Swoon Thursday (13): Tiger Lily and Breaking Beautiful

The ladies over at YA Bound created a sexy meme where you share what made you tingle in your current read. If you want to join in, here is what you do:From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, link up at YA Bound, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog!

Apparently it's been a while since I did one of these. I've got two swoons for you this week. 

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

The light was trickling down on her in two narrow slices, and as his hands moved to boost her he brought his face to her neck, almost as if he was bumping into her by accident, only he kissed the skin of her neck, just quickly.

--Pg 112 of an ARC of "Tiger Lily" by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Peter Pan is the "he" in that passage and the girl is Tiger Lily. This is one of the rare tender moments between them that was just too beautiful not to swoon over. I loved this book from top to bottom. This is most definitely one to swoon over!

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

We're barely moving, leaning into each other, breathing together, my forehead against his cheek, his had tracing little circles on my back. After a few minutes he pulls back and looks into my eyes, clears his throat, swallows, clears it again. "There's something I've been wanting to--" --he breathes in-- "something I've been meaning to tell you."

--Pg. 259 of an ARC of "Breaking Beautiful" by Jennifer Wolf Shaw

This book was exactly like I want all romances to be. It was slow and steady, something undeniable that built up and made your fingers and toes tingle. I loved the two characters in Breaking Beautiful. There were so many swoon worthy moments in this one!

What's made you swoon recently?

Prodigy by Marie Lu Cover Alert

I did a nice shiny post yesterday about this and then another cover comes out today so that I have to do another one. So here is the sequel to Legend's cover:

Expected publication is January 29, 2012. 

I'll tell you, I liked the cover of Legend okay but for some reason I am REALLY digging this cover. I think it has to do with the colors and that the symbol is spray painted on instead of looking all new and shiny. I do like that both of these titles are guy friendly and genre crossing. They look just as good in the teen section as they do on the regular fiction table. Here are the two covers together:

What so you guys think?

Sweeter Than Chocolate

Lately I've been reading (for critique) several outstanding manuscripts. They have been goosebump good and they make me so excited for these writers.

That got me thinking about our little online community of writers and how much I value you all.

This morning I realized, even if it's never God's will for me to be published, I am so thankful I get to be involved in your lives and in your journeys.

And no, I'm not writing this so all of you will comment and assure me that I will certainly be published one day. This is not a call for the cheerleaders to come out in force.

This is to say that even IF I never get to realize the publication dream for myself, I know a bunch of you WILL and ... Wow, that is amazingly sweet.

And to think I got to be a little part of some of your processes! What an honor!

There will be books on the shelves someday I will show my children and say, "I critiqued this one," or, "This is my really good friend's book."

Just, WOW.

Is anyone else getting the good shivers? We're making literary history right now, people!

For me, that's sweeter than chocolate.

Photo credit: SavaMatkovitch from morguefile.com

Review: To Dance Once More by Sherri Wilson Johnson

To Dance Once More by Sherri Wilson Johnson

OakTara ~ 2011

Amazon / Goodreads

About the book:

All Lydia wants is to travel the world before she has to settle down with a husband. But she may not have that choice anymore.

April 1886.

Debutante Lydia Jane Barrington lives a carefree, protected existence on Live Oaks Plantation in Florida. But while her sisters happily learn the traditional tasks of women and talk of courting, Lydia dreams of adventure and independence. Even her friendship with handsome Hamilton Scarbrough isn't enough to hold her back.

Then one day Hamilton opens Lydia's eyes and her heart to love. But before they can receive permission to court, Lydia overhears a secret conversation about an unscrupulous business deal. Worse, it has everything to do with her and her future. Now she's faced with the biggest decision of her life-to concede or to fight. Either choice will require great sacrifice...and, perhaps, countless rewards.

Passion. Friendship. A bitter enemy. A life-changing decision.

Set in Victorian-era Florida.

My rating:

My thoughts:


To Dance Once More by Sherri Wilson Johnson is a great novel that I thoroughly enjoyed reading! While it did take me a few chapters to get into the story, after that, I was so captivated by it! I wanted to continue reading to find out what would happen, who (if anyone) Lydia would end up marrying, and if there would be a happily-ever-after ending.

With many twists, To Dance Once More held my attention to the end! I really liked the characters: Lydia, she said she wanted to travel the world before settling down and getting married, but then she finds love… Hamilton, what to say about him? I loved how his character grew! I went from liking him, to not liking him, then finding him so sweet! Bradley, I loved his character! He was so sweet and kind to Lydia! Frank, well, he wasn’t what I expected at all! I ended up really liking his character! There are a few other characters that I liked, but I won’t mention them all!

To Dance Once More was a very believable story - the characters weren’t perfect (who is!) and there was some heartache. At one point I wasn’t sure if I’d end up liking how things would end, but I am happy to say that I think things all worked out for the best!

A great novel that I completely enjoyed! I loved To Dance Once More and am really looking forward to the sequel when it releases! I recommend To Dance Once More if you enjoy a good historical romance that keeps you guessing!

*I received this book for free from the author for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Cover Alerts!

Here's a fresh new batch of covers the just recently came out. I've got to say, all of them are pretty. Hope you enjoy!

Torn Wing by Kiki Hamilton

Tiki’s greatest fear suddenly becomes all too real: the fey have returned to London seeking revenge. As war escalates in the Otherworld, Queen Victoria’s youngest son, Prince Leopold, is attacked. In order to protect her family and the ones she loves, she needs to know the meaning of an fáinne sí, the birthmark that winds around her wrist. But will Tiki be brave enough to face the truth?

A bloody escape, a deadly threat, a shocking revelation…

Torn Wing comes out October 2, 2012 from Tor Teen.

I wasn't sure how they were going to top The Faerie Ring's gorgeous cover but they did. This is absolutely beautiful.

Splintered by A. G. Howard

For sixteen years, Alyssa Gardner has lived with the stigma of being descended from Alice Liddell -- the real life inspiration for Lewis Carroll's famed novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. But cruel jokes about dormice and tea parties can’t compare to the fact that Alyssa hears the whispers of bugs and flowers ... the same quirk which sent her mother to a mental institution years before.

When her mother takes a turn for the worse and the whispers grow too strong for Alyssa to bear, she seeks the origins of their family curse. A set of heirlooms and a moth tied to an unusual website lead Alyssa and her gorgeous best friend / secret crush, Jeb, down the rabbit hole into the real Wonderland, a place more twisted and eerie than Lewis Carroll ever let on.

There, creepy counterparts of the original fairytale crew reveal the purpose for Alyssa’s journey, and unless she fixes the things her great-great-great grandmother Alice put wrong, Wonderland will have her head.

Splintered comes out January 2013 from Amulet.

Isn't this cover gorgeous? It definitely looks like Alice in Wonderland to me and I love how the vine is twisting around the girl's hair. I'm SO excited for this one. It's rather perfect for this blog, eh?

Fuse by Julianna Baggott

After a young Wretch is abducted by the Dome and "cleansed" of her fusings and imperfections, she is only able to repeat the Dome's latest message: "We want our son returned. This girl is proof that we can save you all. If you ignore our plea, we will kill our hostages one at a time." Willux will go to any lengths to get his son Partridge back, including murder. 

Partridge sacrifices himself and returns, in the hope of taking over the Dome from within, only to uncover more of his father's chilling, dark secrets. Outside the Dome, Pressia, Bradwell, and El Capitan are decoding the secrets from the past—tucked away in one of the Black Boxes—to uncover the truth that might set the wretches free of their fusings forever.

Those fighting Willux will be pushed over boundaries, both land and sea, heart and mind, in their quest—further than they ever imagined.

Fuse is out sometime in 2012 according to Goodreads.

This cover goes well with the first one. I don't think it's as exciting looking as the first but it does draw my eye to it.

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences.

Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect . . . or a curse? With Ezra’s help, Hester investigates her family’s strange, sad history. The answers she seeks are waiting in the graveyard, the crypt, and at the bottom of the ocean—but powerful forces will do anything to keep her from uncovering her connection to Syrenka and to the tragedy of so long ago.

Monstrous Beauty is out September 4th 2012 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR).

This is a cover re-do but I really like it. I like the color combo and the shape of the mermaid on the page.

So there are the new covers I spotted recently. What do you think of them?

Review: Lily by B.J. Bassett

Lily by B.J. Bassett

iUniverse ~ 2011

Amazon / Goodreads

About the book:

California, 1900-Nestled in the foothills of the northern California coast, the town of Laurel Springs is home to high-spirited Lily Blair, the daughter of Rev. William Blair. Lily delights in being spoiled by her grandmother and father, and even though she lost her mother to childbirth, she glories in life itself and continuously pushes the bounds of propriety.

Having her every whim indulged as a child leads to a tough road as an adult. Lily falls in love with James Conti and wants to marry him, but James heads off to fight in the Great War, leaving Lily alone and heartbroken. When her father wants to send her off to boarding school, Lily makes yet another rash decision and marries a man she does not love.

In the ensuing years, Lily endures hardship and loss, a sharp detour from the pampered existence she once enjoyed. Yet as Lily struggles to cope with these unexpected changes, she discovers just how powerful God's love and forgiveness can be. But will it be enough to get her through the darkest days yet to come?

Full of vivid historical detail, Lily is an emotional coming-of-age story that celebrates the strength of the human spirit.

My rating:

My thoughts:

Lily was a good novel that I enjoyed reading- although there were a few things I didn't like.

Because Lily Blain was so spoiled and self-centered, she was kind of annoying to read about and definitely not my favorite character - that would probably be James Conti.

There are a few curse words in Lily, including d*** and b****. Also, God's name was used at least once in a way that didn't seem to be talking to or about God, just saying His name - I really don't like when novels use God's name irreverently.

I liked the story, though, and found it to be interesting to read. Especially seeing all of the things Lily did to get her way and how some of them backfired. Some of the things Lily did I did not expect (I won't name them because I don't want to spoil the novel it you decide to read it).

While I wish there would have been a few more chapters (some things didn't seem finished), I am happy with the ending and how things turned out. Lily is a good novel that, aside from a few things, I enjoyed reading.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions express are my own.*

Teaser Tuesday (82) and Top Ten Tuesday (25)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, just do as following:

•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page

Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBe careful not to include any spoilers so as not to ruin the book for others!Make sure to share the title and the author so other TT participants can add the book to their TBR piles!

Breaking Beautiful by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

What is Trip going to say when he finds out I...? I squash the thought with my hand pressed to my forehead. Trip can't find out anything ever again.

--Pg. 57 of an ARC of "Breaking Beautiful" by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

This book is reminding me a lot of Where It Began by Amy Stampler but is different enough to keep my interesting. Getting the bits and pieces of who Trip was is really making this intersting and I want to keep reading. I have no idea where this one is going but I can't wait to find out!

What is your teaser?

Top Ten Tuesday is a 10's list meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. There is a different question every week and all you have to do is answer their question with your top ten results!

Top Ten Books to be Made Into a Movie

So many YA novels are being made into a movie. In fact, most of my favorites are already waiting to get signed and cast. So here's a list of some books I love that have either already been optioned for a movie or haven't had any film attention as of right now.

1) Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender- With the slew of  horror movies out, I think this would fit right in. This book is practically begging to be a movie with it's awesomely creepy scenes and the way it turns stereotypes on it's head.

2) The Mortal Instrument series by Cassandra Clare- I was just a smidge dissapointed with these novels because everyone loved them so much and they were built up for me. I do think they will make killer movies though and I can't wait to see it!

3) A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray- I've been screaming and crying for this one to be made into a movie since I read the first book. Not only would it be gorgeous since it would be set in Victorian England but it's about witches in a boarding school.

4) Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi- This one has been picked up for a movie and I can;t wait! They can really play up the super hero theme in this one though I do worry how they are going to translate Juliette's voice from paper to the big screen.

5) Tempest by Julie Cross- I wasn't a super fan of this novel but I feel like it would translate really well into a movie.

6) The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting- I think these are great action books and would work really well on the big screen. I'd be interested to see how they did the echoes and it would be a great thriller.

7) Fateful by Claudia Gray- Werewolves on the Titanic. Need I say more?

8) Divergent by Veronica Roth- This one has already been auctioned for a film and I can't wait! Holy moly, this is going to be such a good movie. It's like fight club for teens but in a dsytopian backdrop. Can't wait to see what they do with the Dauntless and who is going to play Tris (and Four).

9) Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick- Mostly because I need to see Patch on the big screen.

10) The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver- These books would work really well on film but I think they'd make a really great t.v. series. I'd tune in every week to see Riley and Beck kicking some demon ass and taking names.

What books made your list?