Book Connection with Ella Martin: Guitar Notes

Books and music are similar art forms in that they can transport you back in time to when you first read a passage or heard a song, and they can mean different things to different people. Like other art forms, they can touch your heart and make you think, but I’ve yet to find another medium that can strip my soul bare after countless readings or listens. Even movies lose their luster for me after the second (or sometimes fourth) viewing. And now that I shuttle my son to and from music lesson every week, I have a whole new appreciation for musicians and the music they write.

Mary Amato’s GUITAR NOTES is a story about two very different kids on different paths who find a connection through music. Lyla is a cellist and a straight-A student destined to follow in her late mother’s footsteps. Tripp is so grief-stricken over his father’s death that the only thing that matters to him is playing his guitar. Early in the book, they are assigned times to share a practice room: Lyla gets to practice on even days, and Tripp gets to play guitar on odd days. What begins as petty correspondence over trash becomes something much deeper. It turns out Lyla’s life is full of static, and Tripp isn’t the unintelligent loner he appears to be.

I love books in which we see a relationship progress. There’s no instalove—or even instalust—in this book. What we do get is a girl who rediscovers her love of music by playing guitar and a boy who learns to open up and care about more than himself. The two of them develop a strong bond that could lead to romance, though it’s never explicitly stated, and by the end of the book, there’s a strong sense of how much these kids need each other. (There’s a hint tension between them underneath their strong friendship. You can’t help but root for them to get together.)

GUITAR NOTES is about doing what makes you happy, about finding that thing that makes your heart thrum and pursuing it. With Tripp’s help, Lyla found something she loves; in Lyla, Tripp found someone who understands him and his music. And though the story felt a little rushed at the end, the conclusion was satisfying and left me feeling hopeful.

“Maybe it explains the reason why one person likes another. It's because their souls both thrum at the same frequency.” ~ Mary Amato from Guitar Notes

Ella Martin

Bio: Ella Martin is an award-winning young adult author and self-described “prep school survivor” from Southern California. With a keen sense for combining relatable teen characters with engrossing stories, her books blend aspects of romance, angst, and intrigue. Her Westgate Prep series of books tackles female friendships, quirky characters, and sensitive topics with equal tact.

Social media links:
Website: http://www.ella-martin.com
Tumblr: http://westgateprep.tumblr.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorEllaMartin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/westgateprep
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westgateprep/

I Love Him, I Love Him Not blurb: Talia Nicoletti’s life has been turned upside down–and that’s probably an understatement. Her mother goes off on a business trip… and comes back married! Her estranged father wants to be less estranged. And her best friend Jake DeSantos suddenly has a new confidante who Talia doesn’t want to like but kind of does anyway.

Talia has to unravel her tangled up emotions to figure out what she really wants. Does she want to accept her father back in her life? Can she trust her new-stepfather? There’s too much hitting Talia at once, and she’s not ready to deal with any of it. The one person she can always turn to is Jake, and he’s being secretive and isn’t exactly available. And that hurts her more than she thought possible.

Talia hates that she’s jealous of the new girl in Jake’s life, especially since she can’t decide if she loves him … or if she loves him not.

Goodreads Contests for Ella's Books:

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/173340-i-love-him-i-love-him-not 

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/173339-will-the-real-prince-charming-please-stand-up

Buy links for I Love Him, I Love Him Not:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Love-Him-Westgate-Prep-Book-ebook/dp/B015X8QM2S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1443515729&sr=1-1
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-love-him-i-love-him-not-ella-martin/1122726640?ean=2940150866867
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/i-love-him-i-love-him-not
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/581268
Indiebound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781621354529

Check out the rest of the Tour:

o   February 8: Read. Sleep. Repeat. - Getting Over Garrett Delaney

o   February 9: Cuddlebuggery - Better Off Friends

o   February 10: Ageless Pages Review - The Stepsister's Tale

o   February 11: YA Book Nerd - Guitar Notes

o   February 12: On Starships & Dragonwings - These Broken Stars

o   February 13: Read Love Write – Reaper

o   February 14: The YA Club – Rebel Mechanics

 Giveaway:  One copy of Guitar Notes available for giveaway to readers in the U.S


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Author Interview: Jen Calonita and Giveaway

photo source: http://www.teenwritersbloc.com/2011/02/28/author-interview-jen-calonita-finds-theres-place-home/

I've been a huge fan of Jen Calonita's forever! I finally got the change to meet her last year! And I'm thrilled to have her on the blog talking about her new middle grade book VIP:I'm with the Band (and if you missed my post yesterday, check out what I think of the book! Spoiler: It's fantastic)

Do you have a favorite Boy Band? Have you ever met them?

My favorite boy band of all time is New Kids on the Block. Like Mac, I wrote to the band and asked them to a school dance. Joey McIntyre's mom wrote me back and I still have the postcard! I did eventually meet Joey when I was an entertainment editor at a teen magazine, but I never told him about my crush or the fact that I still had mail from his mother. All I could think when I saw him was: I slept on a pillow with your face on it for YEARS.

They were HUGE in late Elementary school. I was a fan too. 

Then:

Photo credit: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20174022,00.html

Now:

Photo credit: http://concerts.eventful.com/New-Kids-On-The-Block

Why do you think boy bands are so popular?

I know for me, I just love great pop music. And when you combine an awesome pop song with great vocals and a cute group of boys singing them, the combo can't be beat. They are the ultimate crush.

Would you rather be in a band or tour with the band?

Tour with the band for sure! Then I'd get to hang out with them and have none of the pressure of performing or dealing with the media! 

Will there be more VIP books?

Yes! The sequel to I'M WITH THE BAND is called BATTLE OF THE BANDS and it pits Mac and Perfect Storm up against a new pop duo called Thunder and Lightening. The two groups do not get along and poor Mac gets thrown in the middle! BATTLE OF THE BANDS comes out in July 2016.

I'm so glad there will be more books!

What are you working on now?

I'm working on the third book in the Fairy Tale Reform School series, which will be called TRICKED. Rumplestiltskin is a big thorn in Gilly's side in this book and he's so much fun to write about! 

Sounds fun!

Anything I didn't ask?

My favorite color? It's green. If I have a dog? The answer is yes and his name is Captain Jack Sparrow. He's the feistiest Chihuahua in the world! :)

Doesn't this book sound great? Well you're in luck! Jen Calonita will gift one to a lucky reader (SIGNED)
(sorry - US only!)

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Blog Tour: The Veil

Seven years ago, the Veil that separates us from what lies beyond was torn apart, and New Orleans was engulfed in a supernatural war. Now, those with paranormal powers have been confined in a walled community that humans call the District. Those who live there call it Devil’s Isle.

Claire Connolly is a good girl with a dangerous secret: she’s a Sensitive, a human endowed with magic that seeped through the Veil. Claire knows that revealing her skills would mean being confined to Devil’s Isle. Unfortunately, hiding her power has left her untrained and unfocused…

Liam Quinn knows from experience that magic makes monsters of the weak, and he has no time for a Sensitive with no control of her own strength. But when he sees Claire using her powers to save a human under attack — in full view of the French Quarter — Liam decides to bring her to Devil’s Isle and the teacher she needs—even though getting her out of his way isn’t the same as keeping her out of his head.

As more and more Sensitives fall prey to their magic, and unleash their hunger on the city, Claire and Liam must work together to save New Orleans, or else the city will burn…

Good to Know:

About this series: There will be at least three books in the series
Tips on Writing: Getting published requires a great story AND execution. Your writing needs to be polished–and practice definitely helps. So does editing. Lots and lots of editing.
Favorite Series: I love Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series, Rachel Caine’s Weather Warden series, Kim Harrison’s Hollows series, and J.D. Robb’s In Death series
Chloe's Reading List: This year's books

Check out the Trailer:


Sounds good right? Then check out the giveaways:

The fun doesn’t stop here. Want more chances to win? You can also enter THE VEIL Grand Prize Giveaway, which runs July 27 through August 7 on Chloe’s web site.

What is the Grand Prize Giveaway prize?

Fleur de Lis Amulet Pendant Necklace from New Orleans jewelry designer Mignon Faget

$50 Amazon Gift Card

THE VEIL 5″x5″ cloth screenwipe

THE VEIL tote bag

THE VEIL bookmark, sticker, and pen

Chicagoland Vampires bookmark, sticker, pen, keychain, and lanyard

Mini Giveaway from This Blog: 

The packet will include:

• THE VEIL tote bag
• THE VEIL 5″x5″ cloth screenwipe
• THE VEIL bookmark, sticker, and pen
• SWAG items

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Percy Pack: What Percy Means to Me and a Special Contest

Can you believe it's been 10 years since Book 1 in The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan was published. Time flies.

I'm happy to be part of the Percy pack because of my history with the books. What does this mean? Well for the next six months, you'll occasionally see posts on Percy Jackson filled with news, re-reviews, and a cool giveaway.

I read and reviewed The Lightning Thief for a website that no longer exists. And I loved it! I remember getting a note in the mail and this shirt as thanks for reviewing. I had no idea how much I would come to cherish both. 

Shirt signed by Rick for me later

Remember that this was the original cover?

Meeting Rick

In 2009, I had the chance to finally meet Rick Riordan at a librarian event.

He was entertaining, enlightening, and charming. You check out some highlights of his presentation 
39 Clues just came out and he was willing to post for a read poster, which I created and hung in the library for years.

At the Library, we hosted a Mythology Bee program thanks to Disney-Hyperion for educational packet. The tweens at the library had a blast. We also used the Lightning Thief to launch our very successful 4th and 5th grade book club. 

Did You Know?

10^TH ANNIVERSARY ACTIVITY KIT

Available starting June 12^th, visit ReadRiordan.com to download a special 10th anniversary Percy Pack Activity Kit

SUMMER SPECIAL DEAL: JUNE 15 – JUNE 22

The perfect moment to get your friends hooked on the series you love! Or if you're like me, the perfect time for a re-read. On June 15^th, The Lightning Thief will be discounted to $.99 across all eBook accounts for one full week (6/15-6/22). It also includes a sneak peek chapter excerpt from Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book One: The Sword of Summer.

GIVEAWAY: You can win

Celebrate the 10^th Anniversary with a giveaway for your followers.

One (1) winner receives the complete Percy Jackson and the Olympians box set!

Open to US addresses only. Prizing provided by Disney-Hyperion.

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Breaking Sky: Trailer Reveal

About the Book:

Fly to the last drop of fuel. Fight to the last drop of blood.

Showoff. Reckless. Maverick. Chase Harcourt, call sign “Nyx”, isn’t one to play it safe. In the year 2048, America is locked in a cold war – and the country’s best hope is the elite teen fighter pilots of the United Star Academy. Chase is one of only two daredevil pilots chosen to fly an experimental “Streaker” jet. But few know the pain and loneliness of her past. All anyone cares about is that Chase aces the upcoming Streaker trials, proving the prototype jet can knock the enemy out of the sky.

But as the world tilts toward war, Chase cracks open a military secret. There’s a third Streaker, whose young hotshot pilot, Tristan, can match her on the ground and in the clouds. And Chase doesn’t play well with others. But to save her country, she may just have to put her life in the hands of the competition.

Book Details:

Sourcebooks Fire

March 2015 ● ISBN: 9781492601418

Hardcover/$16.99 ● Ages 14+

About the Author: CORI MCCARTHY studied poetry and screenwriting before falling in love with writing for teens at Vermont College of Fine Arts. From a military family, Cori was born on Guam and lived a little bit of everywhere before she landed in Michigan. Learn more about her books at CoriMcCarthy.com.

Check out the Trailer:

Feeling Lucky?
Enter to Win a Copy: 
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Rogue Wave Contest

ROGUE WAVE

Book 2 in The Waterfire Saga

by Jennifer Donnelly

In stores January 6^th

ABOUT ROGUE WAVE
In this exciting sequel to DEEP BLUE, the mermaids are on an exceedingly important and dangerous quest. Their journey is testing their skills and their friendships, forcing them to grow and take on new challenges, and will alter their lives forever.

Serafina, Neela, Ling, Ava, Becca, and Astrid, six mermaids from realms scattered throughout the seas and freshwaters, were summoned by the leader of the river witches to learn an incredible truth: the mermaids are direct descendants of the Six Who Ruled–powerful mages who once governed the lost empire of Atlantis. The ancient evil that destroyed Atlantis is stirring again, and only the mermaids can defeat it. To do so, they need to find magical talismans that belonged to the Six.

Serafina believes her talisman was buried with an old shipwreck. While researching its location, she is almost discovered by a death rider patrol led by someone familiar. . . . The pain of seeing him turned traitor is devastating.

Neela travels to Matali to warn her parents of the grave threat facing their world.  But they find her story outlandish; a sign that she needs to be confined to her chamber for rest and recovery. She escapes and travels to Kandina, where her talisman is in the possession of fearsome razormouth dragons.

As they hunt for their talismans, both Serafina and Neela find reserves of courage and cunning they didn't know they possessed. They face down danger and death, only to endure a game-changing betrayal, as shocking as a rogue wave.

MISSED THE FIRST BOOK?
ABOUT DEEP BLUE
Click Here for  my review

Deep in the ocean, in a world not so different from our own, live the merpeople. Their communities are spread throughout the oceans, seas, and freshwaters all over the globe.

When Serafina, a mermaid of the Mediterranean Sea, awakens on the morning of her betrothal, her biggest worry should be winning the love of handsome Prince Mahdi. And yet Sera finds herself haunted by strange dreams that foretell the return of an ancient evil. Her dark premonitions are confirmed when an assassin’s arrow poisons Sera's mother. Now, Serafina must embark on a quest to find the assassin’s master and prevent a war between the Mer nations.

Led only by her shadowy dreams, Sera searches for five other mermaid heroines who are scattered across the six seas. Together, they will form an unbreakable bond of sisterhood and uncover a conspiracy that threatens their world’s very existence.

TAKE THE “WHICH MERMAID ARE YOU?” QUIZ

http://www.bighonchomedia.com/assets/Disney/WhichMermaid.jpg

PRE-ORDER ROGUE WAVE 
Amazon
BN

BAM

Indiebound

Indigo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Donnelly is an award-winning author of both adult and young adult books, including Deep Blue, the first book in the Waterfire Saga. For adults she has written a trilogy of best-selling books that includes The Tea Rose, The Winter Rose, and The Wild Rose. Her first young adult novel, A Northern Light, received many accolades, among them the Los Angeles TimesBook Prize, a Carnegie Medal in the UK, and a Michael L. Printz Honor. Her second young adult novel, Revolution, was named a Best Book of 2010 by Kirkus Reviews and School Library Journal, and the audiobook received a 2011 American Library Association Odyssey Honor. She lives in New York's Hudson Valley.

LEARN MORE

Visit the Official Website for The Waterfire Saga

Visit the author online at www.jenniferdonnelly.com  

CONTEST:

Catch up on DEEP BLUE and prepare for your holiday parties with the Principessa colors!

Winner receives:

·         A copy of Deep Blue;

·         and custom Deep Blue and Rogue Wave nail polishes.

Prizing and samples courtesy of Disney-Hyperion

Giveaway open to US addresses only

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Blog Tour: Double Vision: The Alias Men

I'm happy to be hosting a spot on the blog tour, I've read and loved the first two books in the Double Vision trilogy and super excited to see how it all turns out. FT Bradley's here to answer some questions about being a spy!

1 Would you like to be a spy? Do you think you'd be good at it?

I’d be a terrible spy… I’m almost six feet tall with red hair—everyone sees me coming from a mile away. No covert gigs for me. Also, I’m a bit of a chicken, so dangerous spy missions are not something I think I’d be good at. I’m more like Linc’s gadget guy Henry in the Double Vision books: I’d rather be safe.

But I love writing about the whole secrecy surrounding spies, and there’s a wealth of story material. If you look at history, there have been spies going back to Egyptian times. It’s fascinating stuff. Spies are cool.

I do love the idea of spies, but I'm not sure I could be one either.

2 Could you break a code if you needed to?

Uhhh, only with a decoding book of some kind, like Linc has in the first book, Double Vision. I had to learn about codes and ciphers for all three Double Vision books—and the code at the end of the third book, Double Vision: The Alias Men is a real whopper. If anyone reads the book and figures it out before Linc does, send me an email! I’d love to know.

3 If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

That’s a tough one—there are so many places I’d still like to visit. Italy is at the top of my list, though. Lots of places to visit, and excellent food. I’m big on food, so a lot of places on my wish list involve dinner…

 Do you have a favorite spy from history?

Famous chef Julia Child has to be at the top of my list. Who would’ve ever expected her to be a spy?

Something I find fascinating is that throughout history, it was often female spies who were most effective in their missions, because people just didn’t expect them to have their own agenda. I love digging into history for story material like that.

Yes, I love reading about female spies and what they did differently. 

What are you working on now that the final book in the Double Trilogy is over?

I’m working on a middle-grade mystery that’s a lot of fun, but it’s still in the early writing stages. I’ll keep you posted on the latest…

Oh good! 

About Fleur:

F.T. (Fleur) Bradley is the author of the Double Vision trilogy (Harper Children’s), a series of fun spy mysteries for middle-grade readers that School Library Journal calls "a must-read for mystery fans, including reluctant readers." She lives in Colorado with her husband, two daughters and entirely too many cats. For more information on F.T. and her books, visit www.ftbradley.com.

FOLLOW THE BLOG TOUR:

The Alias Men Blog Tour:

Oct. 6-10: The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow features Double Vision: The Alias Men with a review, author interview, plus a GIVEAWAY..!

Oct. 13: Linc hangs out at the great Erik’s blog, This Kid Reviews Books. Linc talks about spy techniques he picked up on his Pandora missions. And there’s another GIVEAWAY…
Oct 13: Middle Grade Mafia interviews F.T. Bradley about writing a trilogy.

Oct. 14: Double Vision: The Alias Men is released! Have a virtual party at the YA Sleuth blog…! And follow F.T. on Twitter @FTBradleyAuthor for more kid spy fun.

Oct. 16: F.T. Bradley gives you Five Ways to Bring MG into The Classroom at the Unleashing Readers blog, plus a GIVEAWAY.

Oct. 17: Linc is interviewed by Lizzy, Fairday and Marcus over at The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow blog. A fun post!

Oct. 20: The fabulous Ms. Yingling reviews Double Vision: The Alias Men on her blog for Marvelous MG Monday…

Oct. 21: Another favorite blog, YA Book Nerd, hosts F.T. Bradley and the Double Vision trilogy, plus a GIVEAWAY

Oct. 21: F.T. Bradley hangs out at Sleuths, Spies and Alibis…

Oct. 24: F.T. Bradley gives tips for parents of reluctant readers, Seven Ways to Get Your Kid to Read, at Pragmatic Mom’s blog, plus a GIVEAWAY!

Oct. 25: At the Nerdy Book Club, find F.T. Bradley’s top 10 books for reluctant readers...

Giveaway: If you want to read these books (trust me, you do!), here's your chance. We're giving away the entire trilogy! in Hardcover! and Signed!

 US only please

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Giveaway: In the Afterlight

              

 IN THE AFTERLIGHT by Alexandra Bracken

In stores October 28^th  

BOOKS in the SERIES

Book 1: The Darkest Minds

eBook Novella 1.5: In  Time

Book 2: Never Fade

eBook Novella 2.5: Sparks Rise

Book 3: In the Afterlight

 

ABOUT SPARKS RISE (The Darkest Minds: 2.5 e-Book release)

Available online September 2, 2014

This New eBook Novella connects the last two novels in The Darkest Minds trilogy.

Sam didn't think things could get worse at Thurmand rehabilitation camp. Then the Reds arrive. Everyone assumed the kids with firepower had been killed years ago. Instead they were taken away, brainwashed, and returned as terrifyingly effective guards. To her horror, Sam recognizes one of them: Lucas, the one spark of light in Sam's dark childhood. 

Lucas has a deadly secret--he beat the brutal training that turned his fellow Reds into mindless drones. When Sam defends herself against an attack by a vile PSF guard and faces a harrowing punishment, Lucas must risk his everything to save her.

ABOUT IN THE AFTERLIGHT 
Ruby can't look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the government's attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. Only Ruby can keep their highly dangerous prisoner in check. But with Clancy Gray, there's no guarantee you're fully in control, and everything comes with a price.

When the Children's League disbands, Ruby rises up as a leader and forms an unlikely allegiance with Liam's brother, Cole, who has a volatile secret of his own. There are still thousands of other Psi kids suffering in government "rehabilitation camps" all over the country. Freeing them--revealing the governments unspeakable abuses in the process--is the mission Ruby has claimed since her own escape from Thurmond, the worst camp in the country.

But not everyone is supportive of the plan Ruby and Cole craft to free the camps. As tensions rise, competing ideals threaten the mission to uncover the cause of IANN, the disease that killed most of America's children and left Ruby and others with powers the government will kill to keep contained. With the fate of a generation in their hands, there is no room for error. One wrong move could be the spark that sets the world on fire.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexandra Bracken was born and raised in Arizona, but moved east to study at the College of William & Mary in Virginia.  She recently relocated to New York City, where she worked in publishing and lives in a charming apartment overflowing with books. 

LEARN MORE

Visit Alexandra online at www.alexandrabracken.com

Follow Alexandra on Twitter & Instagram

Like Alexandra on Facebook

Follow Alexandra on Tumblr

Visit Hyperion Teens at the Official Site & on Twitter

PSI GROUPS

All 5 PSI groups have their own prize packages. I'm representing the RED PYROKINESIS group. Take a look at some of your other favorite book bloggers for more prize packages (more than 50 blogs are participating this month and next month)

 
 PRIZE PACK

RED PSI PRIZE PACK (PYROKINESIS)

Set the world on fire! Enter for your chance to win a custom Darkest Minds candle and The Darkest Minds series and tote bag.

Prizing and samples courtesy of Disney-Hyperion

Giveaway open to US addresses only

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