Contest: Win a copy of The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June!

I was lucky enough to receive not one, but two arcs of THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE. One copy is signed to me, but the other is waiting to be read by YOU!

Description (from GoodReads):
Three sisters, three extraordinary, life-changing powers!

I hugged my sisters and they fit against my sides like two jigsaw pieces that would never fit anywhere else. I couldn’t imagine ever letting them go again, like releasing them would be to surrender the best parts of myself.
Three sisters share a magical, unshakeable bond in this witty high-concept novel from the critically acclaimed author of Audrey, Wait! Around the time of their parents’ divorce, sisters April, May, and June recover special powers from childhood—powers that come in handy navigating the hell that is high school. Powers that help them cope with the hardest year of their lives. But could they have a greater purpose?
April, the oldest and a bit of a worrier, can see the future. Middle-child May can literally disappear. And baby June reads minds—everyone’s but her own. When April gets a vision of disaster, the girls come together to save the day and reconcile their strained family. They realize that no matter what happens, powers or no powers, they’ll always have each other.
Because there’s one thing stronger than magic: sisterhood.

CONTEST

Prize:

(1) arc of THE EXTRAORDINARY SECRETS OF APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE.


How to Enter:
You MUST comment on the Playing Favorites post featuring Robin Benway. (Only one comment is required.) Then you MUST fill out this FORM. If you neglect to comment on the post or fill out the form, you will not be entered to win.


Extra Entries:
Not required. Extra entries are detailed on the entry form as well.
+5 entries - Comment on this post with the "extraordinary" power you would have or would like to have.
+4 entries - Old Follower/Subscriber (Thank you!)
+2 entries - New Follower/Subscriber (Welcome! You will gain 4 entries in the next contest you enter at The Hiding Spot as an Old Follower/Subscriber!)
+2 Follow me on Twitter (@thehidingspot)
+2 Follow Robin Benway on Twitter (@robinbenway)
+3 Tweet this contest. (Leave a link.)
+3 Link this contest on your sidebar, in a post, or on FB. (Leave a link.)


Details:
Contest will close July 30th, 2010. Open Internationally!


Good luck!

Playing Favorites featuring Robin Benway!

It has been said that playing favorites isn't nice, but sometimes it's impossible not to! Join me at The Hiding Spot as I share a favorite author... and the author shares a few favorite things too.

ROBIN BENWAY

Genre: Contemporary YA

Book(s):

Audrey, Wait!

The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June

Robin Benway's novels are about regular girls that find themselves in completely irregular, and sometimes extraordinary, situations. Sometimes even with cute boys.

MY FAVORITES

Novel: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, and June.

I love both of Benway's novels, but I think her second might come out ahead, but only slightly and for three specific reasons. 1. The novel is about 3 sisters. I have two sisters and it was unbelievably easy to imagine myself and my sisters as April, May, and June. 2. I was lucky enough to hear Benway read an excerpt from each sister aloud, which made the characters incredibly real. Now, every time I read the novel, it's like I actually hear them speaking. 3. I love the idea of one's personality or self-image manifesting into a power. It makes me wonder what my power would be...


Character: April.
It's understandable that I would identify with April. She's the eldest sister, focused on school, and contantly worried about her younger siblings.


Quote: "It's funny how bed and pillows and covers can change a conversation. Words turn quiet and you mean more and say less. It's like you can build your own little world, Population: 2." -- from Audrey, Wait!
I tried to pick a favorite line from Benway's second book, but there were too many that I loved and I couldn't pick just one or a couple of lines, I wanted to share the entire passage. Instead, I picked this line from AUDREY, WAIT! because it's completely true and completely romantic.

THE FAVORITE FAVORS

BOOK: "Franny & Zooey" by JD Salinger

QUOTE: "may came home with a smooth round stone, as small as a world and as large as alone"

From "maggie and millie and molly and may" by ee cummings

WORD: It's a toss-up between "onomatopoeia" and "dodecahedron".
They're both so fun to say!

BAND: Right now it's Delorean.
...but it changes all the time. If you asked me tomorrow, I'd probably have a different answer.


MOVIE: The Royal Tenenbaums.
"I always wanted to be a Tenenbaum."

For more information about Robin and her novels

check out the links below:

Website

Twitter

GoodReads

Review: A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee

Title: A Spy in the House (The Agency Bk. 1)
Author: Y.S. Lee
Publisher: Candlewick
Pub. Date: March 2010
Genre: YA Mystery
Keywords: Spies, Victorian London, Orphans, Secrets, Romance, Mystery
Pages: 335
Description (from GoodReads): 
Orphan Mary Quinn lives on the edge. Sentenced as a thief at the age of twelve, she’s rescued from the gallows by a woman posing as a prison warden. In her new home, Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls, Mary earns a singular education, fine manners, and a surprising opportunity. The school is a cover for the Agency – an elite, top-secret corps of female investigators with a reputation for results – and at seventeen, Mary’s about to join their ranks.

With London all but paralyzed by a noxious heat wave, Mary must work fast in the guise of a lady’s companion to infiltrate a rich merchant’s home with hopes of tracing his missing cargo ships. But the Thorold household is full of dangerous secrets, and people are not what they seem – least of all Mary.

Packed with action and suspense, and evoking the gritty world of Victorian London, Book One of the Agency series debuts a daring young detective who lives by her wits.


I sometimes find that novels with historical settings can be a bit dry, but Y.S. Lee has rekindled my love affair with Victorian England. A SPY IN THE HOUSE is a fast paced read, narrated by a feisty heroine, bursting with mystery, lies, greed, secret alliances, and, of course, romance.


With her quick wit and adventuresome spirit, Mary Quinn has quickly become one of my favorite main characters! A SPY IN THE HOUSE is set in Victorian London, where Mary’s secret life as a spy is one of the many traits that sets her apart from her peers. Even with her schooling and fine manners, she doesn’t fit the mold of a typical Victorian woman. Her history is a bit blurry, her origins are unknown, and she’s bursting with opinions. Mary definitely stands out in Victorian London, but her character is so vibrant that I believe she’d have a difficult time blending into any setting.


I admire Lee’s ability to use just the right amount of foreshadowing: too much and a novel will lose much of its mysteriousness, too little and the reader will become frustrated and completely confused. There were enough clues present that I could determine some of the lies and secrets, but the biggest aspect of the mystery remained a riddle for most of the novel. I was also impressed with Lee’s ability to weave seemingly independent plot lines into a complex and compelling mystery, while still keeping the mystery intact.


I was thrilled to discover that there was a romantic plot line in A SPY IN THE HOUSE. Mary is forced to hide in a wardrobe when she is nearly discovered poking through an off-limits office, only to find the wardrobe is already occupied. One can assume that if you meet a man in a wardrobe, he probably isn’t the boring sort. Mary has met her match in James Easton, who, against his better judgment, is intrigued by “Miss Closet.” The conversations between James and Mary were humorous and tension-filled; the chemistry between the two is evident from the moment they tumble out of the wardrobe.

James is one of my favorite male characters/romantic leads. Not only is he funny, smart, and mysterious, I always end up picturing him as James McAvoy. This definitely enhances my reading experience.

I like mystery and historical novels, but I don't usually love them. Somehow, I have come to love the Mary Quinn mysteries. I've read the next novel, A BODY AT THE TOWER, which will be released in August, and it is just as good, if not better, than the first installment. If you have any interest in mysteries, kickass girl spies, or good-looking boys in wardrobes, you need to read this book!

Grade: A+

Waiting on Wednesday (32)

WoW is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

I have two WoW picks today! One doesn't come out until the end of 2011, but the description sounds amazingly intense! Plus the cover is gorgeous. The other has a slightly shorter wait, as it's slated for release in March 2011, but there is only a short description. It's the cover that really draws my attention! HarperTeen outdid themselves with these two!

*EDIT: RIVAL's US release is actually Feb. 2011! Hurrah!*

Rival by Sara Bennett-Wealer

HarperTeen/2.11
Description (from GoodReads):
Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star.

Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a social leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship.
The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. As competition day nears, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation.
As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?

Steel by Carrie Vaughn
HarperTeen/3.15.11
Description (from GoodReads):
When Jill, a competitive high school fencer, goes with her family on vacation to the Bahamas, she is magically transported to an early eighteenth century pirate ship in the middle of the ocean.

Contest: Win a copy of Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George!

Bloomsbury has generously donated a copy of PRINCESS OF GLASS for  two lucky readers at The Hiding Spot!



Prizes:
(1) Finished copy of PRINCESS OF GLASS (for US winner)
(1) Arc copy of PRINCESS OF GLASS (for International winner)


How to Enter:
You MUST comment on my review of PRINCESS OF GLASS or the interview with Jessica Day George. (Only one comment is required.) Then you MUST fill out this FORM. If you neglect to comment on at least one of the posts or fill out the form, you will not be entered to win.


Extra Entries:
Not required. Extra entries are detailed on the entry form as well.
+5 entries - Comment on my review or interview (whichever you did not comment on for your original entry)
+5 entries - Comment on this post with a fairy tale or myth that you'd like to see retold.
+4 entries - Old Follower/Subscriber (Thank you!)
+2 entries - New Follower/Subscriber (Welcome! You will gain 4 entries in the next contest you enter at The Hiding Spot as an Old Follower/Subscriber!)
+2 Follow me on Twitter (@thehidingspot)
+2 Follow Jessica Day George on Twitter (@JessDayGeorge)
+3 Tweet this contest. (Leave a link.)
+3 Link this contest on your sidebar, in a post, or on FB. (Leave a link.)


Details:
Contest will close July 25th, 2010. Open Internationally!


Good luck!

Interview: Jessica Day George (Author of PRINCESS OF GLASS)!

Today author Jessica Day George visits The Hiding Spot. Her recently released novel, PRINCESS OF GLASS, is the companion novel to PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL and a retelling of the classic tale Cinderella.

____________________________________

A Brief Bio

Jessica Day George likes chocolate, knitting, books, travel, movies, dragons, horses, dogs, and her family. These are all things to keep in mind if you ever meet her. For instance, you could bring her chocolate to make the meeting go more smoothly. You could also talk about how adorable her children are, even if you have never seen them. You could discuss dog breeds (she has a Maltese named Pippin, and grew up with a poodle mix and a Brittany Spaniel). You could talk about Norway, and how it's the Greatest Place On Earth, and Germany, The Second Greatest Place On Earth. You could ask her about yarn, and indicate a willingness to learn to knit your own socks, if you can't already do so.

And, well, you could talk about books. Jessica's books, other people's books. It's really all about the books. To paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld, Friends, family, school, they were just obstacles in the way of getting more books.

She would like it if books came with chocolate to eat while reading them.

_________________________________________

The Interview

Give a short statement describing PRINCESS OF GLASS.

I've never wanted to do a Cinderella story, since it's been retold so many times (and so well), but I fell in love with the idea of putting one of my twelve princesses from PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL into another situation where she would have to dance. And what would be worse than just having to dance when you hated dancing? How about dancing in glass slippers? Ouch! Add in a fairy godmother who is decidedly evil, a handsome prince, and not one but two dark-haired girls in masks and glass slippers, and we've got ourselves a very interesting dilemma!

I love the originality of your novels and how each character has an unexpected, unique trait. As you read the original stories and tales, do the character and plot twists come easily or do they take time to develop?
Usually the characters come to me first, and I think, HEY! Isn't that the soldier from Twelve Dancing Princesses? What's he doing stuck in my head? Or: I think I want to do a retelling of East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon, where's my copy of the original? First I find the character, and the story they want to be in, then I look to the original for more ideas.


PRINCESS OF GLASS is a companion to PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL and some of my favorite characters from the first novel make an appearance in the second. I’m still not ready to let these characters go! Are you considering writing the stories of the other sisters?
Don't worry! I can't let them go, either! Let me put it this way: the princesses were divided into three groups: the older set, the younger set, and the in-betweeners. I've done the older set, I've done one about an in-betweener, which leaves us with . . . *wink, wink*


Can you tell us anything about your next YA novel?
My next YA novel will be the first book in a series about a world similar to ours circa WWI, but with the twist that horses are considered unclean and it is forbidden to even speak of them. Naturally the king of my England-esque nation is having a cavalry force secretly trained . . .

My blog is dedicated to my personal hiding spot, books. Who, what, or where can be credited as your personal escape from reality?
Oh, I'm with you on the books! I grew up in a rural area of Idaho where being able to escape into a fantasy story of dragons and castles and magic was my Christmas and dessert all rolled into one! It's all about the books, baby!

Thank you, Jessica! Be sure to check out my reviews of PRINCESS OF GLASS and PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week is rapidly approaching and I've decided, after much debate, to enter The Hiding Spot for two different awards. The word "best" scares me more than I care to admit, but I think BBAW is a wonderful event and I'm looking forward to participating, whether I place or not!

For more about BBAW, check out the website here. Registration closes July 7th, so there's still time nominate your blog for one of the many niche category awards.

The five posts linked below demonstrate that The Hiding Spot is qualified to be considered for Best Young Book Adult Blog.

1. My review of FREEFALL by Mindi Scott.
2. My review of THE TENSION OF OPPOSITES by Kristina McBride.
3. Recommendation/Top 10 Reasons to Read ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS by Stephanie Perkins.
4. Cover of the Week post (example) featuring RICH AND MAD by William Nicholson.
5. My first Playing Favorites post featuring Courtney Summers.

The five posts linked below demonstrate that The Hiding Spot is qualified to be considered for Best Author Interviews.

1. My interview with Angie Frazier.
2. My interview with Kristina McBride.
3. My interview with Tucker Shaw.
4. My interview with Tara Kelly.
5. My first Playing Favorites post featuring Courtney Summers.

Review: Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George

Title: Princess of Glass
Author: Jessica Day George
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pub. Date: 5.25.10
Genre: MG/YA
Keywords: Fairytale, Retellings, Cinderella, Love, Family, Hidden Identity, Magic
Pages: 257
Description (from GoodReads):
Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other’s countries in the name of better political alliances—and potential marriages. It’s got the makings of a fairy tale—until a hapless servant named Eleanor is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince. Ballgowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest from an author with a flair for embroidering tales in her own delightful way.


As a fan of fairy tale retellings, I'm always excited to hear that Jessica Day George is releasing a new novel. Her retellings always offer a unique twist, while incorporating small details that allow the reader to clearly identify the original tale.


With PRINCESS OF GLASS, George retellls the classic tale of Cinderella in a way readers have never seen before. George's version features a dark love triangle and a not-so-nice fairy godmother, causing my childhood perceptions of Cinderella's story to crumble. While PofG does have a more sinister feel than the original, I feel that younger readers will have no issue with its content. In my mind, PofG is more of a middle grade novel than young adult, though readers of any age will enjoy it.


Readers are briefly introduced to Poppy in George's PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL and I was delighted to find that she is PRINCESS OF GLASS' main character. Poppy is smart, independent, and skilled with a deck of cards. I definitely think that I better understood Poppy's motivations and attitude in PofG because I read PatMB first, but it isn't required to identify with Poppy or enjoy the novel.


I loved the villain in PofG. I think that this aspect of the novel was the element that made it truly unique. After all, who suspects the fairy godmother to be the villain? Even more compelling is the why behind her nefarious deeds.


The only part of the novel that I was bothered by was the prince. I found him to be exceedingly bland and extremely easy to manipulate. This unfortunately, ruined the romantic elements of the plot. I would have liked someone with a bit more fire for Poppy. Luckily, the rest of the novel made up for my disappoinment in the prince.


I highly recommend George's retellings. They're light, quick reads and always entertaining!


Grade: B


Cover Notes:
I must say, I liked the cover of PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL better than this one. This cover looks too MG for a YA novel, which probably explains, in part, why I feel like PRINCESS OF GLASS is more MG than YA.

Cover of the Week (14)

Cover of the Week is a weekly feature at The Hiding Spot, in which I share a cover that gives me that swoony feeling.

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley

HarperTeen/2.1.11

Description (from GoodReads):

Corrinne Corcoran’s upscale Manhattan life is perfectly on track—until her father announces he’s been laid off and she’s shipped off to Broken Spoke, Texas, to live with her grandparents. All alone in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the glamorous life she’s supposed to be living. But as she grudgingly adjusts—making new friends and finding romance along the way—this city girl begins to realize that life without credit cards and shopping sprees may not be as bad as it seems....

In this sparkling debut that flawlessly balances romance and humor, readers will grow to love sharp and sassy Corrinne as she goes on her totally reluctant but completely irresistible journey of self-discovery.

The first time I saw this cover, all I could think was cowboy. And then plaid.Since I happen to like cowboys and plaid very much. Once I had calmed down, I started to appreciate other aspects, like how the models' heads are tilted toward one another, but they still sit a respectable distance apart. I may be wrong, but this seems to hint that there may be some romantic tension.


I've been on a bit of a contemporary YA kick, so I was so thrilled to find this upcoming debut. It may have taken me a bit longer to find it without such an amazing cover, but I think I would have been pumped about it regardless!

Top 10 Reasons to Read ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS

About a month ago I received a box from Penguin. In this box were 16 arcs. One of these arcs was Stephanie Perkins' debut novel ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS. I'd heard of this book and I had read Stephanie's blog, so I was excited to get a copy. I had (have) loads of review books to read, so I put in on my bookshelf with all my other review copies, since it isn't released until December. A week ago, I was in the mood for a love story, so I picked up ANNA and slipped it in my bag. I was having a busy week, so I basically ended up carrying it around with me for days and didn't have a chance to actually start it. Two days ago, at midnight, I decided I was going to read a few chapters before I went to bed. I convinced the lovely Erica, of the Book Cellar, to read it with me, despite the fact that our review copy piles were glaring at us menacingly. Three hours later, bleary-eyed, I read the last few lines. And now, two days later, I'm still carrying it around with me. And no, I don't mean in my head, I mean LITERALLY. This book is so full of awesome that I can't let it go. I unable to stop talking or thinking about it. Which explains this fangirly post. If you aren't jealous that I've read this book, you should be. I'm not bragging, it's simply FACT. It's too early to write a review of ANNA, but I will give you 10 reasons this book should be on your to-be-read pile, if not preordered in your hand right this second.

1. Etienne St. Clair. I never thought this would happen, but St. Clair may have stolen my heart from John After (of Going Too Far by Jen Echols). The best part about St. Clair? He's flawed. And that just makes him more irresistable.
2. Anna. St. Clair is lusted after by nearly every girl at their school, but Anna doesn't compare herself to all those other girls or put herself down. Sure, she has flaws, she just doesn't focus on them constantly. 
3. The characters make mistakes. And then they acknowledge and learn from them. So many characters never actually acknowledge that they've screwed up. Acknowledgement is good.
4. Anna's best friend has a penchant for big words. Like callipygian. Look it up.
5. The romantic tension made my heart beat ridiculously fast. And my head almost explode. I live for romantic tension. Stepanie Perkins is my hero.
6. It's funny. Laugh out loud funny. There are books that make you say, 'Oh, haha' and then there are books that make you laugh aloud and turn to the person next to you and say 'Oh my gosh, listen...' ANNA is the latter.
7. There's a love rhombus. Even better than a love triangle.
8. It's real. There's happiness, sadness, anger, embarrassment... It's a love story, but it isn't all sunny days and rainbows, you see the storm too.
9. Etienne St. Clair. I think he deserves two spots on this list. Need more reasons to love him? He's an American who lives in France and has an English accent. I think that's reason enough.
10. I'm obsessed.

This book needs to be on your radar. But don't just take my word for it, Erica (The Book Cellar), Daisy Whitney (The Mockingbirds), Suzanne Young (The Naughty List) and Lindsey Leavitt (Princess for Hire) all agree. And it's been blurbed by some amazing authors:

"Very sly. Very funny. Very romantic. You should date this book."
— Maureen Johnson
(Truer words have never been spoken.)

"Imagine a mug of rich, thick hot chocolate. Now add a swirl of sweet whipped cream. Yummy? Oui. Well, Anna and the French Kiss is richer, sweeter, and—yes—even hotter. You're in for a very special treat."

— LAUREN MYRACLE, NYT bestselling author of Peace, Love, & Baby Ducks and Let It Snow
(I second that.)

So. Don't take my word for it... take theirs.

For more information about ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS see Stephanie Perkins' website! Be sure to check out her blog too, which is hilarious.

And hop over to Erica blog, The Book Cellar, for her fangirly post. (If you aren't already reading Erica's blog, you should. She's amazing in real life and online!) EDIT: Oddly enough, Erica and I didn't know what the other's post would look like. So the fact that we cite many of the same things only further proves this book's awesomeness.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go pet my copy.

Review: Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

Title: Sea Change
Author: Aimee Friedman
Publisher: Point
Pub. Date: 6.1.10
Genre: YA
Keywords: Mystery, Mermaids, Love, Family, Friendship, Secrets
Pages: 292
Description (from GoodReads):
16-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science...and not so great with boys. After major drama with her boyfriend and (now ex) best friend, she's happy to spend the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate.

There, Miranda finds new friends and an island with a mysterious, mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, friendship...and reality.
Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?

Aimee Friedman's SEA CHANGE is a quintessential summer beach read that features a big mystery and a dash of romance.

I have mixed feelings regarding Miranda, the main character. At times, I found her actions to be inconsistent and unwarranted, but, then again, she is only 16 and there's a lot going on in her life. The fact that Miranda has a scientific mind was a breath of fresh air. I love when my main characters are bookworms, but it was nice change. I think that Miranda's actions and attitude towards events and people would have been much different if she had been a reader and romantic like so many YA main characters are.

A good summer read always has a love story, so it's no surprise when Miranda meets, and falls for, the mysterious Leo. There is a bit of a love triangle and, while I think it was necessary for Miranda's growth, I felt for Leo. I felt like Miranda was silly for even considering someone other than Leo, but I think it made her face truths she would have avoided otherwise.

It's difficult for me to determine where SEA CHANGE belongs in the YA genre. It does have supernatural elements, so it isn't really contemporary fiction, but the supernatural elements, to be honest, aren't very prominent. There are hints of something mystical occuring, but it wasn't explored as much as I would have liked. For this reason, I think SEA CHANGE would definitely appeal to readers who are hesistant to read supernatural YA, but those who want a novel with strong supernatural elements may want to look elsewhere.

Grade: B

Cover Notes:
This cover fits the novel perfectly! It's gorgeous and I definitely approve of the models chosen to represent Leo and Miranda. 

Check out the guest post Aimee wrote for The Hiding Spot regarding her favorite summer reads... then enter for a chance to win her top 5 and your own copy of SEA CHANGE!

Upcoming Event: Kristina McBride and JT Dutton Signing!

Hey Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin Readers and Bloggers:

Kristina McBride, author of THE TENSION OF OPPOSITES, and JT Dutton, author of the newly released STRANDED, are signing in Ann Arbor, MI at the end of July. I'll be there with some other fabulous bloggers and I'd be thrilled to meet YOU too! For more information about the event, see below. If you're thinking of attending, leave me a comment or shoot me an email at thehidingspot@live.com. I hope you can make it!

Book Signing with J.T. Dutton & Kristina McBride

When:

July 24, 2010 02:00PM

Where:

Border's, 3140 Lohr Road, Ann Arbor, MI, The United States

More Info: HERE

You can find my review of THE TENSION OF OPPOSITES here and an interview with Kristina here.

More information about STRANDED and JT Dutton can be found here.

Waiting on Wednesday (31)

WoW is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine!

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
Flux/2.1.11
Description (from GoodReads):
Freak. That’s what they called seventeen year-old Donna Underwood in high school after a horrific fey attack that killed her father when she was just a child. Her injuries and rehabilitation resulted in magically enhanced strength, thanks to the iron tattoos branding her hands and arms. As a child of the alchemists, she is both blessed and cursed with a magical heritage that doesn't leave much room for boys, parties and homework.

Now, after ten years of wishing for a normal life, she finally has to accept her role in the centuries-old war against the darkest outcasts of Faerie: the Dark Elves. Aided by a gorgeous half-fey dropout, Donna must race to save her best friend’s life - even if it means betraying one of the world’s greatest secrets and confronting the very thing that destroyed her family.

Top three things that caught my eye as I read this description:
1. "centuries old war against the darkest outcasts of Faerie"
2. "gorgeous half-fey dropout"
3. "both blessed and cursed with a magical heritage"
Yup. Can you blame me for lusting after this one?

Contest: Aimee Friedman's Summer Reads Prize Pack!

Looking for the perfect summer reads? Aimee Friedman knows just the titles... and you have a chance to win all six novels here at The Hiding Spot!



Prize:
(1) Aimee’s Summer Reads prize pack, including paperback copies of Summer Boys, Rebecca, Something Borrowed, The Great Gatsby, The Princess Diaries and Sea Change!


How to Enter:
Fill out this FORM.


Extra Entries:
Not required. Extra entries are detailed on the entry form as well.
+4 Comment on Aimee's Guest Post.
+3 Tweet this contest. (Leave a link.)
+3 Link this contest on your sidebar, in a post, or on FB. (Leave a link.)


Details:
Contest will close July 14th 2010. Open to US and Canadian mailing addresses only. Sorry International readers!


Good luck!

All prizes dispensed by Big Honcho Media.

Guest Post: Aimee Friedman - Author of SEA CHANGE

Please welcome Aimee Friedman, author of SEA CHANGE, to The Hiding Spot. Her novel, which is full of romance, mermaids, and mystery, is perfect for a summer afternoon! Today, Aimee will share some of her favorite summer reads... and offer you a chance to win a prize pack of all 5 of her recommended reads and a copy of SEA CHANGE as well! Be sure to swing by La Femme Readers on Thursday for the next stop of Aimee’s blog tour!

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A Brief Bio

Aimee Friedman is the New York Times bestselling author of several books for young adults, including South Beach, French Kiss, Hollywood Hills, A Novel Idea, and, most recently, The Year My Sister Got Lucky. Born and raised in Queens, New York, Aimee attended the Bronx High School of Science, but she always wanted to be a writer, never a scientist. Though she does not know how to swim, she loves living on the island of Manhattan, where she also works as a book editor.

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Ice cream trucks on the corner, flip-flops on your feet, a lazy hammock swaying in the breeze… There are many pleasures of summer, but the greatest one may be having the time and leisure to read a really good book. You recline on your beach chair, prop a juicy paperback open on your knees, and sink into another world.


Of course, you don’t want anything too heavy or serious to interfere with the sunshine and mellow mood. It’s hard to choose, but here I present to you my top 5 summer reads:


• Summer Boys by Hailey Abbott
The first of a breezy, addictive YA series, this book should practically come with its own bottle of sunscreen. Three cousins spend a summer on the seashore in Maine, complete with heartache, bikinis, bonfires, and plenty of drama.


• Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
A summer romance that starts on the French Riviera and continues into the English countryside…and carries with it a seriously spine-tingling mystery. Something a little darker, for those thunderstorm days.


• Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin
Pure, delicious chick-lit, about two best friends and the betrayal that tears them apart one summer in New York City.


• The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
I know, I know. It’s potentially something you have to read in school…but it’s also a gorgeously written story of love, murder, and money set in the glamorous roaring ‘20s. One of my all-time favorites, in any season.

• The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
Be prepared to laugh so hard you’ll spit out your iced latte. This modern YA classic about a city girl who discovers she’s actually a princess is total escapist fun.


To see more of what I’ve read/am reading, friend-request me on Goodreads.


What are YOUR top summer reads? I hope Sea Change is on your list…

XO
Aimee

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Sea Change

Sixteen-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science...and not so great with boys. After major drama with her (now ex) boyfriend, she's happy to be spending the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate.

On the lush, beautiful island, Miranda finds new friends and a community with a mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, romance...and reality.


Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?

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Interested in spending your summer reading SEA CHANGE and Aimee's favorite lazy day picks?

One lucky winner will receive Aimee’s Summer Reads prize pack, including paperback copies of Summer Boys, Rebecca, Something Borrowed, The Great Gatsby, The Princess Diaries and Sea Change!

Check out the details HERE.

Cover of the Week (14)

Where the Truth Lies by Jessica Warman
Walker BFYR,  9.28.10
Description (from GoodReads):
On the surface, Emily Meckler leads the perfect life. She has three best friends, two loving parents, and the ideal setup at the Connecticut prep school where her father is the headmaster. But Emily also suffers from devastating nightmares about fire and water, and nobody knows why. Then the enigmatic Del Sugar enters her life, and Emily is immediately swept away—but her passionate relationship with Del is just the first of many things that aren't quite what they seem in Emily's life. As the lies she's been told start to unravel, Emily must set out to discover the truth regarding her nightmare; on a journey that will lead her to question everything she thought she knew about love, family, and her own idyllic past.

This companion novel to Warman's critically acclaimed Breathless proves that sometimes the biggest lies are told to the people you love the most.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. This cover is absolutely amazing and there is no doubt in my mind that if I saw it in a bookstore, I'd pick it up. The layout, the colors, the font: all perfect. Not only does it make me want to read WHERE THE TRUTH LIES, it reminds me that I need to read Warman's first novel, BREATHLESS, as well!

Huge Contest over at Kieran Scott's Blog!

Kieran Scott is hosting a huge contest over at her blog to celebrate the one month birthday of SHE'S SO DEAD TO US! I highly recommend Kieran's books, including those she's written under the pen names Kate Brian and Emma Harrison. Check out my review of SHE'S SO DEAD TO US here!






The prize pack up for grabs includes signed copies of:

She's So Dead to Us

Geek Magnet

and

I Was a Non-Blonde Cheerleader

PLUS

She's So Over Him (!!) - the sequel to She's So Dead to Us!

(This will be sent to the winner when it's released next summer!)

So what are you waiting for? Head over to Kieran's blog, here, for more details. The contest will close July 2nd, so hurry!

Review: Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

Title: Only the Good Spy Young
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Hyperion CH
Pub. Date: 6.29.10
Genre: Contemporary YA
Keywords: Spies, Romance, Family, Secrets, Lies, Action
Pages: 240
Description (from GoodReads):
When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. What she didn’t know was that the serious, real-life danger would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when she faced off against an ancient terrorist organization dead set on kidnapping her.

Now the danger follows her everywhere and even Cammie “The Chameleon” can’t hide. When a terrifying encounter in London reveals that one of her most-trusted allies is actually a rogue double-agent Cammie no longer knows if she can trust her classmates, her teachers—or even her own heart.
In this fourth installment of the New York Times best-selling series, the Gallagher Girls must hack, spy, steal, and lie their way to the truth as they go searching for answers, recognizing that the key to Cammie’s future may lie deep in the past....


The Gallagher Girls books are my guilty pleasure reads. Ally Carter never ceases to impress and ONLY THE GOOD SPY YOUNG is a wonderful addition to the series!


Sometimes, in series, there will be a book or two that serves as a bridge between more exciting installments, but this isn't the case with Carter's books. Each one is as action-packed as the last, there are more hilarious discussions and one-liners, and the plot is always twistier than ever. OTGSY delivers everything that I've come to expect from a Gallagher Girls novel... and more.


There were definitely some twists that I didn't see coming. And there were some twists that I thought I saw coming, but I was totally wrong. And while some readers might be disappointed after realizing they've jumped to the wrong conclusions, I was thrilled! I'm rarely surprised by novels and Carter's twists had me turned completely around.


For those of you who haven't read these novels, I assure you that there are always plenty of scenes with cute, smart boys. For those of you who have read the books, you know I'm referring to Zach. We learn a lot more about this spy boy in OTGSY, much to my delight! I can never get enough of his and Cammie's poking at one another! The tension and chemistry between the two is always fun and is definitely one of my favorite aspects of the novel.


Carter always ends each Gallagher Girl novels on a note that will torture me in months I spend waiting for the next book. She's always sure to wrap up what's just happened in the current novel and then she introduces something huge and then promptly ends the book. Which leaves me all wound up because I must know what happens next! The ending of OTGSY is no exception and I'm extremely interested to see how the next book will turn out. It's going to be so much different than the previous books... there are so many options for what could happen next!


I highly recommend all of Carter's novels, including the first in her new series, HEIST SOCIETY. They're always fun and filled with strong female characters and cute boys!


Grade: A+


Cover Notes:
I love the covers of Ally Carter's books! The titles are always clever and the ransom-note style is definitely fun. They look so pretty together on my shelf!