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!

In MY Mailbox...Publishers have been good to me. I thank them.

It's been a while since I've participated in an IMM meme. I've received some books that I wanted to read so badly, I had to acknowledge them. What surprised me is that some publishers sent me ARCs of the books, then followed up with the hardcover edition. That was very kind and generous of them. I'm certainly going to share the blessing and have a giveaway of either the ARC or hardcover edition of each of these books.

Arcs & Hardcovers

Dystopian Novels

   

I loved Daughter of Smoke & Bone so much, I had to buy the author's other books! I'm waiting for one more to arrive.

My friend, Jeff published his debut YA novel!

       

I left this ARC behind in another state by mistake, but it was sent to me! It was just as beautiful in person. A book can be "in person", right...lol...

  


















Toodles!

And the Winner of HADES is....

Thanks for dropping in guys and a special thanks to those who answered the question as instructed. The winner of HADES by Alexandra Adornetto is...

Sean Anand!!

Congrats Sean. Please email me with your address so it can be passed on to the publisher. If you don't respond in 48 hrs, another will be selected in your place.

Toodles!

Book Giveaway: HADES by Alexandra Adornetto

Book Two

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED AS OF 9/8/11

HADES is the second book in the HALO trilogy by teen author, Alexandra Adornetto. She's from Australia, but attending college now, down south, in the US. I met her last year at a book signing and had the pleasure of interviewing her (put her name/book in the search section to the right to check that out). I love this series and can't wait to sink my teeth into the second book. Let's get a sense of what HADES is about...

Book One

Heaven Help Her.

Bethany Church is an angel sent to Earth to keep dark forces at bay. Falling in love was never part of her mission, but the bond between Beth and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier Woods, is undeniably strong. But even Xavier’s love, and the care of her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can’t keep Beth from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, the demon Jake Thorn bargains for Beth’s release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly, her loved ones, as well.

The story that Alexandra Adornetto built in her New York Times-bestselling debut, Halo, comes alive in action-packed and unexpected ways, as angels battle demons, and the power of love is put to the test.                                                                                                               

The publisher is graciously offering the opportunity for one winner to receive a copy of HADES. If you're interested in being that winner, just leave a comment that answers these questions: can you name any other books you've read with demons as a main focus? How about angels? Of course if you haven't read any, that's okay, just say so. Don't forget to leave your email address. That is all.

The giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only at publisher's request. Giveaway ends Thursday, September 8, 2011.

HADES released 8/30/11 by Feiwel and Friends (Macmillian)

Learn more about the author here:

See Alexandra Adornetto on tour this Fall: http://www.facebook.com/penfataletour

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/AlexandraAdornetto 

Macmillan page for the book & author: http://us.macmillan.com/hades

Toodles!

My Selection for Waiting on Wednesday: Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

Book Two

Waiting on Wednesday is the weekly meme started by Jill at Breaking the Spine. It's a great opportunity to learn about new books and discover what folks are eagerly anticipating. This week, I'm looking forward to reading Hades, the second book in the Halo trilogy by Alexandra Adornetto. I had the pleasure of meeting her last year when she spoke about her book and writing career in a Manhattan library. She's a lovely girl from Australia who was only seventeen years old. I interviewed her for my blog (see 11/01/10 post). She was touring the US and fell in love with the American South. She's attending a Southern college now.

Book One

The first book in the series, Halo received mixed reviews in the blogosphere. Some bloggers really panned the book. It seemed some folks had a great time making sport of the story and saying how awful it was written. That's why I was so surprised to learn that it made the New York Times bestseller list! I LOVE this story. It was my favorite read of last summer. It's a nice, thick novel and I stretched out comfortably and devoured it. I even slowed down so I wouldn't finish it too quickly. It just tickled me to read some of the unfavorable reviews when I was enjoying the story so much. Sometimes you have to suspend your beliefs and go with the fantasy, people. It's fiction and a lot of what we read doesn't make sense. Let's see where the story is headed in the second book...

Even the love of her boyfriend, Xavier Woods, and her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can’t keep the angel Bethany Church from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, Jake Thorn bargains for Beth’s release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly her loved ones as well. Can he be trusted in this wager? And what does Jake have Xavier believing about Beth’s fate that may result in an act of betrayal that will leave Bethany – and readers – wondering if Xav is so good after all?

I don't know about the rest of ya'll, but I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth into Hades. Anyone brave enough to join me...lol...?

Hades releases August 30, 2011 by Feiwel and Friends (McMillan)

Toodles!

And the Winner of HALO is....

Thanks to those of you who dropped in and took the time to answer the questions I had. You really thought about what you wanted to say and I appreciate it. Now for the good part. The winner of Halo is...

Maidenveil!!!

Please send me your address, so I may mail the book out to you. I'm sure you're going to enjoy it. The winner was selected randomly. If she doesn't respond in 48 hours, a new one will be chosen.

Toodles!

Book Giveaway and Author Interview: HALO by Alexandra Adornetto.

I had the great pleasure of meeting Alexandra Adornetto, the young author of HALO, about two weeks ago. She was in a library in Manhattan, talking about her book. Alexandra is only seventeen, but you'd be hard pressed to find a young woman with greater poise. Honestly, authors old and new could take a lesson from this girl. She'd been traveling across the US and Canada and she was totally relaxed and professional. She was also very funny. She had the crowd laughing more than a few times as she answered questions and spoke about what inspired her to write HALO.

Getting ready to speak at New York Public Library, Manhattan

She still hasn't found a boy of her own like Xavier, the awesome love interest in the story and indeed, the character was inspired by several boys she knows. She took the best parts of all and combined them into one. She said lots of the guys she knows are sure she's writing about them. Actually, the bad boy in the story is based on one particular boy: her former boyfriend. He smoked, was full of tattoos and was the principal's son!
Though Alexandra lives in Australia, she was checking out colleges while she was here in the US and would like to return and attend one in the South. She was especially fond of one in Tennessee.
                                           

The publisher Feiwel and Friends/MacMillan was kind enough to send me a hard copy edition of the book and I am giving it away to one of the faithful. Check out Alexandra's interview and then learn how you can enter for a chance to win her really engrossing book. I loved it!

Book Review: HALO by Alexandra Adornetto. Author Interview and Book Giveaway to Come!

Title: HALO
Author: Alexandra Adornetto
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends/McMillan
Format: ARC
ISBN:978-0312656263
Price: $16.99 Pages: 484
Release Date: August 31, 2010

Halo was definitely one of my favorite books of the summer! It’s a young adult novel written by a young adult, seventeen to be exact and by the looks of things, she has quite a career ahead of her. Alexandra Adornetto wrote her first book at the age of thirteen. She is an Australian native and Halo is her US debut.

The striking cover was enticing and I couldn't wait to see what treasures lay within those pages. The cover art is rather amazing. It literally appears to glow; a flash of sunlight on the page looks so realistic, I looked at the book from all angles and still can’t figure out how that was done.

Halo is the story of three angels that are sent to the Earth. Their assignment is to bring good to the world. They take human form and live as a family of siblings in a sleepy little beach town. Gabriel, the elder, is a warrior angel. He’s not new to the game. He’s centuries old and knows his way around the Earth. Ivy the older “sister” is a healer. She too has been on a number of earthly missions and is well familiar with the pitfalls and problems in the world. The youngest, Bethany, is not sure what her special gifts are yet. She’s brand new, only seventeen and coming to the Earth is a first for her. She’s vulnerable, naïve and perhaps worse of all, curious.

Awesome Cover Art in YA literature

Halo is going to be released at the end of this month and I'm in the midst of reading it now. Loving it! I couldn't resist posting this cover. I think it is just so lovely. Honestly, the glow is so bright, it hurt my eyes even looking at it on the screen. I have to look at it from different angles, because I can't quite believe it. I don't know how they do it, but it certainly is eye-catching. It really looks like light is emanating from the cover. Anyone know of any other amazing cover art out there?