HarlequinTeen #YeahYA Signing Wrap-Up: Julie Kagawa, Katie McGarry and Aimee Carter

Last night was the night! My sister, Sarabeth of The Next Chapter, and I attended Harlequin Teen's Author Fest at Barnes and Noble in Carle Place, (LI) NY and got to meet a lot of people!
Here's a recap of what happened during the event...

When you first walk into B&N they were all set with a wonderful display of books for everyone to grab! As you can see, the stacks were already low when we got there a whole hour before it started :)

Entrance - So many books were gone already!

Here is the signing table!!!

Waiting for the authors!

While waiting for the authors and their editors to arrive...

Harlequin Teen created this wonderful tee-shirt for the event!
However, my preggo belly did not fit in it, lol! So my beautiful sister got to show it off :)

Front

Back

The crowd!!!
SO many people, of all ages, from near and far!
This is by far one of the best turn outs I have ever seen at this location :)
Shout out to all our booknerds!!! 

The awesome crowd at B&N, Carle Place

Our mom tagged along for the ride...
she was trying to stay out of the way and hide from us and the crowd, but we found her ;)

My Mami patiently waiting on the sidelines, lol

The authors finally arrive!!! 

Julie Kagawa, Katie McGarry and Aimee Carter answering questions

Kady Cross, the author of the Steampunk Chronicles, could not make it - she was sick with the flu :(
We missed her and wish her a speedy recovery!!!

A few author Q&A's... 

A few more Q&A's...

I wasn't able to record any more than these two clips...
however, the Q&A continued for quite a while:

A few more Q&A's that were asked/answered:

- Where does your inspiration come from?

Aimee: is inspired by what she wants to read.

Julie: is inspired by video games, anime and manga.

Katie: is inspired by tiny pieces of herself, her own life experiences,

especially from her teen and high school years, are integrated into her books.

- Where do they get their plot ideas?

Katie: from music.

Julie: It is different for every book.

For the Iron Fey series - Meaghan's character came to her first,

and then the rest of the world-building and story revolved around her.

For the Blood of Eden trilogy - Julie has a side of her that loves the dark and doom of a post-apocalyptic world - so the world-building came first and then that inspired her to create a strong main character that can survive this world.

Aimee: One sentence, just one line, or one lyric, can get her plot going in an instant.

- What are you working on now?

Aimee: is working on a new 4-book series called The Blackcoat Rebellion! The first book in the series is called Pawn and it is being released on November 26th, 2013...

the series takes place in dystopian/futuristic America - when a person turns 17 years of age, they have to be evaluated and are placed on a level - I through VII... one being the lowest and 7 being the highest and most privileged since sevens can be 'masked' to take on the roles of high figures that have passed on... {sounds super creative and intriguing! Cannot wait to hear more about this!} 

Katie: is getting ready to release the third book to her Pushing the Limits series called Crash Into You, which is due out on November November 26th, too! {ISAIAH!}

Katie is also working on a new 4-book series, the first book is said to be released sometime in 2014 - this series is being compared to "West Side Story" meets "Sons of Anarchy"...

here is the summary: 

"A teen boy brought up in the rough and tumble world of motorcycle clubs finds love with a girl raised outside of this world, when he’s tasked with not only protecting her for the summer she visits her father (the leader of the group), but also with preventing her from learning the truth about her father’s past and the gang he used to lead."

Julie: is currently working on numerous projects! 

First, the second book to the Iron Fey's Call of the Forgotten trilogy, called The Iron Traitor, is being released on October 29th, 2013! With the last book being released sometime in 2014 - no title or spoilers for this one yet!

Julie is also working on the last book of the Blood of Eden Trilogy, which will be released sometime in 2014 as well, the title is The Forever Song... and there are no spoilers out for this one out either! {She's really, really good at keeping everything a secret, geesh! lol!}

Julie is also hard at work on her latest announcement: a 5-book series that has also been optioned with Universal Studios!!! Everything about this series is extremely tight-lipped! All that she was able to say was that the first book will probably be released in 2015... and that the story takes place in the present day, where mythical creatures hide amongst us cloaked as humans.

{That's it! What a tease!!!}

And then it was time... time to sign all those books!!!

Julie Kagawa, Katie McGarry and Aimee Carter signing

Also bumped into some fellow bloggers!!!
I met Jessica of Step Into Fiction! She came all the way from Maryland :)

Jessica of Step Into Fiction and I

We were so lucky to have some time with all three of them after the signing!

Julie Kagawa, Katie McGarry, Me, Sarabeth of The Next Chapter, and Aimee Carter

My signed books and bookmarks :) 

And of course I had to ask them one important question!
They all have come up with so many amazing names for all of their characters - especially their boys...
since I already have 2 boys, we're having a hard time deciding on a name for baby boy #3,
so of course, I asked them for help :)  And here's what they suggested:

Aimee: Knox
Katie: Jonah 
Julie: Quinn

What do you think??? :)


We had SO much fun!!!
A HUGE thank you to Kismet Book Tours and Harlequin Teen for letting us be a part of the tour!
And another HUGE thank you to the authors for making it such a wonderful event and taking the time to chat with us even more! They are all such amazing people! 

P.S. - there are more dates left on the tour!!!
Take a look and see which one is closest to you and go!!! :)

Waiting On Wednesday #59: Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

"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'm waiting on... 

ORIGIN

(Lux #4)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Expected release date: August 27th, 2013

Published by: Entangled Publishing

Genre: Young Adult Sci-Fi, Romance

SUMMARY

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything. 

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? 

And will they even be together?

Why I'm waiting on ORIGIN... 

Have you seen all of the book covers???

The boy is fiiiiiiiiiiiiiine!!!

Who can pass up Daemon Black?! THE ultimate green-eyed alien!

I cannot wait to have this book... to drool over and read ;)


SO, what are you waiting for this week??? 

Updates and Book Haul #48

It's been a wonderful week in book-landia :)

I have loved catching up with many of you! And seeing all the wonderful books that are flying around!!! 

Things are picking up around here! 

I am so excited to be going to a book-signing next week with my sister, see this post for all the details!

However, after my wrap-up next week, I will be taking a short hiatus until August - we are moving into our new home mid-month and this mama needs to get everything unpacked! Including our 15 boxes of books, oi! Wish us luck ;) 

Hope you all had a wonderful week too!

Current book haul... 

I'm participating in Stacking the Shelves and Showcase Sunday!

What happened on the blog last week...
- Announcement: #YeahYA Harlequin Teen Author Tour NY Stop
- Waiting On Wednesday #58: Crash Into You (Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry
- eNovella Review: The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (Steampunk Chronicles #0.5) by Kady Cross

What I received for review...
- Vigilante Nights (Hardcover) by Erin Richards (YA) from Merit Press

What I purchased...
- Crossing the Line (Pushing the Limits #1.5) by Katie McGarry (eNovella/YA)
- The Dark Discovery of Jack Dandy (The Steampunk Chronicles #2.5) by Kady Cross (eNovella/YA)

Kindle Freebies...

- Shadow (Paper Gods #0.5) by Amanda Sun (eNovella/YA) 

- Rain Song by Alice J. Wisler (Adult) 

- Just Remember to Breathe by Charles Sheehan-Miles (Adult) 

What we borrowed from the library...

- Amelia Bedelia Under Construction by Herman Parish (Beginner MG)

- Batman: Scarecrow, Doctor of Fear by Matthew K. Manning (Beginner MG)

- Ready, Freddy #3: Homework Hassles by Abby Klein (MG)

- Ready, Freddy #22: Science Fair Flop by Abby Klein (MG)

- Dragonbreath #3: Curse of the Were-Wiener by Ursula Vernon (MG)
- Dragonbreath #4: Lair of the Bat Monster by Ursula Vernon (MG) 

- The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls by Claire Legrand (MG)

  

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Be sure to leave a comment and your links too :)
Happy reading!!! xoxo

eNovella Review: THE STRANGE CASE OF FINLEY JAYNE (Steampunk Chronicles #0.5) by Kady Cross

THE STRANGE CASE OF FINLEY JAYNE

(The Steampunk Chronicles #0.5)

by Kady Cross

Release date: May 1st, 2011

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Genre: Young Adult - Steampunk, Historical Fiction, Fantasy

SUMMARY

Finley Jayne knows she's not 'normal'. 

Normal girls don't lose time, or have something inside them that makes them capable of remarkably violent things. Her behavior has already cost her one job, so when she's offered the lofty position of companion to Phoebe, a debutante recently engaged to Lord Vincent, she accepts, despite having no experience. 

Lord Vincent is a man of science with his automatons and inventions, but Finley is suspicious of his motives where Phoebe is concerned. She will do anything to protect her new friend, but what she discovers is even more monstrous than anything she could have imagined...

MY REVIEW

Usually before I read any novellas or short stories, I read the first book to the series in case of any spoilers, misunderstandings and such... however, this time, I decided to just go for it and read this novella first. I'm happy I did - it gave me a wonderful insight to Finley Jayne and the adventures that Finely would be facing throughout the Steampunk Chronicles...

The novella starts with Finley being fired for unjust reasons and has to move back home with her parents, but is soon called upon by Lady Morton, who wants to employ her as a companion to her daughter, Phoebe. Soon, Finley realizes that her job is just more to accompany Lady Phoebe - her reputation precedes her and Lady Morton expects more from Finley, much more than anyone realizes.

Finely is such a strong and wild character, who can also be very thoughtful, caring and feminine - a very well rounded character that only the brilliant Kady Cross could create and bring to life. The world building and steampunk touches in this short story are just the beginning to it all!

I highly recommend reading this novella and diving in to Finley's world and the Steampunk Chronicles!  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kady Cross is a pseudonym for USA Today bestselling author Kathryn Smith. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and a pride of cats. She likes singing with Rock Band on the 360, British guys, Vietnamese food, and makeup (she’s hopelessly addicted to YouTube makeup tutorials!). When she’s not writing Kady likes to catch up on her favorite TV shows, read a good book or make her own cosmetics.

Goodreads, Website, Twitter

Waiting On Wednesday #58: CRASH INTO YOU (Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry

"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'm waiting on... 

CRASH INTO YOU

(Pushing the Limits #3) 

by Katie McGarry

Expected release date: November 26th, 2013

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

SUMMARY

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane 

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind. 

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look. 

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

Why I'm waiting on CRASH INTO YOU...

Well, after Noah and Lincoln, how can I doubt that Isaiah won't rank all the way up there too!
I love Katie's writing and style! Straight from the heart!
I am really looking forward to this one!

And isn't the cover divine?!

SO, what are you waiting for now??? 

Announcement: Official NY Blogger for Harlequin Teen Author Fest 2013 #YeahYA

I am SO super excited to announce that I have been chosen to be an official blogger for 

Carle Place, (Long Island) NY's stop

in the #YeahYA Harlequin Teen Author Fest 2013!!! 

SO all you NYers and Long Islanders better come out to see us ;) 

And, of course, the authors too! {giggle!}

I expect to see some of you traveling from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut too!!! 

My sister (Sarabeth of The Next Chapter) and I will get to meet and interview... 

JULIE KAGAWA!!! 

New York Times Bestselling Author of The Iron Fey Series and the Blood of Eden Trilogy!

The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen, The Iron Knight, The Iron Legends, 

The Lost Prince, The Iron Traiter.

The Immortal Rules, The Eternity Cure.

AIMEE CARTER!!! 

Author of THE GODDESS TEST SERIES!

The Goddess Test, Goddess Interrupted, The Goddess Inheritance. 

KATIE MCGARRY!!!

Author of the PUSHING THE LIMITS contemporary series!

Pushing the Limits, Dare You To, Crash Into You.

KADY CROSS!!! 

USA Today Bestselling Author of the STEAMPUNK CHRONICLES!

The Girl in the Steel Corset, The Girl in the Clockwork Collar,

The Girl with the Iron Touch.

I am so super excited to see all of them! 

I cannot believe I get to see Julie Kagawa, again! And meet Katie McGarry, the creator of Noah! and Kady Cross, the creator of Jack Dandy and Samuel Morgan! And, I'm looking forward to getting to know Aimee Carter - I have not read her series, BUT, my sister has! And she gushes about it, ALOT! :) 

Be sure to check out the above tour dates for the location closest to you!!! 

Can't wait to see who will be stopping by!!! 

Don't be shy - definitely say HI!!! xoxo 

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... 

I'm participating in Stacking the Shelves, Showcase Sunday and The Sunday Post!

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)

- The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (Steampunk Chronicles #0.5) eBook by Kady Cross (YA)

Cover Reveal: FACE OF DEATH (Touch of Death #3) by Kelly Hashway

FACE OF DEATH

(Touch of Death #3)

by Kelly Hashway

Expected release date: January 7th, 2014

Published by: Spencer Hill Press

Genre: Young Adult

Formats: eBook, Paperback

SUMMARY

"Having fallen at the hands of Hades, Jodi's enduring torture like she never imagined. Worse, she has to watch her Ophi friends suffer along with her - the punishment doled out by the very people she'd sentenced to life in Tartarus. Hell. This is one reunion Jodi hoped would never happen, but now she must find a way to free them all.

Except the underworld is nearly impossible to escape.

Jodi's one chance may rest in raising the human soul she killed when she drank Medusa's blood.

But splitting her human soul from her Ophi soul means living a double life: One as an Ophi experiencing unspeakable torture and the other as the human she could have been if she never came into her powers. With her two worlds colliding, Jodi will have to make the toughest decision she's faced yet."

MY THOUGHTS

Living a double life?! This story just keeps getting more and more interesting...

and, the cover is absolutely stunning! I like that they continued with the same dress in different colors and poses - it's all about Jodi! 

What do you think??? 

Read more about books 1 and 2...

Touch of Death

Release date: January 15th, 2013

Summary

"Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.

Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct."

Stalked by Death (Touch of Death #2)

Expected release date: July 23rd, 2013

Summary

Jodi knows that any slip-ups made by the Ophi--a special group of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac--will fall on her shoulders... and that Hades is just waiting for them to screw up so he can wipe out the Ophi line.

Unfortunately, Jodi has only convinced one Ophi to join her school: A hot guy named Chase who jeopardizes her relationship with Alex. Jodi loves Alex, but Chase can enhance her powers with just a touch—making her stronger than any Ophi has ever been.

Her mixed emotions send her powers surging out of control, and the dead start rising without her conscious summoning—exactly what Hades doesn't want! If she chooses Alex over Chase, she may lose the battle to Hades, leading the Ophi race to extinction. If she chooses Chase, she might be able to stop Hades for good… but lose everything else.

Jodi needs to figure things out fast--because death is stalking her at every turn.

Waiting On Wednesday #57: TIME AFTER TIME (Time Between Us #2) by Tamara Ireland Stone

It has been a long time since I've done a 'Waiting On Wednesday' post - 

I feel so out of the loop! Now that I am feeling up to it, I really need to catch up on all the good books that will be releasing in the Fall/Winter! 

I am really looking forward to seeing everyone's posts today :) 

Please be sure to say 'hi' and leave your links for me - thanks!!! xo

"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'm waiting on... 

TIME AFTER TIME

(Time Between Us #2) 

by Tamara Ireland Stone

Expected release date: October 8th, 2013

Published by: Disney-Hyperion

Genre: Young Adult - Romance, Time Travel

SUMMARY

"Calling Anna and Bennett’s romance long distance is an understatement: she’s from 1995 Chicago and he’s a time traveler from 2012 San Francisco. The two of them never should have met, but they did. They fell in love, even though they knew they shouldn't. And they found a way to stay together, against all odds. 

It’s not a perfect arrangement, though, with Bennett unable to stay in the past for more than brief visits, skipping out on big chunks of his present in order to be with Anna in hers. They each are confident that they’ll find a way to make things work...until Bennett witnesses a single event he never should have seen (and certainly never expected to). Will the decisions he makes from that point on cement a future he doesn't want?"

"Told from Bennett’s point of view, Time After Time will satisfy readers looking for a fresh, exciting, and beautifully-written love story, both those who are eager to find out what’s next for Time Between Us's Anna and Bennett and those discovering their story for the first time."

Why I'm waiting on "TIME AFTER TIME"...

I absolutely fell head over heels for Bennett! And, of course, Anna and Bennett's love story!

I really want to see how Bennett manages to continue to time travel to be with Anna, and even more so since he sees something (in the future?) that can change everything! 

You can see my review of TIME BETWEEN US right HERE!!!

SO, what are you waiting on this week??? 

xoxo

Updates coming soon!

I've missed you all SO very much! 

I've missed my books even more :)

I've been feeling better!... I've been reading a ton!!! 

Lots to catch up - starting next week! 

SO stay tuned!!! xoxo 

Happy 1st day of summer!!! and last day of school for us!!!