Side Effects May Vary Cover Reveal Day: Teaser 2

Today is the cover reveal for Julie Murphy's Side Effects May Vary, the one book that I am basically drooling to get my hands on. I've heard snippets of it, and the concept itself has had me dancing in excitement since before the book even sold.

And because this isn't just any cover reveal event, I've got a cover teaser for you guys, as well as a quote from the book. Yes, you have to wait a few more hours for the actual cover, but let this hold you over, because it will be so worth it in the end:

Artwork by Annemieke Beemster Leverenz

"Ballet was my life. For Celeste, it was a vehicle. She wanted nothing more than to be a triple threat—dancer, singer, actress—and it killed her that, when it came to dance, I’d always have her beat. She probably thought our competitive rivalry was over when I quit right before freshman year. But then I started dating Luke and it got even worse because Luke wasn’t something Celeste could audition for." - Alice

Now how much does this tell you about Alice? And make you curious about Luke... and Celeste...

Ahem.

And if you've somehow been under a rock and don't yet know what this guaranteed to be amazing and Kari favorite book is about:

What if you’d been living your life as if you were dying—only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you?

When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, whom she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that’s as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her arch nemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger and reliving some childhood memories). But just when Alice’s scores are settled, she goes into remission.

Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she’s said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she done irreparable damage to the people around her, and to the one person who matters most?

Julie Murphy’s SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY is a fearless and moving tour de force about love, life, and facing your own mortality.


Excuse me while I flail for a moment, because, man, how killer does this sound?! And I have heard some pretty amazing things about Harvey. Girls and boys, I think we should all prepare to melt.

And to make this entire thing even more awesome, I've got a swagpack available for one lucky winner, including bookmarks and a tote bag! This is US only, and use the Rafflecopter below to enter.

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The full reveal schedule, so you don't miss any of the teasers, and definitely not the cover at the last stop! (All times CST)

8 am: Girls in the Stacks (Teaser + Swag Giveaway)
9 am: Here!
10 am: I Read Banned Books (Teaser + Swag Giveaway)
11 am: GReads! (Teaser + Swag Giveaway)
12 pm: Mundie Moms (Cover + ARC Giveaway)

About Julie (who is one of the most awesome people I know): Julie lives in North Texas with her husband who loves her, her dog who adores her, and her cat who tolerates her. When she's not writing or trying to catch stray cats, she works at an academic library. Side Effects May Vary is Julie's debut novel.

Cover Reveal: Fragile Spirits by Mary Lindsey

I'm bouncing in my seat excited to share with you guys the cover for Mary Lindsey's Fragile Spirits, the upcoming companion novel to Shattered Souls! So first.........

Oh. Man. Is this not a GORGEOUS cover?! It's my favorite of hers so far. I love the color scheme, and the way Vivenne's (yes, despite being a male POV, that's the major girl character on the cover... and I totally love this girl. But since Paul is pretty infatuated, too, it works) hair pops out. I also have to say, it's a pretty darn accurate representation of Viv as well, right down to the boots. That, and I love how well it's going to fit next to the Shattered Souls cover, but, man, I think I love this one more. Mary always wins the cover lottery.

So what's this book about, besides a seriously awesome, sweet, charming in a quiet way boy who will totally have you melting and swooning? This:

Paul has always known he was a Protector, fated to serve a Speaker who could hear the voices of spirits lingering after death and help those souls find peace.

Vivienne ignores the voices of the dead.

Paul has always followed the Protector’s rule book, preparing diligently for the day when he’d be matched with his Speaker and fulfill his destiny.

Vivienne never does what she’s told.

So when Paul is matched with Vivienne, they both find the pairing less than satisfactory. But a kidnapping, a malevolent spirit and power stronger than both of them may just prove that they are two halves of the same whole.

In a stunning story about the beauty of fate and the power of secrets, Mary Lindsey returns to the world of Shattered Souls with a breathtaking thrill-ride of a novel.


So, this is a companion, and you don't have to read Shattered Souls first, but I really recommend it, considering this definitely has spoilers for that one. And, yes, Lenzi and Alden make appearances in this one, a few times! And Paul... *melty sigh*

This one is currently set to drop January 23, 2014, and you can add it to your Goodreads here. And if you can't wait till then for more from Mary, you're in luck. Ashes on the Waves, a freaking amazing book based on Poe's Annabel Lee is coming out next week! Trust me when I say you need this book in your life.

Cover Reveal: A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers

I am so, so excited to share with you guys the cover to Lisa Desrochers's upcoming new adult book A Little Too Far!! So first, let's get to the sexiness:

Uhh. Yeah. The hotness. I so cannot wait to read this book!! I am a huge fan of Lisa's, and man can this woman bring the heat. This is a book I don't expect to disappoint.

About the Book:

Have you ever gone just a little too far?
Lexie Banks has.

Yep. She just had mind-blowing sex with her stepbrother.In her defense, she was on the rebound, and it’s more of a my-dad-happened-to-marry-a-woman-with-a-super-hot-son situation. But still, he’s been her best friend and confidant for better part of the last few years…and is so off limits. It’s a good thing she’s leaving in two days for a year abroad in Rome.But even thousands of miles away, Lexie can’t seem to escape trouble. Raised Catholic, she goes to Confession in hopes of alleviating some of her guilt…and maybe not burning in hell. Instead, she stumbles out of the confessional right into Alessandro Moretti, a young and very easy on the eyes deacon…only eight months away from becoming a priest. As Lexie and Alessandro grow closer, and when Alessandro’s signals start changing despite his vow of celibacy, she doesn’t know what to think. She’s torn between falling in love with the man she shouldn’t want and the man she can’t have. And she isn’t sure how she can live with herself either way.

This one is coming September 17 from Harper, and is for sure on my stalk list.

And to celebrate the excitement, enter here for your chance to win a swag pack... and with a teaser like this, how can you resist?

I trace a finger along the lines of the tattoo over his heart—the kanji symbol for knowledge—as he grasps my thighs and rolls his hips underneath me.

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What Jennifer Armentrout has to say about it: "More than a ridiculously sexy, HOT read, Desrochers takes you on a wild ride of self-discovery and bittersweet romance." —Jennifer L. Armentrout (J. Lynn), New York Times bestselling author of Wait for You

Author + Character Word Associations: The Hazards of Skinny Dipping

To celebrate the release of The Hazards of Skinny Dipping, I've asked Alyssa Rose Ivy to give me the first thing that comes to mind for the words/phrases I threw at her for herself... and for Reed and Juliet.

Boxer
Alyssa: Dog
Reed: Fight
Juliet: Shorts

Kentucky Derby
Alyssa: Horse
Reed: Race
Juliet: Hats

Toe jam
Alyssa: Ick
Reed: Video game
Juliet: Eww

Snozberry
Alyssa: Such a great movie
Reed: I want a golden ticket
Juliet: Candy

Banana hammock
Alyssa: Please not in public
Reed: Not a chance I’d wear one
Juliet: No thanks

Hedgehog
Alyssa: Sonic
Reed: Spiky
Juliet: Not a good pet

Hourglass
Alyssa: Time
Reed: Life is short
Juliet: Figure

Cookie cutter
Alyssa: Holidays
Reed: Childhood
Juliet: Boring

Severus Snape
Alyssa: Awesome character
Reed: Teacher
Juliet: My brothers

Laser:
Alyssa: Surgery
Reed: Tag
Juliet: Tag

Wallflower
Alyssa: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Reed: Movie
Juliet: Loner

Running of the Bulls
Alyssa: Spain
Reed: Sounds cool
Juliet: Red

X Marks the Spot
Alyssa: Pirates
Reed: Map
Juliet: Adventure

Beaver
Alyssa: Dams
Reed: No Comment (My mother taught me to keep my mouth shut in moments like these).
Juliet: Furry creature

Hand cuffs
Alyssa: Dylan
Juliet: Hell no
Reed: Who’s getting arrested?

Thank you, Alyssa, for playing along and congrats on the release!

Want your chance to win this book? Of course you do. Enter below!






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About the book: This isn't a deep book about first loves or self-discovery. If you want a book like that, I'd be happy to recommend one, but I don't have that kind of story to tell. Instead my story is about rash decisions and finding out that your dream guy is bad in bed. It's the story of when I finally went skinny dipping, and how my life was never the same again. Oh, and it's also the story of my freshman year of college and realizing Mr. Right might have been there all along.

Goodreads, Amazon, B&N

This or That with Chris from Trophy Husband

Newly released is Lauren Blakely's Trophy Husband, a hot and fun book! To celebrate the release, I've got a this or that list with Chris, the sexy hero of this book. Trust me when I say he's about as lickable as they come, and had me totally melting and swooning!

Xbox or PlayStation?

Xbox, of course.

Boxers or Briefs?

Boxer briefs. When I wear anything...

Red Velvet or Strawberry?

Strawberry.

Shower or Bathtub?

Shower. What would I do in a bathtub?

Skirt or Shorts?

Skirt. Easy access.

Convertible or Hard top?

Convertible. Who doesn’t want a convertible? I want the sun on my back.

Rocket launcher or Grenade?

Rocket launcher. A grenade is only as good as your toss. Rocket launchers are much more powerful.

Top or Bottom?

Bottom, because of the potential for the reverse cowboy.

Star Wars or Star Trek

Star Wars. Because Han Solo didn’t have to wear a uniform.

Gryffindor or Slytherin

Seriously? Gryffindor.
Pizza or Wings?

Pizza. Out of the oven, cold, for breakfast, after hours, anytime.

Bare Leg or Stockings?

Stockings, because you wonder what comes after the stocking. Is there matching underwear? Is it attached to a garter? Is there that little snap on the back? So many questions to ponder and explore.

Drive or Fly?

Fly. But I don’t sleep on planes because I don’t want to get incepted.

Red or Green?

Green.

Dog or Cat?

Dog.

Baby Doll or Corset?

Corset.

As if that doesn't make you want to get a pare of stockings...

Ahem.

For you romance lovers, I completely recommend this book! I devoured it in one sitting, and couldn't get enough of these characters. Not to mention, the dog is adorable and awesome.

For your chance to win a copy of the book, enter below! And don't forget to check out all the tour stops!

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About the Book:

Sometimes you can't help falling in love, even when you try to do the opposite...

Successful fashion blogger McKenna Bell has spent far too long protecting herself after the way her ex-fiancé left her at the altar for a college chick he met the night of his bachelor party. Loving again, trusting again, well, that's just not in the cards. Especially now that her ex is back in town with his new woman, demanding custody of McKenna's favorite creature in the whole world--her dog. No effing way. McKenna's had enough of him, and she decides to even the score by finding her own hot young thing -- a Trophy Husband. Sure, she's only twenty-seven, but doesn't that make it even more fun -- and infuriating to her ex -- to pursue a younger man? When she declares her intentions on her daily blog, her quest quickly skyrockets in popularity, and that's when Chris enters the picture, and he’s got all the assets. He's handsome, successful, and turns her inside out with a kiss to end all kisses, the kind that makes you feel like a shooting star. But loving again could mean losing again, and it's so much easier to focus on getting even, isn't it? Unless, you just can't help falling in love. Which means McKenna will have to come face to face with what she really wants in life -- protecting her heart from hurt, or letting go of her fears of a new beginning.

Review: Golden by Jessi Kirby

SUMMARY: Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.

Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.

Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference.


OPINION: Beautiful, tragic, emotional and memorable, Golden is the perfect blend of coming of age, romance, mystery and friendship. This is everything I love in a “what the heck am I doing with my life?” and finding myself book. With both Parker’s story, and that of Julianna and Shane’s through the journal, mixing together and overlapping, Kirby’s talent truly shines in this stunning book.

Parker is an amazingly well done character, a girl who goes through such tremendous changes. Some of her bigger shifts, though, come in stages, and though the overall timing of them is relatively close together, she still takes a breather between each incident. This is something I truly loved in this book, and in her. There is so much that is relatable with her, yet she stands on her own in this great way. Her mother is overbearing, the kind of mom who has such high standards and expectations for her daughter, anything else is not really an option. It’s also the sort of blind expectation, where she doesn’t see the impact it’s having on Parker. Parker didn’t just instantly become spontaneous, and though she had a few fly by the seat of her pants decisions, there was a bigger sense to it too, like she was looking at everything ahead of her now in a different way.

The story with Julianna and Shane is one of my favorite elements of this book, rapt with emotions and pain. I cared as deeply about these characters, despite already knowing they were dead, as I did Parker, Trevor and Kat. I loved the fact the town pitched them as this golden couple, yet the journal told a different sort of story. Julianna was a girl who forged her path alongside Shane, rather than in spite of him, and without giving anything away, I completely loved the things that started to make her realize and question that. It wasn’t that she didn’t want Shane anymore, but things did come up that certainly tested her. The parallels of that, to Parker, also, was woven between the lines in this great way that kept me so hooked.

Then there’s Trevor, charming, endearing, flirty, and solid. He’s done a few things I lifted a brow at, yet he’s just so there for Parker. He has this obvious thing for her, yet because of his flirtatious ways and his tendency to mess around with a lot of girls, Parker keeps her distance in that regard. He was far from a doormat despite his feelings for Parker, but he didn’t walk away over little things either. He was that perfect blend of friendship and waiting to be more, and this boy completely melted me.

I loved the plot of this one, and though it had some great twists in it, most notable for me was Parker’s character arc and journey. She goes through some big things, both personally and in the things she experiences, and Kirby utterly nailed everything about it. In truth, much of what got to me about this book is impossible to explain without spoiling, but it's a book that has stuck with me. With Parker’s mom so easy to point fingers at, yet something stronger thrumming beneath her, and a great sense of self arising in Parker, this is exactly what I love in a contemporary book. Add in the stunning writing and Kirby’s knack for voice and luring readers right in, and Golden is a brilliant, aching must read of a book.

Details:

Source: ARC received from publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

Age Range: 12 and up

Hardcover: 288 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: May 14, 2013