of my life, I will read anything she writes. She is a genius and the
boy in this book? You will love him.


5. Reap by Christina Channelle
Foreign, or rather unfamiliar, would be the word I would use to describe how I
felt.
Faintly, I could hear the glimmer of voices surrounding me in this dark haze,
caressing my ears like skin against silk. I felt like I was in a cocoon of sorts,
protectively enveloped, quietly drifting in some far-off place. I wanted to stay that
way forever.
But we all know that what you want never really seems to happen in the real
world.
Something’s not right in Mia’s head.
The first thing is that her name isn’t Mia. In fact, she has no clue what her
name is—who she is. All that she knows is that she’s not like the ones who found
her: Dante with his kind blue eyes, Amy with her child-like demeanor, James with his
questioning gaze.
And Briggs.
The one she cannot decipher no matter how hard she tries.
As Mia tries to fit in with these people, a strange occurrence is amidst
outside. And as she finally remembers who she is …
Well, let’s just say that things get a little more complicated.

This book is a novella, so I saved it for last. You’ll be all swooned out after reading
the first four books and this one will blow your mind. It is my favorite novella ever,
and I read it twice in one sitting. First because it was awesome, and secondly, to see
if I could find any clues leading up to the massively mind blowing twist at the end.
*hint* There are clues. See if you can find them!

About Cheyanne Young:

Cheyanne is a native Texan with a fear of cold weather and a coffee addiction that

probably needs an intervention. She loves books, sarcasm, nail polish and paid holidays.

She lives near the beach with her family, one spoiled rotten puppy and a cat that is

plotting to take over the world, one scratched up welcome mat at a time.

A recent day-job quitter, Cheyanne can be found furiously typing on her computer,

probably complaining on Twitter about how she should be writing. When she’s not

honing her procrastination skills, she’s writing books for teenagers. She is the author of

several books for teens and recently turned her love of superheroes and writing for teens

into books about teenage superheroes. POWERED is her first superhero book but it won't

be her last. Because POWERED is a trilogy. Duh.

 

You can find her online at www.CheyanneYoung.com or on Twitter @NormalChey

 

About Motocross Me

When Hana Fisher moves to the small town of Mixon, Texas to live with her dad, she
dreads having to work at the boring pile of dirt he fondly calls a motocross track. But
when she gets there, she finds the rinky-dink dirt bike track from her childhood has
grown into the most respected racing track in the state - not to mention it's just crawling
with hot, sweaty guys.
Now popular by association, Hana endures the pain and sweat of working in the summer
heat in order to fit in with a sport she’s growing to love. She gets a real family, a best
friend and not just one, but two of the fastest racers trying to win her heart.
When Hana abuses her status as the track owner’s daughter to help the gorgeous Ryan
Russo cheat in the biggest race of the year, she risks more than just losing her job. Every
good thing in her life is at stake now- her friends, her dad’s trust, and Ash Carter- the
kind-hearted racer who may not be as alluring as Ryan, but is proof that nice guys don’t
always finish last.


Enter the giveaway for a signed paperback below! Giveaway ends June 30th.

Book Blitz + GIVEAWAY - - - Breaking the Rules by Katie McGarry

I am a huge fan of Katie McGarry, and taking part in this Book Blitz is a really exciting thing for me! Read more for an excerpt from Breaking the Rules, a continuation of Noah and Echo's story!

 

Breaking the Rules (Pushing the Limits #1.5)

by Katie McGarry 

Release Date: 12/08/14

Harlequin Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

A summer road trip changes everything in this unforgettable new tale from acclaimed author Katie McGarry.

For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so... different. It means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot, smart, soul-battered guy who’s never judged her. Echo and Noah share everything — except the one thing Echo’s just not ready for.

But when the source of Echo’s constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants — even as foster kid Noah’s search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves.

Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah's more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he'd be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn... seriously epic.

Excerpt:

From Noah’s Point of View

Relaxing on the floor with their legs stretched out, Isaiah and Beth stare at me. Beth pops open
her mouth, and I hold up my hand. “Not in the mood.”
Beth shrugs and returns to folding a brochure on mountain climbing into a paper airplane, but my
best friend continues to study me. When a guy a year younger with more tattoos on his arms than
he has skin gives the pity look, it’s bad.



 

Available for Pre-Order:
     

Books in the series:
(covers linked to Goodreads)
    

About the Author

KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.

Author Links:
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GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:

Monday YA Author Interview with Brenda Pandos + Glitch Blog Tour

Interview with author Brenda Pandos

Website - Twitter -Goodreads

Where are you from?
I’m born and raised in California. Though I often feel like a stranger
in my own state with how crazy things have become, it’s a beautiful
place to live and my family is here.

When and why did you begin writing?
I began writing right after my 2nd
heartbreaking news and since there was lots of “down time” when
caring for a newborn, I decided during those moments to think about
what my vampire story would be. Writing helped me think focus on
something else and help me through that time.

If you could be a book character, what character would you be?
I’d say Julia. Actually, she’s very much like how I was when I was 16.
Being saved by a hot guy while hanging off a cliff sounds amazing (if
it was my husband).

How did you come up with the idea for Glitch?
I’d just had a milestone birthday and thought about what I’d tell my younger self. I
feel like I was a late bloomer and didn’t fully grasp what I’d be good
at until I got older. My younger self floundered a lot with uncertainty
and self doubt, and I’d love to encourage her. Also, I wondered what
the world would be like if we knew how our actions affected our date
of death. So many people live for today, not considering how the
consequences could affect they’re future.

Are there any funny stories behind your characters names?
This is a great question! Julia, in The Emerald Talisman, is the name I
would have given my daughter. Phil is based on a real person and
Nicholas is a family friend’s name (I’d used it ‘cause I adored it).
At a party, when they met each other, they argued over who had a
better character, which was hilarious. My nieces and nephews all
want to be featured in my books. I’ve used most all of their names.
My eldest nephew wants a vampire/werewolf combo named after
him. I’ve yet to give into that one. Nicole, in Everlost was a winner
in a name contest. Harry aka Dirty Harry in Sapphire Talisman was
named after I learned the guy at my nail salon chose Tom Cruise for
his name when coming to the US. Sometimes, I chose last names or
first names based on friends/family names, just so I can see if they
actually read the book!

Genre: New Adult Dystopian

Perfect World. Lies. Blue eyes.

When a mysterious guy from the forbidden zone sneaks an illegal slip of paper to a beautiful young girl from Brighton, she must decide if she should turn him in or follow what the note says. 

Eighteen-year-old Abby has no trouble following Brighton’s rules. For one, she’s OCD about checking her Date of Death clock, making sure her decisions never shorten her timeline, and two, she enjoys the peace Brighton has to offer. In no way would she bring on another attack that destroyed earth’s inhabitants like her predecessors. But when her best friend returns from her Advice Meeting--a glimpse into the future--shell shocked and won’t tell Abby what’s happened, she’s worried what awaits her Advice Meeting in a few days. The stranger with blue-eyes knows something, but does Abby dare enter the forbidden zone to get answers? It's infested with zombies, or so the Elected Agency says, yet there hasn't been sightings in years.... Those who enjoyed Divergent, Hunger Games, Time Travelers Wife and Walking Dead, will love Glitch.

Check out the Excerpt and enter to win a signed copy!

GRAB GLITCH TODAY AT THESE RETAILERS!

      

(iTunes and the Paperback will appear shortly)

“So much happens in this book that you are just hooked and can't stop reading.” -Adriana

“This is a zombie story with a difference.” -Claire

“Recommend for all age fans of paranormal, zombies, dystopia and time travel!” -MS

EXCERPT:

Keeping my eyes on the ball, I tripped on something hard and round. My ankle twisted, tipping me over, and I fell directly into the foliage. I half-expected to land on solid ground beneath my butt, but all that was there was air. Then I thudded onto the rocks and continued sliding down a sharp decline. Tumbling over, I slid head first into the dry creek bed with an oomph.

Once the momentum stopped my body and the racing of my brain lessened, pain ricocheted everywhere. I bit back a wail and tears trickled down my cheeks. Beyond the stars flickering over my vision, birds jostled the leaves of the trees, taking flight in the bright sky. With my head spinning, I lay still, afraid to get up. Thoughts of a trip to the hospital and a cast from ankle to thigh rocked through me. Just my luck to break something right before my Advice Meeting.

“You okay?”

I startled at the male’s voice and gasped, struggling to right myself. Something other than pain jolted down my side as cool, blue eyes under a shock of dark hair met mine. My breath caught and I forced down a swallow. Cute—so cute. I couldn’t form anything coherent for a second, other than zombies didn’t talk.

“I—I’m fine.”

He quirked his head, scanning the length of my body. “I doubt that.”

Warmth rushed through me while under the gaze of this mysterious guy and my brain filed through all the faces of my potential mates online. His was one I’d definitely remember, especially with those eyes, and yet this was the first time I’d seen him. How did he escape my stalking? Was he on the unapproved list because of his blue eyes? From another province perhaps? One thing was for sure: he most definitely wasn’t a zombie.

“Here.” He reached for me and clasped my hand. His grip was strong and warm as he pulled me to my feet. But there was something between our palms, something flat, yet stiff with pointed edges.

He squeezed my hand hard and leveled me with a convicted look. I felt a rush of blood hit my cheeks when he held on a little too long.

“What is this?” I peered into his anxious eyes. Did he expect that I should know him? What was between our hands?

“Shhh—” he said, cautiously. “I just—need to tell you—”

He looked around nervously, then dropped my hand when the shouts of my teammates called from the ridge.

“Abby?” I heard Elle scream above the rest. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I called while my heart revved to a sprint. I fingered the thing he’d given me, trapping the evidence inside my palm, as my chest filled with terror. My mouth opened and shut, then I scanned the trees for hidden cameras. If I was caught with what I’d suspected he’d given me, we’d be arrested, no questions asked.

The strange, cute guy moved backward into the trees, blending in with his grey and black clothing. I wanted to ask him where he was going. The only thing echoing in my head was the Civilian Handbook.

Rule 6.1: Paper is illegal. To not make, manufacture, or use paper in any way. Report all violations of this law, or suffer a year in prison.

The sweat in my palm softened the pointed edges of the note. If I kept my hand closed, the EA wouldn’t see. But then how could I read what it said?

“Abby?” Elle screamed again. “Where are you?”

I moved away from the guy and back toward a trail leading up the side of the ravine to the field in a rush, panicked over the paper, panicked over everything.

“I’m coming.” I warred with a weird sense of being torn. My numb feet stumbled forward, knowing the correct response would be to run and report him. Another part of me wanted to help him. He wore vintage clothing from the pre-zombie era and black Converse shoes I’d kill for and had only seen in the museums. Where in the heck did he get his hands on paper? And why would he trust me with it? One quick glance at his wrist—no DOD watch. I wanted to ask him, but then I knew the EA was listening. Time ticked on slowly as we looked questioningly, into one another’s eyes.

When I looked up the trail once again, my teammates’ feet were rushing toward me, stirring up dirt everywhere. I turned back to the guy one last time, but the blue eyed stranger was gone.

His note, though, burned in my palm. And then, as the girls rushed down the trail toward me, terror flooded me. If I were caught, I’d be detained for who knows how long. I moved to the tall grass, stooped over to pick up my glove and stuffed the note under a shiny black rock, praying no one would notice.

CHAPTER TWO

Careful to remain under the cloak of darkness, I sucked in the precious air and pulled the black hoody tight around my face. Feeling naked without my Date of Death watch on, I quickly scanned the softball field for signs of life. If anyone caught me here, I’d have a lot of explaining to do. That was if the undead didn’t get me first. I shuddered and pushed away the thought.

I’m safe. There’s been no sightings in years, I reminded myself. Besides, I had to go. I had to know what the note said.

Sneaking along the edge of the field, I darted stealthily in the shadows, fighting the cold. The chilly February night was in direct opposition to the unseasonably warm day we’d had earlier, yet I couldn’t get Blue Eyes out of my mind—his clothes, his shoes, his eyes, his illegal paper. And no matter how hard I tried or as stupid as breaking curfew and sneaking out was, I knew I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep until I knew what the note had said.

Across the street, Elle’s brother Landon’s bedroom light beamed from the swanky remodeled apartments, perks of being a top security monitor for the EA. Courage burned through my veins as something he’d said replayed in my mind. The reason the EA insisted on everyone wearing their watches at all times was because cameras had difficulty deciphering people’s faces in the dark. He’d know, with all the sneaking and breaking of rules that he did. I never broke the law, ever. One, for fear of getting caught, and two, for having the stress take years off my life.

There was something in the way Blue Eyes looked at me that I couldn’t shake. The huge risk he took to transfer this information to me, one the EA couldn’t intercept and why paper was illegal in the first place, drove me mad with curiosity. Giant computers in the EA shrines held all interactions between people, conversations recorded by DOD and messages off people’s flat screens, and only through a warrant were those private interactions allowed to become known. Of course Landon said that was bullshit, which is why I’d removed my watch before sneaking out.

My heart thumped as I looked over my shoulder toward the street. Landon’s apartment overlooked the field and if he spotted and reported me, or my mother found my unattended watch next to my flat screen, playing a recording of me sleeping in the background, I’d be dead. Though we lived in a crime-free society, she’d send everyone on a hunt to find me. I’d be arrested and forced to talk. Then they’d implant a DOD band on me—one I couldn’t take off, ever. I would be branded a criminal.

Bands of light from the security tower tried to penetrate the dense trees and the proof of what I’d destroyed with my fly ball came into view. Wow. I’d knocked the container off its hinges. But where was the gun? Had I knocked that off, too? And why hadn’t anyone come to repair it?

I stepped into the tree line, feeling a cold rush of bitter wind cycle through the grasses and around my ankles. Hugging my arms to myself, I traversed the path from earlier, my feet stumbling in the darkness. My mind began to wander. What if a zombie could sneak over the wall now that there wasn’t a functioning gun? Were they smart enough to climb? I inhaled, sniffing for rotted flesh, and trudged down the path quickly. The dank dust flooded into my nostrils as my heart raced harder. A rustle in the leaves made me freeze. With wide eyes, I choked down the bile and held my breath, anticipating a feral groan. The walking dead, according to the survival manual, only reacted when they saw living flesh or smelled blood, but you weren’t to tempt fate.

Rule 21.2: If you’re in need of help, press your emergency button and call for backup immediately, especially in an attack with the undead.

Of course, without my watch on, that wasn’t a possibility for me.

I waited, and after hearing nothing else, I continued down to the end of the trail. Zombies didn’t know to hide or be quiet, but I didn’t want to bring attention to myself with a flashlight. Barely able to see the path, let alone a miniscule slip of illegal paper, I knelt down with a wish and a prayer.

Brushing my hands through the grass, hoping spiders and bugs kept far away from me, I searched. My thigh throbbed in pain from the fall earlier, as I scoured helplessly for the rock. It had to be here.

Where is it?

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the gleam of black in the moonlight. I reached for it, counting my blessings, when something large scuttled through the brush behind me. I squeaked, snagged the rock and slip of paper, and straightened my legs. Holding my breath, I stared to the other side of the dry creek bed toward an illusive dark shape standing at the base of the giant stone wall. I cocked my arm back, ready to pelt whatever it was with the rock. A breeze blew in from the spot, bending back the grasses toward me, revealing it wasn’t a person, but a hole in the rock wall. Then a flash of white scooted past on the other side.

A grunt followed.

My heart leapt into my throat and I sprinted up the trail before I could think. The moan of what had to be a zombie filled my ears. Quelling a scream, I ran to the field, still staying out of the light. I cleared the fence and turned, my chest heaving. The nighttime noises took a backseat to the blood pulsing heavily in my ears. I scanned back and forth, but nothing came out of the trees. I waited to be sure as guilt snaked through me. The most responsible thing would be to report a sighting, but that would mean admitting I was breaking curfew. Maybe I’d just imagined what I’d heard.

Unsure what to do, I ran to the street to find an overhead light. I unfolded the damp note sticking to my palm.

Scrawled in charcoal, I read, “Don’t meet your future self tomorrow. Please.” 

GIVEAWAY:

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Monday YA Author Interview With Katie Cotugno + Giveaway

Katie Cotugno

Twitter - Goodreads - Website

 

Where are you from? I'm from half an hour outside New York City originally, but I've lived in Boston for ten years.

When and why did you begin writing? The first story I ever wrote was in my dad's office on his Macintosh Classic--I was six, he parked me there to keep me quiet while he was in a meeting. I started typing and basically never stopped.

What books have most influenced your life most? My favorite books are Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer, Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic, Richard Russo's Empire Falls, and Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. As a kid I loved the BSC books, and anything by Roald Dahl--Matilda in particular, I read like a dozen times.

What book are you reading now? I just finished Holly Black's White Cat, which I loved, and am about to start Zadie Smith's On Beauty, which I'm reading for Lesley University's MFA program. 

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? Every single member of the Fourteenery, natch. Seriously, what a bunch of smart, beautiful, unique debut novels--and debut novelists.

What was the hardest part of writing your book? Not being embarrassed. Believing that I had something to say. Sticking to it. 

Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read) I have, yeah! I used to come home from the library with like fifteen books at a time when I was elementary school. I was totally that kid.

What character in your books do you relate to most? Probably Reena, since I spent the most time with her, but she and I definitely have our differences.

What is your favorite sport to watch and or play? I'm so excited for the Olympics! I love figure skating, especially pairs.  
 
Favorite Movie? Almost Famous, always always always. 
 
Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
 
Puppy's or Kittens? Puppies!
 
Beach or Mountains? Beach. 
 
If you could be a color, what color would you be? Bright, screaming orange. 
 
Favorite Dessert? S'mores. 
 
If you could be a book character, what character would you be? Kay Thompson's Eloise, for sure. "Tomorrow I think I'll pour a pitcher of water down the mail chute."

Giveaway:

Katie is giving away a SIGNED copy of How to Love to one lucky winner!

Please see terms and conditions in the rafflecopter before entering.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

How to Love
Published October 1st 2013 by Balzer + Bray

Before: Reena Montero has loved Sawyer LeGrande for as long as she can remember: as natural as breathing, as endless as time. But he’s never seemed to notice that Reena even exists…until one day, impossibly, he does. Reena and Sawyer fall in messy, complicated love. But then Sawyer disappears from their humid Florida town without a word, leaving a devastated—and pregnant—Reena behind.

After: Almost three years have passed, and there’s a new love in Reena’s life: her daughter, Hannah. Reena’s gotten used to being without Sawyer, and she’s finally getting the hang of this strange, unexpected life. But just as swiftly and suddenly as he disappeared, Sawyer turns up again. Reena doesn’t want anything to do with him, though she’d be lying if she said Sawyer’s being back wasn’t stirring something in her. After everything that’s happened, can Reena really let herself love Sawyer LeGrande again?

Monday YA Author Interview With Charlotte Bennardo + Giveaway

Where are you from?
I was born on Long Island, NY in Bay Shore, but moved to a tiny town called Mattituck (we were the first class to have 100 in the graduating class! But only because several juniors graduated early.).

 When and why did you begin writing?
When I was six or seven or eight, we were at a drive n theater (waaaay back when). My dad told me to close the car door before someone took it off. Why would they take our door off just because I didn't close it? What he meant was that another car trying to park next to ours would run into the door and rip it off. I realized he didn't use the right words, and I was fascinated ever since.

 What books have most influenced your life most?
The first book I truly loved also influenced me. It was "Beautiful Joe" by Marshall Saunders, told from the point of view of an abused dog. It showed me his life and thoughts. It touched every emotion and I always wanted to write something that affected someone as deeply as I was by that book.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a
mentor?
 I'd have to say Julie Garwood, the NYT bestselling romance writer. I had problems writing dialogue- it sounded stiff and choppy. I loved her style and followed it to teach myself how to write dialogue.

What book are you reading now?
I'm in the middle of several (I always do that)- "The Flame In The Mist" by my friend Kit Grindstaff, "Spook" by Mary Roach, and "Caught" by Harlan Coben

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
So many! I have lists on my desk and in my purse (some well known to the public that I just wish I had time to read) but the one that really shook me up was Barry Lyga and his "I Hunt Killers."

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Fave author is Sherrilyn Kenyon. What I love about her work is that she takes a myth like Atlantis and mixes it up with Greek mythology and vampires and shape shifters--and it works. I find myself actually thinking that the world she has created could exist. And more important, I want to live there!

What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Revisions. I don't mind once or twice, but when it has to be revised several times, I get bored. I like the shiny new ideas, even with all the flaws.

Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read)

I was not much of a reader when I was young. I started kindergarten at four and wasn't quite ready. It took me years to catch up, and then I wasn't close to a library. I think I became a voracious reader when I started in seventh grade and could haunt the school library.

What character in your books do you relate to most?
Hmmmm. "Sirenz" and "Sirenz Back In Fashion" were co-written with Natalie Zaman, so the characters have a little bit of both of us. I'm like Sharrise (the character I mostly wrote) in that I'm snarky, tall, blonde, and love color. But I'm not like Sharisse because I don't do the spa-manicures-shopping obsession thing. I'm not like Meg (who Natalie mostly wrote) because I don't like old clothes or am shy, but I am like her because I am the green-recycle queen who believes in causes. I'm a bit like Hades in that I have no patience for annoying people but not like him in that I don't play with people's emotions. In the new book, "Blonde Ops," also written with Natalie, there's one major character that has a lot of both of us. Bec Jackson is like me in that she's a bit klutzy, not all of her things work out like she plans, and she has a joie de vivre; we're different in that I'm no computer whiz, and technology sometimes makes me swearing-like-a-sailor
 crazy.

Ok now some fun questions:

What is your favorite sport to watch and or play?
My favorite sport to watch is the Olympics (it has everything! But I really do detest curling). To play, I'm a swimmer. I joke with the hubs that I'd trade him in before my pool. I swim year round; home in summer, at the Y in winter. 
Favorite Movie?
Oooh, toughie. So many... I'd have to say "The Lord of The Rings" because it has everything- love, war, good, evil, magic, humor, death, life,memorable characters.
Chocolate or Vanilla?

 Def chocolate!  

Puppys or kittens?
Kittens! (I have 2)  

Beach or Mountains?
Beach!  

If you could be a color, what color would you be?

Emerald green. 

Favorite Dessert?
Raspberry cheesecake.  

If you could be a book character, what character would you be?
I'd love to be Marguerite D'Aubert Goudeau. (Who?) She's a college girl in Kenyon's "Unleash The Night" who falls in love with a shape shifter and after a series of near-deaths, fights, and scares, is given the gift of shape shifting to keep him company for the next several hundred years. Had a taste of regular life, then almost immortality and some cool magical gifts. Yeah, I could do that.

 

Sirenz (Sirenz #1)

 

Bickering frenemies Meg and Shar are doing some serious damage at a midnight sample sale when the fashionistas find themselves arguing over a pair of shoes-with fatal consequences. One innocent bystander later, the girls are suddenly at the mercy of Hades, Lord of the Underworld himself. To make them atone for what they've done, Hades forces the teens to become special-assignment Sirens, luring to the Underworld an individual whose unholy contract is up.

Finding that delicate balance between their fashion addiction and their new part-time job in the eternal hellfire biz turns out to be harder than Meg and Shar expected, especially when an entire pantheon of Greek deities decides to get involved. Then there's the matter of the fine print in their own contracts...


 

Charlotte is offering up a giveaway! Enter below.  There will be two winners, the first will win one copy each of "Sirenz" and "Sirenz Back In Fashion". And one winner will receive the audio book of "Sirenz".
To enter----------> go over there-------------> and click the giveaway page.


*Giveaway is offered by author Charlotte Bennardo, I am not in charge of delivering prize.*

 

Blog:
 http://www.charlotteebennardo.blogspot.com/

Website:
 http://charlottebennardo.com/

Author group:
 http://kidlitresources.wordpress.com/

Twitter:
charbennardo

Facebook:
Charlotte Bennardo

Covert Assignment Blog Tour Review + Giveaway

 

Book & Author details:

Covert Assignment by Missy Marciassa

Publication date: December 2nd 2013

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Synopsis:

    Covert Assignment is a New Adult, Coming of Age Novel with a strong romantic element. Elle is ready for graduation and full-fledged adulthood: no more living like the leftover of her parent’s divorce. She’s about to graduate with her degree in Information Science (the 21st century term for Library Science) and has a ten-year plan as well-designed as any model for analyzing metadata: earn her JD/MBA, enjoy a couple of years as a single professional, then marry her college sweetheart, Adam, and start her own family.
    Yet Elle feels like she returned to an alternate universe her final semester. There are pictures of Adam with a classmate who must be surgically enhanced, but he insists he wants Elle. CIA recruiters show up on campus, and they aren’t just interested in recruiting Elle for future employment: turns out she’s already working for them since they’re funding her thesis. Hot operative Preston Raddick is tasked to work with her. Preston isn’t just hot: he’s hot for Elle, but is he offering happy ever after or happy for right now? A fling with Preston could be the beginning of a new life plan, which is exciting and scary, especially with espionage thrown in. Elle needs a predictive model to tell her which decisions have the greater likelihood for happiness…
    Covert Assignment is about the unexpected turns life can take when making “adult” decisions.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18454338-covert-assignment?ac=1

Purchase: 

—Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Covert-Assignment-Missy-Marciassa-ebook/dp/B00GW9H4HA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385394183&sr=8-1&keywords=Missy+Marciassa

 

 

 

 

    

The book kind of reads like a romance/comedy movie. As a matter of fact in my opinion it would make a really good movie! I found myself really picturing everything and really integrating myself into this book.

Elle is just a regular girl trying to get through college without financial (or emotional) help from her parents. The problems with her relationships with both her parent root from their divorce when she was 6 and their eventual estrangement of her as they continue on with their own lives. Cue Elle coming home from Christmas vacation to find out that her boyfriend Adam cheated on her.
Her two best friends Marni and Tina have very different views on it....with Marni being all about moving on and Tina being all about forgiving him and moving on with the marriage plans. Right after this cheating episode Elle meets Preston a CIA agent who is really interested in her. But still being with Adam, Elle doesn't do anything about it.

The way that Elle handles things at the starting of the book is a bit impulsive, she doesn't really stop and think things through. But as the book goes on, you can see a definite change in her behavior.

The CIA part of the plot is a little deceiving, as it doesn't get as much attention as Elle's romantic life does. But the part that it does get is really exciting and well written.

As I said above, the visualization was done really well and I believe that is why I think that it would make such a great movie! Being able to see everything so clearly has been rare in the latest New Adult books I have read and definitely a high five to Missy for doing such a good job!

As for the connecting with the characters part, I found myself yelling at Missy as she made some impulsive mistakes. And then cheering as she finally sticks up for herself against everyone.

The ending ties itself up pretty well, but I was still thrilled when I noticed on the authors blog (http://marciassa.com/2013/10/23/intro...) that this is going to be a series!

Entertaining, fun read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a short fun read! And except about some cheesy lines that I would expect in a cheesy romance/comedy movie I have no problems with this book.
3.5/5

Thanks to the author/publisher for providing an e-copy of this book. I am in no way compensated for the review.

Giveaway:

Grand prize giveaway

Prize (open internationally): 

--$25 Visa gift card

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

AUTHOR BIO

(No author picture)

Missy Marciassa loved getting lost in novels from the time she could read, so it’s no surprise she wanted to write. Her very first “novels” were re-writing the books she read to get the endings she wanted in second grade. Missy continued to read and write through grade school and high school.

After becoming rather disillusioned with fiction after writing literary criticism as an English major in college, however, Missy focused on her enjoyment of learning about people and studied psychology. Reading fiction fell to the wayside with all the reading and writing required for college and graduate school, but once Missy became a doctoral candidate, she rediscovered her love of fiction. Then she started getting the urge to write, an urge that wouldn’t go away (she refuses to diagnose it as a compulsion). Covert Assignment is the end result of that urge.

Links:

Website: http://marciassa.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7254740.Missy_Marciassa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MsMarciassa

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MissyMarciassa