My Date From Hell: Book Blitz (w/ Giveaway)

My Date From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy #2)
Author: Tellulah Darling
Publication Date: October 31st 2013
Genres: Comedy, Mythology, Young Adult

Synopsis:
Sophie Bloom’s junior year has been a bit of a train wreck. After the world’s greatest kiss re-awakened Sophie’s true identity as Persephone (Goddess of Spring and Savior of Humanity), she fought her dragon-lady guidance counselor to the death, navigated mean girl Bethany’s bitchy troublemaking, and dealt with the betrayal of her backstabbing ex, Kai (sexy Prince of Darkness). You’d think a girl could catch a break.

Yeah, right.

With Zeus stepping things up, it’s vital that Sophie retrieve Persephone’s memories and discover the location of the ritual to stop Zeus and Hades. So when Aphrodite strikes a deal that can unlock Sophie’s pre-mortal past, what choice does the teen goddess have but to accept?

The mission: stop media mogul Hermes from turning Bethany into a global mega-celebrity. The catch? Aphrodite partners Sophie and Kai to work together … and treat this suicide mission as a date. Which could work out for Sophie’s plan to force Kai to admit his feelings for her–if she doesn’t kill him first.

Add to that the fact that BFF Theo’s love life and other BFF Hannah’s actual life are in Sophie’s hands, and suddenly being a teenager—even a godlike one—seems a bit like … well, hell. Whatever happened to dinner and a movie?

The YA romantic comedy/Greek mythology fireworks continue to fly in My Date From Hell. Love meets comedy with a whole lot of sass in book two of this teen fantasy romance series. Breaking up is easy; dating is deadly.
Purchase
**For October 31 and November 1, My Date From Hell will be .99¢ on Amazon!**

Excerpt
The tigers herded me along for about fifteen minutes over soft, spongy ground with the occasional tree root to stumble over. Nothing slithered or skittered over my feet, for which I was profoundly grateful.

We stepped into a clearing in front of a large, clear pond with a waterfall. It was beautiful here. I almost forgot about my keepers until one of them pawed at me gently. I jumped at the slight rasp of its claws on my skirt and glared at it.

“You prefer lunch with a view?” I asked the tigers, pleased with my bravado. They sat down, hemming me in along the shore of the pond.
A woman began to sing. Not in Greek. Not a hymn or a chant or a lullaby.

Nope. She sang of how her loneliness was killing her. Which sounds poetic, but was actually Britney Spears.

Another woman joined her. And another.

It was the best unplugged cover of “Hit Me Baby One More Time” that I’d ever heard.

Three young women swam out from behind the waterfall. They looked like triplets, with dusky olive skin, and long black hair all threaded through with silvery flowers that glinted as they caught the sunlight. Their voices soared as they entreated the object of their song to give them a sign.

My toes were tapping. And yeah, I hummed along. Whatever. It didn't get to be a massive hit without being catchy.

The Diana Ross of the group swam forward and held out her hand.
As if. I wasn't jumping in.
 One of my feline jailers nudged me hard enough to push me in.
Instead of being wet, I found myself floating underwater but in the air. The women continued to sing, starting their song again as they somehow plucked orchids which did usually not grow underwater to weave in my hair.

By the time they had finished adorning me, I was singing, too.

I rose out of the waves. Light caught the spray of droplets, creating a thousand tiny prisms of color. Crooning my heart out with eternal angst, I was consumed with emotion. I had to sing.

This was the most poignant song ever written and I was the keeper of all the anguish.


Kai stepped out into the clearing and I sang to him. Sang this ageless story that was our tale. About misunderstanding. About confession. And this burning need to know.

I walked out of the water and took Kai’s hands. Enfolded him in my arms then returned us to the pond. I sank with him beneath the waves into this place of air, my voice raised in lyrical pleading to show me that sign.

That’s when Kai tickled me.

As I started to laugh and could no longer sing, I realized that I was drowning him—not in air but in cold water—while burbling Britney Spears lyrics off- key, tears falling from my eyes like an overwrought teenybopper.

Jack hadn’t attacked me, psychologically or otherwise. No, he’d put me under the spell of the sirens and then made me their lead singer in an attempt to take Kai out. Thankfully, it hadn’t worked.
I stumbled out of the pond and said casually, “Well, that was awkward.”

Author Bio
Tellulah Darling
noun
1. YA Novelist
2. Alter ego of former screenwriter and instructor
3. Sassy minx

Geeks out over: cool tech.
Squees for: great storytelling.
Delights in: fabulous conversation.
Writes about: where love meets comedy. Awkwardness ensues.

   
Giveaway
(1) ebook copy of My Date From Hell. Open internationally. 13+ to enter. Winner must respond to winning email within 48 hours of my email sent.

The Zodiac Collector: Cover Reveal

Title: The Zodiac Collector
Author: Laura Diamond
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
ISBN: 978-1-937053-63-5
Release Date: May 2014
Formats: Paperback, e-book
Cover design by Veronica Jones (www.moonshines.com)
For almost-16 year-old Anne Devans, the annual Renaissance Faire means three things—her dad spending weeks in the smithy, her bipolar mom doing some manic costume making, and another ruined birthday for her and her twin sister, Mary.

This year, Anne wants things to be different, and she's going to do things her way.

On the eve of the Faire, Anne (along with a reluctant Mary) conjures up a spell that will make their 16th birthday party a whirlwind event. Little do they know that it's a literal request.

After the mini tornado in their room subsides, the girls realize they've invoked the power of the Gemini Twins, Castor and Pollux. That's the good news. The bad news is they also caught the attention of a sorceress named Zeena who has been collecting children born under each Zodiac Sign to enhance her power. Once she captures Anne and Mary, Gemini twins, the entire Zodiac—and the world—will be hers.

Anne leads the fight against Zeena, but her one-sided decisions could throw them into a world so far from home, even the Renaissance Faire would seem like a brilliant vacation. Between managing their new Zodiac powers, dodging their manic mother and trying to stop Zeena, they'll get a 16th birthday they'll never forget.

Unbreathable: Review (w/ Giveaway)

Cover & Synopsis

One hundred and fifty years ago, Earth was destroyed, and the remaining humans fled to the dusty red planet of Jutaire, where the only oxygen is manufactured, food is scarce, and death strikes often.
 

When Lissa's father discovers Earth still exists, she accidentally inhales the toxic air of Jutaire, and in one breath, discovers she isn't quite human. 

Her father hangs for his discovery, and Lissa knows the Chancellors will come for her, for she saw the Earth that night too. With nothing to lose, she sets out to expose the truth. It isn't long before she meets Julian, a beautiful boy who can breathe the toxic air like she can - and shows her that the Jute, the original inhabitants of the planet, are more tangled in their lives than she knows.


But the Chancellors are only pawns in a greater game - one where the Jute control everything. Worse, the Jute plan to leave Jutaire for Earth, but to get there, they need her. And they'll stop at nothing until Lissa is in their clutches, even if they kill every human in the process. 

The race for Earth has begun.
Thoughts
Okay, so here's where the world may think I'm a partial reader. I kind of am, but I am definitely honest with my feelings about the books I read. Now, that being said, Hafsah is a very dear friend of mine -- almost sister-like! Although, with our age difference, I could be her mother...even though she is so much more mature than I! I did receive an early copy of this book to read. Receiving the early copy, the ARC, and being friends with the author have not persuaded my decision, thoughts, or rating for this book.

I am not a big feedback person and I'd never make it as a Beta reader. However, I remember telling Hafsah that I "liked it!" when I finished reading UNBREATHABLE months ago. Hafsah, who is full of thought and words, was not impressed with that answer. Hehehe! I hope I can satisfy the answer in this "review."

Lissa (who I pronounce as Lisa and think that Hafsah named after me...hahaha!) is our main character. She makes some discoveries as the book moves along. Some HUGE discoveries! Lissa keeps unveiling more and more of the treachery that is the Jutaire government? Royalty? Whatever you want to call it. Royalty, really. You just don't know about the royal mess until you get farther into the book.

There's so much to find out about Lissa!

Now, let me get to Julian. Julian. I could just stop right here and say, "Julian!" and y'all would just have to read and find out. I need Julian and Lissa to kiss. I asked Hafsah when I could read more about them. I need them to be happy. And kiss! A lot! You just need to know that Julian is a rebel, helps Lissa, and needs to kiss Lissa. :)

UNBREATHABLE is a well-written story with a thought-out plot. The reader can tell than the author planned each step along the way. I honestly thought the story had a seamless flow. All of the surprises that seemed to come all came at a pace...until the ending. 

The ending. Dear, Lord! That ending needs for me to have a next book in my hands...like yesterday! Earth. Lissa and Julian. The Jutes. The Earthlings. So much that can happen!

Rating
UNBREATHABLE definitely falls in between the "Absolutely Loved" and "Amazing" categories!

About the Author
Hafsah Laziaf was born on the east coast on a hot summer day in 1993, raised on the west coast and is now stuck in the middle – in Texas – with more books than she can read. She’s the designer behind IceyDesigns and the blogger behind IceyBooks.

UNBREATHABLE is her debut novel.


Everyone should be picking up a copy of this book to read. It will release on October 29. It will be available through Amazon and The Book Depository!

For now, The MerpSquad is giving away a couple of copies!
  • US residents have an opportunity to win a paperback copy of Unbreathable plus some swag!
  • International readers have an opportunity to win an ebook copy of Unbreathable!
Enter the Rafflecopter below! Make sure to follow the rules so you don't disqualify yourself. That'd be sad!

(Pssttt! You could also win a copy of UNBREATHABLE from my October New Release giveaway post here! Enter both! Show Hafsah and the MerpSquad some love!)

From Gods: Book Blast (w/ Giveaway)

From Gods by Mary Ting
from gods
Did you just see a flash of lightning across the sky on a clear sunny day? It’s not from Mother Nature. It is most likely from Mason Grand, swoon-worthy demigod, one of Zeus’s descendants.
Skylar Rome is supposed to be having the best summer ever before she heads off to college. Little did she know, her whole life was about to change while visiting her cousin. Nearly drowning at the beach due to unknown forces, one of the Grand brothers she’d just met, Mason, saves her life. Cool, collected, mysterious, and dangerously good-looking, Skylar is drawn to him from the start. Though she knows he is the type of guy good girls stayed away from, it seems he is always saving her life, and the attraction was inevitable.
Upon meeting the brothers, strange things begin to happen. When she accidentally kills one of the brothers, it throws her life into turmoil, as they search to find the answers. Implausibly, she gets caught up in a world of the decedents of ancient gods, all who have super powers. Not only is her discovery difficult to accept, evil beings are after her. Running out of time and running for her life, she must unravel a mystery. What do they want from her? Forced into a battle set into motion long before she was born, will she find the answers, or will she die trying
?
Purchase
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Praise for From Gods
“A fast paced adventure full of mystery, action, magic and romance! Readers won’t be able to put this book down!” ~InD’tale Magazine

“From Gods takes mythology to a whole new level of imagination with its incredible plot and amazing characters. It’s full of hotness that you never want to end!” ~Michele, Insane About Books

“From Gods by the AMAZING AUTHOR Mary Ting is OMGods good!! If you even LIKE Greek Mythology, set aside some time because you will DEVOUR Mary Ting's Demi Gods and Vultures!!!” ~Mindy, Books Complete Me

“This book is “electric” as it blends paranormal romance, mythology (which I love), action and suspense together for an amazing read. Mary Ting, you’ve done it again! This book exceeded my expectations and I was literally blown away as if I were struck by lightning!” ~Vanessa, Fairiechick’s Fantasy Book Reader


from gods

mary tingAbout the Author
Bestselling/award-winning author Mary Ting resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one-Something Great. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children's chapter book-No Bullies Allowed.


 Social Media Website Social Media Blog Social Media Facebook Social Media Twitter Social Media Pinterest Social Media Goodreads
Excerpts
Teaser 1:
“You’re wet. You should take off your clothes.”

What a way to avoid a question! Skylar blinked her eyes in disbelief. Did she hear him correctly? “Excuse me?” Not wanting to assume he was really asking her to strip off her clothes, she didn’t move a muscle, but the way his piercing eyes laid on her, she might as well have already been naked. Then she inwardly gasped when he started to unbutton his shirt. Her eyes shot to the floor, then back to him, and then to the floor, wondering what she was supposed to do in this awkward moment.

“Here. Go change in the restroom. You don’t want to catch a cold.” He placed his shirt in front of her.

She looked up to see him shirtless for the very first time. With all the right curves and tightness, he looked like a statue of a god. He was beautiful and perfectly toned, with satin-like skin, which looked like it would be smooth to the touch. And there was a small tattoo shaped like a lightning bolt on his upper right arm, toward his shoulder. Way too sexy!

As warmth flushed her face, she tried not to stare, but there was no way around it. “Umm…you won’t have a shirt,” Skylar said, thinking that was the most idiotic thing she had said so far, but she couldn’t think when he was half-naked in front of her.

“I’m not cold, but you will be.”

Mason was right. Skylar didn’t realize she was shivering until she placed her hand out to take his shirt. The adrenaline from the initial shock had kept her warm, and now it was wearing away. The blasting air conditioner didn’t help either. “Thanks.”

Just as she pivoted right toward the restroom, even though she was deathly scared to go back, Mason gripped her arm. “Wait. Don’t go in there without me.”

His sudden protectiveness surprised Skylar, but then again, he had saved her.

Teaser 2:
“Mason, Mason, Mason,” Skylar panicked.

“I know. Skylar, hold on tight. I’m going to brake.”

“But…but there are cars behind us.”

“We have no choice. Don’t worry. I got this.” Pushing down on the brake pedal forcefully, the car hydroplaned to the right. “Hold on,” Mason yelled. Skylar gripped the first thing she could place her hand on tightly. The water from the road jetted up into the air like a water show, but the car kept gliding sideways, until finally it spun a full circle and stopped. With no time to waste, Mason turned the car toward the right and accelerated, hoping to dodge what was coming toward them.

Out of nowhere, a long piece of ice, taking the form of a spear-like shape, darted through the trucks’ tires and punctured some of them. More ice spears came soaring out of the rain, but this time, ten or more sphere like ice balls followed, denting the sides of the trucks, and one went through a windshield. With flat tires, the trucks now glided as if on ice, maneuvering from side to side.

“Did you do that?” Skylar asked excitedly.

“No…must be Poseidon’s kids. Where the hell are they?” Mason spread his right arm in front of Skylar, as if to protect her. “Bend down, Sky.”

One of the trucks hit another and swirled, hitting the other adjacent to it. The crash caused the trucks to flip and tumble, heading straight for Mason’s car. With a look of shock, Skylar held her breath. With no time to move, think, or get out of the car, she closed her eyes and prepared for the crash.

Just seconds before the impact, Mason’s car flew up into the air, over the trucks. Somehow, magically, the water created a liquid bridge, guiding the car safely over, and then it thumped hard on the ground on the other side. Without looking back, Mason sped away as the sound of screeching brakes and metal impacting on metal blasted behind them.

BookBlast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 11/8/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Boy Swap: Book Blitz (w/ Giveaway, Author Interview, and Excerpt)

This is a busy post! There's just so much excitement to share!
We have the synopsis, book cover, about the author, a giveaway, and a chapter excerpt! Check out all of the post and be sure to enter the giveaway!

I absolutely adore Khristina Springer! I am so excited to have the opportunity to read another book she has created. I will be reviewing it, too!
Boy Swap by Kristina Springer 
Publication Date: October 16, 2013
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Synopsis
Boy Swap: The secret to sisterly love and scholarly bliss.

Research shows that seven out of ten girl fights are over a guy. The Boy Swap Club fixes all that. In an effort to spread around male cuteness and minimize fights and backstabbing, they just share boyfriends. And Brooke Thomas, consummate band member, has been asked to join the super secret club because the president of the club has the hots for her guy.

Brooke doesn’t want to share her boyfriend. I mean, who does? But how can she say no? She, a second chair flutist in the school band, finds herself sitting between the Varsity Cheerleader Captain and the Homecoming Queen at the first meeting. Her friends will never believe this in a million years. Too bad she can’t tell them. But she knows. This one event can change her entire life. What if she becomes actual friends with one of these girls? It might be worth sharing her boyfriend.

Besides, he’ll always love her best, right?
Purchase

About the Author
Kristina Springer is the best-selling author of the young adult novel THE ESPRESSOLOGIST (Macmillan FSG, October 2009) which sold film rights and is being filmed for a web series, has sold in six countries, and was a 2010 Society of School Librarians International Honor Book; the middle-grade novel MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS (Macmillan FSG, August 2010) which Meg Cabot says is “Irresistible as a fluffy kitten.  I laughed out loud and so will you!" was a Scholastic Book Club Bestseller and a 2012 YALSA QUICK PICK and will be out in paperback this December; a young adult novel, JUST YOUR AVERAGE PRINCESS, which was a Fall favorite (Macmillan FSG, October 2011) and an ebook only young adult novel, THE PAPARAZZI PROJECT, which hit #1 on the Amazon Top Free Teen Romance eBooks list earlier this year. Her fifth book, BOY SWAP, is out in ebook format October 16th. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from Illinois State University and a Master of Arts in Writing from DePaul University. 
Website / Facebook / Twitter
Author Interview
The main character in BOY SWAP is a self-appointed “band nerd.” Were you a band nerd in high school?
Totally. I even played the flute like Brooke. But that’s where the similarities end. Brooke is much stronger than I was in high school. And she’s got a great-looking boyfriend that other girls are envious of. I didn't even date in high school.

What is your favorite scene in the book?
I had sooooo much fun writing this book and there are several scenes that pop out in my mind. My absolute favorite is the end though. It played out like a movie in my head. I love it!

Would you have joined a Boy Swap club in high school?
Hmm. Well, like I said above, I didn’t even date in high school. But if I really wanted to be popular and this was a chance, I think I just might have.

This is your fifth published book. Do you have favorite?
I love ‘em all—they’re like kids. But I’ll always have a special spot for my first book, THE ESPRESSOLOGIST. A number of my faithful readers have told me that BOY SWAP is their fave.

What is it about the art form of writing that enchants you the most?
I love seeing where a story is going to go! The first draft for me is always very freeing. And I love surprising myself too. Often when I reread something I wrote I'm shocked that I actually wrote it.

How do you weave so much elements of information into your stories and yet you keep them so fast-paced?
I naturally write very fast-paced stories. So I just go with it and when I'm finished I go back and add in the needed details.

What's next for you?
I'm currently working on a fun middle grade book and don’t want to jinx it by talking about it too much. It’s my first middle grade since MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS, which was a Scholastic bestseller, so I have a lot to live up to! My middle grade fans have been asking me for something new and I want to deliver. MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS is also releasing in paperback later this year—12/31.

Any news on THE ESPRESSOLOGIST web series?
Last I heard Alloy Digital presented it at NewsFronts 2013 (
http://www.thevideoink.com/features/newfronts-programming-cheat-sheet/#.UknD2oZr13Eand this awesome trailer (http://vimeo.com/65241860) was put together. Rumor has it there is a release around the holidays but nothing is certain.
Giveaway
  • 1 ebook (mobi or epub only) for one winner. 
  • I will email the winner on October 22. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email or a new winner will be selected.
  • The winner will receive his/her copy of Boy Swap after November 12 from the author.
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Excerpt
Chapter 1: Tap, tap

Raise your right hand and repeat after me:
We, the members of the Boy Swap Club, being of totally sound minds and rockin’ bodies, do here forth promise to be true to the following rules:
1)      Never hog your boyfriend all to yourself.
2)      Never get mad at a sister member for dating your guy.
3)      Don’t go all the way with any of the swapped guys.
4)      And never, ever, fall in love with any guys involved in the swap.

I put down my hand and smile at the group of girls I’ve just joined. I can’t believe that I’m really here. I don’t totally understand what it is that I just agreed to but who cares? I’m hanging out with the “it” girls. Cassie Deegan and Caitlyn Ray, the two most popular girls in our entire school, run this club and I about died when Cassie invited me to attend. She slipped me a note after Biology this afternoon that said, “4 p.m., Bookends Bookstore, Travel section. Be there.” At first I thought, oh great—I pissed somebody off and now she’s going to lure me into an empty corner of the giant bookstore so she and her friends can kick my butt, film it on their cells, and post it on YouTube. But curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn’t believe it when I showed up and found ten of the prettiest, most popular girls at my school sitting in a circle waiting for me.
Well, except for, blech, Delaney Adams, the only girl who might actually want to kick my butt. She stands a few feet behind the C2, scowling and appearing generally unhappy that I’m here. Not that that’s new. Obviously she was the “Nay” in the Yay or Nay vote on my invitation. But Cassie and Caitlyn must really want me here so she can just go ahead and deal.
            “Okay,” Cassie bellows to the circle, interrupting my thoughts, “I need to make it clear that not just anybody can join Boy Swap. This is a super secret elite club that you have to be tapped into. So don’t like, go running off and telling your friends or anything. Because we’ll deny it all. You were chosen to join our club because you have a desirable boyfriend.” Cassie looks directly at me and gives me a tight smirk.
Hmmm…Chris is a hottie. With his adorable dimples and dive-right-in ocean blue eyes, I think he’s irresistible. But they really picked me because my boyfriend is cute? How weird.
            “Look at the girl to your left and the girl to your right,” Caitlyn instructs.
I glance to my left at Sarah Reynolds with her long shiny blonde hair; she’s the swim team captain and last year’s homecoming queen. On my right is Jackie Adelson with glossy auburn waves; she’s a varsity cheerleader and the lead in every single school play. I finger my own chin-length dark brown hair. Okay. So if the three of us went head-to-head for a Pantene commercial I’d come in third. But Chris loves my hair. He’s always running his hands through it when we’re making out.
“They may not be your friends outside in the real world,” Cassie continues, “but in here, they’re your sisters.”
Wow. Sisters! I’ve always wanted a sister. Or two. Or ten. I reach down into my purse for my phone—I want to text Lizzie so bad and tell her all about it. Oooh, but I can’t. Cassie just warned against that, right? Well, I know, and that is what’s important. Currently, my school social status is kind of up for grabs. I’m not exactly what you would call popular. Okay, who am I kidding? If we had to walk the school with our status branded across our chests for all the world to see like Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter, mine would read “BN” for Band Nerd.
Yes, I’m totally a band nerd. I am the second chair flutist in our school symphony as well as in the marching band. Ack, I know, I know! The orange and black toy soldier band uniforms are flattering on no one! Believe me, if I could convince Mr. Shank, our band director, to let us out on the football field in cute sundresses and wedge sandals, I would. But it is a sacrifice that I make to play my music. I love the flute. When I play it, I feel all Tinkerbell twinkly. If you play an instrument in the band then the flute is the only way to go. Your sound stands out higher and prettier than all of the other instruments and it feels more like they are accompanying you. But don’t mention to anyone that I said that. I’ll have a bunch of pissed off clarinetists and saxophonists on my back.
Anyway, maybe I don’t have to forever be known as a band nerd? This could really change everything for me. Maybe now I’ll make friends with some of these girls and break into their cliques. And that would totally piss Delaney off as well, which is a major bonus. She just hates that I’m sitting here smack dab in the middle of her world. We’ve spent the last five years pretending each other didn’t exist so I imagine this is completely killing her. Her eyes are rolling so far back in her head I’m afraid they might detach and plop right out onto the floor at any moment.
“If there are no questions, I’d like you to sign the forms I’m passing out and…”
“I have a question,” I say, shooting my hand in the air. All eyes fall on me. “Um, I guess I don’t quite understand what I’m agreeing to. What is the Boy Swap Club exactly?”
Cassie sighs and rubs her temple with her right hand.
Whoops. Did she already explain and I wasn’t paying attention?
“Research shows that seven out of ten girl fights are over a guy,” Cassie says quickly. “We’ve discovered the secret to harmony and happiness at school. In order to maximize on male cuteness and minimize on fights and backstabbing, we just share our boyfriends. ”
“And the guys don’t care?” I ask.
“Like we tell them.” Caitlyn laughs and the rest of the girls join her. Okay, so apparently everyone here does know how things work already, and I’m asking too many questions. But come on, it sounds a little strange. How do you share boyfriends without their knowledge? And why do they want to share boyfriends anyway? I don’t even like to share my fries. Although, loaning Chris out to get to hang with these girls is intriguing. It would be hysterical if I actually became popular from being in their club, so popular that Delaney would beg me to be friends with her again and then I could reject her snooty butt. Oooh, that would be amazing. And I’m sure they’d return Chris to me in the same condition as I left him, right? Hmm. Oh, what am I saying? This is ridiculous.
“So, like I said before, if there are no other questions…” Cassie scans the circle with an arched eyebrow—daring someone to say something. But no one makes a peep. “I’ll need you each to sign one of these,” she adds. A stack of papers is quickly passed around the circle of girls, and I start to read mine. It’s some kind of boyfriend permission form. These girls are funny!
“Okay,” Cassie interrupts my thoughts, “you are being passed an agreement that we’ll need you to sign immediately. It is really simple. I, fill in your name, voluntarily participate in the Interscholastic Boyfriend Exchange Program, here forth referred to as ‘Boy Swap Club’ blah blah, of which my boyfriend, fill in his name, unknowingly shall participate, blah blah blah, turn the page, enter into this agreement under no force and of my free will, yadda yadda, for a period of no less than three months, blah blah blah. If contract is broken, penalties up to and including excommunication from entire student body…well, you get the gist. If you want to join our club, sign now.”
Seriously, can this girl slow down? I don’t want to give away a kidney or something. I scan the first few lines. I don’t know. Should I do it? Part of me says drop the paper on the chair and get the heck out of here. Part of me says don’t be a bore, take a chance, and see what happens. What’s the harm? I raise my hand again.
“Yes?” Cassie says, narrowing her eyes at me.
“Can I get a copy of this to read at home?” I hear a few sighs and see several girls give each other looks. Yikes. They’re probably all wondering who let the loser in. But I just want to gather more information. I mean, this isn’t exactly like when I joined French club.
Stop it Brooke! This is so not going to change your Band Nerd status. And besides, these girls are, like, the smartest and prettiest at school. They are readily signing it so it can’t be that bad, right? And it’s not like Chris would ever cheat on me anyway so I’m totally getting the best of both worlds. “I mean, never mind. Sounds fab,” I add quickly and scribble my name. “Here,” I pass my form to Sarah and try to appear thrilled. Everyone shuffles their papers back to Cassie.
My stomach flips. Ugh. What did I just agree to? That was rash wasn’t it? I didn’t even take time to really think it over. Let girls date my Chris? Why would I do that? And why do they want Chris anyway? True, he’s hot. But he’s just as big a band nerd as me. Although what’s wrong with band nerds anyway? We’re cool. In our own way. Maybe the popular kids are finally ready to give us the appreciation we deserve. Ah, who am I kidding? No, things are fine the way they are. I don’t need to be in this silly club. Now if I can just get that piece of paper back… “Um, excuse me, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d…”
“Okay,” Caitlyn says, completely ignoring me. “There is one last piece of business before we let you go today.” She props her Dooney & Burke bag up on her lap and pulls from it a fistful of the rare, extremely sought after, pale pink scarves.
A collective “ooooooh” goes around the circle and every girl is staring at the pile of scarves with wide eyes.
“You will each be given one of these pink scarves,” Caitlyn says but I can hardly hear her. My mind is racing. Ohmigod! The scarves! Lizzie and I have been searching everywhere for these scarves. All the girls have. It’s like, the popular girls started a fad and none of us could join in because we couldn’t find the darn things anywhere. And now I am getting one? Lizzie is going to DIE!
But wait, grasp reality here, I don’t need one. I’ve made it all this time without a scarf. Without being popular. I’m fine. Closing eyes now. Nothing to see here. Well, maybe just a little peek.
“You must always have the scarf on you in some way—neck, hair, wrist, whatever,” Caitlyn says. “If it doesn’t match your outfit that day well, then have it on your backpack or your purse in some fashion. This is our signal to each other that we are all in the BSC. Never, and I mean NEVER, tell anyone where you got the scarf. If you are ever asked, tell them it was a sale at Macy’s.” Everyone is bobbing their heads up and down in excitement. My fingers are twitching at the idea of possibly holding a scarf in just a few seconds. Cailtyn walks the circle, dropping one scarf in each girl’s lap.
I’m losing will power fast. Must. Touch. Scarf. Caitlyn’s getting closer to me. What will people say if they see me at school wearing this scarf? Matching with all of these super cool girls, together in solidarity. A sign that I belong with them. That I, Brooke Thomas, second chair flutist, am someone important. My right leg is bouncing up and down in anticipation. And then Caitlyn drops a scarf on it.
Oh my God. I drape it over my left wrist and hold it up toward the light. This is the most beautiful scarf I’ve ever seen.

Vision: Cover Reveal

Without further ado...
the beautiful cover for Lisa Amowitz's upcoming VISION!
Expected Release: May 13, 2014

Synopsis
The light is darker than you think…

When seventeen-year-old Bobby Pendell begins to have blinding migraines followed by frightening hallucinations, he fears there’s something wrong with him. Then murder rocks his sleepy town and the visions that put him on trail of a killer—also make him the prime suspect.

About the Author
Lisa Amowitz was born in Queens and raised in the wilds of Long Island, New York where she climbed trees, thought small creatures lived under rocks and studied ant hills. And drew. A lot. She is a professor of Graphic Design at her beloved Bronx Community College where she has been tormenting and cajoling students for nearly seventeen years. She started writing eight years ago because she wanted something to illustrate, but somehow, instead ended up writing YA. Probably because her mind is too dark and twisted for small children. Lisa is represented by Shannon Hassan of Marsal-Lyon Literary.

October New Release Giveaway(s)

Welcome to another giveaway for October! :) I love this time of year so much, I just couldn't resist adding another!

This is the first month I've participated in the Book Twirps & Refracted Light Reviews monthly hop. I think I may have to continue. I get excited each month when I see the roundup of books!

For this hop, I will be giving away two books! Feel free to enter both of the Rafflecopter forms!
For the first giveaway, one winner will receive a paperback copy of UNBREATHABLE by Hafsah Laziaf.
International entries accepted! Hafsah has informed me that The Book Depository will carry Unbreathable!
I am super excited for this book release! I read an early copy and will be reviewing it this coming Saturday. The book's release is October 29!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Another winner will get to choose a copy of one of the books listed below that has/will be released during the month of October.
This giveaway is International!
Here are the ones I'm really looking forward to this month and available for you to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please check out the other blogs participating in the hop!