Monday, 28 January 2013

Cover Reveal - The Fallen Stars by Stephanie Keyes





"Imaginative and fast-paced. Couldn't put it down!" - E.G. Foley, New York Times Bestselling author of The Gryphon Chronicles

"This well-written and intriguing fantasy was a delight to read. I can't wait to read the second novel in this series!" - Linn B. Halton, author Never Alone on The Star Child by Stephanie Keyes


When all is lost, he will have to make the ultimate decision.

Kellen St. James was just your average seventeen-year-old prodigy, until he eighty-sixed the Lord of Faerie and proposed to a Celtic goddess. Now everything in Kellen’s life gets turned upside-down when Calienta, Kellen, and friend, Gabriel Stewart, find themselves on the run from a seriously irritated group of faeries. The worst part? They have zero idea why.

Suddenly, Kellen finds himself stuck in the middle of another prophecy that questions everything about him including where his loyalties lie. Plus, Calienta’s more than a bit different; she’s making choices that he doesn’t understand. And Gabe, his best friend? He’s started doing all sorts of freaky things that make Kellen question who he really is.
Kellen and Calienta will fight to stay together and keep the hidden part of the prophecy from becoming reality.

When the ultimate power is within reach, which side will he choose?

Release Date: 12-April-2013, Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Sounds good? If you liked Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, Need by Carrie Jones, or Fallen by Lauren Kate, you will love this book!


About the Author:

Stephanie Keyes has been addicted to Fantasy since she discovered T.H. White as a child and started drumming up incredible journeys in her head. Today, she’s still doing the same thing, except now she puts those ideas down on paper.

When she’s not writing Stephanie is also a graphic designer, presenter, teacher, musician, avid reader, and Mom to two little boys who constantly keep her on her toes. In addition, she’s best friend to her incredible husband of eleven years.
Keyes is the author of The Star Child YA Fantasy series, which currently includes The Star Child and The Fallen Stars. She is currently hard at work on the third book in the trilogy.


Interested in joining the blog tour from 6-Apr? Click here to register!

Blog Tour Registration Link


Giveaway (Open to US, UK and Canada)
1 wired star bookmark, 3 Star Child (Book 1) ebooks and 5 The Fallen Stars eBooks

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Saturday, 26 January 2013

Book Tour - In The Band by Jean Haus

Genre: New Adult
 Title: In the Band
 Author: Jean Haus
Date Published: 10/19/2012

Book Description: 

When family problems push Riley Middleton into giving up a percussion scholarship in another state and attending college from home, her friends push her to try out for a local rock band. Of course, Riley makes the band. She rules at the drums.

Riley soon finds out rock bands have a different dynamic than marching bands, especially when each of her male band mates has a major ego and is a major player. Two of them relentlessly flirt with her. The other—a dark, sexy rock god she can’t help being attracted to— is a total jerk and pushes her to quit. She becomes determined to ignore his rudeness and his hotness. Even if she was interested in jerks, a hook up would probably get her booted out of the ego-ridden band, and playing keeps her sane. Behind the drums, the world and its troubles evaporate.

If she wants to stay in the band, Riley needs to ignore the growing sparks between her and her band enemy. But as she gets to know the man behind the stage persona, ignoring him proves to be more difficult than flowing through a time sig shift.

*New Adult/Mature YA for language and sexual situations.


My Review:

In the Band by Jean Haus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first time I have read anything by Jean Haus and she is an amazing author, this book In the Band was fantastic. Jean writing is easy to read, the characters are great, and this is one of those books you don’t put down till you’re at the end.

In The Band is about a young woman named Riley Middleton who has to give up her dreams of going to college and playing in the school’s marching band. Her mother is struggling, her father has left for a much younger woman and Riley needs to help take care of her sister. Riley attends a local college and has a few great friends who try to help out as much as they can, but you can feel that she is struggling at times and you feel for her. Then her friend suggests Riley auditions to become a drummer in a band. Well it’s not a marching band but Riley goes and tries out. Did I mention Riley is a talented drummer and of course you may guess what happens next?

Riley starts practicing with the band, she knows that a two of her band mates are thrilled she is there, but there is that guitar player Romeo who tells her straight out he is going to do everything in his power to get her to quit. Riley can’t believe this guy is such a jerk, and decides she will do anything to prove him wrong. But even though she can’t stand him there is an attraction to him and of course knows she has to push through that and ignore the jerk. Romeo is swoon worthy and as the reader you can’t wait to see how this all plays out!

This story is about love, loss, moving on and making new dreams. Jean Haus has written a fantastic story and I cannot wait to read more of her writing.

I have rated In the Band 5 stars and recommend anyone who enjoys the new adult genre to go ahead and purchase this novel they will not be disappointed.

Author Bio:

Jean Haus lives in Michigan with her wonderful husband and son who, other than cooking,  have taken over homemaking duties since she started writing more. When Jean isn’t writing, she’s usually reading. Anything from young adult to historical fiction as long as there is a bit a romance, she’ll load it on her Kindle. She loves to cook, and someday she will create the world’s best potsticker.


Sunday, 20 January 2013

Blog Tour & Giveaway - Forever Clan by January Bain

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Paranormal Romance
Title: Forever Clan (Book #3)
Author: January Bain
Date Published: 1/7/13
 
Book Description:
 
Sunday Rose's soul mate is a vampire. If that isn't difficult enough to deal with, she's pregnant with a child that prophecy states can either help or destroy the vampire race. And there are those that fear either outcome. If she is to protect her child from those who would exploit the prophecy, she must awaken unknown abilities and call upon her guardian angels to buy the time necessary to get her family to safe harbor.
 
"January Bain has created characters so real as to feel like family or friends. She makes the reader really care about what happens to them."

Judy Gill, editor and writer rated it 5 stars.

My Review:

Forever Clan (Forever, #3) by January Bain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Forever Clan is book 3 in the Forever series written by January Bain, her writing is very good; she sure can tell a story. I received the first two books in this series to understand the story lines and who was who. I really liked the way January writes, her stories are well written the plots are well planned out and it very easy to get caught in this series. I loved the fact that not all vampires are glorious sexy wonderful creatures like it most books.

In Forever Clan we meet Sunday Rose, she is a young woman who has put off her school and dreams to come home and take care of her mother. When January’s mother bakes a pie for the new neighbours in town she meets Sean. Sean and Sunday Rose are instantly attracted to each other and we find out fairly fast he is a vampire. But that does not stop Sunday Rose as she knows she wants this man. Their romance heats up pretty fast and they both declare their love for each other Sunday Rose knows this is her forever man, but there is so much more going on in the story with all the character’s that it doesn’t end up just a romance story. Sean has to leave and help his friends and while he’s gone Sunday finds out she is pregnant and is scared. This pregnancy is like no other and things start to happen pretty fast, I laughed a few times as Sunday Rose discovers she needs to eat a lot to keep her growing baby calm.

Meanwhile Sean and Aiden are working on saving his wife and Aiden’s life. There is a whole other story running in the background of Sunday Rose and Sean story. Forever Clan is written so well you get caught up in this story instantly. Of course I could say so much more but then I don’t want to have to write spoiler alerts.

I have rated Forever Clan a 4 stars rating and if you like romance and suspense this is a series to read. January Bain is now one of my favorite authors, and I definitely will be buying anything else she writes. So I recommend anyone who loves to read romance, suspense and vampire novels this is a series you should read.

Author Bio
PhotobucketJanuary Bain hails from Ashern, Manitoba, Canada. Married to the love of her life, her husband Don, she has combined her love of romance with her interest in vampires to produce the Forever Series of books. She also writes Science Fiction novels chiefly concerned with time travel and life on other planets. She teaches English and Computer courses during the day, and gets up at 5 am to write before her day job. She hopes her storytelling will touch your heart. She loves hearing from readers and writers alike!
 
 
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Saturday, 19 January 2013

Inside Out by Amy Lee Burgess - Blog Tour

 
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Book Description:
 
There's no place like home...or is there?
 
 When Stanzie is asked to investigate her birth pack- Mayflower--she isn't prepared for what she finds.
 
 No one respects the Alphas and the newest adult member of the pack is being encouraged to leave. Why? To make matters worse, the men are dangerously intent on mating and shifting with her.
 
How far will the pack she thought she knew go to get what they want? Without her bond-mate, Liam, Stanzie must face this alone and, barely ahead of threat of violence, must solve the mysteries, and fast.
 
 WARNING: Vulgar language, sexual situations, group sex, violence

A Lyrical Press Paranormal Romance
 
My Review:
 
Inside Out by Amy Lee Burgess (The Wolf Within Book 4)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Inside Out is book four in the Wolf Within series, and I have to say it was also the first book that I’ve read written by Amy Lee Burgess. Her writing is great; I was swept into the story right from the beginning. The words flowed easily, the character descriptions are well written and I loved the entire story.

We meet Stanzie as you find out her past you see she has gone through so much already in her life that your hearts goes out to her, I knew immediately I loved this character and her personality. As you read you find out that Stanzie is alone and heartbroken, her bond mate has left her and she clearly is missing him more then she lets on.

During the story you find out a bit how and why he left and my god you want them back together. Even though Liam is not in this story, reading about what happened makes you pray they end up together it really heartbreaking that she lets him go.

So Stanzie who is now alone is sent out to investigate what is going on in her home pack, she knows this is going to be hard as she was kicked out of her pack many years ago. But she does what she needs to do and heads home. While she is there she is reunited with a few close friends, but she see’s and deep down knows something is definitely wrong. The more she digs the more danger she puts herself in. Inside Out is full of suspense and mystery I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. This book is one of those stories you stay up half the night reading as you really need to know what is going on.

Now I have to admit this was the first book in this series that I read, so I knew probably after the first chapter that I needed to go purchase the other three books right away. I will say that I was not disappointed at all and it was money well spent. The Wolf Within series is now one of my favorite series. Amy Lee Burgess is one great author and her writing is top of the line. I would read anything she writes.

I really think everyone should go out and buy Beneath The Skin, Scratch the Surface, Hidden In Plain Sight and Inside Out. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series and on that note I also hope that Stanzie and Liam are reunited as it would break my heart if they don’t end up together.

So I have rated Inside Out a 4.5 star rating and my followers please add this series to your to be read list as it is so worth it. Fantastic, Amazing, Suspenseful, and truly one of the best paranormal series I’ve read.

Amy Burgess Guest Post  
Location can play a huge role in a novel.  If done right, where a story takes place can be as compelling and important as the main character.  Sometimes if I’m debating between two equally interesting books, I’ll choose the one with the location I’d rather read about.
 
I always go for the rainy, dark English moor over tropical sands and hammocks beneath coconut trees.  
 
I’m also picky about reading novels set in cities I’ve lived in or even visited.  Nothing throws me out of the story more than a glaringly wrong detail like a French Quarter street in New Orleans sporting a Target or a Wal-Mart or a palm tree in the back yard of a New England suburban house.   
However, there is such a thing as poetic license where the author can change a few details or add a fictional street or building and as long as everything else about the setting is reasonably well done, the fictional stuff added to the real landscape gives depth to the story. 
 
The Wolf Within shifter series has taken my protagonist, Stanzie Newcastle, on a worldwide tour so far.  The first novel, Beneath the Skin, opens in a small hotel room in Paris.  I didn’t mention an arrondisement, but the hotel room was patterned after the one I stayed in on the Left Bank when I visited the city three years ago.
 
When Stanzie and Murphy compare notes on the Eiffel Tower, I wrote about a bench I actually sat on when I was there.  
 
However, I added a completely fictional chateau which I located somewhere near Paris, but out in the countryside.  The description, at least superficially, matched a photo of a chateau I found online.   
 
I like to Google images of houses, rooms, streets, restaurants and bars and then insert them into the pages of my novels.   
 
I also use houses, offices, streets and apartments that I’ve lived in or worked at in the past. 
 
The safe house in Hartford, Connecticut where Stanzie spends a lot of time both in Scratch the Surface and Hidden in Plain Sight is based on an office I worked at once.  Built in the late 1800s, it started out as a small mansion which was converted into office space in the 20th century.  I just turned it back into a small mansion again and added a few details.   
 
Stanzie’s condo in the Brighton neighborhood of Boston is based after one I found online.   
The inside of the house where Callie, Peter and Vaughn lived in Connecticut was based on a house I once owned in New Britain.   
 
For Inside Out, the newest novel in the series, I created a fictional town in Massachusetts called Willoughby.  It is set near the real town of Wendell and the actual state park there.   
 
I named this town Willoughby because my father, who is quite a character, used to create alter egos for himself when he was a kid and “Seth Willoughby” was one his favorites.  Today he lives in North Carolina and owns a few wooded acres.  He found a lovely clearing near the house where he put a few chairs and a bench and my mom hand painted a sign that reads “Willoughby Park” where he and I go to sit and talk when I visit.   
 
On one of these visits he said I ought to put Willoughby Park into one of my novels and so when the opportunity arose, I named Stanzie’s hometown Willoughby.  This was very generous of me because my father hasn’t read a book since high school and hasn’t cracked open the pages of any of my shifter novels, let alone the one which features the town of Willoughby.  However, I remind him of what I did at least once a week, so he’s well aware of his contribution to my books. 
 
Stanzie’s next adventure, About Face, which comes out from Lyrical Press in April of this year, takes place in a city I’ve never visited – Dublin.  I painted myself into a corner here a little because I made her bond mate, Liam Murphy, Irish and from the Dublin area.  I broke my rule about only writing about places I’ve lived or visited and I’ve relied on the internet for much of my description of the city.  Hopefully, I got it right. 
 
Murphy’s apartment is lifted straight from an Irish rental site, even down to the prints of sunrise and sunset on the Irish sea coast which hang on the wall.   
 
Dublin and the Irish coast on my travel list and I hope to get there to visit this year.  Stanzie’s adventures are moving away from New England and don’t be surprised if you find her in England or Scotland or France.   
 
I’ve had hours of fun plotting out Stanzie’s adventures based on places I’ve been and things I’ve seen during my life and travels and I hope the series leads me to new places, like Dublin.  You never know – someday Stanzie and I may show up in your neighborhood! 
 
 
Author Bio:
 
1Amy Lee Burgess wrote her first ghost story at age ten. Born in New England, she has also lived in New Orleans and Houston, survived fires, floods, hurricanes, divorce and the premature cancellation of several of her favorite television shows. Turning her back on such shocking betrayals, she is now writing about ghosts, vampires, and other paranormal things and is much happier for it.
 
Author Links:
 

DOUBLE Cover Reveal! - Taking Shots & Trying To Score by Toni Aleo


Title: Taking Shots 
by Toni Aleo

Synopsis: 

In Toni Aleo’s exhilarating debut, the first in a series featuring the hockey hunks of the Nashville Assassins, a reformed bad boy helps a charming, willful woman face off against the demons of her past.

 No matter how hard she tries, Elleanor Fisher never thinks she’s good enough, from her job to her weight to her love life. After enduring years of abuse at the hands of an ex-boyfriend, Elli has been drifting through life in a daze. Until, that is, she meets Shea Adler on a promotional shoot for the NHL’s Nashville Assassins. Before Elli knows what’s happening, the gorgeous Shea breaks the ice and shatters her world.

A brilliant athlete inside the rink, Shea Adler is tired of the life he’s living outside of it: the girls, the money, the drinking. But everything changes when he meets Elli. After laying eyes on this feisty, witty, beautiful woman, he feels like he’s just taken the hardest hit of his life. No matter how skeptical she is, Shea knows they are meant to be together—if only he can convince Elli to put her insecurities aside  throw her insecurities out the window before she misses out on a shot at love.


Title: Trying to Score
 by Toni Aleo

Synopsis: 

In a captivating novel of hockey and healing hearts, the newest member of the Nashville Assassins pulls a power play to make things right with the one that got away.

Fallon Parker’s dream has always been to turn her family’s wine company into a runaway success and eventually to start a cellar of her own. Since graduating from college, she has worked relentlessly to make that dream a reality, especially after taking a chance on love—and losing. By the time Fallon becomes an official sponsor of the Nashville Assassins, she feels like all her hard work is finally paying off. And then the man who broke her heart skates back into her life.

On the ice, Lucas Brooks is the NHL’s leading scorer—at least when he’s not in the box. Off the ice, he’s a mess, with all his anger and misery bottled up inside. He threw away the most important person in his life and has regretted it ever since. But when Lucas returns to Nashville in a trade, he’s determined to convince Fallon that he’s a changed man. The attraction is still there. The tension is electrifying. But the odds are stacked against them—especially after Lucas finds out that Fallon has been keeping a devastating secret.



Author Information:

Toni Aleo is a mother of two and married to her high school sweetheart. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading the latest romance novel, taking pictures, and going to as many Nashville Predators game as she can!



Links:






Thursday, 17 January 2013

Honeysuckle Love by S. Walden - Book Tour

 

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 Upper YA Romance - New Adult
Title: Honeysuckle Love
Author: S. Walden
Date Published: 11/19/12
 
Book Description:
 
Clara Greenwich is too young to take on the sole responsibility of caring for herself and her younger sister. She’s just sixteen. She should be focused on school, hanging out with friends, falling in love. Instead, she’s working to pay off the mound of bills her mother left behind when she vanished at the start of the school year. Left alone with her ten-year-old sister, Beatrice, Clara discovers that she is now the parent, the provider, and the responsibilities grow to be more than she can handle.
 
Complicating matters is senior Evan Morningstar who starts pursuing Clara at the beginning of her junior year. She’s confused by this. Evan is a popular, likeable guy. She describes herself as a nobody—a quiet, intensely shy girl who suffers from social anxiety. She wants love like any teenage girl, but she’s terrified to let Evan get close, to discover her secrets. His gentle persistence eventually wins out, however, and she has no option but to open her heart to him.
 
When Clara’s responsibilities prove too great, she begins a slow descent into depression, making dangerous choices that threaten her relationships. She can stay trapped in her despair or discover redemption—how to forgive the past and love again.

My Review:
 
Honeysuckle Love by S. Walden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First I have to say that this story Honeysuckle Love by S. Walden was fantastic, it is well written, heartbreaking, emotional, and tragic and of course you have to add Love. Honeysuckle Love is a very hard book to put down and I will say I didn’t stop reading it till I knew how the story ended. S. Walden makes you feel emotions with her words and truly end up caring for Clara, praying throughout the novel that things are going to turn around for her and her sister.

We meet Clara and Beatrice and find out right away that their mother has left them, Clara is not really sure where her mom went but she does believe she will return eventually. So for now they must not tell anyone they are on their own, and Clara somehow has to keep things a float. We see Clara trying to pay the bills, buy food for her and her sister and pray the electricity doesn’t get cut off.

Meanwhile she still has to attend high school and work part-time. Here is where we first meet Evan who likes Clara and in his haste to get to know her he turns her life upside down and not always for the good.

I have to say that I loved Clara’s younger sister Beatrice, her character made me laugh at times thinking back to my younger sister it was heart warming.

This novel Honeysuckle Love is a fantastic story about love, loss, depression and mental illness and you are reminded how when you’re struggling and can’t always see a way out and how making a bad decision sometimes feels like the only choice you have.

S. Walden is an incredible author and writes a story that makes you shed a few tears, and it was quite shocking at times, but one thing you have to give Clara is she never really gave up trying. I have rated Honeysuckle Love a 4 star rating and would recommend anyone who reads this review to go purchase this novel as it’s a fantastic story.


Author Bio:

PhotobucketS. Walden used to teach English before making the easy decision to become a full-time writer. Easy because once she completed a full-time graduate program, there weren't any teaching jobs anyway!

She lives in Georgia with her very supportive husband who does not read fiction and has a difficult time understanding why her characters must have personality flaws. She is wary of small children, so she has two Westies instead. Her dreams include getting through her next big writing project (a three-part series) and owning and operating a beachside inn on the Gulf Coast.

Her husband's dreams for her include getting her Ph.D. so that he can tell people he's married to a doctor.

She loves her fans and loves to hear from them.

Email her at swaldenauthor@hotmail.com  and

follow her blog at http://swaldenauthor.blogspot.com

where you can get up-to-date information on her current projects.

Blog

Email

Twitter

Buy Link

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Paperback edition:

Smashwords

CreateSpace Paperback edition

Barnes and Noble Nook
 


Tuesday, 15 January 2013

Cover Reveal - Bewitched by Mark Jay Harris

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"Bewitched is spell-binding! A highly-unique page-turner that hooks you from the first paragraph. With complex characters and unexpected twists and turns, Harris delivers and leaves you hoping for more!" - Stephanie Keyes, author, The Star Child series

To be released March 1, 2012

Book Description:

Is it love or is it witchcraft? He’ll never find out if he kills her first.

The first time Darren saw Samantha, she was floating above his high school gymnasium during a basketball game, invisible to everyone but him. Next time he sees her, she's sitting in front of him in class, wowing his friends and causing unexplainable things to happen that only he seems to notice. But things really get strange (and complicated) when his dying grandfather tells him that he is part of an ancient order, the “Pessum Ire,” whose duty is to destroy witches. What does he do now, since he’s almost positive Samantha is a witch…and he’s crushing on her pretty hard?

About the Author:

Photobucket Mark Harris lives in Smithfield Utah, a small town located in a beautiful valley in Northern Utah. His wife, Shaundale, and he have four terrific children, two girls and two boys and a fifth one due to arrive in November of 2012. Mark has taught English and Special Education and currently works from home teaching English to people from all over the world. Writing has always been his true passion since he was a grade schooler writing about mushrooms. "Bewitched" will be his debut novel. He has two others underway and will soon start on the sequel to "Bewitched," called "The Return of the Familiar." He hopes you enjoy his work because he is working on several series geared toward younger audiences.

You can find Mark on: www.markjayharrisauthor.com a Rafflecopter giveaway