Jen Calonita's WINTER WHITE (Belles #2) Signing!

I had the wonderful opportunity to go to Jen Calonita's WINTER WHITE signing at the Barnes and Noble in Carle Place, NY. My sister came along with me, well, she drove, so I actually went with her, lol!
Jen is one of the sweetest people I have ever met! She is so down-to-earth and caring. We even got to briefly some of her family members and close friends. It was so wonderful to see such a close-knit community.

Here are some pics from the signing... 

These were cupcakes iced as a sheet of cake! Isn't it gorgeous?!
I love how they were able to put the cover to Winter White on it! SO delish!

Introducing... Jen Calonita!!!

Jen telling us about Winter White...

Here's a video of what she had to say and she also read her favorite excerpt to us :)


 (so sorry, it got cut off at the end!)

Jen revealing THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER's cover!!!

Jen is hosting a WINTER WHITE COTILLION, just like in the book, at her local library!
The cotillion was scheduled for tonight (Wednesday, 11/7th) but unfortunately, due to Sandy's havoc, it has been rescheduled for next Wednesday. I am looking forward to dressing up and getting a few etiquette pointers and dance lessons ;)

Here is my sister, Sarabeth (of Chroncles of Sarita) getting her book signed!

My turn! See me fan-girling it up!

Here are Jen's other books/series!
Sleepaways Girls is getting a spin-off!!!
The characters have grown-up a bit, and now they're the camp counselors and new characters are being introduced! Sounds like a super cute sequel!

And did you see?! BELLES is now available in paperback!!!

My sister and I had such a great time at the signing!
And also a much needed girls/sisters night out :)

A huge thank you to Jen!
Can't wait to see you at the cotillion!!!

And a big thank you to my little sis for hanging out with her ol' sister :)

By the way!!!
You can read my review of BELLES here!!!
AND...
my review of WINTER WHITE here!!!


Thanks so much for stopping by today, 
happy reading :)

A "Buzz-Worthy" Review for Winter White (Belles #2) by Jen Calonita

Winter White

(Belles #2) 

by Jen Calonita

Release date: October 9th, 2012

Published by: Poppy

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Format read: Hardback

SUMMARY

Isabelle Scott and Mirabelle Monroe are still reeling from the revelation that they share more than just the roof over their heads. The media has pounced on their story and the girls are caught up in a flurry of talk-show appearances and newspaper interviews. They've put on a happy public face, but someone is leaking their true feelings to the press, and while it seems like the world is watching their every move, at least they have each other. 

But with cotillion season right around the corner, Izzie and Mira have barely had time to process their newfound sisterhood. Mira has dreamed of making her debut in a gorgeous white gown forever - now, if only she could find an escort. Izzie, meanwhile, is still struggling to find her place in Emerald Cove and it's seeming ever more impossible with EC mean-girls, young and old, doing their best to keep her down. As cotillion preparations heat up, though, there are dance steps to learn, manners to perfect... and secret initiations to complete? As if sophomore year wasn't hard enough!

It's time for the gowns to go on and the gloves to come off.

MY REVIEW

The secrets are out... or are they???

Who would have thought that Izzie and Mira would finally have something in common - and not only with what has been revealed, but also sharing the same feelings towards the same person. The media is all over it, but the girls know how to handle themselves in front of the cameras. Or at least, they thought they did.

In Winter White, Izzie and Mira are trying to get along. They are trying to lead as normal a life that they can in Emerald Cover and get ready for their cotillion. Mira has dreamed of cotillion since as long as she can remember. And is so excited to be able to share everything, even the initiations, alongside Izzie. Izzie has no intentions in doing cotillion, but seeing how much this means to Mira and her aunt, she decides to go along with it. And soon discovers that their is more to cotillion than just a pretty white dress.

In between the drama, twists and turns, Izzie and Mira are learning from one another, becoming friends and also discovering themselves. And there is never a dull moment in Emerald Cover - new characters to add some extra spice to the story-line, I could not put this book down.
Jen Calonita's writing is so spot on and captivating. Everyone is so relatable and enticing - I cannot wait to see what they'll be doing next.
AND, Winter White has one of the best cliff-hangers I have read in a long time! Seriously! I don't like being left like this, but it was one that was totally unexpected and exciting - it is going to be another wonderful installment to this series! I cannot wait to read THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER!

OH, and take a peek at the Winter White signing we went to on Long Island :)

The next book to the Belle's series...

The Grass is Always Greener
Expected release date: April 16th, 2013

How many secrets can one family keep?

Amid preparations for Emerald Cove's extravagant Founders Day celebration and their own shared sweet sixteen, Isabelle Scott and Mirabelle Monroe are longing to break free from the tight constraints that come with being the daughters of a prominent public figure. When Izzie's estranged aunt, Zoe, breezes into town, the already uneasy family dynamic is turned on its head. 

Izzie's finally found her footing in Emerald Cove by leading the Social Butterflies, her school's prestigious club, and she has no interest in getting to know yet another long-lost family member. But Mira, who's on a mission to try new things and make new friends, is drawn to Izzie's artsy aunt. And when Mira meets a handsome, brooding painter, her entire perspective on life begins to shift. 

As tensions mount in Emerald Cove, Zoe's laid-back attitude appeals to both girls. But when she offers Izzie the chance of a lifetime, it's time to make a tough decision. 
What's more important: family or freedom?  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Jen Calonita 

"I'm Jen Calonita, a YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).

I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!

I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls and Reality Check.

But I'm most excited for you to read my new series Belles. It follows two polar opposite Southern girls who share the same roof and one life-changing secret. I'll be blogging more about the girls soon, but for now, you can follow the book and what inspires the details on Pinterest where I have a board dedicated to Belles."

Waiting On Wednesday #15: Winter White (Belles #2) by Jen Calonita

"Waiting On Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by  

Breaking the Spine. 

This is were we get to 'spotlight' books that we are anxiously waiting to be released! The ones that we are dying to get our hands on and read into the wee hours of the night and make our shelves look all pretty :)

Winter White, A Belles Novel 

by Jen Calonita 

Release Date: October 9th, 2012

SUMMARY 

(from Goodreads) 

Isabelle Scott and Mirabelle Monroe are still reeling from the revelation that they share more than just the roof over their heads. The media has pounced on their story and the girls are caught up in a flurry of talk-show appearances and newspaper interviews. They’ve put on a happy public face, but someone is leaking their true feelings to the press, and while it seems like the world is watching their every move, at least they have each other.

But with cotillion season right around the corner, Izzie and Mira have barely had time to process their newfound sisterhood. Mira has dreamed of making her debut in a gorgeous white gown forever-now, if only she could find an escort. Izzie, meanwhile, is still struggling to find her place in Emerald Cove and it’s seeming ever more impossible with EC mean-girls, young and old, doing their best to keep her down. As cotillion preparations heat up, though, there are dance steps to learn, manners to perfect... and secret initiations to complete? As if sophomore year wasn’t hard enough!

It’s time for the gowns to go on and the gloves to come off.

MY THOUGHTS...

First, I looove the cover! It not only matches the first book, and it goes so well with the title and summary.
Second, I am really looking forward how Izzie and Mira's story continues. No spoilers here, lol! but from what I'm getting from this summary, it seems that things are going to get even more interesting - and I am liking that!
Lastly, I enjoy Jen Calonita's writing style. How she effortlessly went back and forth between Izzie and Mira's narrations, I really liked knowing what they were both going through at the same time.

My review of Belles can be found here :) 

What are you waiting for this week?!
Leave a comment with your links, I'd love to see :)


And thanks for stopping by again, happy reading!!! 

A "Nobel Beehive Award" Review: Belles by Jen Calonita

Belles 

by Jen Calonita 

Release Date: April 10th, 2012

Format: Hardcover 

Publisher: Poppy (Hachette)

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

SUMMARY 

(from Goodreads)

Fifteen-year-old Isabelle Scott loves her life by the boardwalk on the supposed wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. But when tragedy strikes, a social worker sends her to live with a long-lost uncle and his preppy privileged family. 
Isabelle is taken away from everything she’s ever known, and, unfortunately, inserting her into the glamorous lifestyle of Emerald Cove doesn’t go so well. Her cousin Mirabelle Monroe isn’t thrilled to share her life with an outsider, and, in addition to dealing with all the rumors and backstabbing that lurk beneath their classmates’ Southern charm, a secret is unfolding that will change both girls’ lives forever.

MY REVIEW 

Belles just flows; it is heart warming and promising - Jen Calonita just kept on giving me more and more, charming me with wonderful memorable characters and amazing scenes! 

Isabelle Scott, aka Izzie, is trying to keep her little family together ever since her mother passed away when she was ten. She goes to school, teaches swim classes, takes care of her sick grandmother and all the household chores. She does everything and anything in order to keep her social worker happy so she doesn't have to be placed into foster care... but when Izzie's grandmother's Alzheimer's gets worse, the social worker has no choice but to do what is right and place grandma in a home and reveals that Izzie is going to go live with her long lost Uncle at a nearby town, Emerald Cove.
In one night, Izzie's life is turned upside down. She is taken away from her homely town on the boardwalk and thrust into a gated community, private school, thousand dollar dresses and 'mean girls'. 
But Izzie is so well grounded, she knows how to handle herself and does it so well. 


Izzie's cousin, Mirabelle, was a bit hard to like in the beginning. As a true southern belle, Mira put on her smile and did her best to just go through the niceties in welcoming Izzie. And of course, we all saw through that. But as the story went along, we see changes in Mira, and hope for the best.


More drama and secrets unfold - you couldn't ask for more! 


I really enjoyed how Calonita would smoothly alternate between Izzie and Mira's thoughts. I got to see and hear both sides of their stories. I also love and appreciate how Calonita ended the book. Pure perfection and I cannot wait to read Belles sequel, Winter White, being released on October 9th, 2012. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Jen Calonita 

"I'm Jen Calonita, a YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).

I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!

I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls and Reality Check.

But I'm most excited for you to read my new series Belles. It follows two polar opposite Southern girls who share the same roof and one life-changing secret. I'll be blogging more about the girls soon, but for now, you can follow the book and what inspires the details on Pinterest where I have a board dedicated to Belles."

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