Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Two-fer-Tuesday Release Day!



Dang it! Where are my pom-poms? 



I need ALL THE POM-POMS for this post because we have not one but TWO amazing, fabtaculous Valentines books releasing today! 

Let me first tell you about THE BREAK-UP ARTIST by Philip Siegel. Phil is the token dude amongst the Vals.


See, when we first built the YA Valentines tree house, we were all like, “No boys allowed! Girls rule, boys drool!” But then someone pointed out that Philip is a great guy who wrote a hilarious, incredibly sweet book. So we took a vote and unanimously decided to let him in but JUST HIM. NO ONE ELSE. Plus he made us all brownies and that probably swayed the vote just a bit. Kidding, it was really all about his fabulous book. 

Congratulations, Philip!  
Happy Release Day!



Our other pom-pom-worthy release is by A. Lynden Rolland


Her book, OF BREAKABLE THINGS, is like … sigh.



It’s ethereal, otherworldly, lyrical.

OK, sure, it might occasionally scare you just an eensy-teensy bit, but in an ethereal, otherworldly, lyrical way so don’t worry too much. You'll love it. 

Do you want to know something else very cool about Amy? She's also a gymnastics instructor and she can actually do this: 





 And she can teach you how to do it too.


(Not me. I mean YOU. I’d break my coccyx if I tried that.)


What I’m saying is, she’s as amazing as her book.



Congratulations, Amy! 
Happy Release Day!


Oh, you lucky readers! You're in for such a treat with both of these wonderful books!

Hey! Look. I found my pom-poms. No wonder I couldn't find them before. I forgot they're invisible.





Oh hai *small voice* The above blog post brought to you by Kristen, AKA K-Snap, AKA K to the Snap, AKA @KlipMart, AKA BAMF. And this is Paula, just adding on because I was supposed to shake my invisible pom-poms for one of these books. But we didn't want to do two separate posts because I am lazy things are just more fun when you do them with friends. Maybe not that balance beam flip because, hello traction if I tried something like that. Also, I don't know how to make with the GIFs like Her Royal Snapness does, but maybe someday :-D Hi Kristen! Love yooooooou.

Anyway, THE BREAK-UP ARTIST will make you laugh, and it will make you think about love and relationships and trading in friends for significant others and how that's a bad plan. If you are cynical and jaded about romance (like moi) it might even make you tear up in places.

I have not had the pleasure of reading OF BREAKABLE THINGS yet because I must have drawn the short straw on the ARC tour or something, but I guess that just means I've got some shopping to do. What I can say is that Amy is so passionate about this story and committed to excellence as a writer that I have no doubt I am going to love it.

Thanks for stopping by to celebrate the birthdays of two more amazing YA books!








Friday, April 25, 2014

Cupid's Arrow: Where I profess my love for TEEN BLOGGERS & REVIEWERS

A very, very long time ago, I was thirteen years old. 

And do you know how I spent my free time?

I was getting my dance on--Astley style.

Rick Astley photo: Rick Astley rickroll1.gif

 I was drooling over a certain prime-time bad boy, 
(I even had an autographed fan letter. *sniffs* True story. #hatethegamenottheplaya)

Kirk Cameron photo: Kirk Cameron Kirk.jpg
  
 I was reapplying Clearasil,
trying to navigate ever-changing social structures, 
and sneaking peeks of R-rated movies.

Eddie Murphy photo: sexual chocolate sexualchoc.gif
For your youngsters our there, this is a clip from COMING TO AMERICA. A MUST SEE!

What I most definitely was NOT doing was reading unassigned books, reviewing them for the world to see, and promoting their authors at the top of my lungs without payment or any kind of legitimate threat. 


In other words, I was nothing like these amazing teens I've had the pleasure of getting to know over the last year: 




Eli  
(A still image for Eli was not available so I asked if I could use this .gif. He said, ...)

Theo James photo: Theo James- Josh giphy-2_zpsd1f05c16.gif

and, Nova.




Of course there are many more new millennium bloggers not included in this post, but please know that The Valentines love and appreciate all of you!!

Now, go forth and read books.
And do your homework. 

(Something I never have to do again. EVER! Mwa ha ha)



Tuesday, April 22, 2014

PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG Release Day!

For your ease and peace of mind, I have planned your day for you. Thoughtful of me, right? You're welcome in advance.

So, today, you are going to feast on whatever delicious breakfasty treats you love. Donuts? You get those jelly-filled powder-sugar-covered fried bits of heaven, you sexy beast, you. Pancakes? You grill yourself up some griddle cakes, you crazy mother, you. Bacon? Duh.

Next, dress yourself in your swankiest garb. Glitter? Heck to the yes. Sequins? But of course.

Next, plop yourself in your method of transportation. Bicycle? Strap on that helmet, you lover of safety, you. Car? Gas up, baby. Pegasus? Saddle that bad boy and hold on tight.

Next, get thee to the nearest bookstore. Barnes and Noble? Grab yourself a Frappe. Local indie? Extra whipped cream on that Frappe, you local-supporting badass, you.

Next, locate Anne Blankman's PRISONER OF NIGHT AND FOG. Found it? Of course you did. How could you miss this cover?


Grab up that glorious beast and skip yourself over to the checkout. Purchase that glorious beast. Read that glorious beast. Weep for that glorious beast, because it is perfection in the form of WWII historical wonder.

Then go wish Anne Blankman a HAPPY FREAKIN' RELEASE DAY!



(Or you can buy PRISONER online because letsfaceit who actually goes outside anymore.)

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Cupid's Arrow: Literary Hearthrobs

Bethany Hagen here, and today's Cupid's Arrow comes from Stephanie over at Chasm of Books, and she has dared a Valentine to profess their love of literary heartthrobs with an epic poem in the style of Beowulf.  I consider Edward Rochester my first boyfriend, so this arrow was a good fit for me.  Here follows an abridged (and hackneyed) attempt at Anglo-Saxon poetry.


Listen! The handsome men of book-pages call to us
with their knotted cravats and tight breeches.
We have heard of them, of the Fitzwilliams and Maxims,
The Heathcliffs and the Rhetts!
Their prowess in wooing goes unchallenged,
their square jaws and stern brows have
felled movie theaters full of women.
And how the avid readers swooned
when the marrying-question was asked,
at long long last.  How the pages were turned
when the kissy-face happened freaking finally.
Lo, these men have only walked Midgard
within the bounds of books, but yet
such male glory still beckons like the rosy-fingered dawn,
(which is also the color of Bingley's hair.)

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Happy Release Day to Kristi Helvig and BURN OUT!!

Y'all, Jen here, and I'm SO EXCITED!!! Today is a WONDERFUL day. Know why? Kristi Helvig's phenomenal BURN OUT releases today!!! 

Retrieved from
http://rainbowofstarsx.tumblr.com/post/71642256872



I LOVE this book. Tora is a gritty heroine who reminds me of a female Han Solo (which is incredible), and her story is filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing. 

Retrieved from
http://mifunes.tumblr.com/post/36679998646
Seriously, y'all, I can't wait for you to read this book. It's got danger, mystery, and space rebels. You know you want it!


Retrieved from
http://dimkabelikoving.tumblr.com/post/36357507124/he-certainly-has-courage


Fans of sci fi and strong characters, rejoice! I adored Tora, and I NEED more of her story! If you pick this book up, you're totally going to read on warp-speed. What are you waiting for? Start reading!!!

 
Retrieved from
http://tonyupton.tumblr.com/post/51985939821/the-millennium-falcon


The last girl on Earth…just got company.


Most people want to save the world; seventeen-year-old Tora Reynolds just wants to get the hell off of it. One of the last survivors in Earth’s final years, a teenage girl yearns to escape the wasteland her planet has become after the sun turns “red giant,” but discovers her fellow survivors are even deadlier than the hostile environment.

Get your copy now from Indiebound, Tattered Cover, B & N, BookBar and Amazon.


Congratulations, Kristi!! We're so proud of you! #Vals4Evah