The Epic Giving Thanks Scavenger Hunt - The Author I Am Most Thankful For

When the incomparable Megan from Book Brats came up with the idea for a scavenger hunt based upon the books and authors that we are most thankful for, I was very excited to participate.  I knew just who I wanted to write about and I simply couldn't pass up an opportunity to spread the word about a truly wonderful book.

Last year when I started my blogging career here at Starting the Next Chapter, I read some really great books.  However, one particular book stands out even now due to the impact it had upon me as I read it.  Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys kept me up all night reading and, even though I went through much tissue while doing so, I felt in awe upon finishing.  Little did I know that I would meet the woman behind the book mere months after reading it.

I first met Ruta at the Nashville stop of the Ash2Nash tour in August 2011.  Upon striking up a conversation, it was revealed that we didn't live too far from each other.  We had a lovely conversation and I walked away from it even more impressed than I already had been.

Ash2Nash in Nashville, August 2011

Being a Nashville area blogger, I would meet Ruta again at numerous other events and, eventually, strike up an on-going email correspondence with her.  Then, I was approached by a blogger whom I now count amongst my dearest friends, Hannah.  She, too, had been impacted by Between Shades of Gray and wanted to do something special to get the word out.  It started with a blog tour in celebration of the paperback release this past April.  From there, my friendship with Hannah grew and before we knew it, plans for a fan site were in the works.  I am now one of the admins for RutaFans along with Hannah and am happy to be so.  The more people that know about this book, the better.

The RutaFans Lunch, July 2012

Ruta has come to mean so much to both Hannah and myself for an entirely different reason.  When she asked both Hannah and I if we were writers and found out that we are, she made it a point to encourage us to go for it and to not stop.  She also made sure that we attended the latest SCBWI Midsouth conference, something that I am now very grateful  to her for making happen.  I am so full of gratitude for everything she contributes to the writing world.

To Ruta, I must say thank you from the bottom of my heart.  You have been an inspiration, a great influence, and a valued confidant.  My writing and my life is all the better from having met you.  Here's to the continued success of Between Shades of Gray, as well as success for your next work, Out of the Easy.  You already know how much I loved it and I look forward to sharing it with everyone.

In honor of Ruta and the book that started it all, I will be giving away a paperback copy of Between Shades of Gray.  All you have to do is collect the scavenger hunt words from this and all other participating blogs for a chance to win.  Good luck, and to the future winner of Between Shades of Gray, I truly hope you enjoy!

Get In On the Scavenger Hunt!

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Continue With the Hunt!

Nov 12 - Book Brats
Nov 13 – Making The Grade
Nov 14 – Writing My Own Fairytale
Nov 15 – Book Addicts Guide
Nov 16 – Bumbles and Fairy-Tales
Nov 17 – Beauty and the Bookshelf AND JC Emery
Nov 18 – Dizneeee’s World of Books 
Nov 19 – Book Babes AND Gypsy Book Reviews
Nov 20 – Starting the Next Chapter
Nov 21 – I Love Books Club
Nov 22 – WRAP UP!
Nov 25 – Contest Ends, Twitter Party

Crewel Blog Tour - A Special Guest Post from Gennifer Albin

Welcome, readers!  Today's stop on the Crewel Blog Tour features a really fun guest post from the one and only Gennifer Albin.  For those who don't know, the Spinsters are seen as glamorous figures in Arras society.  As such, they are expected to appear flawless and dressed to the nines.  Gennifer has prepared a post to show you just how much of a role fashion plays in Crewel.  It's a lot of fun, so I hope you all will enjoy it as much as I did.

Fashion is key element in Crewel for two reasons. First, it builds the atmosphere of Arras, and second, it’s a lot of fun to write. When I decided to call my girls Spinsters (after a lot of deliberation, see why on my stop at Emily's Reading Room), I wanted to upend expectations, and what better way to do that then to turn them into femme fatales. The girls of Arras are power and dangerous, even if they don’t quite realize it, so I outfitted them like the screen sirens of Old Hollywood.

Spinster Style by gennifer-albin featuring stiletto high heels

Their hair and cosmetics reflected a similar, classic aesthetic.

Cosmetics of Arras by gennifer-albin featuring a wedding nail polish

The male population of Arras has a similar sense of style. This is an outfit you might see Erik, or Jost on his best behavior, wearing on a typical day: a pinstripe suit, polished cufflinks, and a fedora. Who could resist that?

Crewel men by gennifer-albin on Polyvore

About the Author

Gennifer Albin holds a Masters degree in English Literature from the University of Missouri. During her student years she served as an editor for Pleaides and The Missouri Review, and since then she’s founded the tremendously popular blog theconnectedmom.com.  She lives in Kansas with her ridiculously supportive husband, two small children, and a Tuesday cat.

About the Book

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

Add It to Goodreads


The Giveaway

One lucky US/Canadian reader will win a copy of Crewel and a Crewel bracelet!  Good luck!

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See More Stops on the Tour

Monday 10/15                   http://www.lushbudgetproduction.com/

Tuesday 10/16                   http://birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com/

Wednesday 10/17           http://hobbitsies.net/

Thursday 10/18                 http://cuddlebuggery.com/

Friday 10/19                       http://www.startingthenextchapter.com/

Saturday 10/20                  http://www.bookswithbite.net/

Sunday 10/21                     http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/

Monday 10/22                   http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/

Tuesday 10/23                   http://bookalicious.org/

Wednesday 10/24           http://www.emilysreadingroom.com/

Thursday 10/25                 http://bewitchedbookworms.com/

Friday 10/26                       http://christinareadsya.blogspot.com/

Saturday 10/27                  http://www.twochicksonbooks.com/

Sunday 10/28                     http://www.ibbookblogging.com/

Promised Blog Tour - An Interview w/ Caragh M. O'Brien & a Giveaway!

Today I am very excited to be taking part in the blog tour for the third book in what has become one of my favorite series.  When I first read Birthmarked, I was taken so by storm that I scarcely left the sofa.  I was so enamored, in fact, that I immediately started reading Prized and stayed up all night just to finish it.  Now we've come to the third book and I couldn't be more thrilled to dive back into the world that so captivated my attention for that 24 hour span of time.  Promised is the culmination of Gaia's story which, if you've been following along, has been a harrowing one.  I hope you enjoy this interview with the series' author, Caragh M. O'Brien and if you haven't read it already, I sincerely hope you give this series a try.  It is well worth the time it takes to read it.

Marla: Hi, Caragh, and welcome to Starting the Next Chapter.  I'm a huge fan of your books, so it's so great to have you here today!

My first question to you is this: What are 3 things your fans don't know about you that you think they should?

Caragh: Ha! Let me first say thanks, Marla, for having me by. It’s great to be here on Starting the Next Chapter, and I’ve enjoyed pondering your questions, especially the quirky ones!

1. It’s odd for me to think I have fans at all, so right there, that’s probably something people don’t know about me. If they did, they’d realize I’m completely grateful when they start up a conversation with me so I don’t have to stand in a corner looking awkward.

2. I wish readers knew that I always try to write back to people who contact me, but sometimes my replies are returned to me as delivery failures, which makes me sad.

3. People probably don’t know that hamburgers give me hiccups. I doubt that anyone particularly cares about this, but if we’re ever scarfing burgers together and I start jerking, that’s probably why and you shouldn’t worry.   

Marla: Is Gaia based on anyone in particular, or is she a creation straight from your own mind?

Caragh: Gaia’s not based on anyone specific, but she’s certainly inspired by my kids and by my students. I’ve known some incredibly brave, insightful, funny, gutsy teens, and if Gaia captures only a fraction of how wonderful they are, I’m happy.

Marla: What is your favorite writing spot?

Caragh: My couch.  I’m curled up right now with my feet tucked under me and a blanket between my lap and my laptop. I have a pillow under my elbow and Grooveshark playing a Sheryl Crow song.  Our power was out earlier today, so I worked at Starbucks for a while, and I write in the library sometimes, too, for a change of pace. But here is nicest.   

Marla: What are 3 of your most-loved books that you think your fans should read?

Caragh: I think people should read whatever books they want to, so I’m reluctant to say anyone should read what pleases me.  I’ll gladly tell you a few of my favorites, though. I recently read Trish Doller’s Something Like Normal and liked Travis immensely because of his voice. The first page sucked me in. I really liked Steven Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower and I’m curious to see how it flies as a movie. Neal Shusterman’s Unwind is absolutely great.   

Marla: Out of all of your books, what is the most memorable scene you have written? (If any answer you make would require you to reveal a huge spoiler, definitely feel free to leave this one out.)

Caragh: The one that pops to mind is definitely a spoiler, and so are the next ones that come to mind, too, so I can’t go into details.  It’s curious for me to think about this, though, because the scenes that resonate with me ought to be the ones that hit closest to home for me, personally, right?  There’s also the practical consideration of how I threw out all the scenes that didn’t matter, so I’m left only with ones that are memorable to me.  But actually, the  most memorable scenes for me are all moments of discovery or loss for Gaia. They’re the turning points, and they’re painful or beautiful in some way that gets me here (I jab my chest).   

Marla: I always try to throw in a fun or oddball question, so here goes: Taking all of their problems into account, which place would you rather live: The Enclave or Sylum?

Caragh: Marla, that’s a terrible question.  I know because there’s this tiny, secret, selfish plink inside me that wanted to go to Sylum when I read this, just for a little while. It’s so beautiful there, and I like how the men treat the women so respectfully, but I would soon grow to hate the injustice and the dead-endedness.  So I have to pick the Enclave, abusive as it is.  I’d have to go where I could have hope of a future for my children and me. 

Thank you so much, Marla, for having me by! This was great to have such interesting questions, and I’m so glad you’ve been part of my blog tour!  

Marla: Thanks, Caragh!  It has been a pleasure to participate in your blog tour and to work with you.  Congratulations on the release of Promised!

About Caragh

Since earning a master’s in writing at Johns Hopkins University, Caragh O’Brien has been a high school teacher, a published author of romance novels, and now a novelist for teens. Her first young adult novel, Birthmarked, was a Junior Library Guild selection and an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, and was nominated for the YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults list as well as the 2010 Amelia Bloomer list.

Find Caragh on: Her Site / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads


About Promised

Out today! Click to add to GR!

After defying the ruthless Enclave, surviving the wasteland, and upending the rigid matriarchy of Sylum, Gaia Stone now faces her biggest challenge ever.  She must lead the people of Sylum back to the Enclave and persuade the Protectorat to grant them refuge from the wasteland.  In Gaia's absence, the Enclave has grown more cruel, more desperate to experiment on mothers from outside the wall, and now the stakes of cooperating or rebelling have never been higher.  Is Gaia ready, as a leader, to sacrifice what--or whom--she loves most?

Check Out the Rest of the Tour

Monday 9/24                     http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com/

Tuesday 9/25                     http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/

Wednesday 9/26              http://www.lushbudgetproduction.com/

Friday 9/28                          http://www.twochicksonbooks.com/

Saturday 9/29                    http://www.thebookmonsters.com/

Monday 10/1                     http://www.areadersadventure.com/

Tuesday 10/2                     http://www.startingthenextchapter.com/

Wednesday 10/3              http://birthofanewwitch.wordpress.com/

Thursday 10/4                   http://theninjalibrarian.blogspot.com/

Friday 10/5                          http://www.ibbookblogging.com/

The Giveaway (US/Canada Only)

One (1) lucky reader will win all 3 books in the Birthmarked series!

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Pre-publication Book Spotlight - When the Stars Throw Down Their Spears

In case you didn't know it, I really, really enjoy The Goblin Wars series by Kersten Hamilton.  I really liked the first book, Tyger Tyger, and absolutely loved the second, In the Forests of the Night, so when I got an email showing off the cover for the third installment, When the Stars Throw Down Their Spears, I was beyond excited and am more than ready to get my hands on it.  Just take a look-see at the cover and description!

“People will die.”

Locked doors are opening, and uncanny creatures are tumbling through mysterious portals from Mag Mell, the world-between-worlds, into the streets of Chicago. The Dark Man has marked Aiden with a new song that’s scared him badly, and a frightening new group of sídhe is lurking nearby.

Teagan knows this is war, and she must protect her family. She leaves her flesh and bones behind to join Finn in hunting the evil beings across the city. Meanwhile, their relationship is heating up—almost faster than they can control. But he is still bound to fight goblins his entire life . . . and by blood she is one of them now.

Then the gateway to Mag Mell cracks open again, and the Wylltsons find themselves caught in a trap. As her loved ones begin to die, Teagan realizes that she must destroy the Dark Man and his minions once and for all in order to save those who remain . . .

. . . before it is too late.

Don't forget to add When the Stars Throw Down Their Spears to your Goodreads TBR lists.  In the meantime, I'm going to share the awesomeness with a giveaway!  I'm going to give away 1 copy of Tyger Tyger (or In the Forests of the Night if you already have it) to 1 lucky US reader.  You know the drill.  Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below and good luck to you all!

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Authors Are Rockstars Tour - Julie Kagawa

I'm late, I'm late, to a very important date!  After 3 days of a malfunctioning internet signal, I am here to tell you all about why Julie Kagawa is a rockstar.  Last year right after I started this blog, I began trying different YA books after a long absence.  I was looking for something different that would kick-start my imagination and keep me well entertained.  One of the very first books I tried was The Iron King and, needless to say, I was a goner.  I finished the first book late at night and immediately went right out to buy the next 2.  The Iron Fey had stolen me away (I promise, I'll refrain from spouting some W.B. Yeats right now a la "The Stolen Child") and there was no turning back.  I had the pleasure of meeting Julie last August at the Ash2Nash author tour, where I was tracked down in the store after tweeting that I had spotted her.  That was such an unforgettable moment, and having the chance to hear about the writing of the series in the author's words was great.  I also found that we have a few things in common, which is an awesome thing to discover about a favored author.  She continues to be amongst my top 5 favorite YA authors and shares a spot at the top of the list.

As a part of today's festivities, the awesomely funny Meghan, Ash, Puck, and Grimalkin dropped by to talk about why Julie is a rockstar, what she has them up to these days, and more.  I hope you enjoy reading the interview as much as I did conducting it!

Marla: Hey, guys, gal, and cat. Welcome to Starting the Next Chapter! It's great having you here.

First off, as you already know, this is the Authors Are Rockstars Tour, so tell me, what makes Julie a rockstar in your eyes?

Meghan: Well, I know that she loves her fans and she loves what she does; that's kind of rockstar-ish, right?

Ash: I'm afraid I don't know enough about rockstars to properly answer this question.

Puck: She has freaky hair.

Grimalkin: *Yawn*

Marla: Meghan, how is life in the Iron realm treating you these days? What's it like being queen?

Meghan: Busy. Lots of responsibilities, being the Iron Queen, especially when dealing with the other courts. But, I love it. I finally feel this is where I'm supposed to be, what I'm meant to be doing. And, of course, Ash is with me, too. That's the best part.

Marla: Ash, how are you finding the Iron realm? What have you been up to?

Ash: I'm rather enjoying it, actually. It's a lot different than Tir Na Nog, and its queen is much easier to get along with. Usually. *Dodges wad of paper hurled by Meghan* As for what I've been doing, I usually work with Glitch in training the guards, keep up with the castle's security defenses, and serve as a personal bodyguard to The Iron Queen.

Puck: Yeah, I bet you guard that body well, ice-boy.  

Ash: Shut up, Puck.

Marla: So, Puck. Have you been on any good capers lately? Have you been behaving yourself? (I know, I know, we probably ALL know the answer to that already. *wink* )

Puck: What? Moi? Capers? Look at this face, how could you suggest such a thing? I am the picture of innocence and childlike virtue.

Ash: Right. And Titania's bedchamber erupted with frogs by itself.

Meghan: And the Summerpods crawled into the wine at last Elysium on their own.

Ash: And Ororobos the dragon went on a rampage through the wyldwood because he misplaced his entire hoard himself.

Puck: What can I say? Life is strange sometimes.

Marla: Grimalkin, my next question is for you. Be honest: do you miss going on adventures with these three? I'll bet life is pretty quiet now.

Grim: Hummmm, what was that, human? I was taking a nap. Miss these three? Miss the chaos, the noise, the constant bailing them out of trouble? What do you think? *Goes back to sleep*

Marla: Meghan, what do you think of your little brother being featured in his own series?

Meghan: I don't know if I like it, honestly. I know how dangerous this world is, and all I wanted for Ethan was to have his own life, away from all the craziness. But, if Faery comes for him, at least I'll be there to help him through it.

Marla: I know all of you must be busy, so I have one last question for all of you.
If you were to write a book, what would it be called and what would it be
about?

Meghan: "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Nevernever." Self-
explanatory. Wished I had something like that when I first came here.

Ash: I don't do a lot of writing, but if I had to, I'd compose some sort
of hunting journal for all the creatures in the wyldwood; strengths,
weaknesses, how to kill them, something like that.

Puck: I'd write a story about four humans who get lost in the forest, a
jealous faery king, a love potion, a queen who falls in love with a donkey,
and a brilliant but charming prankster who gets caught up in all of it. And
I'd call it..."Robin Goodfellow's Day Out." Catchy, eh?

Thank you all so much for stopping by today. Safe travels to you on your way back to the Nevernever!

If you want to check out the other blogs and authors on the tour, you can find the entire list HERE.  Thank you so much for stopping by, and feel free to leave your own thoughts on why Julie Kagawa is a rockstar.  It will get you an entry to win one of her books (sorry, US & Canada only per the publisher's request)!

The Giveaway

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Seraphina Ambuzzador Giveaway!

I have some fun news to share.  I was selected as one of Random Buzzers' summer 2012 Ambuzzadors.  For the next few weeks, I will be spreading the word about Seraphina and Random Buzzers.  If you haven't heard of Random Buzzers, you're probably wondering what in the heck an Ambuzzador is.  I'm about to tell you.  Check out the following definitions to learn more.

Random Buzzers: A fun, interactive site from Random House where you can talk books, meet fellow book worms, meet authors, earn points, and use points to purchase books and swag.

Ambuzzador: A Random Buzzers member selected to promote a book from one of three genres.  The program is on a quarterly basis and is a way to spread the word about upcoming titles and Random Buzzers.

Now that you're caught up on that, you're probably wondering about the book I'm promoting.  I was selected for the Seraphina Ambuzzador team, so I get the chance to share this awesome book with you all!  Keep reading to find out more about Seraphina and why you should read it.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

July 10, 2012 from Random House Children's Books

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

In her exquisitely written fantasy debut, Rachel Hartman creates a rich, complex, and utterly original world. Seraphina's tortuous journey to self-acceptance is one readers will remember long after they've turned the final page.

 Read my review of Seraphina HERE

Want to join Random Buzzers?  I've included a referral link HERE.

I have more good news.  I was provided with not one, but TWO copies of Seraphina.  That means that one of my lucky readers will have the chance to win an ARC of Seraphina:

The Prize

I have to ship this one, myself, so this one is US only.  I'll let you get to it now.  You know the drill.  Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below!

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The Near Witch Online Blog Tour - A Review of The Ash-Born Boy & a Giveaway!

by Victoria Schwab
publisher: Disney-Hyperion
date of publication: May 15, 2012
format: pdf
pages: 61
source: free download (find it HERE)
read it in: an afternoon

From Goodreads:

Before he came to Near...
Before he met Lexi...
Before they faced the witch...
Who was the boy named Cole?

Follow us to Dale, a city on a hill, where in a matter of days fire will devour everything. Meet the Lord and Lady, and their son, the boy destined to inherit all...until everything turns to ash.

It's time to learn the truth behind the stranger's story.

At long last the answers to some of the most pressing questions about Cole have been answered!  In The Ash-Born Boy, the tragic truth to Cole's past is revealed, along with his true name.  In this 61 page whirlwind, Victoria Schwab has provided a glimpse into the ruthless, cruel world of court life, as well as its impact upon Cole.  Just how did Cole discover the true extent of his powers?  You'll find out the answer to that question and more right here.

When I first read The Near Witch last year, I was so very intrigued by Cole.  The air of mystery surrounding him was just as thick at the end of the book as it was when he was first introduced.  I despaired of ever finding out more about him until the day that Victoria posted about this story.  This deeper glimpse into Cole's past and his personality were very insightful and breathed even more life into him as a character.  Now that I've read The Ash-Born Boy, I really want to read The Near Witch all over again just so I can see what nuances I pick up. 


The setting for The Ash-Born Boy is the town of Dale, where we find the boy now known as Cole in a somewhat unexpected position.  The plot that is at work in this story is tragic, ominous, and anger-inducing as the atrocities that Cole faces comes to the forefront.  The characters surrounding him manage to evoke a wide arrange of emotions in amazingly high amounts considering the brevity of the story.  

Schwab does her work very well, and it shows in this story.  If she can draw me in this firmly with only 61 pages, imagine what she could do with an entire book about Cole.  At the very least, The Ash-Born Boy served as a reminder of everything I loved about The Near Witch.  It is well worth the time it takes to read it and you'll definitely want to pair it with a reading of The Near Witch as soon as you possibly can.

And now, it's time for a giveaway.  This one is open to ALL of my readers ages 13 and older.  That's right, folks, this is an international giveaway!  Thanks goes to Victoria for this truly awesome prize.  At this point, I'll bet you're wondering what the prize is.  Well, you will have the chance to win a copy of the new paperback release of The Near Witch, which contains an excerpt from Victoria's next book, The Archived.  But wait!  It gets even better.  This copy will be SIGNED, people!  I want to wish you all the best of luck with this one.  Now, enough of my yammering.  Hop to it!

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Giveaway - Belles by Jen Calonita

I was approached last week with a great opportunity for you, my lovely readers.  Jen Calonita's publicist has offered up a pretty sweet giveaway to be administered here on Starting the Next Chapter in celebration of Jen's tour (which starts tomorrow!).  Thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, you have the opportunity to win a finished copy of Belles (have you seen them yet?  so pretty!) and a special Belles lipgloss.

Fifteen-year-old Isabelle Scott loves her life by the boardwalk on the supposed wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. But when tragedy strikes, a social worker sends her to live with a long-lost uncle and his preppy privileged family. Isabelle is taken away from everything she's ever known, and, unfortunately, inserting her into the glamorous lifestyle of Emerald Cove doesn't go so well. Her cousin Mirabelle Monroe isn't thrilled to share her life with an outsider, and, in addition to dealing with all the rumors and backstabbing that lurk beneath their classmates' Southern charm, a secret is unfolding that will change both girls' lives forever.

Check out the Belles web page for more information & an excerpt!

 

Jen Calonita is a former magazine editor who has intereviewed everyone from Justin Timberlake to Reese Witherspoon. She lives in New York with her husband, Mike; sons Dylan and Tyler; and their Chihuahua, Captain Jack Sparrow, and daydreams about moving south. Jen is currently hard at work on her second book in the Belles series, Winter White, coming October 2012. She invites you to visit her online at www.jencalonitaonline.com.

Other books from Jen:

• Secrets of My Hollywood Life
• Reality Check
• Sleepaway Girls

Catch Jen on tour:

Wednesday, May 2nd at 6:00pm
The Booksellers at Laurelwood
387 Perkins Road Extended
Memphis, TN 38117

Saturday, May 5th at 2:00pm
Barnes & Noble – Mansell Crossings
7660 Northpoint Parkway
Alpharetta, GA 30022

Sunday, May 6th at 4:00pm
Little Shop of Stories
133A East Court Square
Decatur, GA 30030

Tuesday, May 8th at 6:30pm
Barnes & Noble – Cool Springs
1701 Mallory Lane
Brentwood, TN 37027

What You Can Win

1 finished copy of Belles

AND

1 Belles lipgloss

You know what to do next!  Click below to continue to the Rafflecopter widget.

Enter to Win a Kindle Touch!

The tournament is over and now it's time for the big prize.  Up for grabs is a Kindle Touch wearing a lovely Allegiance skin.  This giveaway runs for 5 days and can be entered via any of the blog tour host sites (we all have the same Rafflecopter form).  If you need a refresher, you can view my post HERE.  At the bottom of that post, you will also find links to the other tour participants' blogs.  There is also 5 more days to enter to win a copy of Allegiance in that post, so if you missed out before, now is your chance!

Here is the grand prize for this giveaway:



What are you waiting for?  Go enter!  Good luck!

Allegiance Tournament - Why Hytanica is the Place to Be

Greetings, dear readers.  I hope you are all ready for an extra special treat today.  It is my pleasure to take part in the blog tour for Cayla Kluver's Allegiance by telling you why Hytanica trumps Cokyri and deserves your vote.  I invite you all to sit down, view the evidence put forth by myself and all of the other tour participants, and come to your own conclusions.  If you choose, you will be in the running to win the amazingly awesome grand prize at the end of the tour!

 
So, What's So Great About Hytanica?

• What a view!  Hytanica: a vibrant city surrounded by lush forests and rolling countryside.  Whether you enjoy serene walks or horseback riding, Hytanica is the place for you.  How can you deny the beauty of such a place? 
• You won't go hungry!  Why on earth would you wish to live in a desert that doesn't easily support the growth of food crops when you can live in such an idyllic setting that is able to provide ample sustenance to its citizens?   Hytanica doesn't have to raid neighboring kingdoms for resources!
• Fashionistas welcome!  Hytanica is THE place to be if you enjoy things such as fashion.  You have to admit, there are some gorgeous dresses worn in both Legacy and Allegiance.   The guys do pretty well, too, judging by Steldor's wardrobe.
• Party on!  Parties and balls are in pretty regular occurrence at the palace and at various manors dotted throughout the countryside.  From tea parties to balls, Hytanica offers many opportunities to have fun and socialize.
• It's raining men!  Two words: eye candy!  Yes, ladies, there are some fine, strapping young men to be found in Hytanica.  The best part?  You don't have to worry about some evil overlord coming along to terrorize you at a given moment (unless, of course, he invades your city).  Just be prepared to keep them in line.  ;-)

Series Information

Book 1: Legacy (July 2011)
Book 2: Allegiance (March 2012)
Book 3: Sacrifice (November 2012)  

About Allegiance:
Goodreads / Amazon / B&N / IndieBound

AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD QUEEN IN LOVE WITH THE ENEMY AS THEIR COUNTRIES PASS THE POINT OF NO RETURN…

Bound to a man she cannot love, Queen Alera of Hytanica must forget Narian, the young man who holds her heart. For Narian is destined to conquer Hytanica at the behest of his master, the powerful magic-user known as the Overlord. Alera doesn’t truly believe Narian will fight against Hytanica—until Cokyrian troops attack with Narian commanding the charge.

Faced with the greatest betrayal a heart can know, Alera must set aside personal feelings and lead her kingdom through its darkest time. And when all hope, will and courage seem lost, she must find strength and remember that even the blackest night must have a dawn….

About Cayla Kluver

Cayla Kluver was born on October 2, 1992, in Wisconsin. She has cats, dogs and horses, and watches more crime shows than is probably healthy. Her office is filled with twinkly lights, candles and fun colors. She loves Robert Louis Stevenson and the Beatles, and you can follow her on Twitter @CaylaKL, as well as join her fan page on Facebook.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads 







Contest Info

Allegiance is on tour with daily giveaways of Allegiance and a Grand Prize giveaway of a Kindle Touch skinned in the sumptuous Allegiance cover art.

To win the Grand Prize of the Kindle Touch you will be able enter at the end of the Tour by guessing which Champion won The Tournament! Be sure to check out all the tour stops!

  

Monday, February 20th - YA Bibliophile
Wednesday, February 22nd - For Those About To Read
Friday,February 24th - Books With Bite

Monday, February 27th - Harlequin Blog
Tuesday, February 28th (Book Birthday!!) - Hippies Beauty & Books
Wednesday,February 29th - Starting The Next Chapter 
Friday,March 2nd - A Cupcake and A Latte

Monday,March 5th - Electrifying Reviews
Wednesday,March 7th - Kindle Fever
Friday,March 9th - Unabridged Andrea

Daily entries for the copy of Allegiance are managed through the Rafflecopter widget below.
Open US/Canada. See full contest rules here.