Thursday, May 2, 2013

Book Blitz: Come Back To Me by Coleen Patrick



 Title: Come Back to Me
Author: Coleen Patrick
Publication Date: March, 2013
Genre: YA Contemporary

Synopsis:

Whitney Denison can’t wait to start over.

She thought she had everything under control, that her future would always include her best friend Katie… Until everything changed.

Now her life in Bloom is one big morning after hangover, filled with regret, grief, and tiny pinpricks of reminders that she was once happy. A happy she ruined. A happy she can’t fix.

So, she is counting down the days until she leaves home for Colson University, cramming her summer with busywork she didn’t finish her senior year, and taking on new hobbies that involve glue and glitter, and dodging anyone who reminds her of her old life.

When she runs into the stranger who drove her home on graduation night, after she’d passed out next to a ditch, she feels herself sinking again. The key to surviving the summer in Bloom is unraveling whatever good memories she can from that night.

But in searching for answers, she’ll have to ask for help and that means turning to Evan, the stranger, and Kyle, Katie’s ex-boyfriend. Suddenly, life flips again, and Whitney finds herself on not only the precipice of happy but love, too, causing her to question whether she can trust her feelings, or if she is falling into her old patterns of extremes.

As she uncovers the truth about her memories, Whitney sees that life isn’t all or nothing, and that happy isn’t something to wait for, that instead, happy might just be a choice.

Excerpt:



I went to the rec center.

The front desk pointed me down a checkerboard-tiled hallway. Halfway down, I heard guitar strumming and a mish mosh of clanging tambourines. I transferred the paper bag with the last muffin to my other hand and swiped my damp palm against my shorts. I moved toward the music, my gaze darting from one closed door to the next, until I found the right classroom. There, I peeked into the square window on the door.

Evan.

He stood in the middle of the room, chairs pushed to the edges, orchestrating a dozen or so kids holding tambourines, triangles, and recorders. The sound they made was loud, shy of any sort of regular rhythm, much like my heart suddenly, but they were all smiling, including Evan. He clapped his hands over his head, while the guitar strapped around him swayed. His shirt was blue—another button down, sleeves rolled to his forearm and shirttail hanging over his shorts as they played to their finale. The tallest boy crashed his cymbals together while the kids with tambourines shook them wildly in the air.

The butterflies in my stomach joined the ruckus, and I pressed a palm to my stomach. It was just nerves thinking about our forthcoming conversation. It wasn’t going to be easy to ask him about that night.

A girl in braids, the one holding the triangle, pointed at me and, in the moment, before Evan turned, I felt the muscles in my legs tense, but I stayed still. I wasn’t going to run the other way anymore, not when I wanted answers. Instead, I waved, and Evan raised his hand before heading in my direction.

“All right guys.” He opened the door wide. “I’ll see you Friday.”

One by one, the kids streamed past me, chattering to one another. I focused on the tops of their heads, unsure of how I would start my conversation with Evan.

“Hi.” I said, when the last kid was halfway down the hallway. Then I got tongue-tied. I smiled at him, but my lips trembled, drawn up by sudden nerves.

Evan put out his hand for me to shake. I smiled, scrunching up my nose.

“Hi,” he said. “I’m Evan Foster.”

I laughed. A slow smile spread on his face, and I felt the butterfly orchestra in my gut move into crescendo mode. I held out my own hand. His hand closed over mine. It was warm, strong.

“Whitney Denison,” I said, feeling a little bit silly. That turned out to be good though, because as I took a deep breath, my nerves evened out. “Whitney Elizabeth Morgan Denison.”

Evan raised an eyebrow. “Oh, well in that case, I’m Evan Sebastian Foster.”

“Sebastian?”

“Yes, my mom was really into The Little Mermaid.”

Again I laughed, but then stopped. “What? Wait, you’re serious?”

“Yeah. She named me after Sebastian the crab.”

“And you tell everyone this story?”

“Not really.” He watched me in a way that sent my heart on a faster pace. “So, girl-with-two-middle-names…”

“I don’t think I’m ready for you to be calling me by my Native American name.”

He grinned and glanced down at the floor for a moment. Then, he reached a hand in his jeans, pulling out his car keys. Immediately, I was disappointed. I didn’t want to be done talking with him. I was just getting started.

I remembered the bag in my hand and held it up to him. “Are you hungry?”



About the Author:

Coleen Patrick grew up in New Jersey, Virginia, Michigan, Louisiana, and Indiana. Always being the new kid, she learned that books and friends are precious—and dessert. She never met a dessert she didn’t like (except for flan).

When she’s not writing, reading (or avoiding flan), she enjoys TV, arts and crafts, quoting movies, and trying to take cool photos.

She lives in Virginia with her husband and two kids.


Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Cover Reveal: You Are Mine by Janeal Falor

Title: You Are Mine 
Author: Janeal Falor 

Series: Mine, #1

Publication date: May 6th 2013 
Genre: YA Fantasy


Synopsis:

Serena knows a few simple things. She will always be owned by a warlock. She will never have freedom. She will always do what her warlock wishes, regardless of how inane, frivolous, or cruel it is. And if she doesn’t follow the rules, she will be tarnished. Spelled to be bald, inked, and barren for the rest of her life– worth less than the shadow she casts.

Then her ownership is won by a barbarian from another country. With the uncertainty that comes from belonging to a new warlock, Serena questions if being tarnished is really worse than being owned by a barbarian, and tempts fate by breaking the rules. When he looks the other way instead of punishing her, she discovers a new world. The more she ventures into the forbidden, the more she learns of love and a freedom just out of reach. Serena longs for both. But in a society where women are only ever property, hoping for more could be deadly.


About the Author:

Janeal Falor lives in Utah where she’s finally managed to live in the same house for more than five years without moving. In her spare time she reads books like they’re nuts covered in caramel and chocolate, cooks whatever strikes her fancy, and enjoys the outdoors. Her husband and three children try to keep up with her overactive imagination. Usually they settle for having dinner on the table, even if she’s still going on about the voices in her head.

You can contact the author by: 


Waiting on Wednesday (8)

Down London Road by Samantha Young

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I read On Dublin Street which is the first book and absolutely loved it. I laughed, I cried and other times just plain old happy. I loved everything about On Dublin Street and I have no doubt Down London Road will be the same.

Expected Publication Date: May 7, 2013

Synopsis: (Taken from Goodreads)
It has always been up to Johanna to care for her family, particularly her younger brother, Cole. With an absent father and a useless mother, she’s been making decisions based on what’s best for Cole for as long as she can remember. She even determines what men to date by how much they can provide for her brother and her, not on whatever sparks may—or may not—fly.

But with Cameron MacCabe, the attraction is undeniable. The sexy new bartender at work gives her butterflies every time she looks at him. And for once, Jo is tempted to put her needs first. Cam is just as obsessed with getting to know Jo, but her walls are too solid to let him get close enough to even try.

Then Cam moves into the flat below Jo’s, and their blistering connection becomes impossible to ignore. Especially since Cam is determined to uncover all of Jo’s secrets …even if it means taking apart her defenses piece by piece.


I would love to hear from you!