 I’m happy dancing about being part of the blog tour for Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer, you guys. Why? Because I absolutely loved the first book in her Elementals series, Storm. And I’ve finally, finally started Spark – and it’s just as good, if not better. So I’m thrilled for the third book in the series to be released, Spirit! So be sure to to check out this seriously awesome and totally swoon-worthy excerpt for Spirit below and enter to win some awesome prizes, including two grand prizes of all three books in the Elemental series! I also have some cool links for you below, like the code to get the Elemental e-book for free (until May 31). So be sure to check it out!
Goodreads | Amazon | Indiebound With power comes enemies. Lots of them. Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He’s learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can’t seem to afford any allies. He’s up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait. Then there’s Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She’s not hostile. She’s bold. Funny. Hot. But she’s got an agenda, too. With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he’ll have to find someone he can trust… – Goodreads
Excerpt from Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer Hunter had made it to the parking lot by the time Kate caught up to him. The sun had burned off the clouds, and she felt heat prick at her neck. She grabbed Hunter by the arm. “Are you insane?” she hissed. “I thought you really broke that kid’s arm. What was the point of all—” “Now he’s afraid of me. I need them to be afraid of me.” She wished Hunter would just stop and talk to her. “Why?” “Because Calla always had the upper hand, and that meant people got hurt. I need time to figure out what else they’re planning.” He shoved a key into the door of his jeep. “To figure out where she might be hiding.” “Damn it, Hunter, if you’re going to work with me, then you need to work with me. You need to tell me what you’re doing. We don’t work like—” He turned and caught her arms. She tensed to retaliate—but then she realized she didn’t need to fight him off.
Because he was kissing her. She lost a moment to sheer surprise. His hands were strong and gentle at the same time, sliding under her jacket to trap her waist—not that there was any danger of her going anywhere right this second. She couldn’t read him at all today. First, she’d thought he hated her, then he was brutalizing that kid, and now . . . now . . . Her back hit the side of his jeep before she even realized he’d turned her. The heat of the sunlight became a living thing, tracing power down her skin to match the sparks from his lips against hers. He was pressed against her, almost full length, his hands creeping up her sides to send heat through her body in a way that had nothing to do with sunlight or power. Silver could have had a gun trained on her right that instant, and she wouldn’t have cared. Hunter tasted like cinnamon and smelled like the woods, pine and bark and something very male. His mouth was so sure, and when his tongue brushed hers, a sound escaped her lips. He did it again, letting his thumbs trace over her breasts so lightly that she found herself arching into him. Suddenly she wished they were somewhere else, somewhere private, with curtains and less clothing and— Hunter broke the kiss. Her breathing was quick, loud and desperate in the space between them. He closed his hands on her waist again, and turned her away from his car. Her brain was spinning its wheels, trying to find traction. Hunter leaned close. “Just to be clear: I’d know exactly what to do if you threw yourself at me.” Then he was in his car, starting the ignition, leaving her in the parking lot, nothing more than a melted puddle of hot, bothered, and seriously pissed off.
About Brigid Kemmerer Brigid Kemmerer started writing in high school, and her first real “novel” was about four vampire brothers causing a ruckus in the suburbs. Those four brothers are the same boys living in the pages of The Elemental Series, so Brigid likes to say she’s had four teenage boys taking up space in her head for the last seventeen years! Spirit, the latest book in the series, will be released in stores and online on May 28, 2013. Connect with Brigid on her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. Giveaway You guys, the Spirit blog tour has some super awesome prizes for you! You could win one of ten copies of Spirit or one of two grand prizes with all three books in the Elemental series! You can enter to win by entering the Rafflecopter! a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow Along with the Blog Tour Be sure to check out the Spirit tour kick-off here! You can also follow along with the rest of the tour - 5/20 The Midnight Garden
5/21 Bewitched Bookworms
5/22 The Reader’s Den
5/23 Hobbitsies
5/24 The Starry-Eyed Revue
5/27 Saz101
5/28 Realm of Fiction
5/29 Stuck in Books
5/30 Books with Bite
5/31 Cuddlebuggery Other Awesome Things Want to get the Elemental e-book for free? Just click here and use the code “VCARD” – available until May 31. Also, if you have a favourite guy – be sure to vote in the poll below. Because Brigid Kemmerer is going to write an extra about him – I’m having trouble choosing! Get the Poll Creator Pro widget and many other great free widgets at Widgetbox! Not seeing a widget? (More info) While you’re here, you can  subscribe to my feed :) 
You guys, I am thrilled to have Kristen Kittscher on my blog today for her upcoming release, The Wig in the Window! I’ve been excited for The Wig in the Window for years – and I do mean years! Ever since I saw the Publisher’s Marketplace announcement. And release day is almost here – finally! Although I’m sure it’s seemed like longer for Kristen, hah! Also, be sure to check back next month for my review of The Wig in the Window – and if you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for the Debut Author Challenge newsletter! I’ll be featuring Kristen and giving away a copy of The Wig in the Window! Anyway, without further ado, here’s a guest post from Kristen all about her cover! Which is awesome, FYI.
Goodreads | Amazon | Indiebound Best friends and seventh graders Sophie Young and Grace Yang have made a game out of spying on their neighbors. On one of their midnight stakeouts, they witness a terrifying, bloody scene at the home of their bizarre middle-school counselor, Dr. Charlotte Agford (aka Dr. Awkward). At least, they think they do. The truth is that Dr. Agford was only making her famous pickled beets! But when Dr. Agford begins acting even weirder than usual, Sophie and Grace become convinced that she’s hiding something—and they’re determined to find out what it is. Soon the girls are breaking secret codes, being followed by a strange blue car, and tailing strangers with unibrows and Texas accents. But as their investigation heats up, Sophie and Grace start to crack under the pressure. They might solve their case, but will their friendship survive? Perfect for fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Wig in the Window is a smart, funny middle-grade mystery with a REAR WINDOW twist. – Goodreads
Kristen Kittscher, author of The Wig in the Window I’m so delighted to be kicking off my first guest post on the blog tour for The Wig in the Window with Hobbitsies! Given the prying nature of my enterprising tween sleuths, Young & Yang, I thought it would be fun to take you behind-the-scenes for some top secret investigations into how a manuscript is turned into a real, live book. If we’re going undercover, perhaps the cover is the best place to start? While the cover is really up to the publisher at the end of the day, my editors, Rosemary Brosnan and Andrea Martin, asked for some early input: did I have any strong feelings? Any dislikes? Specific thoughts? I did have a few thoughts—and as you’ll see, to my delight they very much took them into account. Here’s a peek at our correspondence (don’t you feel sneaky? Well, they did give permission—but let’s pretend we’ve been riffling through desks. Maybe we’re even about to get caught?)  Snippets from my first email (to which I attached this poster of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window):
–I think the Chapter 2 “Rear Window” scene and the Wig in the Window scene are ripe with possibility and perhaps, combination. The nighttime scene is more evocative than the daytime, in my opinion. –I hate the color pink and am generally not seeing this book as appealing to girly-girls, for lack of a better word. –If Young & Yang are both pictured, it is important to me that they have equal status, i.e. no Grace hiding behind Sophie’s shoulder. There are few enough characters of color represented in the mainstream, and it is powerful for kids to see someone like themselves represented. I finished by offering to send pictures of the place that inspired “Luna Vista.”   
Click the image to view full size Associate Editor Andrea Martin’s reply: I totally agree with all your points. Sophie and Grace are equals and they should be represented as such if they’re on the jacket. A pink girly cover wouldn’t do…and it would completely miss the readership for this book. You know, it would be wonderful if you could send along some pictures of “Luna Vista” and the types of houses that Sophie and Grace would live in (and spy on)—thank you! Photos would absolutely be useful to our art department. When brilliant cover artist Marcos Calo (http://www.marcoscalo.com) (DANI NOIR, VANISHING ACTS) came back with his first sketches, I was floored! It was Hitchcock—but for kids. Exactly the vibe I hoped for. And the kids’ Converse! What a perfect touch. I especially loved the askew font and the Saul Bass-inspired Vertigo-like horizontal lines in the window. It was such a thrilling moment to see what creative minds had done to transform the spirit of Young & Yang’s adventures into an image. I did have some concerns: I couldn’t really tell the characters apart—originally one was in silhouette and the other didn’t really look like either character. I certainly didn’t want Grace Yang’s ethnicity to be hidden. Also, I didn’t think it was quite right that one was carrying a teddy bear. I wrote back an email bubbling over with all my debut author enthusiasm, but (nervously) weighed in with my thoughts. I was relieved by their reply: We agree about the girls…it is too difficult to tell who’s who…We’re going to lose the teddy bear, as well. Music to my ears. The next time I saw the cover, it was very close to what it is now—and I think it captures the book’s spirit very well. As I believe Hobbitsies’ boyfriend exclaimed when he saw it: “Hijinks are about to happen!” Yes, they certainly are! Hope you enjoy them… WIG’s officially out June 18, but you can order wherever books are sold. Right now, two of my favorite independent children’s stores are running a special pre-order promotion. While supplies last, if you buy from Mrs. Nelson’s or Once Upon A Time, you will get a signed copy and a free SPY PEN for all your top secret communiqués… P.S. While the “Luna Vista” pictures didn’t turn out useful for the cover, they ended up being very helpful for the artist who worked on the book trailer, as you’ll soon see…
About Kristen Kittscher Kristen Kittscher was a child neighborhood spy but (allegedly) grew up to be an upstanding citizen and middle school English teacher. A graduate of Brown University, she now works as a writing tutor in Pasadena, California where she lives with her husband, Kai, and their hyperactive lab mix. The Wig in the Window is her first novel. Visit kristenkittscher.com to investigate more about her and Young & Yang’s next adventure, The Tiara on the Terrace. Visit Kristen at her website, Twitter, or on Facebook. Other Awesome Links I’ve got some other awesome links for you! Want to follow the rest of the blog tour? You can do so here! And here’s a hilarious and fun interview with Kristen and two kids! Kristen also has a really cool preorder promotion going on – want a free spy pen? Find out more details here! While you’re here, you can subscribe to my feed :) 
All I Need by Susane Colasanti Review of All I Need 
Title & Author:
All I Need by Susane Colasanti
Publisher:
Viking Juvenile
Publication Date:
May 21, 2013
Pages:
240
Source:
Publisher via NetGalley The last night of summer is only the beginning. Skye wants to meet the boy who will change her life forever. Seth feels their instant connection the second he sees her. When Seth starts talking to Skye at the last beach party of the summer, it’s obvious to both of them that this is something real. But when Seth leaves for college before they exchange contact info, Skye wonders if he felt the same way she did—and if she will ever see him again. Even if they find their way back to each other, can they make a long-distance relationship work despite trust issues, ex drama, and some serious background differences?
All I Need by Susane Colasanti is a fun read – definitely perfect for the summer. I could have easily seen it as a book I would read on the beach, and as a matter of fact, I wish I had! All I Need wasn’t really the right book for me, simply because I tend to prefer books that have plot with a side of romance, rather than romance with a side of plot. But that’s totally a personal preference, so if you love YA romance, I have a feeling you’re really going to enjoy All I Need. But I did think All I Need was a lot of fun to read – and I thought it was interesting that it followed the characters throughout the span of two or three years, rather than just focusing on one summer. It kind of satisfied that craving I always get after reading those one-summer-only books. I liked Skye as a character. I thought all the things she was dealing with – friend issues, parent issues, boyfriend issues – were really realistic. High school is complicated, even when it all seems like just pointless drama. Her and her friends are all struggling to grow up and sometimes that growth separates people. I can’t say I agreed with all of her decisions, especially those concerning where she went to college, but I did like her as a character. Seth, on the other hand, was a little meh to me as a love interest. I liked Seth and Skye as a couple, but I thought Seth was a little snobby about not being snobby. He spent the whole book complaining about how he had no money and while basically looking down on Skye and her friends because they did have money. Like, at one point Skye tells him she took a cab and he, in his head, was like “Oh, I never take a cab.”** And then one of Skye’s friends offers him a ride and, in his head of course, he thinks “I’d normally scoff that blah blah is driving us instead of walking, but it would take like half an hour to walk.”** Come on, dude. She is being nice. She offered you a ride. And then Skye offers to pay for dinner or a hotel room for the night so he doesn’t always have to pay – and he tells her it’s demeaning.** Welcome to the modern world, dude, girls can pay too. I just didn’t feel like at any point Skye was rubbing in the fact that she came from a well-off family, but he was so very self-conscious of it and it drove me nuts. Maybe I interpreted it wrong, but that’s how it felt to me. But if you love summery romances and happy ending, I definitely recommend picking up All I Need by Susane Colasanti. It wasn’t perfect for me, but I like I said – that’s a personal preference! But it was light and summery and fun – perfect for the beach or by the pool. ** Please note these are not exact quotes, I’m paraphrasing from what I remember. Other Books by Susane Colasanti Keep Holding On
So Much Closer While you’re here, you can subscribe to my feed :) 
 In one week and one day, I leave for New York City. YOU GUYS. I am filled with this nervous and bubbly energy. There’s something about New York City that does that to me. I love this city so much – there’s so much possibility and I feel like amazing things always happen every time I visit. I’m not going just to explore and enjoy the city, however. I’m going to BookExpo America for my third year. And I am so stoked! I can’t wait to meet new faces and chat about books with everyone! I’ll be on the floor throughout the convention (obviously) and I’ll be at the children’s author breakfast – which is so worth it, so if tickets aren’t sold out, you should get one! And I’ll be at different publisher events throughout the week. OH and I’ll be at the Book Blogger Picnic that Alexa and a few others are throwing. More details here! So tell me – are you going? I want to know who I’m going to meet! And if you see my face, definitely come and say hi! If you’re not going, you can follow me on Twitter and/or Instagram for updates and photos! Here’s my face, FYI:  While you’re here, you can subscribe to my feed :) 
 In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren which allows bloggers to share what books they bought/received each week. Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.  You guys! I spring cleaned my apartment this week! And did basically nothing else. But it was productive! And I can’t wait to spend the whole weekend reading. I bought Dan Brown’s new book, Inferno, as a totally guilty pleasure read, so I can’t wait to dive in. Speaking of reading, are you all participating in the 2013 Debut Author Challenge? Don’t forget to link up your May reviews! For Review This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales, from publisher (Goodreads | Amazon)
Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton, from publisher (Goodreads | Amazon)
The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon, from publisher (Goodreads | Amazon)
Leap of Faith by Jamie Blair, from Edelweiss (Goodreads | Amazon)
OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu, from Publisher (Goodreads | Amazon) Bought SEAL of Honor by Tonya Burrows – this is one of my books at Entangled! (Goodreads | Amazon)
Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green (Goodreads | Amazon)
Inferno by Dan Brown (Goodreads | Amazon) Donated Swag from the lovely Jennifer Salvato Doktorski for How My Summer Went up in Flames and Famous Last Words – thanks, Jennifer!! While you’re here, you can subscribe to my feed :) 
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