Spotlight on UNBREAK MY HEART by Melissa Walker

Melissa Walker's latest novel, Unbreak My Heart, released yesterday and is a perfect romantic read for the summer!

From the author's Web site:


The year that broke her heart. The summer that healed it. A dual love story.

Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life. Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now. Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart? Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to.

♥ “A super cute love story! Melissa Walker will inspire readers to never stop believing in true love.” —SUSANE COLASANTI, author of When It Happens and Keep Holding On

♥ “A raw, real, and ultimately heartwarming discovery of what it means to be a true friend. Walker gets it exactly right.” —JENNIFER ECHOLS, author of Love Story and The One That I Want

♥ “ I can’t stress enough how firmly this book has wedged itself in my heart.” -The Hiding Spot

♥ ”This book earns an infinity amount of stars!” -Novel Nerd Bailey

♥ ”Unbreak My Heart challenged me as a reader…and I loved every bit of it.” -Anna Reads

♥ ”There are tinges of Julie Taylor and Matt Saracen in this one. For real, y’all.” -Clear Eyes, Full Shelves

Find it at IndieBound, B&N, or Amazon. Follow Melissa on twitter at @melissacwalker or visit her Web site at: www.melissacwalker.com.

Spotlight Wednesday: SMALL TOWN SINNERS by Melissa Walker

I think I've said this before but I'll say it again because I can't lie--when it comes to Contemps posts, Spotlight Wednesdays are my favourite. As a contemporary YA author, there is nothing more exciting than internet shouting hey, guys! Look at this amazing contemporary YA title over here!

HEY, GUYS! LOOK AT THIS AMAZING CONTEMPORARY YA TITLE OVER HERE!





I am so excited for this book which arrived in my mailbox on Monday and which I cannot wait to devour. Isn't the cover beautiful? TRIVIA: Under the jacket, you'll see the apple embossed on the spine. It is so pretty. I love behind-the-scenes cover trivia. Melissa, who is known for featuring book cover stories on her blog has been sharing the cover story for Small Town Sinners so you should hop on over to her site and check it out! BUT before you do, stay here for a minute and let me give you some more info about her book!

So what is Small Town Sinners about?

Well, I think the gorgeous book trailer says it best:





Small Town Sinners has ALSO been getting some wonderful early praise. Publishers Weekly called it "tender and provocative," Romantic Times called it, "non-judgmental, nuanced [and] fascinating" and oh, this little place--maybe you've heard of it? THE NEW YORK TIMES (!!!!!!) had this to say about it:


"Walker has written a credible and tender evocation of the moment when a young person’s beliefs begin to emerge and potentially diverge from the teachings of a family’s religion."


Are you buzzing for this book yet? You should be. Oh, and did I mention you can read the first chapter of it here?

Melissa is a wonderful and positive force in the YA community and has shown no shortage of support when it comes to her fellow authors. I've always been grateful to her for shining the light on YA novels I may not have heard of without her. Needless to say, it has been an absolute pleasure to shine the spotlight on HER today. Small Town Sinners is OUT RIGHT NOW. Do yourself a favour and pick it up online or in person at your local indie today!

Now if you'll excuse me, my copy beckons and I cannot leave it any longer. If you've read Small Town Sinners, let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Congratulations on your release, Melissa! *confetti*

Spotlight Wednesday: The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger is a fantastic read. Our own Elizabeth Scott says, "Sharp, hot, thoughtful, and searingly honest, The DUFF is one of the best young adult novels to come along in ages."

Check out our Hot Topic Tuesday talk about this book, the discussion on goodreads, an interview with Kody on I Heart Daily and Kody's own soundtrack to the novel. And then watch me gush for Spotlight Wednesday:

Hear more about The DUFF from Kody herself:

Who's in for this read?! Take the Contemps Challenge and cross one off the list!