Love Bus Tour + Contest

You may have heard about the 5 author tour from Harlequin that was happning through Illinois and Wisconsin? Well, one of the stops was close to me, and I got to meet Rachel Vincent and Gena Showalter! It was so awesome. I absolutely adore Rachel Vincent's Soul Screamers series. I had had My Soul to Take for awhile, and for some crazy reason not read it until book 2, My Soul to Save's release. I had been sick, and I remember right after I finished My Soul to Take I had my mom order me My Soul to Save so I could read more of the story! I still haven't read anything by Gena Showalter, but Intertwined looks absolutely amazing.

I got my books signed, and also picked up My Soul to Keep which I cannot wait to read. I have a dire need of more Nash and more awesome story. Rachel Vincent also gave me A SOUL SCREAMERS SHIRT. I had to stop myself from happy dancing right there in the middle of KMart, because I've seen other people with those shirts, and thought they were just about the coolest thing ever. While I was there, I picked up an extra lovely signed copy of My Soul to Keep. PLUS Rachel Vincent was really awesome and gave me an extra shirt to give away.

SO...

1 winner will get a SIGNED paperback of My Soul to Keep and a Soul Screamers Shirt.


How to enter?

Answer this question:
Banshees are a creature you don't hear a lot about in literature, but I think they are totally stellar and one of my favorites to read about. What is YOUR favorite creature to read about? & leave a way to contact you.

+1 Link to this contest (Up to 2)
+3 Old followers of The Book Cellar (before June 29)
+1 New followers

Contest ends July 18th. Open internationally!

Sea Change Giveaway

In honor of Sea Change's paperback release, I have one stellar summer giveaway for you.

16-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science...and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate.

There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship...and reality.

Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?

You can find out more about Sea Change on Aimee Friedman's Website or the publishers website

One winner will receive a paperback copy of Sea Change AND one of these awesome handmade bamboo mats!

How to enter?

Answer this question: What would you do if you met a mermaid? AND leave an email or way to contact you.

Get an extra entry for linking to this contest.

Ends JULY 15th. US ONLY.

Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

Sea Change
Aimee Friedman
Publisher: Point
Release Date: June 1, 2009
Pages: 292

Rating: 4 stars

16-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science...and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate.

There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship...and reality.

Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?

I had gotten Sea Change a while back, and for some odd reason hadn't read it yet. I regret this so much, as Sea Change was just awesome. It was the perfect read for a summer day.

I absolutely love mermaids, and when I find a good mermaid book, it simply makes my day. I absolutely loved the plot. It really kept you guessing. I loved the world Friedman created with Selkie Island. On page 1, you're cast right into Miranda's world and it really gave the story a sense of mystery. Selkie Island seemed like a place I really would love, I wish it were real.

I really liked some of the characters, and some of the others just bugged me. Some of them just fell flat. Miranda's mom didn't really seem real as a character. Any emotions she gave off felt really fake to me. Leo was my favorite character of the book. He was just a great character overall with many layers. I really liked Miranda. She was smart and had a really fun voice. I loved all her science facts.

Leo and Miranda's relationship was adorable, but I felt it was lacking some substance. It just felt a bit rushed and it got so intense so fast. I would've liked to see a bit more getting to the high point in their relationship, to make it seem real.

This is the perfect summer read. Sea Change has its flaws, but makes up for them with its fun, cute plot. This is a book I would definately suggest, especially for a lazy day at the beach.

Blog Tour: Wayfarer by RJ Anderson

Wayfarer
RJ Anderson
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: June 22, 2010
Pages: 304

Rating: 5 stars

The faeries of the Oak are dying, and it’s up to a lone faery named Linden to find a way to restore their magic. Linden travels bravely into dangerous new territory, where she enlists the help of an unlikely friend—a human named Timothy. Soon they discover something much worse than the Oakenfolk’s loss of magic: a potent evil that threatens the fate of all faeries. In a fevered, desperate chase across the country, Timothy and Linden risk their lives to seek an ancient power before it’s too late to save everyone they love.
R. J. Anderson has artfully crafted a world of stunning magic, thrilling adventure, and delicate beauty, where a girl far from home must defeat the pervasive evil befalling her beloved faery realm.

I really enjoyed Spell Hunter, but I absolutely loved Wayfarer. Wayfarer just drew you in. It wasn't until about a third of the way into the book that I become completely hooked and read straight through. I carried it with me everywhere, hoping I could sneak in some more reading.

I simply loved all the characters in Wayfarer. I loved hearing from some of the characters from Spell Hunter, as well as meeting many new ones. My favorite new character of the book was Rob. You never could quite figure him out, and I just loved him.

The plot was another thing that just had me swooning. I absolutely love fairies, and RJ Anderson's way of telling fairy tales just has me in awe. I loved the plot line she had with Wayfarer.

I absolutely loved this book! It has a stunning cover and its pages are filled with wonderful characters, great plot, and stellar writing. Here's to desperately hoping there is the book 3.

See the other tour participants:
Whispers of Dawn, The Hungry Readers, My Own Little Corner of the World, KidzBookBuzz.com, Reading is My Superpower, Book Crumbs, Becky’s Book Reviews, Fireside Musings, A Christian Worldview of Fiction, Homeschool Book Buzz, Homespun Light, Book Review Maniac

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

Only the Good Spy Young
Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Release Date: June 29, 2010
Pages: 240

Rating: 5 stars

When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn’t know was that the serious, real-life danger would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when she faced off against an ancient terrorist organization dead set on kidnapping her.

Now the danger follows her everywhere and even Cammie “The Chameleon” can’t hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most-trusted allies is actually a rogue double-agent Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers—or even her own heart.

In this fourth installment of the New York Times best-selling series, the Gallagher Girls must hack, spy, steal, and lie their way to the truth as they go searching for answers, recognizing that the key to Cammie’s future may lie deep in the past....

Oh my gosh, I loved this book so much. I flew through it in several hours. It was brilliant and amazing. The best Gallagher Girl book yet, and that's saying something because I absolutely LOVE every single book in the series.

Questions, oh the questions that are answered in Only the Good Spy Young! Ally Carter ties up so many strings, yet leaves about a zillion more questions you want answers to in their place.

We meet old characters and new characters too. I just love Liz. She's one of my favorite characters. She's the little Southern girl who's totally smart. There's this one new character, I absolutely hated him from the first page he appeared on. I thought he was a pompous idiot.

I'm pretty sure my family thought I was crazy while I was reading Only the Good Spy Young. One minute I'd be screaming, NOOOO! another I'd be like OMG OMG, others I be cheering. Carter had you making guesses about this, then you'd be going in another direction, so you'd assume it meant that, then you'd be completely wrong! I got so into Only the Good Spy Young! I think that was part of what made me love it so much. While I got into the other books, I don't recall getting into them as much as I did for Only the Good Spy Young. In fact, I don't ever recall getting into many books this much. Ally Carter's writing is absolutely fantastic. It just draws you in. With page 1, I was hooked. I had tons of homework to be doing, but instead I told myself I'd read just 50 pages. Two and a half hours later I had finished the book. I simply couldn't put it down.

My tip to you, follow your heart when your reading or you might die (quite literally!) Only the Good Spy Young was absolutely amazing. It's a book I would say GO BUY THIS INSTANCE. The ending was brilliant. One of the best endings ever. And now I really need Gallagher Girls 5, is it next year yet?

**I also feel this is my favorite cover of the series yet. I just absolutely love it.

In My Mailbox (52)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.



Review:
Other by Karen Kincy

An awesome Sea (by Heidi R Kling) Postcard

Won:
After the Kiss by Terra Elan McVoy
Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Bought:
Unleashed by Kristopher Reisz
Uninvited by Justine Musk
A New Dawn by Ellen Hopkins
Secrets of the Dragon Riders by James A Owen
Through the Wardrobe by Herbie Brennan
The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures by John and Caitlin Matthews
Sorting Hat Kit

Waiting On Wednesday (55) - Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

Secondhand Charm
Julie Berry
Release Date: October 12, 2010

In a secluded village, magic sparkles on the edges of the forest. There, a young girl named Evie possesses unusually strong powers as a healer. A gypsy's charms—no more than trinkets when worn by others—are remarkably potent when Evie ties them around her neck. Her talents, and charms, have not escaped the notice of the shy stonemason's son. But Evie wants more than a quiet village and the boy next-door. When the prince's carriage arrives one day, and his footman has fallen ill, Evie might just get her chance after all . . .

I have basically decided that I need this book NOW. It sounds absolutely amazing and it sounds exactly like my kind of read!

SHOW CHOIR CAMP!

Today I'm off to show choir camp! In case you don't know, show choir is basically my favorite thing ever! So for the next week, while there will be posts scheduled, I won't actually be here so I won't really be answering emails or commenting.

In My Mailbox (51)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.



Review:
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Nomansland by Lesley Hauge

Won:
Not Like You by Deborah Davis
Heavenly by Jennifer Laurens

From Catie
Aries Rising by Bonnie Hearn Hill
Taurus Eyes by Bonnie Hearn Hill

Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills
Artichoke's Heart by Suzanne Supplee
Mates Dates Simply Fabulous by Cathy Hopkins
Staying Dead by Laura Anne Gilman

What did you guys get this week?

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour Giveaway Winner!

The winner is...

LIZ (Consumed by Books!)

Congrats! Please email me your mailing address!

Majix Trailer!

Have you guys seen the awesome new trailer for Majix by Douglas Rees from Harlequin Teen? The trailer has me way excited for Majix, I absolutely LOVE witch books and the trailer makes it look that much more awesome.

Waiting On Wednesday (54) Girl, Stolen by April Henry

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

Girl, Stolen
April Henry
Release Date: September 28, 2010

Sixteen year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of a car while her mom fills her prescription at the pharmacy. Before Cheyenne realizes what's happening, their car is being stolen--with her inside! Griffin hadn’t meant to kidnap Cheyenne, all he needed to do was steal a car for the others. But once Griffin's dad finds out that Cheyenne’s father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes—now there’s a reason to keep her. What Griffin doesn’t know is that Cheyenne is not only sick with pneumonia, she is blind. How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare, and if she does, at what price?

I really like the sound of this one! I can't wait for it!

In My Mailbox (50)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.



Review:
Touch by Francine Prose
Girl Parts by John M. Cusick
Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness
On the Blue Comet by Rosemary Wells
Swords: An Artist's Devotion by Ben Boos
Fantasy: An Artist's Realm by Ben Boos

Random Buzzers:
Sphinx's Princess by Esther Freisner

Bought:
Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter by RJ Anderson
Fire by Kristin Cashore

What'd you guys get this week?

Winter's Passage by Julie Kagawa

Winter's Passage
Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Pages: 67 (ebook)

Rating: 4.5 stars

Meghan Chase used to be an ordinary girl...until she discovered that she is really a faery princess. After escaping from the clutches of the deadly Iron fey, Meghan must follow through on her promise to return to the equally dangerous Winter Court with her forbidden love, Prince Ash. But first, Meghan has one request: that they visit Puck--Meghan's best friend and servant of her father, King Oberon--who was gravely injured defending Meghan from the Iron Fey.

Yet Meghan and Ash's detour does not go unnoticed. They have caught the attention of an ancient, powerful hunter--a foe that even Ash may not be able to defeat....

Winter's Passage was a great addition to Kagawa's Iron Fey series. It definately will hold over fans until book 2, The Iron Daughter's release. I also personally felt it had a satisfactory amount of Ash to hold me over ;) Then again, one can never have too much Ash. Winter's Passage was action packed, and really intrigued me. It starts right where The Iron King left off, and I just loved the story. It also is full of a few surprises. Honestly, what more do you need? Winter's Passage had Ash, some of the awesome characters from The Iron King, action, more Ash... I will now resume my anxious awaiting of book 2, The Iron Daughter! I can't wait to hear more of the story, I am in love with this series (and Ash!)

The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells

The Summer of Skinny Dipping
Amanda Howells
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Pages: 324

Rating: 4 stars

"Sometimes I still wake up shivering in the early hours of the morning, drowning in dreams of being out there in the ocean that summer, of looking up at the moon and feeling as invisible and free as a fish. But I'm jumping ahead, and to tell the story right I have to go back to the very beginning. To a place called Indigo Beach. To a boy with pale skin that glowed against the dark waves. To the start of something neither of us could have predicted, and which would mark us forever, making everything that came after and before seem like it belonged to another life.
My name is Mia Gordon: I was sixteen years old, and I remember everything...."

After getting dumped by her boyfriend, Mia is looking forward to spending a relaxing summer in the Hamptons with her glamorous cousins. But when she arrives she find her cousins distant, moody, and caught up with a fast crowd. Mia finds herself lonelier than ever, until she meets her next-door-neighbor, Simon Ross. And from the very first time he encourages her to go skinny dipping, she's caught in a current impossible to resist.

Timeless in feel, The Summer of Skinny-Dipping is a poignant, literary coming-of-age romance that will live on long after summer has ended.

The Summer of Skinny Dipping was a surprising treat. I had thought I would like it a lot, but I was not expecting to love it as much as I did. It's a book with a story that just keeps surprising you with great characters and a sweet romance.

The book is split up into three "sections", for each phase of the book. I'll admit, I wasn't feeling the first section. I liked the story, but it wasn't amazing or anything. Then we got to the second section, and the story just ehanced and completely drew me in. After that, there was no putting it down. I also was expecting The Summer of Skinny Dipping to be a lighter, fun read. While it is fun and most of it is light, there's a lot more plot development and issues going on that I had thought there would be. Along those lines, the ending is a complete shocker! What happened had never even crossed my mind as a consideration.

Each character in The Summer of Skinny Dipping is very well rounded and has many layers. As the story moves on, you really peel away the layers and see the characters for who they truly are. The more I saw of the characters, the more I loved them. There were a few characters I'll admit at first I wasn't too crazy of, but by the end there wasn't a single character I didn't like.

I would whole heartedly suggest this great book. I wasn't feeling the love the first section of the book, but what comes next is absolutely brilliant. I would definately suggest getting a copy! This is a perfect summer read.

Happy Release Day Heidi R Kling!

We love Sea SO much that we made a VIDEO about it!



Sea by Heidi R Kling is out TODAY. People could be buying it AS WE SPEAK.

Sea
www.heidirkling.com

Official trailer here

People in the video, in order of apearance:
Khy: http://www.freneticreader.com/
Me:http://www.thebookcellarx.com
Sarah: http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/
Zoe: http://www.zoesbookreviews.com/
Mitali: http://www.thealleyofbooks.com/
Vania: http://www.vlcphoto.net/
http://reveriemedia.blogspot.com/
Sarah Ockler (AUTHOR OF TWENTY BOY SUMMER): http://sarahockler.com/

Waiting On Wednesday (53) - Indigo Blues by Danielle Joseph

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

Indigo Blues
Danielle Joseph
July 1st, 2010

Even though you tossed me away, I'm here to stay.
Oh, Indigo, how could you let me go . . .

-from "Indigo Blues" written by Adam Spade, performed by Blank Stare

Indigo:

I never asked to be famous—or infamous. Such is my fate for briefly dating (and dumping) Adam Spade. Yes, the Adam from the indie rock band who wrote "Indigo Blues"—the song that gave the band overnight success, propelled them to New York City, and stole my precious anonymity. Now I'm pawed by fans, stalked by reporters, and pegged as a vicious heartbreaker. And Adam is still calling me. Doesn't he have better things to do?

Adam:

With a hit single and a promising career, I should be on top of the world. People on the street are beginning to recognize me, which is cool. And scary. The band is counting on me to write another hit, but I can't stop thinking about Indigo. Why won't she answer the phone?

Summer Splash Giveaway!

Now that school's finishing up for most people and the weather has started really warm up, SUMMER IS HERE! And what better way to celebrate than a summery giveaway?


The first prize winner will get:

A HARDCOVER of Sea by Heidi R Kling

A Snazzy Sea Tank Top (In either turquoise or a peachy color in the winners size)

3 books from the list of summery reads

A second prize winner will get:

2 books from the list of summery reads

A third prize winner will get:

1 book from the list of summery reads

(I may add more winners and books.... we shall see)

How to enter?
+1 Tell me the book your most looking forward to this summer (and a way to contact you) REQUIRED
+1 New Follower
+3 Old Followers (Before 6/8)
+1 Link to this contest (up to 3) (If you tweet, include me @thebookcellarx)
+5 Blog Post about this contest

US Only. Ends June 26th

THE LIST:
The Luxe by Anna Godberson (PB)
Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti (ARC)
Girlfriend Material by Melissa Kantor (ARC)
Little Miss Red by Robin Palmer (ARC)
Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker (PB)
Private by Kate Brian (PB)
Bratfest at Tiffany's by Lisi Harrison (PB)
Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott (PB)
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles (PB)
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen (PB)
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen (PB)

Book Trailering It Up! Heavenly & Penitence

Look! Aren't these 2 trailers for Jennifer Laurens books fantastic? I still have to read both of these but they look awesome. I've read 2 of her other books and one is one of my favorite books!

Heavenly:


Penitence:


Aren't they awesome?!!? What are your guys' thoughts? Has anyone read Heavenly or Penitence yet? Share your thoughts below :)

Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

Harmonic Feedback
Tara Kelly
Publisher: Henry Holt
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Pages: 278

Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads: Sixteen-year-old music and sound design obsessed Drea doesn't have friends. She has, as she's often reminded, issues. Drea's mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have settled on "a touch of Asperger's."

Having just moved to the latest in a string of new towns, Drea meets two other outsiders. And Naomi and Justin seem to actually like Drea. The three of them form a trip-hop band after an impromptu jam session. Justin swiftly challenges not only Drea's preference for Poe over Black Lab but also her perceived inability to connect with another person. Justin, against all odds, may even like like Drea.

It's obvious that Drea can't hide behind her sound equipment anymore. But just when she's found not one but two true friends, can she stand to lose one of them?

This book was pure magic. Tara Kelley delivered a simply stunning debut. I honestly don't know what words to describe this book. This review has been waiting to written for weeks, yet every time I go to write my review, the words I have don't seem to do it justice.

Music is a huge part of my own life, and I loved reading a book that music was so central to the plot. It was just wonderful! Tara Kelly's writing was wonderful. This was a very memorable book.

I love the characters. Every one of them was very well writte and seemed so down to earth and real. Tara Kelly did an awesome job with her characters in the fact that none of them were sterotypical and cliche. Every character was very memorable in their own ways. Each had a past that really helped you identify with them. I loved how Drea didn't just let her mental illness rule her life.

This is definately a book you will not want to miss. Tara Kelly wasted no words in Harmonic Feedback, and every page draws you in. Tara Kelly is definately an author to watch; I personally cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

In My Mailbox (49)

In My Mailbox was started by Kristi over at The Story Siren! In My Mailbox is a way to share the books you received each week.

Review:
13 To Life by Shannon Delany

Book Fairy:

*The contents of this had me freaking out! I was SO happy!!!*
Dash and Lily's book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Fallen by Lauren Kate
The Madman of Venic by Sophie Masson
The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
The Candidates by Inara Scott
This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Boom! by Mark Haddon
Sorta Like a Rockstar by Matthew Quick
The Dreamer by Pam Munoz Ryan and Peter Sis
Lost Souls Burning Sky by Mel Odom
The Enemy by Charlie Higson
Museum of Thieves by Lian Tanner
Death in the Air by Shane Peacock
Dark Water by Laura McNeal
I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend: A Secret Diary by Cora Harrison
The Fool's Girl by Celia Rees
Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
Teenage Waistland by Lynn Biederman & Lisa Pazer
The Dragons of Noor by Janey Lee Carey
The Cardturner by Louis Sachar
The Invisible Order by Paul Crilley



Bought:
Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols
The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride
Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly
The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy - I FINALLY got a finished copy of this one. I absolutely loved it, but kept forgetting to buy it.
Oh. My Gods. by Tera Lynn Childs

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen
That Summer by Sarah Dessen
This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen
Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen
Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen
I already have some of her books, but I didn't remember which, but for the price I got them I just picked them all up!
Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel
White is for Magic by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Playing With the Boys by Liz Ligelaar

My Darkling Hacks The Book Cellar + Help Needed

Hello book (blog) lover!

Lauren Mechling, author of the Dream Girl books, here. I have hijacked Erica's blog in order to convey some Very Important Information.

You might not know it by looks alone (no pink hair, no metal bar through my septum), but I've become a total hacker worthy of her own "Dragon Tattoo" installment. And I'm not just talking about how I've cracked the code and broken onto The Book Cellar. My new book MY DARKLYNG, which I co-wrote with Laura Moser (my hilarious co-author on the "10th Grade Social Climber" books), is a YA thriller chockablock with multimedia awesomeness that will be appearing in serialized form on the awesome website Slate.com. The first installment runs today, and there will be more excitement every Friday for the rest of the summer. Also: it's free!




Slate is calling MY DARKLYNG its "juicy summer read for vampire lovers (and haters!)." It's about a normal 10th grade girl named Natalie Pollock whose own fiction addiction gets her into major trouble. She's been reading Fiona St. Claire's yummy "Dark Shadows" book series since middle school and when she sees a post on Fiona's blog about an open casting call for the model for the next book's cover, well, she can't resist. What she had thought was just a random field trip turns into a dark and terrible new-best-friendship, scarier and more thrilling than any of Fiona St. Claire's vampire novels.

MY DARKLYNG is different from anything you've ever read before--it's a first-of-its-kind story told in simultaneous platforms. Huh? you ask. Okay, so here's the deal: While you are perfectly free to follow the MY DARKLYNG chapters on Slate and leave it at that, we have been milking the magic world of the Internet for all its worth. Why limit a story to mere words? What about pictures and videos and weird Tweets and scary Facebook wall posts that bring texture to the story and bring the characters to life? With that in mind, we found real (and really awesome) teenagers to play our characters. Here's a picture:




Pretty, right? Expect to get to know these faces really well over the course of this book.

Without further ado, this is the Slate page that will host the chapters.

Here is Natalie's Facebook page--well worth "liking" so you can follow when weird things start happening on it.

Natalie's Twitter page is here.
Fiona's (the vampire writer) Twitter page is here.
Natalie's best friend Jenna tweets here.
James (the vampire model) tweets here.
And Fiona's loving sister Tilly uses this Twitter page.

Natalie and Jenna post Youtube videos here. Here's a sample video that shows them getting ready for the audition that will change their lives.




Now YOU can help make our great experiment in Internet fiction even more amazing. There is an upcoming scene that has a missing detail. We need to come up with a funny title for a YA book that's about vampires and field hockey. Again, we are desperately seeking A TITLE FOR A YA BOOK ABOUT VAMPIRES AND FIELD HOCKEY. Please write in your suggestions in the comments section. The winner will be chosen in a week and featured in MY DARKLYNG--if your answer is selected, it'll be like the story is actually winking at you from the screen.

I know this is all a bit much to wrap your head around. Sorry for any confusion--just read the first installment and take it from there. Please please post comments or send us emails telling us how you're finding the series. We can be reached by my website.

And if you find yourself feeling afraid, don't say I didn't warn you!

your humble hacker,
Lauren Mechling

She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott

She's So Dead to Us
Kieran Scott
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Pages: 288

Rating: 5 stars

When having money is all that matters, what happens when you lose it all?

Perfect, picturesque Orchard Hill. It was the last thing Ally Ryan saw in the rear-view mirror as her mother drove them out of town and away from the shame of the scandal her father caused when his hedge fund went south and practically bankrupted all their friends -- friends that liked having trust funds and new cars, and that didn't like constant reminders that they had been swindled. So it was adios, Orchard Hill. Thanks for nothing.

Now, two years later, Ally's mother has landed a job back at the site of their downfall. So instead of Ally's new low-key, happy life, it'll be back into the snake pit with the likes of Shannen Moore and Hammond Ross.

But then there's Jake Graydon. Handsome, wealthy, bored Jake Graydon. He moved to town after Ally left and knows nothing of her scandal, but does know that he likes her. And she likes him. So off into the sunset they can go, right? Too bad Jake's friends have a problem with his new crush since it would make Ally happy. And if anyone deserves to be unhappy, it's Ally Ryan.

Ally was hoping to have left all the drama in the past, but some things just can't be forgotten. Isn't there more to life than money?

Kieran Scott is one of those authors that has made her way onto my auto-buy list. When she has a book coming out, I will automatically buy it, because all of her books are that good. She's So Dead to Us was no exception. It was a great read that I found impossible to put down!

She's So Dead to Us is written in alternating points of view, which I absolutely loved. Books that do that are my absolute favorite. One point of view was from Ally's POV and the other was from Jake's. I loved how real Jake's POV felt. The story line was great, and I think the alternating POVs just made it that much better.

I loved the characters, especially Ally. I loved how strong Ally was. People said things about her, but she just brushed it off. She signs up for the old club she used to do, despite her status as a Norm. She was confident and I really liked that. Jake was a character I really liked too. He didn't just go with the flow all the time, plus he was pretty swoonworthy. Annie was such a fun character, she was one of my favorites.

To show the changing of each month, there were little IM chats for each month. I loved these. They were just simple 1 page IM chats about the gossip going around about Ally or something about Jake. I do wish Kieran Scott had given us the names of the people who had be IMing. I just thought these added to the story.

This is another stellar read by the wonderful Kieran Scott. You do not want to miss this one! It's a book that you will be glued to, from page 1. It's a remarkable start to what I imagine will be an amazing trilogy.

Waiting On Wednesday (52) - Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Waiting on Wednesday is a topic brought to life by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. With Waiting On Wednesday you get to introduce to everyone upcoming books you're excited about!

Paranormalcy
Kiersten White
Release Date: September 21, 2010

Sixteen-year-old Evie's job is bagging and tagging paranormals. Possessing the strange ability to see through their glamours, she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. But when someone--or something--starts taking out the vamps, werewolves, and other odd beasties she's worked hard to help become productive members of society, she's got to figure it out before they all disappear and the world becomes utterly normal.

Normal is so overrated.

Doesn't this one sound super fab? I have been excited about it since the day I heard of Paranormalcy! It sounds stellar and just all around awesome!

Sea by Heidi R Kling (T2T Tour)

Sea
Heidi R Kling
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Release Date: June 10th, 2010
Pages: 336

Rating: 5 stars

Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother’s disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen-year old California girl Sienna Jones reluctantly travels with her psychiatrist father’s volunteer team to six-months post-tsunami Indonesia where she meets the scarred and soulful orphaned boy, Deni, who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.

She knows they can’t be together, so why can’t she stay away from him? And what about her old best friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why won’t her dad tell her the truth about her mother’s plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to finding answers.

And Sea’s real adventure begins.

Heidi R Kling has written a breath-taking debut with Sea! Readers are plunged head first into a heartbreaking story of loss, hope, and new experiences. Sea is a book that speaks to everyone, but everyone can take something a little different away.

Sea is a touching story that helps a person connect with themselves. It is a book to make you think, and think deep. You look at the situation these characters are in, and it makes you look at the world around you in an entirely different way.

The characters were wonderfully written. I fell in love with Elli - I wanted to pull her off the page and just give her a hug. She was a little ball of sunshine even after all the horrors she had been through. Sienna was a wonderful main character. She was compassionate, and had drive - she had experienced horrors in her past and wanted to help others work through their horrors. She fit no cliches and was her own person. One of my favorite things about Sea was there were so many characters you may have only heard from once or twice, and they stuck with you throughout the entire book. And with all the characters, it almost seemed like you could hear their voices in your head.

When I first read this description of Sea and heard there was this relationship between Deni and Sienna I was excited. As I read, I found out Sienna would be in India only 2 weeks, and for a moment I remember thinking, "Oh no! Will that connection be real? I mean, can something that awesome believably build in that short of a time?" I was worried for a minute that that connection they had would fall flat, and not live up to my expectations, but Heidi R Kling left no room for doubts or anything with the strong connection Sea and Deni had. It was so intense and beautiful, you were simply drawn to it. Their relationship was so involved, and blew you away.

As you read, you get this feel of Indonesian culture. You saw the characters' struggles, and that presence of culture just intensified the reality of them. I also loved the setting - it was unique. I had never read a story in this setting, and everything was new. That made Sea a hundred times better, as you didn't just feel like you were along side the main character discovering this new world to them. In Sea you literally were along side Sienna discovering Indonesia and its culture.

When you are reading Sea, you would by no means guess that it is a debut novel. The story leaps off the page and speaks to you. It's a journey of the heart and emotions. Once I started reading, I had troubles putting it down. Sea is a book for all types of people, it is one you don't want to miss.