Top Ten Tuesday 2014 Debuts I'm Excited For

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Top Ten 2014 Debuts I'm Excited For

As far as I know, these are all debuts.

17 First Kisses

Expected publication: June 17th 2014 by HarperTeen

 

 

Dear Killer

Expected publication: April 1st 2014 by Katherine Tegen Books

 

 

Prisoner of Night and Fog

Expected publication: April 22nd 2014 by Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins

Huge, huge fan of Historical Fiction! + This one has romance!

 

 

The Murder Complex

Expected publication: June 10th 2014 by Greenwillow / HarperCollins

 

 

Side Affects May Vary

Expected publication: March 18th 2014 by HarperCollins/ Balzer + Bray

The title says it all!

 

 

Cruel Beauty

Expected publication: January 28th 2014 by Balzer & Bray

 

 

Faking Normal

Expected publication: February 25th 2014 by HarperCollins Children's Books

 

 

 

A Mad, Wicked Folly

Expected publication: January 23rd 2014 by Viking Juvenile

 

 

 

Tease

Expected publication: April 29th 2014 by Balzer + Bray

 

 

The Falconer

Expected publication: May 6th 2014 by Chronicle Books

 

 

 

 

Link me up to your Top Ten Tuesday/Blog below in the comments! I would love to visit!

Monday YA Author Interview With Natalie D Richards

Natalie D Richards
Goodreads - Twitter - Website

Em, thank you SO MUCH for having me! I loved these interview questions and
am so happy to be here! YAY!

Where are you from?
I’m a lifelong resident of Columbus, Ohio – GO BUCKS!

When and why did you begin writing?
I started writing in very early childhood and according to my family, I was a storyteller even
before that. I’m not sure if it’s just a creative thing or possibly an I-can-never-shut-up thing, but
either way, I’ve always been a writer in some way or another.

What books have most influenced your life most?
This is a really tricky list to come up with because, like most writers, I read A LOT. But for
today I’ll go with David Copperfield, The Awakening, The Poisonwood Bible, Harry Potter, The
Hunger Games, Wintergirls, Slaughterhouse Five, The Hiding Place, and Leaves of Grass.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I’ve been privileged enough to receive advice and help from several authors in my journey
to publication, but choosing one just doesn’t feel fair. Honestly, my biggest fear would be
forgetting one of the many people who helped me get where I am today, so I’ll shorten it by
saying that writers as a whole tend to be generous, wise, and fun, and in particular, the writers
I’ve crossed paths with have changed my writing life for the better.

What book are you reading now?
Glory, glory I am done with edits so I am READING AGAIN! Woohoo! I’m currently (and I’m
late in doing so!) finishing up The 5th
by Amy Christine Parker which I enjoyed too. And I’m just starting The Night Circus by Erin
Morgenstern.
 Wave by Rick Yancy. It’s great. I also just finished Gated

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Rainbow Rowell probably bubbles to the top of a list of LOADS of amazing newauthors I’ve
found this year. Eleanor & Park in particular was crazy good.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Ugh, too many favorites! In YA in particular, I’d go with Libba Bray, Maggie Stiefvater, Jay
Asher, John Green, and I’d already say Rainbow Rowell is heading in that direction. What
always does it for me is voice. These writers have voices that are so authentic, so utterly
captivating – it’s hard to put it into words, but they’re all wonderful.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?
It’s a little different with each book. And each day. Some days it’s just hard to force my brain
to focus (collecting my thoughts is like herding crack-head cats) and others it’s hard to figure out
how to tackle a scene the right way. For Six Months Later, there was a scene in the back third
of the book that I had to rewrite about six times before I felt like it was right. That was totally
annoying, but necessary.

Have you been an avid reader your entire life? (since you could read)
Yes, but I’m not a typical “quiet, bookish” type. I’m actually very extroverted (think
obnoxiously chatty and you’re about right!)

What character in your books do you relate to most?
 Oooh, good question. Um, I think I’d have to go with Maggie – she has the same taste in music
and clothing and that sort of thing. J

What is your favorite sport to watch and or play?
I don’t play sports and the world is a safer place for it. I’m not exactly coordinated. But I love
watching football and hockey – especially hockey.

Favorite Movie?
Oy. Again, tough! I’d say in 2013, my favorites were Catching Fire and Frozen! How’s that?

Chocolate or Vanilla?
Chocolate. Accept no substitute.

Puppy's or Kittens?
 Puppies!

Beach or Mountains?
 Both, if possible. My in laws were lovely enough to take me to Hawaii…TWICE. And both are
possible there – Hawaii is the most beautiful place on earth.

If you could be a color, what color would you be?
 Hm…I usually say black because it’s all I wear and what I gravitate toward, but I think if I
actually have to BE a color, I should be a bit more unique. Maybe indigo?

Favorite Dessert?
 Tollhouse pie. But any really delicious chocolate thing (except cake – not a big cake fan) will
work just fine by me.

If you could be a book character, what character would you be?
Wow, this is a great question. I think I might go with Hermione Granger. She’s got a rough go
of things, but she’s incredibly intelligent, strong, and kind. I think that’s a pretty amazing mix.

About Natalie:
Lost for years in a maze of cubicles and file rooms, Natalie found her way back to her love of
writing in her late twenties and never looked back. Natalie lives in Ohio (Go Bucks!) with her
husband, their three amazing kids, and a giant dust-mop who swears he's the family dog. Follow
her on Twitter @natdrichards or visit her at www.nataliedrichards.com
Six Months Later is available for purchase in paperback and e-book format at Barnes&Noble,
Amazon, and Sourcebooks.com.
Em, thanks again for having me – I’d love to close with a teeny bit of info on my debut YA
thriller, Six Months Later, which doesn’t feature the beach or mountains, but DOES happen to
feature a lot of lovely wintery scenes.


She Has Everything She Ever Wanted. But Not Her Memory...
When Chloe fell asleep in study hall, it was the middle of May. When she wakes up, snow is on
the ground and she can't remember the last six months of her life.
Before, she'd been a mediocre student. Now, she's on track for valedictorian and being recruited
by Ivy League schools. Before, she never had a chance with super jock Blake. Now he's her
boyfriend. Before, she and Maggie were inseparable. Now her best friend won't speak to her.
What happened to her? Remembering the truth could be more dangerous than she knows...







You have it from me that Six Months Later is absolutely captivating! Go pick up a copy right away if you love thrillers!

Solving For Ex

Solving For Ex

Leigh Ann Kopans

Source: E-galley from author

Overall: (4.5/5)

1 crush on your best friend +
1 gorgeous, scheming new girl +
1 Mathletics competition =
1 big mess

SIMPLIFY.

Ashley Price doesn’t have much in life after being bullied so hard she had to leave her old school to live with her aunt and uncle in Pittsburgh. But the camera she borrowed from her best friend and secret crush Brendan, and her off the charts math abilities, make things a lot more bearable. Plus, since Brendan is the captain, making the school Mathletes team should be easy.

But when gorgeous new girl Sofia rolls in and steals Brendan, Ashley's place on the team, and her fragile foothold on the Mansfield Park Prep social totem pole, it’s on. Sofia is everything Ashley left her old school to escape. The only thing Ashley didn’t count on is Sofia’s sexy twin brother Vincent.

Vincent is not only the hottest boy in school, he’s charming, sweet, and he’s got his eye on Ashley. He’s also not taking no for an answer. There's no real reason Ashley shouldn't like Vincent, but with the
battle lines being drawn between her and Sofia, Ashley’s not sure which side he’s on. Or which side she wants him to be on.

She does know Sofia is trouble with a capital T, and she’s determined to make Brendan see it.



Review:

Noticing a few of my blogging buddies raving about this book, I had to pick it up!
It was not at all disappointing!

Things I liked:
The Plot:(4/5)
This one is a retelling of Mansfield Park, which I haven't read for a couple of years. But Leigh Ann does follow the story line pretty true.
But, although she followed the Mansfield Park story line.....Leigh added her own little twists and turns which made for a very enjoyable read.

The Characters:(4.5/5)
The main character Ashley moves in with her Aunt and Uncle after some mean girls spread rumors about her in her old school. The rumors escalated into something horrible/terrible, and Ashley is forced to move away.
Brendon, Ashley's best friend is the captain of the mathletes team. Something Ashley dreams to be a part of.
Ashley is such a geek/nerd....which makes her a very unique and original main character. She is brilliant with math, and actually loves doing it.
I liked Ashley's character most of the time, but as with real-life people, once in a while her character messed up.....
But by the end, Ashley was just a normal teenager who happens to love math.
Brendon is a typical guy, entranced by the gorgeous Sofia.....
In the beginning I loved how Brendon was, I though that he was really sweet to Ashley and just an overall nice guy.
After a while, Sofia comes into the picture and I like him a little less.
Throughout the story, you learn different things about what makes these characters. Leigh Ann does a beautiful job with her characters.
What I didn't like:
At times Ashley got a little annoying,(but I wasn't crazy about Fanny from Mansfield Park either.)

Overall:
This book was incredibly adorable,  I read it in one sitting. I really liked how LeighAnn crafted her characters. I loved the geekiness of them, the math element was adorable. I think that this a must-read contemporary!
(4.5/5)

Leigh Ann Kopans provided an e-galley of this book for review. This in no way influenced my review. I was in no way compensated.
 

Book Review: Six Months Later

This is one of those books that you look at and wonder whether you will like it or not, and then Romily Bernard (author of Find Me) starts to rave about it......and how could I not pick it up? Chloe is alright student, not at the bottom not at the top. She is not at all popular, having one very good best friend.........one day she is going on with her life, she steps into a classroom, sits down, and wakes up six months later. She doesn't remember anything from those six months. When she wakes up, s...more Six Months Later Natalie D. Richards Characters: 4.5/5 Plot: 4.5/5 Cover 4.5/5 Writing: 4.5/5 Overall: 4.5/5 Chloe didn't think about it much when she nodded off in study hall on that sleepy summer day. But when she wakes up, snow is on the ground and she can't remember the last six months of her life. Before, she'd been a mediocre student. Now, she's on track for valedictorian and being recruited by Ivy League schools. Before, she never had a chance with super jock Blake. Now he's her boyfriend. Before, she and Maggie were inseparable. Now her best friend won't speak to her. What happened to her? And why can't she remember? Review: This is one of those books that you look at and wonder whether you will like it or not, and then Romily Bernard (author of Find Me) starts to rave about it......and how could I not pick it up? Chloe is alright student, not at the bottom not at the top. She is not at all popular, having one very good best friend.........one day she is going on with her life, she steps into a classroom, sits down, and wakes up six months later. She doesn't remember anything from those six months. When she wakes up, she is suddenly popular, with a popular boyfriend, and a very, very good SAT score. Chloe is a great main character, she is so REAL! Her life is interesting, her parents are not exactly great, she is not a genius......she doesn't have 10 guys falling over for her. Very great main character, *high five* to Natalie Richards for creating a character that I can relate to.....and still find interesting. The plot of this book is what really got me, it kept me guessing the entire time and right when I thought I knew what was happening........PLOT TWIST! Everything about this plot keeps you interested. It hauls you into the story, where you are watching Chloe with her problems of (excuse the term) forgetfulness. You are watching her go to school, and the doctor. The THRILLS, the EXCITEMENT, the AMAZINGNESS, of this story made me fall in love with it.....from now on, if someone wants a thriller recommendation, this one will be at the very top of my list. Hope this review made you want to read it right away! 4.5/5

Book Tour: Stir Me Up - Book Review

Stir Me Up
Sabrina Elkins


Cami Broussard has her future all figured out. She'll finish her senior year of high school, then go to work full-time as an apprentice chef in her father's French restaurant, alongside her boyfriend, Luke. But then twenty-year-old ex-Marine Julian Wyatt comes to live with Cami's family while recovering from serious injuries. And suddenly Cami finds herself questioning everything she thought she wanted.

Julian's all attitude, challenges and intense green-brown eyes. But beneath that abrasive exterior is a man who just might be as lost as Cami's starting to feel. And Cami can't stop thinking about him. Talking to him. Wanting to kiss him. He's got her seriously stirred up. Her senior year has just gotten a lot more complicated….

Review:

I started this book with no expectations. I just thought that it would be another romance, with just plain characters, and a cliché story line.
I was impressed by how different this book was. The unique factors of this book, made it very enjoyable for me.

I really liked the main character Cami. Cami has spent her entire life watching and learning from her chef Father. Cami has a seemingly perfect life. Going into Senior year High School, has a popular boyfriend, and a really great best friend.

And in comes Julian to ruin this seemingly perfect life. Home from serving overseas in the Marines, Julian came home with severe problems (both mental and physical). The book did not explore his mental problems (all though they are mentioned), but it does explore the physical problems that he has.
Julian moves in with Cami, her Father, and her Step Mother. Who is also Julian's aunt and honorary Mother.
The romance between Cami and Julian was really great. The connection between them was definitely there at the start, but it grew throughout the book.

The characters in this book were all definitely enjoyable, and sweet.

The cooking part of the book was interesting to me. I loved exploring the different things that Cami and her Father makes. And I loved how the cooking element was such a big part of this story.

This book is good for fans of Simone Elkeles and Katie McGarry, I am a fan of both and I found this book very similar (but also a little different). Not a high cliché story line, and good deep characters. (4/5)

I received this book from the publisher via netgalley for this tour. This in no way influenced my review. I was in no way compensated.

 

 

***GIVEAWAY***

WIN 1 OF 3 STIR ME UP FUN FOODIE GIFT PACKS! COOKBOOKS-CHOCOLATES-

MAGNETS

 

Cami’s Cookbook Pack

Le Petit Paris: French Finger Food by Nathalie Benezet

500 Soups by Susannah Blake

Godiva chocolate bar

Stir Me Up magnet

Julian’s Late-Night Pack

George Noory’s Late-Night Snacks by George Noory

Dinner and a Movie by Katherine Bebo

Godiva chocolate bar

Stir Me Up magnet

Sweet Desserts Pack

Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey by Jill O’Connor

Cutie Pies by Dani Cone

Godiva chocolate bar

Stir Me Up magnet

 RULES AND RESTRICTIONS:

Contest is void where prohibited. Entrants must be 18 or else have parent or guardian’s

permission to enter. Winners will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to respond or

another winner’s name will be selected. Winning entries will be verified for authenticity.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Rafflecopter Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/MjM0OGI5ZGJmNWUwNzllYTYzNjAyYzhhZGU0MDc0OjIxNA==/

 

 

About the Author

I am a former journalist who worked for the Los Angeles Daily News and other newspapers in

the greater Los Angeles area. Prior to this I worked in advertising, writing ad copy for corporate

travel accounts and major motion pictures. My first job out of college was as an administrative

assistant to an executive chef and a food & beverage director at a Four Seasons hotel. I also spent

some time working as a prep cook for Spago in Beverly Hills.

I received my Master's degree in Journalism from the University of Southern California. While

in graduate school, I had the privilege of studying fiction writing under renowned author Hubert

Selby, Jr., and comedy writing under famed comedian Shelley Berman. I am a past participant of

the Squaw Valley Community of Writers Summer Writing Workshop.

Raised in the woods of Vermont, I now live in the greater Los Angeles area with my husband

and three children. STIR ME UP is my first novel.

 

 

Author Links:

http://www.sabrinaelkins.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7222674.Sabrina_Elkins

https://twitter.com/sabrina_elkins

https://www.facebook.com/elkins.sabrina

 

Buy Links:

AMAZON: http://tinyurl.com/paht2kt

BARNES & NOBLE: http://tinyurl.com/kxq2fod

KOBO: http://tinyurl.com/nmlb63e

BAM: http://tinyurl.com/nzz4lpn

ITUNES: http://tinyurl.com/okf7ry6

ZOLA: http://tinyurl.com/nblf98d

 

 

Follow the rest of the tour here: http://yaboundbooktours.blogspot.com/2013/11/blog-tour-sign-up-stir-me-up-by-sabrina.html

Characterize It (1)

 

Welcome to Characterize It, a meme held every Thursday and hosted by http://theyabookbutterfly.blogspot.com/

As usual for memes, link the meme back to the host page so that other can join in!

 

Going by a schedule, every Thursday there will be a different "theme" for a different character.

This week I decided to do a Strong Female Character......because who doesn't like reading about them? I will have a schedule  for the next couple of months posted pretty soon, and hopefully some other blogs will join in!

 

My choice for the Strong Female Character is going to be................................................

 

 

Cammie from the wonderful Gallagher Girls series.

Cammie is a spy, so when it comes to martial arts, encoding, and taking care of herself without *needing* a guy, then she is the absolute definition! She is one of the strongest girl characters that I have come across. The Gallagher Girls series is also one of the most enjoyable series. (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED).

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you want to participate in the Characterize It meme, link up below!

 

 

 

 

 

Waiting On Wednesday (16) Dearest

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at http://breakingthespine.blogspot.com/, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

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

 

Dearest (Woodcutter Sisters #3)

Alethea Kontis

Expected publication: October 2014 by Harcourt Books

 

 

Synopsis Via Goodreads

 

"Friday's Child is loving and giving." And so Dearest is the story of Friday Woodcutter, apprentice seamstress, with her generous heart and her patchwork skirts. Friday loves and is loved by all. But is she up to the challenge of solving the mystery that is Tristan Swan?














You might recognize the past books in the Woodcutter Sisters series:





This one doesn't have a cover yet, but I can't wait to see where Alethea goes next!

Leave me a link to your WOW/Your Blog.....I would love to visit!