YA GIVEAWAY HOP!

Welcome to the official Young Adult Giveaway Hop! This awesome young adult hop is  hosted by Kathy of I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Amber of Down the Rabbit Hole.

There are almost 250 blogs signed up to participate. That means more young adult giveaways, more teen worlds, and more chances to win than you can shake a stick at!

For this hop, I am giving away…

{Give@way} Project Tell Taylor!

{Give@way} Project Tell Taylor!

WELLLLL - WE'RE WAITING WEDNESDAY # 25

What's your WELLLL- WE'RE WAITING book for this week?

Storm Born Graphic Novel Vol 1: or Storm Born (print)

Both worthy of a 5* review!

Eugenie Markham never asked for any of this. Until now, she’s been content with her job as a freelance shaman, battling and banishing Otherworldly creatures.
When a prophecy suddenly makes her the Otherworld’s most popular bachelorette, Eugenie finds herself fighting off unwanted supernatural suitors, as well as the evils that begin emerging from her past…
Eugenie Markham has spent the majority of her young life sending supernatural creatures back to their natural, magical habitat. Eugenie’s work day consists of the usual banishments and exorcisms, carried out with her trusty wand and with the help of protective, magic-infused tattoos. But something strange is happening to Eugenie and the creatures she banishes . . . her name is being bandied about and dangerous fae spirits are making untoward sexual advances. Something is going on with the Sidhe, and Eugenie is somehow in the middle of it all. . .

Published by: Sea Lion Books

Written by: Richelle Mead & Grant Alter

Art by: Dave Hamann

Coloured by: Nelson Cosention De Oliveira

Lettered by: Dave Lanphear

Cover Art: A- Jennyson Rosero; B- Dave Hamann

‘Dark Swan’ is the new graphic novel serial

 from Sea Lion Books, based on the series 

by urban fantasy author Richelle Mead.

I was lucky enough to get the chance to review Richelle Mead's DARK SWAN only days after reading the print  book.  I’ll admit, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I’ve always considered graphic novels to be only a step above a comic book ( sorry, hanging my head shamefully). I never realized that they could add so much to a story.
Really, though, I want the whole story, every single paragraph, word,  letter and punctuation mark. What reader doesn’t? Seriously, I never would have picked this up on my own. Well, slap me stupid! Boy was I in for a surprise. While I already had a mental picture of most of the characters (what reader doesn’t) in my head. I didn’t find a character at all in the GN that felt out of sync. The colors are bright and distinct while the characters were amazingly active for pictures. I’ve always enjoyed Mead’s vivid action scenes and thought this series would make an excellent movie.  Artist Dave Hamann brought these scenes alive with brilliant colors.
I’ve got to admit that I’m not real sure how much I would have enjoyed the GN if I hadn’t just read the book but the storyline was pretty much intact or will be with the addition of the next volume. While I think these graphic novels are a wonderful addition to the series, I just can’t imagine them replacing the books.  It would be a bit like seeing all the Harry Potter movies without cracking a book, and yeah, I know that are some people that do just that (shaking my head in disbelief).
While I’m more of a paranormal romance reader than an urban fantasy reader, this series manages to combine the romance with the kick-ass, take no prisoners makeup of the main character. I love the snarky mouth on Eugenie and the way she interacts with Kiyo, a very sexy shapeshifter, and Dorian, the Fairy King. Her three sidekicks also added greatly to the snarky humor in the book. I also greatly enjoyed the fact that I did not pick up on who the bad guy was till it was right in front of me. That alone adds an extra star to my review.
Luckily, I have the rest of the series in my TBR pile so bring it on guys!

THE CATASTROPHIC HISTORY OF YOU AND ME

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.
But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.
With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?


I'm the author of THE CATASTROPHIC HISTORY OF YOU AND ME, out from Dial/Penguin in February 2012! I grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, graduated from Vassar College, and spent most of my twenties editing books for teens and middle grade readers. I live in Brooklyn, New York, where I write full-time, dance interpretively, and dream of one day owning a sheepdog named Leo.
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I was lucky enough to get to read an ARC of TCHoY&M and unfortunately it only last a day. Wow! Never have 400 pages gone by so fast! When I first started it I knew I was in for a treat, when Brie ends up in a Pizza parlor while waiting to move on.  I had a few Beatlejuice moments when she was was handed the D&G (Dead and Gone) handbook  but this book is so totally unique that they were only flashes.  I was constantly grabbing a tissue to blow my nose and wipe my eyes when only moments before I was laughing out loud. It was amazing at the range of emotions that Rothenberg took me through, much like the 5 stages of grief that Brie had to go through.
The main characters, Brie and Patrick, were so very real and so likeable and one of my favorite things about the book was the music titles for each chapter. They really set the mood for each chapter and kind of gave you a hint of what was upcoming. And even though I don’t listen to music while reading or writing, if I was to reread this book, I’d likely set up the playlist in the background.
It's a sad romantic story that will make you think about your life,  family, friends, and loves. It’s a story that as a 14 year old I’d have stayed up all night reading and swore I was too sick to go to school the next day- “see mom, my eyes are so red and swollen”- just so I could finish it.  As an adult, I simply stayed up all night and napped the next day. I look forward to reading more by this awesome author. Good job!