ALIENATED Launch & NOOK Giveaway!

Hey everyone! We're excited to be a part of Melissa Landers' launch week party! I've been looking forward to this book for a while, so I'm glad it's finally here. As I've mentioned several times before sci-fi/fantasy is my favorite genre to read, so this one is right up my alley. We're lucky to have a post from the author herself today, so without further ado, here's Melissa!

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Hey, fiction lovers. I’m author Melissa Landers, and I’m thrilled to announce that my debut YA sci-fi romance, ALIENATED, is finally available from Disney-Hyperion! Cue the dancers and toss the confetti, because it’s been a long wait!

                              

In a nutshell, ALIENATED is the story of valedictorian Cara Sweeney, who gets more than she bargained for when she agrees to host the nation’s first intergalactic exchange student, the gorgeous but emotionally-stilted Aelyx (pronounced A-licks) from planet L’eihr. The tone is light and humorous, but I explore some deeper themes as well.

What do reviewers have to say?

“The storyline is out of this world and character development paired with authentic voice is superb. Filled with intrigue and suspense, this book will appeal to both sci-fi and contemporary YA fiction fans.” –VOYA

“Interstellar relations heat up in this start to a new romantic science fiction series. Landers [explores] larger social, ecological, and ethical issues in this tense, fast-paced read.” –Booklist

“The perfect blend of sizzling romance, action, and suspense.” –#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Smart, funny, and epic. I am now awaiting contact from planet L’eihr.” Julie Cross, bestselling author of Tempest.

“Intergalactic exchange students? Yes, please! I fell in love with this story and couldn’t put it down.” Jodi Meadows, author of Incarnate.

If you like hot, swoony science fiction as much as I do, I hope you’ll give ALIENATED a try. It’s now available in stores and online.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1eHsLaf

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1dZqtBI

Book Depo (free international shipping): http://bit.ly/1hzxOfs

Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/1dfZHDW

To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a Nook Simple Touch. I’ll even throw in a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble so you can fill your new e-reader with whatever you want!

Now for the fine print: This giveaway is open to US residents only. (Sorry, international friends, but you need a US billing address to buy digital content on the Nook.) Due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.

Best of luck, and happy reading!

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information, or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.

 Check out the book trailer below:

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We're so excited to join in the giveaway! Use the rafflecopter below to enter!

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Top Ten 2014 Debuts We're Excited For

Hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish

Welcome, welcome (I hope you read that in your best Effie Trinket voice). Sarah's back this week! Yay!
This week we're discussing books by debut authors we're excited about. So let's get started.

Lindsay's (shockingly not limited to 10) selections, in no particular order:
To be honest, I've never really thought about debut authors as a topic, so this one took a little more research than normal. But once I got going, I couldn't stop myself. There's so many books coming out in the next few months by debut authors that sound AMAZING. I even created a shelf on Goodreads just for this.


Nil by Lynne Matson - expected release date March 4

Escape from the pretend island from Lost. Or ELSE.

Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman - expected release date April 22

Hitler's niece falls in love with a Jew? Intrigue.

Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy - expected release date March 18

Live like you are dying. And then don't die. See repercussions.

 Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge - expected release date January 28

Based on Beauty & the Beast. Also known as the movie with the library of which I'm totally jealous.

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige - Expected release date April 1

Another girl from Kansas? Aligned with the Wicked Witch? Awesome.

Hook's Revenge by Heidi Schulz - expected release date September 16

*Cover Not Available* But a story about Captain Hook's daughter seeking revenge? Yes please.

Alienated by Melissa Landers - expected release date February 4

I want this book like, yesterday. Aliens!

A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon Biggs Waller - expected release date January 23

Historical novel + Pretty dress cover = win

Salvage by Alexandra Duncan - expected release date April 1

Space!!

Landry Park by Bethany Hagen - expected release date February 4

You had me at Downton Abbey

The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel - expected release date April 29

She breaks up couples in high school. Sounds fun to me.

 Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas - expected release date March 11

I like the simplicity of this cover

 The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare by MG Buehrlen - expected release date March 4

Trips to the past? I love.

Sarah's Selections:

I'm baaa-ack! I decided to do a full ten of my own since I've taken the last few TTT's off. Of course all of my selections fall under the YA genre. However, I think my 10 are pretty diverse as far as YA Fiction goes. I do have some of the same picks as Lindsay because, duh, great minds think alike! Enjoy. 

1. Stollen Songbird (The Malediction Trilogy) by Danielle L. Jensen 

2. Far From You by Tess Sharpe

3. Half Bad (Half Life #1) by Sally Green

4. Wild by Alex Mallory 

5. The Girl Who Never Was by Skylar Dorset (No cover available.)

6. The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare (Alex Wayfare #1) by M.G. Buehrien 

7. Midnight Thief (Midnight Thief #1) by Livia Blackburne 

8. Nil by Lynne Matson

9. Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee (No cover available.)

10. Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira 

Thanks for joining us! What debuts are you the most excited about this year?

Top Ten New to Us Authors We Read in 2013

Hosted by: The Broke and the Bookish

It'll just be me (Lindsay) this week. Which is no problem whatsoever since I read SO many new authors this year. This is going to be easy. Too easy. And in no way will I be limiting my choices to 10. Shocking.  And normally I add photos of their books, but alas, with 17 books on the list, plus you know, a 3 year old who thinks I should pay attention to him, I didn't feel like doing it this week. However, I did link to their twitter accounts when available, so there's that. :)

Love the books. Smell the books.

So here goes, (in no particular order):

1. Sarah J. Maas (@sjmaas) I love, love, love her Throne of Glass series. If you haven't started it yet, do it. NOW. Bonus points for her online story with Susan Dennard (@stdennard)  The Starkillers Cycle.

2. Tahereh Mafi (@taherehmafi) I heart her. She's so quirky and I love her writing style. You should really follow her on twitter. And buy her new novella Fracture Me that comes out today.

3. Rae Carson (@raecarson). HECTOR!! I mean, you should read The Girl of Fire and Thorns series. Because HECTOR. The end.

4. Veronica Rossi (@rossibooks). I am anxiously awaiting the release of Into the Still Blue next month.

5. Leigh Bardugo (@LBardugo). STURMHOND. Need I say more?! Yes? I FREAKING LOVE this series. I need Ruin & Rising like now.

6. Rainbow Rowell (@rainbowrowell). Binge read all three books in 2 days. I like her books. Lots. See my review of Fangirl.

I wish books would just magically appear on my bookshelves.

7. Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner (@AmieKaufman & @MeaganSpooner) Uhh. you can read all of my gushing about their book here.

8. Diana Peterfreund (@dpeterfreund) I absolutely adore her adaptations of Persuasion and The Scarlet Pimpernel.

9. Stephanie Perkins (@naturallysteph) If you haven't read Anna and the French Kiss yet, you're really missing out. I even convinced my book club to read it soley so I could re-read it.

10. CJ Redwine (@CJRedwine) Rachel is one of my favorite heroines this year. So you should definitely check out Defiance.

They're all cool books.

11. Marissa Meyer (@marissa_meyer) Cause CYBORGS. Also, I NEED CRESS!!!!

12. Cynthia Hand (@CynthiaHand) Another binge read for me (I do this a lot). Loved her Unearthly series, and desperately wish it would continue.

13. Robin LaFevers (@RLLaFevers) Medieval female assassins? I'm in.

14. Tamora Pierce (http://www.tamorapierce.com/) I read the Alanna series soley based on Gillian's recommendation. Great story. Read all 4 books in about 3 days (see what I mean about binge reading? I have a problem)

15. Paul Rudnick (Goodreads profile) Gorgeous is up there with my favorite books this year. I should really, really do a review for it (thus giving me an excuse to read it again).

16. Sherry Thomas (@sherrythomas) The Burning Sky was a big surprise for me. I really enjoyed it.

17. AC Gaughen (@acgaughen) This was actually the first book I reviewed on this site. Can't wait for Lady Thief. Plus Scarlet + Rob = 4ever

Yeah. so 17 new authors I read this year (plus I know there's more. Several more). If you haven't read any of these authors, please check them out and give them a try!

Because I like big books. And I cannot lie.