February - month in review & great new books for March!

 Books Reviewed:

Click on links to read reviews: 

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
Delirium by Lauren Oliver 
Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell 
Haven by Kristi Cook
Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy #6) by Richelle Mead
Night Star (Immortals #5) by Alyson Noel 

Book News/Features:

Special  Feature: Netgalley - appreciation, advice & top picks!
Special Feature: UK Cover Love.
Sneak Peek: Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Sneak Peek: Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting

Blog Tours/Interviews/Guest Posts:

Delightful Debutantes # 8 - Karen Mahoney & The Iron Witch.
Delightful Debutantes # 9 - Sara Bennett Wealer & Rival
Delightful Debutantes #10 - Kristi Cook & Haven
Delightful Debutantes #11 - Kim Harrington & Clarity

New Books for March - my picks:

Click on links for Goodreads descriptions: 

Clarity by Kim Harrington - review coming soon
Cuckoo by Julia Crouch - review coming soon
Desires of the Dead (UK) by Kimberly Derting - review coming soon
Falling Under by Gwen Hayes - review coming soon
Firelight (UK) by Sophie Jordan - review coming soon
Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard 
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
Raising Demons by Rachel Hawkins - review coming soon
The Raising by Laura Kasischke - review coming soon
Strings Attached by Judy Blundell - review coming soon
Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later by Francine Pascal

Competition Reminder:
Click on link to enter:

Win a copy of Across the Universe by Beth Revis
UK Only // Ends March 4th 2011.

Comments are disabled on this post, but you are welcome to check out any of the links in this post and comment there. You know I love reading your comments! :)

Special Feature: NetGalley appreciation, advice on galley approval and my pick of the top titles you should request!

I've spoken for my love of NetGalley on here before, and it seems to me that the  internet's premier digital galley resource just keeps getting better, with new publishers signing up all the time, and great new galleys being added almost daily. Even though you don't need an e-reader to read the galleys featured on NetGalley, all the great titles on there actually prompted me to buy one, and I'm glad I did, as I have read some amazing titles via NetGalley.

I believe there is a problem with the Kindle feature on NetGalley right now, but they are working on sorting it out.  As for my Sony e-reader, it works like a dream with NetGalley.

There are so many good titles on NetGalley right now, and here are my picks of just some of the best. 

Adult Titles

 

The Raising is the new book from Laura Kasischke, author of The Life Before Her Eyes.  I've read some amazing industry reviews of this one. I've already downloaded it to my reader, and plan to get started on it soon. This one is described as a cross between Stephen King and Donna Tartt and sounds really good to me!

The Raising by Laura Kasischke

Publisher: Harper Perennial

Release date: March 15th 2011

The accident was tragic, yes. Bloody and horrific and claiming the life of a beautiful young sorority girl. NICOLE was a straight A student from a small town. Sweet-tempered, all-American, a fomer Girl Scout, and a virgin. But it was an accident. And that was last year. It’s fall again, a new semester, a fresh start.

CRAIG, who has not been charged with murder, is focusing on his classes, and also on avoiding Nicole’s sorority sisters, who seem to blame him for her death even though the police did not.

PERRY, Craig’s roommate, is working through his own grief (he grew up with Nicole, after all, and had known her since kindergarten) by auditing Professor Polson’s sociology class: Death, Dying, and the Undead.

MIRA has been so busy with her babies—two of them, twins, the most perfect boys you could imagine, but still a nearly impossible amount of work even with Clark’s help—that she can barely keep herself together to teach (Death, Dying and the Undead), let alone write the book she'll need to publish for tenure.

And SHELLY, who was the first person at the scene of the accident, has given up calling the newspapers to tell them that, despite the "lake of blood" in which they keep reporting the victim was found, the girl Shelly saw that night was not bloody, and not dead.

Before I Go to Sleep is a psychological thriller in the vein of Shutter Island and Memento, and I think it's going to be huge. This one is being published by HarperCollins (US) and Transworld (UK). I've heard the movie rights have sold too.  So far I've heard only good things about this book, and I'm looking forward to reading it soon.  

Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release date: June 14th 2011.

 Every morning, Christine awakens beside a stranger in an unfamiliar bed. She sees a middle-aged face in the bathroom mirror that she does not recognize. And every morning, the man patiently explains that he is Ben, her husband, that she is forty-seven-years-old, and that an accident long ago damaged her ability to remember.

In place of memories Christine has a handful of pictures, a whiteboard in the kitchen, and a journal, hidden in a closet. She knows about the journal because Dr. Ed Nash, a neurologist who claims to be treating her without Ben’s knowledge, reminds her about it each day. Inside its pages, the damaged woman has begun meticulously recording her daily events—sessions with Dr. Nash, snippets of information that Ben shares, flashes of her former self that briefly, miraculously appear.

But as the pages accumulate, inconsistencies begin to emerge, raising disturbing questions that Christine is determined to find answers to. And the more she pieces together the shards of her broken life, the closer she gets to the truth . . . and the more terrifying and deadly it is.

The Twisted Thread revolves around a murder which takes place at a prestigious Academy and is recommended for fans of The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I love a good murder mystery, and this one caught my eye a few months back.

The Twisted Thread by Charlotte Bacon

Publisher: Hyperion Voice.

Release date: June 14th 2011

Privilege exists, and sometimes it's deadly. 

 When beautiful but aloof Claire Harkness is found dead in her dorm room one spring morning, prestigious Armitage Academy is shaken to its core. Everyone connected to the school, and to Claire, find their lives upended, from the local police detective who has a personal history with the academy, to the various faculty and staff whose lives are immersed in the daily rituals associated with it. Everyone wants to know how Claire died, at whose hands, and more importantly, where the baby that she recently gave birth to is - a baby almost no one, except a small group of girls in her innermost cricle, knew she was carrying.

At the center of the investigation is Madeline Christopher, an intern in the English Department who is forced to exame the nature of the relationship between the school's students and the adults meant to guide them. As the case unravels, the dark intricacies of adolescent privilege at a powerful institution are exposed, and both teachers and students emerge as suspects as the novel rushes to its thrilling conclusion.

Young Adult Titles

HarperTeen always have some of the most coveted titles on Netgally, and I know that there's always a lot of excitement around the blogosphere whenever they add new titles. The latest bunch of titles from HarperTeen/Balzer & Bray is very impressive, and contains some hot summer titles.  I've already read Die for Me by Amy Plum, which I loved. Fingers crossed that I get approved when I request the other HarpterTeen titles!

While were talking about HarperTeen and galley approval, I know that a lot of people are still having their requests declined.  I've requested galleys from HarperTeen in the past, and have been approved. The only advice I can offer is to fill in all details on your profile.

Here's what HarperTeen themselves have to say:

My NetGalley profile includes my blog address, information on where my reviews will be published, my review policy, my preferred reading genres and my contact details (email address).

A good tip is to request one title and then send your review to the publishers via NetGalley before you request another. I know a lot of people are excited to see great titles on NetGalley and request them all at once, which can lead to disappointment. This is just my advice - I know that other people have different experiences with this process.

NetGalley also have also provided an article on Publisher Approval Preferences which you can view here:

Publisher Approval Preferences

Other YA titles I recommend:

The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter - This one is proving to be very popular amongst book bloggers.  I've already read some glowing reviews of this modern day take on the Persephone myth. And if you haven't already seen the cover: check it out! Stunning!

The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch -  I just came by this one on NetGalley the other day, and it's gone straight onto my must read list. I've never read a YA book dealing with Voodoo before. Should be interesting!

Mercy by Rebecca Lim - This one is a very recent addition to NetGalley, and a new angel book that I'll be checking out. I've already read quite a few positive reviews of this one as it was released in the UK in 2010.

******************************

Those are my top picks from the huge choice of books NetGalley has on offer. 

If you've already read any of these, I'd love to hear what you thought of them.

If you'd like to share your experiences of NetGalley either positive or negative, leave a comment. If you have any questions regarding NetGalley, feel free to ask! I'm not an expert on NetGalley by any means, but I am a frequent user. If you're starting out and having any problems, maybe I can help.

You might also like to read: HarperTeen & NetGalley team up - it's a match made in book heaven!

 * Please note: Not all of these covers are final and may be subject to change. If the cover is changed, I will update with the new cover!

Book Review & Giveaway: Across the Universe by Beth Revis.

Product details:
Publisher: Puffin.
Paperback, 398 pages.
Release date: March 3rd 2011.
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Ages: 12+
Source: Received from publisher for review.

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone--one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship--tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Before reading this review, you should know that I am not a fan of sci-fi in any form. In fact, I actually have a note about it in my review policy. So, even with all the hype surrounding this book, I wasn’t sure if it would be the one for me. Then I read the first chapter, which I found gripping and terrifying in equal measures, and was totally sold! In Across the Universe, Beth Revis employs evocative world building to create a truly terrifying future society which will leave you feeling claustrophobic and unsettled. Best of all, you don’t have to be a sci-fi fan to enjoy this one. Across the Universe contains dystopian elements and murder mystery which will keep even those hard-to-please readers entertained.

As Across the Universe opens, we are introduced to Amy and her parents who have signed up to be cryogenically frozen and transported three hundred years into the future. The way in which Revis describes the freezing process is meticulous and entirely fascinating. I could feel what Amy and her parents were feeling as they underwent the process, and I found the whole thing truly terrifying. For me, the first chapter of this book was one of the best I’ve read – it will suck readers in and get them immediately invested in the story and the characters. I read the first chapter a couple of months ago when it was released online, and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. Unfortunately, for me, what happened next was a little disappointing.

The focus now switches to Elder, a sixteen year old boy on board the vast spaceship, Godspeed. Elder is a leader-in-waiting on board the very ship that Amy and her parents are now frozen cargo on. We have shifted 250 years into the future, when Amy is suddenly unplugged, unfrozen, and brought back to life. In essence, somebody has tried to murder Amy, and now the race is on to find out who that murderer is before he strikes again. Amy must adjust to her new life, while all the while protecting her still-frozen parents, and figuring out who she can trust in this strange new environment, where everybody looks the same and nobody betrays the orders of the dictatorial leader, Eldest.

As I’m writing this, I’m thinking that the story sounds pretty fast-moving and exciting, but in reality I found this one very slow to get going. The book is told in a dual narrative between Amy and Elder, and while this is a style that I sometimes enjoy, as it usually enables me to connect with characters, here it left me feeling a little detached from them. I felt that the story was a little disjointed in places due to the dual narrative. I also felt a little let down by the promised romance here. While it’s not always necessary, I am a fan of a romantic interest in books, and here, I didn’t find one. While the themes explored in this book are often mature, the  romance between Amy and Elder never really takes off. I felt as though the characters never really got comfortable with themselves or with each other.

As for those mature themes in this book, Revis does not hold back. First of all, the subject of leadership and how it can be abused with devastating effects is explored. I found this and the exploration of leadership through time pretty fascinating. When you discover that Eldest admires Adolf Hitler as a leader, then you know there’s trouble ahead! Then, there’s the subject of sex. The mating season! Dude! Those scenes were Wild! There’s also an attempted rape here and the subject of incest is raised, as all the people on Godspeed are Monoethnic. That leads us to the subject of race, which is also a theme explored here, and an interesting one at that.

While this book was well written, and is a strong debut, I can’t say that I loved it. There were certainly parts I enjoyed, and it contains some good plot twists, but overall the characters didn’t work for me, I found the outcome of the murder mystery a little too predictable, and the ending left me unsatisfied. But on the upside, I think a lot of people will really enjoy this one. I also think that this is a book that will really appeal to a male readership. There are a lot of alpha males in this one, no soppy romance, a spaceship setting and plenty of action towards the end of the book, so if you have a guy in your life that’s a reluctant reader, this could be the book to get him interested!

*****************************

Thanks to those lovely people at Puffin, I have a copy of Across The Universe up for grabs!

To be in with a chance to win, just fill in the form below.

Please note: This competition is UK ONLY - Publishers request.

Competition Closed - Winner Announced Soon!

Guest Blogging at The Reader Room!

Today I am guest blogging at The Reader Room. To find out what I'm talking about, click the link below. Leave a comment for Alice while you're there, and let me know what you think about my choice for Read, Review, Recommend.

Thanks to Alice for inviting me over!

Read, Review, Recommend at The Reader Room.

Book Review: Haven by Kristi Cook.

Product details:
Publisher: Simon Pulse.
Hardcover, 416 pages.
Release date: February 22nd 2011.
Rating: 3½ out of 5.
Ages: 14+
Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab.

One month into her junior year, sixteen-year-old Violet McKenna transfers to the Winterhaven School in New York’s Hudson Valley, inexplicably drawn to the boarding school with high hopes. Leaving Atlanta behind, she’s looking forward to a fresh start--a new school, and new classmates who will not know her deepest, darkest secret, the one she’s tried to hide all her life: strange, foreboding visions of the future.

But Winterhaven has secrets of its own, secrets that run far deeper than Violet’s. Everyone there--every student, every teacher--has psychic abilities, 'gifts and talents,' they like to call them. Once the initial shock of discovery wears off, Violet realizes that the school is a safe haven for people like her. Soon, Violet has a new circle of friends, a new life, and maybe even a boyfriend--Aidan Gray, perhaps the smartest, hottest guy at Winterhaven.

Only there’s more to Aidan than meets the eye--much, much more. And once she learns the horrible truth, there’s no turning back from her destiny. Their destiny. Together, Violet and Aidan must face a common enemy--if only they can do so without destroying each other first.

Kristi Cook’s debut novel Haven is a quick, fun read and a total page turner, with a feisty female protagonist and lots of surprising plot twists to boot. Boarding school paranormals are a great weakness of mine, and when they come equipped with a hot love interest, then I’m pretty much sold. While this one contains all the elements you know and love from boarding school paranormals you’ve read in the past, Cook adds an element of surprise that allows this one to stand on its own. I also found Cook’s writing style a joy to read. The prose flows effortlessly, making this one a total page-turner. Haven is a fast paced read, and contains a great bunch of characters that I loved getting to know. Certain characters also struck me as being a little more mature than those I usually encounter in YA fiction, which adds to the crossover appeal of the book.

Winterhaven is a boarding school with a difference. For one, only pupils who have psychic abilities are accepted at Winterhaven, and these pupils are drawn to the school by some strange, unexplained means. In effect, the school chooses them, and that’s how Violet McKenna finds herself enrolling as a student at Winterhaven. Violet has a pretty tragic past, and has always felt like an outsider amongst her friends and family because of her psychic ability. This comes in the form of prophetic visions which allow her to foresee mostly bad things that are going to happen to the people closest to her. While she finds it hard to relate to people in the outside world because of this, she soon forms a close group of friends at Winterhaven, each with a very special gift of their own.

The girls that Violet meets at Winterhaven, and the friendships formed were realistic and easy to relate to, and were my favourite aspect of this book. Violet’s various friendships were well developed and while there are a few teething issues between Violet and some of the girls there is no jealously or bitchiness and the typically mean-girls element so often present in boarding school books is notably, and refreshingly absent here.

While at Winterhaven, Violet also meets the mysterious and elusive Aidan Gray, the brooding hero of the piece. To say that Aidan is a tortured soul is an understatement. While the guy is undeniably hot, he’s definitely got issues! Nevertheless, Violet is instantly drawn to Aidan, and the feeling is definitely mutual. What these two don’t immediately know is that their destinies are inextricably linked, and not in a good way either! Even though their connection is explained through the story, Aidan and Violet didn’t totally work as a couple for me. Their relationship is tumultuous to say the least, and yet these two totally and utterly fall in love very quickly indeed. For me, the chemistry between them was a little off, and I found it difficult to warm to Aidan, but then he is harbouring some big secrets, which made me wary of him right from the start. And, when I say big, I mean it in a pretty huge! When Aidan’s secrets are revealed, the book definitely takes off in a direction that I wasn’t expecting.

With this one set to be the first in a series, there are a couple of unanswered questions here and things are set up very nicely for the next book. While I definitely had a couple of issues with this one, I  very much enjoyed it overall, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how Aidan and Violet deal with the major obstacles lying ahead of them. This one is a fun, entertaining read, and a great debut!

Waiting on Wednesday #31 - The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted at Breaking the Spine that spotlights eagerly awaited upcoming releases.

The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

Publisher: Simon Pulse.

Release date: June 28th 2011.

Sometimes there's no turning back.

Amber's life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of her family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell that he's also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she's drawn to him. And the more she's troubled by his darkness. Because Cade's not just living in the now--he's living each moment like it's his last.

I've never read a book by Lisa Schroeder before, and I've never read a book in verse either, so this one will be a whole new departure for me.  I love the sound of this one, and I've heard it described as a YA Before Sunrise, which means I just have to read it. Before Sunrise, starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy is one of my all-time favourite movies, and if you haven't already seen it, you simply must!


Let me know what you think of my WoW choice for this week, and share your WoW's in comments! :)

Delightful Debutantes #11: Kim Harrington & Clarity!

Another week, another Delightful Debutante! Honestly, who would have thought I'd be organised enough to have an actual interview lined up (almost) every week? Not me!  Today, Kim Harrington is dropping by to talk about her book, Clarity. I love the sound of this one, and thanks to my blogger friend, Heidi, I now have a copy of my very own. Thanks, Heidi. I can't wait to get started on this one!

Over to Kim...

 I love the sound of Clarity. It sounds quite different to anything else I’ve read.  Can you describe the book for my readers in just one sentence?

Clarity is about a psychic teen who—along with her medium brother and telepath mother—does readings for tourists in her beach town on Cape Cod and tries to solve a murder when her brother becomes the prime suspect.

What prompted you to start writing? Are there any particular authors or books you’ve read that inspired you to write?

I’ve always written, ever since I was a little girl. I loved to write spooky stories, even as far back as second or third grade. That’s why Clarity coming out this year is a dream come true. And a long time coming! 

Clarity has such a pretty cover!  What does the cover image represent to you and what is it that you love most about the cover?

I never mentioned this to anyone at the publisher, but I had secretly hoped that water would be on the cover. The book takes place in a tourist town on Cape Cod and the setting is such an important part of the story. So I was delighted to see the ocean in the background and the seagulls in the sky. I love how bright and crisp the cover looks. And the model captured Clare perfectly with that snarky look on her face and those blue eyes that make you feel like she’s seeing through you….

 From reading your blog, I know your writing is influenced and inspired by music.  Can you name the music you listened to while writing Clarity, or let me know of any songs that inspired the story?

 

Oh, yes, I definitely have a Clarity playlist. I find music very inspiring, especially if you find yourself stuck. One song I listened to a lot while writing Clarity was “Closer” by Kings of Leon. It’s perfectly mysterious with just the right amount of creepy. I also found myself listening to an old song from one of my favorite bands of the ‘90s, Luscious Jackson. The song is called “Daughters of the Kaos,” and it makes me think of my main character, Clare, and her tough exterior.

 Can you recommend a great book that you think everybody should read and also let me know what you're reading at the moment? 

I’d say The Hunger Games. I’ve recommended it to people who’d never read YA before, people who claim they don’t like dystopian, and they’ve all loved it. It’s a perfectly crafted novel, in my opinion. As far as what’s currently on my nightstand, I recently read an ARC of The Liar Society by Lisa & Laura Roecker and loved it.

Finally, I know you have a couple of works in progress right now.  There’s a sequel to Clarity, and also a standalone called Glimmer that I’m just dying to know more about. Can you tell me anything about that one?

Sure! I don’t know what the official title will be, but I’ve been calling it Glimmer. It’s a paranormal mystery about a teenage girl who discovers that the house her family just moved into is haunted, and she must unravel the mystery of the ghost girl’s death.

Thanks to Kim for the great interview! Clarity is released on March 1st 2011.  There's also a great book trailer for this title that you can check out. I love it!

Kim's Blog

Kim's Website

Like Kim on Facebook

Follow Kim on Twitter

Next up on Delightful Debutantes: Gwen Hayes & Falling Under.

Cover Candy #7: Recent Swoonworthy Cover Reveals!

It's time for another Cover Candy post.  If it's a book cover that I'm swooning over, I might feature it here! I love finding new books, especially those with gorgeous covers, but I can't feature them all as my Waiting on Wednesday picks, so I decided to dedicate this feature to them instead!

Let me know what you think of the featured covers in comments. Will you be adding any of these to your wishlist? 

 ******************************  

 
First up is the gorgeous cover of  A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies. This is a 2011 debut that I'm really looking forward too.  Sounds like there's an amazing love triangle in this one too, for those of us who can't get enough of that kind of thing! ;) 

 

 

 

 

A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release date: September 2011

Ages: YA/14+

 

Skye never questioned the story of her life. Her Aunt Jo adopted her after the death of her parents when she was just a child, and together they flip through memories the way some people flip through photo albums.

She never questioned if the stories were true.

Until the night of her 17th birthday, when the arrival of two strangers intrudes on her cozy life. Polar opposites, like fire and ice, Asher is dark and wild, while Devin is fair, cold, and aloof. Skye has no idea what they want—only that their presence coincides with the beginning of some shockingly strange events. Events that Skye, if she dares to think it, might be responsible for causing.

High up in the mountains of Boulder, Colorado, Skye finds herself caught in the middle of an ancient battle, one that began untold millennia ago. Torn between unpredictable Asher, whom she loves, and the infuriating Devin, who she can’t stay away from, her fate is murky as a starless night. And as the secrets of her true identity are revealed, Skye realizes that her destiny may reside in the Heavens—or somewhere darker.

The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter has a beautiful cover, and the story sounds pretty great too. Greek Mythology seems to be the new hot trend in YA right now - it's one I'm definitely liking! Best of all, you can grab this one for free right now on NetGalley! Go get it! 

The Goddess Test by Aimée Carter
Publisher: Harlequin.
Release date: April 2011.
Ages: YA

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

If she fails...

 This is Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann, rebranded and renamed for the UK market.  The US cover for Cryer's Cross is creepy and really fits the story, but I'm really liking this one too. Which one do you  prefer?

The Missing by Lisa McMann

Publisher: Harper Collin's Children's Books.

Release date: June 2011.

Ages: YA/14+

The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

Finally, here's the cover of Everlasting, the sixth and final book in the Immortals series by Alyson Noel. We finally get to see Damen! I just hope that Damen and Ever get their happy ever after in this one. It's been a long, and sometimes tortuous journey for those two!! 

* Please note: Not all of these covers are final and may be subject to change. If the cover is changed, I will update with the new cover!

Book Review: Fallen Angel by Heather Terrell.

Product details:
Publisher: HarperTeen.
Paperback, 240 pages.
Release date: December 28th 2010.
Rating: 2 out of 5.
Ages: 12+
Source: International Book Tours.

Heaven-sent?

Ellie was never particularly good at talking to boys—or anyone other than her best friend and fellow outcast, Ruth. Then she met Michael.

Michael is handsome, charming, sweet. And totally into Ellie. It’s no wonder she is instantly drawn to him. But Michael has a secret. And he knows Ellie is hiding something, too. They’ve both discovered they have powers beyond their imagining. Powers that are otherworldly.

Ellie and Michael are determined to uncover what they are, and how they got this way . . . together. But the truth has repercussions neither could have imagined. Soon they find themselves center stage in an ancient conflict that threatens to destroy everything they love. And it is no longer clear whether Ellie and Michael will choose the same side.

In this electrifying novel, Heather Terrell spins a gripping supernatural tale about true love, destiny, and the battle of good versus evil.

*This review contains spoilers*

No matter how I try, I can't put a positive spin on my review of Heather Terrell's Fallen Angel. I will always point out the positive aspects of a book, even one that I didn't enjoy, but here, I am pretty much at a loss. When I first heard about this book, it sounded like one I would love. If you're a regular reader of the blog, you'll know that I'm a pretty big fan of the angel theme that's so huge in YA fiction right now. However, with so many books dealing with this theme, there are going to be a few duds, right. For me, Fallen Angel fits into this category. This book fell flat for me on every level. The storyline, the characters, the romance – it was all off. None of it rang true and none of it worked. For me, this book was totally lacking in originality. It is very formulaic, and I'm even tempted to describe it as a copy-and-paste angel book. It contains pretty much all the elements of any angel book you've read, but it's missing a heart and soul.

The protagonist here, Ellie, has been having strange dreams in which she can fly. Ellie is a quiet, shy girl, pretty much an outsider at school, save for her friend, Ruth, who I will discuss in more detail later. One day, Ellie spots this hot guy at school. Michael insists he knows her pretty well from a shared trip to Guatemala, but Ellie can't remember him at all. She doesn't really question why this is though, which is kind of strange. She soon finds herself falling in love with him in five seconds flat, even though he doesn't seem to have all that many redeeming qualities at all. He's hot though, so we're told. See what I mean? Ellie is one of those girls. And this is one of those relationships. Sigh. There is something a little different to Ellie and Michael's relationship, though – they swap blood every time they kiss. Ewwww! Soon the two are suffering from some kind of weird blood lust, and since Michael also has the flying thing going on, they both decide that they must be vampires.

OK, guys – you've seen the title of the book. I don't think I'm giving away any major spoilers when I tell you that they are not vampires. But, why make it a main story arc in the book if you've already given away the answer in the title? Ellie is dealing with this mystery for most of the book and trying to figure out what she is. We already know the answer, so this holds no interest for us. It also makes Ellie appear totally clueless, even though I should point out that as a teenage girl she is not believable at all. Her voice is much too measured and mature. Overall, she doesn't work as a character, and neither does this all-consuming relationship with Michael, which is about as riveting as watching paint dry.

Oh, and her friend Ruth. Can you say creepy? Ellie and Ruth are outsiders at their school, and I understand why! Ruth's favourite pastime is sneaking around the school spying on people and gathering gossip. I mean, this is hardly going to lead to her becoming Prom Queen, is it?!

This book could have been good. The premise was interesting, and the writing style flows easily at times. However, this one has too many things working against it to be an enjoyable read. If you  totally give the game away in the title of the book, and then make it a huge, mysterious part of the story,  you need to give readers something else to become invested in. Maybe great characters, maybe a hot romance, maybe a truly scary villain to enter the piece and shake things up. Unfortunately, here, the characters and their romance just can't carry the story, and the villain when he's introduced, doesn't really add anything. It all adds up to a very predictable read that I struggled to finish.

I hear that there's a love triangle in the next book in this series, Eternity (July 2011), so if you are a slave to angels and love triangles, then maybe, just maybe, this is the series for you. Unfortunately, even though I'm a fan of both, I'll be giving it a miss.

Delightful Debutantes #10 : Kristi Cook & Haven!

 Today, I'd like you to welcome Kristi Cook to the blog. She's hear to talk all about her debut novel, Haven.  I just finished reading Haven recently, and I had a lot of fun with it! My review will be up next week! Read on to find out more about Kristi and her Delightful Debut!

Can you describe Haven for my readers in just one sentence?

My 9-yr. old daughter looked at this question and suggested, “A chilling destiny she can’t escape; a devastating love she can’t resist.”  Uh, yeah—the tagline from the cover, LOL!  Hmmm, let me see if I can do better than that (probably not!).  How about, “Girl with psychic powers finally discovers a place where she fits in and finds a guy she likes a lot, but is bummed to learn that it’s her destiny to kill him.” 

Being a soon to be published author must be very exciting! Can you tell me how your life has changed since the book sold, and also how you celebrated when you heard you were going to be published?  

Mostly I’ve just gotten very, very busy—and sadly obsessed with how the book will be received.  As to celebrating, seems like so long ago that it sold, I can barely remember, LOL!  I’m pretty sure we all went out to dinner. 

Haven is set in a boarding school, which is a setting I love and it’s one that is very popular in Young Adult fiction at the moment.  What do you think it is about boarding schools that is so appealing to readers?

Well, mostly it’s a way to put our characters into a world where there’s very little adult intrusion.  Relationships between characters can be stronger, because they spend more time together—living together, eating together.  Boarding school was the ideal setting for HAVEN, because I really wanted my characters—who all have psychic gifts that they “hide” from the rest of the world—to be tucked away somewhere safe and secure, free to be themselves.  I’m not sure I could have accomplished that any other way. 

Aidan Gray is described as ‘perhaps the smartest, hottest guy at Winterhaven’. He sounds like he has great potential in the book crush department. Describe Aidan to me.

Ahhh, Aidan….well, he’s very mysterious.  He has secrets.  BIG secrets.  There’s way more to him than meets the eye.  He’s also really, really smart—he works in the chemistry lab for fun.  And he’s fiercely determined.  A little bit tortured.  Willing to give his life for the girl he loves.  Oh, and did I mention that he’s really cute, too?!

And while we’re talking about hot guys in books, can you share some of your book crushes?

Oh, I love this question!  My life-long book crush?! Rhett Butler from GONE WITH THE WIND.  I think I’ve been in love with Rhett since I was eleven.  He’s the ultimate bad-boy hero—all tough and arrogant and reckless, yet utterly and completely devoted to Scarlett—to the point that it ultimately crushes him. 

My biggest recent book crush is Etienne St. Clair from Stephanie Perksins’ ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS.  He’s just…perfect.  I also had a thing for Milo in Courtney Summers’ FALL FOR ANYTHING.

If you could recommend just one other upcoming 2011 debut to my readers, what book would you recommend?

Just one?!  Oh, man…that’s hard, because I’ve read ARCs of several upcoming releases that were fabulous!  But if I have to just go with one, I think it would be Veronica Roth’s DIVERGENT. A fascinating, well-developed dystopian setting; tons of action and excitement; an interesting, likable heroine; a swoon-worthy love interest; a touching romance….seriously, it’s got it all.  If I had to put my money on the next “big thing,” I’d go with DIVERGENT.  It definitely lived up to the hype!

Thanks to Kristi for a great interview! Be sure to check out Haven when it releases on February 22nd, or if you're signed up to the Simon & Schuster Galley Grab programme, it's available on there until publication date!

Kristi's Blog

Kristi's Website

Follow Kristi on Twitter

Next up on Delightful Debutantes Kim Harrington talks about her novel, CLARITY.

Across The Universe by Beth Revis - Sneak Peek & Upcoming Giveaway Details!

Across the Universe by Beth Revis will be released in the UK on March 3rd, and now thanks to Puffin Books you can get an exclusive sneak peek right here! This extract contains the first chapter of the book. I read it, and loved it. It totally made me want to find out more!  I'll also be partaking in the Across the Universe blog tour on February 25th where I'll be hosting a giveaway, so make sure you stay tuned for more details on that one. 

In the meantime, enjoy the extract, watch the UK book trailer, and also check out the dedicated Facebook page, where you can look forward to exciting challenges and competitions soon!

Across the Universe Sneak Peek!

Check out the Facebook page for giveaways & more!

Book Review: Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann.

Product details:
Publisher: Simon Pulse.
Hardcover, 240 pages.
Release date: February 8th 2011.
Rating: 3½ out of 5.
Ages: 14+
Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab.

The community of Cryer’s Cross, Montana (population 212) is distraught when high school freshman Tiffany disappears without a trace. Already off-balance due to her OCD, 16-year-old Kendall is freaked out seeing Tiffany’s empty desk in the one-room school house, but somehow life goes on... until Kendall's boyfriend Nico also disappears, and also without a trace. Now the town is in a panic. Alone in her depression and with her OCD at an all-time high, Kendall notices something that connects Nico and Tiffany: they both sat at the same desk. She knows it's crazy, but Kendall finds herself drawn to the desk, dreaming of Nico and wondering if maybe she, too, will disappear...and whether that would be so bad. Then she begins receiving graffiti messages on the desk from someone who can only be Nico. Can he possibly be alive somewhere? Where is he? And how can Kendall help him? The only person who believes her is Jacian, the new guy she finds irritating...and attractive. As Kendall and Jacian grow closer, Kendall digs deeper into Nico's mysterious disappearance only to stumble upon some ugly—and deadly—local history. Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

A lot of my teenage reading centered around scary Stephen King books, and their small-town settings. Since then, I've always been drawn to books of this type, as those seemingly innocent small towns often seem to hold some deep, dark, twisted secrets. That's why, having never before read anything by Lisa McMann, I decided to pick up this book. Well, that, and the accompanying trailer. Have you seen it? It's seriously scary! I will say, that although the book contains some creepy and disturbing scenes, it didn't horrify me like I thought it would after I viewed that trailer. Nonetheless, this book is worth picking up. For maximum scares and general creepiness I suggest you read it very late at night, when the wind is howling outside, and you're home alone!

The town of Cryer's Cross is small, and when I say small, I mean tiny. It has a population of just 212, and the school which OCD sufferer Kendall Fletcher attends consists of just one classroom, where all the students congregate for class. McMann opens Cryer's Cross with the whole town in shock over the disappearance of a teenage girl, Tiffany Quinn. It's one of those towns where absolutely nothing ever happens, so this is a huge deal, and as the days go by, Tiffany is nowhere to be found. Soon enough, as people do, the Cryer's Cross townsfolk start getting back into their usual routines. Kendall is settling back into school, hanging out with her boyfriend, who she doesn't really like to call a boyfriend, Nico, and getting to know two new kids at school, Jacien and Marlena. Everything is going just fine, apart from Jacien's bad attitude, when Nico suddenly starts exhibiting some strange behaviour, and then he disappears too...

I was immediately involved in this story. McMann has an engaging writing style, and this kept me reading late into the night. It's a quick read, and a fast paced book that demands to be read in one sitting. I loved the setting of Cryer's Cross. The town is tiny and isolated, and a claustrophobic feel pervades the story because of this. If you grew up in a small town you'll know the feeling. As a teenager in a small town, I felt like I would never get out of there, and McMann handles these feelings of seclusion and isolation well. The inclusion of strange, cryptic messages from the unknown 'We' and 'Us' between chapters adds a truly creepy element to events. Who are these messages coming from and what do they mean? Honestly, I didn't figure out the meaning behind these messages until very near the end of the book, and they definitely left me feeling unsettled. There are all kinds of strange happenings going on in Cryer's Cross, and you just know that something really disturbing is lying behind these strange disappearances.

Although it's a short book, I also really warmed to the characters here. I cared about what happened to Kendall, and I definitely felt for her towards the end of the book when she experienced one of my worst nightmares. That scene definitely gave me shivers! There's also a little romance here as Kendall forms a connection with Jacien. There is a lot of tension between those two and an attraction which simmers under the surface.

Combining elements of the paranormal with a psychological edge, McMann delivers a riveting read which is difficult to put down. This one delves into the history of the town of Cryer's Cross and for a small town it has a pretty disturbing past. It's always interesting to see what secrets small towns hold, and in this respect Cryer's Cross doesn't disappoint! I've read a lot of horror and so, while this one didn't totally scare me, it definitely gave me some chills. Check it out if you'd like to be spooked too!

A blog design shake-up and a bunch of other stuff!

New Designs:

It's a stormy Saturday night here in Ireland, so I am staying inside and planning on getting some major reading done.  Of course I got sidetracked and started playing around with my blog!  A while back, I commissioned some designs from Rachel at Parajunkee's View, and now you can see those designs on here.  I got a new header, which I love, and also a button for my Delightful Debutantes feature.  If you scroll down the page, you can see it, and if you click on it you can see all the interviews I've done for the feature all lined up ready and waiting for you to read. Fancy, huh!

If you have a particular love for Delightful Debutantes and would like to spread the word far and wide, feel free to grab the button for your blog.

Upcoming Events: 

I've also added a couple of extra features to the blog. I hope it's no too much of an overload for anyone since I like to keep things as simple and streamlined on here as I possibly can.

I've added an upcoming events feature where you can find out about any special upcoming happenings on the blog.  I've also listed upcoming Delightful Debutantes on there, so that if you're waiting on any particular author, now you can see when their Q&A is coming up! Of course, I will probably forget to update this after a couple of weeks, but I'll try not to!

Also, if anyone would like to see a particular author featured in Delightful Debutantes or has anything they'd like to see more of or less of on the blog,  feel free to drop me an email. My contact information is up there ^^ just under my swanky new header!

Bloglovin':

Did you know you can follow this blog on bloglovin'? Bloglovin' is actually my favourite way to follow blogs.  It's so much prettier than google reader, and I've found some great new blogs this way.  There is a bloglovin' widget further down the page if you have an account on there and want to add me. 

A Call for Guest Bloggers:

Melissa from I Swim For Oceans has put a call out for guest bloggers.  She is looking for a BAZILLION guest bloggers, to be exact! So, if you'd like to do a guest post at a great blog, you should head on over there and sign up.  I will be guest blogging over there later this year, but I'll tell you more about that nearer the date!

Click on this to sign up! 

I think that's everything for now! Let me know what you think of the new designs and extra features, and enjoy the rest of the weekend! :)

UK Cover Love: Kelly Keaton's Darkness Becomes Her, Amy Plum's Die For Me & sneak peeks of Starcrossed & Angel Fire!

With this one, I think the UK cover definitely comes up trumps. The US cover of this one doesn't appeal to me at all, even though the story does sound interesting. I prefer the colours and the font on the UK cover. This one is out in the UK in June 2011, and releases in the US later this month.

Has anybody read it yet? What did you think?

I featured the ARC cover of Amy Plum's Die for Me a while back, but I thought it deserved to be shown in all it's glory here.  It's a gorgeous cover! Better still, I won a copy last week! I picked it up last night to read a couple of chapters, and was completely sucked into the story. Add this one to your wishlist and enjoy it when it releases in May!

Josephine Angelini's Starcrossed is a book that I've had my eye on for a while! I love Greek Mythology and the romance in this one sounds hot! Did you know that this one is releasing in the UK too? It's out in June, and sounds like a perfect summer read. 

Us Angel fans have quite a wait on our hands for Angel Fire, the second installment of L.A Weatherly's Angel trilogy.  It's not out until October, but I'm sure it'll be worth the wait.  I'm not sure if this is the final, final cover, but I thought I'd post it anyway.  P.S: Don't read the synopsis for this one if you haven't read the first book already - major spoilers!!

Angel Fire (Angel #2) by L.A Weatherly
Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd.
Release date: October 1st 2011.
Ages: YA

This is the thrilling second chapter in the electrifying "Angel Trilogy". Angels will never be seen in the same way again. Gorgeous, charismatic Alex has the courage and skill of a trained Angel Killer. Unique, dazzling Willow has the beauty and power that comes with being half-angel. As the power of the malevolent Church of Angels grows, now it's up to Alex and Willow to train a new team of Angel Killers. Willow soon finds her half-angel identity met with hostility by some of the other AKs, while privately, she must wrestle with the knowledge that her father, Raziel, is a depraved, evil angel. However, while life in the AK training camp is tough, at least Alex and Willow are together. But when Alex discovers that the death of his brother and fellow Angel-Killer, Jake, was linked to a secret CIA mission to defeat the angels, he is forced to leave the camp to complete his brother's work... without Willow. Alex promised Willow he would never leave her, but with the fate of the human race at stake, destiny has ruled that Alex and Willow must be parted once more...

Updated March 2010 to include the final cover of Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini.

Book Blogger Hop - Feb 11th - 14th 2011!

I  love finding new blogs, and I have found some great blogs to follow via the hop! If I follow your blog, I will make an effort to comment on your reviews. Sometimes I think reviews lack a little comment love, so I like to try. :)

If you are stopping by from the blog today, and decide to follow my blog, please leave your link in comments, and I will return the favour.

If you are stopping by for the first time today, make sure you enter my latest giveway! It's a good one, and you could win a very special debutante prize pack. Details are located in the sidebar.

So, let's start hopping!

This blog hop is hosted at Crazy-for-Books and this week Jennifer would like us to share one of our posts from this week.

I have decided to share my interview with Sara Bennett Wealer, author of the upcoming novel Rival. This Q&A is part of my Delightful Debutantes series of interviews which highlights new authors and their books. It's a great way to find out all about those upcoming debuts!

 Click to read the interview

Book Review: Vampire Academy - Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead & Bloodlines cover alert!

* Please note: in my reviews for the  Vampire Academy series there are spoilers for previous instalments of the series.

Product details:
Publisher: Penguin
Hardcover, 594 pages.
Release date: December 7th 2010.
Rating: 4½ out of 5.
Ages:12+
Series: Vampire Academy #6

Other Books in Series: Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, Spirit Bound.

She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir’s Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir Princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardian to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose- for a crime she didn’t even commit. She’s in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She’ll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose’s life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back… and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your life is about saving others, who will save you?

And so it comes to an end...

I have been on such an emotional rollercoaster with this series, and so, I had very high expectations for this finale. Richelle Mead hasn't disappointed throughout this series, and I'm glad to say that here she's provided a great ending to a series I have truly come to love. I can't believe I put off reading this series for so long, and now I'm completely addicted! It was hard to say goodbye! Everything about Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series is entirely addicting and captivating. If like me, you've been putting this one on the back-burner, or if you are just a little tired of the whole vampire crazy in YA fiction, read this book, and you'll be sucked right back in! Oh, and you'll get to meet Dimitri, and, I promise, he is a delight not to be missed!

The fifth book in this series, Spirit Bound, concluded with a series of surprises and a major cliffhanger involving Rose. Richelle Mead can surprise me like no other author can! As Last Sacrifice opens, Rose is lingering in prison, framed for the assassination of Queen Tatiana, and awaiting trial. Even worse, it seems as though almost everybody has already concluded that Rose is guilty of this heinous crime, and so death awaits her. Let's not forget though, that Rose is armed with an important piece of knowledge, a long held secret, which, if she can uncover, will allow Lissa to ascend to power at the Royal Court. This in turn, would make life a whole lot easier for Rose. The race is on to free Rose, and I can feel another prison break a-brewing!

This book has a little bit of everything. There's all the romance, action and adventure, you've come to expect from this series. We're taken along on a road-trip-with-an-edge courtesy of Rose and Dimitri, who are soon joined by Sydney, the alchemist Rose met in Russia. Back at the Royal Court Lissa, Adrian and Christian, band together to try and prove Roses innocence with some surprising results! This book also saved the character of Lissa for me. I have never totally warmed to her character, but here she's much more mature and considered and really looks out for Rose. I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm on “Team Lissa” but she definitely annoyed me a little less in this book!

I savoured every page of Last Sacrifice, and I will say that while I found a couple of the plot-lines a little predictable, I so loved getting to spend more time with these characters. Rose remains strong and feisty, but she has that vulnerable side too. She's such a well rounded character and is one of my all time favourite female protagonists. Dimitri is just dreamy here, but I have also totally warmed to Adrian recently and I found myself completely torn between the two at times. Christian remains a favourite of mine, as he has been right from the start. He was actually the first VA guy I liked! I think it's safe to say that Vampire Academy has the best boys, and if the movie version comes to fruition, the eye candy is going to be insane!!

As the last in a series, this one doesn't contain the shocking cliffhangers of previous books, and the main storylines are wrapped up quite nicely. I have to say, though, that if I hadn't already known about the spin-off, Bloodlines, when I read this, I would be absolutely seething about the conclusion for one of my favourite guys here! I'm hoping instead, that he'll feature quite heavily in the spin-off, so I'm totally looking forward to that.

Goodbye, Rose. Bring on Bloodlines!

******************************

If you haven't already seen the cover for the Vampire Academy spin-off Bloodlines, here it is! It's not my favourite cover, I'll admit, but then, I've never been a huge fan of the VA covers overall.  With these books, it's what's inside that counts! That's Sydney on the cover there, and I'm hoping that's Adrian right beside her! I do wonder if Sydney can carry a series as well as Rose can, but I'm looking forward to finding out! This is out in August 2011 in the US. No word on the UK release date or cover art yet.

What do you think VA fans?

Delightful Debutantes #9: Sara Bennett Wealer & Rival!

Today's Delightful Debutante is Sara Bennett Wealer, and let me tell you, Sara really is a delight!  Sara was one of the first authors I contacted in relation to Delightful Debutantes and she was so, so, helpful in helping me spread the word about Delightful Debutantes! Rival goes on sale next week, February 15th. I've already read some wonderful reviews for this book, and I'm looking forward to checking it out!

Can you describe Rival in just one sentence for my readers?

RIVAL in one sentence: Two girls—once friends, now enemies—prepare to go up against each other in a major singing competition while dealing with school pressure, family issues and romantic troubles. 

As a soon to be published author life must be very exciting right now! Can you tell me about your path to publication and also tell me how your life has changed since your book sold?

My path to publication was as long and bumpy as it is for most debut authors. I wrote one book that sucked, then wrote RIVAL and landed an agent. Decided agent wasn't the right fit, wrote another book and landed current agent. After almost selling the new book, we decided to give it a rest and tried RIVAL. It snagged the interest of my current editor, who asked for revisions before making an offer. Total time from start of writing very first novel to book deal? About 8 years! Since getting the deal my life hasn't changed all that much, except that I'm much more busy. Oh, and I no longer have any fingernails--I'm that nervous about my book launch! 

I love the cover art for Rival. It’s quite striking and really stands out. What does the cover image represent to you?

It’s funny because when my editor emailed asking if I had any thoughts for the cover of RIVAL, I almost said, “Whatever you do, don’t put a flower on a piano keyboard.” I didn’t want the book to look like a Successories poster. So when I saw the cover for the first time, my initial reaction was, “Hmmm…” But I love the black, white and red color scheme, and the flower is so pretty – it’s the kind that appears in the bouquet that the winner of the big music competition receives, and the plucked petal sort of represents the damage to my main characters’ relationship. I’ve gotten so many compliments on the cover that I feel like I should send the designer a “thank you” card. 

 Kathryn and Brooke in Rival are both accomplished singers and involved in the music world. Can you name three songs you would pick for a Rival playlist?

I actually have a playlist for RIVAL on my website. You can find it here:  http://www.sarabennettwealer.com/rival_playlist.shtml.  “Cornflake Girl” and “Bells for Her” by Tori Amos really speak to the relationship between Kathryn and Brooke. “Sing” by Travis sort of sums up the book, I think. 

I haven’t heard too much about the boys in Rival. Can you tell me if there are any hotties in Rival that will be making it on to my all important book crush list?

There are definitely hotties in RIVAL! A lot has been said about the music angle of the book, but I want people to know that it’s not the sole focus—RIVAL is really about the girls’ lives as a whole, which include boys. There are two that Brooke and Kathryn sort of feud over: Miles Monaghan is the bad boy who helps spark the tensions between them, and John Moorehouse  is the sweet and sensitive jock who asks Kathryn to Homecoming. Then there’s Kathryn’s best friend, Matt—he’s your all-around great guy, a fanboy-type who’s always got her back, even when she doesn’t really deserve it. 

Can you recommend a 2011 debut that you think everybody should read and also let me know what you are reading at the moment?

I’m going to recommend another contemporary realistic novel with an arts angle: Jessica Martinez’s VIRTUOSITY is about a violin player, and it sounds really, really good. And of course I’m a member of the Elevensies, where you can find awesome debuts to satisfy any taste. Right now, I’m reading two books by my fellow Contemps: Kody Keplinger’s THE DUFF and Daisy Whitney’s THE MOCKINGBIRDS. 

Can you tell me what you are working on next?

My next published piece will appear in an anthology put out by HarperCollins in the fall, called DEAR BULLY. I’m really proud to be a part of that project, which raises funds for a national anti-bullying program. I’ve got two other contemporary novels that my agent is shopping around, and then I just started a semi-dystopian project, in addition to one that has what I consider a strong supernatural element. I’m busy!  

Sounds like exciting times ahead! Thanks so much to Sara for the truly great Q&A! Don't forget to pick up a copy of Rival when it releases next week!

You can also:

Read Sara's Blog
Follow Sara on Twitter