Miss Page-Turner's City of Books

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Words of Love: Teaser The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting + Jay's Love Letter

February 9th: Valentine's Day Themed Posts: Overview
February 11th: Top 10 YA Crushes
February 12th: Top 10 Most Romantic Moments & Love Declarations in YA Part 1
February 13th: Top 10 Most Romantic Moments & Love Declarations in YA Part 2
February 14th: Valentine's Day Reads: His & Her Edition

February 15th: Words of Love: Die For Me by Amy Plum Outtake + Love Note

February 16th: Words of Love: Book Review Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson + Love Note

February 17th: Words of Love: Hunting Lila & Fated by Sarah Alderson Love Notes

On Valentine's Day Kimberly Derting posted this THE LAST ECHO teaser on her blog. Click here. I so cannot wait for this next novel in the THE BODY FINDER series!

But do you know what I'm even more excited about?? A VALENTINE'S DAY LOVE NOTE BY JAY!!!!!!!!!! Jay <3

I love Jay so so much and cannot thank Kimberly Derting enough for writing this super amazing love letter. It makes me love Jay even more, if that's even possible!!! What do you say?

To read the love letter scroll down!!!

The Last Echo Teaser

Jay grinned, reaching for one of the cups. Violet sat down on the curb, just like they used to do as kids, and lifted her straw to her lips.

“I’m glad you came,” he said, serious now, following her lead and dropping onto the curb beside her.

Violet leaned against him, just enough so their shoulders were touching, and felt a different kind of spark, the kind forged from years of connection. This was where she belonged. This was where she should always be. With Jay.

“So how was your appointment? With the shrink?” He was frowning as he looked down at her, his lips already turning red. His face creased with worry.

“It was good,” she said, taking a long pull from her own straw and swirling the sweet, syrupy ice around her tongue. “It—it helped to talk to him.” She didn’t tell Jay about the pills Dr. Lee had given her, the ones in her pocket, pressed against her thigh at this very moment. Pills felt like failure to her. Like admitting she couldn’t handle this on her own. That willpower wasn’t enough . . . even though, clearly, it wasn’t. “But, you know, I still don’t feel great. I was hoping that seeing you might make things . . .” A tiny smile tugged at her lips as she shrugged. “. . . better,” she finished.

She knew he’d understand what she was telling him: that the echo of the dead girl was weighing on her still.

After a hesitant pause, Jay set the wax-coated cup on the sidewalk next to him. He leaned down and pressed the barest whisper of a kiss against the top of Violet’s dark curls. Despite the icy sensation of his lips, heat unfurled in Violet’s belly, licking through her. “I hate this, you know.” Absently, he reached for her hand, lifting it and flipping it over as he studied her palm. His thumb ran along the grooves there, and then his eyes moved up to meet hers. “I hate that you have to do all this without me. Maybe it would be better if you spent less time there . . . with them.”

Violet wished he’d just say it, what he really meant. “He’s not that bad, Jay. He’s just trying to help.” She knew that neither of them was talking about Dr. Lee now. This was about Rafe.

She looked at him, taking in a face that was almost more familiar to her than her own. His golden features, his warm eyes, his slightly too-long hair with the faintest curls dropping past the tops of his ears and brushing his neck. He looked so hurt, so vulnerable, and she blamed herself.

He touched her cheek; his hand was as cool as his lips had been. “I just worry that he’s careless. I don’t know if I trust him, Vi.”

“He saved me once. What more do you want?”

“I want to know that he’d protect you the way I would if something happens. That he has your best interests in mind.” And then he sighed, a ragged, defeated sound. He ran his hand through his already rumpled hair. “That’s a lie. I want my girlfriend to stop spending so much time with another guy. I wanna know that you two don’t share some sort of bond because of what you can do. But what I really want is to know that he doesn’t have feelings for you.”

Violet was speechless. She had no idea how—or what—to say to any of that. She could defend her relationship with Rafe by saying that they only worked together, but it wouldn’t matter. Partly because she’d be lying. Of course they shared a bond, one Jay could never truly understand. And she certainly wasn’t going to quit the team because of that.

But it was that last part, the thing about Rafe having feelings for her that really made her pause. Rafe didn’t like her, not in the way Jay meant.

Fortunately for Violet, she didn’t have to speak because Jay wasn’t finished yet. “But, honestly, you know what bothers me more than anything?” She shook her head, and he continued, his voice so low it sounded like a whisper rumbling up from his heart. “It’s that I can’t do anything for you when you’re in this kind of pain, Vi.”

Eyes wide now, Violet released the shaky breath she’d been holding.

Jay leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers while he scooped up both of her hands and squeezed them tight. As their breath mingled Violet wondered when she’d set her own cup down. They remained there like that—like marble sculptures—frozen nose-to-nose, mouth-to-mouth.

Then she felt his lips move against hers, and she closed her eyes when he whispered, “I wish I could make things better. I wish I could stop you from hurting.”

Love Note From Jay to Violet

Violet,

I don’t know if there was an exact moment when I first knew that I loved you, but I can’t actually remember a time when I didn’t. You’ve been my best friend for so long that it’s impossible for me to imagine there could ever be anyone else.

I know things about you that you probably don’t even know about yourself. And no, Violet, I’m not talking about your “special ability”. I notice the way the sun reflects off your curls and the way you look when you’re first waking up and the little creases between your eyebrows when you frown or laugh. And, mostly, the way you look at me, like you don’t quite believe me, when I tell you how much I love you.

But I do. Forever and always, I will love you, Violet Ambrose. More than I can say. More than I’ll ever be able to explain to you. More than you’d even believe, probably.

You mean everything to me… you always have.

Jay

Friday, February 17, 2012

Words of Love: Hunting Lila & Fated by Sarah Alderson Love Notes

February 15th: Words of Love: Die For Me by Amy Plum Outtake + Love Note

February 16th: Words of Love: Book Review Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson + Love Note

Here's the second part of the love notes Sarah Alderson asked her characters to write in 50 words or less. Thanks to Sarah Alderson!

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Lila,

Would you quit running away?

Yours truly,

Alex

Ps. I love you

Ryder,

You make me see rainbows…

With love always,

Amber

Nate

Even though you like boys and hate fashion, I love you as much as I love Marc Jacobs’ Winter/Fall collection.

Kuni

Jack

Roses are red

Violets are blue

I spy on you a lot

Because you’re insanely hot

BE MINE FOREVER I’m better than Sara (Nate)

Alex

Roses are red

Violets are blue

I’ll be waiting for you

When you and Lila are through

Nxxxoooxxx

Melissa,

You’re my heart, my conscience, my reason.

I do all this for you

Evie

I’m sorry.

I’ll always love you.

Tom

Lucas

You have no idea how much I dream of touching you.

Shula

Neena

One day I’m going to taste you. (And if you’re shifted into Megan Fox at the time I’d appreciate it).

Joshua

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Words of Love: Book Review Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson + Love Note

Title: Hunting Lila

Author: Sarah Alderson

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK

Publishing Date: August 4^th 2011

Length: 316 pages

Genre: YA, mystery, romance

Source: Gifted

17-year-old Lila has two secrets she's prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she's been in love with her brother's best friend, Alex, since forever. After a mugging exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust - her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they've found them. In a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone - there are others out there just like her - people with special powers -and her mother's killer is one of them…

Summary by Goodreads

This story totally got me from the first page on. HUNTING LILA has one of the most thrilling first scenes I’ve read in a long time. Let me tease you with its first sentence:

“Only when the tip of the knife started to shave against the white of his eye like a scalpel about to pierce a boil, did I realise that I was the one holding it.”

HUNTING LILA is charged with an overall tension concerning the murder of Lila’s mother. It’s about self- awareness, discovering your feelings and the mysterious incidents of the past.

There’s a lot of action. Then we’ve got a love story blooming between Lila and Alex. Small hints and approaches, but still I could need some more of Alex. He’s totally swoon-worthy caring and selfless.

Lila is one female protagonist I grew to like so much. She’s that combative psych chick with superpowers. And she can be touch but also totally sweet when it comes to her love for Alex.

The fact that Alex is the best friend of Lila’s brother Jack and that they have a dangerous secret made the whole love story even more interesting. You know how protective big brothers can be! Sarah Alderson found a really believable way to write about a forbidden love between Alex and Lila without inventing sappy or unrealistic explanations. She equipped the story of HUNTING LILA with a grand and versatile character cast.

You’ll never know who to trust or after which page turn to expect the next shocking moment or attack thrown at you. Sarah Alderson writes with wit and a good sense for just the right amount of mystery, action and love.

It’s Sarah Alderson’s great writing that lets the story flow so naturally and easily. I read the book in one day and wouldn’t have minded staying up the whole night to read its sequel if it’d been out already.

1) of us falling for stair moments

2) of a pallet of ace psych talents

3) your first impulse can be just the right

4) of a wonderful sweep-you-of-your-feet-romance

5) of conspiracies with bite

5/5 ***** HUNTING LILA- A story that convinces with its great arsenal of weapons: guns, tricks of the mind and abs!

HUNTING LILA has it all: action-packed plot twists and turns, mysterious conspiracies and a sweet as sexy love story. Sarah Alderson presents a debut that you should definitely hunt down ASAP.

* Want to read more by Sarah Alderson? Check out FATED!

* Here’s Sarah’s soundtrack for HUNTING LILA.

* Find out more about Sarah Alderson’s fantasy cast for the Lila books here.

* For further information about Sarah Alderson and her books visit www.sarahalderson.com

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February 15th: Words of Love: Die For Me by Amy Plum Outtake + Love Note

Thanks to Sarah Alderson for asking all her characters to write a valentine's message to another character in 50 words or less!!

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Love Note from Lila to Alex

Alex

I once drew you a valentine’s card with a pony on it surrounded by love hearts. If it’s possible, I love you even more now than I did when I was six and a pony and love hearts was the absolute quantifier of love.

Love just got bigger. It’s now bigger than a pony.

Lila x

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Because Sarah Alderson is so awesome and let her characters write a whole bunch of love notes (yes, Alex wrote something, too) and I don't want this post get too long, I'll post the rest of them tomorrow!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Words of Love: Die For Me by Amy Plum Outtake + Love Note

Valentine's Day might be over, but definitely not the opportunity to share words of love. Here's an overview of my previous posts:

In my first post I talked about love notes that some of my favourite authors wrote for my blog event and especially for you! Each love note will be posted with either a book review, book exerpt, trailer or other extra by the author who wrote it. Today I'm posting a DIE FOR ME outtake by Amy Plum in which protagonist Kate describes the city of love (yes, DIE FOR ME is set in Paris and if you haven't read it yet do so) together with a love note written from Charlotte to Amrose. A huge thank you to Amy Plum for writing this beautiful and sad love note!

Outtake: Die For Me by Amy Plum

Kate describing Paris

It’s hard for me to describe Paris. The city is so beautiful, it takes my breath away.

But I know that’s being way too vague, so I’ll give it a better try. Paris is like New York if you chop off the top of all of the buildings so that nothing is higher than seven or eight stories. Then add at least a couple of hundred years to each building’s age. Mix in a ton of trees and parks and run a beautiful, sparkling river through the middle. Then add over a thousand years of historical events that took place on the same spot where you happen to be standing. And you will have a rough idea of what Paris is like.

For example, a girl I used to play with when I came to visit my grandparents every summer lived on a street called “rue Saint Antoine”. Just in front of her building was a stretch of road that was used in the Middle Ages for jousts. Jousts! As in with horses and lances and knights in armor…right in front of her house. I used to sit on the steps of the church next to her building and stare at the street, recreating the sounds and colors of the medieval tournaments in my mind. If all of the ghosts of Paris’s past could suddenly materialize, you would find yourself surrounded by the most incredible people.

Like on the bridge called “Pont Neuf”. An old proverb says that the type of people crossing it were so numerous and varied that you couldn’t get from one side to the other without seeing “a monk, a white horse, and a prostitute”. Now that is something I would love to see. I’ve crossed it dozens of times and the closest I ever came was when I ran into a group of Asian nuns. So I decided to change it to “a businessman talking on a cell phone, a cyclist, and a backpacker”. You’ll definitely see at least one of those when crossing Pont Neuf.

But the inescapable historical facelift the city’s undergone in the three-hundred-or-so-years since the proverb was written hasn’t stopped me from looking – there and everywhere else in Paris – for telltale signs of the ancient city’s past. Coming from the relative newness of New York, all of that history squeezed into Paris’s small geographical area has always made me feel light-headed. As if all those invisible jousters, priests, and prostitutes were sucking up the Parisian air around me, leaving barely enough to fill my lungs.

Amy posted this outtake on her homepage www.amyplumbooks.com

Love Note written from Charlotte to Ambrose

Dear Ambrose,

Today is Valentine’s Day – le jour de la Saint-Valentin. The day of lovers. The only day of the year I can’t look you in the face. Because on this day, I can’t help my mask from slipping just slightly, and I don’t want you to see what’s behind.

I have known you now for almost seven decades. Lived under the same roof as you for 68 years. I know you as well as my own twin brother.

I know how you’ll react to any given situation. What you will say. How you will respond.

Which should mean that by now I should be totally bored of you. Your predictability should make me yawn. Seeing you in the same scenarios day after day, year after year, should make me roll my eyes. And yet, it doesn’t.

Instead, I find myself anticipating your reactions and congratulating myself on guessing them right every single time. When I hear your laughter ring through the house when you come home, I am unable to resist the smile it brings to my lips. I love you, Ambrose. Passionately. Irremediably. Hopelessly.

It wasn’t love at first sight. When Jean-Baptiste carried your body back from that Lorraine battlefield, I found you intriguing in your complete Americanness – your Yankee bravado. Your passion for jazz and film and dancing brought a welcome breath of life to our household of kindred. I liked you for all of those things. Loved you as a brother.

Until I got to know you better. Your joie de vivre was infectious. It infected me. It made my heart swell with happiness – not only when I was with you, but when I learned to see the world through your eyes. You brought me joy, and I should be satisfied with that. But I’m not.

When Charles told you how I felt and you admitted to him that your sentiments weren’t the same, I spent the next decade hoping you would change your mind. Doing everything I could to make you see me in a different light: desirable, not little-sister-ish.

When that didn’t work, I spent the next ten years trying to be okay with my lot. To find someone else. But while you are here living with me, walking with me, joking your way through every meal, my heart can go nowhere else.

Now I’m resigned. As I do every year, I will finish this letter, feel a bit better for it, and then place it in the back of my journal. It will join the other forty-three letters to you. Forty-three declarations of love that you will never see.

On this Valentine’s Day I wish I could tell you that even though you don’t love me the way I love you, every day with you is a gift.

Yours always,

Charlotte

I'll post my book review of HUNTING LILA tomorrow together with a bunch of love notes from Alex, Lila and others. You don't want to miss them;)

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Valentine's Day Reads: His & Her Edition

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY lovely readers and bloggers. The day of lovers. How to spend it? With books for sure! I have a few suggestions for good reads and things you need to have a nice day, together or on your own.