Order a good book and get cool earrings too! NY Times bestselling author Alyson Noel is at it again!

On May 22, 2012, Alyson Noel, author of The Immortals is launching a new series, The Soul Seekers. Book one starts with Fated. It's filled with her trademark blend of mystery, romance and this time, a blend of magic.

So here's the deal . . .

Strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, glowing people appear from nowhere. Worried that Daire's having a breakdown, her mother sends her to stay with the grandmother she's never met, who lives on the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico. There Daire crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes.

Her grandmother recognizes Daire's episodes for what they are - a call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, a person who can navigate between the living and the dead. Guided by her grandmother, Daire must be quick to learn how to harness her powers because Dace's brother is an evil shape-shifter, out to steal them.

Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and discover if Dace is the guy she's meant to be with . . . or if he's allied with the enemy she's destined to destroy.

When fans pre-order Fated in any format (print, e-book or audiobook) and submit their receipt, they will receive a pair of soul seeker inspired earrings–while supplies last.

Go here to read about the rules and details:  http://stmartins.com/fatedpreorder

If you want to read more about Fated, you can read an excerpt & a special bonus scene on the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/soulseekersseries.

Earrings will be mailed out approx. 4-6 weeks after Fated goes on-sale (5/22).

This is a pretty cool opportunity, isn't it?

Go for it!

Happy Release Day! The Immortal Rules, A Blood of Eden Novel by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules, by Julie Kagawa is the first book I've read from this author. Those of you more in the know, are familiar with her from her bestselling novels, The Iron Fey series. I've clearly been missing out because I absolutely LOVED The Immortal Rules. Check out some of the description...

In a future world, vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die…or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn't easy to pass for human...

If you thought vampires were so yesterday, think again. The Immortal Rules is an original take on the genre. It totally sucks you in...lol... Let me tell you, Kagawa is the queen of worldbuilding! The reader is drawn into the dark, stark, vivid imagery that the author weaves. It's like you're in Allison Sekemoto, the main character's skin, seeing what she sees, feeling what she feels--and that is scary and pulse-pumping, believe me. While this is a vampiric, dystopian story, the author manages to seed in a burgeoning romance, brewing under the surface of all the dark madness. Awesome. 

I can't wait for the next installment. I'm now inspired to go back and read her Iron Fey series. If The Immortal Rules is any indication, I'd better get ready to settle in for another good read.

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa releases April 24, 2012 from Harlequin Teen.

Toodles!

In My Mailbox...

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi, The Story Siren. It's another way I learn about new books coming out. This past week, I got even more books to add to my overflowing TBR pile.

I bought The Maze Runner. I already had the second book in the series, The Scorch Trial, which I bought in a a fire-sale when Borders was closing. Now that I have book one, I can finally start reading this story.

I love the cover of The Book of Summers by Emylia Hall. Thanks to the publisher, Mira for sending it to me. It follows a 9 year-old girl to the age of 16, as she spends summers between her mom who lives overseas and her dad in America. A life-shattering secret emerges and a betrayal ensues. Sounds good. It releases May 29.

Thanks to St. Martins's Griffin for sending the third installment of The Chronicles of Nick series, Infamous by Sherrilyn Kenyon. The first book in the series, Infinity, was zombie heavy, and I'm not a zombie-loving sort of girl, but I was surprised to really enjoyed the story and I find myself reading book 3. I'm kind of committed to Nick's journey now. I think there's like 12 books or something in the series, so I'll see how far I make it...lol...I've never read anything by Jackson Pearce, but Purity sounds like a heart-felt book: a dying mom and a promise; looking for a loophole to lose one's virginity...sounds complex--and it's not a very long book--only 224 pages. My thanks to Little, Brown for their generosity. Purity releases April 24.

Entangled Publishing sent Pretty Amy. It releases May 8. I've started reading it and I'm liking it! The author captures the teen voice and angst, being pissed at parents, perfectly!

And lastly, I received a discount coupon from Barnes and Noble. I headed over there and was met at the door with a table loaded with the Shades of Gray trilogy. I couldn't resist and had to buy it. I have to see what all the fuss is about. I'll save this for one of my summer reads.

What are you reading?

My Selection for Waiting on Wednesday: Heaven by Alexandra Adornetto

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that offers you the great opportunity to learn about new books coming out and what's whetting people's appetite in world of fiction--particularly that of the young adult world. It was started by Jill over at Breaking the Spine.

This week, I've chosen Heaven by Alexandra Adornetto. It's the third and final book in the Halo series. A lot of people have a love-hate relationship with this series--feeling strongly one way or the other. I totally loved Halo, liked the second book, Hades and can't wait to see how it all ends in Heaven. Check out the blurb...

Bethany, an angel sent to Earth, and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier, have been to Hell and back. But now their love will be put to its highest test yet, as they defy Heavenly law and marry. They don't tell Beth's archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, but the angels know soon enough, and punishment comes in a terrifying form: the Sevens, who are rogue angels bent on keeping Beth and Xavier apart, destroying Gabriel and Ivy, and darkening angelic power in the heavens.

The only way Bethany and Xavier can elude the Sevens is to hide in the open, and blend in with other mortals their own age. Gabriel and Ivy set them up at college, where they can't reveal their relationship, and where there is still danger around each corner. Will Bethany be called back to Heaven - forever - and face leaving the love of her life?



Has anyone else read this series? What did you think of it?

Heaven releases August 21, 2012 by Feiwell & Friends (McMillan).

Toodles!

My Selection for Waiting on Wednesday: MAGISTERIUM by Jeff Hirsch

Waiting on Wednesday is the great meme started by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It's a wonderful way to learn about new books coming out and what folks are looking forward to reading. This week I've chosen Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch. Honestly, I didn't have a clue about what this book was about from the title, but the cover totally drew me in. I interviewed Jeff on this blog last year and totally loved his debut novel, The Eleventh Plague. It's a great dystopian book that both boys and girls would enjoy. I was really looking forward to what he was going to write next and Magisterium is it! Check out the description...

On one side of the Rift is a technological paradise without famine or want. On the other side is a mystery.


Sixteen-year-old Glenn Morgan has lived next to the Rift her entire life and has no idea what might be on the other side. Glenn’s only friend, Kevin Kapoor, insists there’s monsters and witchcraft, but magic isn’t for Glenn. She has enough problems with reality. Ever since her mother abandoned them years earlier she and her scientist father have led nearly separate lives. He obsessively pursues “The Project,” a patched-together heap of technology whose importance only he seems to grasp, while Glenn dreams of the day she can escape.

But when her father’s work leads to his arrest, he gives Glenn a simple metal bracelet that sends her and Kevin on the run—with only one place to go.

On the other side of the Rift, Glenn and Kevin find the Magisterium, a fundamentally different reality that’s both more wondrous and more terrifying than they could have imagined. They also find themselves in the middle a hundred-year-old conflict that will force Glenn to reassess everything she thinks she knows about the world, her family, and even herself.


I've got quite a wait. Magisterium releases October 1, 2012 by Scholastic.

Toodles!

Cover Reveal: GRETA & THE GOBLIN KING by Chloe Jacobs

 Hey, guys. I'm putting a new book on your radar. Watch for Greta and the Goblin King. Here's what it's about...

While trying to save her brother four years ago, Greta was thrown into the witch’s fire herself, falling through a portal to a dangerous world where humans are the enemy, and every ogre, goblin, and ghoul has a dark side that comes out with the full moon.


To survive, seventeen-year-old Greta has hidden her humanity and taken the job of bounty hunter—and she’s good at what she does. So good, she’s caught the attention of Mylena’s young Goblin King, the darkly enticing Isaac, who invades her dreams and undermines her determination to escape.

But Greta’s not the only one looking to get out of Mylena. The full moon is mere days away, and an ancient evil knows she’s the key to opening the portal. If Greta fails, she and the lost boys of Mylena will die. If she succeeds, no world will be safe from what follows her back…

The author, Chloe Jacobs, is a native of nowhere and everywhere, having jumped around to practically every Province of Canada before finally settling in Ontario where she has now been living for a respectable number of years. Her husband and son are the two best people in the entire world, but they also make her wish she'd at least gotten a female cat. No such luck. And although the day job keeps her busy, she carves out as much time as possible to write. Bringing new characters to life and finding out what makes them tick and how badly she can make them suffer is one of her greatest pleasures, almost better than chocolate and fuzzy pink bunny slippers.


You can learn more about the author here:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Jacobs_Chloe


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChloeJacobsAuthor

Website: http://www.chloejacobs.com

You can learn more about the book and then pre-order here:

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13260802-greta-and-the-goblin-king


Barnes and Noble pre-order: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/greta-and-the-goblin-king-chloe-james/1040613977

In September, you'll be able to read an exlusive excerpt.


Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs releases November 13, 2012 by Entangled Publishing.

Toodles!

In My Mailbox...

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi, The Story Siren and it's a great way to learn about new and interesting books. This week, I received some very interesting ones. My thanks to Little, Brown for their generosity!  I was most excited to get I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga. I recall when he was writing the book and he posted pictures of his manuscript. The stack of pages was unbelievable for one story. I'm not sure if this is a series or not, but I fell in love with his writing after reading Boy Toy. That was a tale of sex abuse of a boy that is spot-on! I Hunt Killers is about a boy whose father is a serial killer and he's afraid he's picked up Dad's bad habit. I can't wait to get into it! Check out the book, both with and without the cover. Whew!

With Cover

Without Cover!

Belles by Jen Calonita is about a tale of backstabbing Southern belles, scandal and secrets. Sounds good! The author was a Senior Editor for Teen People, a journalist for Entertainment Weekly, and Glamour. She lives in NYC. Not sure if she's a Southerner! I love the cover of this one too! It's so pretty and once again, they did a nice trick with and without the paper cover.



With cover





Without Cover



172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad sounds downright creepy. At first I wasn't sure if it was a YA book, but it is. It's about three teens that win a lottery and receive a trip to the moon. They get a lot more than they bargained for when they discover something sinister waiting for them--and there's noone to save them. Oh. My. There's no cover tricks with this one. That one scary eye is enough!

I Hunt Killers released April 3, 2012

Belles releases April 10, 2010

172 Hours on the Moon releases April 13, 2012

Toodles!

And the Two Winners of The Lady of the Rivers by Phillipa Gregory are...

I'm glad you girls shared your thoughts about historical fiction. I won't delay the announcement another second. The winners of The Lady of the Rivers are...

Cindy Bennett!!! and...

Donna McBroom-Theriot!!!

Congratulations! Please email me with your contact info, so I can pass it on. The books will be arriving directly from the publisher.

The winners were selected randomly using Random.org.

Toodles!

Phillipa Gregory fans! Get a copy of her newest paperback: The Lady of the Rivers. Two winners for this one!

Phillipa Gregory is arguably the queen of English historical fiction. If you haven't read it, I'm sure you've seen or heard of the movie adapted from her book, The Other Boleyn Girl.

In The Lady of the Rivers (On-sale April 3, 2012; $16.00; 978-1-4165-6371-6), now in paperback, this #1 New York Times bestselling author masterfully weaves passion, adventure, and witchcraft into the story of Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford, who would survive two reigns and two wars to become the first lady at the rival courts of both Lancaster and York.

When Jacquetta is married to the Duke of Bedford, English regent of France, he introduces her to a mysterious world of learning and alchemy. Her only friend in the great household is the duke’s squire Richard Woodville, who is at her side when the duke’s death leaves her a wealthy young widow. The two become lovers and marry in secret, returning to England to serve at the court of the young King Henry VI, where Jacquetta becomes a close and loyal friend to his new queen.

The Woodvilles soon achieve a place at the very heart of the Lancaster court, though Jacquetta can sense the growing threat from the people of England and the danger of their royal York rivals. As Jacquetta fights for her king and her queen, she can see an extraordinary and unexpected future for her daughter Elizabeth: a change of fortune, the throne of England, and the white rose of York. . . .

If you'd like an opportunity to be one of the two winners to receive a copy of this book, tell me why you like historical fiction. Can you name any Phillipa Gregory books you've read? That is all. Don't forget to include your email!


The  Giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada. It ends Saturday, April 7, 2012.

My thanks to Kaitlyn of Simon & Schuster, Inc for making this giveaway possible.

Lady of the Rivers released in paperback April 3, 2012 by Touchstone/Simon & Schuster. 


Toodles!

In My Mailbox...

In My Mailbox is a nifty meme started by the Story Siren. This week I was gifted with a couple of books in the mail and bought some as well. Thanks to Willam Murrow, imprint of HarperCollins for sending The Thirteen by Susie  Moloney. I thought it was a YA book, but upon closer inspection it's adult--and about witches. I'm not attracted to reading about witches, generally, but I'm curious about this and the cover is creepy.

I bought two books. I've wanted The Space Between by Brenna Yovanoff ever since I first heard the author was writing it. I really loved her debut, The Replacement and committed to following her career. She has a dark sensibility, similar to my own--she's just been successful at getting hers published! Lol...I also heard a lot about Legend by Marie Lu and added that to my pile as well. The buzz is that it's an intriguing dystopian and I think it's been optioned for a movie. I'm looking forward to checking it out.

Book Two

I finally bought Spells by Aprilynne Pike. It's the second book in the Wings series that I absolutely fell in love with, much to my surprise! She writes great romance and I can't wait to learn what happens to Laurel, David and Tamani (a boy fairy). I think she's written the fourth book and I'm only up to book two! I'm so behind! *sigh*

My dearest friend sent my this cute, old picture book called I Love Cats. It was written in 1983. Of course I love it because... I Love Cats!! Hee...hee...hee....

What did you get to read this week?