My Top 10 New Adult Books of 2012!

Hosted By Fiktshun, Two Chicks On Books, Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, Confessions Of A Bookaholic, & A Life Bound By Books.
Today is a bloggers choice topic and really, it's no surprise that I picked New Adult books as my topic.  I am in love and obsessed with New Adult books and here are some of my favorites:
(Not sure if some of these are really considered New Adult)

Review & Giveaway: The Coincidence of Callie And Kayden by Jessica Sorensen!

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden 

(The Coincidence #1)

By Jessica Sorensen 

Release Date: 12/14/12

Summary from Goodreads:

There are those who don’t get luck handed to them on a shiny platter, who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time, who don’t get saved.

Luck was not on Callie’s side the day of her twelfth birthday when everything was stolen from her. After it’s all over, she locks up her feelings and vows never to tell anyone what happened. Six years later her painful past consumes her life and most days it’s a struggle just to breathe.

For as long as Kayden can remember, suffering in silence was the only way to survive life. As long as he did what he was told, everything was okay. One night, after making a terrible mistake, it seems like his life might be over. Luck was on his side, though, when Callie coincidentally is in the right place at the right time and saves him.

Now he can’t stop thinking about the girl he saw at school, but never really knew. When he ends up at the same college as Callie, he does everything he can to try to get to know her. But Callie is reserved and closed off. The more he tries to be part of her life, the more he realizes Callie might need to be saved.

(New Adult Contemporary)*Mature Content** Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language.

***ARC received by author for review purposes***

“In the existence of our lives, there is a single coincidence that brings us together and for a moment, our hearts beat as one.”

Swoon Thursday (69) In Case The World Ends Tomorrow....

... Let's end on a swoony note. 

And yes, I am that cheesy.

It's that time again! We created a HOT meme, 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, we are REALLY bringing the steam. If these scenes don't have your swooning, I don't know what will LOL! Check out our favorite quote from the week below, and then be sure to read the comments where our lovely readers share their favorite swoony scenes, too! :)

RACHEL:  Swooning over Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines...dude, there were so many to choose from in this book, but this one just stayed with me lol

Without a word, he led me to the stairs pulling me gently up them in his hurry to get there. Once we got to the second floor, he pressed me up against the wall and kissed me fiercely, nipping at my lips and stroking my tongue. He jerked back and took a deep breath. "One more flight of stairs," he said in a gravelly voice and pulled me toward the door at the end of the hallway. 

KELLY: Swooning over Grace Doll by Jennifer Laurens:

His lips part at the urging of my fingers. On tip-toe, I slip my arms around his neck. He wraps around me, squeezing me tight, the pressure delicious. Then his lips cover mine. I'm submerged in every sweet, tender gesture of love I've dreamed of having and never thought I would.

TARA: Swooning over The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines:

"I love you, Ash," he whispered in my ear, and kissed a trial from my ear to my shoulder blade."Uh," I squeaked out. His thumbs brushed the underside of my breast and my knees started to buckle.

TRISH: Swooning over Unwrap Me by Carolina Jordan and Samantha Spencer

With a groan, she gripped the back of his neck and pulled his head up until they were face-to-face. Brody sucked her lip between his teeth before claiming her mouth and thrusting upward with his hips in purposeful rhythm. 

NEREYDA: Swooning over The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen

When our lips connect I feel a spark that tickles down my body and I moan ridiculously loud, my knees buckling. My cheeks start to heat, but he lets out a groan, cupping my face between his hands as he steps forward, leading us somewhere. My feet tangle with his as I back up and seconds later, we're falling onto the mattress. 

Also, double treat....when Nereyda learned I was using Fallen Too Far this week, she also shared her favorite line from the book:

"Talk. We are going to talk first. I want to see you smile and laugh. I want to know what your favorite show was when you were a kid and who made you cry at school and what boy band you hung posters of on your wall. Then I want you naked in my bed again." 

SO NOW IT'S YOUR TURN! On your blog (and be sure to leave us a link), and/or on Twitter... SWOON us!

And PS! Make sure to tweet with the #YABound hashtag so we can RT you!

Spotlight: GRAVITY (The Taking) by Melissa West

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed—arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know—especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war.

 

 

Paperback, 400 Pages

Entangled Teen

Expected Publication, December, 18 2012

 

 

Review

 

I loved this book! To be honest I've never really read much in the sci-fi genre, but after reading GRAVITY, I'm an official fan. An intriguing blend of sci-fi, dystopian, and romance made this novel beyond compelling. Another great aspect of this book were the characters. This novel had a cast that you can't help but love. Ari was the kick-ass heroine that we crave in YA , but she managed to retain the important character traits that made are a very likable teen girl. And Jackson...sigh...he was the bad boy with a heart. I really loved Jackson. Swoon worthy to say the least. Gravity was the perfect balance of action and romance. The story was unique and intriguing. And Melissa West's writing style and voice is nothing short of brilliant. I can't wait for the next installment in this series!

 

Tara

 

 

GRAVITY

 

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

 

 

Melissa lives in a tiny suburb of Atlanta, GA with her husband and daughter. She pretends to like yoga, actually likes shoes, and could not live without coffee. Her writing heroes include greats like Jane Austen and Madeleine L'Engle.

She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and an M.S. in Graphic Communication, both from Clemson University. Yeah, her blood runs orange.

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Check out Melissa's Website

Spotlight on Grace Doll by Jennifer Laurens

230 pages

Published by Grove Creek Publishing

Published July 9, 2012

Find it on Amazon

Grace Doll had everything a girl could want: Fame. Fortune. Beauty. Everything except her freedom. So when a powerful movie producer forces an experimental treatment on Grace--one that's purported to make beauty immortal--she stages her own death to escape him. With the help of trusted friends, Grace slips into hiding. She's forever flawless. Forever young, and forever pursued by her past. But when a stranger arrives on her doorstep, holding the key to a life she thought she'd left behind, Grace must decide between the safety she's known...and embracing the role she was born to play.

Poor Grace. I have to say I really felt for this character. Her husband was abusive and controlling. I hated him more than I've hated a character in a long time. When the story began, I thought Grace was much older and I questioned if this really was a YA novel. Then I discovered that Grace's husband, Rufus, changed her birth certificate to make her old enough to marry him. Grace was forced to mature very quickly, which is ironic considering Rufus gives her an experimental treatment to make her stay young forever. With the help of some friends, Grace is able to get away from Rufus, leaving him disfigured in the fire that consumed their house. Grace hides out for years, until she meets Brendan, the son of one of the only people who know she's still alive.

Brendan and Grace's interactions were really well done. You kind of know something is going to happen between them, but it doesn't take away from the story at all. I loved them together. And I loved how Grace took control of her life. No spoilers, but Rufus is still after Grace, convinced she survived the fire. When things played out in this story line, I was glued to the book.

This is a fast and emotional read that's well worth the time.

Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Review: The Secret of Ella & Micha by Jessica Sorensen!

Welcome to my stop on the The Secret of Ella and Micha blog tour hosted by SupaGurl Tours!

The Secret of Ella and Micha (The Secret #1)

By Jessica Sorensen 

Release Date: 10/04/12

Paperback/e-book

316 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Ella and Micha have been best friends since they were kids. But one tragic night shatters their friendship and their lives forever.

Ella used to be a rule-breaker with fiery attitude who wore her heart on her sleeve. But she left everything behind when she went to college and transformed into someone that follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. But now it's summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home.

Ella fears everything she worked so hard to bury might resurface, especially with Micha living right next door. If Micha tries to tempt the old her back, she knows that it will be hard to resist.

Micha is sexy, smart, confident, and can get under Ella’s skin like no one else can. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. And he’s determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves back, no matter what it takes.

(New Adult Contemporary)

*Mature Content** Recommended for ages 17+ due to sexual situations and language.

***Copy received from author for review purposes***

“He is my best friend, my soul mate.  In a perfect world, full of roses and sunshine we’d be together, but this world is full of broken homes, drunken fathers, and mothers who give up easily.”

Okay, so I’m just going to warn you right now that my review will mostly consist of me rambling and fan-girling all about how much I loved this book, because guys, seriously, I LOVED this book so much!  Saturdays are my stalk Goodreads and Amazon days for awesome Indies. A couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon this book.  The cover was simple and pretty but there was something about it (hint: lip piercing, red lipstick) that caught my eye and made it stand out.  Best friend romances and angsty books are two of my favorites and this sounded like a perfect combination.  Once I read the summary, I immediately added it to my wishlist and I was very happy when I heard there would be a blog tour.

Ella and Micha have had a tough life, but no matter what they went through they always had each other.  They had been best friends since they were little, but a tragic event changes everything and Ella needs to get away from her town, her family and especially Micha.  She runs off and doesn’t tell anyone where she went.  She tries her best to get rid of the old Ella (adrenaline junkie, loud, wild) and become a new Ella (quiet, shy, wears pink).  But after 8 months of being away at college, she decides to go back home for the summer.  Micha has been in love with Ella for a couple of years and even though the friendship line was blurred and crossed at times, he was scared to push her away and was just waiting for her to find out that they belong together.  Ever since the night she left, he has been looking for her everywhere.  He can’t believe his eyes when he sees her at her house one day, especially since she has changed so much.  But he knows no matter how much she has changed on the outside, she is still the same Ella on the inside and this time he’s not going to let her run away from him again.  But before they can be together, they need to face their pasts and overcome their fears.

I need to start off with Micha because he has become one of my new favorite guy (fictional) characters.  He sings and plays guitar, drag races, has piercings and tattoos and is so intense and swoon worthy.  Yeah, intense would be the perfect word to describe him. (In a good way.  A very good way) Once he decides to go after Ella and let her know how he feels, there is nothing stopping him.  I really loved Ella too, even though she tried so hard to change, once she comes back home the old Ella starts to slowly resurface.  The chemistry between this too is scorching HOT and I just want to point out that this book has some of the hottest and sexiest makeout scenes I have read!  Ella and Micha’s story isn’t over yet and I can’t wait to read the next book: The Forever of Ella and Micha as well The Temptation of Lila and Ethan (which about Ella and Micha’s best friends, who were great in this book).  Scratch that, I pretty much want to read everything written by Jessica Sorensen!

The Secret of Ella and Micha was intense, heart-wrenching, beautiful and so addicting!  New Adult contemporary at its best.  I loved everything about this book and I don’t have one single complaint, except that I want more.  It also has one of the best playlists to go along with it for you music junkies.  Highly recommend this book to everyone!

5 out of 5 stars!

Some of my favorite non-spoiler quotes from The Secret of Ella and Micha:

-Mirrors see straight through my façade.  They know who I used to be; a loud spoken, reckless girl, who showed what she felt to the world.  There were no secrets with me.

But now secrets define me.

-“Don’t say it.”  I point a finger at him.  “Don’t you dare, Micha Scott.”

He hold up his hands, wide-eyed and derisive, “Oh, now I’m in trouble.  You used my last name and everything.”

-“You need to find someone you can let it all out to.  Otherwise you’re going to lose it.”

My eyes roam to the window where the edge of Micha’s house is visible.  “I think I already did.”

Dean’s forehead creases as he drops a handful of guitar picks into a trunk.  “Lose it? Or talk to someone about it?”

“Both.”

-We look at each other, like magnets begging to get closer.  Yet flip one the wrong direction and they will push apart.

-I stop fighting him and lay perfectly still.  Water sprinkles our faces as he lowers his lips to mine.  Our wet tongues twine together, full of desire as they collide.  A strange, unfamiliar feeling opens inside of me again and my legs fall apart and hook around his waist, requesting more of him, like they did last night.

About the Author

I live in Wyoming with my husband and three kids, where I spend most of my time writing, reading, and hanging out with my family. I’m the author of the Fallen Star Series, the Darkness Falls Series, and the Death Collectors. I also just branched out to the New Adult Contemporary genre with my book, The Secret of Ella and Micha.

Links:

Goodreads * Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon

Swoon Thursday (68): Scenes To Keep You Warm

It's that time again! We created a HOT meme, 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, it's actually cold in Texas, y'all. Like, one morning it was actually below freezing. I know, crazy, right? But never fear--even if this is perfectly normal weather for you--because our book boyfriends will help keep us warm ;)

Check out these steamy scenes below, and be sure to read the comments where our lovely readers share their favorite swoony scenes, too! :)

RACHEL:  Swooning over Easy by Tammara Webber (yes, I've read this already but picked it back up again this week for fun and swooned for Lucas all over again):

His lips were warm. He kissed me carefully, nibbling and sucking my lower lip. Drawing the tip of my tongue along the inner edge of his mouth, I swept it over the slim ring, lightly, and he groaned and pulled me in so tight I could hardly breathe. My hands were suddenly freed and he grasped my hips, lifting me onto the counter so that our angles were reversed. 

KELLY: Swooning over A Shimmer of Angels by Lisa Basso:

When his lips pressed against mine, I couldn't have stopped them if I wanted to—and I didn't. His lips tasted of pure, raw sunshine. The sunshine I'd been missing ever since leaving Arizona. I reveled in it, pulled myself tighter to him. His hand moved up to cup my cheek, and my head soared in the clouds. Yet I could still feel him, every inch of him, ethereal wings and all.

TARA: Swooning over Gravity by Melissa West:

He glances down at me and lifts his hands to my face, tracing a line down my jaw. His fingertips hesitate at my lips, and his gaze drops. I draw a breath, and then his lips find mine.

TRISH: Swooning over Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Didn't even slow down when he reached me--he walked me back until I was against the wall, and he kissed me. Liked he'd been waiting all night to do it. Then he rested his forehead against mine for a second before walking away. 

NEREYDA: Swooning over The Secret of Ella & Micha by Jessica Sorensen!

-I stop fighting him and lay perfectly still.  Water sprinkles our faces as he lowers his lips to mine.  Our wet tongues twine together, full of desire as they collide.  A strange, unfamiliar feeling opens inside of me again and my legs fall apart and hook around his waist, requesting more of him, like they did last night.

SO NOW IT'S YOUR TURN! On your blog (and be sure to leave us a link), and/or on Twitter... SWOON us!

And PS! Make sure to tweet with the #YABound hashtag so we can RT you!

Blog Tour Schedule: Manipulation by Jolene Perry!

YA Bound is hosting a blog tour for the YA Paranormal, Manipulation by Jolene Perry! This tour will run from February 4^th to the 9^th.  Manipulation is a companion to Insight.  Check out the blog tour schedule below:

Insight (Insight #1)

By Jolene Perry 

Release Date: 09/03/12

Paperback/e-book

367 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

Micah hates her ability to “see” things when she touches people. She’s terrified of relationships, holds on to guilt over the death of her classmate, Lacey, and has no idea what to do with a vision from Landon, a boy from her school. She feels him falling for her, but Micah doesn’t do friends, much less relationships.

Enter a spooky history project about a tragedy from three hundred years ago, and voodoo dolls that Micah somehow feels has to do with her gift. Suddenly she’s sure the shadows in the woods are following her every move—without Landon’s relaxed attitude about what’s happening in her life, Micah would be sure she’s going crazy.

With no ideas on timing or specifics, the visions of both herself and the people she cares about are turning dark—and it appears the shadows around her house do move on their own. But as Micah and Landon try to prevent Micah’s visions of the future, the shadows close in, and they’re now afraid they’ve become the cause…

Micah's story is the first of three girls, with unique talents, who are part of a 300 year old tragedy that follows them in the shadows.

Manipulation (Insight #2)

by Jolene Perry 

Release Date: February or March 2013

Paperback/e-book

Summary from Goodreads:

Addison Harper has always gotten everything she wanted. Well, anything that doesn’t take time away from her busy parents.
Dean has gotten very little that he wants. His want is down to one thing. Find his brother.
They both use their talent of manipulation to get what they want... just a touch. But what happens when they find out the other can do what they can do - and all they want is each other?

***Blog Tour Schedule***

February 4:

Mom With A Kindle - Promo Post

A Diary Of A Book Addict - Review

Lust For Stories - Review

Kissed by Ink – Review

Some Like It Paranormal - Review

February 5:

Ever and Ever Sight - Review - Insight /  Manipulation 

Love of Books - Review - Insight / Manipulation

Never Judge a Book by its Cover - Promo Post

Xpresso Reads - Review

Always YA at Heart - Review

Oh, The Books You'll Read! - Review

A Dream Within A Dream - Promo Post

Overflowing Bookshelves - Review

February 6:

Reading and Rising With the Sun - Review

Words I Write Crazy - Review

The Bookmark Blog - Review

Gobs and Gobs of Books - Review

Reader Girls -Review

Every Free Chance Book Reviews - Review - Insight / Manipulation

My Daily Obsession - Review
Andi's Young Adult Books - Review
In Wonderland - Review

February 7:

The Solitary Bookworm - Review

Doodle's Book Blog - Review

Ginger-Read Review - Review

Maji Bookahelf - Review

I Heart YA Books - Review - Insight / Manipulation
Bound byWords - Spotlight

February 8:

The Book Lover's Report - Review

The Reading Diaries - Review - Insight / Manipulation

Dear, Restless Reader - Review

JeanzBookReadNReview -  Promo Post

Tar Heel Bibliobabe – Review Insight / Manipulation

YA Reviews and News  - Review

Book Briefs - Review

February 9:
#BookNerd - Review

Paulette's Papers - Promo Post

Unputdownable Books - Promo Post

Pen and Muse -  Review

Ed and Em's Reviews - Review - Insight / Manipulation