Debut Author Challenge 2012

This is my second year participating in this challenge.

Here are some of the books I'm looking forward to reading:

Born Wicked : great cover - I love stories about witches. Plus there's banned books, tea parties, and a forbidden romance.
Gathering Storm: great cover with glittering balls, raising the dead, and a the choice between two boys.
Queen of Glass: No cover yet on goodreads and not much description - but a key word of assassin
Ditched: I really like prom books and this one look very different
Spies and Prejudice: the combination of Veronica Mars and Jane Austen sounds awesome
Pretty Crooked: Modern day Robin Hood with romance
What She Left Behind: family drama, a missing mom, and a big mystery
Seeing Cinderella: Magic glasses change the way Callie looks at the world
Cross my Heart: The death of her sister forces Laura into a different life - where things aren't what they seem.
Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters: Looks awesome! Kelsey 's starting high school and she's determined to have a lucky year - however things don't go according to plan.
The Selection: America wins the chance to capture the Prince's heart - even though she has a secret boyfriend back home.
Reunited: Love the road trip idea with three girls who used to be best friend

2011 Debut Challenge: Wrap- Up

For the first time, I joined the debut author challenge.

Here are the books I've read from debut YA authors this year:

Faerie Ring
Liar Society
Bunheads
Hourglass
Goddess Test
Enclave
Divergent
Clarity
Paranormalcy
Vixen
Kat, Incorrigible
Die For Me

I might have read more and I know I didn't read all the ones I listed for the challenge. Still, participating in the challenge made me more aware of debut authors, which was great!

Review: Divergent

Beatrice lives in a world controlled by five fractions. At the age of sixteen, the entire class must take a test to determine their fraction. Beatrice's test is inconclusive - she's a Divergent. Beatrice can't tell anyone about her testing. Instead she goes home.

The next day, the ceremony takes place where the sixteen year-olds formally announce their fraction. Beatrice takes everyone by surprise when she chooses Dauntless (the fraction for bravery) instead of her own fraction of Abnegation (who values selflessness).

At first, Beatrice isn't sure what to expect. She doesn't expect learning how to shoot a gun, learning how to fight, fighting the other potential Dauntless initiatives, or learning how to face her fears.

While keeping her secret Tris (she renamed herself after choosing Dauntless), she learns that not everything is as it seems. As she sees more horror, she begins to question the Dauntless and other fractions. Is there something deeper happening in her world?

My Thoughts: The first book by Veronica Roth is a fast pace addicting read that pulls you in from the beginning and doesn't let go. It's a long but intense read. It's a perfect debut filled with the tension, action, danger, family disappointment, friendships, loyalty, rule breaking, and a little bit of romance. I'm already looking forward to what happens next, as it ends with you wanting more.

Cover Thoughts: I really like it, I love the flames and what they signify

Source: HarperTeen

GoodReads

Challenge: Debut Author Challenge

2011 Debut Author Challege

I've heard about this challenge for a two years and this year, I'm joining the in on the fun. It's hosted by the amazing Kristi from the Story Siren. You must read at least 12 books from debut authors. She's also put together a list of titles.

Here's some that I'm going to be reading:
Unearthly
False Princess
Across the Universe
Angelfire
Entertwined
Clarity
Liar Society
Kat, the Incorrigible
Lipstick Laws
Divergent
Die for Me
Agent Toby

Contest: Wherever Nina Lies giveaway

Out now in Paperback:
Wild child Nina went missing two years ago and Ellie can't let her go. In one random moment, she finds a drawing of Amanda's at a second hand store. Immediately, she knows it's a clue. She takes off on a whirlwind adventure looking for her sister with a boy she just met. Instantly she feels a connection to him because he knows her pain - his brother died. Each clue they find brings Ellie hope that she'll find her long lost sister but could she be on another wild and dangerous goose chase?

There are twists in this amazingly book that I never saw coming and they blew me away. A wonderful tale for a debut author. I can't wait to see what she cooks up next. I loved the sisterly moments of flashbacks between Nina and Ellie. I loved watching the relationships unfold and the danger escalate.

Debut Author:
Lynn Weingarten spends a lot of time writing in coffee shops while occasionally reading strangers’ laptops over their shoulders. In the past she has been a book editor, a barista, a counter girl at a bakery in Ireland, a waitress at a bar, and a seller of tiny homemade clay animals. She lives in New York City. Wherever Nina Lies was her first novel. Please visit her online at www.lynnweingarten.com.

Photo by: Jena Cumbo.

Check out her interview with Kristi at the Story Siren

Sneak Peek

"The guy walking toward me is good-looking in an obnoxious way, like he’d play the hot jerk in a TV movie about why drunk driving is bad or how it doesn’t pay to cheat on the SATs. He’s got these big wrap-around sunglasses on and a shiny black short-sleeved button-up shirt filled out with the kind of insanely sculpted arm muscles a person only gets when they spend most of their time lifting weights in the mirror and grunting at themselves."

If you'd like to be entered to win one of three copies:

• leave a comment telling me a an awesome mystery you read
  
• plus your email address.

* the contest will end at midnight on Friday March 12th and winners will be announce Monday the 15th. *

Good Luck!