Book Release: Heartborn by Terry Maggert (+Interview)

Title: Heartborn

Author: Terry Maggert

Genre: Young Adult, Fiction

Goodreads Blurb: 

Her guardian angel was pushed.

Keiron was never meant to be anything other than a hero. Born high above in a place of war and deception, he is Heartborn, a being of purity and goodness in a place where violence and deceit are just around every corner.

His disappearance will spark a war he cannot see, for Keiron has pierced the light of days to save a girl he has never met, for reasons he cannot understand. Livvy Foster is seventeen, brave, and broken. With half a heart, she bears the scars of a lifetime of pain and little hope of survival.

Until Keiron arrives.

In the middle of a brewing war and Livvy’s failing heart, Keiron will risk everything for Livvy, because a Heartborn’s life can only end in one way: Sacrifice.

Fall with Livvy and Keiron as they seek the truth about her heart, and his power, and what it means to love someone who will give their very life to save you.

Today's the day Heartborn by Terry Maggert releases! 

Happy Book Birthday!

Author Interview

1.       Describe your book in less than 5 words.

One heart. Two people.

2.       What inspired you to write your novel?

A dream. I woke up and immediately started writing the details of a girl with half a heart, and a boy who fell through time and clouds to save her. The fact that he had wings just sort of happened, but that might be due to my enormous coffee intake. I get a little twitchy late at night when I do my best writing.

3.       What’s your favorite thing about being a writer?

Meeting readers and talking about books. I love everything about books-- their feel, the smell, the way they make me feel in my mind, and emotionally-- I have relationships with specific books that go back to my childhood. That kind of commitment is serious, and it isn't going to change. Every week I find a new writer who has a book that makes me sit quietly and walk through their imagination. It's an incredibly powerful sensation.

4.       What book are you currently reading? Thoughts?

I'm re-reading "Elevation of the Marked" by March MCCarron because the third book comes out soon. It's excellent-- think of two worlds (East and West) meeting in a place where magic is real but the people seem like we might know them. It's one of those little gems that I found through a writer friend, and it's fantastic.

5.       What is one YA book you recommend (besides yours)?

Keeper: The Book of Aon by K.M. Higginbotham. It's a modern fable with everything I like-- a warrior princess, an unknown evil, and two worlds crossing with one person trying to save them both.

6.       Any words to readers/bloggers/aspiring writers? 

Readers: no advice, but my undying thanks. Bloggers: the very same-- thank you for your passion about books. You make my life better.

Now, to writers: I think that the the biggest surprise of a writer's life is the first time someone tells them they're emotionally invested in a character you've written. It's surreal, and it made me realize that no matter what, I was going to do three things every day:

1. Write. No matter what, even if it's a sentence, I write. It might be good, or bad, or indifferent, but it's there, and in time-- you have a book. Then you have three, and then? Ten.

2. Don't be afraid to admit I'm wrong. It's AWFUL to have to say, "That doesn't work". And yet-- since I began that policy, my books have gotten better and better.

3. Connect. Look, the day I'm too busy to thank someone for reading is the day I failed. I meet wonderful people at every signing, and I'll never forget the reason why I'm there. I love-- and I mean love-- writing. The only thing I enjoy more (other than my family) is reading. I'm thankful for the people like me, and take time each day to let them know.

Blog Tour: The Mark of Noba

Title: The Mark of Noba

Author: G.L. Tomas

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: August 25th, 2015
Publisher: Rebellious Valkyrie Press

Goodreads Blurb:

Sterling Wayfairer has one goal for his senior year: make his mark. He's been slipping into the background his whole high school career - distracted by his mother's mental health, unsettled by the vivid dreams that haunt him at night, and overshadowed by the athletic accomplishments of his popular best friends. But this year is going to be different. He's going to break a few rules, have some fun, and maybe even work up the nerve to ask his crush out on a date.

But things don't go exactly as planned. Students are disappearing. Sterling starts losing time, and it all seems to center around Tetra, a girl no one else seems to notice but him. When he finally tracks her down for answers, they aren't what he expects: He and Tetra hail from a world called Noba, and they're being hunted by a Naga, a malevolent shapeshifter that's marked them for destruction.

Tetra and Sterling have distinct abilities that can help them fight back, but their power depends heavily on the strength of their bond, a connection that transcends friendship, transcends romance. Years apart have left their bond weak. Jumpstarting it will require Sterling to open his heart and his mind and put his full trust in the mysterious Tetra.

If he doesn't, neither will survive.

Add to Goodreads

Buy Links:

Amazon

Excerpt: 
     The morning announcements were centered on the kid that went missing from our school. He was a sophomore so I didn't know him, but I still felt horrible. My tablemate Rebel Lee scribbled down an array of unintelligible notes, probably both profound and meaningful. Rebel was someone I knew since junior high, and even though we were pals, he didn't talk much. Which was odd because he seemed to be understood by everyone. Correction. Everyone except for Grey. 
     I witnessed a sea of sorrow amongst my classmates. No one was in the state of mind to be here, and the cheerless announcements added to our already despondent moods. man, I hoped they found this kid. 
     The teachers opened up the floor to talk about it, prolonging any collection of homework assignments that I didn't do. The more others talked about it, the lower our spirits got. It bothered me that we didn't have any more information on what had happened. Was it connected the other boy who disappeared? Did they run away? Were they abducted? Were they going to be all right? Thinking back to what my mom said earlier, I was lucky to be sitting here. I listened, but didn't contribute. i had so much on my mind. 
     My attention drifted across the room until I settled on someone I hadn't noticed at the beginning o class. She wore her hair in a high, messy bun and had on gray sneakers with three blue stripes. She felt familiar. Did I say felt familiar? I meant looked familiar. Looked ... familiar. Because how does someone feel familiar. 
     A Type 5, she had this flawless dark brown skin that made me question how no one else seemed to notice her. If I judged her off her face alone, she was one of the prettier girls at school. she didn't seem interested in the discussion we were having in class, and she, like me, faded into the background. I'd never given it much thought before but ... I always kind of looked for her. There was just something about her that ... Y'know what? Never mind. 

About the Author
Guinevere and Libertad go by many superhero aliases. Wheter you know them by G.L. Tomas, the Twinjas, or the Rebellious Valkyries, their mission is always the same: spreading aware of diversity in books. Oh, and trying to figure out the use of pocketless pants!

They host other allies and champions of diversity in their secret lair in Connecticut.

Author Links:

Website│Goodreads│Twitter│Facebook

Blog Tour Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Waiting on Wednesday: P.S. I Like You

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating! 

Title: P.S. I Like You

Author: Kasie West

Publisher: Point

Pages: 304

Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult

Goodreads Blurb:

 What if the person you were falling for was a total mystery?

While Lily is spacing out in Chemistry one day, she picks up her pencil and scribbles a line from one of her favorite songs on the desk. The next day, someone else has written back to her on the desk! Soon enough Lily and the mystery student are exchanging notes, and lyrics, and even sharing secrets. When Lily finds out that her anonymous pen pal is a guy, she’s flustered – and kind of feels like she’s falling or him. She and her best friend set out to unravel the identify of the letter writer – but when the truth is revealed, the guy is the LAST person Lily could have ever imagined it to be. Now that Lily knows the truth, can she untangle her feelings and gather the courage to listen to her heart? I

Let me know what books you're excited for! 

Book Blitz: Rising Tides by Katy Haye

Waiting on Wednesday: Ice Like Fire

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating! 

Title: Ice Like Fire (Snow Like Ashes #2)

Author: Sara Raasch

Publisher: Balzer + Bray/Harper Collins

Publication Date: October 13, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

It’s been three months since the Winterians were freed and Spring’s king, Angra, disappeared – thanks largely to the help of Cordell.

Meira just wants her people to be safe. When Cordellan debt forces the Winterians to dig their mimes for payment, they unearth something powerful and possibly dangerous: Primoria’s lost chasm of magic. Theron sees this find as an opportunity – with this much magic, the world can finally stand against threats like Angra. But Meira fears the danger the chasm poses – the last time the world had access to so much magic, it spawned the Decay. So when the king of Cordell orders the two on a mission across the kingdoms of Primoria to discover the chasm’s secrets, Meira plans to use the trip to garner support to keep the chasm shut and Winter safe – even if it means clashing with Theron. But can she do so without endangering the people she loves?

Mather just wants to be free. The horrors inflicted on the Winterians hang fresh and raw in Januari – leaving Winter vulnerable to Cordell’s growing oppression. When Meira leaves to search for allies, he decides to take Winter’s security into his own hands. Can he rebuild his broken kingdom and protect them from new threats?

As the web of power and deception weaves tighter, Theron fights for magic, Mather fights for freedom – and Meira starts to wonder if she should be fighting not just for Winter, but for the world. 

Waiting on Wednesday: Six of Crows

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating! 

Title: Six of Crows

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

Publication Date: September 29^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price – and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone…

Book Blitz: The Body Institute by Carol Riggs (Giveaway)

The Body Institute

by Carol Riggs

Release Date: 09/01/15

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Meet Morgan Dey, one of the top teen Reducers at The Body Institute.

Thanks to cutting-edge technology, Morgan can temporarily take over another girl’s body, get her in shape, and then return to her own body—leaving her client slimmer, more toned, and feeling great. Only there are a few catches…

For one, Morgan won’t remember what happens in her “Loaner” body. Once she’s done, she won’t recall walks with her new friend Matt, conversations with the super-cute Reducer she’s been text-flirting with, or the uneasy feeling she has that the director of The Body Institute is hiding something. Still, it’s all worth it in the name of science. Until the glitches start…

Suddenly, residual memories from her Loaner are cropping up in Morgan’s mind. She’s feeling less like herself and more like someone else. And when protests from an anti–Body Institute organization threaten her safety, she’ll have to decide if being a Reducer is worth the cost of her body and soul…

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble│Kobo Books

About the Author

I'm a YA writer represented by Kelly Sonnack of Andrea Brown Literary. My sci-fi novel THE BODY INSTITUTE explores the themes of society, identity, and body image. I live in the beautiful, green state of Oregon and have a Studio Arts degree; I'm an SCBWI member. 

You'll usually find me in my writing cave, surrounded by my dragon collection and the characters in my head. I also enjoy reading--mostly young adult novels--as well as drawing, painting, and quilting. I also attend writing conferences, walk with my husband, and enjoy music and dance of all kinds. 

Author Links:

   

GIVEAWAY:

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Giveaway - Prodigy by Marie Lu

Because I'm super excited for THE ROSE SOCIETY by Marie Lu, I've decided to host a giveaway of her first book - PRODIGY!

I loved PRODIGY and can safely say that it's a favorite of mine. The first time I read it was probably in 2012 and then I was left with a year to agonize over the release of the 2nd book. You know how it is: read a good book, wait an ENORMOUS amount of time for the next one.

Anyway, the contest begins today and ends on September 30th.  US ONLY - sorry! I'll email the winner on October 1st.

Enter below for a chance to win! Good luck!

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Waiting on Wednesday: Firewalker

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating! 

Title: Firewalker (The Worldwalker Trilogy #2)

Author: Josephine Angelini

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Publication Date: September 1^st, 2015

Goodreads Date:

“You think I’m a monster, but my choices, as ruthless as they seem, are justified.”

Lily is back in her own universe, and she’s ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side. True, she almost died in the Pyre that fueled their escape from New Salem, and must hide her magic for the safety of everyone she cares about, but compared to fighting the Woven, the monstrous creatures inhabiting the alternate Salem, life is looking pretty good.

Blog Tour: Lumière by Jacqueline Garlick - Giveaway + Review

Title: Lumière

Author: Jacqueline Garlick 

Pub. Date: August 11, 2015
Publisher: Skyscape
Pages: 458

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Find it: Amazon, B&N, Book Depository, Goodreads

One determined girl. One resourceful boy. One miracle machine that could destroy everything. 

After an unexplained flash shatters her world, seventeen-year-old Eyelet Elsworth sets out to find the Illuminator, her father’s prized invention. With it, she hopes to cure herself of her debilitating seizures before Professor Smrt—her father’s arch nemesis—discovers her secret and locks her away in an asylum. 

Pursued by Smrt, Eyelet locates the Illuminator only to see it whisked away. She follows the thief into the world of the unknown, compelled not only by her quest but by the allure of the stranger—Urlick Babbit—who harbors secrets of his own. 

Together, they endure deadly Vapours and criminal-infested woods in pursuit of the same prize, only to discover the miracle machine they hoped would solve their problems may in fact be their biggest problem of all.

Teasers

Pre-Order Noir Now

Available August 18th

Find it: Amazon, B&N, Book Depository, Goodreads

Teasers

Review: 

This book is great! ‘Lumière’ is a magical blend of romance, action and, of course, magic. With one stubborn & charming heroine and one brave & unique hero will come together on an amazing adventure that will affect their entire world. With two unique, lovable characters, sidekicks who will blow your mind and a mysteriously intriguing world, this book will have you hooked until the very last page! **4 out of 5 stars**

About Jacqueline

I write YA, New Adult, and Women’s Fiction. I love strong heroines, despise whiny sidekicks, and adore a good story about a triumphant underdog. I love to read, write, paint (walls and paper) and plan cool writing events for cool writers (check out niagarawritersretreatandconference (dot) com.) I have a love/hate relationship with chocolate, grammar, and technology. I prefer creating things to cleaning things, and baking to cooking and believe laughter is a one-stop-shop solution to all that ails you. I also firmly believe ELO’s Mr. Blue Sky can improve even the worst day. And if that doesn’t work, there’s always Ellen Degeneres. You will always find a purple wall (or two) in my house (perhaps even a door) and a hidden passageway that leads to a mystery room. (Okay, so you won’t find a hidden passageway but a girl can dream, can’t she?) Oh, and tea. There will always be tea. I love specialty teas…and collecting special teacups from which to drink them. (See collection below.)

In my former life, I was a teacher (both grade school and college – long story, don’t ask) and more recently, I’ve been a graduate of Ellen Hopkin’s Nevada Mentor Program and a student of James Scott Bell, Christopher Vogler and Don Maass. An excerpt from Lumière earned me the 2012 Don Maass Break Out Novel Intensive Scholarship.

Known for my edgy, rule-breaking, Tim Burton-esque style of writing, I’m often affectionately referred to as the Quentin Tarantino of YA among friends in writing circles.

Facebook * Twitter * Website 


Giveaway

*US and Canada Only

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Waiting on Wednesday: Queen of Shadows

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating! 

Title: Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s

Publication Date: September 1^st, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she’s at last returned to the empire – for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen’s triumphant return.

Waiting on Wednesday: Court of Fives

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating! 


Title: Court of Fives

Author: Kate Elliott

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: August 18^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

In this imaginative escape into an enthralling new world, World Fantasy Award finalist Kate Elliott begins a new trilogy with her debut young adult novel, weaving an epic story of a girl struggling to do what she loves in a society suffocated by rules of class and privilege.

Waiting on Wednesday: All We Have is Now

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating! 

Title: All We Have Is Now

Author: Lisa Schroeder

Publisher: Scholastic

Date: July 28^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

What do you do with your last day on earth?

Just over twenty-four hours are left until an asteroid strikes North America, and for Emerson and everyone else who didn’t leave, the world will end. But Emerson’s world already ended when she ran away from home. Since then, she has lived on the streets, relying on her wits and on her best friend Vince to help her find places to sleep and food to eat.

Book Review: Twist by Karen Akins (5/5)

Title: Twist

Author: Karen Akins

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Pages: 336

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Science Fiction, Time Travel

Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Blurb:
Bree Bennis finally has it all - a non-comatose mother, an uber-hot (albeit anachronistic) boyfriend named Finn, and a new-found mission to protect the timeline from those who would skew it for their own gain. But when she leans over one day to smooch said boyfriend, her lips meet those of her arch-nemesis Wyck instead. The timeline has been altered, and Bree is caught in the crosshairs. But when she goes back to repair the damage, she is stopped by none other than her Future Self, who delivers an urgent message: Someone is kidnapping Shifters from the distant past. It's up to Bree to stop them. But first, she has to figure out who... and why. 

What-to-Read-Next #25

Title: Damage Done

Author: Amanda Panitch

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Date: July 21^st, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

22 minutes separate Julia Vann’s before and after.

Before: Julia had a twin brother, a boyfriend, and a best friend.

After: she had a new identity a new hometown, and memories of those twenty-two minutes that refuse to come into focus. At least, that’s what she tells the police.

Book Review: All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven (5/5)

Title: All the Bright Places

Author: Jennifer Niven

Publisher: Knopf
Pages: 384
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Realistic Fiction
Rating: 5/5

Goodreads Blurb:

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.
 
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.
 

What-to-Read-Next #23

NEW MONTH. Here's a list of books releasing soon! I can't wait to get my hands on THE HEART OF BETRAYAL. The first book in the series, KISS OF DECEPTION, was great, and hopefully this one will be too. Anyway, hope you enjoy these books!

Title: The Fixer

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s

Date: July 7^th, 2015

Goodreads Blurb:

When sixteen-year-old Tess Kendrick is sent to live with her older sister, Ivy, she has no idea that the infamous Ivy Kendrick is Washington D.C.'s #1 “fixer,” known for making politicians' scandals go away for a price. No sooner does Tess enroll at Hardwicke Academy than she unwittingly follows in her sister's footsteps and becomes D.C.'s premier high school fixer, solving problems for elite teens.

What-to-Read-Next #22

Here's the next list of books releasing soon. THE LEVELLER seems like a fantastic book. I've actually been looking forward to this book for a few months now and I am super excited it's finally releasing. Hope you enjoy these books! 

And what books are you looking forward to? Comment below about the books you're excited for! 

Book Review: My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga (4/5)

Title: My Heart and Other Black Holes

Author: Jasmine Warga

Publisher: Harper Collins/ Balzer + Bray

Pages: 320

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Realistic Fiction

Rating: 4/5

Goodreads Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old physics nerd Aysel is obsessed with plotting her own death. With a mother who can barely look at her without wincing, classmates who whisper behind her back, and a father whose violent crime rocked her small town, Aysel is ready to turn her potential energy into nothingness.