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Tue 11 Oct 2011

Posted by annastan [18] Comments

Win a signed ARC of Virtuosity ! Details at the end of this post.

The balcony felt cold under my cheek. Ten floors below me the traffic of Lake Shore Drive purred, but it seemed miles away. Everything before me was perfectly still: a black starless sky over Lake Michigan, my bare arm jutting out between metal bars, and the burnt-orange scroll of my violin rising out of my clenched fist. It would be as easy as opening my hand. I could just uncurl my fingers one by one, and when the last one relaxed, the violin would slice the night sky like a blade, plummeting to the ground below. Then it would be over. I exhaled and felt my body flatten against the concrete. My mother would be furious about the gown. Her personal dressmaker had twisted and tucked and pleated the filmy chiffon until it looked like a waterfall, flowing cascades in three shades of blue. Now it was bunched beneath me, probably soaking up dirt, grease, cigarette ash, and whatever else hotel balconies collected. I shivered. The wind swirled around me, picking up my hair and whipping it against my cheek and bare back. The hair clips and bobby pins were long gone—they’d been the first things I’d removed after stepping inside the hotel room. Then I’d slipped off my heels, peeled off my stockings, and pulled out my earrings. But nothing helped. I couldn’t slough off the shame that clung to my skin. So I took my violin onto the balcony. Excerpt copyright © 2011 Jessica Martinez

The balcony felt cold under my cheek. Ten floors below me the traffic of Lake Shore Drive purred, but it seemed miles away. Everything before me was perfectly still: a black starless sky over Lake Michigan, my bare arm jutting out between metal bars, and the burnt-orange scroll of my violin rising out of my clenched fist.

It would be as easy as opening my hand. I could just uncurl my fingers one by one, and when the last one relaxed, the violin would slice the night sky like a blade, plummeting to the ground below. Then it would be over.

I exhaled and felt my body flatten against the concrete. My mother would be furious about the gown. Her personal dressmaker had twisted and tucked and pleated the filmy chiffon until it looked like a waterfall, flowing cascades in three shades of blue. Now it was bunched beneath me, probably soaking up dirt, grease, cigarette ash, and whatever else hotel balconies collected.

I shivered. The wind swirled around me, picking up my hair and whipping it against my cheek and bare back. The hair clips and bobby pins were long gone—they’d been the first things I’d removed after stepping inside the hotel room. Then I’d slipped off my heels, peeled off my stockings, and pulled out my earrings. But nothing helped. I couldn’t slough off the shame that clung to my skin.

So I took my violin onto the balcony.

Excerpt copyright © 2011 Jessica Martinez

About the book:

Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. Two weeks before the most important violin competition of her career, she has bigger things to worry about—like growing out of that suffocating “child prodigy” label, and not disappointing her mother.

But it isn’t just the wrong time. It’s the wrong guy. Jeremy is Carmen’s most talented rival, and according to her mother, he’s only interested in one thing: winning.

He isn’t the only one.

Carmen is so desperate to win she takes anti-anxiety drugs to control performance nerves. But what started a year ago as an easy fix is now a hungry addiction. Carmen is too terrified to quit, but sick of not feeling anything on stage, sick of doing what she’s told.

Sometimes, being on top just means you have a long way to fall….

What people are saying:

“Martinez brings this overwrought world to tense, quivering life and guides readers through it confidently. A brilliant debut.”– Kirkus , starred review

“An intoxicating blend of passion, vulnerability, and the desire to have it all, no matter the cost. A mesmerizing read.”–Lauren Myracle, bestselling author of Shine and ttyl

“Passionate and true, Virtuosity sings from first page to last. I followed Carmen’s intense journey through obsession, heartbreak, and self-discovery as if her struggles and triumphs were my own.”–Sarah Ockler, author of Fixing Delilah and Twenty Boy Summer

“Beautiful writing, a swoon-worthy romance, and tension that will keep you turning the pages. Virtuosity is pitch-perfect.”–Lauren Barnholdt, author of Sometimes It Happens and Two-Way Street

“Heartfelt, gripping, and unflinchingly authentic. Virtuosity will change the way you think about music.”–Antony John, author of Five Flavors of Dumb

Released: October 18, 2011

About the author:

Jessica Martinez was born and raised in Calgary, Canada. As a child she played the violin, read books and climbed trees incessantly. She went on to study English and music at Brigham Young University, and since then has been a high school English teacher, symphony violinist, elementary school teacher, violin teacher, and mother. She currently live in Orlando, Florida with her husband and two children. You can visit her at www.jessicamartinez.com .

Giveaway:

Jessica has been kind enough on contribute a signed ARC of Virtuosity for a giveaway!

Just comment on this post to enter.

For extra entries:

-Be a follower of this site (just click “Join this site”) or a follower on Twitter [+1 entry each].

-Link to this contest on Twitter, Facebook, etc. [+1 entry per each link].

Please list your extra entries in the comments.

The contest is open in the US and Canada, and ends on October 25th at midnight EST.

Good luck and happy reading!

Tags: Contest , Music , Realistic , Romance , Young Adult

Tessa says: October 11, 2011 at 2:02 pm Sounds like a great book! I follow this site and follow on twitter (@writertessa) +2

Sounds like a great book!

I follow this site and follow on twitter (@writertessa) +2

Sarah says: October 11, 2011 at 3:12 pm Sounds like it’s right up my alley! Twitter follower, website follower, tweet (+3)

Sounds like it’s right up my alley! Twitter follower, website follower, tweet (+3)

Cherie Colyer says: October 11, 2011 at 6:24 pm Sounds like an awesome book! New twitter follower, website follower and will tweet next (+3)

Sounds like an awesome book! New twitter follower, website follower and will tweet next (+3)

Sophia Chang says: October 11, 2011 at 9:48 pm Hello, my childhood. sigh… Old follower on both Shared on Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/105238348935042088465/posts/XtycaWimWt4 Total extra points: +3

Hello, my childhood. sigh…

Old follower on both Shared on Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/105238348935042088465/posts/XtycaWimWt4

Total extra points: +3

Vivien says: October 12, 2011 at 1:17 am Sounds promising 🙂 GFC follower Vivien deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

Sounds promising 🙂 GFC follower

Vivien deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

Ashley says: October 12, 2011 at 7:07 am SIGNED copy?! I would die 😛 Everything about this book just screams- Ashley love me!! 😛

SIGNED copy?! I would die 😛 Everything about this book just screams- Ashley love me!! 😛

Kelly Hashway says: October 12, 2011 at 11:13 am I’d love to be entered. I’m a follower so that’s +1.

I’d love to be entered. I’m a follower so that’s +1.

thegirlonfire27 says: October 13, 2011 at 3:38 am Amazing! Thank you so much for the chance to win! +1 GFC follower +1 spread here http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/182474-win-a-signed-arc-of-virtuosity-details-at-the-end-of-this-post thegirlonfire27 at gmail dot com

Amazing! Thank you so much for the chance to win! +1 GFC follower +1 spread here http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/182474-win-a-signed-arc-of-virtuosity-details-at-the-end-of-this-post

thegirlonfire27 at gmail dot com

Stormy says: October 14, 2011 at 10:49 pm Awesome. I’ve had my eye on this one. 🙂

Awesome. I’ve had my eye on this one. 🙂

Maryanne says: October 15, 2011 at 1:21 pm I want to read this! The cover is so striking! +1 – shared on Facebook

I want to read this! The cover is so striking!

+1 – shared on Facebook

Mary DeBorde [M.A.D.] says: October 16, 2011 at 3:35 am You have the nicest giveaways! So glad I found your beautiful blog! 😀 +1 GFC Mary DeBorde zenrei57 (at) hotmail dot com

You have the nicest giveaways! So glad I found your beautiful blog! 😀

+1 GFC Mary DeBorde zenrei57 (at) hotmail dot com

sharonne katz says: October 25, 2011 at 1:13 pm Would love to read this.

Would love to read this.

sharonne katz says: October 25, 2011 at 1:14 pm I follow this site GFC

I follow this site GFC

sharonne katz says: October 25, 2011 at 1:14 pm I follow you on twitter @sharonnelt

I follow you on twitter @sharonnelt

sharonne katz says: October 25, 2011 at 1:15 pm http://twitter.com/#!/sharonnelt/status/128821919100317696 I tweeted about the giveaway

http://twitter.com/#!/sharonnelt/status/128821919100317696 I tweeted about the giveaway

Diana says: October 25, 2011 at 6:06 pm Wow! The first page definitely grabs you! I’m a blog follower. Thanks for the giveaway!

Wow! The first page definitely grabs you! I’m a blog follower. Thanks for the giveaway!

Diana says: October 25, 2011 at 6:08 pm And I follow on Twitter!

And I follow on Twitter!

Jodelle Brohard says: October 25, 2011 at 8:30 pm This book looks very interesting. Loved the excerpt you posted.

This book looks very interesting. Loved the excerpt you posted.

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Featured Authors J. Anderson Coats Andrea Alban Crystal Allen Sarah Aronson Monica S. Baker Hannah Barnaby Rebecca Barnhouse Hilari Bell Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman Julie Berry Lauren Bjorkman Jan Blazanin Ellen Booraem Hélène Boudreau Julie Bowe Robin Bridges Leslie Bulion Marissa Burt Erin Cashman Lara Chapman Sheela Chari Julie Chibbaro Lena Coakley Kristi Cook Kate Coombs Leah Cypess Carole Estby Dagg Karen DelleCava Amy Fellner Dominy Marissa Doyle Deva Fagan Beth Fehlbaum Greg R. Fishbone Janet Fox Sonia Gensler Cole Gibsen Hilary Weisman Graham Tessa Gratton Alissa Grosso Lia Habel Teri Hall Kiki Hamilton Janice Hardy Kim Harrington Merrie Haskell Danette Haworth Cat Hellisen Karyn Henley Leanna Renee Hieber Tess Hilmo Amy Holder Elissa J. Hoole Jennifer Hubbard Kirsten Hubbard Denise Jaden Terry Lynn Johnson Mike Jung Julie Kagawa Julia Karr Stasia Ward Kehoe Lynne Kelly Miranda Kenneally Derek Taylor Kent Kami Kinard Jessi Kirby Jo Knowles Ron Koertge R.L. LaFevers Helen Landalf April Lindner Nikki Loftin Natasha Lowe Susan Lubner Elisa Ludwig Jenny Lundquist Michaela MacColl Christina Mandelski Jessica Martinez Shari Maurer C. Lee McKenzie Gretchen McNeil Kate Messner Dawn Metcalf Erin Moulton Erin E. Moulton Kate Kae Myers Anne Nesbet Jennifer Nielsen Kristin Wolden Nitz A.J. Paquette Rosanne Parry Mitali Perkins Gae Polisner Cindy Pon J.L. Powers Joy Preble Cheryl Rainfield Michelle Ray Jenn Reese Diana Renn Bettina Restrepo Laurisa White Reyes Nelsa Roberto Joanne Rocklin Lisa and Laura Roecker Caroline Starr Rose Randy Russell Jeanne Ryan Chris Rylander Kimberly Sabatini Peter Adam Salomon Jeff Sampson Tiffany Schmidt Lisa Schroeder Victoria Schwab Mindi Scott Ruta Sepetys Medeia Sharif Kristen Simmons Angie Smibert Clete Barrett Smith J.A. Souders Jessica Spotswood Anna Staniszewski Kiera Stewart Lauren Strasnick Sarvenaz Tash Sarah Tregay Audrey Vernick Danette Vigilante Sara Bennett Wealer Dianna Winget Jennifer Shaw Wolf Allan Woodrow Brian Yansky Lara Zeises Jennifer Ziegler part: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] [ 26 ] [ 27 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ] [ 33 ] [ 34 ] [ 35 ] [ 36 ] [ 37 ] [ 38 ] [ 39 ] [ 40 ] [ 41 ] [ 42 ] [ 43 ] [ 44 ] [ 45 ] [ 46 ]

J. Anderson Coats Andrea Alban Crystal Allen Sarah Aronson Monica S. Baker Hannah Barnaby Rebecca Barnhouse Hilari Bell Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman Julie Berry Lauren Bjorkman Jan Blazanin Ellen Booraem Hélène Boudreau Julie Bowe Robin Bridges Leslie Bulion Marissa Burt Erin Cashman Lara Chapman Sheela Chari Julie Chibbaro Lena Coakley Kristi Cook Kate Coombs Leah Cypess Carole Estby Dagg Karen DelleCava Amy Fellner Dominy Marissa Doyle Deva Fagan Beth Fehlbaum Greg R. Fishbone Janet Fox Sonia Gensler Cole Gibsen Hilary Weisman Graham Tessa Gratton Alissa Grosso Lia Habel Teri Hall Kiki Hamilton Janice Hardy Kim Harrington Merrie Haskell Danette Haworth Cat Hellisen Karyn Henley Leanna Renee Hieber Tess Hilmo Amy Holder Elissa J. Hoole Jennifer Hubbard Kirsten Hubbard Denise Jaden Terry Lynn Johnson Mike Jung Julie Kagawa Julia Karr Stasia Ward Kehoe Lynne Kelly Miranda Kenneally Derek Taylor Kent Kami Kinard Jessi Kirby Jo Knowles Ron Koertge R.L. LaFevers Helen Landalf April Lindner Nikki Loftin Natasha Lowe Susan Lubner Elisa Ludwig Jenny Lundquist Michaela MacColl Christina Mandelski Jessica Martinez Shari Maurer C. Lee McKenzie Gretchen McNeil Kate Messner Dawn Metcalf Erin Moulton Erin E. Moulton Kate Kae Myers Anne Nesbet Jennifer Nielsen Kristin Wolden Nitz A.J. Paquette Rosanne Parry Mitali Perkins Gae Polisner Cindy Pon J.L. Powers Joy Preble Cheryl Rainfield Michelle Ray Jenn Reese Diana Renn Bettina Restrepo Laurisa White Reyes Nelsa Roberto Joanne Rocklin Lisa and Laura Roecker Caroline Starr Rose Randy Russell Jeanne Ryan Chris Rylander Kimberly Sabatini Peter Adam Salomon Jeff Sampson Tiffany Schmidt Lisa Schroeder Victoria Schwab Mindi Scott Ruta Sepetys Medeia Sharif Kristen Simmons Angie Smibert Clete Barrett Smith J.A. Souders Jessica Spotswood Anna Staniszewski Kiera Stewart Lauren Strasnick Sarvenaz Tash Sarah Tregay Audrey Vernick Danette Vigilante Sara Bennett Wealer Dianna Winget Jennifer Shaw Wolf Allan Woodrow Brian Yansky Lara Zeises Jennifer Ziegler part: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] [ 26 ] [ 27 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ] [ 33 ] [ 34 ] [ 35 ] [ 36 ] [ 37 ] [ 38 ] [ 39 ] [ 40 ] [ 41 ] [ 42 ] [ 43 ] [ 44 ] [ 45 ] [ 46 ]

J. Anderson Coats

Andrea Alban

Crystal Allen

Sarah Aronson

Monica S. Baker

Hannah Barnaby

Rebecca Barnhouse

Hilari Bell

Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman

Julie Berry

Lauren Bjorkman

Jan Blazanin

Ellen Booraem

Hélène Boudreau

Julie Bowe

Robin Bridges

Leslie Bulion

Marissa Burt

Erin Cashman

Lara Chapman

Sheela Chari

Julie Chibbaro

Lena Coakley

Kristi Cook

Kate Coombs

Leah Cypess

Carole Estby Dagg

Karen DelleCava

Amy Fellner Dominy

Marissa Doyle

Deva Fagan

Beth Fehlbaum

Greg R. Fishbone

Janet Fox

Sonia Gensler

Cole Gibsen

Hilary Weisman Graham

Tessa Gratton

Alissa Grosso

Lia Habel

Teri Hall

Kiki Hamilton

Janice Hardy

Kim Harrington

Merrie Haskell

Danette Haworth

Cat Hellisen

Karyn Henley

Leanna Renee Hieber

Tess Hilmo

Amy Holder

Elissa J. Hoole

Jennifer Hubbard

Kirsten Hubbard

Denise Jaden

Terry Lynn Johnson

Mike Jung

Julie Kagawa

Julia Karr

Stasia Ward Kehoe

Lynne Kelly

Miranda Kenneally

Derek Taylor Kent

Kami Kinard

Jessi Kirby

Jo Knowles

Ron Koertge

R.L. LaFevers

Helen Landalf

April Lindner

Nikki Loftin

Natasha Lowe

Susan Lubner

Elisa Ludwig

Jenny Lundquist

Michaela MacColl

Christina Mandelski

Jessica Martinez

Shari Maurer

C. Lee McKenzie

Gretchen McNeil

Kate Messner

Dawn Metcalf

Erin Moulton

Erin E. Moulton

Kate Kae Myers

Anne Nesbet

Jennifer Nielsen

Kristin Wolden Nitz

A.J. Paquette

Rosanne Parry

Mitali Perkins

Gae Polisner

Cindy Pon

J.L. Powers

Joy Preble

Cheryl Rainfield

Michelle Ray

Jenn Reese

Diana Renn

Bettina Restrepo

Laurisa White Reyes

Nelsa Roberto

Joanne Rocklin

Lisa and Laura Roecker

Caroline Starr Rose

Randy Russell

Jeanne Ryan

Chris Rylander

Kimberly Sabatini

Peter Adam Salomon

Jeff Sampson

Tiffany Schmidt

Lisa Schroeder

Victoria Schwab

Mindi Scott

Ruta Sepetys

Medeia Sharif

Kristen Simmons

Angie Smibert

Clete Barrett Smith

J.A. Souders

Jessica Spotswood

Anna Staniszewski

Kiera Stewart

Lauren Strasnick

Sarvenaz Tash

Sarah Tregay

Audrey Vernick

Danette Vigilante

Sara Bennett Wealer

Dianna Winget

Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Allan Woodrow

Brian Yansky

Lara Zeises

Jennifer Ziegler

part: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ] [ 11 ] [ 12 ] [ 13 ] [ 14 ] [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] [ 22 ] [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] [ 26 ] [ 27 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] [ 32 ] [ 33 ] [ 34 ] [ 35 ] [ 36 ] [ 37 ] [ 38 ] [ 39 ] [ 40 ] [ 41 ] [ 42 ] [ 43 ] [ 44 ] [ 45 ] [ 46 ]

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