Debut to Watch: MONSTROUS by MarcyKate Connolly

The coolest thing about being a part of the online publishing community is that you get to see the genesis of all kinds of success stories.

I remember, for example, following The Writer's Voice contest in its first year, and seeing a particularly strong query+first page that was garnering a lot of requests. That page always stuck in my mind. And by the time I was fortunate enough to meet MarcyKate Connolly a year or so later, MONSTROUS was already on its way to become a book.

(That page stayed exactly the same, by the way.)

MarcyKate's revision process was almost compelling as the book itself (it began its life as a young adult MS!) But let's talk about the story:


The city of Bryre suffers under the magic of an evil wizard. Because of his curse, girls sicken and disappear without a trace, and Bryre's inhabitants live in fear. No one is allowed outside after dark.
Yet night is the only time that Kymera can enter this dangerous city, for she must not be seen by humans. Her father says they would not understand her wings, the bolts in her neck, or her spiky tail—they would kill her. They would not understand that she was created for a purpose: to rescue the girls of Bryre.

Despite her caution, a boy named Ren sees Kym and begins to leave a perfect red rose for her every evening. As they become friends, Kym learns that Ren knows about the missing girls, the wizard, and the evil magic that haunts Bryre.

And what he knows will change Kym's life.

MONSTROUS is an absolutely unputdownable read. Kym's first person narration hooked me as she learned to navigate the rules and boundaries of her new life. The world of Bryre just comes alive as the pages go on, and The reader takes it all in as Kym does. But occasionally the reader sees things Kym doesn't, too. While I can't dive too deeply into plot details without spoiling all of you, the story rarely seems to take the easiest turns for its characters. I had to keep reading just to make sure everyone would be okay!

This MG fantasy has been described as "Frankenstein as told by The Brothers Grimm," which I think is about as accurate as you can get, and MarcyKate seamlessly combines the fear, love, and sacrifice of a great fairy tale with Shelley's question of what it truly means to be human.

MONSTROUS comes highly, highly recommended from this reader. Go check it out now!

SHADOWS of the HIDDEN by Anne Riley is here!

It's out! Well, for pre-order!

Link to pre-order (The link to pre-order is in the sidebar)

If you use this pre-order link, shipping is free.

Goodreads page

Facebook page

Anne Riley author website

Blurb:

Natalie Watson doesn't believe her parents are dead, even though they disappeared five years ago. Discovering the truth about their fate is one of the only things that gets her out of bed in the morning. But after moving from her home in Georgia to her aunt's boarding school in Maine, solving the mystery of her parents' whereabouts is just one of several challenges she must face. When she's not fending off attacks from the popular kids, she puzzles over the rumors about a strange boy in her math class--one with fiery red hair who rarely speaks. 

Despite suspicions that he murdered his sister a year earlier, Natalie finds it impossible to stay away from Liam Abernathy--especially when he confesses to knowing something about her parents. Soon she's following him into the forest, where things happen she doesn't understand...things that shouldn't be possible. 

Natalie soon realizes her connection to Liam is deeper than she ever imagined, and not everyone she counts as a friend can be trusted. When she finds herself at the center of a centuries-old quest for immortality, she must work with Liam to stay alive--even if it means facing a truth about herself and her family that will not only shake her perception of herself, but of the entire world around her.

If you ever heard me gush about THE CLEARING by Anne Riley, then you know I am a big fan. SHADOWS OF THE HIDDEN is its reincarnation, put out by Compass Press.

The new cover goes above and beyond my original hopes for it! Covers aside, the content of this book is deep, moving, and wonderful. 

I've been recommending it to my friends for over a year, and now I have a reason to talk about it some more! 

Even though this is a magical book - okay, so it's got magic in it, not made of - it also touches on some very real-world problems, like the cost of bullying, the reality of bereavement. Adults and young adults alike will enjoy the magic and relate to the pain. As a writer, I know it's tough to strike that balance between magic and realism, but Anne Riley does it seamlessly. 

I hope you enjoy Shadows of the Hidden as much as I have. And if you do, skip on over to Anne Riley's page and tell her how it made you feel.

OA regulars, don't forget to polish your one-line pitches for December's Mystery Agent Contest TOMORROW!! See you then!

Awesome Book Reviews: MAGIC UNDER GLASS By Jaclyn Dolamore

Nimira is a music-hall performer forced to dance for pennies to an audience of leering drunks. When wealthy sorcerer Hollin Parry hires her to do a special act--singing accompaniment to an exquisite piano-playing automaton--Nimira believes it is the start of a new life. In Parry's world, however, buried secrets stir.

Unsettling below-stairs rumors abound about ghosts, a mad woman roaming the halls, and of Parry's involvement in a gang of ruthless sorcerers who torture fairies for sport. When Nimira discovers the spirit of a dashing young fairy gentleman is trapped inside the automaton's stiff limbs, waiting for someone to break the curse and set him free, the two fall in love. But it is a love set against a dreadful race against time to save the entire fairy realm, which is in mortal peril. 

Review: Magic Under Glass was published in 2009, and since then, I've been wondering whether I should read it or not. Why? After reading the book's summary, I thought, "This just sounds too up my alley to be true", and I got scared. Would it disappoint me after enticing me with its awesome premise? Would I expect too much from its promised awesomeness? Then I read this review from one of my favorite authors, Maggie Stiefvater, and I thought, "Holy whoa, Maggie loved it. Which means I'll most likely love it, too."

Still, I didn't read Magic Under Glass. I was too, too scared of being duped.

Cut to Saturday night. I'd bought the book for my Kindle months before, but I was too chicken to read it back then. I let the book hang around until Saturday night. I said to myself, "WHAT IS YOUR MALFUNCTION?? Read it already!!!"

So I read Magic Under Glass. And I have one word to describe the experience: delightful.

The main character, Nimira, is my long lost friend. She's a nice mix of sweet and tough, a determined yet fearful heroine. She grew up as the daughter of a lord who fell out of favor in their homeland's court. As a result, her father shipped Nim off to Lorinar, where she becomes a "trouser girl" who must dance for money. Nim's voice and her attention to detail are refreshing to the point where I wanted to make out with my Kindle--I felt like I was right there with her in Lorinar, in Hollin Parry's estate, next to the piano with Erris, the automaton. 

And ERRIS. What can I say about this poor, poor creature? He's a boy stuck inside a machine, for the love of Jensen Ackles! I understood (and agreed) with Nim's attitude toward him--at first, she's wary of the fact that he makes noises in the failed attempt to speak, but soon after, all she wants is to find out how she can help him. She even devises a system of communication between them: each note of the piano represents a letter in the alphabet, and Erris spells out what he wants to say by playing her music. It killed me to see Erris struggle to explain his side of the story, why he's in the position he's in, and how he could be freed. But it warmed my heart to see Nim stand by him, even though she doesn't know who he is, and even more dire, she's not in Parry's estate to do anything but sing.

As a writer, I couldn't help but notice some writer-ly brilliance on Dolamore's part. She is a master at raising the stakes with each chapter, and even a greater master at showing you how those stakes will affect Nim's story. No choice is an easy one in this book, and even though I predicted some of the outcomes, I was pleasantly surprised by how well Dolamore crafted a logical, seamless plot. Also, the cast of characters complemented each other really well for me. Tension was high even in the more quiet scenes, which I find difficult to pull off in my writing. Dolamore not only entertains me with a compelling plot, she also schools me in the art of writing a compelling plot.

Don't make the same mistake I made, folks. If you enjoy a little steampunk with your fantasy, a little adventure with your romance, check out Magic Under Glass, which is available in bookstores now! 

Supporting Great Causes: Kindle for Kids

We all know there is a lot of awesome that happens in the writing community. Since part of what we like to do on the OA blog is spread the awesome, I'm going to let Danyelle Leafty tell you about a fabulous fundraiser called Kindle for Kids. 

What exactly is Kindles for Kids?

Kindles for Kids is my way of paying it forward. My goal is to raise enough funds to purchase 10 Kindle Fires for the pediatric unit of a local hospital in UT.

How does Kindles for Kids work?

From March 12th-31st of 2012, I will be donating the *royalties I make on THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA: CATSPELL--both in paper and e-book form--toward the purchase of the Kindle Fires.

Royalties are paid a month to two months after the fact. Factoring in that as well as putting in the order, receiving them, and getting them ready, I will be delivering the Kindle Fires to the hospital in June of 2012.

How can you participate?

If you are an author (published) or a writer (unpublished), this link will explain it more. A more detailed link can be found here. In short, I'm hosting an open call for donating **books you have the rights to for the hospital. One book per Kindle Fire. You can also participate by writing a ***short story for a fairy tale anthology I'm putting together for the hospital. If you're a reader, this link will give you a few ideas on how to help spread the word.

How can you help?

The greatest help of all is to help me get the word out. You can do this by talking to people--online and in real life, posting about Kindles for Kids on forums, groups, on your blog, and by printing out and posting fliers. More detailed link here, as well as details for a photo contest. Link for the flyer here.

I can't do this without you, so thank you to all who participate in any way they can!

*Royalties up to 249,000 copies. After that, I have to buy an extended license for the photographs I use for the cover.
**All books will be vetted by me personally for both formatting and content. Since the Kindle Fires are going to the pediatric unit, I would ask that any donations are formatted and edited well, and that they go no higher than a PG rating.
***As with the books, please keep the short stories at a PG or G rating. Again, all stories that are chosen for inclusion in the anthology will be vetted by me personally. Also, because digital copies of the anthology will be donated to the hospitals, and there will be no money made off of them, neither the editor (me) nor the authors will receive payment or money for them. However, everyone who is included will receive a digital copy as either a PDF, a kindle file, or epub.

Awesome Book Reviews: SERAPHINA by Rachel Hartman

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high. 

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

In her exquisitely written fantasy debut, Rachel Hartman creates a rich, complex, and utterly original world. Seraphina's tortuous journey to self-acceptance is one readers will remember long after they've turned the final page.

Review: I'm a sucker for a vivid, compelling fantasy. Yes, dragons have been done before, both in literature and films. But Rachel Hartman's take is one I find refreshing and oh-so-awesome. For starters, her protagonist--the musically gifted Seraphina Dombegh--felt like a long lost friend. She's curious about the world around her, as well as her sort-of-concealed past. She's extremely self-conscious, but at the same time, confident. She has a big heart, always caring for her father and the grotesques (deformed creatures) who live in her forest. With her voice alone, I was happy, but Seraphina isn't a novel that satisfies itself with succeeding at one thing. 

The world-building rules--especially those regarding dragons, or saarantrai--in Seraphina are several, but they're laid out logically and at a pace that feels comfortable. There is zero clunky writing here, folks. Hartman's prose is easy to digest, but powerful in its delivery--something I find uber-important in the fantasy genre, where description/setting up the world can sometimes overshadow character development and depth. Whether it's discussing the different saints the characters worship or the melodies Seraphina's instruments produce, nothing feels like it's there gratuitously. Hartman is adept at weaving in detail into a complex plot without bogging it down. 

Another thing I loved? The supporting cast. I tend to fall for stories with a HUGE supporting cast (Harry Potter, anyone?). Hartman's novel is no exception. From Orma's to-the-point, no-nonsense attitude to Princess Glisselda's incessant enthusiasm, I was never, ever bored. And Kiggs. KIGGS. *fans self* Hartman managed to create a love interest that was as easy to root for as her protagonist. He's slightly more serious than Seraphina, but he shares her passion for books and philosophy, admires her bravery, and is enchanted by her musical talents. But don't fret: there is no Insta-Love in Seraphina. Just like the main plotline, the romance is a slow, slow burn, one you cannot turn away from. Trust me. When you reach the end, you'll be BEGGING for the sequel. #KiggsFTW

All in all, this is a fantasy novel for readers of all genres, but especially for those who love political intrigue, magic in unexpected places, and lots of (really sweet) romantic tension. 

Make sure you pick up your copy of Seraphina on July 10th!!

Awesome Book Reviews: PIECES OF US by Margie Gelbwasser

Two families. Four teens. 
A summer full of secrets. 

Every summer, hidden away in a lakeside community in upstate New York, four teens leave behind their old identities…and escape from their everyday lives. 

Yet back in Philadelphia during the school year, Alex cannot suppress his anger at his father (who killed himself), his mother (whom he blames for it), and the girls who give it up too easily. His younger brother, Kyle, is angry too—at his abusive brother, and at their mother who doesn’t seem to care. Meanwhile, in suburban New Jersey, Katie plays the role of Miss Perfect while trying to forget the nightmare that changed her life. But Julie, her younger sister, sees Katie only as everything she’s not. And their mother will never let Julie forget it. 

Up at the lake, they can be anything, anyone. Free. But then Katie’s secret gets out, forcing each of them to face reality—before it tears them to pieces.

Review: Holy bananas. Pieces of Us can be described using those two words. Why? First off, it's the kind of book that makes you want to write better. Gelbwasser gives us four narrators--three who speak in first person POV, and one who speaks in second person POV. Thankfully, each voice is distinctive (my personal favorite was the second person POV; it heightens how detached the narrator feels to what happens around them). Gelbwasser did a flawless job at crafting characters that both complement and conflict with each other. Her novel is practically a crash course in voice, and how it can push the plot forward. Although it was difficult for me to enjoy all her narrators, Gelbwasser never let me forget how important it is to add depth and resonance to an unlikeable character. If you remove even one of her narrators, Pieces of Us just wouldn't be as powerful to me. 

Another reason why this novel works for me is because of the actual plot. Some things are hard to stomach, to be honest. Others are so, so beautiful and sweet and wow. But all of it is written in such a way that you have to keep reading (that is, if you're comfortable reading novels with topics on the heavy side). There's this unshakeable sense of dread, that something MAJOR and MESSED UP will happen at any second (especially when it comes to Katie's secret, which the book blurb alludes to). It takes a skilled writer to make me flip the pages when all I want to do is cry. And, oh boy, did I cry. Very few novels have made me bawl my eyes out, but Pieces of Us achieved it, folks. With clear, straightforward prose that's filled with magic. 

No, it's not a novel for everyone. But if you're a fan of contemporary YA, particularly of Courtney Summers and/or Nina LaCour, this is your book. 

Make sure to get your copy of Pieces of Us, which is on sale now!

Magan Vernon's HOW TO DATE AN ALIEN: Book Review/Interview!!

High school senior Alex Bianchi's estranged father gets her an internship at Circe Operations Center to pad her college applications. But Circe isn't your typical military base. It's an alien-run operation center and not all of the aliens are friendly, especially the one that tries to kill Alex on her first day. When Ace, a dark-eyed Caltian, enters and saves the day, she can't help but be drawn to him. Can these star-crossed lovers survive when they're on the brink of intergalactic war?

I've been following YA author Magan Vernon's blog for quite a while now, and let me just say: she sure can entertain. That's why it's no surprise I freakin' l-o-v-e-d her debut novel, How To Date An Alien. Alex Bianchi is not only a fun narrator, but a relatable one. She's self-conscious yet confident. Kind yet badass when the situation calls for it. I particularly love how she reacts to the whole aliens-and-humans policy inside Circe--aliens are forbidden to date humans, and some members of the latter believe themselves to be superior than the former. The novel's tone is light and fun, but scenes where this bias was explored really spoke to me. How mean can people be to those they don't understand? To those they feel threatened by? Alex certainly had a few low points in regards to learning how to deal with this, but as the story goes on, she manages to handle herself like a pro (an awesome moment inside a cafeteria will forever be my favorite scene). 

And my other fave part about this book? Ace. A-c-e. He's probably one of the most complicated love interests in YA, and that's why I love him. At times, I was like, "Ooooh, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING THERE, ACE." Then I was like, "Umm... WHAT?" But I never stopped rooting for him. As a victim of prejudice and petty jokes, Ace is guarded. He's dedicated to his work (monitoring blogs/websites to make sure aliens aren't revealing their true identities to humans), and he treats Alex with respect, but at a distance. Their chemistry is undeniable, though, which grows even stronger as the story moves along. And I LOVED how they weren't afraid to tell it like it is to each other (a conversation about guyliner comes to mind...). By the end, I understood why they'd fallen in love, and why they'd done everything they did in order to protect that love.

If you like your scifi with a buttload of laughs, How To Date An Alien is for you, folks. 

And now I have a special treat for y'all: an interview with ze author herself, Magan Vernon!!

Check it out:

On the book

1) Tell us about How To Date An Alien's inception. How did this story come to you?

Oh geeze, good question. About two years ago I started really focusing on writing. I wrote a contemporary new adult novel that didn’t get anywhere when I started actually looking at trends. The market was so saturated by vampires at the time that I thought, “You know, I think we need to throw some aliens in the paranormal mix.” Slowly but surely the idea of an alien operations center and a kick-butt heroine came into play and the seed of How to Date an Alien was planted.

2) Your novel is described as a YA sci-fi. What is it about science fiction that appeals to you?

 Truth be told, I’m deathly afraid of aliens. I think that is probably why I’m so attracted to the idea. Aliens may frighten me, but they also intrigue me at the same time. I can’t help but get sucked into all of those alien specials on the History channel even though they give me nightmares.

3) You recently blogged about why you went with an indie publisher for How To Date An Alien. What have you enjoyed most about going indie? What's the hardest thing about it?

The thing I love the most would have to be DarkSide publishing. The girls are so supportive and I love how they’ve given me suggestions that have made my story even better than I ever imagined. I also love the freedom. I was able to pick out my own book cover and I had the final say on changes. The hardest thing is the fact that Indie publishers don’t exactly get the same respect as traditionally published. Somehow we got a bad reputation and people will try to knock us down just because we aren’t with a big publisher. But I’m a fighter and I know that fans of this story will agree.

4) Is How To Date An Alien a standalone, or does it have sequels on the way? 

There are two sequels (I’m not giving away the titles yet) and then two shorties that will go along with the series. The first one is Ace’s story, which is titled ‘A Very Alien Beginning.’ That should be out in Spring of 2012 and the second book in the series should be out by Summer/Fall of 2012.

On writing

1) Are you a pantser or a plotter? 

Pantser, all the way. I actually had no idea where How to Date an Alien was going the entire time and just let the characters tell me.

2) Revisions. Love them or hate them?

I used to hate them, but now that I’m working with DarkSide I actually enjoy them. GP Ching, Karly Kirpatrick, Megg Jensen, and Angela Carlie give the best suggestions and I look forward to my revisions when I get their notes back.

3) How much of How To Date An Alien's first draft made it into the final version?

Funny you should ask. The first chapter was written and re-written at least five different times. Alex’s name actually started out as Sofie White (shortly after she became Italian and Bianchi means white in Italian.) There were a lot of changes along the way and I didn’t even have a name for Ace until Stacey Kade came up with it. About the only thing that made it into the final version from that original draft was an alien operations center and a girl with glasses.

4) What's your #1 piece of advice for aspiring authors?

Never stop loving what you do. If you stop loving the story, then it’s time to move on.

On randomness

1) Favorite TV show/movie: Roswell the TV series and Dogma the movie

2) Favorite candy: Reese’s

3) You're stranded on an island by yourself. Which book would you read over and over again? Ugh this is a hard one!  I would probably go with the Bible. Not only for the religious aspect, but there are so many different stories to choose from with so many different interpretations.

4) If you weren't a writer, you would be: I currently work as Claim’s professional for a   major insurance company by day and I actually love my job. It’s kind of like people watching on the  phone.

Thanks so much to Magan for letting OA be a part of her blog tour!!! Make sure you go follow her blog, her Twitter, and buy your copy of How To Date An Alien over at Amazon!  

Awesome Book Reviews: GETTING CAUGHT by Mandy Hubbard and Cyn Balog

Sometimes in war, there are no winners…

Peyton Brentwood is pretty, popular, and Harvard-bound. Or so she hopes. Her only distraction from AP classes and entrance exams is the prank war with her ex-best friend, Jess Hill. Peyton is used to getting what she wants, and she’s not about to let a loser like Jess gain the upper hand.

For Jess, the prank war is an outlet, a way to get revenge on the best friend who left her behind. As if Peyton has the guts to do what it takes to win. Please. There is no way in hell Jess is going to lose this one, even if she has to hit Peyton where it hurts.

These two girls are about to discover it’s best to keep your friends close… and your enemies closer.

Review: I loved this book. There. I said it. 

Peyton and Jess are two of the most three-dimensional characters I have ever seen in contemporary YA. Their voices just pop right out of the page. Peyton is all about The Plan: get into Harvard.  Jess, on the other hand, isn't as hell-bent on college as Peyton. She's the oddball who dyes her hair a different color in the blink of an eye, while Peyton is prim and proper. But despite their blatant differences, both girls have one thing in common: they're hurt. And they choose to hide that pain through mean-spirited pranks. 

Honestly, it was really hard to pick a side. Does Peyton deserve to win the prank war? Or does Jess? Sometimes, I did prefer one girl over the other. But it's not so simple. Because both girls are hurt, I could understand both perspectives. There's no clear victim and victimizer. Just a whole lot of gray area. This is what really made me fall for Hubbard and Balog's book--the characters genuinely felt like teen girls who used to be BFFs, but aren't anymore. The authors channel their characters' frustration and lack of communication effortlessly. And they wrote it in a way that feels appropriate for the target audience, but adult readers can appreciate the heart behind it, too. 

Also, THE PRANKS. Some were hilarious. Others had me going, "Please don't do it, please don't do it, PLEASE DON'T DO IT." Yeah. I may have gasped a few times... And even though some pranks are just plain evil, the book never strays into After School Special territory. Of course, readers will identify what's right and what's wrong with what Peyton and Jess are doing, but the story's about their struggles as ex-BFFs and high school students. 

All in all, Getting Caught is a book to be devoured in one sitting, but it'll stay with you long after you read that last (and ridiculously awesome) page. 

Don't forget to buy the Kindle edition of Getting Caught over at Amazon! And a HUGE thanks to the lovely Mandy Hubbard for letting me read it! 

Awesome Book Reviews: BEAUTY QUEENS by Libba Bray

From bestselling, Printz Award-winning author Libba Bray, the story of a plane of beauty pageant contestants that crashes on a desert island. 

Teen beauty queens. A "Lost"-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to email. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count.

Review: Remember that time I said I wanted to make out with Elana Johnson's Possession?

Yeah. It happened again.


This was my first time reading a Libba Bray book. While I am still appalled at myself for not having read her other books, I'm glad Beauty Queens was my first. Bray has a knack for the funny. Scratch that--for the hilarious. Pageant girls stranded on a deserted island? Come on. You know you're laughing right now.


But Bray's novel isn't just about the hilarious. Yes, there are a few borderline psychotic, high-maintenance contestants who live and breathe sequins and sparkles. Some would kill for a flat iron. Or cry if they broke a nail. They are your standard beauty queen cliches. 


And it's precisely this that worked for me. Because not only does Bray acknowledge the cliches, she stomps on them and tosses them into the ocean. Adina, one of my favorite characters, is Miss New Hampshire. She has ulterior motives for being a contestant on the Miss Teen Dream pageant. I won't reveal said motives, but I will say that they spur debates between the rest of the girls. Mainly, they seek to answer this question: what does it mean to be a girl? Other contestants have their questions, too. Bray weaves them all together throughout the book, making you laugh and think at the same time. 


Beauty Queens shows an America turned corporation, where consumerism is king. At times, there are "commercial breaks" that feature ads for ridiculously named products, TV shows, and celebrities. There are also Fact Sheets that each contestant has filled, revealing funny yet poignant details about them. But sometimes those facts have to be censored--they clash with what a future Miss Teen Dream is all about. Or they might make The Corporation look a little less perfect. And we just can't let that happen, can we? 


I could go on and on, folks. My verdict? Don't listen to me. Go pick up Beauty Queens, which is in stores now, and see for yourself :)

Awesome Book Reviews: WILDEFIRE by Karsten Knight

Every flame begins with a spark. 

Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. 

But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

Review: Read. This. Book.

Long review: Read. This. Book.

Because I said so.

Longer review: Okay. I am aware that my powers of persuasion are a bit... rusty. So I've decided to explain myself. *cracks knuckles* Folks, Ashline Wilde is my BFFAE (Best Friend Forever And Ever). Maybe it's her bluntness, or her wit, but something about her feels real to me. Not that I know any Polynesian volcano goddesses. Which makes me sad. Because that would be awesome. 

*sigh* 

On the surface, Ashline is that girl you don't want to mess with (see above: Polynesian. Volcano. Goddess). The girl that could call you out on your flaws without any remorse whatsoever. But guess what? That's only the surface. To me, author Knight did an amazing job layering Ashline's personality, making her go from I-think-this-sucks-and-I-will-let-you-know, to Holy-crap-I'm-terrified-and-I-need-your-help. There's an honesty in her choices (and her mistakes) that made me connect with her. 

Also, she plays tennis. A sport that has mocked my motor skills since forever. So yeah. Ashline is my hero.

As for the rest of the book, it. Doesn't. Disappoint. There's a healthy dose of action, which I appreciated. Mythologies from all around the world, which rocked (#culturaldiversityFTW). And, of course, romance. Ashline's love interest is not a guy you usually find in other YA books (he's a bit older than her, and absolutely loves nature), and that's one reason why I liked him. The chemistry between them is off the charts, and seeing them banter back and forth always put a smile on my face.

In sum, this book reeks of awesome. 

Don't believe me? Well, go see for yourself when Wildefire hits bookshelves on July 26th! 

Giveaway + Double Review: Princess for Hire & The Royal Treatment

Check them out on goodreads

Lindsey Leavitt's website

Lindsey Leavitt is a delightful, fun-making genius! I haven't had this much fun since I read Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series. In fact, these two series share a few traits, making it easy for fans of one to pick up the other with confidence.

1) Duplicitous, but exciting careers involving undercover gigs
2) Teen girls capable of extraordinary feats
3) Confusing, twisty romances where nothing is what it seems
4) Realistic family relationships and problems (given the fantastic circumstances)
5) Plenty of awkward teen moments
6) Plenty of reasons to cheer!

Princess for Hire starts off the planned series with a POP. A bubble pop. That's the way Desi's talent agent gets around--in a magical bubble. And the talent Desi didn't know she had? Magic!

What girl doesn't wish she could be princess for a day? Desi signs up for the seemingly glamorous job of substituting for modern day princesses in much need of a vacation. But she really has no idea what she's getting herself into. Through pretending to be somebody else, Desi discovers who she really is--that she's a girl with impact, like Grace Kelly in Casablanca or Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday.

Desi is only thirteen, on the young side for YA, but as the book explains, people with MP (magic potential) tend to be mature for their age. Still, she struggles with bad hair days, armpit sweat circles, and unrequited crushes. She's an every girl. At thirteen, I would've escaped happily into Desi's world and learned a few things about myself right along with Desi. I'm sure girls of all ages will eat up the magical escapism and relate to the real life, day-to-day to which Desi must always inevitably return.

The Royal Treatment continues the series with a fabulous new development! No spoilers here, but I'll just say that it gave me more than one reason to cheer. Only a few months have passed since Princess for Hire and Desi still has her braces on, but she's not the same girl who jumped out of the bathtub, screaming at a rogue bubble. She's learned how to make an impact and she's eager to take her do-gooder-ing to the next level.

I loved Lindsey Leavitt's sometimes bizarre settings, and words like 'technomagical.' The world building is pure delight. Another thing I loved was the characterizations. Desi's best friend, Kylee, is especially multi-dimensional. And I appreciated that Desi never backtracked. That is, the lessons she learned from mistakes in the first book stuck, and she learned from new mistakes in this book. But even though Desi does make mistakes and misjudgments, she is consistently true to herself, which makes her the quintessential Disney princess, even though she isn't a princess at all.

The potential for this character is exciting, and I very much look forward to future installments of the Princess for Hire series. Five stars for both books.

While Princess for Hire is available right now, The Royal Treatment is due out May 3, 2011. So if you haven't read the first one, I recommend buying the first and pre-ordering the second. It's perfect timing to get sucked into Desi Bascomb's technomagical world of princesses and duplicity.

If you'd like to win a copy of Princess for Hire and an advanced reader copy of The Royal Treatment, comment below: which royalty, modern-day or fictional, would you like to be for a day! 

• 1 point for your comment with the answer to the above question.
• 2 points if you're an old follower
• 1 point if you're a new follower
• 1 point if you tweet (with links)
• 5 points if you blog about this contest (with links)

Contest ends April 21, 2011 at 11:59 EST.

Awesome Book Reviews: INVINCIBLE SUMMER by Hannah Moskowitz

Noah’s happier than I’ve seen him in months. So I’d be an awful brother to get in the way of that. It’s not like I have some relationship with Melinda. It was just a kiss. Am I going to ruin Noah’s happiness because of a kiss? 

Across four sun-kissed, drama-drenched summers at his family’s beach house, Chase is falling in love, falling in lust, and trying to keep his life from falling apart. But some girls are addictive....

Not your typical beach read.

Review: Back in January, I wrote a post called S-E-X And YA. Many things happened after I published that post, but the one thing I will never forget is getting to know Hannah Moskowitz. *grin* Hannah's cover for Invincible Summer was used as an example of how some YA readers (of all ages) might steer clear from books with sexual content just because they contain it. I stand by a person's choice to not read these books. I don't stand by parents telling their teens that books like these aren't worth their time. 

Folks, this book is worth your time, even if you dislike sexual content in YA. 

No, this book isn't about sex, but it does feature a male protagonist who has sex (you know, like some teen boys do in real life...). Chase does not have sex in every page, or is constantly seeking girls out. There's this one girl, though. He's not sure if she really likes him, or if she's just passing time. He's confused. He worries about his family, especially his little brother Gideon, who's deaf and communicates through ASL (American Sign Language). He recites quotes from (the uber-awesome) Albert Camus, existentialist extraordinaire. 

I think he might teach some teens more about love, hope, and identity than their parents ever will. Why? Because he's so honest. And raw. Unabashed. So is Hannah's writing. Everything clicked for me, even when it didn't click for Chase. 

So yeah. I loved Chase. 

I loved this book.

Make sure you go pick up a copy when Invincible Summer comes out April 19th!

Awesome Book Reviews: LIKE MANDARIN by Kirsten Hubbard

It's hard finding beauty in the badlands of Washokey, Wyoming, but 14-year-old Grace Carpenter knows it's not her mother's pageant obsessions, or the cowboy dances adored by her small-town classmates. True beauty is wild-girl Mandarin Ramey: 17, shameless and utterly carefree. 

Grace would give anything to be like Mandarin. When they're united for a project, they form an unlikely, explosive friendship, packed with nights spent skinny-dipping in the canal, liberating the town's animal-head trophies, and searching for someplace magic. Grace plays along when Mandarin suggests they run away together. Blame it on the crazy-making wildwinds plaguing their Badlands town. 

Because all too soon, Grace discovers Mandarin's unique beauty hides a girl who's troubled, broken, and even dangerous. And no matter how hard Grace fights to keep the magic, no friendship can withstand betrayal.

Review: I have been waiting to read this book for more than a year. The first time I discovered Kirsten was through the uber-awesome YA Highway site, and after reading her debut's description, I was an instant fangirl. And when LIKE MANDARIN landed on my doorstep, I prayed the book was just as amazing as that gorgeous description.

Folks, I was NOT disappointed.

I could tell you to read this book for several reasons. Characterization is unbelievably thorough, with Grace disdaining her pageant-y past and longing for more. Or Mandarin, wily and mysterious without being cliche. I could gush about the perfect world-building, and how Washokey felt so real I thought I was actually living there. This is probably one of the most vivid settings I've ever seen in a contemporary (usually, the type of detail shown in LIKE MANDARIN is saved for sci-fi/dystopians/urban fantasies/historicals). 

But the real reason why I loved LIKE MANDARIN is this: Kirsten Hubbard is not a writer, she is an artist. She crafts one beautiful sentence after another, as if writing predictable and overused descriptions/emotions were a sin. There's power in the simplicity of her words. She can break your heart or make you smile with just one image. I finished this book and thought to myself, "I will never be as good as her."

Then I thought, "I will never get this book out of my head."

You read how Grace and Mandarin are searching for someplace magic in that summary, right?

My someplace magic is Kirsten's writing. I am forever a fangirl. 

Make sure you go pick up your copy of LIKE MANDARIN, which is in stores now!