"To find out what a story's really about,' the Librarian said,

'you don't ask the writer. You ask the reader."


- SNOW & ROSE by Emily Winfield Martin


Showing posts with label Shannon Messenger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shannon Messenger. Show all posts

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Updates and June 2013 Book Haul #47


Yay, it feels so good to be in the book-game again :)
My "sickness" pretty much prevented me from doing anything and everything... and that was the first 4 months of my pregnancy with Baby Bee #3! So thankful that my health has returned and that Baby Bee continues to strive too! Our due date is in November, got a long way to go :) And hopefully, crossing fingers, the morning sickness and other bad cooties will stay away 'cause this mama has lots of things to do before he/she arrives...

I've been reading a lot lately - finally! I've read about 14 books in the last 5 weeks, and I hope to start posting my reviews on most of them starting next week! I'm so excited to share my thoughts with you!

Here is my book haul for the last 5 weeks... I've received other books in the prior months, but we're also in the process of moving, and those have been packed away already... and I can't remember what they were, lol! After the move, I hope to do another bookshelf tour since we'll have a built-in bookshelf next to our already packed shelves :) Our new home is very book and scrapbooking friendly, can't wait to get in there, lol!

Thanks for stopping by!
Please be sure to say 'hi' and leave your links too :) xo

What happened on the blog last week:
- Waiting On Wednesday #57: Time After Time (Time Between Us #2) by Tamara Ireland Stone
- Cover Reveal: Face of Death (Touch of Death #3) by Kelly Hashway 

Current book haul... 

For review:
- Stalked by Death (Touch of Death #2) (ARC) by Kelly Hashway (YA) from Spencer Hill Press
- The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two (Fairyland #3) (ARC) by Catherynne M. Valente (MG) from Macmillan



From Giveaways:
- Spies and Prejudice (ARC) by Talia Vance (YA) from Library Thing


Purchased:
- Obsession (eBook) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (New Adult) 
- Wait For You (eBook) by J. Lynn (New Adult) 
- Going Vintage (eBook) by Lindsey Leav (YA)
- Let the Sky Fall (eBook) by Shannon Messenger (YA)










Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Blog Tour: LET THE SKY FALL by Shannon Messenger (Excerpt & Giveaway!)


I am so very happy to be a part of the LET THE SKY FALL Blog Tour today!!!
Scroll down to read a small excerpt and enter to win a copy of the book :) 


by Shannon Messenger
Expected release date: March 5th, 2013
Published by: Simon Pulse
Genre: Young Adult - Fantasy, Romance

SUMMARY

Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.


EXCERPT

"You deserve to be happy," He whispers. "No matter what you think or what you did. You deserve to be happy."

"I-"

"You do. And what better than ow-staring down a fight we might not even make it through - is there to start? Let your hair down. Throw that horrible jacket in the Dumpster. Give yourself a break."

"I can't, Vane."

"Yes, you can. You just have to let go."

My stomach growls again and he swears.

"Com on, this is insane."

He looks so earnest. So honest. And he cares

No one cares about me-not even me.


BOOK TRAILER



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shannon Messenger graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts where she learned--among other things--that she liked watching movies much better than making them. She also regularly eats cupcakes for breakfast, sleeps with a bright blue stuffed elephant named Ella, and occasionally gets caught talking to imaginary people. So it was only natural for her to write stories for children. KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES is her first novel, with LET THE SKY FALL, a young adult novel, to follow in 2013. She lives in Southern California with her husband and an embarrassing number of cats. 



GIVEAWAYS

1. If you pre-order LET THE SKY FALL!!!...
GO enter Shannon's giveaway here!!!

2. Enter to win a copy of LET THE SKY FALL down below!!!

Rules:
US residents only.
(international fans can enter as long as they have a US address 
Simon & Schuster can send the book to.)
- You must be 13 yrs & older to enter.

Good Luck!!!


Book tour for:

Friday, December 28, 2012

Day 5: Top 10 Must Have Books for 2013


I cannot believe that in just a few short days 2012 will be over!
I have loved reminiscing about all the great books that 2012 gave to us :) 

Today's the last day of "Top 10 of 2012"...
a huge thank you to the hosts for putting this together! 




Top 10 Must Have Books for 2013 

... in a series: 

Everbound (Everneath #2) by Brodi Ashton 
Expected release date: January 22nd, 2013

Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.

Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.

Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.



Expected release date: May 28th, 2013 

"I dare you..." 

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does.... 

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him. 

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all.



Expected release date: March 5th, 2013
  
Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.



Emblaze (The Violet Eden Chapters #3) by Jessica Shirvington 
Expected release date: March 1st, 2013 

Once again Violet Eden faces an impossible choice ... and the consequences are unimaginable. 

Violet has come to terms with the fact that being part angel, part human, means her life will never be as it was.

Now Violet has something Phoenix - the exiled angel who betrayed her - will do anything for, and she has no intention of letting it fall into his hands. The only problem is that he has something she needs too. 

Not afraid to raise the stakes, Phoenix seemingly holds all the power, always one step ahead. And when he puts the final pieces of the prophecy together, it doesn't take him long to realise exactly who he needs in order to open the gates of Hell.

With the help of surprising new allies, ancient prophecies are deciphered, a destination set and, after a shattering confrontation with her father, Violet leaves for the islands of Greece without knowing if she will have a home to return to.



Expected release date: June 4th, 2013

Darkness never dies.

Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land, all while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. But she can't outrun her past or her destiny for long.

The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling's game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her--or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.


by Gena Showalter 
Expected release date: 2013

NO cover, summary or exact pub date yet! 
BUT, I have a good feeling about it ;) 
Can't wait!!!


... new standalones: 

Invisibility by David Levithan and Andrea Cremer 
Expected release date: May 7th, 2013 

Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth.


Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt 
Expected release date: March 26th, 2013

When Mallory discovers that her boyfriend, Jeremy, is cheating on her with an online girlfriend, she swears off boys. She also swears off modern technology. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory decides to "go vintage" and return to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn't cheat on you online). She sets out to complete grandma's list: run for pep club secretary, host a dinner party, sew a homecoming dress, find a steady, do something dangerous. But the list is trickier than it looks. And obviously finding a steady is out . . . no matter how good Oliver (Jeremy's cousin) smells. But with the help of her sister, she'll get it done. Somehow. 


The Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar 
Expected release date: March 21st, 2013 

He can grant her wishes, but only she can save his life.

Margo McKenna has a plan of attack for everything, from landing the lead in her high school musical to dealing with her increasingly absent parents. But when she finds herself in possession of a genie's ring and the opportunity to make three wishes, she doesn't know what to do. Especially since Oliver--not blue-skinned, not bottle-dwelling, but a genie nonetheless--can see more than what she's willing to show him. With one peek into her mind, he can see the wishes that even Margo herself doesn't know she wants.

But Oliver comes with more than just mind-reading abilities, a flair for magic, and the prettiest eyes Margo's ever seen. Someone from his past is hunting him--someone bent on killing him, along with all the other genies in the world, for the sake of honor. And as Margo soon discovers, it will take more than three wishes to save him.

A whole lot more.



Golden by Jessi Kirby
Expected release date: May 14th, 2013 

Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost may be a distant relative of Robert Frost, but she 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 mystery in her lap—one that might be the key to uncovering the truth behind a town tragedy, she decides to take a chance.



Honorable Mentions

by Bethany Griffin 
Expected release date: April 23rd, 2013

In Dance of the Red Death, Araby’s world is in shambles—betrayal, death, disease, and evil forces surround her. She has no one to trust. But she finds herself and discovers that she will fight for the people she loves, and for her city.

Her revenge will take place at the menacing masked ball, though it could destroy her and everyone she loves…or it could turn her into a hero.

With a nod to Edgar Allan Poe, Bethany Griffin concludes her tragic and mysterious Red Death series with a heroine that young adult readers will never forget.



Dear Cassie by Lisa Burstein 
Expected release date: March 2013 

What if the last place you should fall in love is the first place that you do?

You’d think getting sent to Turning Pines Wilderness Camp for a month-long rehabilitation “retreat” and being forced to re-live it in this journal would be the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.

You’d be wrong.

There’s the reason I was sent to Turning Pines in the first place: I got arrested. On prom night. With my two best friends, who I haven’t talked to since and probably never will again. And then there’s the real reason I was sent here. The thing I can’t talk about with the guy I can’t even think about.

What if the moment you’ve closed yourself off is the moment you start to break open?

But there’s this guy here. Ben. And the more I swear he won’t—he can’t—the deeper under my skin he’s getting. After the thing that happened, I promised I’d never fall for another boy’s lies.

And yet I can’t help but wonder…what if?



So it seems that I'm going for broke in March and May, lol! 
Lots more great books coming this year, I'm SO excited :)

What are you anxious to get your hands on in 2013?!?!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday #33: Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger



"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, quite possibly, to make our shelves look all pretty too :)


What I am waiting on...

Let the Sky Fall
by Shannon Messenger 
Release date: March 2013


SUMMARY

"Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who's swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is. 

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She's also a guardian - Vane's guardian - and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life. 

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra's forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim - the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them - but the forbidden romance that's grown between them."

Why I'm waiting on LET THE SKY FALL...

A sylph???
A guardian???
Secrets???
Forbidden romance???

Do I need anymore convincing on how good this book is going to be!? Nope :)

What are you waiting on this week???

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Blog Tour: Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger (Excerpt & a YA Giveaway)


I am so very happy to be a part of Shannon Messenger's KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES blog tour, hosted by Mundie Moms today! I have an excerpt to share with you AND a giveaway to Shannon's young adult novel,
LET THE SKY FALL!



Keeper of the Lost Cities
by Shannon Messenger
Release date: October 2nd, 2012
Published by: Simon and Schuster (Aladdin)
Genre: Middle Grade  



SUMMARY

"Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She's a Telepath - someone who hears the thoughts of everyone around her. It's a talent she's never known how to explain. 

Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there's a place she does belong, and that staying with her family will place her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye, Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from anything she has ever known. 

Sophie has new rules to learn and new skills to master, and not everyone is thrilled that she has come "home". There are secrets buried deep in Sophie's memory - secrets about who she really is and why she was hidden among humans - that other people desperately want. Would even kill for. 

In this page-turning debut, Shannon Messenger creates a riveting story where one girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world, before the wrong person finds the answer first. 




EXCERPT

"Makeovers?" Keefe scoffed behind them. 
"You girls sure know how to have fun. Maybe you can braid each other's hair and giggle about boys while you're at it."











To see the tour schedule and gain more chances to win one of the giveaways, 
please be sure to visit Mundie Mom's for all the details! 


Purchase KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES from:


ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Shannon Messenger

Shannon Messenger graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts where she learned - among other things - that she liked watching movies much better than making them. She also regularly eats cupcakes for breakfast, sleeps with a bright blue stuffed elephant named Ella, and occasionally gets caught talking to imaginary people. So it was only natural for her to write stories for children. KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES is her first novel, with LET THE SKY FALL, a young adult novel, to follow in 2013. She lives in Southern California with her husband and an embarrassing number of cats. 



Enter to win an ARC of Shannon Messenger's new young adult novel, 
LET THE SKY FALL!!!

SUMMARY for Let the Sky Fall
(Release date: March 5th, 2013)

"Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who's swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is. 

Seventeen Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She's also a guardian - Vane's guardian - and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life. 

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra's forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim - the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them - but the forbidden romance that's grown between them."

GOOD LUCK!!!


 
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