Saturday, June 29, 2013

Zombie, Incorporated Book Blitz and Giveaway ends 7/10

Zombie, Incorporated by Jill Elaine Hughes
Publication date: March 25th 2013
Genre: New Adult zombie adventure fantasy


Synopsis:

ZOMBIE, INCORPORATED

Twilight. With zombies.

Eighteen-year-old Katie Allred is socially awkward and unpopular at school. The only child of parents who had her right out of high school, Katie is herself about to leave the nest, even though she hardly feels ready.

Katie’s new after-school job at the Zimble Box Corporation draws her into the complex social strata of high school cliques and backstabbing friends in ways she never imagined. Katie soon discovers there’s something very strange about the “in” crowd at school---and about her employer, too. Shortly after starting her new job, the Contagion breaks out, plunging her town and the entire nation into chaos as zombie shadow forces come out into the open, ravaging the streets. Katie goes into hiding and her parents disappear, along with almost everyone else she knows.

But Katie soon discovers she has special powers that help her survive. She’s a Beacon, someone with the innate ability to help zombies produce children. It’s a power her employer — and what little remains of the U.S. government — both want to exploit for their own ends. Not only that, it runs in her family---which has a secret past Katie never knew about until now.

Enter Agent Morehouse of the FBI Special Zombie Control Unit. A reformed zombie working undercover, he suppresses his urge to eat human flesh in order to serve and save humanity. But Agent Morehouse can’t help but be attracted to a Beacon like Katie, and she to him. Even as they fight zombies the world over, they must fight their intense attraction to each other, hoping to keep Katie from suffering Agent Morehouse’s terrible zombie fate.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17692951-zombie-incorporated?ac=1

Purchase:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C0M1EB0?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00C0M1EB0&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/zombie-incorporated-jill-elaine-hughes/1114910863?ean=2940044402010

Excerpt: (ZOMBIE, INCORPORATED)
I guess if I really thought hard about it, Mom was right. The zombie apocalypse was my fault. Everything was my fault. I’d ruined her life, and now she wanted me out of it. All the mean underhanded comments over the years, all the passive-aggressive decisions to spend money on herself instead of me, their decision not to plan for my future, all the not-so-subtle hints to get the hell out of her house and become somebody else’s problem----it all made perfect sense now.
I could take a hint. I knew where I wasn’t wanted. And somehow I figured I’d have a better chance of surviving the coming onslaught of the Undead if I was on my own. Conventional wisdom says there’s safety in numbers, but I’d watched enough horror movies to know that sometimes it’s best to fly solo.
I went to the bookcase and dragged over a milk crate to stand on so I could reach the top shelf. I reached behind the main part of the bookcase to the secret compartment I knew was behind it, the same secret compartment where I’d hidden candy and comic books as part of a treasure hunt game I’d used to play alone as a little girl. My fingertips felt around until they touched the smooth, cold gunmetal. I wrapped my fingers around the pistol, pulled it out, inspected it. It was a lot heavier than I’d expected, yet it still seemed small, too small to be something that could explode and kill someone----or something----in less than a second. The lines of Dad’s semiautomatic Glock were sleek, almost animal-like in their curvature. I didn’t know what I was doing, but on sheer instinct my finger pressed a tiny switch on the spine of the weapon and the chamber popped open, revealing a bullet. I popped the chamber closed, pressed another switch and the clip fell out into my hand. I inspected that, studied it, worked out in my head how its various components connected with various components inside the gun which, when the trigger was pulled, would result in a projectile issuing forth, then with a flick of my wrist pushed the clip back inside its slot, heard it click.
I knew next to nothing about guns or weaponry or ballistics, other than that I knew my father stored guns in the basement and I had always been forbidden to touch them. But despite that lifetime of ignorance it seemed as if merely holding the weapon in my hand transferred all the knowledge I needed about how or why to use it directly to my brain. As if I had a natural (maybe even a supernatural) talent for it, or a gift as my grandmother would have said. I could see all the moving parts in my mind’s eye as if they’d been there all along.
I reached back into the secret compartment and felt around again until my fingertips touched dusty cardboard. I grabbed and pulled and came out with a heavy box of magazine clips. Three magazines, sixteen shells to a clip. I couldn’t do the arithmetic in my head, but I knew it was a lot of bullets. A lot, but probably not enough. I reached and grabbed and pulled once again, and retrieved two more boxes of magazines. Lots and lots of bullets now. I hoped I’d never have to use them, but just to hold them in my hand felt like a good life insurance policy.
I stood and turned my newfound possessions over and over in my hands, studying the switches and gears, memorizing where the safety was and mentally practicing how to disengage and re-engage it. I read the instructions and warnings on the sides of the magazine boxes, noted how they said that semiautomatic-loading weapons were illegal in many states, and the manufacturer had no liability for any physical or legal consequences for any injury or death resulting from improper (or proper? Since guns were for shooting, after all) use of its commercial products. I knew I was holding deadly force within the palm of my hands, and knew that should have scared me at least a little bit.
But it didn’t. It did the opposite.
Mom watched me do all of this without comment. I made a point not to meet her eyes for a while, instead keeping my gaze on the gun and the shell magazines. The basement air thickened between us. The ticking sound of the air conditioner as the blower switched on automatically on the other side of the wall seemed way too loud. We both waited for the other to speak, or at least meet a gaze. But neither of us did, and for far too long a time.
Finally, Mom broke the silence. “It’s been way more than ten minutes, and your father isn’t back yet. What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know.”
“I think you should go up there after him, Katie. Take the gun with you.”
I forced myself to meet Mom’s eyes. I saw a lifetime of disappointment behind her tinted glasses and blue-black mascara.
“You’re in a real hurry to get rid of me, aren’t you Mom?” I asked. My tone was cold, deadpan. I was through with all the bullshit. I just wanted my mom to tell the truth about me for once.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Admit it. You’ve been trying to get rid of me for years. Makes me wonder why you didn’t just get rid of me before I was born and saved yourself the trouble.”
All the color drained from Mom’s face. “How dare you speak like that to me!”
“How dare you say straight to my face that you didn’t want me, that you never wanted me, and that I basically ruined your and Dad’s lives!” I shrieked. “Because that’s basically what you just said.”
Mom took off her glasses, pressed her palms flat against her eye sockets and choked down a sob. “Katie, you’re reading way too much into this. Your father and I----we made a lot of sacrifices for you. Most people who became parents as young as we did would never have done even a tenth of what we’ve done for you. You should be grateful. And I think it’s high time your father and I had some time to ourselves now that we gave up so much to raise you. Except----“
“Except now you can’t. Because of the stupid zombies. Which I suppose are all my fault too, just like everything else is.”
Mom slumped down onto a stack of milk crates. “I never said that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
We stared each other down for a minute or two, Mom always keeping a nervous eye on the gun. For a split second I actually considered shooting her with it, but dismissed the idea as insane. Plenty of teens my age think they hate their mothers, but they really don’t. It’s just a phase all young women go through. The more I thought about it though, I didn’t hate my mother. I honestly didn’t feel anything for her. I was as indifferent to her now as I was to a lump of coal. And that was far worse that hate. After all, in order to hate someone, you have to love them first. I wasn’t sure I ever loved Mom, and in that moment I doubted my mom ever loved me either. Sending me off to face the zombies and my almost-certain death just proved my theory.
“So now you want me to save you from the zombies at the risk of my own life, huh?” I said, fingering the barrel of the gun in my hand. “Sort of kills two birds with one stone, doesn’t it?”
Mom’s face crumpled in horror. “I want you to go find your father!”
“Find him yourself.”
I turned on my heel and dashed up the creaky stairs, skipping the rotten ones at the bottom. I was still missing one shoe.
I headed up to my room and packed a knapsack with one hand. Clothes, shoes, and random toiletries landed in the bag at random as I kept the gun, cocked and ready to fire, out at an angle and sweeping the air, ready for whoever and whatever might appear.



----

AUTHOR BIO
I'm an independent author of New Adult (mature YA, 18-26) fiction as well as a full-time freelance journalist based in Chicago. I've contributed to the Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Chicago Reader and many magazines as a journalist over the past 15 years. And like most New Adult fiction authors these days, I've gone the self-publishing route for my work since most publishers haven't caught up to the readership trends in this emerging shelf category. My writing is usually laced with humor and also often has sexual and/or dystopian elements.

Author Links:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Owelet (Summer Edition) Cover Reveal

(Currently on sale for only $0.99!)

Owlet by Emma Michaels
Publication Date: October 13th 2012
by Tribute Books
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal


Synopsis:

Somewhere between falling and flying… there is a girl.

Iris has a secret. She lost her memory eight years ago and never told a living soul. After an asthma attack one night she finds out that her dreams of a strange house on a snowy island may be a memory resurfacing but the more she learns about the past the more she realizes the life she has been living is a lie. As the façade her father has built starts to crumble around her she will have to decide which means more to her; the truth or her life.
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14059271-owlet?ac=1


AUTHOR BIO
Emma Michaels is a cover artist and the author of Owlet. As the founder of The Writers Voice blog (http://OurBooksOurVoice.Blogspot.com) she loves to connect authors and readers. Her love of blogging started when she created a review blog in 2009 (www.EmmaMichaels.com) which gave her the courage to finally submit her own novels to publishers.
Feel free to stop by www.EmmaMichaels.com and follow to receive the latest updates!

Author links:
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | GoodReads | The Writers Voice





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Friday, June 28, 2013

Ruby's Fire Book Blitz and Giveaway end 7/12




Ruby's Fire by Catherine Stine
Series: Fireseed, #2 (however, can be read as a stand-alone)
Publication date: June 26, 2013
Genre: YA Sci-Fi


Synopsis:

If everything about you changes, what remains?

Seventeen year-old Ruby, long-pledged to the much older Stiles from the Fireseed desert cult, escapes with only a change of clothes, a pouch of Oblivion Powder and her mute little brother, Thorn. Arriving at The Greening, a boarding school for orphaned teens, she can finally stop running. Or can she? The Greening is not what it seems. Students are rampaging out of control and as she cares for the secret Fireseed crop, she experiences frightening physical changes. She’s ashamed of her attraction to burly, hard-talking Blane, the resident bodyguard, and wonders why she can’t be happy with the gentler Armonk. She’s long considered her great beauty a liability, a thing she’s misused in order to survive. And how is she to stop her dependence on Oblivion to find a real beauty within, using her talent as a maker of salves, when she has nightmares of Stiles without it?

When George Axiom, wealthy mogul of Vegas-by-the-Sea offers a huge cash prize for the winner of a student contest, Ruby is hopeful she might collect the prize to rescue her family and friends from what she now knows is a dangerous cult. But when Stiles comes to reclaim her, and Thorn sickens after creating the most astonishing contest project of all, the world Ruby knows is changed forever. This romantic fantasy set in 2099 on earth has a crafty heroine in Ruby, and a swoonworthy cast, which will surely appeal to the YA and new adult audience.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17970591-ruby-s-fire

Purchase:
Amazon illustrated paperback:
http://www.amazon.com/Rubys-Fire-Fireseed-book-2/dp/0984828222/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1371413548&sr=1-1&keywords=Ruby%27s+Fire+by+Catherine+Stine

Amazon Kindle:
http://www.amazon.com/Rubys-Fire-Fireseed-book-2/dp/0984828222/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1371413548&sr=1-1&keywords=Ruby%27s+Fire+by+Catherine+Stine

----


AUTHOR BIO
Catherine Stine writes YA, New Adult and middle grade fiction. Her YA futuristic thriller, Fireseed One, illustrated by the author won finalist spots in both YA and Science Fiction in the 2013 USA Book News International Book Awards. It was also granted a 2013 Bronze Wishing Shelf Book Award and a 2013 Indie Reader Approved notable stamp. Her YA Refugees, earned a New York Public Library Best Book. Middle grade novels include A Girl’s Best Friend.

Fireseed One sequel, Ruby’s Fire is earning advance praise from reviewers and authors:
“Ruby's Fire, returns to the sun-scorched earth of Fireseed One. In this long-awaited sequel, Stine delivers a thrilling adventure led by a new and exciting cast of characters. Ruby, Armonk, Thorn and Blane are memorable, and the romance is really well handled. Favorite quote: " It feels wrong to lean on Armonk right now with Blane staring at me, a hungry, lonely look in his eye. It’s as if he’s never been hugged, never been fed, never been loved..." ” -YAs the Word

More and more, Catherine enjoys writing speculative tales where her imagination has wild and free reign. She has taught creative writing workshops at the Philadelphia Writing Conference, Missouri University Summer Abroad, The New School and in her own ongoing NYC writing workshop. She loves her readers, and enjoys blogging.

Author Links:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter


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Precious Things Book Blitz and Giveaway ends 7/8

Precious Things by Stephanie Parent
Publication date: June 4th 2013
Genre: New Adult Contemporary


Synopsis:
Isabelle Andrews isn’t supposed to be here. She isn’t supposed to be a freshman at Hartford Community College, she isn't supposed to be living at home and working at her dad’s failing bakery, and she definitely isn’t supposed to be taking Intro to Electronic Music Production, a class that will get her nowhere toward her goal of an English Lit Ph.D. by age twenty-five. But when her dad’s latest business fiasco eats up her college fund, Hartford Community College is exactly where Isabelle finds herself—and thanks to her late enrollment, she doesn’t even get to choose her classes. Stuck with Electronic Music and way-too-easy English courses, Isabelle is determined to wallow in all the misery she feels entitled to.

But community college brings some unexpected benefits…like the fact that a certain overworked, over-scheduled Electronic Music professor hands over most of his duties to his teaching assistant. His tall, green-eyed, absolutely gorgeous teaching assistant. When TA Evan Strauss discovers Isabelle’s apathy toward electronic music—and, well, all music—he makes it his mission to convert her. The music Evan composes stirs something inside Isabelle, but she can’t get involved—after all, she’ll be transferring out as soon as possible.

Still, no matter how tightly Isabelle holds on to her misery, she finds it slipping away in the wake of all Hartford Community offers: new friendships, a surprisingly cool poetry professor, and most of all, Evan. But Evan’s dream of owning his own music studio is as impractical as Isabelle’s dad’s bakery, and when Evan makes a terrible decision, everything Isabelle has gained threatens to unravel. Soon Isabelle discovers that some of the most important lessons take place outside the classroom…and that in life, as in Evan’s favorite Depeche Mode song, the most precious things can be the hardest to hold on to

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17182158-precious-things?ac=1

Preciuos Things is $0.99 until the end of this blitz!
Purchase:
--Amazon: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00D6X6IP4?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00D6X6IP4&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2
--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/precious-things-stephanie-parent/1115481142?ean=2940016649672

----

AUTHOR BIO
Stephanie Parent is a graduate of the Master of Professional Writing program at USC and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts as a piano major. She moved to Los Angeles because of Francesca Lia Block's WEETZIE BAT books, which might give you some idea of how much books mean to her. She also loves dogs, books about dogs, and sugary coffee drinks both hot and cold.

Author Links:
Website / Goodreads / Twitter

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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Pain and Gain - The Untold True Story Book Review


The True Story Behind The Movie Pain & Gain
This is the untold true story of one citizen’s pointless torture and month-long captivity. The story, formerly miss-told if not utterly overlooked, has been made into a feature film. Even as a dark comedy, there is little amusement to be found in human suffering. The sick and twisted minds of Mr. Schiller’s captors would be fodder for the Darwin Awards if the results were not so alarmingly inhumane. Physical, mental and emotional torture, as well as sensory deprivation and starvation, the prisoner of war-like conditions differed only in the fact that Mr. Schiller was completely alone.
Mr. Schiller chronicles his story in tortuous detail. His humiliation, pain and suffering at the hands of these perverted social misfits is a shocking revelation.What is it like to be imprisoned in near dungeon-like conditions? All this mayhem on American soil toward the end of the last millennium.Greed, lust for power and the desire to inflict pain and misery were the apparent motivating forces behind this gruesome incident.Truly a harrowing tale and one that not only you won’t soon forget but will uplift and inspire you!!

My Opinion
This book had my attention from beginning to end! I seriously could not put this book down. Everything Marc Schiller went through during the month he was kidnapped was just so awful. It is almost hard to believe the things some people will do because of greed. It must have been heartbreaking to know that someone he helped and trusted would want to hurt, steal, and try to murder him. This book made me realize that everyone should pay more attention to what is going on in the world around them and really think about who they should trust but also appreciate what you do have and the people who love you. Even though no one believed his story at first I am so glad that in the end the criminals got what they deserved. I really loved reading Pain and Gain and think it is a book everyone should read.


Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – True Crime

Rating – PG

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Connect with Marc Schiller on Facebook & Twitter

I got a free ebook from Orangeberry Book Tours for this review.

Vegas and the Mob Book Review




Title: Vegas and the Mob
Author: Al W Moe
Genre: Non-Fiction


Buy Links:
Amazon Paperback - http://www.amazon.com/Vegas-Mob-Al-W-Moe/dp/1483955559/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1369942756&sr=8-1

Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/Vegas-and-the-Mob-ebook/dp/B00C7YDLIU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369942756&sr=8-1&keywords=vegas+and+the+mob

Synopsis:
The truth about Las Vegas, unlike the watered-down versions you might have heard elsewhere. Sin City was the Mob’s greatest venture and most spectacular success, and through forty years of frenzy, the FBI watched, listened on phone tapes, and did virtually nothing. Thank goodness for that, because Vegas wouldn’t be what it is today without the Mob!

Two of the nation’s most powerful crime family heads went to prison in the 1930’s, Al Capone, and Lucky Luciano. Frank Nitti took over the Chicago Outfit while, Frank Costello ran things for the Luciano Family. Both men were influenced by their bosses from prison, and both sent enough gangsters onto the streets to influence loan sharking, extortion, union control, and drug sales.

Bugsy Siegel worked for both groups, handling a string of murders and opening up gaming on the west coast, and that included Las Vegas, an oasis of sin in the middle of the desert – and it was legal. Most of it. The FBI watched as the Mob took control of casino after casino, killed off the competition, and stole enough money to bribe their way to respectability back home.

New York’s “Lucky Luciano” was getting a taste of the profits in the 1930’s, Detroit, Kansas City, and Chicago weren’t far behind. By the 1940’s, nearly every crime family in the United States had a stake in a Las Vegas casino. Some did better than others. Vegas casino owners watched-over their profits while competing crime families eyed each other’s success like jealous lovers. Murder often followed.

My Opinion
Vegas and the Mob is packed full of information about the mob. I think to really understand and remember everything I would have to make a timeline with names and all the things that happened from the beginning to the end. The mob, casinos, and Las Vegas are not subjects that I am usually interested in but Al W Moe has a very fun writing style. My favorite chapter in this book was Howard Hughes because I have seen the movie The Aviator and I think he is a very interesting person. Honestly this book is not for me but I know at least a few people that would love this book. Anyone that wants to know more about the mob, Las Vegas or casinos would really enjoy this book.




Author Bio:
Al W Moe was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and introduced to the casinos of Nevada at the age of eleven. At the time he had never seen such an amazing array of sights, sounds, and exciting games. Little has changed since that first introduction.

Moe is the author of six books and has written for Gambling Times/Poker Player, Pokernews.com and Casino and Gaming Chips Magazine. His love for casinos and the history of gambling are only exceeded by the thrill he gets learning new casino games and his desire to teach new players how to get the most for their money at the casino.

Education:
Moe attended the University of Nevada at Reno and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Marketing. He especially enjoys the disciplines of probability and statistics.

From Al W Moe:
Casinos and the games they offer have occupied my thinking most of my life. The early casino owners, especially when it involved the Mob in Las Vegas are a fascinating subject. It is amazing the Mob was able to skim the profits of clubs in Nevada for over 40 years. The story of how they did it is even more amazing!

Author websites:

Authors Den: http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?id=6870
About: http://casinogambling.about.com/
Nevada Casino History Blog: http://nevadacasinohistory.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlWMoe?ref=hl
Twitter: @ALWMoe

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

All In Book Blitz


All In by Marta Brown
Publication date: May 28th 2013
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance


Synopsis:
On the picturesque island of Martha's Vineyard, there are two kinds of residents. Locals and Stays.

Local boy, Lane McCarthy, plans on spending his summer working at the country club to save money for college in the fall, while summer stay, Ashley Whitmore, and her elite group of friends are only there to play.

As the summer heat goes up on the island, so does the ante, when both Lane and Ashley must decide what they’re willing to wager in order to follow their dreams… and their hearts.

With stakes as high as the surf, and hopes as high as the midday sun, will they risk everything and go all in?

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17858795-all-in?ac=1

Purchase:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/All-In-ebook/dp/B00CXVRJR6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370557461&sr=1-1&keywords=all+in+marta+brown

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-in-marta-brown/1115446820?ean=2940044544949

EXCERPT
Ashley
“You got a jacket in there too?” Lane asks as I pull off my heels and swap them with a pair of flip flops.
“I don’t, but I’m fine,” I say and then as if to contradict myself my skin explodes with goose bumps.
Lane laughs then walks to his car and pulls out the light blue zip up hooded sweatshirt he was wearing at the bluffs from his back seat. He holds it open so I can stick my arms in and when I do his intoxicating smell surrounds me. Sea salt, sunshine and boy.
“Better?” he asks, stepping in front of me again and rubbing his hands up and down my now covered arms to help warm me up.
“Perfect.”
Lane’s hands stop moving but stay wrapped around my arms, and the way he’s looking at me makes another shiver go through my body.
“So, where are we going?”
“Now that’s a surprise,” he says with a wink before he takes off his tie and tosses it in the back seat of his car. He un-tucks his crisp white dress shirt then undoes the first few buttons, revealing a baby blue tee shirt underneath that matches his eyes. After rolling up his sleeves he instantly looks more relaxed, and so hot I bite my lip.
He opens the passenger side door and helps me in before making his way around the front of the car and leaping into the driver’s side seat with a wink. I’m not sure if he’s trying to kill me, or impress me, but either way, he’s doing a fine job at both.
“Oh, and one last thing.” He leans forward and cups my face in his hands with a playful grin on his face. I suck in a breath as my heart hammers in my chest. Is he going to kiss me? I let my eyes flutter closed when I feel his breath touch my skin. His soft lips press against my cheek and linger for a moment before he pulls away.
“What was that for?” I ask quietly.
"For giving me a do-over,” he says with a boyish smile.
Yep. He’s trying to kill me

----


AUTHOR BIO
Marta Brown grew up in the Pacific Northwest and was a teenager when Doc Martens, Pearl Jam and flannel were the norm and Dylan loved Kelly forever (Beverly Hills, 90210 shout out).

She still lives just outside Seattle, now with her husband and cat, and loves the rain.

When she’s not writing about cute boys, first kisses and the magic and wonder of being seventeen, she’s watching The CW. And she sleeps in. Late.

LINKS:
Website / Goodreads / Twitter

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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

The Birthday Times Review





About The Birthday Times Newspaper
"The Birthday Times is a personalized newspaper front page with real events and news of your birthday. The perfect gift for yourself, your friends and family!"
Our website offers a sample for free of the newspaper. The newspaper in high resolution PDFs costs $3.99, and the Printed Edition (+ PDF) costs $4.99

My Opinion
I plan to make a scrapbook for each of my children and give it to them for their 18th birthday. My oldest is 5 so I still have many more years of scrapbook pages to work on. When I heard about The Birthday Times newspaper I thought it would make a great page for my son's scrapbook. I am so glad I got the chance to review The Birthday Times newspapers. It is personalized with my sons name and birthday and includes some interesting facts about the day/year he was born. It is printed in white paper with black ink so I decided to color it to give it some color. Even though I love srapbooking I admit I am very bad at it so I like to keep things simple. I am not very creative but I try and I am satisfied with the end result. I just hope my son will like it too. What do you guys think? Would you use this newspaper as a birthday gift, scrapbook page, or do you have any other ideas?




If you would like your own you can find The Birthday Times here http://www.thebirthdaytimes.com/

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

John William and the Bandits of Basswood Book Blast and Giveaway ends 7/10


bandits

John William and the Bandits of Basswood

We already know Alexander Drake’s story. His father, John William started it all years before when he entered Azra’s Pith. This is his story. John William was born an explorer; just like his dad before him. His adventure really began with the worst year of his life. He lived everyday in misery until his twelfth birthday. He set out to turn things around and find his smile again. A new friend gave him an invitation he could not turn down… follow me and change your destiny. He never imagined being captured by bandits and taken to a ship riddled with river rats was part of his fate. Not just any bandits – the Bandits of Basswood; known to be a ruthless and wild crew of thieves. Trying to escape would be a ridiculous idea. No one has ever escaped and lived to tell about it. Someone should have mentioned that to John William before he snuck off the ship. The chase out of Basswood was on. He took a chance to change his destiny and ended up on a wild ride to save his life.

Amazon




lizzieAuthor Elizabeth Parkinson-Bellows

Being the frizzy-haired tomboy with buck teeth gave me a slight case of shyness as a kid. A colorful imagination meant escape and adventure at the drop of a hat.

Over the years I learned that the insecurities I carried around were a waste of time. I still prefer a football game to a manicure any day of the week. That indispensable imagination has found its way into my writing providing a sense of joy and a true purpose.

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$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 7/10/13

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Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Lilla Rose Flexi Clip Review and Giveaway



My family and close friends don't know this about me but I can be pretty picky about my hair. They think that because I like like to keep my hair down and short my hair isn't very important to me. I guess they don't realize that's me being picky about my hairstyle! When it gets to hot I just want my hair to stay out of my face so I'll wear my hair half up. When I got the chance to review a Lilla Rose Flexi Clip I was so excited. Now my boring half up hair style can look so much better with a Lilla Rose hair clip which is like jewelry for hair! Not only do they have Flexi Clips in 7 sizes (from mini to mega) they also have Hair Sticks, Orings, Hairbands, Bobby Pins, You-Pins, and Badge Holders. They have so many choices it was so hard for me to pick just one. I ended up choosing the Crown Of Hearts in extra small because I thought it would be perfect for my daughter to wear it also. My daughters hair is curly but kinda short. The first time I tried the Lilla Rose clip it took me about 5 minutes to figure it out but I have used it a couple more times since then and now it is really fast and simple to put it on. What I love most about my Lilla Rose clip is how easy it is to use plus it makes me feel pretty!

Here is a picture of my daughter wearing the Lilla Rose clip in a low ponytail. Her hair is super curly but thin so the extra small is good for her ponytail. My hair is short and straight but kind of thick so extra small only works for a half up on my hair which is perfect for me. I couldn't include a picture of me wearing it but I will add one as soon as I could find someone to take a picture for me. And sorry that the pictures are not so great I'm a horrible photographer.


There is an option and style for everyone no matter what your hair length or texture is. If you need help figuring out what size you will need check out this short video.



There is a sale going on today June 22nd until midnight! 10% off everything and any orders over $30 will have free shipping! You can check out and shop for Lilla Rose here http://www.lillarose.biz/crazyforsavings

Giveaway
New customers only
Ends July 1st


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I got a free Lilla Rose Flexi Clip for this review!

Queen of the Realm of Faerie Book Blitz




True Love's First Kiss by Heidi Garrett
Series: The Queen of the Realm of Faerie 1-3
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication date: June 18th 2013


Synopsis:
In the Enchanted World, true love’s first kiss is magic.

Nandana’s Mark, Book 1: When two half-faeries—Melia and her younger sister—are cursed under dreadful circumstances, true love’s first kiss is the remedy.

The Flower of Isbelline, Book 2: Nothing but true love’s first kiss can save Melia’s younger sister from blind ambition and ruin.

The Dragon Carnivale, Book 3: Melia must choose the freedom she cherishes or true love’s first kiss—and a relationship that promises to secure her place in the Whole.

The Queen of the Realm of Faerie is a fairy tale fantasy series that bridges the Mortal and Enchanted worlds. The main character, Melia, is an eighteen-year-old half-faerie, half-mortal. She lives in Illialei, a country in the Enchanted World, with her two sisters and their mother. Melia’s father has been exiled to the Mortal World, and her best friend is a pixie.

When the story opens in the first book, Melia is troubled by her dark moon visions, gossip she overhears about her parents at the local market, and the trauma of living among full-blooded faeries with wings—she doesn’t have any.

As the series unfolds, the historic and mystical forces that shape Melia’s life are revealed. Each step of her journey—to find the place where she belongs—alters her perceptions about herself, deepens her relationships with others, and enlarges her world view.

True Love’s First Kiss is a compilation of the first three books in this ongoing series.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17937193-true-love-s-first-kiss
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The Dragon Carnivale by Heidi Garrett
Series: The Queen of the Realm of Faerie, #3
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication date: June 18th 2013


Synopsis:
Energies in the Enchanted World are shifting and new alliances are forming; the Battle of Dark and Light has begun. The half-faerie Melia is desperate to make things right with Ryder, the young priest from Idonne, but first she must warn the halfbloods in the Mortal World that Umbra is coming for them, and face the powerful Dragonwitch and her spectacular Dragon Carnivale

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17570539-the-dragon-carnivale

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AUTHOR BIO
Heidi Garrett is the author of The Queen of the Realm of Faerie series. Her personal message to all her readers is:

Once upon a time, you lived in an enchanted world, too…

May you always see the magic in your life.

The Queen of the Realm of Faerie includes many strong female characters within an intricate fantasy land. It is also a fairy tale fantasy.

The first book, Nandana’s Mark, is one of those free ebooks; the second book, The Flower of Isbelline, is now available; and the third book, The Dragon Carnivale, will be released in June 2013.

Heidi's hope is that when you read her books, you will rediscover the enchantment in your own life.

She currently resides in Eastern Washington State with her husband and their two cats. So far, she loves the snow. Being from the South, she finds it very magical.

LINKS:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Giveaway


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Friday, June 21, 2013

The Trouble With Toads Book Review


trouble with toads tour
trouble with toads
The Trouble with Toads

Once upon a time a young girl wanted revenge. But first, she wanted to be beautiful.

Twelve-year-old Bettony has read enough stories that begin with ‘Once upon a time’ to know what happens to the ugly stepsisters at the end, and she’s determined to escape that fate by any means necessary—even by magic.

Unfortunately, when it comes to magic, there is no place for regret, refunds, or exchanges. Even if you accidentally turn your older sister into a toad.

If Bettony wants her Happily Ever After to end well, she’s going to have to find a way to turn her sister back into a person before their mother finds out she’s been dabbling with magic and grounds her for life.

Tracking down the family magic turns out to be surprisingly easy. Now, if only it came with directions . . .

THE TROUBLE WITH TOADS (45,000 words) is the first book in a new upper MG series The Secret Stepsister Society. The second book will be released Summer 2013.


My Opinion
Bettony knows she is not pretty and decides she wants to do something about it. She is jealous of her stepsister Desire and wants to be beautiful like her. Bettony goes to visit her grandma and ask her for help since her grandma is a witch. Her grandma helps her but warns her that there will be no regrets, refunds, or exchanges. Things don't go as planned and Bettony accidentally turns her older sister Cadmilla into a toad. While trying to turn her sister back into a human she goes on a fun adventure and learns some of her family's secrets. She even starts kinda getting along with her stepsister Desire. In the end the problem isn't really solved yet but I'm sure that is so you want to read the next book and see what happens next. I really liked this book but I think younger readers would enjoy it more.


danyelleAuthor Danyelle Leafty

Danyelle Leafty writes upper MG and YA fantasy, and is the author of THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA series. Danyelle has always loved fairy tales, and prefers stories where someone gets eaten, or at the very least, transmogrified. Much of her inspiration has come from fairy tales, because as G.K. Chesterton so aptly states, "Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."

In her spare time, she collects dragons, talking frogs, and fairy godmothers. She also collects books, and one day hopes to make a house out of them. She enjoys learning languages, fiddling with her harp, and perfecting the fine art of mothering. (It's a lot like trying to herd chickens during a lightning storm while a goat stampede is going on.)

One of her heroes is Albert Einstein, particularly for the following quote: "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The most important thing is not to stop questioning."

Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 6/28/13
 a Rafflecopter giveaway


Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $25 US.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Midsummer’s Eve Giveaway Hop ends 6/30


I Am A Reader, Not A Writer started a spontaneous blog hop. How exciting! Anyone can join but there are rules.

Hop Rules

1. Create a giveaway post specifically for this hop and give something away on your blog.

2. Please include the Hop image.

3. Include the linky or link to this post.

4. Add a direct link to your post to the linky.

5. Family Friendly of course!

My giveaway will be any book or ebook up to $10 from Amazon if you are in the US but if you are not in the US but can receive Kindle books from Amazon then you can enter also.

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The Visited Book Blitz


Visited by Janine Caldwell
Publication date: May 25th 2013
Genre: YA coming-of-age fantasy

Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Joanna Murphy has lost faith in her life. Vying for her mom’s attention, she’s resentful of her stepdad’s intrusion to their family. Her best friend, Tommy, has no clue she’s in love with him as he dates girl after girl without noticing how it tortures her. The final kicker, though, is God’s sick joke to make her freakishly tall when everyone knows boys prefer petite girls.

Then in a bizarre accident Joanna meets James, a breathtaking teen who appears to her after an unusual falling star sighting. Suddenly, her dream for an alien encounter becomes all too real. But when she finds her life has been made unrecognizable, she’s forced into an explosive study of the original design for her life that just may have her regretting every wish she ever made.

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17984925-visited?ac=1


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AUTHOR BIO
Janine Caldwell was born in Concord, CA and raised in the small San Francisco Bay Area town of Clayton. Four days after her high school graduation, Janine attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and graduated with a degree in English.

Janine now lives in Anthem, AZ with her husband and two sons. As a lifelong literature fanatic, she knew it was only a matter of time before she would become obsessed with writing her own work. With relatives like the Brothers Grimm and Anita Loos (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), she figured fantasy writing had to be in her DNA.

Books published by Janine include Visited, a YA coming-of-age fantasy, Rematch and Double Fault—the first two books of The Vortex Series. The final book in this YA fantasy romance, Deuce, will be released fall 2013.

LINKS:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen Blog Tour Promo Post

Yours Affectionately tour

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen
Was Mr. Darcy real? Is time travel really possible? For pragmatic Manhattan artist Eliza Knight the answer to both questions is absolutely, Yes! And Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley Farms, Virginia is the reason why!
His tale of love and romance in Regency England leaves Eliza in no doubt that Fitz Darcy is the embodiment of Jane Austen’s legendary hero. And she’s falling in love with him. But can the man who loved the inimitable Jane Austen ever love average, ordinary Eliza Knight?
Eliza’s doubts grow, perhaps out of proportion, when things start to happen in the quiet hamlet of Chawton, England; events that could change everything. Will the beloved author become the wedge that divides Fitz and Eliza or the tie that binds them?

Praise for Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen

O’Rourke creates a world that defies cynicism and demands suspension of disbelief – even in this age of doubt and hyper-realism. Sheer escapism at its best. Clever, charming and affectionate.

~Jocelyn Bury
…the reader must tenaciously read on rather than put the book down to satisfy their hunger for the story to resolve, which it does in characteristically Jane Austen fashion.

~Erin Murdock


In Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen, author Sally Smith O’Rourke creates a compelling story that investigates what and who might have inspired Jane Austen. While the story line is certainly far-fetched, it is a truly unique idea, one that captivated this reader until the very last page.

~Meg Massey

Purchase
Audio Book Excerpt


Get the audio book:

Author Sally Smith O'Rourke

Sally Smith O’Rourke is a surgical scrub nurse at the City of Hope national cancer research hospital in Duarte, California and resides in the near-by Victorian village of Monrovia.

With her late husband, author Michael O’Rourke (aka F.M. O’Rourke) Smith O’Rourke owned and operated a medical advertising company where she used her diverse talents to produce and co-write teaching films and videos. Working not only with major medical and surgical manufacturing companies but also network television. These endeavors ultimately led to a collaboration on two feature films (direct to video) and three published novels.

The wife and husband writing team of Sally Smith and Michael O’Rourke, being long-time fans of Jane Austen, wrote The Man Who Loved Jane Austen released by Kensington Books in 2006. Kensington followed that very successful effort with The Maidenstone Lighthouse in 2007 and Christmas at Sea Pines Cottage in 2009, both also collaborative projects by Smith and O’Rourke. Published after her partner and spouse’s untimely death in 2001, the publisher chose not to use the names Michael O’Rourke and Sally Smith (as the manuscripts were presented), releasing all three books under Sally Smith O’Rourke.

Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen is Sally Smith O’Rourke’s first solo novel.
Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter 
Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 6/27/13
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Love, Tink: The Complete Set Cover Reveal



Love, Tink: The Complete Set by Elle Strauss
Publication date: July 10th, 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis:

Originally published as six separate novella episodes, Love, Tink the complete series is all six stories together in one volume.

Tink is hopelessly smitten with Peter, the leader of the Lost Boys who'd mysteriously arrived at Neverland two years ago. Unfortunately, Peter is tired of the adventure and especially tired of dodging Captain Hook who is after his head. He just wants to go back to New York City and live his life as a normal fifteen year old

Tink is the only one who can help Peter return, but it breaks her heart to do it. She just wants to make him happy, so she does the unthinkable and betrays the fairy king. Now her heart is filled with remorse. Should she go after Peter? Should she follow him to his New York?

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18029050-love-tink


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AUTHOR BIO
I write fun, lower YA fiction (time-travel and fantasy). I’m fond of Lindt’s sea salt dark chocolate and hiking in good weather. I’m married with four children and divide my time between British Columbia, Canada, and Germany. I also write upper YA (historical and science fiction) as Lee Strauss.

Author Links:
Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter