Friday, September 28, 2012

Excerpt & Giveaway~ The Pack: Retribution by LM Preston

YA Science Fiction
The Pack #2

Revenge doesn't have a name, but has chosen a victim—Shamira. But she's never been the type to lie down and let someone hurt her family or her friends. In order to find the mastermind behind the threat to all she cares about, she must give up the one person who's found his way into her guarded heart, Valens. Valens refuses to back off easily, and neither will Shamira's friends. They join forces with her in order to deal with a new enemy who seeks to kill everyone in Shamira's life that dared save the missing kids on Mars.






“No, I’m your charity case. Just glad that you let me in that place you hide. Happy, that I’m the only one that knows the real you. That you’ll share that special piece of yourself that you keep hidden.” He whispered. “With only me."

Buy Links

About LM Preston

LM. Preston was born and raised in Washington, DC.  An avid reader, she loved to create poetry and short-stories as a young girl.  With a thirst for knowledge she attended college at Bowie State University, and worked in the IT field as a Techie and Educator for over sixteen years.  She started writing science fiction under the encouragement of her husband who was a Sci-Fi buff and her four kids.  Her first published novel, Explorer X - Alpha was the beginning of her obsessive desire to write and create stories of young people who overcome unbelievable odds.  She loves to write while on the porch watching her kids play or when she is traveling, which is another passion that encouraged her writing.


TWITTER PARTY: Friday, 9/28 at 7pm-9pm EST, use the hashtag #ThePackRetributionParty and @LM_Preston prizes include $10 Amazon Gift cards for 3 winners & books, swag prizes
Starring eight other authors and blog hosts, tons of prizes and fun.

LM Preston
YA SciFi Author

BOOKS available at amazon & all bookstores
EXPLORER X - Alpha
THE PACK
BANDITS

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour Hosts
9/23/2012 – The Paperback Princesses- www.allaboutyabooks.blogspot.com
9/23/2012 – Black Words White Pages - http://blackwords-whitepages.blogspot.com/
9/24/2012 – Eva’s Sanctuary - http://vampirekiss1967.blogspot.com/

9/24/2012 – My Home Away From Home - http://www.officialmhafh.blogspot.com
9/25/2012 – Writer’s Ally - http://writersally.blogspot.com/
9/25/2012 – Mpax Author – http://mpaxauthor.blogspot.com
9/25/2012 – My Four Monkeys - www.MyFourMonkeys.com
9/25/2012 – Insatiable Readers - http://insatiablereaders.blogspot.com
9/25/2012 – The Magic Reads – www.themagicatticreads.com
9/25/2012 – The Curiosity Key - http://www.curiositykey.blogspot.com/

9/26/2012 – Reviewer Rachel - http://www.rachelsbookreviews.com/
9/26/2012 – Escape Through The Pages - http://thekams.wordpress.com/
9/27/2012 – I Want to Read That - http://www.iwanttoreadthat.com/
9/28/2012 – YA Book Central – www.yabookscentral.com
9/29/2012 – Comfort Books - http://paigebradish1996.blogspot.com/
9/29/2012 – A Little Bit Of Reviews – www.alittlebitofrnrreviews.com

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Cover Reveal: Release by M.R. Merrick

YA Fantasy
The Protectors Book 3
Release Date: December 10, 2012


After uniting the shifters and calling in reinforcements, Chase has to face his toughest challenge yet: learning to control his emotions. But as tensions rise and his powers grow, controlling his emotions becomes the least of his problems.

Terrorized by a multi-shifter who is hell-bent on turning him, Chase questions just how far he’s willing to go to stop his father. Meanwhile, Tiki’s virtuous nature has placed him in the middle of Vincent’s past, leaving Chase to oppose a senate of vampires and defend a demon he hates.

Trying to balance his friends, his enemies, and his inner demons, Chase is left searching for answers about the Mark, his destiny, and where he can find the next soul piece. Stopping Riley is his top priority, but as more obstacles arise, he finds himself doubting all the decisions he’s made - especially regarding Rayna.

One thing is for certain: Chase has finally realized that he doesn’t know anything. The light doesn’t always quell the darkness, the monsters don’t always stay in the shadows, and the past doesn’t always stay in the past - sometimes, the demons inside are the hardest to fight.
Contact Links
Twitter: @MRMERRICK


                            Exiled (Protector #1)           Shift (Protector #2)

What do you all think of the cover for Release? I personally love all of the covers and can't wait to read them. 
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Interview and Giveaway with Michael Diack, author of The Super Spud Trilogy

YA Comedy Fantasy


Genetic engineering has accomplished many things, one of which has been to create the Super Spud! The humble potato elevated to new heights, creating the most flavoursome crisps ever known to humankind! But that's not all - A magical transformation occurs to all Super Spud crisps not eaten before their use-by date. They take on a life of their own. And so long as they remain undetected by humans, they enjoy life in their own Super Spud cities, take part in major Super Spud sporting events and even start the odd Super Spud war or two. Join Colin, Cougar, Hannibal Vector, Generals Rock, Jock and Strap and all the others in their rollicking adventures. You'll never look at a packet of crisps in the same way again! Fun, quirky and totally original.








Tell us a bit about yourself

Hi, I’m Michael Diack, 26 and from UK. I started writing during university and I’ve just released my debut novel, The Super Spud Trilogy, through a company called Pen Press. The book is released now as a paperback and e-book on Amazon. I enjoy music, playing squash, and sailing with my friends.

When did you begin writing?

I wrote the book at university when I was 19. I guess the target audience at the time of writing were fellow students with the same kind of humour as me. Initially, there were lots more sexual innuendos and some mild swearing, in time I took these out and tried to make the book much more approachable for all age groups. Now there are no swear words, the Super Spud equivalent version of sex is holding hands, and the graphic violence is comic in its depiction. My gut tells me the core target audience it will appeal to is still the student generation (18-22), and the best reviews have been from reviewers of this age range, but I honestly hope adults will find it enjoyable and younger readers, too. It came about after I remembered a short story I had written at primary school: Colin and Lucy are crisp packets who come to life after their use-by date and try to find the rubbish tip. At university, bored during a lecture on rocks, I remembered the story and the whole novel I finished in about a month. The book is 3 stories in one and is about magical potatoes, called Super Spuds, who once placed in crisp packets come alive if they are not eaten when their use-by date expires. The personality of the Super Spud is determined by their flavour: tuna flavours are smart, steak and spinach flavours strong, salt and vinegar flavours are arrogant. The book references many films and it is ultimately a tale of friendship, good versus evil and heroic acts of bravery.

Have you ever been discouraged in regard to your writing ability and if so, how did you get past it and move forward?

I guess the first time I got my novel back from my editor was quite a tough time. It was the first ever critique of my work and she held nothing back. However, I couldn’t be more grateful for her honesty and I believe that without her, the book would have been so much worse. I’ll never publish anything without an editor, not just because they proofread for you but also they pick up on plot lines and help to make it the more complete and professional package. She helped me to realise that it takes a courageous writer to make changes or omit large parts for the good of the whole story, no matter how important those parts or characters might have seemed to you when writing. With the criticism from reviewers I just swallow my pride and realise that to become a better writer, I need to listen to what they are saying and which areas need working on. I’m very grateful for honest reviews and will never be discouraged if someone didn’t like the book. It’s just not to everyone’s taste and that’s cool with me.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

I write because it is fun and it helps relieve stress. Writing a story and developing it from a few simple ideas is a very rewarding experience and especially reading positive reviews. I want others to be entertained and to be able to unwind with my writing and escape from the stress of real life.

What is something you've written that will never see the light of day?

I wrote a short story about Tiger Woods and the drama that unfolded when it was revealed he had an affair. Basically Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Thierry Henry and David Beckham are all, by night, elite assassins working for the Gillette Corporation (they were all sponsored by them in real life at one stage). After Tiger’s wife finds out about his affair she kills him and the Gillette Corporation takes things into their own hands for retribution and order Federer and Henry to hunt her down. It’s very rude and sexual and probably not to be read by anybody…

What is your writer food?

I usually buy a packet of Haribo Tangfastics and eat them all while writing. Although I wrote a book about crisps, I don’t actually eat them that much and I prefer sweets.

What inspires you to write?

Typing away, while listening to music is the ultimate escape for me. I don’t sit down and think of a story, it’s usually just there in my head, eating away and telling me to write something, be it a sentence or a few pages. I think it’s very important to continually keep writing no matter what form it takes – novels, short stories, poems or blogs.

How many books have you written and which is your favorite?

I published The Super Spud Trilogy (three books in one) in April 2012. I’m currently writing and have nearly finished The Super Spuds: Book 4, which I’ll aim to release around Christmas time this year. I have a collection of short stories and ideas for other novels but at the moment it’s just the two books I’m afraid. I learned a lot from the feedback and reviews of The Super Spud Trilogy and my favourite out of the two books is Book 4. It’s more character and plot focused and, hopefully, will be even better received than the first book by reviewers.

What are some of your favorite books?

The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, Orcs, Centurion, Steal you away, I’m not scared, Ring/Spiral/Loop trilogy, and Norwegian Wood.

What authors do you like to read?

I love Tolkien, he is my favourite author and his description of things is so clear and yet concise. With something as epic as The Hobbit, he managed to write it in a few hundred pages when other authors would have made it a long-winded 1,000 page marathon. I also enjoy Bret Easton Ellis, Niccolo Ammaniti, Simon Scarrow and Marcus Heitz. I’m open to most genres though and will give any book a chance.

Would you say you relate to any of your characters? If so, which one and why?

There are a lot of characters in the book, each adding their own uniqueness to the story. Out of all the characters, I’d say Cougar is most like me due to his cynical, dry sense of humour and his uselessness with romance. I didn’t model the characters on anyone I knew though, I’d never do that but I’d be lying if I said my own personality didn’t come out a little in at least some of the characters ( not the evil Super Spuds though!).

Contact the Author
http://www.superspudtrilogy.blogspot.com/

Buy links: ebook
Amazon UK

Amazon US

Paperback 
Amazon UK paperback copy
Amazon US paperback copy
Book Depository - free worldwide shipping!


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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Guest Post~Excerpt~Giveaway: Of Blood and Bone by Courtney Cole

Adult Romance

Love is dangerous…
“I’m a monster, Eva. There is no saving a monster. But I love that you want to try.”
My heart constricts at the expression on his face. He has no hope for himself, so I have to hope for him.
“You’re not a monster,” I argue softly. “You’re a man, Luca. A man like any other, you’re made of blood
and bone.”
As a little boy, Luca Minaldi was told he was a monster.
As an adult, he knows it is true.
He lives in Malta, a fairytale-like place filled with sunshine and sea, beauty and secrets. And Luca’s
darkest of secrets is the best kept of them all.
Eva Talbot is spending the summer in Malta to finish up her doctoral dissertation. When she meets Luca,
a mysterious and handsome shipping tycoon, there is an instant attraction, a disturbing and beautiful
energy that she has never felt before. But she senses the darkness that lives within him.
Eva is hired to care for his mother, who suffers from dementia, but it is Luca who Eva will eventually risk
everything to save. Her life becomes a swirling chaos of darkness and romance, of secrets and mystery.
And the question that emerges will become the most important answer of all.
Can she save Luca from the darkness that plagues him without losing herself?
The answer is a matter of life or death.

Courtney Cole as You’ve Never Seen Her

So, you may know that my Twitter handle is @CourtwritesYA. The YA, of course, stands for Young Adult. I’ve written ten books and all of them are YA and NA. EXCEPT for my newest release, Of Blood and Bone.

What the heck? Courtney Cole wrote adult fiction?? This seems to be a common question that I’m hearing this past week or two. And the answer is…. Heck yeah, I did. Of Blood and Bone contains a LOT of adult content…racy sex, seduction, violence. There’s even some blood. You know, the good stuff. And it is not PG-13 in any way, shape or form.

Why did I do this? Well. Simply put… I wanted to.

One day, a couple of years ago, I was watching Dexter (the Showtime series about a serial killer) and for some reason, a storyline popped into my head about a woman who fell in love with a serial killer. The more I thought about it, the more I tweaked it. It would be a dark romance, not a thriller. The MC wouldn’t be a serial killer, but he would be someone with dark issues. He would be good on the inside, but he would be ‘damaged’ and he would hate himself because of this ’affliction.’ I eventually decided that he would have some sort of a Dr.Jekyll/Mr.Hyde complex. The story kept evolving.

And eventually Of Blood and Bone was born. But I didn’t write it right away. I put it off because it is so not something a YA writer should write. To do it up the right way, it should contain everything that YA shouldn’t.

But with the release of so much darker stuff this year, I decided that now was the time. And so I wrote it. And I love it. In my opinion, it’s the best thing I’ve done so far. The two things that I hear the most about it are: “Wow! I’ve never seen Courtney Cole like that!” and “It was amazing-- I thought about that book for days after I read it.” Both things make me smile…because you truly haven’t seen Courtney Cole quite like this.



(from Eva’s point of view)

“Evangeline,” he says softly, his dark eyes glued to mine. “I’m so sorry about the other night.  I wish I could remember.  I wish I could take it back.”

“I don’t,” I tell him honestly.  “I really don’t.”

He gazes out the window for a scant moment more, seemingly deep in thought, before he crosses the room to me.  He kneels in front of me and looks into my eyes.  In this moment, he is as vulnerable as I’ve ever seen him, as I’ve ever seen anyone. He’s completely open to me, hiding nothing.

I want so desperately to kiss him.

“I can’t,” I tell his dark eyes, praying that I don’t fall into them.  “I want to kiss you right now.  But I can’t. You’re my patient.  There are ethics…”

Luca shakes his head, his hands on my knees and his gaze upon mine.  “You aren’t my doctor, Evangeline.  You’re my friend.  I’m simply talking to a friend who wants to help me tonight.  You’re not licensed to practice medicine in Malta, remember?  So where does that leave your ethics?”

He smiles wolfishly and waits without moving.  He’s offering himself to me.  I know that. And it is against his better judgment. He has told me that, as well.  Yet here he is, on his knees in front of me.

I suck in a breath and inhale the air that is so charged with everything that Luca is.

Whatever that is.

It is dangerous on many levels.  I know that.

I reach out unsure fingers and trace the top of his shoulders, moving over the contours. They are so broad, yet so slender at once.  He’s perfectly built.  Strong, lithe and powerful.  I drop my head.  I know that I don’t want to resist him anymore.  For the first time in my life, I’m going to do something that my heart wants to do, not what my head tells me to do.

I grip him tighter with my fingers and pull him to me.  He folds in between my knees, pressing me to his chest.  I can hear his heart thumping rhythmically against mine as my fingers linger on his warm back.

He dips his head and presses his forehead to mine, staring into my eyes.  His are a smoldering and stormy black.

“I’m afraid to get close to you,” he tells me.  “I’m afraid for you.”

“I’m not,” I whisper.  “I’m not afraid of you.  Kiss me, Luca.”

Even I can hear the thick desire in my voice and Luca hears it too.

He groans and covers my mouth with his own, muffling the sound with my lips.  He is pressed so close that he seems to absorb me.  Every plane of his body is against every plane of mine.  I don’t know where he stops and where I start, but it doesn’t matter.  All that matters is him and me and this.

***

That scene continues on to become quite steamy. Seriously, I had a fan on my desk for writing moments like those. Haha. I’m just kidding. Or am I?

Of Blood and Bone is the first book in new trilogy, The Minaldi Legacy. It is available here on Amazon and here on Barnes and Noble.com

Check it out and see why people are saying, “Holy moly! I’ve never seen Courtney Cole like that!!”

I really hope that when you do, you’ll like what you see.

Links


www.courtneycolewrites.com

http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Bone-Minaldi-Legacy-ebook/dp/B009B1N1IC/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1348492458&sr=1-1&keywords=of+blood+and+bone+by+courtney+cole




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Review: Stalk Me by Jillian Dodd

YA Contemporary Romance(Mature)

Gossip girl meets Hollywood in this new series by That Boy author, Jillian Dodd.
Keatyn has everything she ever dreamed of. Her life is following the script she wrote for the perfect high school experience. She’s popular, goes to the best parties, dates the hottest guy, and sits at the most coveted lunch table.

She’s just not sure she wants it anymore.

Because really, things aren’t all that perfect. Her best friend is threatening to tell everyone her perfect relationship is a scam. Her perfect boyfriend gets drunk at every party they go to. It’s exhausting always trying to look and act perfect. And deep down, she isn’t sure if she has any true friends.

To add to the drama, her movie star mom’s long-time fan has turned stalker. An older man is flirting with her and telling her they should make a movie together. And she’s crushing on an adorable surfer. Dating a guy like him would mean committing social suicide.

So she writes a new script. One where all the pieces of her life will come together in perfect harmony. But little does she know, there’s someone who will do anything to make sure that doesn’t happen
Hey everyone, Ren here! My hubby decided to hijack my Kindle for the day and read Stalk Me by Jillian Dodd. I think the only reason he chose it is because he saw the hot chick on the cover and assumed it was one of my erotica novels LOL (It has been confirmed....he did hahaha.) I explained to him my love of YA and how the stories are just better. I think I made him a believer :-) I'm a huge Jillian Dodd fan and I'm kinda mad that he read it before me. Here is his review.

Source: Reviewer purchase

I really enjoyed reading this book, it took me right back to high school. I could see all of the things Jillian depicts in her book happening just the way that she describes them; house parties, distinction between social classes, and one girl torn between two very different places.

On one side, Keatyn is one of the popular girls at school, picking up after her drunk boyfriend Sander all the time. On the other hand, she's also Brooklyn's little surfer girl. Brooklyn doesn't go to school, and spends his days smoking weed and surfing. Keatyn's mother is a famous actress, and is left notes by a stalker who claims to have always loved her. She's used to it, but then he goes too far...

The book spans a decent time period, and there's alot of ground to cover, and I don't want to give out many details. Loads of high school drama and unfortunately not enough Cush.  Brandon Cushman, or Cush, throws the wildest parties, always has a fine girl on his arm, but never gets tied down.  I despise Brooklyn's character and almost love to hate him, but that's just me personally.  RiAnne kinda reminds me of Lacey Chabert from Mean Girls, only more of a follower and definitely not willing to cross Vanessa.  Vanessa is a whole different beast in herself, and her character makes me cringe every time I see her name.  It's Keatyn, though, that the story revolves around, and throughout the book she really goes through a lot of changes, from being little miss popularity to not caring what anyone thinks.  She also becomes quite the little lipslut towards the end of the book, but I guess there's a reason for it. I'd love to read the next book in the series, "Kiss Me."


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Tour: Crimson Rising(Starship Academy #2) by Nick James

Young Adult Sci-Fi
Our best-selling sci-fi series continues

Following their dramatic showdown in Seattle, Jesse Fisher and Cassius Stevenson find their world’s been turned inside out. The faculty at Skyship Academy is keeping Jesse a prisoner in his own home, fearful of his influence over Pearls. And Cassius, once a loyal Pearlhound for the Unified Party, has been pushed into hiding, fearful of his government's retaliation.

When Jesse smuggles a mysterious red Pearl onboard the Academy, he sets loose a destructive chain of events, which lead him to a reunion with Cassius and a confrontation with Theo -- a bloodthirsty Pearlhound with a dangerous secret.

But a larger threat looms in the stars. An enemy is gathering, with plans to exterminate the entire human race. And Jesse and Cassius might just be the lynch pins that trigger mankind's destruction

About the Author


I grew up in the small island town of Anacortes, Washington, where an active imagination was often a prerequisite for a good time. No shopping malls, no movie theater, etc, etc. My first brush with publishing was in third grade, where we were encouraged to not only write stories, but to publish, bind and present them. I think the teacher got more than she bargained for because I was soon amassing quite a personal library of colored-paper bound sagas.

As a kid, I was a voracious reader of comic books. Of course, they didn’t sell them anywhere in little Anacortes, so it was a thirty-mile drive “off island” to get them. At that age, it wasn’t even about the pictures. It was one hundred percent the stories. I was always attracted to the big drama and dialogue.

I started writing seriously when I entered college. Five “practice” novels later (some weirder than others) and I started querying what was to become Skyship Academy. Then I was lucky enough to find a fantastic publisher in Flux. And next comes the moment when I get to share my debut novel with 
readers!


9/10 This or That @ The Busy Bibliophelic 

9/11 Review @ The Readinista
9/12 Guest Blog @ Kelsey Sutton
9/13 Interview @ The Book CellarX
9/14 This or That @ Kindle & Me
9/15 Interview & ToT @ Death, Books & Tea
9/18 Giveaway @ The Mod Podge Bookshelf
9/20 ToT & Giveaway @ Coffee, Books & Me
9/22 Interview & Giveaway @ Fire & Ice
9/23 Shelf Envy @ Joyous Books
9/26 Spotlight @ A Little Bit Of R&R
9/27 Guest Blog @ The Book Smugglers
9/28 Guest Blog & Giveaway @ I Am A Reader, Not A Writer


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Monday, September 24, 2012

Tour Review & Giveaway: Phoenix Rising by Lisa C. Morgan

Maggie Henning & The Realm: book 1
YA Paranormal Romance


Maggie has lived the last ten years with a woman who isn't her mother and carrying the label "Daughter of John Henning", a man sentenced to live out his days at Sunnyview Psychiatric Hospital after his conviction of fire bombing a church...

and killing the 8 people inside.

What Maggie learns will change her life. She is the last of a race of creatures known as "The Phoenix", a race of supernatural beings with the ability to wield and control fire.
And she will need that power now...

Revenants- walking, living, skeletal creatures who have waged a war against an unseen, parallel world known simply as The Realm- need Maggie's blood to bring them to a full power...a power that will give them an unbeatable edge and offer the deciding weapon in this war.
Maggie is not alone as she learns not only what she really is, but what it is her destiny to become...
Source: Received the book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Did not receive any payment for review.
My Review

HOLY SMOKES!!!! Where do I begin? 

16 year old Maggie has been living with grief, believing that her father was a killer. Her world as she knows it is about to be turned upside down. She is drawn to the melody of a guitar in a music store, where she meets Michel. Oh Michel <3 Anyhow, her friend ditches her at the mall and Michel offers to give her a ride home...on his motorcycle.  Fast forward a bit. Maggie dreads visiting her father in the mental institution. Her father never speaks during their visits. That is all about to change. Her father tries to warn her that she needs to "Guard the blood." Maggie has no clue what he is talking about and she thinks he's just crazy. She's about to learn just how serious things are about to get. 

Maggie learns that her life for the past 10 years has been a lie. She has been living with a woman she believed to be her mother. After an attack, Maggie is brought to the Trust, a safe house for beings of the Realm. It is there that she learns of what she really is and the truth about her father. Maggie is the Realm's last hope to defeat the revenants, an evil race that is determined to take over the Realm and the mortal world. 

My thoughts...

I had mixed feelings when I read this book. The beginning got right to the point. I like when a book doesn't go on with the mundane stuff. I had a love/hate relationship with Maggie. I liked her in the beginning. But as the book started to focus on the nitty gritty,  she kinda whined a lot and it was a bit of a turn off. I like my protagonist to be strong and independent and she was just lacking a bit of both. It also felt a little like insta-love. Those were my only two gripes. Now for what I loved about the story. I felt like I knew all of the characters. The author paints them in such great detail that I feel like I have a relationship with each one of them. My favorite character would have to be Luc. Who doesn't love a hot, snarky vampire with a little bit of comic relief mixed in? I know I do. I loved the Realm and the history of their world. I really enjoy it when an author puts such effort into designing a world that is all their own. I was so enthralled by the end of the story that I am really considering begging the author to let me review the second book before it comes out lol. I want to throw something at her and hug her at the same time. This book made me laugh, swoon and cry. I cannot tell you why I cried but I beg you, PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!!! I was torn between rating it 4 or a 5 so I gave it 4 1/2 stars. I round it up to a 5 for Amazon, Goodreads etc. 



About the Author
Lisa C. Morgan lives in rural Upstate NY with her husband, three children, a degu, a precocious Siberian Husky, and a half Pom/Half Chi spoiled baby named Salacious B. Dustbunny.  A lover of books and words, it has always been her desire to tell stories that the people near her could listen and read, escaping the world around them by way of the page. Always having a new story idea popping into her head, (sometimes at the least appropriate of times,) Lisa can always be found with a notebook and writing utensil somewhere within reach, just as her 8th grade teacher made her promise to do.Lisa has two short stories previously published in anthologies. A Romantic short titled Nothing's Terminal (A Home for the Holidays; December, 2011) and  a zombie themed short titled Antidote (The Thorn of Death; March 2012). Her debut novel- Phoenix Rising is the first in a new YA series Maggie Henning & The Realm and will be released July 2012. Upcoming will be the continuation in the series- Phoenix Burning, Phoenix Shadow, and Phoenix Ashes. 
    When she isn't writing or taxing kids, Lisa enjoys reading, football, softball, cooking, singing & dancing, tattoos, and spending time with family and friends.



Buy Links
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Smashwords

Contact Links
twitter: @iluvvikingvamps



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Sunday, September 23, 2012

Cover Reveal: Just For Now(Sea Breeze #4) by Abbi Glines

I am a HUGE Abbi Glines fan!! I'm so stoked to be able to share the cover for Just For Now, the 4th book in the Sea Breeze series. I really enjoyed the first 2 books in the series and cannot wait to read the next two. I'd like to give a big thanks to AToMR Book Tours for allowing us to partake in the cover reveal. 


Title: Just for Now (Sea Breeze, #4)
Age Group/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Expected Release: October 23, 2012
Cover Design: Mooney Designs
Book trailer created by: Hellion Works
Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours



The day Preston Drake figured out that wealthy women paid well for a set of tight abs and a pretty face his life turned around.

The run down rat-infested trailer he had shared with his alcoholic mother and three younger siblings was now only a place he visited to pay the bills and stock the pantry with food.

He no longer worried about his family starving or living without electricity. The money he made
entertaining rich older women more than covered his family’s needs and his own. He had it all figured out. Except…

There was this girl.

She was as innocent as he was tainted.

Amanda Hardy wished her knees didn’t get weak when Preston walked into a room. She hated the fact her heart raced when he flashed his smile in her direction. He had a different girl in his bed every night. He was the kind of boy a smart girl ran from. So, why was she coming up with ways to get close to him? Even when it was obvious he wanted to keep her at a distance.

Maybe her heart knew something the world didn’t. Maybe Preston Drake was more than just a pretty face.
Trailer

About Abbi

Abbi Glines can be found hanging out with rockstars, taking out her yacht on weekends for a party
cruise, sky diving, or surfing in Maui. Okay maybe she needs to keep her imagination focused on her
writing only. In the real world, Abbi can be found hauling kids (several who seem to show up that don’t belong to her) to all their social events, hiding under the covers with her MacBook in hopes her husband won’t catch her watching Buffy on Netflix again, and sneaking off to Barnes and Noble to spend hours lost in the yummy goodness of books. If you want to find her then check Twitter first because she has a severe addiction to tweeting @abbiglines. Facebook is also somewhere she visits a little too often. She blogs regularly but rarely about anything life changing. She also really enjoys talking about herself in third person.

Abbi Glines| Facebook| Twitter

Sea Breeze Series




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Friday, September 21, 2012

Review: Significance by Shelly Crane


Maggie is a seventeen year old girl who's had a bad year. She was smart and on track but then her mom left, her dad is depressed, she's graduating, barely, and her boyfriend of almost three years dumped her for a college football scholarship. Lately she thinks life is all about hanging on by a thread and is gripping tight with everything she has.

Then she meets Caleb. She saves his life and instantly knows there's something about him that's intriguing but she is supposed to be on her way to a date with his cousin. But things change when they touch, sparks ignite. Literally.

They imprint with each other and she sees their future life together flash before her eyes. She learns that not only is she his soul mate, and can feel his heartbeat in her chest, but there is a whole other world of people with gifts and abilities that she never knew existed. She herself is experiencing supernatural changes unlike anything she's ever felt before and she needs the touch of his skin to survive.

Now, not only has her dad come out of his depression to be a father again, and a pain as well, but Caleb's enemies know he's imprinted and are after Maggie to stop them both from gaining their abilities and take her from him.

Can Caleb save her or will they be forced to live without each other after just finding one another?
Source: Reviewer purchase
My Review

I usually like to write a little spoiler free synopsis of the book with my review. I find it a little difficult because the blurb pretty much says it all without giving away too much of the story. I admire Maggie in this book. She's kinda spunky and mature. She's been living with her father since her mother walked out on them. Maggie meets Caleb on her way to meet her friend Kyle. I love this whole scene and everything afterwards!! I find that a lot of the YA books I read have too many similarities. That was not the case with this book. This was unlike any story that I have ever read. I love paranormal and Shelly delivered a story that kept my interest from the very first page. It has sweet moments that make me so jealous that Caleb is a fictional character. I found myself drooling several times while reading :-P There's also a little bit of action. I won't go into details on that, but yeah, it does not disappoint. I can't say enough great things about this series. I recommend it to everyone. This was my very first Kindle book and I am so thankful that Amazon recommended it to me. I'm a huge Shelly Crane fan!! Shelly's books introduced me to the world of Indie books and I am eternally grateful!



I had to share this pic from Shelly's website because it is my perfect Caleb!! 

I also highly recommend the Collide series by Shelly Crane. The 4th and final book in the installment, Revolution,  just came out this month. This is bittersweet for me. There's just something about this series that I love and I am very sad to see it end. Oh I remember, that something is Cain <3 I think I'm in love!! I will definitely be in need of a box of tissues for this one.

Connect with Shelly


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Cover Reveal: Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout!!

I am DROOLING right now!!!! I am so stoked to be part of the Opal cover reveal. In case you have been living under a rock, Opal is the third book in the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I have read  Obsidian, Onyx and Shadows (novella.) They are all FANTASTIC and you should all read them...NOW!! Without further ado, here is the smokin' cover for Opal!!! I had to make it bigger than usual, because it's gorgeous!! 


No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.
After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.


Follow this link to an ~~~ EPIC CONTEST ~~~ Announcement. You will want to bookmark this page!


 USA TODAY Bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn.



Find Jennifer on: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Blog
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Guest Post: Illuminate-Alive, She Cried by Jamie Haden


Seventeen-year-old Talisa Santiago is the granddaughter of a shaman and going between two different worldly dimensions is something she realizes she is destined to do; however, what she doesn’t count on is what fate has in store for her. After surviving the first hurricane of the season on the island where she lives, Talisa learns her life is in grave danger. She must retreat immediately to live with a secretive clan of Indians on a remote reservation deep within the Great Smokey Mountains. Her blood brothers, three shifters who have the desires of both man and animal surround her, promising everlasting friendship and protection. However, the majestic mountains hold many secrets and danger lurks in the night. As Talisa falls prey to the evil tricksters that want her dead, she unleashes an untamed passion that may get them all killed.

Who is Talisa Santiago?

This is never an easy question to answer because who we are changes, sometimes on a daily basis. It is often customary to hear a person say, "I'm not the same as I was back then," or "I'm different now." Although this may be the case, what I have come to learn is, our thoughts about ourselves, and our thoughts towards others, can certainly change, yet, in the end, our essence remains true. That is what I tap into, to fully understand and appreciate Talisa. I had to get her essence.

Just as the spirit of the soul lies hidden, so were the secrets of Talisa's childhood. She was born in the Mexican desert, the granddaughter of a shaman, yet she fled with her mother at the age of seven and escaped to America in hopes of finding a new, safer life. In an attempt to shield her daughter from her past, Talisa's mother refused to speak of their history in the desert, her ancestry, and all things Native American. Only bits and pieces remained in the young girl's memory. Horrific as well as enchanting recollections consumed her, but dissolved through time with no explanation. Life proved to be difficult, and Talisa found herself isolated and alone.

She was different from other kids.

Indeed, the very core of her being separated her most because she was born, not just the granddaughter of a shaman, but with a direct connection to the spirit worlds. Even though some would argue her gifts were hereditary, it would still prove to be a long and arduous crossing simply because her childhood, where she came from, was a mystery.

 Nevertheless, the obscurity of it all was enticing. It kept Talisa lost, yet hoping, wondering, if maybe one day, she would be found.

From the very beginning, when I first began to think about Talisa, I knew I wanted a strong female protagonist. Not necessarily physically powerful, although I do appreciate the girl who can kick some serious butt, I am talking internally so, awakened. Such a state of being in a seventeen year old is rare, a treasure to be adored.

This was also an end. A place Talisa had to get to, after she walked a very long and winding road, for the desire to become aware of our inner selves is a journey most of us inevitably take at some stage of life.

To fulfill this goal, this end, I wanted to develop the character of a girl who wasn't consumed with materialism. I envisioned a world of seclusion—first a barrier island of the coast of North Carolina, and then, a remote Indian reservation deep within the Great Smokey Mountains. Yet, throughout it all, Talisa, as well as all the other characters, had to be relatable. They had to go through being teenagers, the hell of it all; they had to be real.

Ultimately, Talisa would have great burdens to bear, feel tremendous heartache, go against all odds, fall, be betrayed, betray, and face the dark night of her soul. There was no other way around it. She had to lose it all in order to know what losing it all felt like; then and only then would she be able to rise.

In the end, I admire the person who can honestly say they live with no regrets, because the choices they made, even the ones they regret, made them stronger in the end. They are the ones who transform through change. By living in the present, they aren't captive to the past. They reclaim their spirit and inspire others. People such as this are worth writing for, and that is Talisa.

Jamie Haden
Wilmington, NC August 2012
ILLUMINATE-ALIVE, SHE CRIED a novel by Jamie Haden

Some say the concept of rebirth is simply a metaphor for living a better life, a holier life. For seventeen-year old Talisa Santiago, such a resurrection is anything but a metaphor. It is her reality.

Talisa knows she can communicate with the spiritual world. She is the granddaughter of a shaman and going between two different worldly dimensions is something she realizes she is destined to do. However, what she doesn’t count on is what fate has in store for her.

After surviving the first hurricane of the season on the island where she lives, Talisa learns that her life is in grave danger. She must leave immediately and retreat to live with a secretive clan of Indians on a remote reservation deep within the Great Smokey Mountains.

Her blood brothers, three shifters who have the desires of both man and animal surround her, promising everlasting friendship and protection. Now, Talisa will put her life in their hands, depart from her mother, and begin the journey of a lifetime. However, the majestic mountains hold many secrets and danger lurks in the night. There are evil tricksters everywhere that want her dead. As Talisa falls prey to the confusion of her own sexuality, she unleashes an untamed passion that may get them all killed.

Jamie Leigh Haden is the author of Spirit Seeker, a young adult fantasy. Jamie lives and writes near the seashore in North Carolina. She has a Bachelor's degree in philosophy. Jamie is currently working on An Unimagined Life, the sequel to Illuminate-Alive, She Cried. Get Illuminate-Alive, She Cried on Kindle here:Amazon or in paperback here:Amazon

Jamie Haden www.jamiehaden.com

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