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First up is Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez. I really like the sound of this one, and I am on a YA contemp binge at the moment, so I just can't get enough. I really liked the US cover when I first saw it, but this UK cover wins for me. So pretty. I should have saved it for my next Cover Candy post!
Virtuosity by Jessica MartinezPublisher: Simon & Schuster UKRelease date: October 2011Ages: 14+
Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Jeremy is hands-down the wrong guy for her to fall for. He is infuriating, arrogant, and the only person who can stand in the way of Carmen getting the one thing she wants most: to win the prestigious Guarneri competition. Carmen's whole life is violin, and until she met Jeremy, her whole focus was winning. But what if Jeremy isn't just hot...what if Jeremy is better?
Carmen knows that kissing Jeremy can't end well, but she just can't stay away. Nobody else understands her--and riles her up--like he does. Still, she can't trust him with her biggest secret: She is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to perform, and what started as an easy fix has become a hungry addiction. Carmen is sick of not feeling anything on stage and even more sick of always doing what she’s told, doing what's expected.
Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall....
I got off to a little bit of a shaky star with Immortal Beloved, mainly because I didn't connect with the character of Nasty, and honestly I think it had something to do with that nickname. However, one thing I loved about the book was its cover, and the same goes for Darkness Falls, the next book in the series. I'm in cover love! Check out the US Cover too. Which one do you prefer?
Darkness Falls (Immortal Beloved #2) by Cate TiernanPublisher: Hodder & StoughtonRelease date: January 2012Ages: YA
Nastasya has lived for hundreds of years, but for some reason, life never seems to get any better. She left her spoiled, rich girl life to find peace at River's Edge, a safe haven for wayward immortals. There, she learned to embrace River's Edge, despite some drama involving the sexy Reyn, who she wants but won't allow herself to have. But just as she's getting comfortable, her family's ties to dark magick force her to leave.
She falls back into her old, hard partying ways, but will her decision lead her into the hands of a dark immortal? Or will it be her first step to embracing the darkness within her?
Now for Embrace by Jessica Shirvington which is being released in the UK in October. I've known about this series for a while, since the author is Australian and I read a lot of great YA Aussie blogs. I love the Australian covers for Embrace, Enticed and Emblaze, so they are the winners here for me, although I am curious to see what the UK publisher will produce cover wise as the series progresses. In any case, I am really excited to read this one, and really pleased that the series is being published over here!
Embrace by Jessica ShirvingtonPublisher: Orchard BooksRelease date: October 2011Ages: YA
I felt myself slipping away, losing myself to the senses. 'Kiss me,' I whispered.
Violet Eden has only ever wanted to be with Lincoln. But when he reveals a secret so powerful it could tear them apart, her world spins out of control. Then she meets Phoenix. Intense and beautiful, Violet is helplessly drawn to him...
Caught up in a battle between light and dark - where angels seek vengeance and humans are warriors - Violet must decide how much she's willing to sacrifice. And who she can love...
And finally, here is the UK cover for Abandon by Meg Cabot. I think this one is pretty but I love, love, love the US cover, so that one has to be the winner for me. I was really excited about this book when I first heard about it, but since its release in the US I've been reading a lot of mixed, actually, mostly negative reviews. Have you read this one? What did you think?
Abandon by Meg Cabot
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Release date: September 2011
Ages: 14+
The first book in the brand-new dark and dangerously seductive trilogy from bestselling teen author Meg Cabot.
Last year, Pierce died - just for a moment. And when she was in the space between life and death, she met John: tall dark and terrifying, it’s his job to usher souls from one realm to the next.
There’s a fierce attraction between them, but Pierce knows that if she allows herself to fall for John she will be doomed to a life of shadows and loneliness in the underworld. But now things are getting dangerous for her, and her only hope is to do exactly what John says . . .
* Please note: These covers may not be final and may be subject to change.
The cover for Virtuosity is stunning! The cover for Abandon is pretty, but I really didn't like the book.
ReplyDeleteI really do like that cover for Virtuosity, though I'm thinking that the US one captures the vibe of the book more . . . ?
ReplyDeleteI read Embrace last year (Aussie reader here :)) and while at the time I loved it, I just don't know anymore. It's a pageturner, but afterward I just felt really frustrated by the logic and the stupid love triangle. Fans of the "big" paranormals will enjoy it though.
I was going to get Abandon for review, but decided against it second time around (long story). I think if I'm going to pick up a Meg Cabot book, my first one at least should be a GOOD one with lots of positive feedback. :)
Lovely post. I love UK book blogs because Australia gets a lot of the same covers (and books) hehe.
I love that UK cover for Abandon!
ReplyDeletei love it when you do these posts.
ReplyDeleteloving the cover of virtuosity. and also darkness falls ~ it's gorgeous (reminds me of shiver)
not sure about the jessica shirvington one though :/
I love the Darkness Falls cover- gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWow I love the cover for Abandon! I think the US one is gorgeous as well, but I love that Hades is reflected opposite Pierce on this one. And I love the little touch of red:)
ReplyDeleteMy gosh the book covers are so lovely!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful covers! That last one looks a lot like the Hex Hall cover! ;)
ReplyDeleteOh wow, hat cover of Abandon looks great! I like covers that you can flip over like that. It also really plays well with the whole underworld theme.
ReplyDeleteOh those are some pretty UK covers! I really love the Virtuosity one - the selective use of color really makes the color pop. And I prefer the Darkness Falls one to the US version. I think the model's pose on the Embrace one is kind of awkward, but in general I like the design. And both the US and UK Abandon covers are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love the Virtuosity cover. Especially the colors - her lips and the dress. It certainly doesn't veer from the popular cover type, but it's still gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteOh WOW! They're all so PRETTY. I just got an ARC of Virtuosity with the US cover, but I'm with you - I love the UK one better. And look at Abandon! And I can't wait for Darkness Falls!
ReplyDeleteI like all of these covers!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this post.
Love the purple and black on Virtuosity
These covers are awesome - Out of all the covers, I think Virtuosity must be my favourite. I love the sound of Embrace - can't say I've heard of it before, but it sounds very intriguing. Will definitely be adding to my TBR pile!
ReplyDeleteI had issues with the nickname “Nasty” too ;) I’m not loving either cover. I guess I’m feeling a little picky this evening LOL
ReplyDeleteEmbrace is wowing me though! I love it!