Heidi Acosta was born on Long Island, New York. Moving around a lot when she was younger, she has lived in New York, Arizona, New York (again), Washington, Georgia, and Florida, in that order. Each place offered her something special, but she will always consider New York her home.
Heidi started writing as soon as she could spell. When she was three, Heidi’s mother gave her a copy of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods; thus beginning her lifelong love affair with literature.
Writing soon also became a form of therapy for Heidi, when she realized that no matter what was happening in her life, she could find emotional escape while writing. Some of her earliest stories featured her as a princess who explored new worlds with her horse Buttercup. If it sounds romantic, it wasn’t, there was no prince charming in those fairy lands (boys where yucky).
Heidi now resides in Florida with her husband, very active daughter, one hyper Chihuahua, two sweet cats, and one very fat moody cat.
Barbie Girl is the first Novel of Heidi’s new, four-book, Baby Doll Series: Barbie Girl, Barbie World, Doll Face, and Southern Sugar.

Gossip Girl or 90210 (the new version)?

Gossip Girl (TBW)

Red or Orange?

Red

Apples or Bananas?

Apples

The Hunger Games or The Mortal Instruments?

Hunger Games!

Harry or Ron?

Ron

Mac or PC?

PC

Good or Evil?

Evil

Superman or Batman?

Superman

Pens or Pencils?

Pens

 Italian or Chinese?

Chinese

Merlin or Once Upon a Time?

Once upon a time

Ken or Barbie?

Barbie of courses

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander’s whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father’s death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it’s up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington’s army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.



But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn’t long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive. 

In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight

Deception by C.J. Redwine

Published by Blazer and Bray

To be released on August 27th, 2013

The last night of summer is only the beginning.

Skye wants to meet the boy who will change her life forever. Seth feels their instant connection the second he sees her. When Seth starts talking to Skye at the last beach party of the summer, it’s obvious to both of them that this is something real. But when Seth leaves for college before they exchange contact info, Skye wonders if he felt the same way she did—and if she will ever see him again. Even if they find their way back to each other, can they make a long-distance relationship work despite trust issues, ex drama, and some serious background differences?

Teen favorite Susane Colasanti returns to the alternating-voice style of her beloved debut When It Happens in this Serendipity-inspired story about summer, soul mates, and the moments that change our lives forever.

All I Need is a book that I have been dying to read. Not only are the cover and synopsis gorgeous, but it totally radiates a Spring/Summer feel. Unfortunately, I didn’t like the book. I’m not going to even rate the book, because I found it a little painful to read, and it’s not fair of me to judge it when I only got about 50 pages into it.  But I am going to share my thoughts on it with all of you.

My first major complaint with All I Need was the relationship between Seth and Skye. They meet in the first chapter and decide they’re soul mates by the second. They knew each other for a whole two days, and then Seth goes off to college without saying goodbye. Any normal girl..or guy for that matter…would get. over. it. But, no. Skye is moping around 2 months later about a guy she knew for about 48 hours. Obviously Seth will come into her life probably a little later on in the book…but I honestly didn’t even make it that far. I didn’t find Skye..or Seth..to be very good role models. I wouldn’t want my kid reading this book and thinking that’s how they should act.

Another thing that bothered me is that I was really confused by how all of the teenagers acted and spoke to one another. I’ll be the first to admit that a lot of teenagers are freakin annoying. Not all of them! But some. It hasn’t been that long since I was a teenager…and trust me…I annoy myself thinking about it. But most teenagers don’t act the way that they are portrayed in this book. I thought that it was very exaggerated from an adults perspective.

I didn’t get very far in this book, so I cannot critique the middle or the ending. Things might have picked up later on, but I could not bring myself to finish. I think that younger teenagers may appreciate this book, but I would not recommend it to adults at all.

Pages: 240

Publication Date: May 21st, 2013

Publisher: Viking Juvenile

Rating: N/A

Brigid Kemmerer finds the time to write somewhere between caring for her family and working at her day job, but sometimes she ends up mothering her coworkers and managing her family. Storm: The Elemental Series is her first novel. Find out more about Brigid and the Elemental series on her website.

Author Interview:

Can you tell us about your newest book, SPIRIT?

Spirit follows the story of Hunter Garrity, who was trained by his father to kill full Elementals. Then his father died, and Hunter was left a bit directionless. When he met the Merricks, he learned that they weren’t the evil beings he’d been raised to kill. In Spirit, Hunter needs to make a choice about which side he stands on. This book isn’t really about Hunter finding love. It’s about Hunter finding himself.

I have to say I am SO excited to read about Hunter. What side of him will we get to see in this book?

Oh, you’ll see a whole lot of Hunter. Spirit is full of action and sexytimes. It was the riskiest book I can imagine writing, and I’m still a little nervous to see what people think.

I’m almost afraid to ask…will this be the last book in The Elemental series?

Nope! Nick’s book will be out in January 2014, with Michael’s book to follow in August 2014.

I know you have little ones at home. Does that make your writing process difficult?

No, because I leave the house and go to Starbucks. Really. Writing at home is almost impossible. Revising, however, I can do while feeding the baby with one hand.

In the first two books, there was a heavy topic on bullying. Is that going to be a main theme in SPIRIT or do you have something different planned?

All of my stories will have some element (ha!) of characters needing to figure out who they are and what they stand for. For Hunter and Becca in particular, their Element is the Spirit, and it draws people to them. Sometimes that means good attention, like when Hunter and Becca were attracted to each other. Sometimes it means bad attention, like what Becca experienced on the soccer field. And like Hunter experiences in Spirit.

I’m not expecting an answer, but I still have to ask. Who is your favorite brother?

I love them all! But I think I most closely relate to Michael.

I know that this is Hunter’s book, but will we get to watch Gabriel and Layne’s relationship progress more?

Hmm. Not too much. They do make an appearance, however. Simon, too.

And what about Becca’s dad? Will we see more of him?

Yes, for sure! He’s got a secret. You won’t learn the answer to it in Spirit, however…

What’s next after The Elemental series?

I’m contracted to launch a new series with Kensington, but right now everything is under wraps. Stay tuned!

When you finally have a chance to read, what’s next for you?

I read all the time! If I stop reading, I’ll lose my inspiration for writing. When people say they don’t have time to read, I think it’s a load of crap. I have a full time job, two kids, and two books to write this year. And I still find the time to read at least a book a week. I have a Kindle app on my iPhone, and anytime I find a spare minute, I’m reading. I was reading while stirring food at the stove tonight. Right now I’m reading I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga.

Too many secrets. Not enough time.

Nick Merrick is supposed to be the level-headed one. The peacemaker. Since it’s just him and his three hotheaded brothers against the world, that’s a survival tactic.

But now he’s got problems even his brothers can’t help him survive.

His so-called girlfriend, Quinn, is going quick as mercury from daring to crazy. Meanwhile, Quinn’s dancer friend Adam is throwing Nick off balance, forcing him to recognize a truth he’d rather shove back into the dark.

He can feel it—-the atmosphere is sizzling. Danger is on the way. But whatever happens next, Nick is starting to find out that sometimes nothing you do can keep the peace.

You guys…if you haven’t read the Elemental series by Brigid Kemmerer, then that’s your next reading assignment. I fell in love with her work last year in both Storm and Spark, and I was not disappointed with her novella, Breathless. This is a very short story, 65 pages in length, focused on Nick Merrick. Nick’s been in all of the books, so far, but we’ve never really got to get up close and personal with him. And this….this was just…. WOW. I did not see this coming from a mile away. We get to learn about Nick’s deepest, darkest secret. Let me tell you…it’s a good one!

I didn’t realize just quite how much I liked Nick’s character before reading Breathless. But he’s a keeper! I’m really excited to learn more about him in his own book, Secret, which comes out January 28th, 2014 from Kensington Teen. I’m making my prediction right now that Nick’s book will be my favorite out of the whole series…and that’s simply based on this novella.

I don’t read very many novella’s, and I’m assuming that that’s pretty standard for most of you who are reading this. Actually….I can’t think of another novella that I’ve read. I’m sure that there has to at least be one out there. Anyways, this has convinced me to read more novella’s in the future. LOVED IT! If you’re new to the series, I would read them in the correct order. However, you could read Breathless without reading any other books/novellas by Brigid Kemmerer. Wonderful read!

Pages: 65

Publisher: Kensington Teen

Publication Date: April 30th, 2013

Rating: :