Cover Reveal: Kissing Frogs

If there is ever a book title that is a perfect tie-in to my life, this is it! I couldn't resist doing this reveal. The cover is 100% cuteness and the synopsis is right up my alley.

Without further ado, Kissing Frogs!

Kissing Frogs

by Alisha Sevigny

Release Date: 11/18/14

Swoon Romance

Summary from Goodreads

Popular party girl and high school senior Jessica Scott has a secret: she used to be a nerd — a big one; a goody two-shoes, grade-skipping, all-state spelling bee champ. But she lost the braces, put on some contacts, and applied all her academic genius to studying and imitating the social elite. Now she rules the school from the upper echelon of the high school realm. With her cool new friends and hottest-guy-in-school boyfriend, life’s a beach — and that’s where she’s headed for Spring Break. That is, until her teacher breaks the bad news that she’s failing Biology — and her only chance to make up the grade is to throw away the culminating trip of her hard-earned popularity and join the Conservation Club in Panama to save the Golden Frog.

Unable to let go of her faded college dreams, Jess finds herself in a foreign country with a new social crew, and one handsome face that stands out as a blast from the past, threatening to ruin her queen bee reputation. Travis Henley may have grown up, but he still likes to play childish games and as payment for retrieving Jess’ lost ring from the bottom of a jungle pool, he wants three dates. While Jess does battle with spiders, snakes, wildfires and smart mean girls, she desperately tries to hang on to the last vestiges of her popular existence like the Golden Frog from its webbed toe. But as she starts to care about something more than tanning and texting – a species on the verge of disappearing forever – she may realize the worth of her inner nerd, and the one frog in particular that could be her prince in disguise.

Set in the lush and tropical El Valle de Anton, this modern fairytale re-imagining of “The Frog Prince” is toe-curling contemporary romance with an environmentalist heartbeat, in the tradition of Stephanie Perkins.

About the Author

Alisha Sevigny holds a degree in Sociology and Professional Writing from the University of Victoria, is a film school graduate, former literary agent and current Social Media and Communications Director for an award-winning English school. A shameless romantic, Alisha and her husband have travelled the world together. On a recent trip to Panama with their new daughter, Alisha fell in love with the country, culture, and their national emblem, the Golden Frog. She was inspired to write her first Young Adult novel, Kissing Frogs. Born and raised in Kitimat, British Columbia, Alisha has always had a strong connection to the environment and conservationist spirit. She now lives in Toronto with her family.

   

Cover Reveal Organized by:

YA Bound Book Tours

Cover Reveal: The Hit List

Book Details
Title: The Hit List
Author: Nikki Urang
Genre: NA Contemporary
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
ISBN: print: 9781939392329, ebook: 9781939392312
Release Date: November 11, 2014
Formats: Paper, e-book

Cover & Summary

The Los Angeles Conservatory for the Arts is supposed to be a new beginning for Sadie Bryant. Moving across the country is exactly what she needs to escape the gossip surrounding her injury, the devastating betrayal of her ex-partner, and to rebuild her career as a solo dancer.

When the school announces that the annual Fall Showcase, a performance that secures a spot studying in London, will now require each dance to have a partner, Sadie's fresh start is a nightmare. Now she has to dance with Luke Morrison, the school womanizer with a big ego. Sadie doesn't know how to trust Luke enough to dance with him after her last partner left her broken, but Luke is determined to change that.

Then, The Hit List comes out. A game of sexual contest where guys get points for all the girls they hook up with—and it seems like every guy at the school is playing.

The girl worth the most points? Sadie. 

Find Nikki online

I love this cover and I love the synopsis! I can't wait to get my grabby hands on this upcoming Contemporary.

Letters to Nowhere: Book Blitz (w/ Giveaway)

From the International Bestselling Author of the Tempest Series...

Letters To Nowhere Series by Julie Cross
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult

Synopsis Book 1: Letters to Nowhere

Set in the tough world of Elite Gymnastics...

I've gotten used to the dead parents face. I've gotten used to living with my gymnastics coach. I've even adjusted to sharing a bathroom with his way-too-hot son. Dealing with boys is not something that's made it onto my list of experiences as of yet. But here I am, doing it. And something about Jordan--being around him, talking to him, thinking about him--makes me feel like I can finally breathe again. That's something I haven't been able to do lately. He knows what it feels like to be me right now. He knows what it's like to wonder--what now? I think about it constantly. I need answers. I need to know how to get through this. In the gym, if you're struggling, you train harder, you do drills and conditioning. How do I work hard at moving on? At being on my own? And what happens if I might be...maybe...probably falling for Jordan? I mean we live together now. That can't happen, can it? But kissing him...well, let's just say it's not an easy activity to forget.

Purchase

Amazon / B&N / Kobo 

On sale for .99¢ on Amazon!

Synopsis Book 2: Return to Sender

If only summer could last forever…

Karen and Jordan might be out in the open with their relationship, but that doesn't make it any easier for them to face events looming in the future. Like Jordan leaving for college halfway across the country. Or Karen's win at a big international gymnastics competition setting the bar high for her future and adding pressure like she's never experienced before.

But when Nina Jones (aka-US Gymnastics Dictator), makes plans for Karen and teammate Stevie to train at a gymnastics camp for a month—the same camp where Jordan coaches—romantic summer interludes replace their fears of being apart. Both Jordan and Karen know that when fall comes, some very tough decisions will have to be made, but for now, it’s stolen kisses, racing hearts, and whispered words.

 Purchase

Amazon / Kobo

Synopsis Book 3: Return to You
Releasing December 15, 2013

How many dreams can you chase at once?

Even with bad boy, TJ, disrupting their morning workouts, Karen and Stevie’s daily battles with each other are sure to bring both of them closer to a national title at next month’s championships. It’s the kind of feud that creates winning results.

Until a fall from the uneven bars shakes Karen’s rock-solid confidence. Not only does she balk every time she so much as attempts a routine, she’s also facing all this without much support from Jordan. After receiving some bad news, Jordan’s reluctance to listen to reason causes Karen so much frustration she begins to avoid him, needing space to deal with her own issues. He needs someone to force him to make the right choice, he needs his dad to intervene and Karen knows this, but is torn between her loyalty to Jordan and her concern for her coach’s son. Even though both paths lead to the same person—Jordan—it feels like she’s choosing between two different people.

And then there’s the growing tension between TJ and Stevie. They’re obviously on the verge of either ripping each other’s heads off or ripping each other’s clothes off. It’s hard for either Jordan or Karen to tell where those two are headed. Tension is building from every possible outlet and there’s bound to be an explosion of some kind in the very near future.

Teaser

Jordan stepped closer, resting a hand on the red brick beside my head. “I’m gonna kiss you.”

My stomach jumped up towards my heart. “What?”

“I’m going to kiss you.” He had this serious, determined look on his face. “I mean, I won’t if you don’t want me to . . .”

I could feel my eyes widen as he leaned closer, my heart hammering faster, every other muscle in my body completely frozen. No words of protest were able to fall from my tongue before his mouth was on mine. My eyes drifted shut, my stomach doing a dozen floor routines beneath my rib cage.

5 Facts About Letters to Nowhere

1. Since I started writing the book, I've envisioned my main character, Karen, as a red-headed McKayla Maroney even though I tried my best not to picture her as anyone specific.
2. I've been around the world of competitive gymnastics for at least 15 years and therefore have depicted elite level gymnastics as true-to-life as possible in this book. 
3. The romance in LtN is not your typical "insta-love" or "fall in love then break up" format. This will please some and disappoint others.
4. My main character, Karen, has just lost both her parents in a tragic car accident prior to the book's opening. However, I don't consider this a typical book about death either because there are so many other elements intertwined and Karen is a fighter, she's constantly driven by one goal or another. It's about rising up after a fall. 
5. LtN is truly the book of my heart because I wanted, for so long, to find a way to combine by two greatest passions - YA Literature and Gymnastics.

About the Author

Julie Cross is the International Bestselling author of the Tempest series, a young adult science fiction trilogy which includes Tempest, Vortex, and the final installment, Timestorm (St. Martin's Press). She's also the author of Letters to Nowhere (8/13), a mature young adult romance set in the world of elite gymnastics, as well as several forthcoming young adult and new adult novels with publishers like Entangled, Sourcebooks, HarperCollins, and St. Martin's Press/Thomas Dunne Books.

Julie lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She's a former gymnast, longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former Gymnastics Program Director with the YMCA. She's a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and new adult genres. Outside of her reading and writing credibility's, Julie Cross is a committed--but not talented--long distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar weather survivor, expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym shoe addict. You can find her online via twitter, her personal website, email, Facebook, Goodreads, or co-moderating the YAwriters section of reddit.

Author Interview

Do you have a favorite character from Letters to Nowhere? Why is he (or she) your favorite?
Karen, my main character, is my favorite to write mostly because I’ve wanted to write a book narrated from the point of view of an elite gymnast since my author journey first began. I absolutely love capturing that socially sheltered mindset and pairing it up with a level of maturity and discipline that most adults don’t have. That’s the essence of women’s elite gymnastics. Young girls carrying big loads of responsibility and self-awareness. They have it completely together, there’s always a plan for what’s next. With Karen, I gave her all of those qualities and then I pulled the rug out from under her by taking away her parents in a car accident before the book opens. Then: *Enter cute boy* whom she is forced to share a bathroom with. Who has a tragic past of his own. Who may be the only one that can help her heal.

Were you nervous when you decided to venture outside of your Sci-Fi series and write a contemporary novel? Did you have any reservations at first?
I wasn’t nervous to write the book, but I was super super nervous to tell people about it. Especially online to Tempest series fans. I honestly figured I’d finish the book so the characters would stop tormenting me inside my head, which I know it sounds a little schizophrenic, but it’s the truth and probably never publish it. And just hearing you say that it paid off means that it totally has. I’ve pleased at least one reader. Mission accomplished. Thanks so much for that J

Gymnastics is a huge part of this novel and your website says that you were a former gymnastics coach. How excited were you to combine your passions for writing and gymnastics into one project?
It was like Disney World, Universal Studios and a house right on the beach all packaged into one trip that didn’t even require packing or travel time. I enjoyed every phase of creating this story so much, I felt guilty calling it my job.

There are some pretty heartbreaking scenes in the book. Do you get extremely attached to your characters? If so, how do you feel when you have to write a scene that is going to be particularly hard on them?
Normally, I struggle with getting all the tension I need in a first draft because it becomes so difficult to put characters I love through all this emotional trauma. Often I have to step away from the story for a while and then I raise the stakes in the next draft. But with Letters to Nowhere, I had no problem shoving the characters into flaming fire after fire because I knew that in order for Karen (and also Jordan and Coach Bentley) to properly grieve and begin to heal, there was only one way to get past the fire—run straight through it. And the whole time I was writing this book, I knew Karen was a bomb waiting to go off. I knew she’d need to have that moment of realization about her future and what losing her parents really meant. And I wanted to get her there so I could see that she was okay.

What was the hardest part of writing Letters to Nowhere?
Nothing was really hard to write, but I worked the hardest at making the gymnastics element “user friendly” in the sense that I wanted this to be a book for the widest audience possible while still showing a true portrayal of the sport.

What was your favorite part? 
The evolution of “Jaren” hands down. The relationship between Karen and Jordan is built in a way that I hadn’t done before in novel. Not exactly. I rarely do the insta-love thing but what they have is so much deeper than romantic love. Not to spoil anything in the book or future books in this world, but I truly believe that Jordan and Karen will always have a tie that can’t be severed no matter where their paths lead them. They could never hate each other. Many people look back on their first love and the relationship and drama often seem silly. It won’t be like that for these two. Their relationship will always represent a hugely important part of their lives.

Giveaway

1 ebook copy of Letters to Nowhere (Amazon only!)

International entries accepted

Ends 12/22/13 (Prize sent out after January 6, 2014)

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Life, Love, & Lemons: Review (w/ Giveaway)

Life, Love, & Lemons by Magan Vernon 

Publication date: August 20th 2013 

Genre: YA Contemporary
Challenge: Standalone Challenge

Synopsis:

When life hands you lemons, sometimes you have to say screw the lemons and bail.

Seventeen-year-old Bentley Evans had it all. Then her Dad got laid off.

Now she has to move across town to a small apartment and leave her life of luxury for public school and a job at the local burger place. Just when her world seems like it's crumbling she finds solace in the unlikely punk boy next door, Kai Stone. But as their relationship blossoms, a jealous ex-girlfriend and a secret to tell that threatens to bring disaster back into Bentley’s life.

  

Thoughts

Looking for a cute and fast read? This is it! Kai and Bentley were great to read about. 

Bentley, having a life let down, was demoted in the world due to her dad losing his job. She made the best of it and was actually quite a trooper. She could still be whiny every once in a while, but what 17 year old isn't?!?

Kai was a great addition for Bentley. Granted, having him in her life got her some unwanted attention and enemies. Jealous ex-girlfriends are the pits!

Life, Love, & Lemons was a great story about love and sacrifice. In the end, the sacrifice that was made, and the understanding from all parties involved, made my heart smile. It's all about what you choose to do with the lemons.

A review copy was provided. All thoughts are my own and I have not been persuaded in any way.

Rating

Author Bio

Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. She is in a very serious, fake relationship with Adam Lambert and constantly asks her husband to wear guyliner. He still refuses. She also believes her husband is secretly an alien, disguised as a southern gentleman.

Author Links

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Giveaway
A Coach wristlet, lemon drop EOS lip balm, and swag

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Breaking the Reins: Review & Giveaway

Tour Schedule

Breaking the Reins by Juliana Haygert
Publication date: August 14th 2013
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

Horses, mansions, tea parties, and lies are twenty-year-old Hannah Taylor’s life. To others, her family and her relationship with Eric is perfect. But she knows the truth. She lives it.
After a fire takes her grandma’s life and kills her horse, Hannah’s immaculate life spirals out of control. Her father disapproves of her decision to run her grandma’s ranch instead of focusing solely on learning the family business; Animal Control brings her Argus, a mistreated horse that she can’t turn away even though she’s not ready for another horse; and her boyfriend, Eric Bennett, a world famous polo player, becomes possessive and authoritarian. Despite her best efforts to disguise it, Hannah grows wary of him.
Then, Leonardo Fernandes struts onto the polo scene. A cocky rookie with a messy life of his own, he’s drawn to Hannah and isn’t afraid of showing it, even when Eric makes it clear she is his and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way. Hannah suffers for Eric’s jealousy. The abuse only gets worse when Leo steals the title of best polo player in the world from Eric.
But the title isn’t enough for Leo. He wants Hannah too, and she can’t deny her attraction to him either. Somehow, she must find a way to break free from abusive Eric before he breaks every bone in her body.

Purchase Breaking the Reins

Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo | Apple

Thoughts:

First off, I'm not really in to the whole NA genre yet. When I read this synopsis, I thought this would be a good one to read and do a review. 

I have to say, I did like this book. The characters seemed to be well thought out and written well. I'm a fan of Leo's!

I like the connection of being broken and needing someone to fix you and the relation of Argus with the same needs. The Hannah-Argus-Leo connection was excellent!

I like that Juliana incorporated some Portuguese sayings in the story. They really helped authenticate Leo and his family. Did I mention that I am a fan of Leo's? :)

The jerky, psychopath character, Eric was well written. He scared me, even in pages of a book. The abuse described in this book was quite scary. Sadly, I'm sure it's typical in abusive relationships. I approve of Hannah's mother getting involved in the non-profit group after everything was brought to light. Thumbs up, Juliana!

A review copy was provided. All thoughts are my own and I have not been persuaded in any way.

Rating:

I liked it! I liked the broken characters needing healing and love to get better. Argus is my hero!

About the Author:

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

Author Links:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Giveaway:

Tour wide giveaway

Open internationally

Prizes:

-Signed paperback of Breaking the Reins

-Ebook of Breaking the Reins

-Signed paperback of Destiny Gift

-Ebook of Destiny Gift

-25$ Amazon/B&N gift card
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Review: All I Need

Title: All I Need
Author: Susane Colasanti  Website // Twitter // Facebook // Goodreads
Source: Netgalley e-ARC
Publisher: Penguin/Viking
Pages: 240

Goodreads Summary & Cover:

The last night of summer is only the beginning.

Skye wants to meet the boy who will change her life forever. Seth feels their instant connection the second he sees her. When Seth starts talking to Skye at the last beach party of the summer, it’s obvious to both of them that this is something real. But when Seth leaves for college before they exchange contact info, Skye wonders if he felt the same way she did—and if she will ever see him again. Even if they find their way back to each other, can they make a long-distance relationship work despite trust issues, ex drama, and some serious background differences?

Teen favorite Susane Colasanti returns to the alternating-voice style of her beloved debut When It Happens in this Serendipity-inspired story about summer, soul mates, and the moments that change our lives forever.

Thoughts:
ALL I NEED is a book about girl sees boy, boy sees girl, they have an instant connection. This type of storyline can sometimes often be frustrating. However, it was the perfect and ideal meeting for Skye and Seth. If not for that connection and the day that they spent together, there wouldn't have been a story.

One day together and then an accidental parting, without information exchanged, led to a year of wondering and frustration for our two main characters. Skye was sure that Seth was "the one" and Seth was convinced of the same. Let me tell you, when Skye and Seth met again the following summer at the beach, I grinned from ear to ear! The way that they could joke and get along so well without feeling uncomfortable was amazing! I was quite jealous, actually.

They finally spent time together and seriously fell in love. They promised to call and travel to see each other since they weren't really that far from each other. Skye was still in high school and Seth was in college. They did talk on the phone a lot and traveled to see each other, but just wasn't as often as they thought they would be able to do due to Seth's courses and job.

Their relationship furthers and they manage to see each other when they can. I did appreciate that Colasanti held off on the sex part until after Skye was 18. I thought it was considerate and mature.

As the saying goes, everything changes after sex. Relationships change. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for worse. Skye and Seth hit a rough patch and some issues were brought up: gross roommate, major decisions made without discussing with each other, silly high school drama, money, etc...

When the ending of the book came, I was crying. The ending earned my tears!

I really loved the optimism, true love/soul mate idea, and the want and need to make the relationship work in this story. It was refreshing and honest without being cheesy or unbelievable. It was all just so sweet!

Rating:

Lovely Contemporary read that I was in need of reading. Hopeful and optimistic with lots of humor, 80s references, and some tears.

Challenge: Standalone Reading Challenge