Marianne is thrilled to share with you the fact that she is MENTOR of MONTH for the January issue of GIRL POWER magazine.

You can read her interview with Lauren Galley from Girls Above Society and find out what she thinks it’s like for teens today. Turn to page 14!

We’re sharing some more reviews for Marianne’s picture book, Serious Sas and Messy Magda.

Book Probe says: 

Marianne de Pierres’ Serious Sas and Messy Magda is a brilliant take on accepting each other’s quirks and differences, being open and thankful for the people in your life…

Rachel Annie Bridgen’s illustrations are colourful and eye-catching, with always something to look at. The differences between Sas and Magda are made obvious through the illustrations, aiding de Pierre’s succinct storytelling in ways only a good pairing can do.

Belinda’s Baubles says: 

Marianne de Pierres, has captured exactly what it is to be both a kid and an adult in Serious Sas and Messy Magda… As for the illustrations in this delightful PICTURE book… Rachel Annie Bridgen has her own style and it is, in short, quite brilliant, both in colour and in imagination.

Helen Stubbs interviews her daughter Jasmine and this is the verdict:

Helen: What would you rate the book out of ten?

Jasmine: Ten out of ten.

These were so quick and easy! Perfect for making and eating in a day!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups flour
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 ¼ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ½  cup of mint chocolate
• ½ cup of soft butter
• ½ cup of sugar
• 2 eggs
• 6 tablespoons heavy cream
• Whole pecans

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 and prepare baking sheets. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder. Once combined, incorporate the sugar, butter and eggs.
2. In a microwave save bowl, melt ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, making sure there are no clumps. Add the melted chocolate, into the bowl and continue to mix. Then fold in another ½ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips into the dough.
3. Drop teaspoon size piles of dough on a cookie sheet, making sure to leave at least one inch of space between each cookie. Allow these to bake for about eight minutes. When done remove the cookies from the baking sheet, and allow to completely cool.
4. In the same microwave safe bowl, heat up the heavy cream. Add ¼ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips and ½ cup of mint chocolate. Allow to sit for a minute or two. Then stir until smooth. Spread this mixture on top of each cookie. While it’s still warm, add your toppings; pecans, sprinkles, ect.
5. Enjoy!

Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City’s two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents’ sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn’t remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can’t conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself.  

Hardcover, 416 pages

Published October 9th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

I have read several books on the topic of memory loss. This is the first one that in which I’ve been given a satisfactory explanation as to why only certain memories were lost. Other stories have skimmed over the facts and I find myself questioning why they remember some things but not others.

The story is set in a fantastical New York city in which the lower city has been mostly swallowed by water and is now referred to as “the Depths”, and the upper city has been separated into two major divisions, the leaders of which are enemies and politically divided. This year things are changing. A Mystic is running for election and has a good chance of winning.

The Mystics have magical powers. Each Mystic brings their own unique qualities to their magic and some are stronger than others. When non-Mystics became aware of just how strong the Mystic’s could be, those in power begin changing laws to have the Mystic’s drained of their powers.

Here our main character, Aria Rose, enters. The daughter of one of the most powerful men in the city, she is known to all just because of her status in the society. When she wakes after an overdose, she finds she is engaged to the rival family’s son and cannot remember falling in love. She does discover clues to a very steamy romance but the clues are all cryptic, leaving her very confused. 

Mystic City is a very interesting vision of a futuristic New York, and with the addition of characters with magical powers makes for a very fun, fantastical read. Not only did I enjoy the fact that the reader is actually clued in on the lost memories, but the details and background of the city, environment and political backgrounds adds several layers to the story that I wasn’t expecting. The romantic aspect is cute and the prospect of a revolution is enticing. Recommended.

As well all know, new books hit the shelves every week! And there are so many good ones, it can be hard to pick or even keep up. But here are the new books releasing in January that I can’t wait to read!

Erased by Jennifer Rush.

I read the first book in Altered Series (Altered) and loved it! It’s something new and refreshing. It’s not paranormal. And the cover doesn’t lie, there are some good looking guys in this series! YUM.

Hollow City, by Ransom Riggs.

I still haven’t gotten around to reading the first one in this series, but both look amazing and both have creepy pictures inside. I think this will be one that I have to read in the morning, instead of at night. I get WAY too scared!

The Rule of Three, by Eric Walters.

I haven’t heard of this one yet, but the cover looks REALLY good. I like books that show real situations or problems that actually happen to us, and this is one of those books.

Into the Still Blue, by Veronica Rossi.

This the final book in the Under The Never Sky trilogy, which I also haven’t started yet. But I’ve heard amazing things, and I’ll definitely will be reading these books in 2014.

The Unbound, by Victoria Schwab.

I read and loved The Archived and I’m excited to see how this book goes. I don’t own the first one, but I would love to, just so I can re-read it before I get started on this one! Again this story is something different and new.

Feel free to comment down below with your thoughts, or with the books you’re dying to get your hands on this upcoming month!