I have a little something special for you guys today.

Today is the first launch of the new book review bloggers –

The Bookanistas:

Books are the New Black.

I know what you’re thinking… what the heck are Bookanistas? Well, rest easy, because I am here to explain:

We’re a group of writers in all different stages of the publishing process that review super special books we that knock our socks off. The cool part is, because we’re writers too, and we know how tough this crazy business can be, we will only be posting positive reviews.

Because, dude- no one wants to read a review of a bad book, let alone write one. So, from the Bookanistas, you’ll see nothing but love!

On Thursdays, we’ll post reviews that cover various topics– upcoming ARCs, books we love, special diamonds in the rough, classics, and even cover reviews.

Look for the bookanista badge at the blogs of some of my favorite writing friends:

Christine Fonseca, Jamie Harrington (that’s me), Michelle Hodkin, Kirsten Hubbard, Shelli Johannes-Wells, Elana Johnson, Myra McEntire, Shannon Messenger, Carolina Valdez Miller, Coli Pinnell, Beth Revis, Lisa and Laura Roecker, Sarah Frances and Katie, and Scott Tracey

And, since earlier this week was Barry Lyga Rocks Day, and because Barry Lyga does, indeed, ROCK– I want to tell you about his fantastic new novel, ARCHVILLAIN.

First, let’s talk about the amazingness that is the cover–holy crap, this takes my font love to a whole new level. I want every book I ever write to have a title in that font *stops to email Mary Kole and ask if this can be put in all my book contracts* and I LOVE the color–it’s way cooler in person, all dark purple and full of fantasticness.

But enough about the cover–let’s talk about the STORY When Kyle’s being all pranktastic, he discovers an alien dude, Mike–and he has all these plans to foil Mike’s plans. Only problem is, everyone thinks Mike is some sort of hero, and Kyle has to play the part of ARCHVILLAIN.

And, you know how I LOVE a good villain story…

This book is awesome–READ IT!

And here are the bookanistas participating this week:

Katie and Sarah Frances – ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS

Elana Johnson – THE HEALING SPELL

Lisa and Laura – STRANDED

Christine Fonesca – NIGHTSHADE CITY

Shannon Messenger – LINGER

Shelli Johannes-Wells – DARK GODDESS

Scott Tracey – OTHER

Kirsten Hubbard – THE DUFF

Beth Revis – PEGASUS

Carolina Valdez Miller – MATCHED

Coli Pinnell and Suzette Saxton

The Bookanistas think books are the best accessory. If you would like one of us to review your book or ARC, feel free to contact me and we will add it to our list.

I’ve read a lot of dark books, but never anything that paints its dark. magical universe as vivid as Stacia Kane’s Unholy Ghosts.

It’s kind of thriller-ish in that it has you on the edge of your seat freaking out most of the time. Kane takes the ideas of religion and spins them around in this book, everyone in this world knows the church has all the power, but in a completely different way (I’m trying not to ruin it all for you!)

My favorite part of this book, though is the description of the world, you know how sometimes they say the world a character in a book? That is so true here! You know what, you don’t have to take my word for it. Stacia Kane has the first five chapters of Unholy Ghosts up on her website!

Go read this book… it’s amazing.

Forgive me for talking about the awesomeness that is Tera Lynn Childs yet again on my blog, but I just have to.

Now, let it be known that since a certain redheaded fish type sang all about she wanted to be part of MY world, I’ve had a thing for mermaids. They’re mysteriously beautiful, secretly coy, and they live in the SEA for crying out loud.

What could be cooler?

So, when Tera’s editor was giving away Advanced Reader’s Copies of her book, Forgive My Fins, on twitter. I pimped out my kid and her adorableness.

Yeah, her entire life is pretty much that awesome.

When I got this book in the mail I decided to wait until the evening to read it. You know, so I could be totally distraction free. I hopped into the bathtub and cracked it open.

OMG LOOK at that Cover, is that not the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen?

Well, turns out the tub was the perfect place to start this book!

Well, when I got all pruney, I still couldn’t put it down. There were magic kisses, mermaid spells, cute boys, swimming competitions. Oh man, I could go on and on. If you’re looking for the kind of story that starts out awesome, and just gets more and more awesome as it goes on, then you have to read this book. I actually cried at one point, and that’s saying something–because I have to be really IN to a story to shed tears, but it was so worth it.

With all the fast paced fishtastic scenes and steamy love, I had no choice but to finish the whole thing in one sitting. Because I love the book so much, and because Tera Lynn is so cool, I’m giving away mermaid mark tattoos (all the mermaids in the book have mermaid marks on the back of their neck) on the blog today.

I have five of them to give away, and I’ll give them to the people that make the best fish-type puns in the comments below!

Nothing fishy at all about it. (See what I did there, internet?) So, MAKE ME LAUGH I’ll mail YOU a TATTOO of adorableness!

I’m back! First, let me thank you for the kind words and offers to beta read. I got loads done, and I plan to take many of you up on your offers soon.

Today I have the chance to participate in one of the coolest blog parties I’ve ever been a part of.

An amazing group of bloggers is spreading the awesome by telling you what books you simply have to read. Many of them are even giving away the books. So check out the list here on Elana Johnson’s blog, and maybe you’ll learn a thing or two. Heck, you might even WIN something!

That’s right, it’s like a MEGA Super Books That Rock!

And so, without further delay, I give you one of my favorite young adult books:

The Splendor Falls

by Rosemary Clement Moore

This is a classic ghost story.

There are so many reasons I love this book, it’s scary when it needs to be, hilarious when you’ve had enough of the scary, and so sad at times it will make you cry (but in a totally good way.) The main character is a ballerina who can’t dance. She gets shipped off to Alabama where her deceased father’s family history ends up being more present than past.

Are you hooked yet?

You so should be.

The author, Rosemary Clement Moore, isn’t just any regular author either, she’s also my mentor. She’s been there for me every step on my publishing journey, and has talked me off a ledge more than once. I’m so lucky to have her, and so are you guys, because she’s giving away an autographed copy of Splendor Falls to one of my readers!

Wait, you missed that. Here, let me say it again:

Rosemary Clement Moore is giving away an autographed copy of Splendor Falls RIGHT HERE on this blog!

How do you win?

In order to be entered in the drawing, all you have to do is comment below!

• If you want an extra entry, well– just tweet about the blogs that are spreading the YA book love today!

• If you facebook or blog about how we’re spreading the awesome, then you can have an extra entry, as well.

(To make sure you get an entry for each cool thing you do, please leave them in a separate comment below.)

This giveaway ends on Friday at 11:59pmCST, and please don’t comment anonymously–I won’t be able to contact you if you’re the winner! This contest is open to EVERYONE, so International people feel free to enter!

Also, check out Natalie Bahm’s review of When You Reach Me!

For those of you who are new around here, I occasionally review books. And, since I know how much work goes into writing one–I only like to talk about the stories that made me fall in love with them. Who doesn’t love a book that rocks, right?

A couple of weeks ago, my twitter feed was all abuzz with one story. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins.  Well, I headed out to my local bookstore to pick it up–because everyone told me it was the kind of story I’d fall in love with.

And let me just tell you–they were right.

When you read YA Paranormal stories, you assume that most of the time if it’s a dark subject matter, then it won’t be fun and snarky. But, if I’m going to read an entire novel, then I want to laugh out loud at least three times.

Hex Hall made me laugh on like every other page. Even in the scary parts–now that’s talent.

What’s it about? Reform school for witches, fairies, shapeshifters, and such. How is that not enough to get you to go read it?

Oh, and the author’s pretty cool, too. She tweets too, and when I got her to follow me back, I considered it a personal win.

I read a great book while I was camping this weekend, Divine Misfortune by A. Lee Martinez.* It was cute without being too cute, fun without being too funny, and just all around awesome.

Now, I know this isn’t the normal kind of book I write about, but it was just too good NOT to mention to you guys. You see it’s all about goofy deities and plain ‘ol normal people–but of course it’s so much better than that.

Isn’t that cover freakin’ awesome? It totally tells the story in one shot, too. I just think it’s cute that the gods aren’t the gods we all know and love, and the monsters and such aren’t like the monsters we always read about–well, they ARE, but in a totally different and kick ass way.

Just go read the book. Trust me, it won’t disappoint.

*Sure, he says the A stands for Awesome, but he tells lies for a living… just sayin’.

I want to tell you guys about one of my favorite YA books, Oh. My. Gods. By Tera Lynn Childs. This book is funny, super cute and all about the romance.

The thing about this book is, I didn’t even know it existed. No one recommended it to me, I’d never heard of the author… I just happened to be in my favorite half price book store and this cover caught my eye. I picked it up, shrugged and thought, “Huh, this looks like the kind of book I might like to read.” That’s it… I didn’t read the book jacket or check to see if there was a blurb from another author. I just took it home and fell head over heels in cyber-stalking love with not only the characters, but the author herself.

It’s one of those stories that I snuggled into my comfy chair with, and pretty much didn’t get up until I’d finished it. That’s saying something about the awesomeness of a story considering I have a four year old who needs me to get up and get her like everything in the whole world.

There’s a sequel, too–and you will definitely have to read that as well…

Now, if I can just convince the author to come out with a third in the series.

As promised I am going to do some book reviews around here! I thought about how I’d do this for a long time, because here’s the thing… I know how hard it is to write a book. I know the time, energy and even love (oh yeah I said love–make fun if you must) that it takes to just get enough words to make a story. And that’s just the beginning…

The point I’m trying to make here is I want to tell you guys about the books I read, but I don’t want to insult an author if I didn’t love the novel. So, the answer is to only write about books that I thought were fabulous.

And without further adue… I give you the first Book that Rocks!

Food, Girls and Other Things I Can’t Have by Allen Zadoff is an amazing story. It has the perfect amount of uncomfortable with all the best parts of love and high school bullies mixed in. The thing about this book is, you can really tell the author had to dig deep and write the stuff that’s embarrassing to write. Which, in my book just makes him that much cooler.

So, if you’re looking for an awesome young adult novel with a really great male perspective then I highly suggest giving this one a read.