Book Recommendation--Immortal Beloved

Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was one of those books I had a hard time putting down. I love history, so I LOVED Nastasya's flashbacks to her previous life. It almost felt like two books in one. And Reyn, the Viking god--yeah, who wouldn't love him? Great read!

If you've read it, what did you think?


View all my reviews

Mockingjay Midnight Madness!

As most of you know, MOCKINGJAY, the third and final installment of the Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins released at midnight last night!!!! Books of Wonder, an independent bookstore in NYC that you absolutely have to stop at if you've ever out this way, hosted the official release party with Suzanne Collins!

Books of Wonder has been taking preorders for MOCKINGJAY for weeks. The bookstore closed its doors at 7pm, like always, and reopened at 8pm for the party. The line formed out on the street starting at 3 o'clock in the afternoon!!! Suzie Townsend, of Fine Print Literary, and company were at the start of the line.

Those girls are carrying bow and arrows!

Sorry some of these are dark. That's the line all the way down the street.

The bookstore workers were very organized. They had us form two lines--preorders and those who needed to purchase books. I was cursing myself for having not preordered, until I got inside and saw the preorder line wrapping around the building. I stepped up to the counter in the empty buy-your-book-now line, and got ticket #103, meaning I would be person #103 (and I got there about 45 minutes before they reopened!) to get my book stamped by Ms Collins.

Books of Wonder hosted quite a few mega signings, they can handle this sort of event.

It was crowded, extremely, but it was amazing. They had a magician, jugglers, face painting, trivia games, raffles, and with the purchase of MOCKINGJAY plus one other book at a set price or more, they gave you this awesome mug!

On to more pictures!

David Levithan was there to announce Suzanne and just be his awesome self.

This is Mitali (http://www.thealleyofbooks.com/), myself looking freakishly tall next to them, and author of KNIGHTLY ACADEMY, Robin Schneider, AKA Violet Haberdasher.

Beautiful girl in a beautiful dress!

Elizabeth Eulberg (THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB) was there. Elizabeth, how did we not take a picture! And Elizabeth Law, publisher at Egmont USA was also in attendance. Unfortunately, she was on her way out, as I was on my way in and I didn't get the chance to speak with her again.

Suzanne Collins and Beautiful Dress Girl

Suzanne stamping my book!

*Squee!!*

It was a GREAT night! HUGE thanks to Books of Wonder, Suzanne, Scholastic, and all the entertainment! I've been to quite a lot of book signings and events and this was one of the very best, and not just because it was MOCKINGJAY! These folks worked hard to make it a successful night.

Did you attend a launch party last night? Don't forget to check Suzanne's tour dates!

Contest: Signed ARC Return to Paradise

**CONTEST IS CLOSED**

See Winner

No special reason for this one. I was just looking over my book collection and realized I have a few extra copies of some awesome books and ARCS. This month's giveaway will be a signed ARC of RETURN TO PARADISE by Simone Elkeles (Flux books September 1st 2010) and a bookmark!

I apologize for the poor quality photos. My cell doesn't take good pics indoors.

And one of me and Simone in case you doubt me.

The Sequel to LEAVING PARADISE

From the New York Times Bestselling Author of RULES OF ATTRACTION

Caleb Becker left Paradise eight months ago, taking with him the secret he promised to take to his grave. If the truth got out, it would ruin everything.

Maggie Armstrong tried to be strong after Caleb broke her heart and disappeared. Somehow, she managed to move on. She’s determined to make a new life for herself.

But then Caleb and Maggie are forced together on a summer trip. They try ignoring their passion for each other, but buried feelings resurface. Caleb must face the truth about the night of Maggie’s accident, or the secret that destroyed their relationship will forever stand between them.

Praise for Leaving Paradise:

"Elkeles writes convincingly about family tensions, retreating from painful reality, and teens outgrowing their old skins." —School Library Journal

"Elkeles creates raw emotions, dialogue, and high-school ambience that’s just right… [A] delicate, delicious love story."—Booklist

To enter:

1. You must be a follower of this blog. This is not me trying to get a bazillion followers. This is me appreciating those who support this blog. This will get you 1 entry point.

2. For each time you spread the word about THIS giveaway, with a link to where you shared it, +1 entries. (Facebook, myspace, twitter etc)

• Tweet: Giveaway! Signed ARC of RETURN TO PARADISE by Simone Elkeles! @ljboldyrev http://bit.ly/bilOdy

3. A blog post, with a link to your blog will get you +5 entries.

4. For bonus entries, spread the word about REBEL MOON! RM is an anthology of supernatural short stories for young adults, including my first ever published short, PARALLEL (it's got werewolves).

+5 for EACH time you share the following:

• "REBEL MOON, an anthology of supernatural tales, now available http://rebelbookspublishing.co.uk/bookshop.aspx"

or on twitter

• REBEL MOON, an anthology of supernatural tales: Now available http://rebelbookspublishing.co.uk/bookshop.aspx @ljboldyrev @rebelbooksllp

on facebook, twitter, myspace --limit one per site. If you want to tweet it a hundred times, that's cool, but to be fair I'll only count one tweet.

+20 entries if you blog using the following info and link me to your post:

Click the cover to grab your copy of REBEL MOON! Includes a supernatural short by L.J. Boldyrev!

Paperback 220 pages

ISBN 13: 978-0-9565035

ISBN 10: 0956503519

REBEL MOON

(An Anthology of supernatural tales)

by Various

Have you ever wondered what Death would look like if he approached you at a bus stop? Or what would happen if a vampire’s chosen victim turned out to be more than they had bargained for?

Rebel Moon is a collection of stories that will whisk you into worlds of vampires, werewolves and witchcraft so prepare yourself for a bumpy ride as sometimes the dead have more of a life than the living and if this book teaches you anything it is to always expect the unexpected!

From the teen witches you wouldn’t want to cross in One Witch Down to the dark comedy of Evil 101, this is a book you won’t want to put down.

Can also be purchased from Amazon, WHSmiths, Waterstones and Book Depository.

And as a bonus, if you've bought or ordered REBEL MOON, I'll add +20 to your entries. Just snap a picture of the receipt, or a picture of you with the book to ljb@ljboldyrev.com or upload the pic and link me to it in the comments.

I am absolutely bad at math, and I hate when I have to add my total entries on a contest, so I won't make you do that. Just fill out the form and I'll do the rest.

Contest will run until August 20th 12pm EST, and it IS international! I'll ship anywhere. Winners will be announced shortly after.

Thank you and good luck!

Teaser Thursday!

Why not?

Here's a tiny piece from GREYSKIN, because I freaking LOVE Jack O'Donnell. He's such a manly man (even though he's only 21, just barely). If my husband ever gets tired of me, I'm living in my head with Jack. For reals.

“Getting good at those tall tales, Charlie,” says Jack, lighting a cigarette. “I think I might be rubbing off on you.” He says the last bit with the cigarette in his mouth. It makes the words come out in a growl and it stirs something in me. I pinch my lip with my teeth. My whole body pulls toward his. I want to take the step to close the gap between us and press myself against him.

“Let’s go,” he says, words smacking me back to where we are, with the curious eyes of the lawn chair men. “B*tch’s gettin’ restless.”

The Sky is Everywhere

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Dial; 1 edition (March 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803734956
• ISBN-13: 978-0803734951

Shop Indie

http://theskyiseverywhere.com/synopsis.php

Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker, bookworm and band geek, plays second clarinet and spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to center stage of her own life—and, despite her nonexistent history with boys, suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two. Toby was Bailey's boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie's own. Joe is the new boy in town, a transplant from Paris whose nearly magical grin is matched only by his musical talent. For Lennie, they're the sun and the moon; one boy takes her out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But just like their celestial counterparts, they can't collide without the whole wide world exploding.

I LOVED this book! It easily ranks on my top 5 list of 2010. The characters in this book are so vivid and unique, and the prose is beautiful. Like Heidi R Kling said to me on twitter, "It's like diving into a poem."

The Sky is Everywhere is like diving into a painful, beautiful, epic poem.

Book Giveaway! Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

Enter to win a signed (and doodled!) BALLAD by Maggie Stiefvater, courtesy of Susan, aka Wastepaper Prose at http://bit.ly/bQc8eH

Today!

If you're in NYC today, don't forget to stop by Books of Wonder, 18 W 18th Street, for the massive YA book signing! As part of the NYC Teen Author Festival, approximately 70 YA authors will gather together starting at 2pm and sign their books, take pictures with fans, etc. I'll be there with my husband on our motorcycle so if you see me, say hello. I'll probably be wearing my leather jacket. I'd like to be there all day, but I'll probably only be able to stay until about 3:30. Hope to see you there!

Sunday afternoon:
Books of Wonder Signing (2-6)

NOTE: Because of the number of authors, signings will be in shifts. Below is the approximate schedule, which is subject to change

2:00-2:45
Alma Alexander
Nora Baskin
Cathleen Davitt Bell
Judy Blundell
Libba Bray
Coe Booth
Elise Broach
Alexandra Bullen
Nick Burd
Sarah Burningham
Susane Colasanti
Matt De La Pena
Violet Haberdasher
Maggie Stiefvater

2:45-3:30
Tom Dolby
Heather Duffy-Stone
Sarah Beth Durst
Elizabeth Eulberg
Gayle Forman
Aimee Friedman
Jenny Han
Alice Hoffman
Carla Jablonksi
Melissa Kantor
Kristen Kemp
Michelle Knudsen
Peter Lerangis
David Levithan

3:30-4:15
Sarah Darer Littman
Barry Lyga
Robin MacCready
Carolyn Mackler
Sarah Maclean
Marianne Mancusi
Amanda Marrone
Wendy Mass
Lauren McLaughlin
Neesha Meminger
Sarah Mlynowski
Michael Northrup
Robin Palmer

4:15-5:00
Diana Peterfreund
Shani Petroff
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
Matthue Roth
Marie Rutkoski
Lisa Ann Sandell
Samantha Schutz
Elizabeth Scott
Kieran Scott
Courtney Sheinmel
Sara Shepard
Abby Sher
Jon Skovron

5:00-5:45
Jennifer Smith
Natalie Standiford
Rachel Vail
David Van Etten
Siobhan Vivian
Adrienne Maria Vrettos
Melissa Walker
Robin Wasserman
Suzanne Weyn
Lynn Weingarten
Martin Wilson
Jake Wizner
Maryrose Wood
Michelle Zink

Beautiful Darkness Cover!

BEAUTIFUL DARKNESS, the sequel to BEAUTIFUL CREATURES by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl was revealed today!

http://gatlincounty.ning.com/page/beautiful-darkness-cover

Find out more about BEAUTIFUL CREATURES and Kami and Margaret at

http://beautifulcreaturesthebook.com/

Cover Art!

In 2009, FALLEN by Lauren Kate was released from Delacorte. The cover for the sequel, TORMENT, was just released and it is so awesome, I have to share.

ARC Giveaway: SEA by Heidi R Kling

SEA by Heidi R. Kling--Available Bookstores everywhere June 10, 2010! And pre-order now!

Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother's accidental disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen year old California girl Sienna "Sea" Jones reluctantly travels with her father's volunteer team to six months post-tsunami Indonesia. During her stay at the orphanage, she meets scarred and soulful Deni who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.

She knows they can't be together, so why can't she stay away from him? And what about her old-best-friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why is her psychiatrist father so secretive about her mother's plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to the truth. And Sea's real adventure begins.

Some Very Nice Words About Sea
(Pick your three favorites!--don't forget to give credit to the blurber!)

SEA is a richly woven story as turbulent and beautiful as the sea itself, plunging us headlong into the depths of loss, devastation, compassion, and hope. A touching and romantic debut about the redemptive power of altruism and the heart's capacity for love."Sarah Ockler, author of TWENTY BOY SUMMER

"From the first page of SEA, the reader is plunged into a world of love, loss, and hope. The heat between Sienna and Deni is mirrored in the steamy exotic setting of Indonesia. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put this book down. Sienna is conflicted and compassionate... I truly loved this book and can't wait to recommend it to all the teenagers I know!"
-- L.K. Madigan, William C. Morris Award winning author of FLASH BURNOUT

"From the opening pages of SEA, the hair stood on the back of my neck, as it does whenever I encounter a writer who really knows what she's doing with words. Tragedies and miracles coexist in this entrancing debut novel about the aftermath of a tsunami."
-- Jennifer R. Hubbard, author of THE SECRET YEAR

"I was enchanted from the first sentence. At once heartbreaking and hopeful, Heidi R. Kling’s debut novel follows a California teenager who, mourning the death of her mother, travels to Indonesia to help tsunami survivors. While the setting is unique, the story of love and loss is utterly relatable. Sienna’s relationship with the beautiful, complicated Deni is compelling, romantic and real."
---Courtney Sheinmel, author of POSITIVELY and MY SO-CALLED FAMILY

"Heartbreaking but always hopeful; achingly romantic but never sappy-- SEA is simply luminous. What a remarkable debut!" -- Jennifer Laughran, "Not Your Mother's Book Club" Books Inc., San Francisco

"Heidi R. Kling takes us on a journey to an unfamiliar geography, but where we all recognize the emotional vocabulary of loss and grief, of attraction and love. And we long to speak the language." --Vivian Leal, Kepler’s Books

"Heidi R Kling left no room for doubts or anything with the strong connection Sea and Deni had. It was so intense and beautiful, you were simply drawn to it. Their relationship was so involved, and blew you away. When you are reading Sea, you would by no means guess that it is a debut novel. The story leaps off the page and speaks to you. It's a journey of the heart and emotions. Once I started reading, I had troubles putting it down. Sea is a book for all types of people, it is one you don't want to miss." --Erica, The Book Cellar

"I am blown away. Heidi Kling wrote one of my favorite novels. Sea was thrilling, sweet, adventurous, while still having that feel where everything seems like it’s going to be ok. I fell in love with these characters, they were written wonderfully. Some people think that the author chooses the book and some people think that the book chooses the author, in this case, Sea definitely chose Heidi." --Zoe, Zoe's Book Reviews

For more about SEA and Heidi please visit: http://heidirkling.com
Enter to win an ARC here: http://seaheidi.livejournal.com seaheidi
SEA debuts June 10, 2010 with Putnam (Penguin)

NYC Teen Author Festival!

I am STOKED for this one! I've marked in bold the events I will be attending, unless something terrible happens and I can't go.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&ref=ts&gid=56488781586

2010 NYC Teen Author Festival Schedule

Monday, 3/15 (NYPL, Tompkins Square Branch, 331 East 10th Street, 6pm):

First Draft to Final Draft – Talking About the Writing Process

featuring:
Gayle Forman
Daphne Grab
Carolyn Mackler
Sarah Mlynowski
Blake Nelson
Marie Rutkoski
Eliot Schrefer
Natalie Standiford



Tuesday, 3/16 (Barnes & Noble Tribeca, 97 Warren Street, 7pm):

Getting Inside the Mind of a Teen Boy

featuring:
Nick Burd
Matt de la Pena
Gordon Korman
David Levithan
Barry Lyga
Michael Northrup
Jon Skovron
Jake Wizner



Wednesday, 3/17 (Mulberry Street Branch, NYPL, 10 Jersey St, 6pm):

The Treasure Map to Going Bovine with Will Grayson(s)
(or, an evening of readers’ theater)

featuring:
Libba Bray
John Green
David Levithan
E. Lockhart



Thursday, 3/18 (Five Borough Read, 10am):

Authors read to high school students and the public in libraries across the city.

Manhattan:

Countee Cullen Branch, NYPL, 104 W 136th St

Donna Freitas
Eliot Schrefer
Rachel Vail
Lynn Weingarten
Ebony Wilkins


Jefferson Market Branch, NYPL, 425 6th Ave

Gabe Guarente
Carla Jablonksi
Kristen Kemp
Barry Lyga
Samantha Schutz


Muhlenburg Branch, NYPL, 209 W 23rd St

Emma McLaughlin
Lauren McLaughlin
Courtney Sheinmel
Jennifer Smith


Mulberry Street Branch, NYPL, 10 Jersey Street

Angie Frazier
Aimee Friedman
Alice Hoffman
Robin MacCready
Sarah Maclean
Amanda Marrone


Seward Park Branch, NYPL, 192 East Broadway

Cathleen Bell
Susane Colasanti
Matt De La Pena
Gayle Forman
Daphne Grab


Yorkville Branch, NYPL,, 222 East 79th St

Micol Ostow
Robin Palmer
Shani Petroff
Robyn Schneider
Abby Sher
Jake Wizner
Michelle Zink


Brooklyn:

Central Branch, Brooklyn Public Library, Dweck Auditorim, 10 Grand Army Plaza

Emily Horner
Melissa Kantor
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
Matthue Roth
Siobhan Vivian
Adrienne Maria Vrettos
Melissa Walker
Robin Wasserman


Bronx:

Bronx Library Center, NYPL, 310 East Kingsbridge Road

Coe Booth
Sarah Darer Littman
Neesha Meminger
Maryrose Wood


Queens:

Broadway Branch, QPL, 40-20 Broadway, Long Island City

Jessica Blank
Sarah Burningham
Heather Duffy-Stone
Marianne Mancusi
Elizabeth Scott


Staten Island:

West New Brighton Branch, NYPL, 976 Castleon Avenue

Elizabeth Eulberg
David Levithan
Michael Northrup
Kieran Scott



Thursday Evening, 3/18 (Books of Wonder, 18 W 18th St, 6-8pm):

Sourcebooks Fire Launch Party

featuring authors Lisa Brown, Anne Eliot Crompton, Helen Ellis, Adele Griffin,
AND
the rocking tunes of Tiger Beat! (with Libba Bray, Dan Ehrenhaft, Barnabas Miller, and Natalie Standiford)



Friday, 3/19 (South Court, 42nd Street, 2-5 and 6-8:30)

NYC Teen Author Festival Symposium

Afternoon

2:00 Introduction

2:10 – 3:00: Using Genre to Tell the True Story of Adolescence

featuring:
Judy Blundell
Sarah Beth Durst
Lauren McLaughlin
Diana Peterfreund
Sara Shepard
Maggie Stiefvater
Robin Wasserman


3:00 – 3:30: Making a First Impression – 2010 Debut Authors

featuring:
Angie Frazier
Emily Horner
Alyssa Sheinmel
Ebony Wilkins


3:30 - 4:15: Grief, Loss, and the YA Novel

featuring:
Alexandra Bullen
Heather Duffy-Stone
Donna Freitas
Alice Hoffman
Sarah Darer Littman
Lisa Ann Sandell
Samantha Schutz


4:15 – 5: The Boy You Can’t Have

featuring:
Susane Colasanti
Elizabeth Eulberg
Robin Palmer
Elizabeth Scott
Melissa Walker
Maryrose Wood

5-6: Break

Evening

6:00 – A Tribute to Regina Hayes

featuring:
Sarah Dessen
Joy Peskin
Jacqueline Woodson


6:45 – 8:30: What it Feels Like for a Girl – Writing in a Teen Girl’s Voice

featuring:
Jessica Blank
Eireann Corrigan
Sarah Dessen
Jenny Han
Terra Elan McVoy
Siobhan Vivian
Adrienne Maria Vrettos
Jacqueline Woodson


Saturday, 3/20 (Bartos Forum, 42nd Street, 1pm):

Stuff for the Teen Age Event
Come check out Stuff for the Teen Age, The New York Public Library’s list of the hottest books, movies, music, and video games from 2009. Talk with your favorite authors. Rock out to your favorite songs. Have fun. Hear a very special presentation from keynote speaker, Libba Bray, the author of Going Bovine.


Sunday afternoon:
Books of Wonder Signing (2-6)

NOTE: Because of the number of authors, signings will be in shifts. Below is the approximate schedule, which is subject to change

2:00-2:45
Alma Alexander
Nora Baskin
Cathleen Davitt Bell
Judy Blundell
Libba Bray
Coe Booth
Elise Broach
Alexandra Bullen
Nick Burd
Sarah Burningham
Susane Colasanti
Matt De La Pena
Violet Haberdasher
Maggie Stiefvater

2:45-3:30
Tom Dolby
Heather Duffy-Stone
Sarah Beth Durst
Elizabeth Eulberg
Gayle Forman
Aimee Friedman
Jenny Han
Alice Hoffman
Carla Jablonksi
Melissa Kantor
Kristen Kemp
Michelle Knudsen
Peter Lerangis
David Levithan

3:30-4:15
Sarah Darer Littman
Barry Lyga
Robin MacCready
Carolyn Mackler
Sarah Maclean
Marianne Mancusi
Amanda Marrone
Wendy Mass
Lauren McLaughlin
Neesha Meminger
Sarah Mlynowski
Michael Northrup
Robin Palmer

4:15-5:00
Diana Peterfreund
Shani Petroff
Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich
Matthue Roth
Marie Rutkoski
Lisa Ann Sandell
Samantha Schutz
Elizabeth Scott
Kieran Scott
Courtney Sheinmel
Sara Shepard
Abby Sher
Jon Skovron

5:00-5:45
Jennifer Smith
Natalie Standiford
Rachel Vail
David Van Etten
Siobhan Vivian
Adrienne Maria Vrettos
Melissa Walker
Robin Wasserman
Suzanne Weyn
Lynn Weingarten
Martin Wilson
Jake Wizner
Maryrose Wood
Michelle Zink


BONUS EVENTS:

Also keep in mind…

Before the Festival:

March 11: Blake Nelson and the Care Bears on Fire at Barnes & Noble, Union Square, 33 E 17th St, 7pm, for a night of reading and rock

After the Festival:

April 14: The Next Teen Author Reading Night, 6-7:30 at the Jefferson Market Branch of NYPL, 425 6th Ave, at 10th St.

Helen Ellis, The Turning
David Levithan, Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, Dedication
Sarah Mlynowski, Gimme a Call
Marie Rutkoski, The Celestial Globe
Elizabeth Scott, The Unwritten Rule
Rachel Vail, Brilliant
Adrienne Maria Vrettos, The Exile of Gigi Lane

Waiting on Wednesday: Week 4

WOW is hosted by Breaking The Spine.

Most of the books I am waiting on, do not have covers, some without titles! SO I am going to use this WOW to branch out from my usual genre of choice, and bring you something I think is way cool.

YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME: STORIES AND POEMS ABOUT BOYS by Sharon Flake

Product Details

• Pub. Date: February 16, 2010
• Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
• Format: Hardcover, 208pp
• Sales Rank: 107,779

oduct Description

I sit in your class

I play by the rules

I'm young

I'm fly

I'm black.

In 9 stories and 13 poems, Sharon G. Flake gives readers insight into the minds of a diverse group adolescent African American males. There's Tow-Kaye, getting married at age 17 to love of his life, who's pregnant. He knows it's the right thing to do, but he's scared to death. James writes in his diary about his twin brother's terrible secret, which threatens to pull James down, too. Tyler explains what it's like to be a player with the ladies. In a letter to his uncle, La'Ron confesses that he's infected with HIV. Eric takes us on a tour of North Philly on the Fourth of July, when the heat could make a guy go crazy. Still, he loves his hood. These and other unforgettable characters come to life in this poignant, funny and often searing collection of urban male voices.

• ISBN-13: 9781423100140
• ISBN: 142310014X

Body Finder--Contest!

Kimberly Derting is giving away TWO signed ARC's of her book, The Body Finder!

To enter, follow the contest rules on her blog: http://kimberlyderting.blogspot.com/2010/01/body-finder-book-trailer-is-here.html

You have to check out this awesome book trailer!

Waiting on Wednesday: Week 3

I've posted a little bit about this book before, so really I'm cheating by making it my WOW, but...

WOW is hosted by Breaking The Spine.

13 TO LIFE: A WEREWOLF'S TALE

Shannon Delany

Release Date: June 22nd 2010

13 To Life has an interesting beginning. Author Shannon Delany was the first-ever cellphone novel winner in the USA with her serial novel, 13 To Life. Her simple textnovel grew into a multi-book deal with St. Martin's Press! You can still read the original at texnovel.com.

From Shannon Delany dot com

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.

The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early.

The Dark Divine

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: EgmontUSA (December 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1606840576

PProduct Description: from Amazon

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

When I first read a review for this book, before I started reading it, the reviewer compared it to Twilight. While I may not be a total twihard (is that in the dictionary yet?) I did enjoy that series, but I found no similarities.

This book is completely original, imaginative and full of awesome! I loved Despain's spin on werewolf lore. The history behind the werewolf in this book is as interesting as the story of Grace and Daniel. The story unfolds and tiny snippits are revealed at exactly the right moment to may you say, "holy cannoli!"

The Dark Divine is easily one of my favorite books of 2009.

www.breedespain.com

In My Mailbox - Week 1

In my mailbox was started by Kristi at The Story Siren

In addition to these, I had purchased a few books the week before and so I probably won't be doing another IMM for a while. At least not until my birthday in late January ;)

Tricks - Ellen Hopkins

City of Bones - Cassandra Clare

Marked - P.C Cast & Kristin Cast

The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman

A Great and Terrible Beauty - Libba Bray

Rebel Angels - Libba Bray

The Sweet Far Thing - Libba Bray

The Lightening Thief - Rick Riordan

Sea Monsters - Rick Riordan

Titan's Curse - Rick Riordan

Strange Angels - Lili St. Crow

Betrayals - Lili St. Crow

Wicked Lovely - Melissa Marr

The Dark Divine - Bree Despain (Reading now)

Beautiful Creatures

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (December 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316042676
• 
  

Some loves are meant to be…

others are cursed.

There were no surprises

in Gatlin County.

At least, that’s what I thought.

Turns out, I couldn’t have

been more wrong.

There was a curse.

There was a girl.

And in the end,

there was a grave.

Visit the author's website to hear SIXTEEN MOONS

The Story (from kamigarciamargaretstohl.com)

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

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This really is a must-have book! I'm sure not everyone will agree, but I loved it! Must be the southerner in me that couldn't get enough of Amma and her chicken bones.

When I was a young girl, our family horse ranch in North Carolina hosted a Civil War reenactment, and reading that part of the book brought back memories.

The cover design is gorgeous, the plot is full of surprising twists, the stakes are high, and the characters are great! Macon Ravenwood is my favorite. I pictured Vincent Price every time he came on scene.

A great debut novel that I highly recommend.