Pyxis by K. C. Neal

ebook

Published November 4th 2011 by StoneHouse Ink

Buy From Amazon Here

Corinne lives an average teenage life working at her dad’s cafe, hanging out with her best friend, and trying to forget a falling-out with her almost-boyfriend Mason. Things take a strange turn when she uses her late grandmother’s food dyes for a bake sale, and her customers suddenly find her irresistibly alluring. Then she discovers she and Mason are haunted by the same dreams of a dark force that consumes everything in its path. Pursued by shadowy figures and a crazy woman with secrets from the past, Corinne must find out who her grandmother really was. In her quest to unravel her family’s history, she learns she is destined to protect this world--and the dark world of her dreams. She races to find the answers she seeks before her nightmares break free.

I could NOT stop reading! From the very first page, I was hooked on this story. I had to know how a bake sale set off a strange advent that had the guys in Corinne’s school falling all over themselves for her. It was probably one of the best opening scenes I’ve read in a long time.

From there, the story just wouldn’t let go. I almost always know where a story is heading, and figure out the plot twists early on. But I was pleased there were original elements that had me guessing, and I kept turning the pages to find out more. You can’t put this book down and pick it up later. I promise, you will HAVE to know what happens next. I love a good mystery, and this story truly gives that to the reader.

Corinne was a very likable character. And though sometimes I wanted to shake her, nothing to do with her, I just wanted her to “talk” to Mason. I think I even shouted at my screen one time. This is a good thing, though. I was that invested in their relationship. And I loved how it developed. Because they were close friends before, it was even more romantic and suspenseful. Fantastic read. If you’re looking for something fun, fast, with mystery and romance, you won’t be disappointed. And it's only .99! Too great a read to pass up.

Winner of Touch Blog Tour GIVEAWAY

Hey guys! Hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving. I'd like to thank Entangled Publishing for hosting the TOUCH Blog Tour, and also Jus Accardo for writing such an amazing book! A huge thanks to all the amazing bloggers who rocked this tour, too! You guys are the best.

The winner of the TOUCH ebook and "special" prize from Jus herself, is Sherre! Congrats! Stacey from Entangled Publishing will be contacting you shortly to get your info.

Make sure you check out the other blog tours on the sidebar to enter into some amazing contests! Peace out.

Seers by Heather Frost

Hardcover, 330 pages

Published October 4th 2011 by Bonneville

Buy From Amazon Here

For Kate Bennett, surviving the car wreck that killed her parents means big changes — and even bigger problems. As she begins to see auras and invisible people, Kate must learn to trust Patrick O'Donnell, a handsome Guardian, or risk her life being overrun with Demons. She soon realizes that both she and her heart are in big-time trouble.

I really enjoyed this spin on angels and demons. I connected with Kate right away. Even though she’s had to deal with some hard times, like the death of her parents, she’s strong and resilient, and also cautious about the people around her. She doesn’t whine, or fall head-over-heels in love with the new, mysterious guy. In fact, she’s kind of freaked out by Patrick, and takes her time learning about him and getting to know him. I love smart girls.

I also liked that she tried to make her relationship work with her boyfriend Aaron, even though she’s falling for Patrick. She remains loyal to him, and gives it her best, but in the end, the heart wants what the heart wants. I loved the relationship building between Patrick and Kate. The trust they learned to have between each other. They had some major swoon-worthy moments, too.

All the characters were fun, and I felt acted like real teens. The plot took a little time to get going, but when it did, the story filled with action and tension. This is a faced-paced, light, yet at times deep, YA Paranormal Romance that keeps the twists coming. 

Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published October 25th 2011 by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

Buy From Amazon Here

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alander, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alander band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

BETWEEN THE SEA AND SKY is such a fresh, beautiful story, and I fell in love with the setting and characters. The Little Mermaid is my all-time favorite Disney movie, and I adore mermaids. Though this story had an original spin and it wasn’t at all what I expected, I was pleasantly surprised.

Esmerine is a Siren, and she’s expected to sing and lure ships in and keep trespassing humans from stealing their fish. But when her sister goes missing, she believes Dosinia has been kidnapped by humans. Esmerine was considered strange and unusual for befriending one of the winged people when she was a girl, and she believes with Alander’s help, she can find her sister. When she goes to the human world and finds her winged friend she hasn’t seen in years, he’s not at all how she remembers him.

I loved the relationship building between Esmerine and Alander. It was sweet at times, passionate at others, and had me rooting for them whole time. The original fantasy elements, along with beautiful writing, makes this tale a must read for anyone who enjoys mermaids and romance.

Please enjoy the Minivew with YA author Jaclyn Dolamore on BETWEEN THE SEA AND SKY.

Can you tell us a little about the world Esmerine comes from?

My Magic Under Glass books are based in a world inspired by 19th century England and New England, so I wanted something a little sunnier for a mermaid. A lot of mermaid stories come from the British Isles, but I thought that if I was a mermaid I'd want to be in a warmer locale. After some poking around I chose Italy. This became particularly important when I realized the book would have a flight scene and I needed to describe things from the air. I spent a very long time looking at Italy with Google maps, ha! I also realized the best source for everyday details about Italy around the late 18th/early 19th century, when I imagined this book taking place, was travel memoirs from wealthy tourists (mostly British) on the Grand Tour. It was very fashionable for the well-to-do to go to France, Italy, Greece, etcetera, to see all the antiquities and take in the warmer air and such. I read a lot of complaining about inns. Some of that went into the book too. ;)

Esmerine was sent to find her sister on the mainland. What are some things she and Dosinia have in common, and things they are complete opposite on?

Esmerine and Dosinia share a mutual playfulness, they both like to have fun and they enjoy the music and theatricals that make up mer social life. They also both have a desire to see the surface world, to encounter different kinds of people and exotic locales. But Esmerine is more cautious and responsible. Dosinia is the party girl.

Can you give some juicy tidbit about Alander to your fans? Something we might not hear about in the book?

Alan once saved the life of a mermaid he didn't know, during his messenger days. It was kind of a dangerous, impulsive action and he was embarrassed for doing it so he never told anyone. I have half of a short story about it that I need to finish and post on my blog at some point!

You can find Jaclyn's website here for more information on her and her work.

GIVEAWAY: JUNE OF ROCK by Elisa Ludwig

 Read our review here!

Fresh out of 10th grade and freshly dumped by her dreamboat music nerd boyfriend Micah, June Dixon is headed to Camp Decibelle for the summer. The girls-only rock camp sounds like the perfect destination for a budding drummer with a respectfully punk attitude — except for the “girls-only” part. Once at Decibelle, June is thrown in among her fellow campers, a hodgepodge of indie wannabes, aggro-folkheads and metal sleazoids. All of them are aiming for superstardom, starting with the camp’s Battle of the Axes competition. Learning to keep a beat and start a band is tough enough but June must also contend with the dueling egos (and rhythms) of her bossy bandmate Jess, Jess’s disgruntled best friend from home M3, and a bitchy drummer whose rumored uncle is June’s hero, legendary songwriter Lee Rooney. And then there’s the puzzling case of Brice Mills, the famous-in-his-own-right counselor who’s supposed to be coaching June’s band but seems to have taken an unusual interest in June herself. Sassy, fun and packed full of pop culture references, June of Rock is a love letter to both girl power and the power of music.

Spotlight: Tempus by Tyra Lynn

 A book Spotlight from YA Bound for TEMPUS! Awesome read that is marked down to .99 on Amazon for the holidays. Our review is coming soon, but had to point this out while it's on sale =) Happy reading!

According to Albert Einstein, the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion. He might have been right.

Seventeen-year-old Jessie McLeod is used to getting glimpses of the past when she touches objects in her dads antique shop, but she's not used to the past looking back. Especially when the past is a gorgeous guy and she is dressed like a slob.

Shocked and intrigued, Jessie becomes obsessed with trying to catch another glimpse of that perfect face. When thoughts of him invade her sleep, the dreams seem so real that she wakes with the feel of his lips lingering on her skin. Soon after, however, the one guy she thought she’d never date suddenly asks her out. Either something strange is going on, or all those years of using furniture cleaner finally caused brain damage.

Brain damage is easy enough to believe—until the day she turns around and looks straight into the face from her dreams. Completely unaware, Jessie is now in a race against time to remember something important, something life-changing, and the one person who can tell her the truth doesn’t dare to—she must remember on her own.

With only a week before senior year, the once self-assured Jessie is now sure of nothing. Well, maybe one thing. Everything’s been turned upside down, and it's all because of that stupid mirror she found in the shop on Monday and the glimpse that changed her future—maybe even her past.

Blog Tour: Enchanted by Rachel Wells

 Interview with ENCHANTED author Rachel Wells

ENCHANTED is full of History centered around a small town. Did you do a lot of research for this story, or did you pull from your own life experience to write it?

Mary Nasson and the town of York Beach, Maine, was a real person/is a real town. I vacation in the town every summer. I happened to stumble upon “legends” surrounding Mary Nasson and the story took on a life of its own after that.

How do you get yourself into “writer mode”?

The only thing I need to get into “writer mode” is to be left completely alone! I cannot write anything with anyone around me—I hate feeling like someone is reading over my shoulder. Other than that, it’s pretty easy for me to get into gear.

Can you tell us something interested about the main characters Mandy? What are likes dislikes?

What I like about Mandy is she’s just an ordinary teenager girl—but she’s facing completely extraordinary events. She might be a bit insecure and shy and come off as quiet and reserved, but in her head she’s the opposite. She starts off in the book just wanting to blend in but ends up standing out, and I think she makes her peace with that by the end of the story.

Maine is on my top list of places to visit! I’ve always wanted to go there =) Can you tell us about York? Is this a real place or something you combined fact with fiction?

York is very real. As I mentioned above, I go there every summer, and have since I was a kid. Most of it is exactly the way it’s described in the book, however I did have to mix it up a bit for my story to work. There is no flower shop called Enchanted Dewdrops, however the rest of the stores/place are real such as Bill & Bob’s, the Goldenrod, Brown’s ice cream…there is actually a psychic there as well but I have no idea what her name is. I made the stuff up surrounding her…

Is there a sequel in the works? And what are you currently working on?

The sequel, Hexed, is finished and available on barnesandnoble.com, amazon.com, and smashwords.com. I’m working on the third book in the story right now and am desperately hoping to have it finished and available before Christmas!

Find ENCHANTED on Goodreads!

  
Comment on one or more blog stops on the tour to be entered into the grand prize!

SWOON Thursday (16)

It's that time again! We've created a HOT new meme called SWOON #YABound, 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 :-)

Here's ours:

RACHEL: A deep, needful sound rumbles from the back of his throat as he shifts his body closer to mine on the bed.--Shot Through The Heart SWOON#YABound  (and here's our review of the book)

TRISH: Their lips met, warm and soft--and urgent. It was her first kiss--Between the Sea and Sky SWOON #YABound

YOUR TURN: In 140 characters, SWOON us!

Shot Through The Heart by Niki Burnham

Kindle Edition
Published October 22nd 2011
BUY FROM AMAZON HERE

Two guys, two girls, two thousand dollars, and one epic water gun battle.

Senior year? It's all about Senior Assassin, a yearly water gun tournament where the last team standing receives a cool two grand. Connor wants nothing more than to split that prize with his best friend, Josh. When their mission is put in jeopardy by Molly--thanks to her crush on Connor--Josh comes up with a plan to thwart her, one that involves his sister, Peyton...

Peyton's deepest desire is to score entry to MIT. She's working her tail off to achieve her goal, but when she's dragged into Connor and Josh's water gun tournament, their antics threaten to leave her high and dry. As Peyton's forced to choose between chemistry class and chemistry with Connor, will the super student and the super athlete discover they have more in common than they imagined?

One thing's for certain: When Connor, Peyton, Josh, and Molly load their weapons, someone's bound to get shot through the heart.

I absolutely adore stories that make me smile, or even laugh, while unveiling a love story that has me sighing at the end. Simon Romantic Comedies line produced some of my all-time favorite young adult titles, such as the Royally Jacked series (recently combined and retitled Royally Crushed) and Scary Beautiful, both of which just so happen to be written by the same author, Niki Burnham. So when the chance came to review Niki’s latest rom com, SHOT THROUGH THE HEART, I jumped on it. And I’m really happy to say it lived up to my expectations.

While there’s a variety of fun characters and different relationships explored, I don’t think I’m giving anything away telling you the main love story takes place between Connor and Peyton. As sister and best friend to Josh, the two have known each other practically all their lives, never really thinking of the other as potential date material. But as the Senior Assassin tournament gets underway—which by the way, I so wish I had at my school—events conspire to have them both seeing each other in a completely new light.

Matches between characters like this—best friends or practically family members suddenly falling in love—isn’t exactly new, and I always go into a romantic comedy expecting a certain pattern of events . . . but I have to say that Niki surprised me. Characters behaved in unexpected ways, revealing hidden motivations and new personality quirks, and issues were explored on a deeper level than many rom coms I’ve read in the past, while still maintaining the lighthearted feel characteristic of the genre.

Fast paced, dual character first person POV storytelling had me flipping the pages and reading this in a few short hours. Both of the main characters were extremely likable and relatable. Peyton was a strong, smart protagonist with high aspirations and a bright future. While she may struggle with insecurity like so many teen—and adult—girls, she was definitely her own person. And Connor was scrumptious. The book opened in his POV, and at first, I admit I was a little nervous that he’d end up being a stereotypical, one-dimensional ‘good guy’ type. But I shouldn’t have doubted Ms. Burnham. The boy was downright sexy at times, swoony sweet in others, and had just the right amount of dreamy hero magic.

I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read, and love that it is innocent enough to share with the younger range of the YA audience, while providing the fun, sigh-worthy moments older rom com fans want and expect. This was the RITA-award winning author’s first indie title, and I can only hope there’s more to come.

*Special Treat, Click HERE to read the transcript of our LIVE CHAT with the author*

YA Bound Blogger Gets Book Deal

I have been going crazy to write this post! My awesome CP (critique partner) and co-blogger here at YA Bound, who happens to also be my agency sister, not to mention my friend, has just signed a two book deal with Entangled Publishing! Congrats, Rachel!

You can read her official announcement here. MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY is a Magical Realism/Historical and I can say in all honesty, it rocks! I can't wait for the rest of you to be able to enjoy this amazing story.

Congrat's again, Rachel! So excited for you I'm bouncing!

Blog Tour: The Secret of the Keepers by Elizabeth Isaacs

Paperback
Published November 1st 2011 by Isaacs
Buy From Amazon Here

The Kailmeyra Chronicles: Book Two--

Life for Nora couldn't be better; she has married the man of her dreams and loves living in the pristine land of Kailmeyra.

That is, until the darkness threatens her perfect world.

Now war is upon the land. She and Gavin must strengthen their clan and prepare to fight. But the enemy has an ally—one that not only wields power, but holds knowledge of the ancients' secrets. Secrets that could destroy creation itself.

As the darkness grows, doubt seeps in ... protectiveness hinders progress ... and the unthinkable comes to pass.

Bewildered and alone, Nora shoulders the responsibility of leading an entire race to war. As she struggles with decisions that seem impossible to make, she is haunted by one choice.

"No one has ever doubted that you would die for those you love. The question then becomes ... would you live?"

When I first read THE LIGHT OF ASTERIA, I was blown away. Check out the review here. I fell in love with Kailmeyra and the characters of this amazing world. Nora and Gavin’s love is pure, and they don’t explore the usual tediousness in young relationships. They share an amazing connection.

What I loved in the second book was, even though we still saw the connection and purity of their love, they faced much deeper and darker obstacles. Even questioned at times. Gavin was darker. And I didn’t know I could love dark Garvin, but I adored him! Nora had to face some serious issues, too. I honestly didn’t know how she was going to overcome some of them, and my heart went out to her. But I really saw her growth in this book. She’s becoming a fierce and strong woman. Go Nora!

This was also a much more action-packed sequel. It had me on the edge of my seat (bed) holding my breath, and cheering them on. The villains are darker and more sinister, and the stakes are raised. It didn’t lull like other middle books in a series. And I think I loved it maybe just a little more than the first. It definitely brought more to the table with the action. And I thought that balanced the romance perfectly.

Okay, let’s talk about the steamy. I thought the first book made me swoon. It’s got NOTHING on KEEPERS. I loved every tender moment between Gavin and Nora. It’s was gentle and kind, and then hot and passionate. Nothing like Romance books at all. Very tastefully done for YA. And for where the story is taken, it’s a must. It wouldn’t feel authentic otherwise. And personally, I’m all about the steamy ;)

If you haven’t read THE LIGHT OF ASTERIA, do yourself a favor and go out there and find your new favorite series. I’m already counting down the days until Ms. Isaacs delivers the third book!

SWOON Thursday (15)

It's that time again! We've created a HOT new meme called SWOON #YABound, 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 :-)

Here's ours:

RACHEL: My swoon this week comes from The Juliet Club. What's interesting about these swoons is that sometimes I choose sexy ones, other times something sweet. And sometimes, they totally don't even seem that swoony standing alone. This one is kinda like that. By itself, it's nothing to get all excited about, but with these two characters, and within this scene, it definitely does its swoony job.

He reached for her hand and put it on his heart. She could feel it, thudding beneath her fingers.--The Juliet Club SWOON #YABound

TRISH:  His tongue slipped inside my mouth, and my veins were infused with liquid fire,making me shiver both need and fear-THE PLEDGE SWOON #YABound

YOUR TURN: In 140 characters, SWOON us!

Live Chat: YA Author Niki Burnham - Shot Through The Heart

Live chat with YA author Niki Burnham on her new book SHOT THROUGH THE HEART. November 15 7:00 PM Eastern time. Set a reminder below!

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: November 15th 2011 by Margaret K. McElderry
Buy From Amazon Here

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

This started out a little slow for me. I had to figure out just how the world worked with the different classes speaking different languages, and then the different POVs. But after about a quarter of the way in, I was gripped. I liked being inside the Charlie’s head. Sometimes she could be a little slow on the pickup, but then again, so was I lol. And I can see how with so many secrets and twists, she herself was having a difficult time keeping up. But I loved her part in the end. I think her character showed tremendous growth, and I also really enjoyed all the side characters. Especially her little sister.

The world was dark and violent. I loved the classification of stations, and how language was used to separate them. I also found the mixing with magic in the Dystopia genre a nice twist. I would have liked to seem a little more explanation on how that worked and where exactly the magic came from, as this is our future world, but I rolled with it. And it turned out to be a cool twist. I really, really like that it was Queendom vs. a Kingdom. Yeah. Having women ruling the future sounds good to me.

If you’re looking for a Dystopian with a bit of magic and a dark world to lose yourself in, check it out. Oh, and did I mention a whole bunch of hot guys? There’s, like, a lot. And they’re all super tall and muscles and hotness. Great read!

Live Chat: YA Author Elisa Ludwig on June of Rock & Pretty Crooked

Live chat with YA Author Elisa Ludwig on her recently released YA JUNE OF ROCK and her upcoming YA PRETTY CROOKED. November 16 at 4:00 PM. Set a reminder below!

Live Chat: YA Author Victoria Foyt - Revealing Eden

Live chat with YA author Victoria Foyt on November 15 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time on her debut Dystopian REVEALING EDEN - Save The Pearls Part One. Set a reminder below!

Wherever You Go by Heather Davis

Hardcover and ebook, 320 pages
Published November 14, 2011 by Harcourt Children's Books
BUY FROM AMAZON HERE

Seventeen-year-old Holly Mullen has felt lost and lonely ever since her boyfriend, Rob, died in a tragic accident. The fact that she has to spend most of her free time caring for her little sister and Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather doesn’t help. But Holly has no idea that as she goes about her days, Rob’s ghost is watching over her. He isn’t happy when he sees his best friend, Jason, reach out to help Holly with her grandfather—but as a ghost, he can do nothing to stop it. Is his best friend really falling for his girlfriend?

As Holly wonders whether to open her heart to Jason, the past comes back to haunt her. Her grandfather claims to be communicating with the ghost of Rob. Could the messages he has for Holly be real? And if so, how can the loved ones Rob left behind help his tortured soul make it to the other side?

Told from the perspectives of Holly, Jason, and Rob, Wherever You Go is a poignant story about making peace with the past, opening your heart to love, and finding the courage to move forward into the light.

This novel completely pulled at my heartstrings. Even with the deadline of this review looming over my head and a teetering pile of books left to read, I was hesitant to get to the end and leave the story world Heather Davis created. Despite the changing style choices within each point of view, she constructed this story in such a way that not only did I care deeply for each of the main characters, but I anxiously rooted for them. Each turn of the page revealed a different heart-wrenching facet of their personalities or another stumbling block in their young lives.

Holly lived through more in her seventeen years than most adults ever have to face, yet she embraced everything life threw at her with maturity and grace. She was forced to become parent, caregiver, housekeeper, and chef, all while finishing high school and living with the grief over her boyfriend’s death. It would’ve been easy to make this character a martyr who merely survived day-to-day, or even a Pollyanna type. But Holly wasn’t perfect. She stifled her anger, avoided confrontation, jumped to conclusions, and pushed people away. As the story unfolded in her first person account, I lived her character arc with her, experiencing the growth in confidence not only in herself, but also in what she needed and who she wanted to be.

Jason was part of the popular crowd, but not the head of it. His best friend died, and the remaining friend he has sucks as a human being. His parents were splitting up, and he was pining for his dead best friend’s girl. The cards were kinda stacked against him. But what I loved the most about Jason was his strength. Once he got over his fears, he was determination to win Holly, and I totally lost my heart to his selfless way of doing so by helping her Alzheimer’s-stricken grandfather hold onto his memories. Jason’s third person point of view allowed the reader to take a step back, fall in love with him along with Holly, and watch his side of their love story unfold much like the third main character, Jason’s dead best friend and Holly’s former boyfriend Rob.

Rob was a ghost, forced to watch his loved ones day after day without speaking to them. Without even sleep to break the monotony of his so-called life, he’d resigned himself to his existence without hope of the bright light everyone speaks of . . . until he meets Aldo, Holly’s grandfather. Aldo’s ability to see and converse with him gives Rob newfound energy and perspective—until his best friend moves in on his girlfriend. And he watches his parents go to counseling for their grief. And the pesky memories of what really happened the night he died starts coming back. His second person point of view was probably the most jarring for me at first, but the one I enjoyed the most. It is hard to pull off well, but Heather Davis handled it beautifully, and the haunting quality it lent to Rob’s account added depth to his role as a spirit.

Overall, WHEREVER YOU GO is probably one of my favorite reads of 2011. The heart infused in every single page was simply gorgeous. This was the first Heather Davis novel I read, but it definitely won’t be my last.

Guest Post: Jus Accardo - 8 Random Facts About Touch

8 random facts about TOUCH

From first draft to copyedits, so much goes on behind the scenes. Things change and scenes come and go. Here’s a peek at some of the ways TOUCH changed along the road to publication.

1.      Dez and Kale’s roles were reversed. It’s true. In the first few chapters of the first draft, Dez was the one on the run from Denazen and Kale was out in the woods.

2.      The Sixes were originally called Talents, and then later The Afflicted. It wasn’t until the very end of editing that we came up with Sixes.

3.      The Denazen Corporation and Marshal Cross were both born years ago in another trilogy I wrote.

4.      Dez’s secret didn’t exist until halfway through the first draft.

5.      Brandt was originally a chick named Bree.

6.      The title of TOUCH was originally REAPER.

7.      Dax was originally planned as a throw away character—two scenes tops.

8.      The first draft of the book ended one chapter sooner. The last chapter was added in the third draft.

Author Bio:

Jus Accardo is the author of YA paranormal romance and urban fantasy
fiction. A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her
husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald. Her first book,
Touch, is due out in November 2011 from Entangled Publishing. She is
represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet,

seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity

to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue

eyes home.

Except there's something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower,

is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she'll

turn to dust if he touches her. It's not until Dez's father shows up,

wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez

realizes there's more to this boy - and her father's "law firm" - than she

realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation - an organization devoted

to collecting "special" kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons -

his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. Dez and Kale team up

with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they're

caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez

has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect.

Title: Touch by Jus Accardo
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
ePub ISBN: 978-1-937044-44-2
Print ISBN: 978-1-937044-45-9
Release Date: November 1, 2011

Buy Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Website | Blog