Team Dauntless:
Kate Avery Ellison
Nancy S Thompson
Wendy Knight
Amber Argyle
RaShelle Workman
Elle Strauss
Megg Jensen
Angela Corbett
Cindy Hogan
Christy Dorrity
Rachel Morgan
Shantal Hiatt
Monday, January 13, 2014
Dauntless Authors Giveaway!
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Blog Tour + Giveaway: Kojiki by Keith Yatsuhashi
By- Keith Yatsuhashi
Published- April 19th, 2013
Published by- Musa Publishing
Genre-YA
Blurb:
When eighteen-year-old Keiko Yamada’s father dies unexpectedly, he leaves behind a one way ticket to Japan, an unintelligible death poem about powerful Japanese spirits and their gigantic, beast-like Guardians, and the cryptic words: “Go to Japan in my place. Find the Gate. My camera will show you the way.”Alone and afraid, Keiko travels to Tokyo, determined to fulfill her father’s dying wish. There, beneath glittering neon signs, her father’s death poem comes to life. Ancient spirits spring from the shadows. Chaos envelops the city, and as Keiko flees its burning streets, her guide, the beautiful Yui Akiko, makes a stunning confession--that she, Yui, is one of a handful of spirits left behind to defend the world against the most powerful among them: a once noble spirit now insane.
The Earth itself is at stake, and as Keiko fights to save it, strange, dormant abilities stir within her. She suspects they are vital to her world’s survival, but to summon them, she must first unlock the mysteries within herself and a past shrouded in mystery.
Get it here:
Excerpt:
Yui knelt on the tatami mats of her father’s study, Matsuda’s staff cradled in her hands. She came back to the room shortly after Vissyus reappeared, watching as long as she could before emotion overcame her. Tears still spilled from her eyes. Tokyo was as much her home as this castle. It was part of her, and now it burned. Why did her father have to take so much from its people in order to save them? Maybe surviving would be enough for them.
It wasn’t for her.
Her Searching transported her to the heart of the city. Shinjuku’s proud skyscrapers were a pile of ash, Tokyo Tower now little more than twisted metal. She ghosted down Chuo Dori. Ginza Station had disappeared beneath a toppled building. The intersection where she’d lost Keiko was a tangle of melted wire, soot, and shattered neon tubes. The acrid scent of charred wood and chemical fires blended with the coppery tang of blood. Their monks did their best, but she never expected them to save everyone. Her father tried to hide that from her, and now she understood why.
She felt their Spirits— lifetimes and memories forever lost to the world. A battle wasn’t some game; she understood that now. The ruined city was proof enough for her. So much destruction with so little effort. What would happen when Vissyus unleashed his full power?
Shivering, she hugged Matsuda’s staff and lowered her head. Where was his strength when she needed it?
Meet the Characters:
Keiko Yamada
Keiko Yamada is an eighteen year old Japanese American whose soul holds a secret unknown even to her. Alone and afraid, Keiko travels to Tokyo, determined to fulfill her father’s dying wish. There, beneath glittering neon signs, her father’s death poem comes to life. Ancient spirits spring from the shadows. Chaos envelops the city, and as Keiko flees its burning streets, her guide, the beautiful Yui Akiko, makes a stunning confession--that she, Yui, is one of a handful of spirits left behind to defend the world against the most powerful among them: a once noble spirit now insane. Keiko must decide if she will honor her father’s heritage and take her rightful place among the gods.
The Great Spirits
“Of all the elements, the strongest were always the most basic; Air and Water; Earth, Fire, and, Spirit, and to a lesser extent, darkness and light. There were others as well, though not nearly as powerful. Their interests were in the creatures that lived on the world and not the living world itself - birds and beasts, trees and flowers. The former group became known as the Great Spirits of the world, beings that took physical form and walked the planet, shaping it and watching over it as it blossomed into paradise. Casting their thoughts back into the void, they called out for helpers, Spirits nearly as old as they and with elemental powers complementing their own. These became the Guardians, servants and partners, bound to their Master or Mistress by what is known as the Law of Binding Trust; an oath sworn by the Guardian to protect and to serve, and to carry out the will of the Great Spirit who had summoned it. Out of respect for the Guardians’ voluntary servitude, the new Lords of the world swore never to strike directly at a Guardian or allow it to be harmed by anything other than its own kind. It was a relationship so strong, that it survived even when Vissyus broke with all tradition and did the unthinkable.” – Takeshi Akiko
Aeryk Tai- Banshar/Eric Aeronson, The Lord of the Air, Commander of the Winds, and King of the Heavens
One of only two Great Spirits not trapped within the Boundary, Aeryk spent the long years since the last battle reshaping the world. From his hidden sky fortress of Hurricane Point, a massive castle wreathed in the clouds of the western Atlantic, he watches over the growth of the human race, slipping into it time and again to influence the course of events. Once Yui Akiko sounds the alarm, he throws off his disguise, openly proclaims himself, and heads immediately into the Caribbean to free another of the Great Spirits, Seirin Bal Cerranon, from the mysterious prison that has held her since the end of the last war. The years haven’t diminished his love for her, nor the guilt those feelings resurrect. In his heart, he feels responsible for the catastrophe the world now faces--Vissyus, Aeryk’s friend, the strongest of all Spirits, insane because of him.
Seirin Bal Cerannon Queen of the Oceans, Mistress of the Waves, and Lady of Water
The most beautiful woman the world has ever known, and second only to Vissyus in strength.
Impatient to know Aeryk’s love and to start a family with him, she turns to Vissyus, asking him to conduct forbidden experiments on her behalf. Despite the law, despite multiple warnings, she ignores law and custom with disastrous results.
Takeshi Akiko, Lord of Spirit
Of all the Great Spirits, Takeshi Akiko is the wisest, his control and understanding of Spirit unique. He is strong and enigmatic. As events around the Spirits unravel, Takeshi develops the strategy that will save the world from ruin, even if it means manipulating everyone he loves, including his own daughter, Yui.
Yui Akiko, The Lady of Spirit
Daughter of Takeshi Akiko, Yui is the youngest of the Great Spirits and the only child born among them. Trained exclusively by her father for war, Yui is recklessly headstrong, determined to prove her worth to her father and thereby earn his love and pride. Once she and her father begin to see the signs of the Boundary’s failing, Takeshi sends her out into the world as a sentinel, a scout who will report back at the first sign of danger. Her time among the humans gives her a unique empathy for their struggles, one compounded by an unrequited love a human disciple named Matsuda Yamanaka.
Roarke Zar Ranok, Lord of the Earth
Roarke is a big mountain of a man, the tallest of all except for Vissyus. Like Seirin, he remains locked inside the Boundary until the Aeryk and Takeshi can free him.
Lon-Shan, Lord of Shadow
Among the weakest of the Great Spirits in terms of strength, Lon-Shan’s power is most potent wherever the light fails. He is perpetually jealous of the others’ superior prowess, so much so that his envy eventually results in a darkening of his own heart. Secretly, he begins planning against the other Spirits in their war, cloning a personal army for his eventual conquest of Earth. In order to succeed, he sacrifices his friends to Vissyus, believing that once the others are defeated, the Fire Lord will move on and leave the Earth behind.
Vissyus Sar Furcan, Lord of Fire
Vissyus is the strongest and most intelligent of all the Great Spirits. His natural abilities, his power and the force of his will dwarf those of any other. Only his love for Seirin surpasses his power. When she comes to him for help, he immediately accepts, ignoring the danger to himself and the world in order to make her dreams come true.
Paitr Norwoska
Drawn to the dark depravity in Paitr Norwoska’s soul, Lon-Shan seeks out this one-time member of the Romanian Nobility, specifically sending his Guardian through the Weakening to recruit him. His power is second only to his lust for power, a lust he shared with his Dark Master. Once inside the Boundary, Paitr becomes an integral part in Lon-Shan’s strategy to rule the world. Doing the unthinkable, the Shadow Lord tampers with young man’s Spirit, granting him a portion of the Great Spirit’s power and naming him a disciple, one of the few who would rule nations in the name of Lon-Shan. Ordered into the military at a young age, he acquired a keen insight into the intricacies of battle, one that even surpassed that of his Master.
About the author:
Keith Yatsuhashi was born in 1965 in Boston, MA. He graduated from Northeastern University in 1989 and is currently the Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center in Providence, Rhode Island.Keith was a competitive figure skater for ten years, winning the U.S. National Junior Dance Championships in 1984, a bronze medal in the 1983 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, and a silver medal in 1984.
In addition to his love of writing, Keith enjoys many hobbies such as golf, reading, and playing football and hockey with his sons. Keith currently lives in Norfolk, MA with his wife, Kathleen and three children—Caitlin, Jeffrey, and Justin.
Check him out:
Twitter- https://twitter.com/KeithYatsuhashi
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/author.keith.yatsuhashi?ref=ts&fref=ts
GIVEAWAY!
Friday, January 10, 2014
Cover Reveal: Illusions Begin by N.L. Greene
Illusions Begin
A Mystic Seeker Novel ( #1)
By- N.L. Greene
Expected Publication Date- January 16th, 2014
Katherine Rebecca has always done exactly what was expected of her. Her prim and proper upbringing taught her the importance of family, sacrifice, and social stature. She has followed in her parent’s footsteps, being trained and groomed daily almost from birth, to take over the family law firm. It was never a question of IF she wanted to but WHEN she would take the reins of the company. She worked rigorously toward that predetermined goal her entire life. She gave up friends, boyfriends, and an exciting social life in order to propel herself through school and college. Katherine Rebecca strived to please her parents. More than anything, she basked in their praise and approval. But now, at 21 years old, she finds herself leading a life that is nothing like the life she imagined for herself.
Becky has always possessed a deep love of magic. Ever since she was a small child she has been fascinated with magicians, illusions, mystery, and the vague hope that there was some sort of real magic in the world. But this is a secret no one knows, or at least that’s what she thought. Until one day Becky finds a mysterious business card in her pocket that leads her to an equally mysterious man. He opens up a whole new world of possibilities to her, one with a tantalizing proposition that she never thought imaginable.
Could magic actually be real?
About the Author-
N.L. Greene, who is 1/2 of the author duo Riana Lucas, has decided to venture outside of the Fantasy world that she and her best friend created with Poppy and The Deadly Flowers Series to write a few books on her own. While she loves working with her best friend, writing solo has allowed her to explore interest that had solely been her own. She spends a lot of time reading her favorite authors which range all over the place and in every genre, but spends just as much time with her husband and two daughters, traveling, shopping, and playing video games. Nichole was born in Pennsylvania but grew up in Florida, where she and her high school sweetheart live with their two children.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Review + Blog Tour + Giveaway: The Sorcery Code by Dima Zales
Publication date: December, 2013
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Blurb:
From the internationally bestselling authors who brought you the Krinar Chronicles comes a captivating tale of intrigue, love, and danger in a world where sorcery is entwined with science . . .Once a respected member of the Sorcerer Council and now an outcast, Blaise has spent the last year of his life working on a special magical object. The goal is to allow anyone to do magic, not just the sorcerer elite. The outcome of his quest is unlike anything he could’ve ever imagined – because, instead of an object, he creates Her.
She is Gala, and she is anything but inanimate. Born in the Spell Realm, she is beautiful and highly intelligent – and nobody knows what she’s capable of. She will do anything to experience the world . . . even leave the man she is beginning to fall for.
Augusta, a powerful sorceress and Blaise’s former fiancée, sees Blaise’s deed as the ultimate hubris and Gala as an abomination that must be destroyed. In her quest to save the human race, Augusta will forge new alliances, becoming tangled in a web of intrigue that stretches further than any of them suspect. She may even have to turn to her new lover Barson, a ruthless warrior who might have an agenda of his own . . .
For a kid from the 90s, this book mixed two great concepts together: creating a person and magic. Take a movie like Disney Channel's Pixel Perfect or the cult classic Weird Science, where people have created artificial intelligence that grows into someone who is living, breathing and learning and put that character into Harry Potter and you've got The Sorcery Code. Blaise, the main character, creates Gala out of the spell realm to help the people he used to serve as councilman. His intentions are really admirable, he wants to give magic to those not just of a high born stature, to help them better there lives. Not everyone agrees with him, including Augusta, his ex-fiance. She see's Gala as something dangerous and needs to be destroyed. Blaise has to ward off a fight of epic proportion while still dealing with Gala, who wants to experience everything their world has to offer.
The big sell for me with this book was the world. It was creative and unique, while still being rooted in traditional magic/spellcaster stories mixed with some steampunk elements. When traditional stories meet new and amazing twists, I think that makes the best stories! Things such as an old school class system with soldiers and councils give the book character and really make the leads more interesting in how they deal with situations and interact with different people. On top of all that, the dynamics between Blaise and Gala, Augusta and Blaise, and Gala with everyone else is fascinating to read about because of the relationship already established and the way those are changing during the story.
The character do make or break a story, The Sorcery Code is no different. I found it oddly intriquing that I really liked the so called "bad guy" in the story, Augusta. I thought she was great, even though she I still felt she was entirely off base with her logic. She had me feeling sorry for her at moments and then the next I wanted to smack her upside the head. Then you had Gala, who in my opinion stole the thunder from the main character Blaise. I loved him, don't get me wrong, but Gala so fun to read about. She was like a child in woman form learning everything around for the first time. Plus her naivety gave her perspective a fresh look at all the old things around all of them and really propelled you to see both the flaws of there world and the good things going on. This was really an awesome story to introduce a new world with and brought it all home with great characters. -My Opinion- ****4 stars
Get it here:
About the author:
Dima Zales is a full-time science fiction and fantasy author residing in Palm Coast, Florida. Prior to becoming a writer, he worked in the software development industry in New York as both a programmer and an executive. From high-frequency trading software for big banks to mobile apps for popular magazines, Dima has done it all. In 2013, he left the software industry in order to concentrate on his writing career.Dima holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from NYU and a dual undergraduate degree in Computer Science / Psychology from Brooklyn College. He also has a number of hobbies and interests, the most unusual of which might be professional-level mentalism. He simulates mind-reading on stage and close-up, and has done shows for corporations, wealthy individuals, and friends. To read more, click here!
Check him out:
http://www.dimazales.com/index.html
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDimaZales
https://twitter.com/AuthorDimaZales
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7210511.Dima_Zales
GIVEAWAY!
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Review + Giveaway: The Reckless Engineer by Jac Wright
Blurb:
Can you forgive betrayal?
The aftershocks of an affair reverberate out to those in the lives of the lovers, who will NOT take it lying down.
Jack Connor lives an idyllic life by the Portsmouth seaside married to Caitlin McAllen, a stunning billionaire heiress, and working at his two jobs as the Head of Radar Engineering of Marine Electronics and as the Director of Engineering of McAllen BlackGold, his powerful father-in-law Douglas McAllen's extreme engineering company in Oil & Gas. He loves his two sons from his first marriage and is amicably divorced from his beautiful first wife Marianne Connor. Their delicately balanced lives are shattered when sexy Michelle Williams, with whom Jack is having a secret affair and who is pregnant with his child, is found dead and Jack is arrested on suspicion for the murder.
Jeremy Reid brings in top London defence attorney, Harry Stavers, to handle his best friend's defence.
Who is the bald man with the tattoo of a skull seen entering the victim's house? Who is "KC" who Caitlin makes secret calls to from a untraceable mobile? Has powerful Douglas McAllen already killed his daughter's first partner and is he capable of killing again? Is Caitlin's brother Ronnie McAllen's power struggle with Jack for the control of McAllen Industries so intense that he is prepared to kill and frame his brother-in-law? Is the divorce from Jack's first wife as amicable on her part as they believe it to be? Are his sons prepared to kill for their vast inheritance? Who are the ghosts from Caitlin's past in Aberdeen, Scotland haunting the marriage? What is the involvement of Jack's manager at Marine Electronics?
While Jack is charged and his murder trial proceeds in the Crown Court under barrister Harry Stavers’ expert care, Jeremy runs a race against time to find the real killer and save his friend's life, if he is in fact innocent, in a tense saga of friendship, love, desire, power, and ambition.
Review:
I will freely admit that the genre of mystery is not usually my cup of tea, but it is a New Year and I decided to give it another go with The Reckless Engineer. This group of people has so many relationships with each other and as many deceptions among them, that it made this book quite entertaining to keep up with it. Jeremy Stone is the best friend who is called in to help Jack when he is arrested on suspicion of murder of his mistress, Michelle, who is pregnant. Nothing is at appears, however, and Jeremy has to figure out who killed Michelle and framed Jack. Is it a jealous lover? His angry wife? Her wealthy and powerful family? You'll have to read The Reckless Engineer to find out!
This book did not lack characters, nor characters with lots and lots of flaws. I enjoyed the fact that they were all a little messed up in their own ways, it made the book grounded in real problems with what seemed like real people. Of course with flaws comes characters that you have zero sympathy for, such as Jack. He was obviously the focus of attention for most of the book but he sort of got himself into this predicament by having AFFAIRS. I felt bad for him that he was getting a murder rap for something he didn't seem to have done, but again, not exactly hero material here. In fact the character I had least sympathy for the victim herself, Michelle. She was mean, she knew Jack was married and she did it anyway! The way she treated people, I thought, was awful and I really couldn't bring myself to actually care about what happened to her....which is generally a problem. To sum up the characters in a few words, I'd have to call them a bunch of rich brats who clearly have no regard for anyone but themselves.
Their flaws, however, are not a flaw for the book. Their idiocy provided a dramatic backdrop for an exciting murder mystery that has several twists and turns throughout the story and kept it moving. Because they were people I couldn't stand, the way everything fit together was brilliant and in turn the book was a very smart read. It can be difficult at first to understand who everyone is and how they relate to each other, but once it all gets sorted out and moving it really takes off. It will keep you guessing and surprise you a number of times, which in my opinion is the tell of a great mystery read- My Opinion- **** 4 Stars!
Get it here:
Excerpt:
At six foot four in height Douglas McAllen was an immense, imposing, and regal presence that owned every room he walked into. Like Caitlin he lightly packed his tall and broad frame with lean flesh and muscles, somewhat slackened with time, without being either over or under weight. His face was crinkled with fine lines like cracked drying mud, and the equally wrinkled hand he extended to them betrayed a slight tremor from his sixty odd years of life on earth and from the strain of his daughter’s plight.
‘Harry Stavers?’ His deep voice resounded through the room. He slouched down and extended a hand to Harry whose five-foot eight-inch slim frame was dwarfed by the presence of the older man.
‘Pleased to meet you in person, Mr. Stavers, and thank you for stepping in to help my daughter and son-in-law so effectively. This is Magnus Laird from McKinley & Laird Solicitors.’
Magnus Laird walked in a step behind Douglas McAllen and was also a presence of massive proportions in his own right. The two or three inches in height and the half-a-dozen or so years in age he lacked relative to his client, he made up for with three or four stones of extra weight packed liberally around his torso. His face was dominated by a thick walrus moustache, which he was in the habit of combing down with his right forefinger every now and then.
‘How do you do, Mr. McAllen, Mr. Laird? Please call me Harry.’ Harry stood upright, greeting them with a steady voice of strength and confidence, like David facing Goliath.
‘Och aye, Mr. Stavers. It is a pleasure indeed my dear fellaw. I have heard much abit yer courtroom antics in the High Court from me fellow members of the bar in London.’
Laird bent forward to shake Harry’s hand heartily, taking care not to topple over, then straightened back up with great effort, momentarily holding onto his own back with his left hand the way pregnant women did.
‘And this must be Jeremy Stone.’ McAllen’s blue eyes crinkled further into a smile as he lithely took the half-length of the room with a few long strides. He put his left hand on Jeremy’s shoulder and shook his right hand. The old man liked him.
‘I have heard much about you, good things, from Caitlin and Jack. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, son. You must come and visit my factories in Aberdeen some time. I am always in need of a fine engineer of your calibre.’
‘I am honoured to meet you, sir.’ Jeremy bowed his head and smiled.
‘Och, aye, Mr. Stone, the Engineer. The one who made the laboratory in the barn for our dear Jack, I hear. Very clever, very clever indeed.’ Magnus Laird waddled, carrying his bulk across the room, and shook Jeremy’s hand heartily for a long minute or two with both of his.
‘I only gave Jack a hand, Mr. Laird,’ Jeremy protested, but he couldn’t help being cheered by his hearty appraisal.
‘It has already been a long morning for us and we don’t have much time before we have to face this bloody police interview. I need a word in private with Magnus and Caitlin first, and then we can discuss matters over a spot of lunch. How does that sound, Mr. Stavers, er, Harry?’
Check out the author here:
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Jac-Wright/e/B00DAGN3J6
Blog: mysteriescrimethrillers.blogspot.com
Website: jacwrightbooks.wix.com/jacwright
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jacwrightbooks
Twitter: @JacWrightBooks
The author is giving away two $25 gift cards to blog members who either comment on this blog post with their email address of enter through the Web Form.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Book Blitz: The Upside of Being Let Down by London Casey
The Upside of Being Let Down -PROMO Blitz
by London Casey
Date Published: 1/7/2014
New Adult Romance
The fact that AJ's sister is a stripper has been the bane of AJ's existence for as long as she can remember. Every guy that has showed interest only wanted to get closer to her sister. After being kicked out of college, and subsequently out of her apartment, AJ heads to the strip club for some sisterly advice. Instead, she lands in the apartment of a cute stranger who seems way too eager to help.
Bryan is a regular guy looking for the simplicity in life. A strip club is definitely not his idea of simplicity, but he is pleasantly surprised at who he finds not prancing around on stage. In the middle of a strip club his eyes are glued to a woman that is fully dressed and thus begins a rollercoaster romance that he never saw coming.
When a risky dare is set in motion, an earth shattering truth is unraveled and AJ no longer knows who she can trust. Can Bryan prove that he loves AJ and help save her bond with her sister before it's too late?
London Casey
Author Links
This Promo Blitz is brought to you by Reading Addiction Book Tours
Monday, January 6, 2014
Double Cover Reveal for J.A. Huss!
GUNS: The Spencer Book
(Rook and Ronin Spinoff)
Full-length Book
by J.A. Huss
To be Publsihed: March 31, 2014
Blurb:
The Team is growing. It’s no longer just Ford, Spencer, and Ronin and the three new additions have Spencer Shrike off his booze, off his bikes, and paranoid to the extreme. Every Team member has a job, and every job is important—but only Spencer’s job keeps everyone alive.Veronica Vaughn has put up with Spencer Shrike’s shit for years and where has it gotten her? A big fat nowhere. No ring, no house, no kids, and no promises. In fact, Spencer is worse than ever—completely distant and moody—and his fascination with weapons has turned into an obsession.
Now there’s another man in town with his eye on her. And she’s ready to jump ship. The last thing on Spencer’s mind is a relationship, and Veronica Vaughn has had enough.
But what if Spencer has a reason to keep Veronica at arm’s length? What if her life depends on his painful indifference? And what if… a very dangerous man with a very real vendetta sees through his ruse with killer clarity?
GUNS brings the entire Rook and Ronin series full circle. Every con, every lie, and every skeleton in the closet is back for one final shot at vengeance and the only thing standing in the way… is Spencer Shrike.
BOMB: A Day in the Life of Spencer Shrike
(Rook and Ronin Spinoff)
Novella
by J.A. Huss
To be Publsihed: February 17, 2014
Blurb:
Spencer Shrike is a plotter. Known for his ingenious, albeit illegal, plans that keeps the Team running efficiently and out of jail, he carries this same love of order into his personal life. He’s kept his long-time main squeeze on the sidelines for years as he builds the Shrike Bikes empire.Veronica Vaughn is an explosion ready to happen. Ronnie lives in the here and now. She lives for today. She knows what she wants, and she wants it now. And right now Ron the Bomb Vaughn wants Spencer shrike to leave her the hell alone. She’s done playing his game. She’s done waiting around. She’s moving forward with her own plots, plans, and dreams and she’s moving forward tonight. Ron the Bomb is finally—finally—gonna get some satisfaction.
Too bad Spencer Shrike is standing in her way.
About the author:
J. A. Huss likes to write new adult books that make you think and keep you guessing. Her favorite genre to read is space opera, but since practically no one reads those books, she writes new adult science fiction, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, urban fantasy, and books about Junco (who refuses to be saddled with a label). She has an undergraduate degree in horses, (yes, really–Thank you, Colorado State University) and a master’s degree in forensic toxicology from the University of Florida. She used to have a job driving around Colorado doing pretty much nothing but shooting the breeze with farmers, but now she just writes, runs the New Adult Addiction and Clean Teen Reads Book Blogs, and runs an online science classroom for homeschoolers.
Check her out: Website / Goodreads / Facebook
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Book Blitz: After Alex Died by Dakota Madison
Dakota Madison
New Adult Romance
Date Published: 11/28/2013
"Don't be someone who defines her life by someone else's death."
Dee Dee DeMarco's brother, Alex, was funny, free-spirited and creative. He was also gay. Tormented by bullies, Alex killed himself on his 15th birthday.
Two years later, and now in college, Dee Dee believes getting a summer job working with a college-prep program for disadvantaged high school students is a stroke of luck, until she discovers that the guy assigned to co-lead her group is Cameron Connelly, a star basketball player and one of the bullies who tormented her brother to death. How can Dee Dee possibly spend the entire summer working so closely with one of the boys she blames for her brother's death?
EXCERPT
I could feel my heartbeat quicken as I entered the auditorium. The kids were talking and messing around as they waited for the class to begin. The other counselors, with the exception of Cameron, were also seated in the audience with the kids. Cameron was standing at the podium with Dr. Jones.
When Cameron saw me walk in, he winked at me. I didn't know whether to slap him or hug him. Therein was the problem.
Dr. Jones waved her arms to get everyone's attention. "Quiet everyone. We have a special presentation today. Cameron is going to talk to you about bullying and how it impacted his life."
"Who would bully him?" one of the kids cracked and the other kids laughed.
"Enough," Dr. Jones reprimanded. "I expect you to give Cameron your attention and utmost respect."
Cameron took the podium. "Thank you, Dr. Jones. I'm here today to talk about bullying. Not because I was bullied when I was your age but because I was a bully. And it ruined my life."
When I looked out over the sea of faces, all eyes were trained on Cameron.
"I thought I had everything. I was one of the school's first string basketball players. We were all-state champions. I already had a full basketball scholarship to Penn State. I was popular. I had tons of friends. I could get a date with any girl in the school. And I lost it all."
Dakota Madison
Authors Links
This Blitz is brought to you by Reading Addiction Book Tours
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Review: Waterfell by Amalie Howard
Blurb:
THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE QUEEN
Nerissa Marin hides among teens in her human form, waiting for the day she can claim her birthright—the undersea kingdom stolen from her the day her father was murdered. Blending in is her best weapon—until her father's betrayer confronts Nerissa and challenges her to a battle to the death on Nerissa's upcoming birthday—the day she comes of age.
Amid danger and the heartbreak of her missing mother, falling for a human boy is the last thing Nerissa should do. But Lo Seavon breaches her defenses and somehow becomes the only person she can count on to help her desperate search for her mother, a prisoner of Nerissa's mortal enemy. Is Lo the linchpin that might win Nerissa back her crown? Or will this mortal boy become the weakness that destroys her?
Nerissa Marin hides among teens in her human form, waiting for the day she can claim her birthright—the undersea kingdom stolen from her the day her father was murdered. Blending in is her best weapon—until her father's betrayer confronts Nerissa and challenges her to a battle to the death on Nerissa's upcoming birthday—the day she comes of age.
Amid danger and the heartbreak of her missing mother, falling for a human boy is the last thing Nerissa should do. But Lo Seavon breaches her defenses and somehow becomes the only person she can count on to help her desperate search for her mother, a prisoner of Nerissa's mortal enemy. Is Lo the linchpin that might win Nerissa back her crown? Or will this mortal boy become the weakness that destroys her?
Review:
Alien water species, assassinations and royals, oh my! Waterfell by Amalie Howard is an awe-inspiring tale of a young Aquarathi princess living among humans for both safety and her years of training to get to know the land dwellers, or humans, of Earth. The Aquarathi are an alien race that came to Earth eons ago for a new home. They live in the depths of the ocean, far away from humans, so that they do not know they are there. Saving the ocean, however, is one of their main concerns. Nerissa Marin is the heir apparent, but her father was murdered and now those same people wishing to gain the throne are after her. Surrounded by loyal protectors and even more loyal human friends she must decide what she really wants from her life and if she is willing to fight the crown that is rightfully hers.
Nerissa for me is the perfect teenage character. She flip flops so many times about what she really wants to do, whether that is being queen or remaining on land with humans. At first she doesn't want any of the responsibility but over time she understands the impact she can have on not only the people she loves but of her people. It took her time to realize what a symbol she could be in her world, and that seemed normal. Whether you're fish or human, at that age it's hard to figure what you want to do with the rest of your life, let alone save a race of people. The fact that she was so grounded really appealed to me an made it seem natural for her to question things and sometimes even through hissy fits.
The world and races, however, are what made this book fascinating. The way the author tells a tale of underwater worlds and the how the Aquarathi look was fascinating. When Nerissa transforms into her fish-like self, I could picture every shimmering scale that she had and almost count every gigantic razor-sharp tooth she had in her mouth. Add to that detail the people around Nerissa and the relationships that they all have with each other and Waterfell is book that lacks nothing. Drama, heart-break, passion, intensity, tragedy and bite are all accounted for in Nerissa's story and this world is rife with more stories to be told!- My Opinion- ***** 5 Stars!
Get it here:
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Blog Tour + Giveaway: The Whispers of the Fallen by J.D. Netto
The Whispers of the Fallen
By- J.D. Netto
Genre-Fantasy/Paranormal
Publication Date- November 2012
Published By- Tristar Publishing Group
Blurb:
Ever since the dawn of days, rumors about the Diary of Lucifer echoed throughout Elysium. Hidden from all human knowledge, the Diary was kept a secret, locked away in the small village of Agalmath.
Isaac and Demetre find themselves in a dangerous journey as they uncover the truth about the Diary and its guardians. However, for Isaac and Demetre, danger lies at every step, hidden in the most unexpected places.
Hunted by the Nephilins and the Fallen Stars, they must find others who will join them in the battle against the coming darkness.
Get it here:
Excerpt:
“They performed the Soul Exchange. Demetre was offered to the Darkness when he was an infant. This offer gives liberty for any chosen Fallen Star to take over his body upon his blood maturation. Therefore, Demetre’s fate was chosen for him.” Devin sighed. “This is a dangerous thing, given that a Fallen Star is now hosted in a human body. Their tissue, skin and blood have intertwined. They are one.”I placed both of my hands on my face, closed my eyes and once again cried bitterly. Demetre, the person I had known throughout my entire life, the person that knew me best, died without having a choice. A part of me wanted to refuse to believe that this was true, but deep inside I knew the truth had to be embraced now.
Music played a very important role during the writing process for The Whispers of the Fallen. Being a musician myself, music has always helped me dig deeper into certain moments while writing, enabling me to better understand each character and moment. I even wrote a song called A Melody for the Fallen. You can download the song at no cost by going to http://www.thewhispersofthefallen.com/#!music/c203t
On my website (http://www.thewhispersofthefallen), I created two playlists with a couple of songs that helped me overcome writer’s block. One playlist consists of songs that capture the heart and soul of characters and key moments on Whispers, while the other playlist contains some of the songs that I actually listened to during the writing process.
Playlist 1 (Writing Soundtrack)
God Particle (Angels and Demons OST) - Hans Zimmer
Captured and Tortured (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 OST) - Alexandre Desplat
Fireplace Escape (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 OST) - Alexandre Desplat
Return of the Lion (The Chronicles of Narnia) - Harry Gregson-Williams
Elysium (Gladiator) - Hans Zimmer
The Last March of the Ents (The Two Towers) - Howard Shore
Braveheart Theme - John Williams
In Noctem (Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince) - Nicholas Hooper
Playlist 2 (Book Soundtrack)
Breath of Life - Florence and the Machine
Going Under - Evanescence
Seven Devils - Florence and the Machine
Already Over Pt. 2 - Red
May It Be - Enya
Knights of Cydonia - Muse
Isaac - Madonna (The lyrics are breathtaking)
Hymn for the Missing - Red
About the author:
J.D.Netto (Jorge de Oliveira Netto) is brazilian-born. Raised in Framingham, MA, J.D.Netto always had an eye for epic fantasy and story-telling. At an early age, he had the habit of locking himself in his room, turning on any soundtrack he could find, and there he would write for hours.
During his senior year in High School, J.D.Netto had an idea that changed his life, 'What if Lucifer had a Diary? What if the Diary was a secret? What if the secret was a reality?' These simple questions led him to write for six consecutive years, researching, perfecting his craft, and creating the world of Elysium. All the promotional visuals of the novel, including the cover, were designed by J.D.Netto, proving that he is not only a writer, but an innovative visual designer.
Check him out:
Website- www.thewhispersofthefallen.com
Facebook- facebook.com/thewhispersofthefallen
Twitter- https://twitter.com/jd_netto
Instagram: jdnetto
GIVEAWAY!
The author is giving away four paperback books during the tour. All you have to do is "like" the official facebook page ( facebook.com/thewhispersofthefallen ) and leave a comment.
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