Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Blog Tour: Amity Hope's Twisted!



About the Book:
Maya Anderson has faced more than her share of tragedy and heartbreak. For the past six years she’s constantly been on the move with her mom. When another disaster strikes, she finds herself back in her childhood hometown of Beaumont, living with her older sister for her senior year.
A chance meeting reacquaints her with Ben McCaffey, a long-forgotten classmate from her past. After the death of his girlfriend, Ben has become a social outcast. He’s despised by some and feared by most.
Determined to become Ben’s friend, Maya begins to break through his layers of emotional protection. It isn’t long before they realize that they both have secrets in their pasts. As the line between dealing with grief and struggling with a desire for revenge begins to fade, the secrets that draw them together may be what will ultimately tear them apart. Because the closer Maya gets to Ben, the more dangerous her situation becomes. 

Review:

I went about reading this book in a different way than I do most.  I didn’t read any reviews on it and I didn’t bother to even look at the blurb.  I wanted to go in with a completely open mind.  I’m glad that I did because this book had my mind reeling the entire way through.  There were some very sweet moments, as well as some touching moments, but the parts that really struck a nerve with me and made it memorable were the darker ones. 
I won’t rehash the plot in my review, but I will point out some high points that I liked.  First, the character of Maya was extremely likeable.  She didn’t let others’ opinions of Ben influence what she felt towards him.  She was strong and resilient, something that needs to be seen more in YA novels.  I wouldn’t mind having someone like her in my corner, that’s for sure.
Then you have Ben.  He’s one of those guys that you want to hold and tell him that everything will be alright.  You want to make things better for him.  That’s exactly what Maya does, but it ends up back firing on her on more than one occasion.  Ben is one of those male leads that you wish you knew in real life. Sweet, caring, and unfortunately, damaged.  But all the great male leads are damaged in one way or another, right?
Now, there were a few characters in this book that left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.  Hailey is one of them.  She’s seen flitting through scenes carelessly throughout the entire book, but I didn’t feel as if she had a true impact on the story or the other characters. She just wasn’t one of my favorites. 
Overall, this book was quite enjoyable.  I would definitely recommend this book to everyone that I know.  It has its dark moments, its romantic moments, and a whole lot of danger and intrigue.  You should definitely add this book to your to be read list.
Author Bio:
I live in Minnesota with my two sons, two cats and our Rottweiler named Daisy.
 I have been a book-addict my entire life. I have always enjoyed reading and writing stories just for fun. In 2012 I decided to try self-publishing. To my delight and dismay, my debut novel took off. Since then, I have been fortunate enough to write full-time.
 If I'm not writing or spending time with my kids, I'm most likely reading. 





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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

The Unraveling of Avery Snow, by Christy Sloat Blog Tour



Book Blurb:

As Avery Snow settles into her life and relationships with those around her, she fights to forget her past lives. All of which she spent with Landon, who still has no recollection of who she really is. It seems better that way. Even though she still feels a draw to his soul, she chooses to ignore it.

For now everything is fine. Her boyfriend, Dallas, has opened a new restaurant. Her friends, Ianni and Kerri, are settling into their lives as well. But when news of a new Dark Guide is revealed, Avery is forced to start thinking about the life she truly leads. One that is very abnormal. One she is desperate to forget. This Dark Guide is determined to make Avery pay for the death of someone she held dear.

Now Avery’s life has gone from seemingly perfect to falling apart. What will be at stake next? Her life? Her love? And who will be there in the end to help her up off the ground?

Even the strongest love can unravel.

Will Avery be able to hold it all together, or will she just let go?

Excerpt:
I knocked on the door, trying to ignore the bad feeling in my stomach. Butterflies danced around and my palms were sweaty. I wasn’t sure this was going to go over well with Dallas, but I knew what I was doing. The door opened and the sun shone in his blue eyes.
“Hey, what are you still doing in town?” Landon asked as he shielded his eyes from the sun.
“Long story, here’s the short version. Pack your bags, Dallas can’t go so you’re coming with me,” I said as I pushed myself into the house. He stood at the door, dumbfounded no doubt. “Let’s go because we don’t have much daylight left.”
“Wait a second. You’re taking me on your little getaway? Why?” He stood in front of me, his hair a complete disaster and looking every bit the lost little puppy. I knew it was crazy, but Dallas said it himself, Landon was a zombie lately. He needed to get away as much as I did.
“You heard me right. You are my friend, am I correct?”
“Yeah, but …”
“No buts. We are going to be staying at the Monterey Ocean Resort. We will wine and dine and have spa treatments. You will like it. Trust me, you need it,” I admitted.
“Wait, why do I need it?” he asked with caution.
“You are sleeping in your car, Landon. Need I say more?” He thought for a second before answering me, and then a smile grew on his face.
“Nope.” He walked up the stairs and turned around quickly. “One thing. Can we get mani pedi’s?” he asked jokingly. Laughing, I nodded.
“Of course.”
It didn’t take Landon long to pack. Honestly I didn’t think he brought more than two outfits. His small bag sat in the back seat. I knew Landon to love his clothes. He was always dressed to impress, but lately he was becoming more like me: jeans and t-shirts. The sun started to lower over the Pacific Ocean as we headed down the highway. I noticed Landon staring out at the view so I pulled over at an observation point. We sat for a few minutes to soak up the view, neither one of us saying a word. Then I continued onward toward our hotel.

Book Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osCQ_65f5Fc


Review:
I have to say this first, I was already a super fan of this author before I read this, but I am even more in love with her writing now. Avery is fighting to keep herself in check, dealing with her love of Dallas, and her known destiny of being with Landon. Landon no longer has memories of loving Avery, but she still holds all of the keys to the puzzle in her heart. It’s heart breaking to watch as Dallas keeps disappointing Avery, and Landon keeps popping back into the picture. Ahhh to have two men in your life, huh?

There are more nefarious beings at work though. There is a dark force that is stalking Avery, waiting for her. Ianni is no longer Avery’s Spirit Guide, but she is still a huge part of her life. I absolutely loved the romance in this book, as well. Avery and Dallas make an adorable couple, when they aren’t fighting. But it was hard to sit back and watch because we all know (if you read the first book!  ) that she’s destined to be with Landon! Grrrr!

My suggestion to you? Make sure that you read The Unraveling of Avery Snow! Because this poor girl goes through hell and back to keep herself sane. I’ve never been the mushy type, but I have to say that this book really pulled at my heart. It’s a fantastic read, filled with romance, action, deception, betrayal...everything that really pulls you in to a great book. Christy Sloat did a great job of keeping the momentum going throughout the book, and her characters felt like I had known them my entire life.

So...what are you waiting for? I’m done now. Go get the first one if you don’t have it already! I’ll wait....*taps foot* Got it? Awesome. Grab this one as soon as you can as well! You HAVE to know how far Avery will unravel, and if she’ll be able to hold on to what she holds close to her heart.




About the Author:
Christy Sloat is a SoCal born girl who
resides in New Jersey currently with her husband, two daughters and Sophie her
Chihuahua. Christy has embraced the love of reading and writing since her youth
and was inspired by her grandmother’s loving support. Christy passes that love
of reading, writing, and creativity to her daughters, family, and friends. When
you do not find Christy within the pages of a book you can find her being
mommy, wife, crafter, and dear friend. She loves adventurous journeys with her
friends and can be known to get lost inside a bookstore. Be sure to venture
into her Past Lives Series, The Visitor’s Series, and watch for many more
exciting things to come.
Check out her website www.christysloat.com
Facebook: Christy Sloat Author www.facebook.com/christysloatauthor.
Twitter: ChristySloat



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Tuesday, March 12, 2013

The Lonely, by Tara Brown: Blog Tour!


We are so excited to be a part of this blog tour for Tara Brown! She is one of my favorite authors and this book is fantastic! Make sure you check it out!


*Blurb*
The Lonely
The truth is subjective to what the lonely lets in.
Emalyn Spicer has lived with it for a long time. She thinks it goes back further than her memories do. She knows it goes back further than the OCD.
When she arrives at college, her OCD's and the lonely refuse to let her have her wish to be normal.
When she meets Sebastian and starts to fall for him, she lets herself believe it's possible to outrun the things chasing her from the past. But how to you get away from the things inside of you? How do you run from yourself?
Just as she gives up and succumbs to the lonely, the unthinkable happens. She finds herself once again trapped in the dark, once again held against her will.
This time she meets the lonely head on. In the darkest corners of her mind, she discovers there is more to her world than she ever imagined. She discovers that the lonely was there for her, protecting her from herself and her secrets.
How far would you go to find yourself?
This is a dark and captivating novel, tread lightly
Don't forget to check out the companion novel due out in the summer of 2013, The Lost Boy. Maybe that'll help you sort out the things you have leftover from the story...

This book is rated 19+ due to extreme sexual and language content!


Buy Links: 

*Review*
First off, I already knew Tara Brown was epic. Seriously epic. Her books are always amazing. But THIS one?!? OMG! This was completely different than her other books. I was beyond blown away.

Em has been suffering her whole life from the lonely. That, and the crippling OCD. Combine the two? Yea, her life has been a mess of problems. She's off to college for the first time, hoping, praying, that the lonely doesn't overtake her. She just wants to be normal. Her best friend is there with her, helping her adjust, and pushing her towards overcoming her issues.

When she meets Sebastian, it's like someone finally understands her. He's hot (OMG HOT!) and doesn't let her minor freak outs bother him. He's one of those guys who is just awesome in his own right. But there's a problem: Em is still seriously messed up. And she doesn't think she can ever get close to him. :(

When she gets pulled back into that dark, dank hole, where the lonely is king, things start to go haywire. I seriously won't say anything else about it though. Other than to tell you that there are some dark moments in this book. And some rather kinky moments as well. But that's what makes it real. This is the nitty gritty and once you've read this book, you'll have a completely different outlook on life. Or, I did.

I have to say, I felt an immediate connection to Em. I have suffered from OCD for most of my life, and I know how problematic it can be. Tara Brown hit the nail on the head with this character. I felt like I could really relate to her on a personal basis. So, thank you Tara Brown. Thank you for creating a character who's just as messed up (well, she's wayyy more messed up then me) and neurotic as the rest of us. If you're looking for an EPIC book, grab this one. You'll be begging for more by the end.


About the Author:
I am not going to talk in the third person. It feels weird.
I am a Canadian author of Paranormal Romance, Post Apocalyptic and Fantasy novels. Mostly because I think I have Writers ADD, I like to call it WADD. It might be a real thing.
I write New Adult, my books have sexual content (Heck yes) and Swearing. You have been warned. Now enjoy!
I have a beagle named Buster, a husband who I force to read everything I write and two girls who want so badly to be a character in my books. And not in that order.
I am mid thirties so be prepared for the chick lit novel this year. I am calling it my Ode to my Midlife Crisis.
I have been writing since I was old enough to lie. So for some time.
Welcome to my world. Please enjoy the ride.

Stalker Links: 




Monday, March 11, 2013

Don't Kill Dinner Blog Tour


Title: Don’t Kill Dinner
Series: The Rules Trilogy
Author: Jennifer Martinez
Genre: Urban Fantasy/New Adult Paranormal (Mature audiences only. Mild to moderate swearing and damn sexy sexual situations)
Page Length: 170
Release Date: March 15, 2013
Tour Organizer: B3 Tours

**Notes: The first day proceeds of Don’t Kill Dinner will be donated to Rain Pet Rescue of Fort Myers. They take in animals from High Kill shelters throughout Florida. This is my adoption agency of choice and I am a proud supporter of adopting your family members.**
Rain on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rain.rescueanimalsinneed?fref=ts
Rains webpage: http://www.rescueanimalsinneed.org


“I love you Kenna and I will never lose you. I promise.”

Official Blurb:
There are three rules when it comes to being a vampire in New Orleans. 1) Don’t kill dinner. 2) Don’t feed from people you know. 3) Don’t tell anyone. Not too hard, right? Wrong. Kenna is a new vampire filled with a passion that has turned into an uncontrollable lust for blood.
 Will Arthur be able to stop her feeding spree before the coven comes after her or is Kenna beyond saving?

Arthur has been watching Kenna for years, wanting her to try her own hand in life before he gave her the ultimate proposal. Now that she has accepted, will his love be enough to save her?


Review:
I would have never known that this book was written by a first time author.  The story was creative and well written.  The characters were flawed and endearing; drawing the reader into their lives without a backward glance.  I haven’t been reading very much paranormal lately, instead reading more New Adult.  This was a refreshing combo of the two.  There’s the OMG hotness mixed with the fact that the Vampires are pretty awesome
This debut author has truly rocked my socks and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. This is truly a book that NEEDS to be on your TBR list! If not, you’re really missing out on something EPIC.






About the Author:

One day while slaving away at her monotonous day job, Jennifer Martinez found her true calling. Like a firefly in the night, the pages called to her. Once she caught the bug there was no stopping it. Her fingers flew furiously across the keyboard winding tales of love, mystery and anger. She snapped out of her reverie to find herself still behind the desk but at least she knew who she was… Author Jennifer Martinez.
I like to think of myself as a beautiful conundrum. When I am not writing, I can be found surrounded by my amazing family and 4 dogs or volunteering at a local animal rescue. I love who I am and don’t mind at all when I get strange looks from people. I am a tattoo covered, child and animal lover who looks forward to destroying peoples preconceived notions of what “someone like me” would be interested in. You only live life once… you may as well make it interesting.
I love to get lost in a good book and hope that everyone will get lost in mine.

Stalker Links:


Saturday, March 9, 2013

Freak of Nature Blog Tour


Blurb:
Donate Body to Science. Check.
When seventeen-year-old Kaitlyn checked the box, she never suspected she’d have her life–and her body–stolen from her. She awakens one day in a secret laboratory to discover that her body is now half-robot and is forced to hide her own secret: that she still has human emotions and a human mind. If the scientists who made her find out, they’ll erase what remains of who she was.

Kaitlyn finds an unlikely ally in Lucas, a handsome, brilliant scientist who can’t get over the guilt he feels knowing she was once a vibrant, beautiful young woman. He never expected a science project to affect him the way she does. As he tries to help her rediscover her past, he finds himself falling for the brave girl struggling to find her place and acceptance between the human and computer worlds


Review:

I think this is a book that ventures away from her norm and that’s refreshing.  From the beginning of this book the reader is forced to face the idea of cyborgs being created from people who have donated their bodies to science upon their death.   That alone questioned my moral compass, which is something that I don’t find very often in books.

Kaitlyn is special creation, and she is unique in every sense of the word.  She still retains some of her human emotions, but must hide these from the scientists who created her.  It is a life or death situation, even though she’s technically not alive.  An intense connection is felt with Lucas, one of her programmers, and the one person who has the power to give her what she really wants: her memories.

While this whole scenario falls under the genre of fantasy, this book is, in my opinion, more YA than anything else.  There were parts of this book that truly showed how much time, effort, and research the author had to put in to make it convincing.  My only concern was that some parts didn’t seem plausible.  But this has nothing to do with the story itself.  This is because to me, the idea of cyborgs just blows my mind.  I have a hard time wrapping my head around all of it.


If you are a fan of fantasy and YA books, you need to pick up this book.  It is well written and engaging.  You won’t have a dull moment when you start reading.  I gobbled it up in less than 24 hours, which is saying quite a bit for me.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

About the Author:

Julia crane is the author of the Coexist: Keegan’s Chronicles. She has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Julia has believed in magical creatures since the day her grandmother first told her an Irish tale. Growing up her mother greatly encouraged reading and using your imagination. Although she’s spent most of her life on the US east coast, she currently lives in Dubai with her husband and three children.


Connect with her at: http://www.juliacraneauthor.com/






Check out the amazing Giveaway!
Pics of prizes!
One Gift Card

Signed Print!


Freak of Nature Book Charm


Magnet

Freak of Nature Note Card (Front and Back)


Freak of Nature Book Mark (Front and Back)








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Thursday, March 7, 2013

Book Blitz! Snow Bound, by Elizabeth Kirke!


More than Magic Swag Giveaway

Chat live with Urban Fantasy author Elizabeth Kirke  
Twitter TODAY at 11 AM EST
use hashtag: #SnowBound


After learning how to use magic and fighting vampires, anyone would be bored going back to normal college life. Worst of all, Jen misses the friends she made over the summer. Naturally, Jen is all too happy to accept an invitation to go skiing with the gang during winter break.

She gears up for two weeks of snow, magic, and fun. Just when everything seems to be going great, an uninvited guest turns up. Soon the skiers aren’t the only things going downhill. Jen thought that vampires were just about the most dangerous thing the magical world could throw at her. Unfortunately, she’s about to learn that people with no magic at all can be just as deadly...

Buy the Book at Amazon

Enter to win a More than Magic Swag Pack:
Signed paperback of Semester Abroad (More than Magic #1)
Limited Edition More than Magic Calendar (filled with exclusive trivia)
2 signed bookmarks
$25 Amazon Gift Card

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A GWR Publicity promotional event paid for by Anchor Group Publishing

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Hidden Wings by Cameo Renae Blog Tour



Title: Hidden Wings
Author: Cameo Renae
Published: January 18th, 2013
Publisher: Crushing Hearts & Black Butterfly Publishing
Word Count: 65,500
Cover Art: Regina Wamba  http://www.maeidesign.com

Synopsis:
Seventeen is a life changing age for Emma Wise.
As her family's sole survivor in a car crash, she is left with a broken arm and a few scrapes and bruises. But these are only outward marks; inside, her heart is broken and the pieces scattered.

Whisked away to Alaska, to an aunt she’s never met, Emma starts over. Secrets unveil themselves and now…she doesn't even know who or what she is.

A centuries old prophecy places Emma in the heart of danger. Creatures of horrifying and evil proportions are after her, and it will take Emma, her aunt, and six, gorgeously captivating Guardians to keep her safe. But, if she can survive until her eighteenth birthday... things will change.

Review:
First off, let me say this: I am so excited to be a part of this blog tour!  Hidden Wings by Cameo Renae caught my attention from the moment I saw the cover, and once I got my hands on it I couldn’t put it down, devouring the entire book in one night!
Cameo takes you on a journey to places you never thought to go before!  The characters were engaging, I really felt like I connected to them.  Their highs and lows were my highs and lows, which when reading, I love it when I can connect with the characters.  Emma suffers through so much in such a short time, but the tragedy she endures does not prepare her for the multitude of changes and the journey she is about to make.  And when you find out what she is, you will be blown away.  I know I was!
Cameo brings you a fresh take on the age-old good versus evil.  The plot is unbelievable and the pace set will have you racing for the finish.  I cannot wait to see where she plans on taking Emma’s story from the point where Hidden Wings stops.  It looks like I will be strapping myself in for a wild and crazy ride, but believe when I say, it is so worth it!
Check out Hidden Wings today!  This is one book you really don’t want to miss out on!

Excerpt:
“Thanks guys. I’m gonna miss you SO much,” I said, as tears stung my eyes again.
“We’re going to miss you too! What are we going to do without you our last, crucial year? We’re finally going to be seniors,” Lia said, her eyes tearing as soon as she saw mine.
Jeremy looked at me, and a single tear grazed his cheek. He quickly turned away and lifted his glasses, quickly wiping his face with his shirt. That was the first time I’d ever seen Jeremy get emotional.
“You guys will be fine. And it won’t be forever. I promise to email and send pictures.”
“You better,” Lia said, wagging her finger at me.
And then… something happened. A sudden euphoric feeling; an unexplainable heat shot through every cell in my body. My pulse quickened, along with my breath, and tingles pricked my skin. A
rush of adrenaline flooded my veins and my surroundings began to haze. I grasped onto the edge of the bed, taking in long, deep breaths.
“Hey, are you okay?” Jeremy asked, scooting over to me, grabbing hold of my shoulders.
“Emma, what’s wrong?” Lia called, jumping behind me, pounding my back.
Hello! I’m not choking! I wanted to speak those words, but I couldn’t answer them. It was like all the breath had been sucked out of my lungs.
Then…there was a knock at the door, and we all turned to look.


About the Author:
Cameo Renae was born in San Francisco, CA, was raised in Maui, Hawaii, and recently moved with her husband and two teenage children to Alaska.

She loved reading from as long as she can remember. C.S. Lewis’ - Chronicles of Narnia - sparked a fire in her soul which made her want to create her own wondrous, magical worlds, and awesome characters to go on adventures with.

Writing is her passion, and right now, her head is stuck in the YA genre. Her debut novel, In My Dreams, was picked up by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing and was re-published December 14, 2012.

Her newest novel, Hidden Wings (Book 1 in the Hidden Wings Series) was also published with Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly on January 18, 2013.

One day she hopes to find her own magic wardrobe, and ride away on her magical unicorn... Until then... she’ll keep writing!

Links: 
Amazon-Book 
Goodreads-Book 
Amazon-Author 
Facebook 
Twitter 
Goodreads-Author 
Blog 
Official Website 


Giveaway Details:

There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include:
·       One (1) Signed print copy of Hidden Wings
·       One (1) Hidden Wings themed bracelet
·       Two (2) eBook copies of Hidden Wings
·       Five (5) Signed Hidden Wings Bookmarks
·       One (1) Handmade Hidden Wings Bookmark

Giveaway is International.




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