2014 Debut Author Challenge

I am anxious to do this challenge again!!
Has anyone seen any buttons yet?


Here is my list:

2014 Debuts Read in 2014:
1. Faking Normal by Courtney Stevens
2. Side Effects May Vary by Julie Murphy
3. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge
4. My Last Kiss by Bethany Neal
5. Wish You Were Italian by Kristin Rae
6. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Page
7. Landry Park by Bethany Hagen
8. Pointe by Brandy Colbert
9. Kiss Of Broken Glass by Madeleine Kuderick
10. Don't Touch by Rachel M Wilson
11. Even In Paradise by Chelsey Philpot
12. Not In The Script by Amy Finnegan
13. Falling Into Place by Amy Zhang
14. Stitching Snow by R.C. Lewis
15. The Jewel by Amy Ewing
16. Summer On The Short Bus by Bethany Crandell
17.Damsel Distressed by Kelsey Macke 
18. My Life With The Walter Boys by Ali Novak
19. Rites Of Passage by Joy N. Hensley
20. Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
21. No Place To Fall by Jaye Robin Brown
22. 17 First Kisses by Rachael Allen
23. The Things You Kiss Goodbye by Leslie Connor






2014 Debuts Read Before 2014:
1.Far From You by Tess Sharpe
2.The Break Up Artist by Philip Siegel
3. Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas
4. Alienated by Melissa Landers




2015 Debuts
1. Love And Other Theories by Alexis Bass
2. When (Death Date) by Victoria Laurie
3. The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard 
4. My Heart And Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

Teardrop by Lauren Kate

Teardrop by Lauren Kate

Release Date: October 22, 2012

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 464

Summary:Never, ever cry...

Seventeen-year-old Eureka won't let anyone close enough to feel her pain. After her mother was killed in a freak accident, the things she used to love hold no meaning. She wants to escape, but one thing holds her back: Ander, the boy who is everywhere she goes, whose turquoise eyes are like the ocean.

And then Eureka uncovers an ancient tale of romance and heartbreak, about a girl who cried an entire continent into the sea. Suddenly her mother's death and Ander's appearance seem connected, and her life takes on dark undercurrents that don't make sense.

Can everything you love be washed away?

My Thoughts: Wow, I didn’t think I’d enjoy this one as much as I did! I really did and even though it was over 400 pages, I raced right threw it finishing it within a few days!

We are introduced to Eureka who just lost her mother. She ends up living with her father, his wife, and her two little siblings.  Things can’t be easy for Eureka. Her mother died in a supposed accident.

She also has two best friends named Cat and Brooks. I liked Cat. She was so spunky! I also liked Brooks most of the time. I could tell he and Eureka had feelings for each other but neither one wanted to really do anything about it. Scared of losing their friendship!

One day a mysterious boy hits Eureka's car. This starts a chain of events. His name is Ander and he knows Eureka quite well. He’s been watching her through her entire life. His mission; to eventually kill her! Eek!!!

Eureka isn’t who we think she is, or even what she thinks of herself. She’s a powerful person and she was taught at a young age not to cry thankfully! She’s never really cried and that is what has kept things stable.

Teardrop is a very complex book. There is so much going on I don’t even want to attempt to describe it. I just don’t want to give away spoilers. I loved this one, and I loved finding out every little detail and how it all adds up. To me, this was a wonderful book and I can’t believe I have never read anything by Kate before.

I loved discovering Eureka and Ander’s back-story. I loved how everything went down, but most of all, now I need the next book. I need to know what happens next.

This one had it all for me. Happy moments, cheery moments, but also lots of sad moments. I felt for Eureka. I understood her.

I also did really like Ander. It took a few minutes for him to grow on me but by the end, I was rooting for him alright.

Overall: Loved this one! Can’t wait to find out what happens next! I wish the next one was already released! Don’t you? I loved the plot and I loved all the characters!

Cover: Its pretty! I love the blue colors. Cute!! 

What I'd Give It:

Ashes To Ashes by Melissa Walker

Ashes To Ashes by Melissa Walker

Release Date: December 23, 2013

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 356

Summary: If I Stay meets the movie Ghost in this first book in a teen duology about a teenage-girl-turned-ghost who must cling to the echoes of her former life to save the people she left behind.

Ashes to Ashes is author Melissa Walker's sweeping, romantic, and emotionally rich story about the things that torment and tempt us, even from the Great Beyond. This book is perfect for fans of Die for Me and Imaginary Girls, and its breathtaking ending will leave readers anxiously awaiting the series conclusion, Dust to Dust.

When Callie's life is cut short by a tragic accident, she expects to find nothingness, or maybe some version of heaven.

Instead, her spirit travels to the Prism, an ethereal plane populated by the ghosts she thought were fictional. Here she meets a striking and mysterious ghost named Thatcher, who is meant to guide her as she learns to haunt and bring peace to the loved ones she left behind.

However, Callie uncovers a dark secret about the spirit world: The angry souls who always populate ghost stories are real, dangerous, and willing to do whatever it takes to stay on Earth, threatening the existence of everyone she ever cared about.

As she fights to save them, Callie will learn that while it may no longer beat, her heart can still love-and break.

My Thoughts: If I could give this one more than five cupcakes, I so would! I loved this!

We are introduced to Callie who has an amazing dad, an amazing boyfriend, and a super cool best friend! Her life is pretty good. Yes, her mom passed away years ago but overall she is happy.

But that all changes one day, while she’s on the way to see her boyfriend. Her dad has just bought her a new car and she really enjoys having it. She picks up the phone as she’s driving, talks to her boyfriend, and gets in a car wreck. This is so horrible!

She’s instantly thrown into this place known as the Prism. In this mysterious place, she meets a boy named Thatcher. Oh how I loved him!

Thatcher is to be her guide and help her help her loved ones move on. They must get past her death so she can move onto what's next; a sort of heaven. Thatcher has to help her give each of them peace and let them accept her death and move on with their lives. But of course things can’t be this easy. Callie meets a few friends along the way who haven’t moved on and don’t want too. Callie finds out there is a lot more to their story than she knows and they are connected to Thatcher as well.

I don’t even know what to say about this one. I loved it. I read it in one sitting. I don’t want to give everything away but Thatcher has a lot of secrets and so does Callie’s boyfriend on earth. He has his own secrets and a huge one he was planning on doing the night Callie died.

Callie gets to visit both her best friend and boyfriend and she gets to see what they are going through and how they are handling her death. She wants to communicate with them so much. I also liked seeing her go back to places she enjoyed. I liked seeing her interact with Thatcher. Love him!

The ending left on a cliffhanger and I wanted to chuck the novel across the room. I want the next in the series right this minute. I wasn’t that surprised on how it ended but it still made me angry enough to want to scream and demand the next novel. HAHA.

Overall: Loved it! I loved Callie and Thatcher and the way things ended really made me tear up. I’m scared she’ll lose him forever. I’m scared of how things could play out in the next one. I’m nervous about it all. I really enjoyed the plot and the characters. This was definatly a novel for me. One of my favorites!  Make sure to pick it up!

Cover: Love it! I can see Callie looking like that! And I love how she’s just standing there and I love everything!! 

What I'd Give It:

Small Town Sinners by Melissa C. Walker

Small Town Sinners by Melissa C. Walker

Release Date: July 19, 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 288

Summary: Lacey Anne Byer is a perennial good girl and lifelong member of the House of Enlightenment, the Evangelical church in her small town. With her driver's license in hand and the chance to try out for a lead role in Hell House, her church's annual haunted house of sin, Lacey's junior year is looking promising. But when a cute new stranger comes to town, something begins to stir inside her. Ty Davis doesn't know the sweet, shy Lacey Anne Byer everyone else does. With Ty, Lacey could reinvent herself. As her feelings for Ty make Lacey test her boundaries, events surrounding Hell House make her question her religion.

Melissa Walker has crafted the perfect balance of engrossing, thought-provoking topics and relatable, likable characters. Set against the backdrop of extreme religion, Small Town Sinners is foremost a universal story of first love and finding yourself, and it will stay with readers long after the last page.

My Thoughts: I love Walker’s books. I always have to read her newest. She’s one of my favorite authors.

I was looking forward to this one as soon as I heard about it. And it was good but not something I’d normally read probably.

We are introduced to Lacey Anne Byer who is a good girl. She obeys her parents, goes to church, does well in school. She’s pretty set in her ways since she was raised this way. She’s just “good.” She’s been brought up by the church so her thoughts are pretty set in stone.

New boy Ty comes into the picture and she realizes there is more to him than she thought. Ty brings out a new side of Lacey. She wants to do things with him, like kiss him. Not something she would normally think about.

I really loved Ty. He hit home with me from the beginning. I enjoyed the first scene with him and I enjoyed the last. He is what made most of the book for me.

Lacey also learns of a friend’s secret and its hard on her. And everyone else. I really liked Lacey’s friends. I knew there was more behind their stories too. People can be so complex.

I liked this one. I liked how they participated in Hell House and it made things interesting. Seeing the different thoughts of different people and how they can influence each other. However, I figured there would be more to Ty’s story and there was.

I enjoyed this one a lot but I also felt myself wanting to throw it across the room a few times. I didn’t agree with every single thing in the book and that is ok. I’m not going to go into detail because everyone has their own thoughts and I’m the first to say there is always more to the story than what we think.

I won’t lie, this one is pretty deep and its also pretty intense. If you don’t want to read about religion at all, this won’t be the book for you. It does concentrate on it quite a bit.

Overall: I still love Melissa Walker’s writing. I liked the characters. And, I liked the plot for the most part. Just because there were a few parts of the story that got my emotions running and that is ok, I still enjoyed it. Of course, I’ll continue to read Walker’s work! Love her!

Cover: I love it! I love the apple, and I love how she is just laying there. This cover is very neat and eye catching and its also realistic and raw. I like it a lot. 

What I'd Give It:

Shattered Souls (Souls #1) by Mary Lindsey

Shattered Souls (Souls #1)  by Mary Lindsey

Release Date: December 8, 2011

Publisher: Philomel

Age Group; Young Adult
Pages: 336

Summary: A thrilling debut story of death, love, destiny, and danger

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

My Thoughts: I had this one in my TBR for a while and I finally got the chance to read it!

We are introduced to Lenzi who hears voices and sees visions. Her dad went a little crazy so she is scared this is what is happening to her too.

She has a boyfriend named Zak who seems a little possessive. Lenzi meets another boy named Alden and she knows him from somewhere. He has been in her visions.

Lenzi learns a lot more about Alden and who she really is. Turns out, she’s been around a long time but in different forms (people). Lenzi helps lost souls find peace. Lenzi and Alden have been close for a long time and have been in love but couldn’t really do anything about it.

I liked this one, I did but I just have a hard time relating to reincarnation type books. They seem interesting enough but I just can’t ever really get into them, or at least yet.

I liked Alden but I did not like Zak. He was just too controlling and I didn’t really like his personality.  He just wasn't my favorite.

I liked how Lenzi would help people and I liked seeing the outcomes from that. But I never really connected to the characters or the plot very well. I think it was an interesting story and if you like reincarnation and ghost stories you’ll probably enjoy this one more than I did.

I liked it enough, it just wasn't my favorite book of the year.

Overall: It had an interesting premise and I did finish it. It was an alright book! I can see where some people will absolutely love this one but it wasn't the right one for me at the time I guess. I just felt like I couldn’t fully connect with this one. Probably more of a 3.5 cupcake rating!

Cover: Like it! I do like the flower petals and how adorable it is!! 

What I'd Give It:

These Broken Stars (Starbound #1) by Aimee Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

These Broken Stars (Starbound #1) by Aimee Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Release Date: December 10, 2013

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 384

Summary: It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone.

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help.

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever?

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

A timeless love story, THESE BROKEN STARS sets into motion a sweeping science fiction series of companion novels. The Starbound Trilogy: Three worlds. Three love stories. One enemy.

My Thoughts: I was really really looking forward to this one! And I enjoyed it quite a bit but not as much as I wanted too.

We are introduced to Lilac and Tarver. What cool characters! Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in their universe while Tarver is just a soldier. Nobody expected Tarver and Lilac to talk to each other but they do. They interact and then she quickly changes her mind. She doesn’t want anyone to think anything about it. So she ignores him. Bad choice.

Tarver and Lilac end up together in a pod (is that the right word?) on their way down to a mysterious place. A planet they know nothing about. They are pretty clueless about this place but they find they are the sole survivors of the ship they were aboard.

These  Broken Stars switches between both points of views so we get to experience what each of the characters thinks and feels.

Each character is dealing with their own personal demons and they have to face them, together. They have to rely on each other even though each one wants to be independent. But they are both afraid and learn to rely on each other.

As whispers start to haunt them, they must figure out how to survive and get home.

I want to say a lot more about this one but I feel like I’ll give everything away. I liked both Lilac and Tarver. Both of them were fun to read about. However, a few times I started losing interest in this book. I think because it feels really long even though its not.

But with each new chapter I found myself wanting to finish it and find out what happens.

I liked the characters, the plot was interesting, and it was a fun premise.

Overall: I enjoyed it but not as much as I hoped. I was hoping this would be a 5 cupcake rating; pretty close though. I will be continuing the series as soon as they are released!

Cover: Its beautiful!! One of my favorite covers ever! So pretty!! Love the colors and everything about it. 

What I'd Give It:

Racing Savannah (Hundred Oaks #4) by Miranda Kenneally

Racing Savannah (Hundred Oaks #4) by Miranda Kenneally

Release Date: December 3, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 304

Summary: They’re from two different worlds.

He lives in the estate house, and she spends most of her time in the stables helping her father train horses. In fact, Savannah has always been much more comfortable around horses than boys. Especially boys like Jack Goodwin—cocky, popular and completely out of her league. She knows the rules: no mixing between the staff and the Goodwin family. But Jack has no such boundaries.

With her dream of becoming a horse jockey, Savannah isn’t exactly one to follow the rules either. She’s not going to let someone tell her a girl isn’t tough enough to race. Sure, it’s dangerous. Then again, so is dating Jack…

My Thoughts: Another really cute and awesome novel! I think this one was one of my favorites by Kenneally!

We are introduced to Savannah who works with her dad. They are staying with a rich family and working on their farm, which has horses. Tons of horses. Savannah loves horses. She loves riding them and working with them. Savannah knows she could have a future with horses. As long as she doesn’t let anything else get in the way.

And that is where hot sexy Jack comes in. Of course there has to be a boy involved. And, he’s not just any boy. He’s the owners son and he’s handling the business this summer. Savannah knows she must stay away from him but its hard to do when she’s so attracted to him and he’s so sweet!

She really hits it off with one of the horses. He’s kind of a wild card and nobody has been able to stay on him and ride him but somehow Savannah manages to do just that!

As Savannah and Jack get closer, things get more complicated.

I loved this one!! I love the concept of this one. I loved all the characters, even the characters we get to meet again! And I love this one takes place on a farm and I loved all the side characters as well. And I adore Jack. I loved seeing him and Savannah get close!

This was my favorite of Miranda’s yet! I can’t wait to see what else she writes.

Overall: Totally adored this one! So cute! So lovable! This one blasts all the others out of the water! Her best one yet!

Racing Savannah was one of my favorite reads of the year! You rock Kenneally!

Cover: Love it! Its amazing and totally fits! Love how she is just sitting on the fence, chillen! And I love how we can see the guy too! So cute. 

What I'd Give It: