R&M Fab Book Reviews: Stacey Rourke's Sacrifice Blog Tour

Summary:

Celeste Garrett has finally found a happy balance in her life as the Chosen One, thanks in large part to a certain hunky Irishman. But if there’s any lesson she should heed since receiving her calling it’s that everything can change in the blink of an eye. Soon a terrible new threat, unlike anything she’s ever encountered, causes her to make a gut-wrenching choice that will strip her of someone she holds dear.

As much as she’d like to have a pity party for one, there’s no time for that now because wedding bells are ringing in Gainesboro! In between dress fittings and rehearsal dinners Celeste will have to fend off attacking demons and leering pirates. As if the Dark Army wasn’t scary enough our heroine is faced with the horrifying trauma of attending a bachelorette party with her mom and watching Grams do Jello shots. Is a walk down the aisle even possible for a member of the Garrett family when the Dark Army is out to destroy them? More importantly, will the Dark Army Glee Club sing at the reception?

Raise your glass to the happy couple, and get ready for a wedding…Conduit-style.

Guest Post:

Today we welcome the wonderful Stacey Roarke, author of The Gryphon Series, including her most recent addition, Sacrifice! She is going to be taking over and giving us an idea of where her inspiration comes from.

Stacey: Thanks for the warm welcome ladies, and for temporarily stealing your blog for the day! Now, on to my words of wisdom, so pay very close attention, there may be a quiz at the end. *snickers*

Finding Inspiration;

Where does inspiration lie? As fantasy authors our usual answers are music, dreams, or simply our imagination. But in the real world where can we hear a whisper from our muse that we may have missed out on otherwise? The answer is a mystical place where the lines of reality and fantasy are blurred and beings you never knew existed roam freely…the airport.

I know that probably seems like an odd proclamation, but bear with me here. Due to missed flights and excessively long layovers I have spent many an hour at airports and the people I’ve seen there…well I couldn’t make them up if I tried. Some of these people are so odd that they are begging for a colorful backstory. Don’t believe me? Well, let me give you some examples of actual people I have encountered at airports. Keep in mind I am making none of this up.

1) The Bathroom Serenader. At an airport in Georgia I walked into a restroom only to be immediately assaulted by the cheerful sing-song melody of, “Come on in! Welcome! Welcome!” A woman had set up a table with a tip jar and was singing to people as they … did their business. I’m not kidding. It was insanely off-putting and I suffered from performance anxiety because of it. But I had to wonder; what got her to this point? What happened in her life that made her think, “You know when people are really alone and need the uplifting of a song? When they’re on the toilet. Yes. This is my calling. I am—the Bathroom Serenader.” And look at that, we just created a superhero … and a very disturbing one at that.

2) The Traveling Old Couple. We’ve all seen them, and we love them so much we kind of want to hop on whatever plane they are taking just to bask in their adventures a little longer. You know that old couple that no longer has any modesty, personal boundaries, or adequate hearing to know that they are yelling absolutely everything they say. My favorite experience with this couple is when the Gramps walked out of a men’s room and the Grandma screamed across the terminal, “Is your fly down? I can’t see from here!” And of course, right there in front of everyone Gramps checked. Awesome. Follow this same couple through the line at the airport Subway and you will get to listen to her informing him of what he does and doesn’t like on his sandwich and what an utter failure he is at ordering for himself. Want to be inspired by some comic fodder? Find this couple and just follow them around for a couple hours.

3. Airport Skanks. They are always there, and I never understand them. The girls that roam the airports in miniscule skirts, stiletto heels and tops they will pop right out of if they hit even the slightest turbulence. Me? I fly in comfort; hellloooo sweatpants and flip-flops! But these girls? I think they are hoping that Mr. Right will happen to be one of the business men scurrying from one gate to another in hopes of making his meeting in time. A whole story could be written about these airport vultures, just don’t forget to add the scene where they have to take off their shoes and accessories at airport security and for a brief moment we all see them for the hot mess they really are. For the strength of the airport skanks lies in their thigh high boots, without them they are—gasp—one of us!

Now I will not take full credit for finding inspiration at airports. I’m fairly certain other authors have cashed in on these treasure chests of material before as well. Take the current literary sensation Warm Bodies for example. Zombies in an airport? I have a sneaking suspicion that was based on the people that get on the moving sidewalk and stop walking. They spend their days riding these fun impromptu rides from place to place, paying no mind but giving the occasional grunt to the annoyed people behind them that are whacking them with their luggage in hopes of spurring them on to move!!! I have been behind these people and zombieism is the only excuse for their complete lack of brain activity.

So there you have it my friends, need ideas and inspiration for your next literary masterpiece? Forget music, or mood setting. The freaks may come out at night, but you can find them any time at the airport and they are always good for a story.

Review:

I have read the first two novels and the novella that preceded Sacrifice. I was enthralled with the series and was anxious to find out more about the characters and their story. I wasn't disappointed, as Sacrifice is a fantastic addition to the Gryphon series. To me this book was the most heart-wrenching of them all thus far. I won't tell you what happened but my heart bled for Celeste. The range of emotions that this novel elicited from me run the gamut from happy to sad to angry and every other emotion in between. Plus in characteristic fashion, the author injects just the right amount of humor and sarcasm to make this a fun book to read. The story pulls you in and the love, humor, and action keep you glued to your seat. I am now anxious to see what will happen next and can only hope that the next book won't be too far away! I hope you consider purchasing a copy of Sacrifice upon its release and that you will consider purchasing the rest of the series as well. It has been a fantastic reading ride thus far, and I do not foresee that ride coming to an end any time soon!

Author Bio:

Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012.

Stacey Rourke is the author of the Gryphon Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant, drooly dogs. Stacey loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. She is currently hard at work on the continuations of this series as well as other literary projects.

Social Media Links

Official Website

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Tour Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

April 10 Book Blast & Twitter Party

April 11

Redheaded Bookworm -Review & Celeste Guest Post

The Journey Continues -Review & Interview with Grams

April 12