Guest Post: Jennifer Estep

Thanks to Jennifer Estep for stopping by the blog for a guest post on her top crushes in YA. Jennifer Estep is the author of Touch of Frost, the first in the Mythos Academy series from Kensington Teen. This is a phenomenal book that I highly recommend that you check out! And now on to Jennifer:

Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to say thanks to Bailey for having me on the blog today. Thanks so much, Bailey!

My name is Jennifer Estep, and I write the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. The books focus on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen is shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendants of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, Amazons, and more.

Touch of Frost, the first book in the series, will be published on July 26. First Frost, a prequel e-story to the series, is available now. The second book, Kiss of Frost, will hit shelves on Nov. 29.

So today, Bailey asked me to talk about my top YA crushes, since my first YA book will be out next week. Ah, guys. They can be cute, quirky, cool, infuriating, and everything in between, just like my heroine Gwen finds out when she meets Spartan bad boy Logan Quinn in Touch of Frost.

In fact, a love interest can make or break a book, especially in the YA genre. These are the guys readers love and the ones that readers sometimes love to hate. So who am I crushing on when it comes to YA books? Read on to find out:

Ash from The Iron King by Julie Kagawa: Sure, he’s a Winter Prince with a frosty attitude, but Ash has a good heart underneath his cool, icy exterior.

The Beast from Beauty by Robin McKinley: The Beast might look scary, but he’s another guy who has a heart of gold. He gives Beauty everything she wants and something she doesn’t even realize that she needs until it’s almost too late – his love.

Billy Colman from Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls: This classic book is one of my favorites, and Billy’s adventures with and devotion to his two dogs always makes me cry. Who doesn’t love a guy who loves dogs?

Cassel Sharpe from White Cat by Holly Black: Cassel might know every con and trick in the book, but he wants love, just like we all do – even if he once turned the girl that he liked into a cat. Accidentally, of course.

Hale from Heist Society by Ally Carter: He’s cute, he’s rich, and he’s a thief. Plus, he’s always there to support Kat when she needs it. He’s like a YA version of George Clooney in Ocean’s Eleven.

Kiernan from The False Princess by Eilis O’Neal: Kiernan is the heroine, Sinda’s, lifelong friend, but when it’s revealed that she’s not really a princess after all, he’s one of the few people who stands by her. Because that’s what you do when you love someone like Kiernan does Sinda.

Kyle Kingsbury from Beastly by Alex Flinn: Kyle starts off as a real jerk. But after he’s turned into a beast, Kyle realizes that there’s more to life – and himself – than just looking good or dating the most popular girl in school, and he starts to care about other people. He’s a bad boy who turns into a really great guy.

Peeta from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: I was Team Peeta all the way. Why? Because he’s been in love with Katniss since they were kids, and he helps her make it through the Hunger Games not once, but twice. Besides Haymitch, Peeta’s the only one who understands all the horrors that Katniss goes through during the games. Plus, he bakes. Who can resist a guy who cooks?

Po from Graceling by Kristin Cashore: Po accepts Katsa for the fierce warrior that she is. When he’s injured, he stays behind so that Katsa can get a young girl to safety. No wonder Katsa goes back for him just as soon as she can.

Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell: Okay, okay, so he’s not in a YA book, but there was no cooler or cuter guy than Zack Morris when I was growing up. I used to eagerly wait for Saturday mornings to roll around just so I could see what Zack was up to this week, and I still watch the show if I’m channel surfing and come across an old episode.

So there you have it – some of my YA crushes. What about you guys? Who are some of your YA crushes?

USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Estep also writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.

Books in the series are Spider’s Bite, Web of Lies, Venom, and Tangled Threads. Spider’s Revenge, the fifth book, will be released on Sept. 27. Visit www.jenniferestep.com for free short stories, excerpts, and more.

Thanks for stopping by, Jennifer.

But wait, there's more! Jennifer has kindly offered up a copy of Touch of Frost for a giveaway! This giveaway will go until July 27th at 11:59 PM (a week from now). The rules are below.

Rules:

• U.S Only (International postage is pricey. Sorry!)
• You must be 13 years or older to enter
• Leave a comment and include a way to contact you if you win