Debut of the Month - All About Blaze + Giveaway

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Book Profile

Name - Blaze (Goodreads)
Author - Laurie Boyle Crompton
Genre -  Contemporary
Release Date - February 1st 2013

Blaze is tired of spending her life on the sidelines, drawing comics and feeling invisible. She's desperate for soccer star Mark to notice her. And when her BFF texts Mark a photo of Blaze in sexy lingerie, it definitely gets his attention. After a hot date in the back of her minivan, Blaze is flying high, but suddenly Mark's feelings seem to have been blasted by a freeze-ray gun, and he dumps her. Blaze gets her revenge by posting a comic strip featuring uber-villain Mark the Shark. Mark then retaliates by posting her "sext" photo, and, overnight, Blaze goes from Super Virgin Girl to Super Slut. That life on the sidelines is looking pretty good right about now...

Available - The Book Depository | Fishpond | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

The Insider's Scoop

While talking about Blaze in other interviews I’ve alluded to the fact that the first version of the book went in a very different direction and was rewritten considerably. I’m excited to share here for the very first time just how much of a drastic change the manuscript went through. The book was originally titled Fangirl and Her Subatomic Sweatmobile of Doom but that’s not the drastic part. That title could still work for this book. The big, huge, completely gigantic difference is that in the original version Blaze actually…wait for it… oh, and this is a little spoilerly, since after you read this you’ll know this isn’t what happens in the book, so you may want to stop and go read it first… but what I’m trying to tell you is that… in the first version Blaze actually… gets pregnant!

Yes, her encounter with Mark the Shark at one time ended with a positive pregnancy test! I’m sure you can imagine just how much of a different direction the book headed from that point on. Of course Blaze handled her situation with just as much humor and strength as she now handles getting slut shamed. It wasn’t easy for me to decide to make such a big change, especially since the original version was polished and ready to go at the time. Not to mention the fact that the pregnancy was, yanno… the whole plot of the book! But I’m so glad I went ‘back to the drawing board’ and rewrote the second half. It was the right thing to do and the two versions are still similar in many ways with serious issues adding weight to the light overall tone of the novel. I’m as happy with the results as Blaze was to get that now negative pregnancy test! I hope folks enjoy reading her story as much as I enjoyed writing it. And thank you so much for having me!

~Giveaway~

Laurie is giving away (1) SIGNED ARC of Blaze +Bookmarks!

Rule of Entry -

- US/CAN/AUS ONLY

- Ends 16th of March

- Must be 13 or older

- Optional Entries :

   * Leaving comment on either of Laurie's posts +1 each

   * Follow Me on Twitter +1

   * Follow Laurie on Twitter +1

   * Tweeting Giveaway +1

   * Follow Badass Bookie via GFC/Linky or RSS +2

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Badass Bookie xx

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Debut of the Month - All About Laurie Boyle Crompton (Blaze)

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Debutante Profile

Name – Laurie Boyle Crompton 

Debut – Blaze

Genre – Contemporary

Website– HERE

Facebook -  HERE

Twitter - HERE

Laurie Boyle Crompton's debut, BLAZE (or, Love in the Time of Supervillains), is available now! Her next book with Sourcebooks is titled THE REAL PROM QUEENS OF WESTFIELD HIGH and her novel ADRENALINE will be published by FSG/Macmillan in 2014. Laurie caught the writing bug back in high school while reading one of her essays aloud to her classmates. They laughed in all the right places and it was like the opposite of that nightmare where everyone laughs as you stand there in your underwear. It made her giddy with power and she’s been happily writing ever since. Laurie and her family split their time between Queens and New Paltz, NY.

Dream Debutante Dress - What fangirl wouldn’t love this dress with a built-in cape? And if there’s one thing Batman has taught us all, everything comes down to who’s got the coolest accessories. 

 

Laurie has truly gone all out with her debutante gown, not only has she picked a mysterious yet beautiful dress, she has also found a mask (of sorts) and shoes to match. All she's missing a secret identity :P

Notes from a YA Debutante

10 Things About Laurie: 

1. She’s very excited to be a Badass Debut! As a superhero fangirl she loves to think of herself as Badass in as many ways as possible!

2. She grew up in Butler, Pennsylvania the small rural town where Blaze also happens to live. This is not because she is too lazy to research new settings. Okay, that may be part of the reason.

3. She got the heck out of Butler as soon as humanly possible and now resides on Long Island close to NYC. But she loves to steal away upstate to New Paltz which is a town quite similar to Butler in many ways. The irony of this is not lost on her.

4. If she could choose one superpower it would absolutely be the power to fly. Like, honestly more than a grown woman should wish she could fly.

5. She graduated first in her class from St. John’s University. This is because she loves to read and was an English major and not because she is actually all that smart.

6. Among her numerous jobs she once wrote for a toy magazine and appeared on television as a ‘toy expert.’ Yes, it was every bit as cool as that sounds.

7. She and her husband lived in England for six months before having children.

8. She likes feeling jet-lagged and wishes she could travel overseas more often. Just for the jet-lag. And maybe for the travel, too.

9. Her absolute favorite author in high school was Stephen King. One of the minor characters in Blaze has a seriously twisted backstory as a result of this. Laurie will never tell anyone what that backstory is unless she maybe meets Stephen King one day and he asks her about it.

10. She painted her first car hot pink when she was seventeen years old. Blaze gives her minivan a similar makeover in the book. This was in order to pay homage to that legendary car and not because Laurie is too lazy to make new stuff up. She genuinely loves making new stuff up. 

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Bookie's Note: What a great way to kick start 2013 Debut of the Month! Laurie thank-you so much for agreeing to be a February Debutante! Out of all the jobs in the world, Toy Expert sounds like it has it's perks, I'm sure my brother would definitely agree :') I LOVE TO TRAVEL TOO and I'm not a whiner about jet lag either, I don't exactly loveeee it but hey, it's all gewd! When I get my car, I'm going to stick stickers all over it, not as badass as your idea but I guess I'm not that brave! :D

Remember to come back tomorrow to see the second half of Laurie's feature and for a giveaway! :)

Badass Bookie xx

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GIVEAWAY: Notes from Ghost Town + The Butterfly Clues

Hey everybody! Today I have a cheeky giveaway for all of you! To celebrate the release of Notes from Ghost Town by Kate Ellison, Egmost USA is giving one lucky reader the chance to win a hardcover copy of Notes from Ghost Town as well as the new paperback copy of The Butterfly Clues (which also comes out today)!

(Goodreads) They say first love never dies...

From critically acclaimed author Kate Ellison comes a heartbreaking mystery of mental illness, unspoken love, and murder. When sixteen-year-old artist Olivia Tithe is visited by the ghost of her first love, Lucas Stern, it’s only through scattered images and notes left behind that she can unravel the mystery of his death.

There’s a catch: Olivia has gone colorblind, and there’s a good chance she’s losing her mind completely—just like her mother did. How else to explain seeing (and falling in love all over again with) someone who isn’t really there?

With the murder trial looming just nine days away, Olivia must follow her heart to the truth, no matter how painful. It’s the only way she can save herself.

Purchase - Barnes and Noble | Amazon | Indiebound 

Kate Ellison spent a lot of time as a child, in Baltimore, pretending to be things she wasn't: a twin, a telekinetic, a benevolent witch with a box full of magical stones, a spy, a soccer player. She trained as an actor in Chicago and has walked across the entire country of Spain. She is a painter and jewelry-maker, and has at least one artist friend who really does keep his true name a secret from the world. He told her, but don't ask her to tell you—she's not gonna do it. Kate lives in Brooklyn, New York. The Butterfly Clues is her first novel.

Check out Kate Ellison's Blog - HERE

~Giveaway~

Thanks to Egmont USA one lucky winner will receive (1) ONE hardcover copy of NOTES FROM GHOST TOWN and (1) ONE paperback copy of THE BUTTERFLY CLUES by Kate Ellison.

Rules -

- US/ CAN ONLY
- Ends 28th February 

- Optional Entries :

   * Follow Egmont USA on Facebook - HERE

   * Follow Kate Ellison on Facebook - HERE

   * Follow Me on Twitter +1 

   * Follow Egmont USA on Twitter +1

   * Tweeting Giveaway +1

   * Follow Badass Bookie via GFC/Linky or RSS +2

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Badass Bookie xx

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The Handmaid's Tale

Review Time! A few months back I was contacted by a lovely publicist about reviewing books for The Folio Society, I've never actually heard of The Folio Society before but when I googled them, I came across this website and they have, no exaggeration, THE most beautiful books in the world. If you appreciate your classics, Folio Society is definitely a place to check out. All their books are finely made, beautifully bound, the artwork on the cover and between the pages are amazing and they all come in a lovely slipcase. Honestly, these are the most beautiful books I've ever seen. I'm so impressed that I'm raving! Thanks to the Folio Society for the review copy!

(Goodreads) Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining fertility, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now...

The Short Story? - While the story itself is speculative fiction, Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale rings with the fear of what could be. A realistic take on a society where a government is corrupted by religion, where women are breeding machines and playthings and where life is plagued with the fear of retributions. This is definitely not YA and that comes through in the plot and the writing. Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale explores prevalent ideas and themes and takes them to an extreme.

The Long Story? - This definitely isn't something I would normally pick up to read but I'm trying to break out of the YA bubble and become more cultured and where's a better place to start then The Handmaid's Tale? I thought this was a good book, different but good. It's written for a mature audience and even though it is fiction, there is truth behind the words. The world building was done very well, Atwood's Republic of Gilead was well created and I loved how Atwood's gives a play by play of how the United States slowly turned into this corrupted government that is powered by religion. At times I did think the novel was quite slow, there's a lot of thinking and reflecting and not a lot of action and movement which isn't what I would normally turn towards but there is something captivating about Offred's story. The ending leaves a lot of room for imagination and I like to think that Offred got a happy ending after all the hardships and pain she's gone through. I can see where people come from when they say this is a book about women's rights and feminism but ultimately about how religion is used to further power. Definitely a novel that stirs a lot of food for thought!

Some Pictures from Folio Society's Edition of The Handmaid's Tale

Offred as a character sums up the novel itself pretty well. A women in a society where the only value of women is in their ability to reproduce. She lost her family, her rights and her freedom and now lives her days as a plaything and breeding machine for powerful members of authority. It was a little hard to connect with Offred (name which literally means 'Of Fred', Fred being who owns her) at the start because she lacks personality. She almost seemed bland but as the novel progresses we start to see the rebellion and the anger brewing inside her. She dreams of small acts of rebellion and of change. Once I got to know Offred I thought she was a beautifully developed character. Atwood has managed to give her all these human qualities that make her realistic character such as maternal love and materialistic desire and the need for freedom. Overall, I thought Offred was a very symbolic character!

In the end, I didn't love The Handmaid's Tale, it's something that's completely out of my comfort zone but it was a very powerful book. It's one of those novels that even if you didn't love, it will make you think and it will stay with you for a long time. Poignantly beautiful, through Offred, readers see a society corrupted by religion and learn to appreciate freedom as it is. Atwood's novel of religious corruption, political injustice and women inequality offers readers honest speculative fiction!

What's it Worth? - Squeeze into the Budget

Badass Bookie xx

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Hooked

Review Time! Hooked by Liz Fichera is a 2013 YA Debut published by Harlequin Teen this month so if this sounds like your cup of tea make sure to head to your local bookstore and pick up a copy! There is nothing I like more than reading a frothy YA romance which wasn't quite what Hooked was but it was a great read nevertheless! You can purchase a copy of Hooked from Fishpond | The Nile | Booktopia. Thanks to Harlequin Teen for the review copy!

(Goodreads) When Native American Fredericka ‘Fred’ Oday is invited to become the only girl on the school’s golf team, she can’t say no. This is an opportunity to shine, win a scholarship and go to university, something no one in her family has done. 

But Fred’s presence on the team isn’t exactly welcome — especially not to rich golden boy Ryan Berenger, whose best friend was kicked off the team to make a spot for Fred.

But there’s no denying that things are happening between the girl with the killer swing and the boy with the killer smile...

GET HOOKED ON A GIRL NAMED FRED.

The Short Story? - While the blurb leads readers to believe that Hooked is just another typical frothy YA romance about two completely different teenagers falling in love, it's little more than that. Fichera's debut explores the unexpected chemistry between two teenagers of different racial backgrounds and how racism and prejudice play a role in keeping them apart. Fichera's debut definitely leaves a lot of food for thought for readers. Great use of YA contemporary to deal with heavier issues! For fans of Miranda Kenneally's Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker.

The Long Story? - Hooked had more to offer than what I thought it did, it wasn't quite as romantic and frothy as I thought it would be but I think swapping froth for the exploration of more meaningful issues wasn't all that bad. I am disappointed with the "less frothiness" but not too much that I didn't enjoy the book. I think Fichera did a great job incorporating racial prejudice into Hooked, it wasn't an in your face kind of book,  it was actually done quite delicately. I liked how the racial prejudice tied in with the love story, I thought that it made the book a little more relatable to readers because love causes many problems but it's also the only thing that can overcome all those problems too. Hooked was also very educating, I definitely learned a little more about the american indian heritage through the book. I also loved the sportswoman aspect of the novel, there is something appealing about female athletes as protagonists. It's almost like "YEAH GIRL POWER". I think fans of Miranda Kenneally's books will enjoy Hooked!

Personally I thought the characterisation let the book down a little, like I always say characters can make or break the book and in this case unfortunately, it was the latter. They weren't necessarily bad characters but they weren't amazing either. I guess I just couldn't find enough common ground to connect with them. I wanted to like Fred and there were parts of the novel where I did but overall I would have liked to see Fred gain a little more confidence and to stand up for herself. She was kind of the girl who just took the bullying and that's not cool with me. Even if you're different, it doesn't make you helpless. Ryan was probably my biggest disappointment of the book, I really wanted to like him and I know that he's a great guy but he is such a follower! It frustrates me to see people who know something is not right yet they're too cowardly to stand up to it! Ryan, quite frankly, needed to man up and he did (eventually), I just wish he found his balls a little sooner. There was definitely a little work to be done in the characterisation department but the characters weren't unbearable so that's something!

I did enjoy Hooked but not as much as I hope I would. I would say that I "liked" the book but I didn't fall in "love" with it and that's partly because I'm more of a frothy contemporary girl and partly because I just couldn't connect with the characters. It's weird because there are A LOT of bloggers and reviewers who absolutely adored Hooked and sadly I'm not one of them! It wasn't "quite" my cup of tea but I'm sure this novel will appeal to some of you. Don't let my review dishearten you from picking it up because it was good, it just wasn't right for me! I still commend Fichera of her excellent plot though, that was pretty amazing! :)

What's it Worth? - Squeeze into the Budget/ Hand Over the Paycheck

Badass Bookie xx

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Venom

Review Time! Venom by Fiona Paul is a 2012 YA Debut that was published by HarperCollins in December of last year! This cover probably threw you off because it's the AUS/NZ cover however this is the very same book as this one - CLICK ME. I've always had a thing for historical YA and I was super excited to dig into Venom, read on to hear about what I think! You can purchase a copy of Venom from Fishpond | The Nile | Booktopia | Bookworld Thanks to HarperCollins for the review copy!

(Goodreads) Cassandra Caravello is part of Venice′s wealthy elite. Her world is one of fabulous gowns, society parties and privilege, yet she longs for something more. While her fiancé is away studying in Paris, she has a chance meeting with an artist called Falco. He is attractive, audacious...and highly unsuitable.

When Cass stumbles upon the body of a murdered woman - with a bloody X carved across her heart - she′s drawn into a dangerous world of secret societies, courtesans and killers. Falco is quick to offer his assistance, but then another body is found and Cass starts receiving death threats... Is Falco more involved than she imagined? And will she be able to stay true to her fiancé, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for someone she′s not even sure she can trust?

The Short Story? - Definitely my favourite YA read of 2013 so far! Paul's debut novel is the perfect mix of mystery, thriller and romance. Deliciously dark and seductive, there is nothing more appealing than a romance set in renaissance Venice with a serial killer on the loose! Fantastic characters, good use of a love triangle (for once I approve!) and beautifully written. If you didn't think historical YA could be interesting, you are about to be proved wrong!

The Long Story? - There is nothing more appealing to a girl than a novel set in a romantic city and if it ain't Paris, Venice is definitely the next best thing. I absolutely adored Venom for multiple reason, Firstly the setting was very well done, I love Venice as it is but to make it renaissance Venice is just taking it to a whole new level. Add that to the culturally enriching plot filled with social hierarchy and the blossom of creativity, the whole book just gives off this strangely beautiful and seductive atmosphere. BUT WAIT, there more! Like the plot doesn't sound brilliant already, Paul comes up with the genius idea of throwing in a serial killer going around Venice and carving "x"s on girls chests, not to mention that the killer is on the hunt for our lovely protagonist Cassandra! Filled with mystery, suspense and one very delicious love affair, Venom is definitely a tantalising and spectacular read!

One of the most fascinating aspects of historical fiction is the use of social hierarchy. While we still do have a hierarchy of sorts, it's not as prominent as it was back in the 16th century Venice. I commend Paul on her excellent use of the social hierarchy to create 1) beautiful and realistic characters and 2) an utterly romantic but definitely forbidden romance. Cassandra was a great protagonist, while I'm not much of a fan for the name Cassandra (it's Venice, surely there are more romantic and unique names!), I am a huge fan of her personality. I liked how she didn't fit perfectly into society's expectations, I liked that she believed in love and I liked that she was brave and curious enough to investigate the murders. It was just very easy to connect with Cassandra, to grow to close to her as she grows to understand herself a little better. Falco was very charming and the whole "artist on the streets" aspect totally sold me! I did see the appeal in Falco and I thought his feelings for Cassandra were very real but I'm also very taken by Lucas who is very different from Falco yet charming in his own way. I don't know how Cassandra is going to choose between the two men because I'm having a hard time!

All in all, there isn't much not to like about Venom. Highly entertaining and periodically accurate ( I think, don't beat me with a stick if I'm wrong). Venom definitely has a little more to offer than your usual YA historical fiction. If you like novels about love and murders and Venice, Venom ticks all your checkpoints but also offers you so much more! I highly recommend this debut, Paul has truly outdid herself with this phenomenal start to a brand new series that I'm sure I will continue to love ! I can't wait for the sequel!

What's it Worth? - Hand Over the Paycheck/ Break Out the Piggybank

Badass Bookie xx

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In My Mailbox #61 (January Book Haul)

Hey guys, can you believe it's February already? :O Time is literally flying and before we know it, it's going to be 2014! I've got a book haul for you today, if you've been on my blog for a long time you'll know that I used to do book hauls every fortnight but I got really lazy so now it's a monthly book haul! In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren.

For Review - 

Night School Legacy - C.J. Daugherty

The Kill Order by James Dashner

Fearless by Cornelia Funke

Every Day by David Levithan

Disharmony by Leah Giarratano

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

The Prey by Andrew Fukuda

Prodigy by Marie Lu

Hooked by Liz Fichera

(Thanks to Hachette, Scholastic, Text Publishing, Penguin, Simon and Schuster and Harlequin Teen)

Bought -

Destined by Aprilynne Pike

What a great month! So many great books, I've recently finished reading Hooked and my review will be up Tuesday if any of you are interested in checking it out! :) I'm currently reading Prodigy and it's SO GOOD! Maybe even better than Legend! I can't wait to read Every Day and Through the Ever Night which I can hopefully include my February TBR! :D I also bought the last book in the Wings series by Aprilynne Pike, I love this series and hopefully I can finish it asap. 

Let me know what you got in the mail this week! Link me in the comments! :)

Badass Bookie xx

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