Celebrating Debutantes 2014

Hello there. Welcome to Celebrating Debutantes 2014!

As promised, I am back from blogging and reading hiatus. It has been crazy, stressing, yet amazing and momentous two months. But now I'm back and look what I have for you, CD 2014!

If you would notice, the CD banner (and button) was slightly changed. My co-host Dianne from Oops! I Read A Book Again told me she couldn't join CD for now because she also have crazy (yet momentous, too, I hope) school and work. But the party must go on, right? So for now, I will be hosting CD alone with 25 wonderful debut authors of 2014.

Don't forget to grab the event banner or button and upload/post it on your social sites/blogs. Like the past CDs, you are going to earn big points on every giveaway for this! ;)

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May I present to you, the authors to look forward starting tomorrow until the end of December!

*These are tentative dates, first batch of schedule. More authors will be added soon. This is the complete schedule!

Schedule:

Format: Author (Feature) - Book
Click on the names to direct to their post.

December 1 - Michelle Krys (14 Random Facts + Giveaway) - Hexed

                    2 - Danielle L. Jensen (14 Random Facts + Giveaway) - Stolen Songbird

                    3 - Melissa Landers (Interview) - Alienated 

                    4 - Dahlia Adler (14 Random Facts + Giveaway) - Behind the Scenes

                    5 - Skylar Dorset (14 Random Facts + Giveaway) - The Girl Who Never Was

                    6 - Rachel M. Wilson (Interview) - Don't Touch

                    8 - Trisha Leaver (14 Random Facts + Giveaway) - Creed

                    9 - Stacey Nash (Interview + Giveaway) - Forget Me  Not

                    10 - Amy Ewing (Interview) - The Jewel

                    11 - Kat Ellis (14 Random Facts + Giveaway) - Blackfin Sky

                    12 - Stephanie Diaz (14 Random Facts + Giveaway) - Extraction

                    13 - Kendall Kulper (Interview + Giveaway) - Salt and Storm

                    15 - Kristin Rae (14 Random Facts) - Wish You Were Italian

                    16 - Annie Cosby (Interview + Giveaway) - Learning to Swim

                    17 - Bethany Neal (14 Random Facts + Giveaway) - My Last Kiss

                    18 - Sarah Raasch (Interview) - Snow Like Ashes

                    19 - Andrea Hannah (14 Random Facts) - Of Scars and Stardust

                    20 - Courtney C. Stevens (14 Random Facts + Giveaway) - Faking Normal

                    21 - Kat Spears (14 Random Facts + Giveaway) - Sway
                    22 – Jaye Robin Brown (Interview) – No Place to Fall
                    23 – Rebecca Yarros (14 Random Facts + Giveaway) – Full Measures
                    26 – Amy Finnegan (14 Random Facts + Giveaway) – Not in the Script

                    27 - Joy N. Hensley (14 Random Facts + Giveaway) - Rites of Passage
                    28 - Lex Martin (Interview + Giveaway) - Dearest Clementine
                    29 - Sally Green (Interview + Giveaway) - Half Bad

Thank YOU for being excited for this! I'm also excited to share the juicy bits about these cool debut authors! See you tomorrow for the first author to feature in CD 2014, Michelle Krys!

Book Review: My Second Life by Faye Bird

My Second Life

by Faye Bird

Genre: YA, contemporary

Published July 1st 2014 by Usborne Publishing

Source: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon * Book Depository
Local purchase/order: Fullybooked * National Bookstore

Blurb (Goodreads):

The first time I was born, I was Emma. 

I was beautiful. I had everything to live for. 

But I died.

Now I have been born a second time, and my previous life haunts me. Because in it I think I did something very wrong. I must find out what I did to Catherine. I must uncover the truth about Emma...

Intriguing, compelling, heartbreaking. 

What if your past life could shatter your future?

My Thoughts:

My Second Life has an interesting concept. I was excited to read this book, to unravel the mysteries, to know why the main character, Emma, had a second life and to be Ana, and what happened on her previous life. This is one of the books this year I'm excited to know the answers.

True to her word, Faye Bird made this book as an overall mysterious. I had been guessing the whole time and when certain events were clearly spelled out, my heart broke. I find this book sad, happy, and just emotional. It was also slow-paced and a little like running in circles. Although the tone of the book matches the overall outcome, I find the revelation lacking of something explosive. It was emotional, yes, but the impact of the truth and the overall story requires more, something to be worthwhile and be remembered.

I would recommend this book to contemporary readers who likes new concept, and realistic and drama readers.

*Thanks to Usborne Publishing for the copy of this book in exchange of an honest review!

Rating:

Blog Tour (Excerpt + Giveaway): The Young Elites by Marie Lu

Click here for the complete schedule.

Hello there, lovely reader! Although I'm currently on a hiatus, I didn't let this opportunity pass--to be part of the blog tour of Marie Lu's new novel, The Young Elites. Check out the excerpt and the giveaway below!

The Young Elites

(The Young Elites #1)

by Marie Lu

Published October 7th 2014 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers

Blurb:

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

EXCERPT

     “Adelina?”

     I whirled around at the voice. Behind me, the silhouette of a girl stood in my doorway – my sister, Violetta, still rubbing sleep from her eyes. She stared at the open window and the sack on my shoulders, and for a terrifying moment, I thought she might raise her voice and shout for Father.  

     But Violetta watched me quietly. I felt a pang of guilt, even as the sight of her sent a flash of resentment through my heart. Fool. Why should I have felt sorry for someone who had watched me suffer so many times before? I love you Adelina, she used to say, when we were small. Papa loves you too. He just doesn’t know how to show it. Why did I pity the sister who was valued? 

     Still, I found myself rushing to her on silent feel, taking one of her hands in mine, and putting a slender finger up to her lips. She gave me a worried look. “You should go back to bed,” she whispered. In the dim glow of night, I could see the gloss of her dark, marble eyes, the thinness of her delicate skin. Her beauty was so pure. “You’ll get in trouble if Father finds you.” 

     I squeezed her hand tighter, then let out foreheads touch. We stayed still for a long moment, and it seemed as if we were children again, each leaning against the other. Usually Violetta would pull away from me, knowing that Father did not like to see us close. This time, though, she clung to me. As if she knew that tonight was something different. “Violetta,” I whispered, “do you remember the time you lie to Father about who broke one of his best vases?” 

     My sister nodded against my shoulder. 

     “I need you to do that for me again.” I pulled far away enough to tuck her hair behind her ear. “Don’t say a word.” 

     She didn’t reply; instead, she swallowed and looked down the hall toward our father’s chambers. She did not hate him in the same way that I did, and the thought of going against his teaching – that she was too good for me, that to love me was a foolish thing – filled her eyes with guilt. Finally, she nodded. I felt as if a mantle had been lifted from my shoulders, like she was letting go of me. “Be careful out there. Stay safe. Good luck.” 

     We exchanged a final look. You could come with me, I thought. But I know you won’t. You’re too scared. Go back to smiling at the dresses that Father buys for you. Still, my heart softened for a moment. Violetta was always the good girl. She didn’t choose any of this. I do wish you a happy life. I hope you fall in love and marry well. Good-bye, sister. I didn’t dare wait for her to say anything else. Instead I turned away, walked to the window, and stepped onto the second-floor 

ledge.

***

GIVEAWAY!

- signed copy of The Young Elites

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also, don't forget to catch Marie Lu on November 22 or 23!

P.S See you on my comeback on December! ;)