Blog Tour (EXCERPT): Before You by Amber Hart

Some say love is deadly. Some say love is beautiful. I say it is both.

Faith Watters spent her junior year traveling the world, studying in exquisite places, before returning to Oviedo High School. From the outside her life is picture ­perfect. Captain of the dance team. Popular. Happy. Too bad it’s all a lie.

It will haunt me. It will claim me. It will shatter me. And I don't care.

Eighteen ­year ­old Diego Alvarez hates his new life in the States, but staying in Cuba is not an option. Covered in tattoos and scars, Diego doesn't stand a chance of fitting in. Nor does he want to. His only concern is staying hidden from his past—a past, which if it were to surface, would cost him everything. Including his life.

At Oviedo High School, it seems that Faith Watters and Diego Alvarez do not belong together. But fate is as tricky as it is lovely. Freedom with no restraint is what they long for. What they get is something different entirely.

Love—it will ruin you and save you, both.

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EXCERPT

Being tough does not scare Faith Watters. Time to change tactics. I relax and flash a grin.

“Mami, why don’t I help you loosen up a little?”

She blinks, but doesn’t show any outward evidence that my words have affected her. I move close, very close. When I look down at her, she doesn’t look away.

Her eyes remind me of stained glass, bright and cutting.

“We could have a good time, you and me,” I say, mischief punctuating my voice.

“I don’t think so,” she says coldly.

I will not let her upstage me. I give her a long, slow once-over. She dresses older than she is, like she doesn’t belong in high school. I wonder what makes her so uptight.

What are you hiding, chica?

I usually don’t have to try with girls. It’s one of the very few advantages life has thrown my way.

“Oh, come on. You might like Latino if you tried it,” I say, voice low. The guys behind me laugh, egging me on.

“When you’re done with him, I’m available, mamacita,” Juan says. “I don’t mind leftovers.”

She sneers. Good. That’s progress.

“Let me take you out,” I say.

I’m not really going to take her anywhere. I just want to make a crack in her icy shield.

Why do you have a shield, anyway?

“Why?” she asks suspiciously.

"Because it would be fun," I say.

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ABOUT AMBER HART Amber Hart grew up in Orlando, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. She now resides on the Florida coastline with family. When unable to find a book, she can be found writing, daydreaming, or with her toes in the sand. She's the author of BEFORE YOU, AFTER US, UNTIL YOU FIND ME, and sequel to UNTIL YOU FIND ME (untitled as of yet). Represented by Beth Miller of Writers House.

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My Favorite Books Read 2013

These aren't in a specific order, just in which order they come to mind.  I suppose whichever ones I remember first were better than the others, but now I'm getting all psychology nerd on you;)

1. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

I just finished this book tonight, so I won't have a review up for a little while.  I also have to do a book report on it and finish in one day because of my surgery interfering with deadlines. I'm giving you my little summary, but for the rest of the books on this list I am just linking my review where summaries can be found.

This is a nonfiction work about a woman named Henrietta, whose cells are still alive even though she is dead.  These cells have lead to amazing medical advancements like the polio vaccine and cancer treatment like Taxol, but her doctors took cell samples from her without her ever knowing.  These cells are extremely valuable for research even still today, and producing these cells called HeLa became a billion dollar industry.  But does her family get any of the money? They can't even afford health insurance.

2. Vain by Fisher Amelie

3. The Edge of Never by J. A. Redmerski

4. Just One Day by Gayle Forman

5. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

6. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

7. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

8. The Host by Stephenie Meyer

9. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston LeRoux

10. The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

11. Down London Road by Samantha Young

12. Wait for You by J. Lynn

13. Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

Hope you have a great 2014!

Review: Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles

Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama.

Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain--people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?

Characters:

Hello Derek, my new book boyfriend!  He may already be taken by Ashtyn (oops spoiler, but you should know that Simone Elkeles always tries to write happy endings), but he'll charm you too.  Derek is kind, despite what Ashtyn initially believes, and very witty! I love everything about him except for one particular fashion choice!!!!! I don't understand it! Derek found the perfect girl, Ashtyn.  That she plays football well and can handle the guys is really empowering.  I appreciate the presence of a strong heroine after reading another romance with an overprotective, authoritative male who suppresses the pathetic female lead.  I suppose I'm a feminist.  Regardless, Ashtyn still has insecurities and troubled feelings, showing her vulnerable side that people can relate to.  The rest of the Rebels squad seemed nice.  I only hated the haughty and selfish Landon McKnight!  What a loser.

Plot: 

If you like the Perfect Chemistry series, you will enjoy this. It is most similar to Rules of Attraction in that the hero and heroine live under the same room, and the girl is athletic and clever.  The ending seemed a little rushed, but reflecting, it had to be that way in order to be realistic and work with the rest of the plot. 

Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, I bought this book for a friend's birthday in fact!  I love anything by Simone Elkeles.  It's not as good as Perfect Chemistry, but you'll be laughing and saying awww throughout!!!!

View all my reviews

Simone Elkeles Signing!

My parents are the best.

And so is Simone Elkeles.

We drove an hour to Exton, got stuck in traffic, and then ate at this quaint, little restaurant before the signing.  We thought our timing was great, but that was not the case.

I was a half hour late to the signing because I thought it was at 7:30 instead if 7:00 for some reason.  I didn't know which questions were already asked, so I just didn't ask any.  I later found out the answer to my question on Twitter so all is swell.  

Simone Elkeles is hilarious and very personable! This woman is really serious about doing her research before putting out a book.  The stories ranged from visiting juvies for Return to Paradise to hanging out with cops.  

I got all of my books signed, and she took the time to talk and take pictures.  I appreciated this greatly as a huge fan. And with her intense tour schedule, this was super impressive! I wouldn't have been too fun to be around after all that travel.

I've finished reading Wild Cards, so a review should be up this weekend if I'm feeling really productive.  Go check out the book regardless!!! Simone Elkeles is fabulous ;)

Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles TV Show

I got an exciting email from Simone Elkeles, my favorite author today! I watched the episodes, and I have to say that I really enjoyed them.  It's definitely web show quality, but it's fun, and the characters are great.  I can't wait for the book and meeting Mrs. Elkeles on October 1st!!!!!Here is a copy of the email:

The Wild Cards Reality Show

I have huge, exciting news!  I know most of you have seen my old book trailers for Perfect Chemistry, Rules of Attraction and Chain Reaction.  If you haven't, you can always find them on my YouTube channel.  I love doing book trailers for my books, but this time I wanted to do something completely new that’s never been done before!  I created a mini REALITY SHOW book trailer for Wild Cards (books in stores October 1st).  

I hope you enjoy it!  These are only the first episodes.  THERE ARE GOING TO BE FOUR EPISODES TOTAL!!  I'm so excited for you to see all of them.  Episode 3 will be coming out in a little over a week.  Follow me on Facebook or twitter for updates and info on my books and the reality series.

It would be completely AMAZING if you would share the videos on Facebook, twitter, google+, your blog, and anywhere else!  I would love to see Wild Cards made into a TV SERIES, but it will take a ton of views, comments, likes and SHARES to make it happen!  So, share, Share, SHARE!

EPISODE 1

EPISODE 2

Unlock Excerpts of Wild Cards!

Share this widget from the Wild Cards Website and you can help unlock excerpts from Wild Cards!

Get this Poster!

Step #1:  Pre-order Wild Cards Step #2: Email your receipt to teensusa@bloomsbury.com Step #3: GET THIS POSTER FOR FREE!!!! The first 5,000 people to pre-order AND send in their receipt, will get this autographed poster. What is Wild Cards About? After getting kicked out of boarding school, bad boy Derek Fitzpatrick has no choice but to live with his ditzy stepmother while his military dad is deployed. Things quickly go from bad to worse when he finds out she plans to move them back to her childhood home in Illinois. Derek’s counting the days before he can be on his own, and the last thing he needs is to get involved with someone else’s family drama. Ashtyn Parker knows one thing for certain–people you care about leave without a backward glance. A football scholarship would finally give her the chance to leave. So she pours everything into winning a state championship, until her boyfriend and star quarterback betrays them all by joining their rival team. Ashtyn needs a new game plan, but it requires trusting Derek—someone she barely knows, someone born to break the rules. Is she willing to put her heart on the line to try and win it all?