I found myself wandering through my local Barnes & Noble this weekend and as always seems to be the case, I can’t walk past a signed book and not buy it. Even if I already own the book in eBook format. And even though I don’t keep unpersonalized signed books.

So, I knew as my hand reached out to grab this book – and another signed book – that I would be offering it up for giveaway.

I haven’t yet read Where It Began, but I’ve heard such amazing things about it and it is on my TBR pile for this summer. If you haven’t yet heard about it, click the photo above which will take you to the book on Goodreads.

And I haven’t posted the photo of the signature page due to poor picture taking skills, but I’ll be happy to try again and take another photo and send it to the winner.

Anyway….

There is no requirement to like or follow. But if you’d like to spread the word that would be awesome!

If you are viewing this post via email you will have to click the link to enter the giveaway on the blog as Rafflecopter forms do not work through email.

To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form:

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Below are the YA books coming out this week that I am spotlighting for my “Book Watch: Releasing This Week” post.

These are books for the week of March 6th-March 12th that I have pre-ordered.

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Embrace by Jessica Shirvington will be released in the U.S. on March 6, 2012 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by Sourcebooks Fire, the print edition is 4oo pages.

Embrace is the first book in The Violet Eden Chapters by author Jessica Shirvington.

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I actually discovered Embrace during a cover reveal that many of the blogs I stalk were hosting. I thought the cover was beautiful so I decided to add it to my pre-orders for this week.

I may have fallen for the cover, but this book sounds so awesome. Haunting dreams. Fallen angels seeking vengeance. Protectors of humanity. And a boy with a secret identity who knows the truth about the main character, Violet Eden. Yep, awesome.

And I love that this book is the first in a new series that seems to have sequels releasing every six months. Enticed will be available in September 2012 and Emblaze will be released in March of 2013.

Balthazar by Claudia Gray will be released in the U.S. on March 6, 2012 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by HarperTeen, the print edition is 384 pages.

Balthazar is a spin-off book in author Claudia Gray’s Evernight series.

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I can’t believe I haven’t read Balthazar yet and my pre-order will be downloading to my Kindle in just a few hours. Of course I still have to catch up on Afterlife, but I thought I’d have done that by now.

I love this author’s series. It was one of the series that surprised me so totally when I first discovered it and I was devastated when I caught up on the series and had to wait for each book’s release. And Balthazar is one of my favorite characters in the series.

As I’ve already spotlighted Balthazar for my Book Watch post and I just recently rambled on about it in this month’s Extras post, I won’t blather for a third time. But I can’t wait to find out just what happens to Balthazar and whether or not he gets his very own happily ever after.

Rivals by Lauren Kunz and Rina Onur will be released in the U.S. on March 6, 2012 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available online to pre-order in both formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, the print edition is 384 pages.

Rivals is the third book in The Ivy series by the authors.

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I have the first two books in The Ivy series on my Kindle although they are still on my TBR pile. This third book, Rivals, sounds like it will be just as exciting as the first two sound and so I decided to pre-order it.

I love the tagline tucked away at the top – Choose him or lose him. Of course I wonder who Callie will choose and just who she’ll lose… and I’m super curious to find out if she’ll have made the right choice.

The idea of rivalries sounds like it can make for one incredibly wicked read. I can’t wait to finally get a few days downtime so I can devour this series.

Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler will be released in the U.S. on March 6, 2012 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by Simon Pulse, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, the print edition is 384 pages.

Where it Began is one of the books that can be chosen for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge hosted by Kristi at TheStorySiren.com.

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I am so incredibly thrilled that Where it Began is releasing this week and I’ll have this book back in my hands. I had an ARC but knew I couldn’t read it before release so I pre-ordered it for my Kindle. Well, release date is just about here.

I can’t wait to meet Gabby and find out what really happened before and after the accident in which Billy went missing. I don’t know if I’ll be heartbroken or surprised or shocked to my very core, but I can’t wait to find out.

I love books that give me that feeling of nervous anticipation, and Where it Began is definitely one of those.

Vampire’s Kiss by Veronica Wolff will be released in the U.S. on March 6, 2012 in paperback and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by NAL Trade, the print edition is 304 pages.

Vampire’s Kiss is the second book in The Watchers series by author Veronica Wolff.

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While I’d heard about this series around the time the first book was releasing, I only really checked it out in detail with the upcoming release of Vamire’s Kiss. I do own the first book in the series, but hadn’t taken a long look at it when I bought it and it’s still on my TBR pile. I just knew it looked interesting and that it was about vampires and that I had to have it.

But now that this second book in the series is due for release and will be downloading to my Kindle, I am just dying to read both books. Especially before the third book comes out this summer. As I mentioned in my Extra’s post there are bad boys. And they are vampires. And there is an undercover mission by the main character, Drew, to save one of them.

I seriously hope that I can catch up on this series in the next few weeks, because I really, really want to meet these characters.

Soul Bound by Mari Mancusi will be released in the U.S. on March 6, 2012 in paperback and eBook formats. It is currently available online to pre-order in both formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by Berkley Trade, the print edition is 272 pages.

Soul Bound is the seventh book in the Blood Coven series by the author.

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I adore this series. I love both characters – Sunny and Rayne – and with each book in the series their situation seems to get darker. I have been keeping an eye on this next book’s release and I can’t believe it’s releasing this week. Finally.

I have to read the previous book in the series, but I sort of held off on purpose. They’re super quick reads and I like reading both Sunny and Rayne’s stories back-to-back without a long gap between reads. So, now that Rayne’s story is out, I can read both.

I thought I’d only love Rayne’s story, who I met first. But Sunny grew on me pretty quickly and now I love reading each of their stories. I did peek at the description, but did not peek at the super spoiler-y excerpt which I linked in my Extra’s post a few days ago. Although I’m so tempted.

I hope Rayne isn’t forced to choose between her own safety and her sister’s. I hope she finds a loophole so that Sunny and Magnus can remain free. And I hope the cliff that this book leaves me on – because there has got to be a cliff – isn’t too torturous.

Illuminate by Aimee Agresti will be released in the U.S. on March 6, 2012 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by Harcourt Children’s Books, the print edition is 528 pages.

Illuminate is one of the books that can be chosen for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge hosted by Kristi at TheStorySiren.com.

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The cover for Illuminate is beautiful, but even more, the book sounds amazing. I traded for an ARC without knowing anything about this debut novel, but it wasn’t until I took a look at the description that I was totally sold. And so I just had to pre-order it for my Kindle.

While I haven’t yet had the chance to read it, this book will definitely be read soon. I’m hoping I can devour it in early May at the very latest because I really want to meet Haven Terra. I absolutely love her name. Totally unforgettable.

If I had known that this wasn’t a YA historical fiction – I think I judged it so based on the cover – this would totally have made my original 2012 DAC list. I love books set in hotels. Yes, this one may not be as creepy as my favorite hotel or the one with a room that has absorbed all sorts of evil, but with the hoteliers being buyers of souls, I’d say this one sounds like my kind of book.

Katana by Cole Gibsen will be released in the U.S. on March 8, 2012 in paperback and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in both formats at Amazon and in paperback format at Barnes & Noble.

Published by Flux, the print edition is 384 pages.

Katana is one of the books that can be chosen for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge hosted by Kristi at TheStorySiren.com.

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I can’t wait to finally get the finished copy of Katana when it releases later this week. I love books where the heroines are fierce and know how to wield a sword. And based upon the cover, the heroine might be able to wield two at a time. Wicked.

I have not yet read a YA book where a character was channeling a Japanese warrior spirit. Nor have I read any YA book in which there were ninjas. But I have seen Kill Bill and if Rileigh is as fierce as the heroine in that film, then I think I’ll definitely love this book.

While I may not get to read it immediately, it is one of my 2012 DAC books and one I might just have to take a peek at when it downloads this week.

Masters of the Veil by Daniel A. Cohen

Pub. Date: March 1, 2012

Published by: Spencer Hill Press

(Amazon, Barnes & Noble)

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{Note: All covers link to the books on Goodreads}

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March is starting off perfectly. There are some seriously awesome new books releasing this week. And I think I’ve got all the YA titles ordered as I haven’t found any other books of note that are coming out this week.

However, I did include one book of note, Masters of the Veil by Daniel A. Cohen, that came out on March 1st. I didn’t include in it last week’s new releases post as it wasn’t available to pre-order in eBook format. But as I downloaded it this weekend, I thought I’d include it with this week’s post.

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As always, I would love to hear what you’re hoping to add to your collection this week!

And if you have any great suggestions of “must read” books to buy that are releasing this week, please let me know!

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Yes we’re back with another “Extras” post after a bit of a hiatus in December, January and February. As some of you may already know…

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March Peeks

Balthazar by Claudia Gray will be released in the U.S. on March 6, 2012.

It is a spin-off novel in the author’s Evernight series about her very adorable character of the same name.

Balthazar sounds like the perfect way to get another look at the world and to learn more about this amazing character. The description hints that there will be a peek into his past, a forbidden love story and a fight against evil. Sounds pretty awesome.

To take a nice long look inside, courtesy of HarperTeen, CLICK HERE.

Rivals by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur will be released in the U.S. on March 6, 2012.

Rivals is the third book in The Ivy series by the authors.

I own the first two books in the series and I am excited about this next book’s release. While I haven’t yet read the books, this series just sounds like so much fun.

This third book in the series, as you may have guessed from the title, is about rivalries. And there’ s nothing quite as exciting to read about in contemporary fiction as those. And according to the description, Callie Andrews is going to have to make a few choices which are likely to have some undesirable consequences.

To get just a taste, thanks to HarperTeen, CLICK HERE.

Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler will be released in the U.S. on March 6, 2012.

Where it Began is the author’s young adult debut.

Firstly, this book cover is beautiful. Secondly, the story sounds unbelievably intriguing. I want to know just what happened to Gabby and Billy the night he went missing. I want to find out if she’ll be able to get her life back. Or if she’ll want it back after she takes a longer look at just what kind of life she was really living.

And I want to know exactly what changes when Gabby faces the truth.

To get a peek inside courtesy of Simon & Schuster, CLICK HERE.

Vampire’s Kiss by Veronica Wolff will be released in the U.S. on March 6, 2012.

Vampire’s Kiss is the second book in The Watchers series by the author. The third book, Blood Fever, is due out in August of this year.

In this sequel, Drew has completed her first year of training to be a Watcher on the Isle of Night and she now has to go undercover to try and save another Watcher who is being tortured. One who is apparently gorgeous and a bad boy, according to the description.

Yeah, this series just sounds awesome – sexy bad boy vampires. Enough said.

To check out a nice, long, downloadable excerpt of Chapter One from the author’s website, CLICK HERE.

Soul Bound by Mari Mancusi will be released in the U.S. on March 6, 2012.

Soul Bound is the seventh book in the Blood Coven series by author Mari Mancusi.

This is such an entertaining series to read. I love that the books switch between Sunny and Rayne’s stories. And in Soul Bound, it’s Rayne’s turn. And according to the description, in this installment she’s being sent to find her sister and Magnus “alive…or undead.”

Rayne has a major conflict of interest – find her sister and risk Sunny’s life or refuse and put her own in jeopardy. Not ideal. And with the words “ultimate sacrifice” jumping out at me from the description, it makes me very eager to find out how this story ends.

To check out an excerpt from the book’s website, CLICK HERE.

To check out a SPOILER-Y one on Goodreads if you haven’t read Blood Ties, CLICK HERE.

Illuminate by Aimee Agresti will be released in the U.S. on March 6, 2012.

Illuminate is the first book in the Gilded Wings series by the author.

This cover is beautiful. It was the first thing that drew me to this book. But once I got past my cover love, I realized that this story sounds seriously awesome.

A girl, Haven Terra, is sent to intern at a luxury hotel in Chicago. The owners aren’t mere hoteliers, however. They purchase souls. And they’re looking to recruit her into helping them take the souls of her schoolmates on prom night.

I am so curious to find out just how Haven plans to stop them… or if she plans to stop them. And I can’t wait to find out the meaning behind the series name, Gilded Wings.

To check out a short excerpt from the publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt,  CLICK HERE.

Katana by Cole Gibsen will be released in the U.S. on March 8, 2012.

Katana is the author’s young adult debut.

A book about a sword-fighting heroine with dreams of Japan in the 15th century sounds very different and wickedly awesome. I’m curious to see whether Rileigh will decide to accept her warrior spirit or choose to live a normal life.

And I am very interested in reading about how Rileigh will handle all those “relentless” ninja attacks.

To get a peek inside, courtesy of Flux, CLICK HERE.

Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig will be released in the U.S. on March 13, 2012.

Pretty Crooked is the author’s young adult debut.

I love the Robin Hood premise of this story – stealing from the rich prep school kids and giving to the scholarship students. Willa sounds like an absolutely lovable main character. And Aidan, her “complication” sounds like a very lovely distraction.

I can’t wait to read this book and find out whether Aidan is trustworthy or if Willa’s thefts are discovered by the Glitterati at Valley Prep or even the police. I’m already cheering for Willa.

To read an excerpt of the prologue at TeenReads CLICK HERE.

Starters by Lissa Price will be released in the U.S. on March 13, 2012.

Starters is the first book in a new series of the same name by the author. The second full-length book, Enders, will be released on December 12 of this year.

The chatter brought me to this book. And I’m so glad I didn’t miss hearing about it. The cover is eerie and different and oddly beautiful. And the tagline has definitely piqued my curiosity.

According to the description Callie is an orphan who goes on the run with her brother Tyler to try and get to Prime Destinations in Beverly Hills.

Prime Destinations is a “disturbing place” where apparently teens donate their bodies to old people – Enders – who want to recapture their youth. (Sounds about right for BH. And sounds completely disturbing.)

But then Callie “wakes up” to discover she’s living the life of luxury. Which would be fine except for the fact that the Ender who has rented her body has other things in mind.

This sounds absolutely chilling and a perfect kind of book for me. I can’t wait to check it out.

To take a look inside, courtesy of the publisher Delacorte Press, CLICK HERE.

And to check out the book on the publisher’s website, CLICK HERE.

The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters – Moonsong created by L.J. Smith will be released in the U.S. on March 13, 2012.

Moonsong is the second book in The Hunters series.

According to the description, in this installment, things seem to be going well for Elena, Stefan and Damon. At first. Until Dalcrest College students start to disappear.

While I have fallen behind on the series I am curious to find out just what dark secret Elena uncovers.

But if you’re all caught up on the series and you’d like to get a long look inside courtesy of HarperTeen, CLICK HERE.

Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter will be released in the U.S. on March 13, 2012.

Out of Sight, Out of Time is the fifth book in the Gallagher Girls series by the author.

I have not yet read this series, but it sounds like so much fun and the author is awesome. In this fifth book, according to the description, Cammie Morgan has lost quite a bit of her memory. It’s months later and she has no recollection of what happened to her.

Still, she returns to Gallagher Academy to try to unravel the mystery. But apparently the Circle of Cavan is determined to keep her in the dark.

To get a peek of Chapter One from the author’s website, CLICK HERE.

Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard will be released in the U.S. on March 13, 2012.

Wanderlove is the author’s sophomore young adult novel.

This book sounds absolutely gorgeous. The description had me right from the lines: “Bria’s a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan’s a bad boy trying to stay good.” And I love the question posited at the beginning… “Are you a Global Vagabond?”

This story sounds magical and these two characters are ones I very much look forward to meeting in this novel which takes the characters and the readers on a journey.

To read a short excerpt from the publisher’s website, CLICK HERE.

A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink releases in the U.S. on March 20, 2012.

Descendants of angels. Protectors of “the world’s past, present, and future.” An organization that maintains the balance of good and evil. Betrayal. And, of course, temptation. This book sounds simply amazing.

This new hopefully-not-a-standalone novel by author Michelle Zink is a blend of paranormal romance and historical fantasy, according to the description, and one that’s definitely worth checking out.

To take a sneak peek, courtesy of the author, on Goodreads, CLICK HERE.

Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter will be released in the U.S. on March 27, 2012.

Goddess Interrupted is the sequel to the Goddess Test by the author. The third book in the series, The Goddess Inheritance will be published later this year. And a short novella set between books one and two, The Goddess Hunt, was released in eBook format on March 1.

Things are not going smoothly for Kate and Henry. She’s falling in love with him and he seems to be drifting away, according to the description. And it gets even better. He gets abducted by the King of the Titans and in order to save him, Kate has to work with Henry’s ex, Persephone.

Immortality never sounded so challenging. But this sequel sounds so very exciting.

To read an excerpt courtesy of Harlequin, CLICK HERE.

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January and February Peeks

And just in case you missed them, here are just a few peeks at some of those awesome books that released earlier this year. Just click on the covers to browse inside.

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver released February 28, 2012

Partials by Dan Wells released on February 28, 2012

A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford released on February 28, 2012

Faery Tales & Nightmares by Melissa Marr released on February 21, 2012

Dead to You by Lisa McMann released on February 7, 2012

Two Truths and a Lie by Sara Shepard released on February 7, 2012

Wings of the Wicked released on January 31, 2012

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows released on January 31, 2012

Everneath by Brodi Ashton released on January 24, 2012Forbidden by Syrie James and Ryan M. James released on January 24, 2012

Havoc by Jeff Sampson released on January 24, 2012

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand released on January 17, 2012

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green released January 10, 2012

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi released January 3, 2012***And be sure to check out Pitch Dark Days for downloadable chapter excerpts from…BalthazarBewitchingEverneathHallowedIncarnateThe Last Echo (coming soon)Magic of the MoonlightPandemoniumShatter MeSlide (coming soon)Under the Never SkyWings of the Wicked… and for links to their free eBook samplers.***And the always awesome HarperCollins is giving readers a look at THIS ENTIRE and ENTIRELY AMAZING book…. 

Divergent by Veronica Roth released in paperback on February 28, 2012

(Originally published May 3, 2011 in hardcover)

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With so many sneak peeks available this March I haven’t had a chance to stalk the Amazon or Barnes & Noble eBook freebies. But I hope I’ve included few excerpts for books coming up this March, or already released, that you might enjoy.

Sadly I was not able to track down excerpts for Spell Bound by Rachel Hawkins, The Savage Grace by Bree Despain – which was available for just two days back in October and which I missed – and Loss by Jackie Morse Kessler, just to name a few.

Anyway… Happy freebie reading!

 

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I received an ARC of Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler from a trade with another blogger. It’s release date is March 6, 2012 and I know already that I won’t get to read it by release date so I wanted to offer it up for giveaway to someone who could.

It looks to be in great condition aside from a slight bending at the top right corner of the cover.

While the giveaway is not restricted, my hope is that if you enter you do plan on reading and reviewing it.

There is no requirement to like or follow. But if you’d like to spread the word that would be awesome!

To enter, fill out the form below:

Thanks to everyone for entering. Stay tuned, I’ll be running the names through Random later this evening. Good luck!

Congratulations Erin L.! You are the winner for the ARC of Where it Began! I will be contacting you by email and you will have 48 hours to respond with your details or another winner will be chosen.

I’ll have another ARC up for giveaway on Monday.

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