Win 1 of 3 copies of Angelfall by Susan Ee! (UK Only!)

OK, so I know I must be just about the only person I know who hasn't read Angelfall by Susan Ee (promise I will soon!), but if you're with me in the 'I can't believe I haven't read that yet...' camp and you'd like to win a copy, then look no further because to celebrate the UK release of Angelfall, I have three copies up for grabs today, with thanks to Think Jam.

Just fill in the Rafflecopter form below to enter. 

To celebrate the official print edition release of Susan Ee’s hugely successful self-published book Angelfall, we are offering three lucky readers the chance to win a copy of the book.

Angelfall is the new publishing phenomenon, currently being adapted for film by Sam Raimi. Thrilling, smart and terrifying, Angelfall is a fiercely compelling debut that tells the addictive story of Penryn, fighting for her and her sister's lives after angels of the apocalypse destroy the world as we know it. 

For more information on Susan Ee and Angelfall please visit:  www.susanee.com 

Terms and Conditions

• Competition will close on July 7th 2013.
• Open to UK participants only
• Three winners will receive a copy of Angelfall by Susan Ee.
  
• In the unlikely event the prize style has discontinued a similar model to the same value will be provided
• There is no cash or other alternative to the prize stated and the prize is not transferable and no part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions.
• Winners will be picked at random and contacted by the site. The prize will be delivered to the winner within 28 days of confirmation of delivery address.
• Winners name, contact number and address will be passed to a third party provider for delivery.
• The Editor's decision is final and binding on the entrants. No correspondence will be entered into.

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Win copies of The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen & Coco Caramel by Cathy Cassidy! (UK Only!)

Hi guys! I'm here to give you all a reminder about the next #PenguinChats which is taking place tomorrow, June 30th at 6p.m. BST

Penguin Chats are a Q&A with a Penguin author on Twitter, hosted by @PenguinUKBooks and using #PenguinChats. Anyone can put their questions to the author to receive an immediate and live response!

The Sarah Dessen ( @SarahDessen  ) and Cathy Cassidy (@cathycassidyxx) Penguin Chat takes place on Sunday June 30th at 6p.m.  To take part, you just need a twitter account and some questions to ask the authors!

 With thanks to Penguin Books I've got three prize packs to give away to UK readers. Each prize pack contains a copy of The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen and a copy of Coco Caramel by Cathy Cassidy.

Just fill in the Rafflecopter form to enter!

 Please note: This is a UK ONLY competition -- you need a UK postal address to enter. 

Competition Closes: July 7th 2013.

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Reviewed by Emily: The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr.

Product details:

Publisher: Usborne Publishing

Ebook, 307 pages

Release date: May 1st 2013  

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Age: 12+

Source: Purchased

Reviewed by: Emily

Lucy Beck-Moreau once had a promising future as a concert pianist. The right people knew her name, her performances were booked months in advance, and her future seemed certain.

That was all before she turned fourteen.

Now, at sixteen, it’s over. A death, and a betrayal, led her to walk away. That leaves her talented ten-year-old brother, Gus, to shoulder the full weight of the Beck-Moreau family expectations. Then Gus gets a new piano teacher who is young, kind, and interested in helping Lucy rekindle her love of piano — on her own terms. But when you’re used to performing for sold-out audiences and world-famous critics, can you ever learn to play just for yourself?

The Lucy Variations is a raw, powerful portrayal of the life of a teen girl after she walks away from the thing that defined her.
 

As with all of Zarr’s novels, I loved the way she navigated complex family relationships in this novel. All of the characters had a different dynamic with each other, and it was interesting to see their relationships evolve–or maybe not so much the relationships themselves, but Lucy’s perspective on them. I was particularly moved by Lucy’s relationship with her grandfather. And her mother. And her father. Okay, pretty much all of the characters. This is one thing that Zarr gets right every single time, and a big reason why I will keep reading her books.
 

Lucy comes across as quite selfish at times, which I found grating, but…sometimes people are selfish, right? I appreciated that Lucy wasn’t a perfect MC who said and did all the right things. She was mean to her friends; she had a weird thing for older guys. But she was also loving and caring and intelligent. I don’t feel like her character ended when the book ended. She feels so real, like she could be out there right now at music school, or having coffee with Reyna. 

 

I think anyone who has been passionate about a craft and at some point lost that passion will relate to Lucy’s story. You don’t have to be a musician to get it. Sometimes you get burnt out, even about the things you live for. The Lucy Variations also explores the flip side of that – how amazing it feels to be passionate about something, those moments when it feels so right. There were lots of interesting thoughts about the creative process and having an audience that I appreciated from a writer’s perspective. 

 

One part of this novel I found hard to digest was Lucy’s relationship with her brother’s piano teacher. It’s never quite defined, but it verges into an uncomfortable grey area. I think the thing that will turn off some readers is that Zarr never says the relationship is wrong. She doesn’t pass judgement, she just lays it all out and lets you decide. This might be difficult for some readers who want to hear that it’s wrong. And I totally get that, because I wanted that very thing. But in the end, I realised that wouldn’t be right for this story. 

 

When I finished The Lucy Variations, I had no idea how I felt about it. Did I hate it? Did I love it? But after a few days thinking about it, I decided I fall firmly in the love category. It’s not the kind of book that I will beg people to read, because I know everyone is going to have a very different, very personal reaction to it. It’s messy, it’s uncomfortable, but it’s also beautiful

--Emily.

Cover Reveal: The Woken Gods by Gwenda Bond.

Today I'm taking part in the cover reveal for The Woken Gods by Gwenda Bond. Releasing in September 2013 from Strange Chemistry The Woken Gods is described as a fresh, thrilling urban fantasy that will appeal to fans of Neil Gaiman and Cassandra Clare. I also think this one might be loved by fans of Josephine Angelini's Starcrossed series.

Let me know what you think of the cover and the synopsis in comments!

The Woken Gods by Gwenda Bond || Release date: September 2013

The more things change…

Five years ago, the gods of ancient mythology awoke all around the world.

The more things stay the same…

This morning, Kyra Locke is late for school because of an argument with her father.

Seventeen-year-old Kyra lives in a transformed Washington, D.C., dominated by the embassies of divine pantheons and watched over by the mysterious Society of the Sun that governs mankind’s relations with the gods. But when rebellious Kyra encounters two trickster gods on her way home, one offering a threat and the other a warning, it turns out her life isn't what it seems. She escapes with the aid of Osborne "Oz" Spencer, a young Society field operative, only to discover that her scholar father has disappeared with a dangerous Egyptian relic. The Society needs the item back, and they aren’t interested in her protests that she knows nothing about it or her father's secrets.

Now Kyra must depend on her wits and the suspect help of scary Sumerian gods, her estranged oracle mother, and, of course, Oz--whose first allegiance is to the Society. She has no choice if she’s going to recover the missing relic and save her father. And if she doesn't? Well, that may just mean the end of the world as she knows it. From the author of Blackwood comes a fresh, thrilling urban fantasy that will appeal to fans of Neil Gaiman, Cassandra Clare, and Rick Riordan.

Penguin Chats #2: Sarah Dessen and Cathy Cassidy - Details, Extracts of The Moon and More, Coco Caramel & More!

Penguin Chats are a Q&A with a Penguin author on Twitter, hosted by @PenguinUKBooks and using #PenguinChats. Anyone can put their questions to the author to receive an immediate and live response!

                                        @SarahDessen                      @cathycassidyxx

The Sarah Dessen and Cathy Cassidy Penguin Chat takes place on Sunday June 30th at 6p.m.  To take part, you just need a twitter account and some questions to ask the authors!

And that's not all  - I've got a bunch of goodies to share with you today including extracts from The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen and Coco Caramel by Cathy Cassidy. There are also book trailers and and a special message from Sarah Dessen for you to check out.  I'm also taking par in the blog tour for this event and will  have a super giveaway coming your way on Saturday! Check out all the blog tour details in the sidebar banner.

TheMoonAndMore Extract

Coco Caramel Extract

Have you read The Moon and More or Coco Caramel? Let me know what you thought of them! And don't forget to check back for the giveaway on Saturday! Hope everyone enjoys the twitter chat!

Book Review: Impostor by Susanne Winnacker +++ Giveaway! (US Only!)

Product details:
Publisher: Razorbill.
Hardcover, 274 pages.
Release date: May 28th 2013.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: 12+
Source:Received from publisher for review.

Can Tessa pose as Madison . . . and stop a killer before it’s too late? 

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.

Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

A fast-paced, intense and intriguing murder mystery with an X-Mentwist, Impostor, the first in the Variants series from Susanne Winnacker will appeal to fans of The Body Finder, Kim Harrington’s Clarity, and anyone who loved the romance of Vampire Academy. Oh yes, this book is good!

A Variant who can take on the appearance of those whose DNA she absorbs, Tessa is called upon when schoolgirl Madison is attacked by a suspected serial killer. It might be too late to save Madison, but with Tessa on the case, along with fellow Variant Alec, undercover as a new student at Madison’s school, it may not be too late to uncover the killer before he or she strikes again.  For Tessa, there’s a lot not to love about being a Variant; to her mom she is nothing but a freak, and now she has no family to speak of, apart from the other Variants at the FEA (Forces with Extraordinary Abilities), namely best friend Holly, and older guy Alec, who she is totally in love with despite the fact that a romance between them is strictly off limits for a number of reasons, the main one being that he already has a girlfriend.

But posing as Madison gives Tessa a chance at the normal life (serial killer on the loose aside) that she’s always wanted. Madison has a loving family, including a twin brother, Devon, whom Tessa finds herself thinking about a little too often despite the fact that she’s playing at being his sister. However, attracted though she is to Madison’s hot brother, Tessa doesn’t dwell on this for too long, as Alec is still around. Oh, Alec and Tessa. I have to say that I loved the dynamic between these two; I am a sucker for the ‘best friends who are so meant to be something more’ type relationship and all the sexual tension that brings with it. Alec has a girlfriend, I know, but there is more to that story than meets the eye, and I’m dying to find out the truth of that whole affair (bring on the next book already!)

Anyway, back to the story. While it looks like Madison lived quite a charmed life, scratch that glossy surface and all is not what it seems. As Tessa begins to compile her list of serial killer suspects, she soon discovers that Madison was keeping some pretty big, deep, dark secrets all to herself. And then there’s the mysterious character that’s creeping around outside Madison’s window every night – could he be the killer? And, if so, has Tessa put herself in the kind of danger that no amount of training sessions with Alec will help her escape?

Impostor jumps right into the action from the off, and with a great mystery (that I didn’t figure out), and a sassy protagonist that I could really root for, this one kept me completely entertained from start to finish.  Tessa hasn’t had an easy life, and while she’s a girl who can mimic the appearance of others at any time, she’s one who never feels entirely comfortable in her own skin, or with her own life. I’m really looking forward to reading the next book in this series, because while the main mystery wraps up nicely, there are still a lot of questions left unanswered –especially about man of mystery Alec. I can’t wait to find out all about him!

 

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Want to find out how awesome Impostor is? Well, you're in lucky because thanks to Media Masters I have a hardcover copy of Impostor to give away to one lucky reader in the USA. 

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

Competition closes:  June 28th.

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Delightful Debutantes #39 - Kate Karyus Quinn and Another Little Piece.

Hi Kate! Congratulations on the publication of Another Little Piece. What’s been the most exciting part of your journey as an author so far?

There have been so many exciting parts, but this – right now – is the most exciting part. Knowing that my book is in the hands of readers and that people are connecting with it is just so amazing. It’s also really thrilling to hold the final hardcover copy of the book in my hands. It is so unarguably real that I don’t even need to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming.

Describe Another Little Piece to potential readers in a tweet: (140 characters or less). 

Oh! I am so bad at this. In fact, almost every time I write a tweet, I have to trim it down before I can actually tweet it. But regardless here I go:

Screaming and bloody: a girl disappears. 1 yr later she's found with no idea who she is except the idea she may be a monster. Is she right?

At the time of writing these questions I’ve just finished Another Little Piece and my initial reaction to this book was a great big Wow! Another Little Piece is one of the most original books I’ve read in a long time. Where did you get the inspiration for this one? I’m very interested to know the thought process behind this book!

I honestly started this book without knowing what it was going to be about. All I knew was that I had a missing girl and there was more to her time being lost than a simple kidnapping. I tried starting the book a few different ways and none of them really worked. Then I saw her walking through this field wrapped in a garbage bag. That’s when I knew that I’d found my beginning. The rest of the book I wrote in mostly the same order as it exists today. I discovered all those different bits and pieces along with Annaliese.

While reading Another Little Piece, I admit I was a little confused at times (at first I thought this was a missing persons/murder mystery book – the paranormal element somehow bypassed me when I first read the synopsis). One aspect of the book I’d really like to know more about is the ‘Brujas’ and the mysterious ‘Physician’.  Are there any plans for a short story/companion novel on the background to this, or should I just relish the mystery here?

The only character who I’ve played with the idea of writing more about is Jess (a fairly minor character who comes into the story briefly towards the end of the book). But honestly right now I don’t have any plans for a short story or companion novel, but who knows – I could be in the shower one day and the perfect idea for one might hit me.

I want to add, though, that I do understand the frustration of wanting answers. I am a huge TV watcher and some of my favorite shows are often the most confusing ones. Lost is a great example of this. Or Mad Men, which is currently on the air. Over time I’ve come to embrace the ambiguity built into these shows and the amount of discussion they generate. In fact, one of my favorite parts of watching Mad Men is the day after the show when I get to read recaps from Slate or Vulture and see what someone else took away from the episode that I might not have caught. There is so much in that show that is happening under the surface and may not ever be answered to the satisfaction of the viewers, but that is part of what keeps me watching and thinking about the show even when it’s not on.

FIVE things readers should know about Another Little Piece:

1.      When I first started writing ALP, I titled it: Immortally Wounded. About a quarter of the way into writing the first draft I realized that was incredibly cheesy and changed it to Remnants. I was never super crazy about that, though, and soon decided to change it once more to Another Little Piece – taken from the song lyrics for Another Little Piece of My Heart. This title stuck all the way through finding an agent and being published by HarperTeen.

2.      The character of Dex was originally named Dezi, but somewhere along the way I started calling him Dex instead and it stuck.

3.      Dex also had a friend in the first version, and she had a whole backstory and history. She was cut in my first major round of revisions.

4.      I was inspired to add the little spitball poems scattered throughout the book after reading THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE by Jandy Nelson.

5.      I live in and grew up in Western New York and that is part of the reason why I chose to set ALP there.

FOUR books you’d recommend to anyone who loved Another Little Piece:

A Certain Slant of Light Laura Whitcomb

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E Pearson

Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake

THREE tips for aspiring authors:

Write as much as you can. Read as much as you can. Don’t forget to breathe.

That last tip is just good advice for everyone.

TWO books on your summer reading list:

Only two!?!?! Hmm… okay, well there are many many more than this, but I have been meaning for quite a while to get around to reading the final book in Holly Black’s Curse Workers series, which I absolutely adore. And I am also dying to read Mindy McGinnis’s NOT A DROP TO DRINK. It doesn’t come out until September, but I am hoping to get an ARC into my hands sometime before then.

ONE book you’re working on now: I read that your next book is called Don’t You (Forget About Me) Can you tell me anything about that one?

Yes, my next novel is another standalone from HarperTeen and it will be out sometime in 2014. Right now what I can tell you is that it is definitely similar to ALP in that there is a creepy scary vibe and lots of twists and turns.

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Thanks so much for the great Q&A, Kate. I wish you lots and lots of success with Another Little Piece and I can't wait to read Don't You (Forget About Me).

Read my review of Another Little Piece: HERE.

                                                                                               
 Find out more about Kate by reading her BLOG and following her on TWITTER.  

 

Book Reviews: Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn, Parallel by Lauren Miller & The Ruining by Anna Collomore.

Eerie, atmospheric, and at times downright confusing; while Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn is a highly original and stunningly written debut, it is also one that’s set to divide readers with both its ambiguous nature and its total love of gore.

Missing for almost a year, Annaliese Rose Gordon turns up out of the blue with a head injury and zero knowledge of her whereabouts for the past year.  While the doctors attribute her amnesia to the head trauma, Annaliese knows better; she knows she’s not the girl she used to be. That’s why she doesn’t remember, not the details of her life, or her parents, who she now refers to as ‘the mom’ and ‘the dad,’ for they are not her own, nor the boy she used to love, ‘Rice 16,’ who begs forgiveness for past sins; not that Annaliese remembers what he did, because it didn’t’ happen to her. While she was away Annaliese changed; and it’s not just that she’s uncomfortable in her own skin – it’s that she’s a whole other person entirely.   Aided by flashbacks, a boy who films death and a girl who talks to ghosts, Annaliese must find out the truth before her haunted past catches up with her once more.

Another Little Piece should come with a warning. So, I’ll give it to you now: This book will mess with your mind. It will make you ask all the questions; and it will frustrate.  It will make you think, and ponder and wonder.  It is such a strange book that, in fact, I labeled it a ‘WTF book’ on one Goodreads status update. But, you know what; for all of that I pretty much loved it. It’s lucky for me that I’m drawn to the ambiguous (I’m a huge Twin Peaks fan, after all), and it helps that I love horror too. If you don’t then Another Little Piece probably isn’t for you, because it doesn’t shy away from the bloody stuff, that’s for sure. It’s also not the book to read if you want all the answers – because you won’t find them here.  But if you’re looking for something thought-provoking and different from possibly anything you’ve ever read before then check this one out – it’s a book with real ‘heart.’ (That’s a little in-joke right there for anyone who’s read the book!)

In short: Mind-Blowing.

 Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn.  Publisher: HarperTeen.  Released: June 2013. Ages: 14+    Rating:  4 out of 5.   Source: Received from publisher for review.

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Cosmic forces collide to create multiple parallel worlds in a debut that sometimes confuses and often over-complicates.

Abby Barnes had a plan. Right now, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, she should be preparing for her first semester at Northwestern University as Journalism major. Instead, because of a split-second decision which saw her opt to take a drama class, Abby spends her days on a Hollywood movie set and her nights partying in pajamas with the hottest not-so-young actor in Hollywood. It might seem to you like Abby’s living the dream, but it’s not her dream, and so when Abby wakes up to a whole new world, and finds herself in a dorm room at Yale, it looks as though maybe, just maybe all her dreams have come true. But how did this whole new life come to be? And will it last? Thankfully Abby’s best friend, gorgeous geek Caitlin is on hand to help, along with an eccentric professor who provides the (boring) science.

Hmmm…I’ll tell you one thing – Science and me – we just don’t mesh. We never have.  I also have a problem with time jumps when they are overly complicated, as they are here. I found myself flipping back through the pages of Parallel more than once wondering what the hell was going on; and often when I thought I’d gotten to grips with the point of this plot, I’d go and lose it all over again. Because it’s not just Abby’s parallel life and the reasons for it that we’re dealing with here, there’s also another version of Abby (One-Year-Ago Abby) who makes choices that directly affect this (Former-Hollywood-now-Yale) Abby’s life.  Got that? No – me either. Not really. There's also a love triangle, and when parallel universes are involved matters of love become especially tricky; for tricky read messy as all hell.

So, I had some issues with this book, but that’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy it. I did. Just not the science. Or the confusion. But I liked the idea of it. I loved the writing – and would certainly read more from Lauren Miller in the future. Also, while I while I didn’t totally connect with the character of Abby in this one (I found her too interfering by far at times in the lives of others), there are some great secondary characters in Parallel; Astronomy Boy who is a total cutie and Caitlin, Abby’s best friend, the most well-developed character in the book and the true star here for me.

In Short: Confusing. 

  
Parallel by Lauren Miller.  Publisher: HarperTeen.  Released: May 2013. Ages: 13+    Rating:  3½ out of 5.   Source: Received from publisher for review.

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Desperate to escape her none-too-happy home life and the dark secrets that plague her past, Annie Philips is over the moon when she lands the enviable position as nanny to the practically-perfect-in-every-way Cohen family; but what Annie doesn’t realize is that no family is perfect – all have their secrets, and far from heralding her new dream start, Annie’s arrival on Belvedere Island to start a new life in the palatial home of Walker Cohen and his glamorous young wife Libby is the beginning of a nightmare that will haunt Annie’s life, and her mind, forever.

The Ruining by Anna Collomore is just the kind of book I love. A psychological thriller that will appeal to fans of Adele Griffin’s Tighter, The Ruining mixes The Turn of the Screw with The Yellow Wallpaperfor a story where nothing is quite as it seems – or is it? Right from the start we know that Annie’s new dream life isn’t all that – but just like Annie, we want to believe in the dream. However, far from being the supportive ‘older sister’ character that she paints herself to be, it soon becomes clear that all is not right with Libby Cohen. At first Libby is supportive and encouraging of Annie’s choices; advising her on college courses, discussing boy-next-door Owen and Annie’s obvious attraction to him - but that soon changes. And as Libby reveals her true – petty, overbearing and vindictive - colours, we are left to ask if the glamorous young mother with a handsome husband, two adorable kids, and successful career really has it out for this girl; or if this unseemly turn of events exists only in troubled Annie’s mind.

Ah, this book was so promising, and I loved it right from the start. However, after such a great start, The Ruining took a turn for the awfully predictable, and I have to say that the ending of this one – after an initially great set up – was a real letdown. Books such as this need an ending that is either shocking or ambiguous; The Ruininghad neither and that was a real shame.

However, the author has published the alternate ending on her blog, and if, like me you were a little let down by how things turned out in the book, you should take a look: CLICKY

In short: Anti-climactic.

  
The Ruining by Anna Collomore.  Publisher: Razorbill.  Released: February 2013. Ages: 12+    Rating:  3½ out of 5. 

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Guest Post: Make Summer Reading Plans with Arianne's Summer Spotlight +++ Giveaway!

It's that time of year again: time to roll out the beach towels, stick on those sandals and settle in for a summer of glorious sunshine and endless blue skies.

Or, if you're like me and you live in a place where it rains more often than it shines and practically everyone suffers from Vitamin D deficiency, it's time to wrap up warm and find your summer inside a great book. 

Today I'll be taking you on a guided tour of some of my favourite summer reads. If you happen to be out getting that fabulous suntan or showing off your toned beach bod. lucky you - please do share what it's like with us! Why not pick up a few recommendations while you're here? 

If you're not so lucky and haven't quite jetted off to a land of golden dunes or poolside snackbars just yet, don't despair! There are plenty of ways to get the holiday in the sun you're yearning for - just look at all the choices there are!

Take a trip to the beach house with The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

This is one of my all-time favourite summer books It's sweet, funny and a perfect introduction to the world of summer stories. The tone may be light-hearted, but the characters are guaranteed to stay with you - they did for me. I'm not ashamed to admit that main character Conrad Fisher remains one of my longest-standing literary crushes - and after reading this book, you'll definitely see why!

Find a place you truly belong with Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen is definitely a queen of summer, exemplifying everything you could wish for in a summer book with this gorgeous standalone novel. It's about making choices and not allowing yourself to be defined by others - but there's also something so solid and warm about Along for the Ride it just makes you want to shut up shop and move to the tight-knit town of Colby right away. The fact that here's a cute boy involved is just a bonus!

Venture into a different era with The Year the Gypsies Came by Linzi Glass

This is probably the most unusual book I've ever read in summer - and I love it. It's powerful, moving, heartbreaking and addictive, telling the story of life in apartheid South Africa at a time when the rest of the world was taken up by Beatlemania and Jackie O's dress sense. Twelve-year-old Emily is an engaging protagonist but this is the kind of book that appeals across the generations. The baking heat of Johannesburg in spring is probably more than any of us could handle, but Emily has to deal with her parents' failing marriage, strangers taking over her home, and a devastating series of events which will change her forever. If you're looking for more than your average beach read this year, look no further than this.

For me, however, summer 2013 will definitely be one of new-release YA contemporaries. It's almost impossible to choose, but I've managed to whittle it down to ten books I'll be spending my summer with.

This year, I'll be...

 ...risking a forbidden romance with The Book of Broken Hearts by Sarah Ockler

Fans of Sarah Ockler both old and new have been raving about this, her third contemporary novel. The Book of Broken Hearts isn't just a romance, however - there's family, sisterhood and some very cool bikes to bulk up the story of Jude Hernandez, and I for one can't wait to read it.

...seeking answers and healing hearts with When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney

This book has a male viewpoint, cross-continental self-discovery and a dog named Sandy Koufax - what's not to love? Summer for our hero Danny means Tokyo, cherry blossoms and the busy crowds of an even busier city, but travelling there after the death of his mother is different. I'm most looking forward to finding out whether the answers Danny really needs are the ones he can find within himself.

...rediscovering how much friends matter with How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler

This book was published in April but takes place in summer, following the story of best friends Kya and Grace as they navigate their last few months of freedom before senior year kicks in. It's great to see such a strong emphasis on friendship in a book like this, so I'm hoping it'll be a friendship I'll want to remember.

...facing up to the future and making hard choices with Burning by Elana K. Arnold

It wouldn't be summer if there wasn't at least one book that looked at coming of age on the wrong side of the tracks. This is the gritty story of a girl who feels both intensely proud of and horribly trapped by her gypsy roots and a boy who dares to look past everything she thought defined her, and it's a fine addition to anyone's reading list.

...fighting for survival on a desert island with Shipwrecked by Siobhan Curham

Let's face it, nobody could resist a book described as 'Lost meets Gossip Girl'. No matter how bad you think both ill-fated series were, this book promises much in the way of sizzling tension and rollercoaster adventure. Siobhan Curham is an auto-buy author for me, but Shipwrecked is very different from anything she's written before. 

...taking a road trip with Right of Way by Lauren Barnholdt

I'm the first to admit that road trip stories haven't always worked for me, but this one really caught my attention. It's character-led and takes the phrase 'holiday romance' to a whole new level - because what happens if that holiday is an endless car journey and the romance has turned to resentment and hatred? Intriguing!

...indulging in geekdom with The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

Released in May, this looks like a great way to start a summer of reading. Most of us have guilty geek pleasures we don't talk about - but this is your chance to let them shine in the name of nerd pride!

...becoming a rebel with The Summer Prince by Alaya Johnson

I don't think I've ever come across a book as unique as this one. A tropical tale bursting with passion, rebellion and technology, it's a vivid and fiery adventure set deep in the heart of futuristic Brazil. Even the synopsis pulses with the heartbeat of a cityscape like no other. I can't wait to get my hands on it.

...asking questions and discovering secrets with Golden by Jessi Kirby

Everyone's talking about Jessi Kirby and from what I know about this book, I'm not surprised. This isn't just a book about a girl taking a chance and living a little. It's not just a book about the most popular couple in school. There's a strong plot and a real blend of mystery and contemporary which makes it stand out from the crowd.

...catching up on what I've missed with Perfect Escape by Jennifer Brown

This book was published last year, and for me it's one I definitely regret not reading sooner. It focuses on a sibling bond and what it's like to have to compete for space with OCD. Kendra cares about her brother, but in the end his condition always seems to dominate her life. It's very brave of this author to tackle such a tough subject from an even tougher viewpoint, and that's what makes me want to read it.

I'll also be trying to finally get around to My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick - it's been on my wishlist for way too long and I think I may spontaneously combust if I don't get to read it soon!

What are you looking forward to reading this summer?

-Arianne

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To be in with a chance of winning some of Arianne's favourite summer reads, just fill in the rafflecopter form below. 

One lucky winner will get to choose from the following prize packs:

Prize Pack #1: The Summer Classic: The Summer I turned Pretty & Along for the Ride. 

Prize Pack #2: The 2013 Contemp Special: How I Lost You & The Summer I Became a Nerd.

-- Or you can mix & match between packs!

Competition is open internationally (Wherever The Book Depository ships). 

Competition Ends: July 21st 2013.


Don't forget you can also enter to win some great summer reads in my Summer Spotlight Launch Party Giveaway:  CLICKY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read All About It: News, Deals and Cover Reveals from Katie McGarry, Imogen Howson, James Dawson, Nova Ren Suma & More!

Here's a round up of the latest book news, deals and some cover reveals that I've discovered over the past few weeks!  It's also basically a digest of all the exciting news stories that come my way and which I've mostly already posted on my twitter and Facebook feeds, so if you want up-to-the-minute book news and you don't want to have to wait around for me to type this up, you can follow me on those sites!

 Like DaisyChainBookReviews on Facebook  ||   Follow  @daisychainbooks on Twitter and then you'll never miss a thing!

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Crash into You (PTL #3) by Katie McGarry || Release date: November 2013.

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

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Book Deals, Book Deals, Book Deals....

Say Her Name by James Dawson 

Hot Key Books has acquired world rights in a YA psychological thriller by James Dawson, whose debut novel was published last year.

Editor-at-large Emma Matthewson bought Say Her Name and one other title from Jo Williamson at Antony Harwood.

Dawson's Hollow Pike was published last year, and his first non-fiction book Being a Boy, a guide to puberty for boys, is publishing in September 2013 by Hot Key Books' sister imprint Red Lemon Press. Say Her Name will be published in May 2014.

Matthewson said: "James Dawson has already proven himself to be the ultimate king of chills and his first book for Hot Key Books, Say Her Name, is a richly layered psychological thriller that more than lives up to his reputation of being a fantastic writer for teens.

"Inspired by the urban myth of Bloody Mary, it is a tale that will have readers thinking very hard before looking into a mirror again."

The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma 

Elise Howard at Algonquin Young Readers has bought world rights to two new YA novels from Nova Ren Suma, author of Imaginary Girls and 17 & Gone. The Walls Around Us, the first book, is the story of girls bound by fate and coincidence, one living and one dead. In two voices, they tell of haunting and being haunted by ghosts both real and imagined. It's scheduled for spring 2015; Michael Bourret at Dystel & Goderich Literary Management brokered the deal. 

 After the Woods by Kim Savage

Janine O'Malley at Farrar, Straus and Giroux acquired a debut YA novel, After the Woodsby former journalist Kim Savage, in a pre-empt. It’s a psychological thriller about two friends in the aftermath of an abduction, where one risked her life to save the other and spent a night in the woods she wants to forget. Now, nearly a year later, a girl’s body is found, and dark secrets are tearing the best friends apart. Publication is scheduled for 2015; Sara Crowe at Harvey Klinger did the two-book deal for world English rights.

 The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Jen Besser at Putnam has bought world rights to a new series by Marie Lu, author of the Legend trilogy. The new series, called The Young Elites, is set in a Renaissance-like world where magic is new, chaotic, and misunderstood, and three rival societies with supernatural abilities battle for power. One girl transforms from an unwanted daughter into a fearsome leader, igniting panic and sparking war between seven nations. The first book is set for fall 2014; Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary did the three-bookdeal. 

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More Book Covers of Awesome....

Little White Lies by Katie Dale || Release date: August 2013

Lucy can't help but be drawn to the mysterious Christian, but the more time they spend together the more she realises that Christian has a secret past that he's not keen to share, clamming up every time she tries to get him to talk to her. Lucy isn't someone who takes no for an answer, and as the two grow closer she's determined to find out the truth about Christian and the past he wants to keep hidden ...but even if she does, will Lucy like what she discovers? And with secrets of her own to hide, is Lucy playing a dangerous game...Full of family secrets, surprising twists and unexpected revelations, Katie Dale's second novel will have readers on the edge of their seats.

 

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Linked by Imogen Howson  || Release date: August 2013.

Elissa used to have it all: looks, popularity, and a bright future. But for the last three years, she’s been struggling with terrifying visions, phantom pains, and mysterious bruises that appear out of nowhere.

Finally, she’s promised a cure: minor surgery to burn out the overactive area of her brain. But on the eve of the procedure, she discovers the shocking truth behind her hallucinations: she’s been seeing the world through another girl’s eyes.

Elissa follows her visions, and finds a battered, broken girl on the run. A girl—Lin—who looks exactly like Elissa, down to the matching bruises. The twin sister she never knew existed.

Now, Elissa and Lin are on the run from a government who will stop at nothing to reclaim Lin and protect the dangerous secrets she could expose—secrets that would shake the very foundation of their world.

Riveting, thought-provoking and utterly compelling, Linked will make you question what it really means to be human.

US Cover

  

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Brooklyn Girls by Gemma Burgess || Release date: July 2013.

Pia is living the dream: fresh out of college and sharing a house in Brooklyn with her best friends. So why is everything so complicated?

A drunken indiscretion has led to the loss of her boring office job, while her love life is a dizzy mess of accidental hook-ups and heartbreak...

Her parents don't trust her and, if she doesn't sort her life out soon, they're going to make her move back in with them...

But all that's nothing compared to the kind of trouble she's about to face.

At least she can rely on her friends - Coco, Angie, Julia and Madeleine. But how much can she really expect them to put up with?

US Cover

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Into the Deep by Samantha Young || Release date: August 2013.

Live young. Live hard. Love deep. 

 Charley Redford was just an ordinary girl until Jake Caplin moved to her small town in Indiana and convinced her she was extraordinary. Almost from day one Jake pulled Charley into the deep and promised he was right there with her. But when a tragic incident darkened Jake’s life he waded out into the shallows and left Charley behind.

 Almost four years later Charley thinks she’s moved on. That is until she takes a study year abroad in Edinburgh and bumps into none other than Jake Caplin at a party with his new girlfriend. The bad-boy-turned-good attempts to convince Charley to forgive him, and as her best friend starts spending time with Jake’s, Charley calls a truce, only to find herself tumbling back into a friendship with him.

 As they grow closer, the spark between them flares and begins playing havoc with their lives and relationships. When jealousy and longing rear their destructive heads, Charley and Jake struggle to come to grips with what they mean to one another. And even if they work it out, there is no guarantee Charley will ever trust Jake to lead her back into the deep… 

Read Chapter 1 & 2 of Into the Deep: http://intothedeepseries.blogspot.co.uk/p/excerpts.html

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Finally, here are the very pretty new UK paperback covers for Time Between Us and Time after Time by Tamara Ireland Stone:

The paperback of Time Between Us will release in July, with Time after Time following in October 2013.

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That's it for the latest round-up. I'm excited for a lot of the books in this round up especially Linked and the new Samantha Young which is her first New Adult offering. I've already read Brooklyn Girls and that one was a whole lot of fun! It's definitely a series I'll be continuing. 

Also, how awesome does the new James Dawson book sound. Same goes for the new book from Nova Ren Suma - I can't wait to read that one.  

Let me know your thoughts in comments!

 

Please note that book covers may not be final and may be subject to change.  Additional sources:  PW Children's Bookshelf,  Book Trade.Info,  Goodreads and The Bookseller.