Read All About It: News, Deals and Cover Reveals from Amy Plum, Kimberly Derting, James Dawson, Susanne Winnacker & More!

Here's a round up of the latest book news, deals and some cover reveals that I've discovered over the past few weeks!  It's also basically a digest of all the exciting news stories that come my way and which I've mostly already posted on my twitter and Facebook feeds, so if you want up-to-the-minute book news and you don't want to have to wait around for me to type this up, you can follow me on those sites!

 Like DaisyChainBookReviews on Facebook  ||   Follow  @daisychainbooks on Twitter and then you'll never miss a thing!

After the End by Amy Plum || Release date: May 2014

"She’s searching for answers to her past. They’re hunting her to save their future."

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They've survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she's trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

*******

The Taking by Kimberly Derting || Release date: April 2014

A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing.

When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day.

Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men.

Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

*******

Book Deals, Book Deals, Book Deals.... 

Book Adaptation for French Drama 'The Returned'  

Pan Macmillan has bought the rights to develop two books taking storylines from TV series "The Returned".
Tor UK editorial director Julie Crisp bought world rights in a six-figure deal from agent Ajda Vucicevic at Luigi Bonomi Associates, representing Zodiak Rights and Haut et Court TV.

The acquisition follows Pan Macmillan's publication of Scandinavian TV series "The Killing", developed by thriller writer David Hewson with screen writer Soren Sveistrup.

Macmillan Adult Books publisher Jeremy Trevathan said: "More and more the different areas of popular entertainment are drawing inspiration from each other and delivering wonderful experiences for readers, listeners and viewers. It's so exciting that we will be working with the creators of 'The Returned' to extend and adapt their amazingly compelling concept to turn TV gold into literary gold."

"The Returned" was aired by Channel 4 in the UK earlier this year, and has also been sold around the world include into Sweden, Turkey, Hong Kong, Australia and the US. The drama, set in a small Alpine village, sees a group of long-dead men and women attempting to return to the homes they left behind.

The novels will be adapted from the screenplays of the first two TV series by Pan Macmillan author Seth Patrick (author of Reviver). The first book will be published in autumn 2014, alongside the UK transmission of series two.

Captivating by Meredith Moore
 

Elizabeth Tingue at Razorbill has acquired Captivating, a debut YA novel by Meredith Moore, and a second novel. The first book tells the story of Vivian, who was raised with one goal: to exact vengeance on the man who broke her mother's heart two decades earlier. Vivian targets an innocent senior named Ben as part of the revenge plot, but as the plan is set into motion, she starts to uncover dark and deadly secrets. Alexandra Machinist at Janklow & Nesbit did the deal for world English rights.  
 

The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

Sarah Landis at HarperTeen has bought Kasie West's The Fill-In Boyfriend, about a girl whose boyfriend dumps her in the parking lot on prom night, so she grabs a "fill-in" date in order to convince her friends her boyfriend is real. Publication is tentatively scheduled for summer 2015. Michelle Wolfson at Wolfson Literary Agency brokered the deal for North American rights. 

********

More Book Covers of Awesome...

 

 Say Her Name by James Dawson || Release date: May 2014

Roberta 'Bobbie' Rowe is not the kind of person who believes in ghosts. A Halloween dare at her ridiculously spooky boarding school is no big deal, especially when her best friend Naya and cute local boy Caine agree to join in too. They are ordered to summon the legendary ghost of 'Bloody Mary': say her name five times in front of a candlelit mirror, and she shall appear... But, surprise surprise, nothing happens. Or does it?

Next morning, Bobbie finds a message on her bathroom mirror... five days... but what does it mean? And who left it there? Things get increasingly weird and more terrifying for Bobbie and Naya, until it becomes all too clear that Bloody Mary was indeed called from the afterlife that night, and she is definitely not a friendly ghost. Bobbie, Naya and Caine are now in a race against time before their five days are up and Mary comes for them, as she has come for countless others before... A truly spine-chilling yet witty horror from shortlisted 'Queen of Teen' author James Dawson.

*******

 Forget Me by K.A. Harrington** || Release date: August 2014

Morgan never minded her boyfriend Flynn’s dark and private nature. She found it mysterious and alluring. But now he’s dead, and she can’t move on. She feels much like her dying town, River’s End, with its overgrown amusement park and abandoned houses: once happy…now rotting away.

Hoping for some closure, Morgan uploads her only photo of Flynn to the social media site FriendShare along with a note to say good-bye. But she’s shocked when the facial recognition software suggests she tag him as Evan Murphy. She’s never heard of Evan. A quick search reveals that he lives in a nearby town and looks exactly like Flynn. Same eyes, nose, jawline. Only this boy is very much alive. Digging through layers of secrets, Morgan questions everything she thought she knew about her town, her boyfriend, and even her parents’ involvement in this massive web of lies.

Forget Me is a heart-pounding novel that draws you in and keeps you guessing until the very end.

**Kim Harrington (Clarity, The Dead and Buried) writing as K.A. Harrington

**********

 Welcome to the Dark House by Laurie Faria Stolarz || Release date: July 2014

What’s your worst nightmare?

For Ivy Jensen, it’s the eyes of a killer that haunt her nights. For Parker Bradley, it’s bloodthirsty sea serpents that slither in his dreams.

And for seven essay contestants, it’s their worst nightmares that win them an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at director Justin Blake’s latest, confidential project. Ivy doesn’t even like scary movies, but she’s ready to face her real-world fears. Parker’s sympathetic words and perfect smile help keep her spirits up. . . at least for now.

Not everyone is so charming, though. Horror-film fanatic Garth Vader wants to stir up trouble. It’s bad enough he has to stay in the middle of nowhere with this group—the girl who locks herself in her room; the know-it-all roommate; “Mister Sensitive”; and the one who’s too cheery for her own good. Someone has to make things interesting.

Except, things are already a little weird. The hostess is a serial-killer look-alike, the dream-stealing Nightmare Elf is lurking about, and the seventh member of the group is missing.

By the time Ivy and Parker realize what’s really at stake, it’s too late to wake up and run.

******** 

(Don't You) Forget About Me by Kate Karyus Quinn || Release date: June 2014

Welcome to Gardnerville.

A place where no one gets sick. And no one ever dies.

Except...

There’s a price to pay for paradise. Every fourth year, the strange power that fuels the town exacts its payment by infecting teens with deadly urges. In a normal year in Gardnerville, teens might stop talking to their best friends. In a fourth year, they’d kill them.

Four years ago, Skylar’s sister, Piper, was locked away after leading sixteen of her classmates to a watery grave. Since then, Skylar has lived in a numb haze, struggling to forget her past and dull the pain of losing her sister. But the secrets and memories Piper left behind keep taunting Skylar—whispering that the only way to get her sister back is to stop Gardnerville’s murderous cycle once and for all.

********* 
 

 Defector (Variants #2) by Susanne Winnacker || Release date: June 2014

(synopsis not included in case of spoilers. You can read it here) 

********

Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood || Release date: May 2014

A truly beautiful book about the summer that changed one girl's life, as her mum leaves home, travellers set up camp in the family's field, her older brother goes off the rails, and she falls in love for the very first time. Opening with a funeral, Iris is mourning the boy in the casket - but who is it? Sam, her tearaway brother, or Trick, her tentative boyfriend? Over one long hot summer, we find out just how their three lives were turned upside-down.

UK Covers for Infinite Sky

Read My Review of Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood 

***** 

How freaky cool is the cover for Say Her Name by James Dawson? Along with Welcome to the Dark House, I think I've got my reading for Halloween 2014 sorted already! I'm also really looking forward to the next book in the Variants series by Susanne Winnacker - love the Dimitri/Rose type relationship that's going on there. And, of course, new books from Amy Plum and Kimberly Derting are always a source for excitement!

What do you think of the latest round up of book deals and cover reveals?  Let me know in comments!

Please note that book covers may not be final and may be subject to change.  Additional sources:  PW Children's Bookshelf and The Bookseller.


 

 

Delightful Debutantes Revisited - Catching up with Kim Harrington!

It's been a while now since I started my Delightful Debutantes feature and I thought it would be fun to catch up with some of the original Debs and see how things have changed for them since their days as debut authors.  First up is Kim Harrington who has been very busy indeed since the release of her debut novel,  Clarity.  Future Debs Revisited include Amy Plum and Josephine Angelini, so stay tuned for those!

Fear not, this doesn't mean I'll be neglecting the 2013 Debs - I have a bunch of Delightful Debutantes interviews coming up over the next month or so including Sangu Mandanna (The Lost Girl) and Yelena Black (Dance of Shadows). Lots of fun!

------

Hi Kim! Let’s catch up on what’s been happening in your writing life since we last talked way back in early February 2011 – Wow! Time has flown! Since then you’ve seen the release of Clarity, Perception, no less than three books in your Sleuth or Dare series, and now The Dead and Buried. Phew! You have been busy. How has it all been?

It’s been amazing. I love writing for both teens and kids, and hearing from readers via mail or email has to be the best part of this job.

What has been your best author experience to date? I love hearing about the exciting events authors get to attend, the travel opportunities, the fan mail – tell me a little about some of the best author experiences you’ve had.

I’ve had a couple letters that brought me to tears. One was from a girl who was bullied in school and found courage in Clare’s strength. Another from young fan who hated reading until she tried Sleuth or Dare and now she’s hooked. She made me a bracelet! I love all my readers.

Original US Cover || US Cover || UK Cover

I’m really enjoyed The Dead and Buried. I just love haunted house stories! Let’s talk about covers because we’ve seen a lot of different cover looks for this one from the original cover, to the brand new cover look and the UK cover (where the book is also going to have a whole different title!). What is your favourite cover look, and why?

While I appreciate them all and their differences, my favorite was the original US cover because it was so spooky! But I like them all. I love the tagline the UK cover has—so cool.

Can you name other books/series that readers of The Dead and Buried might also enjoy?

I would recommend Rosemary Clement-Moore’s standalone supernatural novels (THE SPLENDOR FALLS, TEXAS GOTHIC, etc.)

Clare from the Clarity series is one of my very favourite characters (I love her snark and her spunk!). I miss Clare! Do you miss writing her? If you were to write a Clarity spin-off series what character would you choose to write about, and why?

I miss writing her so much. I think, no matter how many books I write in my lifetime, she might always remain my favorite character. If I were to write a spin-off, I’d love to focus on Perry. I think there’s a lot of depth to him that could be brought to the surface as a main character.

Finally, what upcoming 2013 titles are top of your reading wish list?

Oh my, so many! The ones that immediately pop into mind are THE DARK BETWEEN by Sonia Gensler, 17 & GONE by Nova Ren Suma, and THE NIGHTMARE AFFAIR by Mindee Arnett.

Thanks for having me!

My links:

 website – http://www.kimharringtonbooks.com

blog - http://kimharrington.blogspot.com/

facebook – http://www.facebook.com/kimharringtonauthor

twitter – http://www.twitter.com/kim_harrington

---------

Book Review: The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington.

Product details:
Publisher: Scholastic.
Hardback, 304 pages.
Release date: January 1st 2013.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: 12+
Source: Purchased.

A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller.

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school — until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?

Mean Girls meets Goosebumps in Kim Harrington’s The Dead and Buried, a chilling page-turner where things go bump in the night after the lights go out.

Think of haunted houses and you probably think scary old manors with cobwebs, creaky floorboards and basements of doom, right?  Not so in The Dead and Buried which sees seventeen year old Jade Kelly move, along with her family, into the house of her dreams. However, lurking just around the corner from dreams are nasty nightmares, and when Jade’s little brother Colby claims that he’s been talking to a girl that nobody else can see, Jade begins to wonder if there’s more to this house of dreams than meets the eye.

And, of course there is.  There’s a reason why Jade’s dad and step-mom got their new house at a knock-down price.  And there’s a reason why all the kids at school have been whispering whenever Jade’s back is turned – hint: it’s not only because she’s the new girl, it’s because she’s living in a death house.  Dun-Dun-Dun! Turns out that Jade’s little brother isn’t just being a freaky little kid after all.  There really is a ghost in the house. Meet Kayla. She wants revenge.

 Kayla Sloane wasn’t a nice girl in life, and I guess that’s why she’s such a nasty ghost, well, that and the fact that she wants to find out who killed her.  Yep – most people think that Kayla’s death was a tragic accident, but in actual fact she was murdered, and with her little brother at risk, it’s up to Jade to solve the mystery before it’s too late.

One of my favourite elements of Harrington’s work is her characters. Clare from the Clarity series remains one of my all time favourite characters, but Jade in The Dead and Buried is right up there too.  I like characters quirks. I like it when characters are not run of the mill – when they act like real people – with real interests and hobbies (here, Jade collects gemstones and I loved how Harrington wove this interest into Jade’s character and her past).  While I like a good romance, I like it too when characters are not wholly consumed by it, so while Jade catches the eye of two guys in particular, she always has time for her family and friends.  Because that’s how real life works, and that for me is why Harrington gets things right with her characters every time.

The Dead and Buried is fast-paced fun with the same blend of mystery and intrigue that made Kim Harrington’s Clarity series such a great read.  Confession: I guessed the culprit pretty early on in this one, but I still had fun dissecting the clues and seeing where they would lead.  I also think that younger readers or those who are perhaps so familiar with murder mysteries will be kept guessing right until the end. The Dead and Buried is certainly a page-turner. I’m a big fan of Harrington’s fast-paced, witty style and I love how she seamlessly blends contemporary style and settings with paranormal elements, making her books fun but spooky too!

UK Cover Alerts: The Killing of Kayla Sloane by Kim Harrington, Imposter by Jill Hathaway, Speechless by Hannah Harrington & More!

Here are some recent UK cover reveals that have caught my eye including new releases from Kim Harrington and Jill Hathaway. 

I've included the US cover counterparts where available, so tell me what your favourites are! Some of these UK covers are very different to the US looks (one of them even has a different name!), so I'll be interested to hear what you think!

******

The Killing of Kayla Sloane by Kim Harrington

Publisher: Scholastic

Release date: October 2013

Ages: 12+

A haunted house, a buried mystery, and a very angry ghost make this one unforgettable thriller.

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . .

But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things.

Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house . . . is haunted.

Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school -- until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets.

But is one of them a murderer?

US Cover Art:

The Killing of Kayla Sloane is the UK title of The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington.

*********

Imposter (Slide #2) by Jill Hathaway

Read my review of:  Slide

Publisher: Harper Collins Children's Books

Release date: April 2013

Ages: 14+

Be afraid of your shadow…

Vee Bell has witnessed murder. She nearly died trying to track down the killer, all because of her secret condition. She’d tell her best friend Rollins but lately he seems more interested in his colleague Anna than her. Maybe she should confide in her long-lost aunt who’s turned up out of the blue?

All of a sudden life is happening in reverse: Vee is waking up in weird places not knowing what she’s done. The only thing she’s sure of is that someone is messing with her. And when a prank goes horribly wrong, this time the hands with blood on them might be hers.

US Cover Art: 

*********

Speechless by Hannah Harrington

Publisher:  Mira Ink

Release date: February 2013

Ages: 14+

EVERYONE KNOWS THAT CHELSEA KNOT CAN'T KEEP A SECRET Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast--and nearly got someone killed. Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence--to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed, and even attacked is worse. But there's strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way. People she never noticed before. A boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

US Cover Art:

*********

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna

Publisher: Definitions

Release date: January 2013.

Ages:  13+

Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination – an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her ‘other’, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known – the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love – to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive ...

US Cover Art:

*********

 From What I Remember by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas

Publisher: Electric Monkey

Release date: January 2013

Ages:  14+

Life is nothing like you planned. Even when you've planned absolutely everything. Kylie Flores - class brain and movie addict - has been planning her big graduation day speech for three months. A scholarship student, she would never dream of mixing with the likes of Max Langston - rich, undeniably handsome and athletic, but totally dead from the neck up. So it's a total mystery when Kylie wakes up in Mexico, with the hangover from hell, in a bed she doesn't recognise, next to Max - and they are both wearing wedding bands...Rewind 48 hours to find out just how and why they got there!

US Cover Art: 

*********

So many lovely covers and I'm not done yet!

 Hold Your Breath by Caroline Green

Publisher: Piccadilly Press

Release date: June 2013

Ages: YA

Hold Your Breath features Tara who has telepathic powers, though they have only ever brought her trouble. However, when one of classmates, and enemies, Melodie Stone goes missing, Tara can't ignore the images in her head, and she sets out to find her.

Clark said: "Caroline is one of the best writers for young adults of the moment. Hold Your Breath is full of tension, mystery and real life drama. It will grip readers completely and this will be a read-in-one-sitting novel."

Source: The Bookseller. 

*********

 The First Last Kiss by Ali Harris

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 

Release date: January 2013

Ages: Adult.

How do you hold on to a love that is slowly slipping away from you? Can you let go of the past when you know what is in the future? And how do you cope when you know that every kiss is a countdown to goodbye? This is the story of a love affair, of Ryan and Molly and how they fell in love and were torn apart. The first time Molly kissed Ryan, she knew they'd be together forever. Six years and thousands of kisses later she's married to the man she loves. But today, when Ryan kisses her, Molly realises how many of them she wasted because the future holds something which neither of them could have ever predicted...

* Please note: These covers may not be final and may be subject to change. Images sourced from publishers websites, Goodreads & Amazon.  

Read All About It: News, Deals and Cover Reveals from Lauren Kate, Becca Fitzpatrick, Kiera Cass, Brodi Ashton & more!

Here's a round up of the latest book news, deals and some cover reveals that I've discovered over the past few weeks!  It's also basically a digest of all the exciting news stories that come my way and which I've mostly already posted on my twitter and Facebook feeds, so if you want up-to-the-minute book news and you don't want to have to wait around for me to type this up, you can follow me on those sites!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DaisyChainBookReviews

Twitter: https://twitter.com/daisychainbooks

And then you'll never miss a thing! 

****************

First up: Is this the prettiest  cover of them all?  Kiera Cass unveiled the cover for The Elite (The Selection #2) this week, and it is beautiful!

The Elite releases April 2013 from HarperTeen.  The synopsis is available on Goodreads for anyone who wants to read it.  I'm not posting here in case of spoilers for anyone who hasn't already read the first book!

Now down to the series business of book deals because book deal wise, this week was all kinds of exciting!

Lauren Kate Announces Teardrop:

Beverly Horowitz and Wendy Loggia at Delacorte have acquired a new series by Lauren Kate, author of the bestselling Fallen series for teens. The new series, called Teardrop, tells the saga of Eureka Boudreaux, a 17-year old Louisiana girl whose tears have the power to raise the lost continent of Atlantis. Delacorte will publish three Teardrop novels and three e-original short stories, all edited by Wendy Loggia; the first novel will appear in fall 2013. Michael Stearns and Ted Malawar of Inkhouse did the deal for North American rights. 

Becca Fitzpatrick Announces Black Ice:

Black Ice is a riveting stand-alone psychological thriller that takes place against the treacherous backdrop of the mountains of Wyoming. Seventeen-year-old Britt Pfeiffer has been training to backpack the crest of the Teton Mountains, but she isn’t prepared when her ex-boyfriend, who still haunts her every thought, wants to join her. Before Britt can explore her feelings for Calvin, an unexpected blizzard forces her to seek shelter in a remote cabin, accepting the hospitality of its two occupants—who then take her hostage. In exchange for her life, Britt agrees to guide the men off the mountain. As they set off into the storm, Britt knows she must stay alive long enough for Calvin to find her. But the task isn’t as straightforward as it seems. Finding one chilling piece of evidence after another, Britt uncovers the truth about a series of murders that have taken place in the region . . .  and in uncovering this she may become the killer’s next target.

Black Ice will be published in Autumn 2014 by Simon & Schuster in the US, UK and Australia.

Becca Fitzpatrick adds: "Black Ice is about a girl who backpacks the Teton Range over spring break of her senior year of high school, but things go terribly wrong. Like Hush, Hush, the inspiration behind Black Ice comes from my own experiences during my teen years. It's very satisfying to finally be working on a project that has been floating around my head for so long. And of course I'm thrilled to be working with Simon & Schuster again!"

Hot Key acquires The Elites by debut author Natasha Footman:

Hot Key Books publisher Emily Thomas has bought two books by 22-year-old debut author Natasha Footman, including YA fantasy novel, The Elites.

Thomas acquired UK and Commonwealth rights through Nicola Barr at Greene & Heaton, and described The Elites as: "an electrifying read, with strong elements of 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Hunger Games, but still unique-original and beautifully told".

She added: “We are so thrilled to have this book and the talented Natasha Footman on the Hot Key list.”

Here's more about Natasha and The Elites: 

‘There is a rumour that the Elites don’t bleed.’


Hundreds of years into the future, wars, riots, resource crises and sea-level rise have destroyed the civilisations of the Mainland, Red Nations and Afrika. One city – built by the Global Council to create a society of peace, unity and sustainability that they had hoped would serve as a model to the rest of the world – has survived. That city is Neo-Babel. Its population have lived within its walls ever since the disintegration of the rest of the world’s civilisations. No one enters the city, and no one leaves. Or so it seems.

Fifteen-year-old Silver has been brought up as an Elite, the Council’s programme for citizens with high-performing DNA. As a devoted Elite, she has never even thought about leaving the city – then she fails to prevent the assassination of Neo Babel’s president. And when her parents are kidnapped, she and her best friend Butterfly realise the only way forward is to get out and find them. What they find on leaving the city changes them forever, makes them grow up, and forces them to fight back against the city they have worked for and lived in all their lives.

Natasha was born in St Albans, Hertfordshire in 1990. She grew up living between the UK and Malaysia. Since graduating from the University of Cambridge with a Geography degree in 2011, she has been working as a fashion blogger (girlinthelens.com) and freelance writer. THE ELITES is her first novel and she has plans for a sequel.

Follow Natasha on Twitter: @girlinthelens

Penguin Acquires New Adult Title Reason to Breathe from Rebecca Donovan:

Penguin has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in The Breathing series by Rebecca Donovan. Rights were acquired by Lindsey Heaven, Senior Fiction Editor, from Alex Slater on behalf of Erica Spellman Silverman at Trident Media Group.

Author, Rebecca Donovan, self-published the first two books REASON TO BREATHE and its sequel BARELY BREATHING, which have since become Amazon bestsellers with ebook sales across the titles currently exceeding 100,000 copies. At one time in the States copies were selling 1000 copies/ day.

Penguin will publish Reason to Breathe and Barely Breathing in ebook on 8th November 2012 with print editions to follow in 2013. The final part of the trilogy OUT OF BREATH will launch mid-2013.

Rebecca is part of a growing number of newly-successful self-published authors who write about and for what has been coined a 'new adult' audience – namely young people, late teens to early twenties, who are transitioning into the modern adult world. This type of fiction is a natural progression from the successful young adult/ teen market.

'We are completely thrilled to welcome Rebecca to Penguin. Her writing speaks to young and new adult readers in such a personal and honest way. The series is an incredible combination of an innocent love, a brutal betrayal and unwavering hope that we already know readers have identified with in their thousands. We are very excited about bringing this to a even wider UK audience and making the Breathing series a bestseller here too' – Lindsey Heaven

'All I've ever wanted was to share Emma's story. Penguin UK/Razorbill is helping me spread The Breathing Series to a larger audience. For that, I am so grateful. This is an exciting time, and I'm expecting great things!' – Rebecca Donovan

Here's More about Reason to Breathe: 

"No one tried to get involved with me, and I kept to myself. This was the place where everything was supposed to be safe and easy. How could Evan Mathews unravel my constant universe in just one day?"

He knows there’s something more to the girl sitting in the back of the class the moment he sees her. She’s beautiful, intelligent, and athletic – but she slips quietly through the crowded halls, trying not to exist. Determined to get to know the elusive girl, Evan soon discovers…

Emma Thomas is hiding a terrible secret.

Reason to Breathe is an electrifying page turner from start to finish, a unique tale of life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and one girl’s fragile grasp of hope.

******************

See, I told you there was lots of exciting book news this week! And I also have more cover candy to share! 

First up is Neverfall by Brodi Ashton -- Neverfall is an Everneath Novella from Cole's point of view.  Neverfall will release in eBook form in December 2012. I haven't heard any news of a UK/Ireland release for this one yet, but I'm hoping we'll get it over here too as I was really intrigued by the character of Cole in Everneath and I'd love to get to know more about him, wouldn't you?

This week also saw the announcement of a cover change for The Dead and Buried by Kim Harrington.   I was a huge fan of the original cover for The Dead and Buried, and I have to say that I still prefer that one.  I'm not sure why the publishers decided to change the cover. At a total guess I would say that maybe the original cover looked a little too MG/less YA than they might have liked, but it was still a favourite of mine. What do you think of the new cover?  Do you love it, or do you wish they'd stuck with the original cover? << Click through the link to see the original cover!

That's it for the round-up! Let me know your thoughts!

Additional info was sourced from: The Bookseller, Publishers Weekly, BookTrade.Info and Goodreads.

Cover Alert: The Dead And Buried by Kim Harrington.

Oh boy, oh boy! I am SO super excited for The Dead And Buried by Kim Harrington.  This sounds like my perfect book (I live for scary haunted house books!!) and as an added bonus its only written by Kim Harrington author of the freakin' awesome Clarity series!

And if that wasn't enough -- check out the cover!! One word. Awesome!! I cannot wait to read this one!

No news on a UK release date yet, but I'll keep an eye out for any news on that!

The Dead And Buried by Kim Harrington

Publisher: Scholastic Point

Release date: January 2013

*****

Jade loves the house she's just moved into with her family. She doesn't even mind being the new girl at the high school: It's a fresh start, and there's that one guy with the dreamy blue eyes. . . . But then things begin happening. Strange, otherworldly things. Jade's little brother claims to see a glimmering girl in his room. Jade's jewelry gets moved around, as if by an invisible hand. Kids at school whisper behind her back like they know something she doesn't.

Soon, Jade must face an impossible fact: that her perfect house is haunted. Haunted by a ghost who's seeking not just vengeance, but the truth. The ghost of a girl who ruled Jade's school -- until her untimely death last year. It's up to Jade to put the pieces together before her own life is at stake. As Jade investigates the mystery, she discovers that her new friends in town have more than a few deep, dark secrets. But is one of them a murderer?

*****

Book Review: Perception by Kim Harrington.

Product details:
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Release date:  March 1st 2012
Hardcover, 288 pages.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: 12+
Series: Clarity #2
Other books in series: Clarity

When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.

Please note: There may be spoilers for previous books in the series in this review.

Perception, the sequel to Kim Harrington’s debut novel Clarity, picks up soon after the thrilling events of the first book which saw teenage psychic Clarity ‘Clare’ Fern solve a murder mystery and catch a killer.  Perception sees Clare dealing with the consequences of these actions, which are more far reaching than she could ever have imagined. Romance also takes center stage here as it’s time for Clare to choose between the boys who are out to capture her heart. Will she pick ex-boyfriend Justin, the guy who cheated on her, but also saved her life, or hot newcomer Gabriel, the new-guy-in-town with whom she shared a few hot summer kisses?  It looks like there could be third contender in the running for Clare’s affections too. Lately she’s been receiving messages from a secret admirer, something she doesn’t take too seriously at first, not until she hears news of a missing girl and her secret admirer turns sinister, leading Clare to believe that she might be a target instead of an object of affection. It’s time for Clare to solve another mystery…

Just like its predecessor Clarity, Perception is a fast-paced, exciting page turner; chock full of the same engagingly witty dialogue that made Clarity such a joy to read.  The love triangle is more prominent in this one, and we are able to find out more about both Justin and Gabriel, the two very different guys who are both totally into Clare. I didn’t really fall for either guy in Clarity, but here, even though I didn’t realize it almost right until the end,  I had picked a winner, especially when I found out a certain something about one of the guys . Was I happy with Clare’s choice?  Um, no, not entirely. I don’t think it’s the choice I would have made, but then, even though I love Clare as a character, I know that we’re very different people, and I guess that Clare’s choice makes sense for her right now. I’d like to see how it plays out in future books, though!

There have been a lot of changes in Clare’s life since we first met her, and these changes have seen her mature, and become a little more reserved than she once was.  Never fear though, her snark is still there even though she has to deal with problems at home in the form of her once fun-loving brother, Perry, who is now a virtual recluse, spending day after day locked away in his room, which causes their easy relationship to suffer.  The aftermath of the events in Clarity sees the kids at school treating her differently too.  She’s no longer labeled a ‘freak’ but is instead seen as something of a town hero, which, if you know Clare, just makes her feel like even more of a freak show!  Friendships are also changing, with new girl Mallory on the scene, and old friend Nate away at college and mostly absent here.  Aw, I missed Nate, I gotta say!

Of course this book is not all about love dilemmas and friendship dramas – there’s a mystery to be solved too! Perception revolves around a missing person’s case, but there’s also that creepy secret admirer whose eyes are on Clare everywhere she goes. *shudders*

While the mystery in Clarity kept me guessing right to the end, I did think that this one was more predictable, and in actual fact, I figured out what was going on here pretty much straight away. Hate when I do that!

When I read the final pages of Clarity I was pretty sure that Perception was going to revolve around the mystery of Clare’s dad. He’s mentioned quite a lot in Clarity, and I really wanted to know more about him and why he disappeared from Clare and Perry’s life, but sadly this isn’t explored in Perception.    Still, it’s not like I was hanging around waiting for stuff to happen in this book. When in the company of Clare, there’s never a dull moment, and I can safely say that Perception kept me entertained throughout.  I would love for this series to continue (I’m not sure if there are more books planned?) because there is so much more I want to discover about Clare’s world – not only those questions about her dad, but also the secrets of her psychic abilities, and, of course, Nate.  Out of all the guys Clare knows, I think Perry’s best friend is the one who interests me most; especially because of those none-too-subtle hints Perry has been dropping about him! More please!

Book Review: Clarity by Kim Harrington.

Product details:
Publisher: Scholastic Point
Release date: March 1st 2011
Hardcover, 242 pages
Rating: 4½ out of 5
Ages: 14+

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Exciting, fast-paced and thrilling, Kim Harrington’s Clarity is a paranormal murder mystery that will keep readers guessing right to the end. A stunning debut, this book is a breath of fresh air in a Young Adult market dominated by supernatural beings. Here, there’s not a vampire or werewolf in sight. Instead we are welcomed into the psychic world of the Fern family, and treated to a murder mystery with a dash of supernatural, a dash of romance, and some great plot twists to boot!

Clarity ‘Clare’ Fern is the feisty protagonist of this piece. No ordinary teenage girl, Clare’s summers consist of providing psychic readings for the tourists that flock to her hometown of Eastport, along with her medium brother and telepath mother. Being a psychic sounds pretty cool, but for Clare it has proven to be both a blessing and a curse. She’s labeled a ‘freak’ at school, and has discovered some dark secrets she’d rather not have known. However, when a teenage girl is murdered, and her brother Perry emerges as the prime suspect in the case, Clare is glad that she can use her gift to help track down the killer. Because there’s no way her brother could be a murderer, right? So begins this exciting page turner as we try to figure out the murder mystery along with Clare.

I loved this book in every way. Harrington’s writing style, engaging and effortless, is a joy to read. Summer settings in beach towns always add an extra special element to books for me. Add a sprinkling of paranormal activity, a compelling murder mystery and a complicated love life, and I’m totally sold! The characterization here is also wonderfully done. To truly fall in love with a story, I need to connect with the characters, and this happened here on a number of levels. First off, Clare is a wonderful protagonist. Some might say she is possibly her own worst enemy at times, but she’s also fierce and feisty, outspoken, sassy and brave, and so easy to relate to. I warmed to her immediately. I also loved the inclusion of family life in this book. Clare’s family is unconventional, yes, but they family are always there for each other and are as close as can be. That there is a parental figure in this book is a welcome inclusion, although Starla often struck me as a fragile character that had to be protected by her children. I have an inkling however that this might stem from a troubled past with Clare’s mysteriously absent father, a character who doesn’t appear in this book, but one by whom I’m so very intrigued!

Oh, and the boys! Clare has a complicated love life, with hot new guy Gabriel and ex-boyfriend Justin both vying for her affections. I have to say that I didn’t totally fall for either guy, so I have no clear winner here, although at times I found myself rooting for Justin, who seems very genuine in his affections for Clare, although he’s definitely not without his faults. And Gabriel well, he is a total hottie, but he displays certain behaviour that leaves a lot to be desired no matter how good-looking he might be! What I loved most about Clare and her complicated love life was the realistic portrayal of the characters. They display entirely normal teenage behaviour throughout the story. They mess up. They treat each other badly. There may be insta-attraction, but there is no insta-love. Soulmates are never mentioned. How refreshing!

As you might have guessed, I loved Clarity.  I was kept guessing throughout, and at no point did I guess the outcome of the murder mystery. I was also thankful that the book didn’t end on a cliffhanger, but instead, while the main storyline reaches its conclusion, we are given hints of something dark in Clare’s future, and also more clues on this mysterious father of hers. With this in mind, I am totally counting down the days to the release of Perception, the next book in the series. I can’t wait for more!