Swoon Thursday (13) : When The Stars Go Blue

It's that time again! Trish and I created a HOT meme over at YA Bound, and if you're new to the game, here's how to join in the fun:

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, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog! We want to know :-)

This week I decided to pick up one of my favorite books to reread, one by an author who does not get enough buzz: Caridad Ferrer.

I have read every single one of her books, and I love them all. That girl knows how to bring authenticity and realness, steaminess and heart. The one I chose to highlight here is a fresh take on the Carmen story, and it sizzles with Miami heat.

First, the appropriate Twitter quote:

One hand holding mine, the other warm on the bare skin of my back . . . close enough to be dangerous-- When the Stars Go Blue SWOON #YABound

And here's another paragraph from the same page that I just couldn't cut enough to use, but had to show . . . it's a bit long, but sooo worth the read:

And with every turn, I moved in even closer; with each beat, my body swayed more seductively, learning the contours of his body, inviting him to learn mine. Realizing with the tiny part of my brain that was still operational that one of his hands was splayed across the middle of my back, the other tangled in my hair, the tips of his fingers brushing my neck while both of my arms rested on his shoulders. Pull away, that tiny part whispered, but I couldn't. Not as long as I could feel the subtle bunch and shift of muscle beneath cotton warmed by his body's heat--could keep playing my fingertips through the ends of his hair. So soft, enticing my fingers to explore more, to shape themselves to the curve of his skull as his head lowered, his eyes closing, thick, ink-dark eyelashes spiky just above broad, high cheekbones. My own eyes closed, feeling the heat of his skin, closer . . .

Don't even try to tell me that didn't make you want to get all Dancing With the Stars over there!

 

OKAY, NOW IT'S YOUR TURN: In 140 characters . . . um, or a bit more if you're like me LOL, SWOON me!

Flirting With Fiction Bloggy Roundup 1/6/2012

Hey y'all!

Okay, so I'm supposed to have a post for you about goal setting and starting off 2012 on the "write foot," but things have been a little hectic the past few days :-) In all the fun hoopla, and meeting new friends, time kinda got away from me. OOPS!

But never fear, in lieu of my brilliant, sure-to-be inspiring ramblings, I have a link-a-palooza! I've gathered some of my favorite writing-related posts from the blogosphere this week, and put them below. I've also done a roundup of YA teasers, sneak peeks, giveaways, events, and more over at YA BOUND, so be sure to head on over there, too.

Edit to Rent: SWITCHING TENSES -- How to incorporate sensory experiences effectively. AWESOME!

I LOVE Adventures in YA & Children's Publishing. From the moment I decided I wanted to write YA, they have been a go-to source for info. Often, they create lists that just plain out ROCK, and this one is no different: A WRITER'S PRE-FLIGHT CHECKLIST: FORTY QUESTIONS TO TEST YOUR MANUSCRIPT

Another "go-to" source for me is Janice Hardy's The Other Side of the Story blog. Not only does she have kick butt articles, but she often hosts guest authors who are filled with ooey gooey helpful facts. This week she hosted Shawntelle Madison, who's post A NEW YEAR: A NEW START TO WRITE, gives four tips on how to start 2012 off right.

And like I said, Janice's posts are made of awesome. She's a genius with her writing posts. Take this one, filled with info and tips inspired by a movie we've probably all seen. I MEANT TO DO THAT: THREE THINGS DIE HARD CAN TEACH US ABOUT SEAMLESS PLOTTING.  

This next post went around in my Entangled author loop, and we all freaking loved it. Warning: even the extended title has some cuss words, so fragile eyes may want to avoid. 25 THINGS WRITERS SHOULD STOP DOING

And here's what you may have missed here:

My YA debut, MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY, was finally announced in PM, and I'm having a celebratory giveaway! Be sure to check out THIS post to read the announcement and find out how you can be one of two winners for either an Amazon Gift Card or your choice of book: Cynthia Hand's HALLOWED, or a signed copy of Mary Lindsey's SHATTERED SOULS!

On Tuesday, I hopped over to YA Bound for a Spotlight and Miniview with author Cara Lockwood on her newest release, A TALE OF TWO PROMS

Monday brought the awesomesauce cover reveal for pub house sister Jus Accardo's TOXIC

This Thursday's SWOON post was all about Aiden from Jennifer L. Armentrout's HOT HALF-BLOOD

Last Friday, I told you (with the help of some bestselling author friends) how to SURVIVE THE HOLIDAYS WITH YOUR WORK IN PROGRESS--AND SANITY--INTACT

And finally, this week on my TUMBLR page, I made readers squee and sigh over a bowl of adorable pupplies, hotness incarnate Ryan Gossling, a little girl rocking some arm wrestling, motivational quote-age, Kyra Knightly rocking period wear, and not to be undone, today you'll find a very, very, very odd picture of a winter dude.

So, there you have it. My favorite bloggy finds of the week. Again, be sure to head over to YA BOUND for my roundup of fun giveaways, spotlights, reveals, teasers, events, and sneak peeks!

Your Turn: What were YOUR favorite posts this week? Anything I should add?

Swoon Thursday (12): Half-Blood

It's that time again! Trish and I created a HOT meme over at YA Bound, and if you're new to the game, here's how to join in the fun:

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell me 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, post it here in the comments, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog! 

We want to know :-)

Here's mine: 

I have been reading all kinds of swoony books lately, so I almost chose another one this week, knowing probably everyone else on this great big planet of ours has already read (and swooned to) Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout. But then I figured, what the hey. There's a shot some of you may not have read it yet--in which case, you must--and for those of you who have, you can remember and swoon again =) First, the appropriate Twitter quote:

Hot tingles spread through me as his lips moved against my ear. "You should tell me to stop." I didn't say a word.-Half-Blood SWOON #YABound

And now, the longer, steamier, extended version:  

Hot tingles spread through me as his lips moved against my ear. "You should tell me to stop." I didn't say a word. Aiden made a deep sound in his throat. His hand slid up my back, leaving a trail of fire in its wake, and his lips moved across my cheek, stopping to hover above mine. I forgot how to breathe, and most importantly, how to think.  He moved, ever so slightly, and his lips brushed across mine once, and then twice. It was such a soft, beautiful kiss, but when the kiss deepened, it wasn't a shy one. This was one of dangerously pent-up need, a desire that'd been denied far too long.

*Fans self*

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN: In 140 characters . . . um, or a bit more if you're like me LOL, SWOON me!

My OFFICIAL Announcement & Celebration Giveaway!

I've known for a while that my debut YA novel MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY was being published . . . even though it still doesn't feel real. And though I got permission to announce it a few months ago, Publisher's Marketplace hadn't announced it yet, so it didn't seem *really* "official."

Well, it still doesn't feel real, but as of yesterday, it has been announced! Last night my agent sent this lovely present to my inbox:

Rachel Harris's MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY, pitched as MTV's Super Sweet Sixteen meets Ever After, about a teen who's reluctant in having her sweet sixteen broadcasted live from coast to coast in some extravagant bash on MTV and with a little gypsy magic winds up traveling back in time to Renaissance Italy, to Stacy Cantor Abrams at Entangled, in a two book deal, for publication in June 2012, by Lauren Hammond at ADA Management Group.

EEP!!

Happy Dances Commenced! And, obviously, a celebration is in order! I need to spread the love and what better way than a giveaway? But just one winner isn't gonna be good enough. Instead, let's have TWO =)

-- One winner will receive a $20 Gift Card to Amazon for a book of their choice (open Internationally). 

-- The second winner can choose between Cynthia Hand's Hallowed OR a signed copy of Mary Lindsey's Shattered Souls.

Book of these books ROCK! My Review of the ARC of Hallowed will be posted shortly, and Mary's book hit shelves last month and is doing freaking AMAZING. She also happens to lead my local writing group, and is made of pure awesome. 

So, contest ends in two weeks. Leave your email in the comments, and check for more ways to enter below. Good Luck!

(The rafflecopter entries have since been removed due to a glitch it was causing with my feed but good luck to the winners!)

Spotlight on A Tale of Two Proms by Cara Lockwood

A TALE OF TWO PROMS

It was the best of prom, it was the worst of prom.

Miranda Tate returns for her senior year at Bard Academy and she is counting on two things: Prom with her boyfriend, Heathcliff, and then graduation from the haunted boarding school where fictional characters come to life. Fate, however, has other plans.

When Catherine Earnshaw, Heathcliff's long-lost love, appears on campus, suddenly everything she thought she knew about Heathcliff is changed forever. Catherine seems determined to win Heathcliff back, even if that means destroying Bard Academy and banishing its ghostly teachers - for good.

Miranda and her friends face their most daunting challenge, yet, which will take them for the first time inside the classics that have powered their mysterious boarding school. It's up to them to save Bard Academy - and prom. Can Miranda change her destiny and Heathcliff's? Or is this one story that was written in the stars?

Join me over at YABound,where I'll be every Tuesday, for my Spotlight Review on this awesome book and Random Miniview with the author, Cara Lockwood!