Most Popular Books by Julie Cross

In this new book, Julie Cross examines the intricacies of textual humor in contemporary junior literature, using the tools of literary criticism and humor theory. Cross investigates the dialectical paradoxes of humor and debunks the common belief in oppositional binaries of ‘simple’ versus ‘complex’ humor. The varied combinations of so-called high and low forms of humor within junior texts for young readers, who are at such a crucial stage of their reading and social development, provide a valuable commentary upon the culture and values of contemporary western society, making the book of considerable interest to scholars of both children’s literature and childhood studies. Cross explores the ways in which the changing content, forms and functions of the many varied combinations of humor in junior texts, including the Lemony Snickett series, reveal societal attitudes towards young children and childhood. The new compounds of seemingly paradoxical high and low forms of humor, in texts for developing readers from the 1960s onwards, reflect and contribute to contemporary society’s hesitant and uneven acceptance of the emergent paradigm of children’s rights, abilities, participation and empowerment. Cross identifies four types of potentially subversive/transgressive humor which have emerged since the 1960s which, coupled with the three main theories of humor – relief, superiority and incongruity theories – enables a long-overdue charting of developments in humor within junior texts. Cross also argues that the gradual increase in the compounding of the simple and the complex provide opportunities for young readers to play with ambiguous, complicated ideas, helping them embrace the complexities and contradictions of contemporary life.

Everything she wants. Everything he needs. The supportive friend, the reliable daughter, the doting big-sister: Finley is used to being the glue that holds everyone together. But while her sweet demeanor makes her the perfect confidant, her wholesome look isn''t landing her the high paying modeling jobs, which are what Finley needs if she is going to reopen her mother''s dance studio. Enter Eddie. He''s intense and driven, not to mention the life of every party, and he completely charms Finley. The last thing she wants is another commitment to stand in the way of her dreams, but when she''s with Eddie, their chemistry takes over and she can let go of her responsibilities and just be. After all, what''s so wrong about putting herself first once and a while? Except Eddie is hiding a secret. A big secret. And when it surfaces, he and Finley are going to have to choose between their love for each other and everything else... "Halfway Perfect reaches deep into inner truths while stripping away the shine of outer beauty." —New York Times bestselling author Jay Crownover

From NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Julie Cross, a Mature YA contemporary set in the tough world of Elite Gymnastics. Her family may be shattered, but her dreams aren''t... Seventeen year old Karen Campbell has just lost both her parents in a tragic car accident. Grief stricken and alone, her gymnastics coach opens his home to Karen, providing her a place to live while she continues to train, working toward a spot on the world championship team. Coach Bentley’s only child, seventeen year old Jordan is good-looking and charming enough to scare away a girl like Karen—someone who has spent ten times more hours on balance beams and uneven bars than talking or even thinking about boys. But the two teens share a special connection almost immediately. It turns out Jordan has a tragic past of his own, grief buried for years. As Karen’s gymnastics career soars, her nightmares and visions of the horrible accident grow in strength. She can only avoid facing her grief for so long before it begins to surface and ultimately spin out of control in a very dangerous way. Can discovering love and lust (simultaneously) help with the grieving process or will it only provide a temporary distraction while waiting for reality to hit full force?

#1 Letters to Nowhere, an Amazon #1 Bestseller in teen sports fiction! #2 Return to Sender #3 Return to You IMPORTANT! Note from the author —Karen and Jordan''s story will continue in shorter installments with more frequent releases. If you haven''t already, please check out the full length novel, LETTERS TO NOWHERE to read how the story began. ABOUT RETURN TO YOU (Letters to Nowhere Volume 3) How many dreams can you chase at once? Even with bad boy, TJ, disrupting their morning workouts, Karen and Stevie’s daily battles with each other are sure to bring both of them closer to a national title at next month’s championships. It’s the kind of feud that creates winning results. Until a fall from the uneven bars shakes Karen’s rock-solid confidence. Not only does she balk every time she so much as attempts a routine, she’s also facing all this without much support from Jordan. After receiving some bad news, Jordan’s reluctance to listen to reason causes Karen so much frustration she begins to avoid him, needing space to deal with her own issues. He needs someone to force him to make the right choice, he needs his dad to intervene and Karen knows this, but is torn between her loyalty to Jordan and her concern for her coach’s son. Even though both paths lead to the same person—Jordan—it feels like she’s choosing between two different people. And then there’s the growing tension between TJ and Stevie. They’re obviously on the verge of either ripping each other’s heads off or ripping each other’s clothes off. It’s hard for either Jordan or Karen to tell where those two are headed. Tension is building from every possible outlet and there’s bound to be an explosion of some kind in the very near future.

At Holden Prep, dirty little secrets always have a way of coming to the surface. Eleanor Ames has never been what she seems. Average high school student on the outside, but reformed con artist trying to break free of her past on the inside. When Eleanor receives startling news about someone from her previous criminal life, plans for a new operation coinciding with her school''s upcoming field trip quickly consume her. But operations rarely go according to plan. And this is one her irresistible teen FBI agent boyfriend, Miles, would never approve of. Now, more than just Ellie''s reputation is at stake. If she fails, it could be her life. The Eleanor Ames series is best enjoyed in order. Reading Order: Book #1 Chasing Truth Book #2 Hiding Lies

Julie Cross''s Vortex is the thrilling second installment of the Tempest series, in which the world hangs in the balance as a lovelorn Jackson must choose who to save Jackson Meyer has thrown himself into his role as an agent for Tempest, the shadowy division of the CIA that handles all time-travel-related threats. Despite his heartbreak at losing the love of his life, Jackson has proved himself to be an excellent agent. However, after an accidental run in with Holly—the girl he altered history to save—Jackson is once again reminded of what he''s lost. And when Eyewall, an opposing division of the CIA, emerges, Jackson and his fellow agents not only find themselves under attack, but Jackson begins to discover that the world around him has changed and someone knows about his erased relationship with Holly, putting both their lives at risk all over again.

Haley Stevenson seems like she''s got it all together: cheer captain, "Princess" of Juniper Falls, and voted Most Likely to Get Things Done. But below the surface, she''s struggling with a less-than-stellar GPA and still reeling from the loss of her first love. Repeating her Civics class during summer school is her chance to Get Things Done, not angst over boys. In fact, she''s sworn them off completely until college. Fletcher Scott is happy to keep a low profile around Juniper Falls. He''s always been the invisible guy, warming the bench on the hockey team and moonlighting at a job that would make his grandma blush. Suddenly, though, he''s finding he wants more: more time on the ice, and more time with his infuriatingly perfect summer-school study partner. But leave it to a girl who requires perfection to shake up a boy who''s ready to break all the rules. Each book in the Juniper Falls series is STANDALONE: * Off the Ice * Breaking the Ice

"Engagingly and intelligently written, this absorbing novel should work as catnip to fashion-obsessed readers."—Kirkus Reviews Eve''s time as a fashion model nearly destroyed her — now she''s determined to build a career behind the camera lense. But landing a coveted photography internship brings her face to face with her dark past — just as she''s falling for hot male model Alex. Eve had it all—emphasis on had. She was a rising star with a modeling contract destined to catapult her to celebrity...until the devastating night when she walked away from everything, everyone in her life. Eve''s worked hard to put her troubled past behind her, and photography''s given her a fresh start. She just never thought her dream internship would force her back into the industry that broke her trust and her heart. Alex is a regular, good guy from Nebraska, but as an up-and-coming model, he''s learning that appearances are everything. The fake relationship Alex''s agent concocted for Alex and his underage costar? That''ll land them both the hot jobs. But Alex hadn''t counted on falling for Eve, the girl behind the camera. With careers and love on the line, Eve and Alex are about to prove you may want what you can''t have—but sometimes it''s worth the risk.

All is fair in love and hockey... Claire O’Connor is back in Juniper Falls, but that doesn’t mean she wants to be. One semester off, that’s what she promised herself. Just long enough to take care of her father and keep the family business—a hockey bar beside the ice rink—afloat. After that, she’s getting the hell out. Again. Enter Tate Tanley. What happened between them the night before she left town resurfaces the second they lay eyes on each other. But the guy she remembers has been replaced by a total hottie. When Tate is unexpectedly called in to take over for the hockey team’s star goalie, suddenly he’s in the spotlight and on his way to becoming just another egotistical varsity hockey player. And Claire’s sworn off Juniper Falls hockey players for good. It’s the absolute worst time to fall in love. For Tate and Claire, hockey isn’t just a game. And they both might not survive a body check to the heart. Each book in the Juniper Falls series is STANDALONE: * Off the Ice * Breaking the Ice

As Jackson recovers from his brush with death, surrounded by his father, Courtney, Holly, and a few of the original time travelers, it becomes clear that they need to stop Thomas'' and Dr. Ludwig''s experiments at Eyewall Headquarters, triggering a war Jackson was born to fight.

Brooke Parker never expected to find herself in the tiny town of Juniper Falls, Minnesota. Of course, she also never expected to lose her dad. Or for her mom to lose herself. Brooke feels like she’s losing it...until she finds Juniper Falls hockey. Juniper Falls girls’ hockey, that is. Jake Hammond, current prince of Juniper Falls, captain of the hockey team, and player with the best chance of scoring it big, is on top of the world. Until one hazing ritual gone wrong lands him injured, sitting on the sidelines, and—shocking even to him—finding himself enjoying his “punishment” as assistant coach for the girls’ team. As Jake and Brooke grow closer, he finds the quiet new girl is hiding a persona full of life, ideas, and experiences bigger and broader than anything he’s ever known. But to Jake, hockey’s never just been a game. It’s his whole life. And leveraging the game for a shot at their future might be more than he can give. Each book in the Juniper Falls series is STANDALONE: * Off the Ice * Breaking the Ice * On Thin Ice

"Loved this book! Great characters, great story, & so much swooning!" –Cindi Madsen, USA Today bestselling author Seventeen-year-old Annie Lucas''s life is completely upended the moment her dad returns to the major leagues as the new pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals. Now she''s living in Missouri (too cold), attending an all-girls school (no boys), and navigating the strange world of professional sports. But Annie has dreams of her own—most of which involve placing first at every track meet...and one starring the Royals'' super-hot rookie pitcher. But nineteen-year-old Jason Brody is completely, utterly, and totally off-limits. Besides, her dad would kill them both several times over. Not to mention Brody has something of a past, and his fan club is filled with C-cupped models, not smart-mouthed high school "brats" who can run the pants off every player on the team. Annie has enough on her plate without taking their friendship to the next level. The last thing she should be doing is falling in love. But baseball isn''t just a game. It''s life. And sometimes, it can break your heart...

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy... he''s in college, has a girlfriend... and he can travel back through time. But it''s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there''s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it''s just harmless fun. That is... until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he''s stuck in 2007 and can''t get back to the future. Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities. But it''s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these "Enemies of Time" will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler. Recruit... or kill him. Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he''s willing to go to save Holly... and possibly the entire world.

The year is 2009. Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy... he''s in college, throws lots of parties, is interested in a girl he can''t have, and oh yeah, he can travel back through time. But it''s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there''s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it''s just harmless fun.

For New Adult and Young Adult fans, nineteen stories ... fifty unforgettable experiences. Nineteen fabulous tales of first kisses, first loves, first ... everythings. All compiled by Julie Cross. With stories from Jennifer L. Armentrout writing as J. Lynn, Sophia Bleu, Lisa Desrochers, Cole Gibsen, A. L. Jackson, Sophie Jordan, Melissa Landers, Lauren Layne, Roni Loren, Molly McAdams, Myra McEntire, Hannah Moskowitz, Lyla Payne, Mark Perini, Carrie Ryan, Andrew Shaffer, Alessandra Thomas, and Tracy Wolff.

Author and Edutainer Julie Cross shows us how to own our sparkle, and go forth and be bold, and reminds us that we don''t always have to do what we are told.

"An enjoyably twisty, romantic, and thoughtful prep-school mystery." -Kirkus Reviews At Holden Prep, the rich and powerful rule the school—and they’ll do just about anything to keep their dirty little secrets hidden. When former con artist Eleanor Ames’ homecoming date dies—seemingly by his own hand—she’s positive there’s something more going on. The more questions she asks, though, the more she crosses paths with Miles Beckett. He’s sexy, mysterious, arrogant...and he’s asking all the same questions. Eleanor might not trust him—she doesn’t even like him. So why does she keep imagining what it would be like to kiss him? Fighting the infuriating attraction is almost as hard as ignoring the fact that Miles isn’t telling her the truth...and that there’s a good chance he thinks she’s the killer. The Eleanor Ames series is best enjoyed in order. Reading Order: Book #1 Chasing Truth Book #2 Hiding Lies

Jackson Meyer is hiding a secret. He can time-travel. But he doesn''t know how he does it, how to control it or what it means. When Jackson, and his girlfriend Holly, find themselves in fatal danger, Jackson panics and catapaults himself two years into his past, further than he''s ever managed before, and this time he can''t find a way back to the future. All the rules of time-travel he''s experienced so far have been broken and Jackson has no choice but to pretend to be his younger self whilst he figures out a solution. Jackson is tearing himself apart with guilt and frustration, wondering if Holly survived. He''s also become the target of a enemy force he cannot even begin to comprehend and it seems even his dad is lying to him.