Candace's Book Blog

Young Adult Review: Under the Light by Laura Whitcomb

2013-05-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

Under the Light (Light #2) by Laura Whitcomb

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published: May 14th, 2013 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Source: ALAMW

Find the author:

Website | Twitter

Helen needed a body to be with her beloved and Jenny needed to escape from hers before her spirit was broken. It was wicked, borrowing it, but love drives even the gentlest soul to desperate acts.

When Jenny returns to her body, she finds that someone has been living her life while she was away. She doesn’t remember being Billy’s lover or defying her family. But now she is faced with the consequences. And Helen, who has returned to warn Jenny—to help her—finds herself trapped, haunting the girl she wished to save.

In this captivating companion novel to A Certain Slant of Light, the love story between Jenny and Billy begins out-of-body—where they can fly and move the stars--and continues into the tumultuous realm of the living, where they are torn away from each other even as they slowly remember their spirits falling in love.

It's been years since I read A Certain Slant of Light and I found myself being concerned about whether I would be confused with this book. I remember only a few things about it, but as I read Under the Light I began to remember A Certain Slant of Light and it all came back to me. Initially I didn't remember who Jenny was, but she's the one who's body Helen took in A Certain Slant of Light. So it's more her story, but Helen is still present and tells a bit from her side as well.

Jenny's family is super religious and her spirit was being broken by her father. He read her diary and then took everything important to her away. This is where Helen comes in. So we see where Jenny went when out of her body but a good portion of the story is when she comes back and how things play out with Jenny and Billy (who was Helen's lover but whose body was taken by another ghost) and how they have this thing that connects them but they don't remember each other. It's also about Jenny and her family. Her super religious and over the top father and the mother who is lost herself but only knows one thing, religion.

I liked Jenny a lot and really felt bad for her. I wanted her to stand up for herself and find her way and we got to see that happen. It was slow, she didn't change over night, but she found her footing and found her voice. She ended up being very strong. We also get to know Helen's past and how she died, which was very interesting and I was glad to know more about her.

I really love the concept of ghosts in these books and think that the author did a great job of making it all very believable. I believe in ghosts and have interacted with them myself, so this was something I did connect with.

Laura Whitcomb has a very lyrical writing style. It's more along the literary lines of things, which I don't usually like, but quite liked in this book. The story was easy to read and once I got into the rhythm of it I didn't put it down once. I read nearly the entire thing before bed and didn't stop reading until I finished.

While this is a companion novel and you don't have to read the first book, I do encourage you to do so. You'll understand things much better and you'll enjoy it more as things regarding Helen will make much more sense. I very highly recommend this series to fans of YA books with ghosts (not scary) and contemporary since the contemporary theme was very important in this one.

Disclosure: I received this book at ALAMW. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Weekly Wrap Up, News & Giveaway's!

2013-05-18T10:02:00.000-07:00

I decided to try to give a weekly wrap up post a shot. I stopped doing this sort of thing over a year ago but I think that I'm going to experiment with it and see if I can manage. When it comes to cutting things down this tends to be a first thing to go, but I would like to have a post that reminds people of the tours I have open or running as well as to remind them of giveaway's. I have mixed feelings about showing all the books I get through the week, but mostly it's just because it takes so much effort to remember them all. ;) So I'm thinking I'll spotlight a few, but not them all. We'll see though, that might change.

Exciting News!
One very exciting thing I was really happy about was I have lots of teachers reading my blog now. This is a HUGE deal to me and I wouldn't even know about it but one middle grade post was full of teacher's comments. And these are non-blogger teachers. I have to say, this made my week! I love my readers, but it's an even bigger bonus when it's a non blogger reading my blog. So thank you to my new readers & followers! I will be doing more and more middle grade and children's books but I may start doing two posts some days so that my YA and adult readers aren't left out. Something for everyone!

The Full of Grace tour starts Monday and Misty Provencher is going all out! She says:

"Monday starts the Full of Grace Tour and I'd like to blow the walls off! I've got a LOAD of giveaways, awesome tour stopsat all the best blogs, games, and AN OVERLOAD OF FUN is planned! The tour will run for a week (May 20th to the 24th). This page will be our home base, so I would love it if you would give me a hand in sharing it with some of your awesome peeps too. ALL ARE WELCOME! Share if you care!"

Itinerary here: http://mistypro.blogspot.com/
And the Facebook Page where so much happens is HERE.

current giveaway's

Children's Book Week Giveaway: Enter to win 3 books! (US) Ends 5/19
Tales From Lovecraft Middle School 1st 3 books in series (US)
Marked by Kate Flynn or one of her favorites
TEN copies of Generation V by M.L. Brennan (US) Ends 5/21
The Girl With the Iron Touch Tour Wide Giveaway (US)
Kindle Fire Giveaway

New Tour:
I'm excited to announce the review tour for Shah Wharton's NA fantasy, Finding Esta. This tour runs Sept 23rd-27th and is reviews only. Find the tour page with info and sign ups HERE. You still have lots of time to read this one, so I hope you'll consider joining in!

Still Needing Hosts:
I'm still looking for tour hosts for The Exemeus & The Azemeon by Folami and Abeni Morris. This is a YA fantasy for ages 12 to adult. This tour runs August 25th-31st.
It is also available for review outside the tour and when you are able. At this point we're mostly looking for reviews of both books (or just the first if you don't want to commit to both).

Tour Page with Info and sign ups HERE.

I'm looking for reviewers for an audio book tour for Ghost Leopard: A Zoe & Zak Adventure, Volume 1 by Lars Guignard. This is a Middle Grade Magic, Fantasy Adventure for ages 8-13

This runs September 9th-20th 2013

This is an audiobook tour with reviews only.

Tour Page with Info HERE.

I have other review opportunities listed HERE if you aren't interested in a tour. Though keep in mind that all of these authors would be happy to get reviews, even outside a tour.

If you aren't yet signed up to be a tour host please do so HERE, I'd love to have you!

In Other News:

Stephanie Lisa Tara presents Mother Sea Turtle month! Mothers need to stick together; whether scaly, feathered, furry or skinned! And to celebrate this Mother's Day and the release of her newest turtle book, Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book—which is the companion follow-up to her first international bestseller, I'll Follow the Moon—Stephanie Lisa Tara is giving away 2 gorgeous, large plush sea turtles (26"L x 8"H x 16"W) to reviewers!

Dear Turtle Activists,

I want to thank each and every one of you for your tireless dedication and love to our cause! I have written this book FOR YOU! I dedicate this book TO YOU! 120 pages of fotos, facts and fun!

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book has a primary goal: SAVING SEA TURTLES FROM EXTINCTION. A portion of proceeds from this book go to charitable organizations like the Turtle Foundation (www.turtle-foundation.org) of whom my first turtle book, I'LL FOLLOW THE MOON—is a proud sponsor.

If you are new to us—please join with us, for together, holding hands, we can effect change. Yes—really! xoxo. SAVE GREEN SEA TURTLES on Facebook (www.facebook.com/.../Save-Green-Sea-T...) is our hugely popular hang-out—tens of thousands of Activists-strong. Please join us!

NOW—prepare for something totally new and amazing!

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book is not your typical scientific turtle book: my special book is all about having FUN! Enjoy the mini FLIP-BOOK in the corners and create a movie of your own! Click the ebook pages—or thumb through manually in the paperback—YOUR CHOICE!

I've written these chapters in a fun, chatty voice—you know, the one YOU use when talking up your favorite topics! Don't be surprised if you find yourself giggling as you turn pages! Enjoy breathtaking photography, incredible facts, and way-out wow'ing surprises that these millennium-old creatures have to share.

AND: TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE! Yep! Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book is my second turtle book—it's a perfect TWIN to my first international bestseller, I'LL FOLLOW THE MOON: buy BOTH TOGETHER for your shelf. Two little twins; one a fable, one fotos, facts & fun.

So, in closing...please accept this deeply personal gift from me, your faithful sea turtle leader, the turtle-lady, or Stephanie Lisa Turtle - as I was renamed recently by a fan—from my heart to yours.

GOD BLESS EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED THE CAUSE TO SAVE SEA TURTLES FROM EXTINCTION!

Cause pages (each supports a book's vision):

Facebook page for Save the Polar Bears | Facebook Page for Save the Green Turtles | Facebook Page for Save the Redwood Forests

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Personal Sites:

Facebook | Amazon | Website

Giveaway:

15 lucky people will win a copy of Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book. You must be 13 or older to enter. Open to US addresses only. Giveaway runs from May 12th to June 12, 2013

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Two lucky reviewers will win a Melissa and Doug Giant Plush Stuffed Sea Turtle that retails at $34.99 and measures 26"L x 8"H x 16"W. You must review Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book on Amazon to enter. This giveaway runs from Mothers Day, May 12th to June 12th, 2013.

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And you can still enter to win a Kindle Fire!

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AND, yes, there's MORE! If you purchase Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book (on Amazon HERE) you can get her fiction book, I'll Follow the Moon for FREE! I have 20 copies sitting right here waiting to get into your hands! So purchase Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book then email me the receipt to candacesbookblog(at)yahoo(dot)com

In my mailbox:
I'm not going to list everything I got, I don't think. But a few that come to mind are:

A Funny Little Bird by Jennifer Yerkes, an ADORABLE children's book.

Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker in audio. I'm listening to this one right now!

Wallbanger by Alice Clayton in audio. I've heard good things!

Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil Robertson and Al Robertson in audio. We love the show!

And the most exciting thing of all~ a Kindle Paperwhite! I have had a Kindle Fire for awhile, but it's very hard on my eyes and it doesn't help my frequent headaches at all. I've read about 60% of a book on the paperwhite so far and I love it!

I have bloglovin' now, follow me!

Saturday Situation~ Link Up Your Reviews and Giveaway's!

2013-05-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday Situation is hosted by both Lori at Pure Imagination and myself. It's a linky for you to link your book related Giveaways and Reviews (and whatever neglected posts you may have). You'll find the same linky's at Pure Imagination, so don't enter them twice! Keep in mind that you can add your links through the entire week. You can find the newest Saturday Situation posts by the tab at the top of my blog labeled Saturday Situation.

Young Adult Review: Darkness of Light by Stacey Marie Brown

2013-05-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

Darkness of Light by Stacey Marie Brown

Paperback and ebook, 298 pages

Published: Feb. 15th, 2013 by Twisted Fairy publishing

Source: Author

DARKNESS OF LIGHT is a Mature YA/New Adult Paranormal Romance

Freak. Witch. Crazy. Schizo.

Ember Brycin has been called them all. She’s always known she’s different. No one has ever called her normal, even under the best circumstances. Bizarre and inexplicable things continually happen to her, and having two different colored eyes, strange hair, and an unusual tattoo only contributes to the gossip about her.

When the latest school explosion lands her in a facility for trouble teens, she meets Eli Dragen, who’s hot as hell and darkly mysterious. Their connection is full of passion, danger, and secrets. Secrets that will not only change her life, but what and who she is—leading her down a path she never imagined possible.

Between Light and Dark, Ember finds a world where truth and knowledge are power and no one can be trusted. But her survival depends on finding out the truth about herself. In her pursuit, she is forced between love and destiny and good and evil, even when the differences between them aren’t always clear. At worst, she will incite a war that could destroy both worlds. At best, she will not only lose her heart but her life and everyone she loves. Once the truth is out, however, there will be no going back. And she’ll definitely wish she could.

Ember, while one who sometimes makes hasty and poor decisions, is a character that will do anything to protect those she loves. She lives in constant confusion as to what is real and what is not as she sees things that shouldn't be there and when angry, does things she shouldn't be able to do. She speaks her mind and struggles to hold her tongue, which often gets her in trouble but doesn't allow people to walk all over her. She has fierce loyalty for her father, who isn't her real father but only married her mother when Ember was younger. Her mother has passed away and Ember's 'father' is very good to her and very devoted to her well-being. Through the story we know that Ember is something 'more' or something 'else' but we don't know what until near the end. I grew a bit impatient waiting but the finale of the book was pretty spectacular, so perhaps the wait was worth it.

While the romance was on the quick side, with an immediate attraction and the two of them being drawn together, I did feel the heat between them and understood Ember's attraction to him. The hot and cold from Eli was often frustrating as it felt like round after round of the same thing. However I found myself overlooking it as I enjoyed his character so much despite being moody and often rude. Ember didn't put up with crap from him which allowed this 'relationship' to go round and round, circling back to their undeniable attraction.

Overall I found myself enjoying the story even while at times I found myself thinking that in normal circumstances I would find certain things quite annoying. What really made things interesting for me is the ending and what I think I'll think of as the beginning because now things will become much more interesting and the focus on the relationship stuff should shift a bit. I expect it to still be present in the next book, but more on the sidelines than such a focus.

I recommend this to fans of YA and NA paranormal romance. This book is recommended for mature YA readers, and may not be appropriate for the younger crowd.

I would rate this one 3.5 stars but am rounding up to 4.

Disclosure: I received this book from the author free of charge in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Review's & Giveaway~ Lovecraft Middle School: Professor Gargoyle & The Slither Sisters

2013-05-16T00:00:00.001-07:00

I'm excited to share with you all a new series that I recently discovered. I am reviewing the first two here and the third will be up in the near future (hopefully). These are really cool books that have the covers that change when you look at them from a different angle. I can't think of what it's called, but it's something that really draws the kids to them! They are packaged very well, which is a big bonus.

Professor Gargoyle by Charles Gilman

Hardcover, 168 pages

Published: September 25th, 2012 by Quirk Books

Ages: 9 and up

Every volume in the Lovecraft Middle School series is fully illustrated and features an original lenticular portrait on the cover. Display them on bookshelves—and then watch the cover characters morph into monsters as you pass by!

Strange things are happening at Lovecraft Middle School. Rats are leaping from lockers. Students are disappearing. The school library is a labyrinth of secret corridors. And the science teacher is acting very, very peculiar. Robert Arthurt knew that seventh grade was going to be weird, but this is ridiculous!

With the help of some unlikely new friends, Robert discovers there's more to Lovecraft Middle School than meets the eye. Can he uncover the secrets of the school before it's too late?

I was a tad resistant to read these books. For some reason I just didn't have an urge to pick them up. I like middle grade books, but this series wasn't calling my name. However, once I picked the book and started reading I found myself immediately drawn into the story.

I really liked Robert and his personality. He was picked on by one boy but he never really dwelled on it much. He just kind of let it go and seemed to be okay with not having a lot of friends. But there are so many weird things that that happen at his new school and rather than freak out about it he starts figuring it out and makes some new friends along the way.

I wasn't exactly sure what was going on. Why these weird things were happening, so as we find out I was just as surprised as Robert. It was fun watching it all unfold. And I kind of want a two headed rat now...

Lovecraft Middle School, other than the freaky things going on, is my dream school! You know, if I still went to school. Or maybe for my kids. But it's brand new and made of recycled materials and it has all this amazing state of the art stuff. And the library is so big you can actually get lost in it! What a dream, right?

Very short and very fun! I highly recommend!

The Slither Sisters (Tales From Lovecraft Middle School #2)

Hardcover, 174 pages

Published: Jan. 15th, 2013 by Quirk Books

Source: Publisher

“Two-headed monsters, giant tentacles, angry demons – Lovecraft Middle School is great creepy fun!”
–Ransom Riggs, author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

This second novel in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series begins right where Professor Gargoyle ended. Seventh-grader Robert Arthur has discovered that two of his classmates are actually sinister snake-women in disguise. Even worse, his new middle school is full of “gates” to a terrifying alternate dimension – a haunted mansion full of strange spirits and monstrous beasts. For Robert to protect his teachers and classmates, he'll need to return to this haunted dimension with his best friends Glenn and Karina. Can they uncover the secrets of Lovecraft Middle School before it's too late?

The Slither Sisters features more bizarre beasts, more strange mysteries, and more adventure. It's perfect for readers ages 10 and up. Best of all, the cover features a state-of-the-art “morphing” photo portrait – so you can personally witness the sisters transforming into their slithering alter egos. You won't believe your eyes!

I'm surprised at how much I'm enjoying these books! They may be quick reads (big bonus) but they are a lot of fun and have some great characters!

Robert is just an average boy. He's not popular but not unpopular. He kind of blends in. But he's one of the few people that knows the truth about what's going on with Lovecraft Middle School and he's determined to stop the evil from creeping in.

In this one he has his two good friends helping him but he also has the help of some teachers, though one of them may not really know it. With the help of these teachers and friends they may actually make a difference! And while Robert doesn't have much confidence in himself he is determined to do the right thing and is very brave when it comes down to it.

It's hard to say much about this since I don't want to spill anything for those who haven't yet read it, but it's a fun read that I found myself thoroughly enjoying!

Disclosure: I received these books for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Thanks to the folks at Quirk books I have THREE books to giveaway! One person will win Professor Gargoyle, The Slither Sisters and Teacher's Pest.
Open to US addresses only.
Must be 13 or older to enter.
Giveaway ends June 3rd.

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New Tour Sign Up: Finding Esta by Shah Wharton ~ September 23rd-27th

2013-05-15T18:00:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to announce the Blog Tour for Finding Esta by Shah Wharton for September 23rd-27th. This is a review only tour and the book is available in ebook formats. There will be a tour wide giveaway available for hosts as well.

Please check out the details below and sign up on the form provided at the bottom. I hope you'll join us for this tour that's sure to be loads of fun!

The Supes Series # 1: Finding Esta by Shah Wharton
Genre & age recommendations: Fantasy New Adult (16 years +)
Page count: Amazon estimates 366 for Kindle
Publication Date: December 2012
Formats Available: epub, mobi and PDF files
Open: Worldwide
Wanted: Reviews
Requirement: Review on your blog, Amazon and GoodReads
Book trailer: http://youtu.be/tfUUr2NjvSk
Find the Book: Amazon | Goodreads
Find the author: Website/Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Goodreads

Description:

Luna yearns for love and acceptance, and for an end to her own chronic isolation. Unable to touch, she settles for the lover’s caress of a stranger who visits her dreams, and her only friends in the world are Shadows – spirits who reside within in her fragile mind, seeking refuge from the Shadow Lands. Always eager to earn parental respect, she attempts to solve a twenty-year-old child abduction case by travelling to Esta’s family home in Cornwall, situated on an abandoned cul-de-sac.Searching for clues to Esta’s tragic fate, she finds much more than she bargained for.

More alone than ever and desperate for answers, Luna struggles to retain a sense of identity, and the light grip on reality she’s been used to. Will she find Esta, and if so, will Luna live to tell Esta’s story?

About the Author:

She reads, reviews, blogs and writes. She's the author of The Supes Series: #1 Finding Esta - A New Adult, Urban Fantasy, and supports authors/writers on her blog, participating in book tours, running features and generally publicising the hard work of other authors. She loves theatre, stories, storytelling and spending too much time in her imagination. She lives with her husband and German Shepherd - Bobby - in Dubai. For a full bio & book details visit her author blog.

If interested, please fill out the form below. Filling out the form does not guarantee you a spot on the tour, but I will check out everyone and see whose blogs fit the best. Hit tab to get to the bottom of the form.

To find other tours and review opps, find the list HERE.

Confident Reads: Interview with Author Kate Flynn & Give@way

2013-05-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Confident Reads is a feature I have here ~~each week~~ once in awhile and is a way to open communication between readers and Indie authors. This is to help readers feel confident in the books they spend their money on, and for authors to feel confident in the book they publish.

Today I have Kate Flynn on the blog to talk about her publishing journey and her book, Marked.

When, and how, did you come to being an indie/self-published author?

Self-publishing was a decision I went back and forth on because of the fear of putting myself out there alone was great. Finally, I decided to go after my dream instead of letting life pass me over. I started with Amazon’s self-publishing platform and then Smashwords and I haven’t looked back since the leap.

Did you attempt to publish traditionally? What were your experiences?

I attempted to publish my first book traditionally and it didn’t make it through. The experience of trying to break into the traditional publishing was like trying to escape out of a heavily secured prison. All of the aspiring writers were crammed together, clamoring to escape. One guard, a traditional, held the keys to freedom, to the readers waiting outside of the wall. Each rejection was the guard shaking his head at me, jingling the keys in front of me.

If you were offered a deal with a traditional publisher, would you take it?

Yes, I would love to be able to experience the traditional path too.

What is the best part of being indie/self-published, for you?

The best part is the feeling of being able to follow my dream and connect with the readers.

The indie/self-published scene is constantly changing. Even quite a few traditionally published authors have ventured into the world of self-publishing. What do you predict for the future? How do you think the indie scene is changing and where do you think it will go?

I think the indie scene will become bigger and in more demand. Like a generation that grew up with traditional authors, there will be a generation that grows up with indie authors being the norm.

As an indie/self-published author, what has been your biggest obstacle?

My biggest obstacle has been promoting myself. I am a very shy person and I have a hard time with not feeling like an ego manic with trying to promote myself.

In the world of indie/self-published not everyone goes about things the same way. Many make mistakes (and hopefully learn from them). What are the biggest mistakes that you think authors are making and how do you suggest they improve?

*Laughs* I’m not sure. As a new indie author I am still learning the ropes. What is considered a mistake in the indie world. Everyone is doing what they can in the best way they know how and possibly the only way they can.

How do you approach reviewers? And what has worked best when doing so?

I’ve emailed and tried to connect through social media. I broke through to a couple and succeeded. What has worked best for me is getting to know reviewers in social media and then studying their guidelines for reviews before asking them.

When it comes to sales, what do you think has worked the best for you and had the biggest impact?

My biggest impact in sales is when I involve my book in some sort of promotion such as giveaways

and sales.

If someone tells you they are thinking of publishing a novel themselves and they would like some advice on where to get started or some tips for success, what advice would you go?

Reviews, reviews, reviews. You can work and promote yourself tirelessly, but it’s the reviews that help. As an unknown indie author, readers don’t know you or know if they should take a chance on you. The good and even bad reviews (bad can be good, let’s a reader know someone honestly read the book) will help a reader make a decision.

We all know covers are important; can you tell us about your cover story?

I love to see covers with images of people rather than landscapes. I searched the stock pictures and came across the image that was spot on of my character, Bayerly, matching her in my head. Between her smug grin and alluring eyes I was captivated.

Can you list 5-10 indie/self published titles that you recommend? Please include genre as well.

I honestly right now do not have a list. Before you shake my shoulders and scream at the injustice *laughs* I didn’t know about the indie authors until the Amanda Hocking story broke open. I had read her novels before she became big and didn’t even know she was an indie author! So looking back through my nook books I tried to sort the indie authors from the traditional authors and got all confused. I couldn’t figure out if one was indie before turning traditional or vice versa. Now that I know about all of this and am involved in the process myself, I’m starting over and paying attention. I can tell you what indie books I have in my hot little hands ready to be read.

Soul Meaning - A.D. Starrling - paranormal thriller

Cursed - Tara Brown - paranormal fantasy

Jenny Pox - JL Bryan - paranormal

Stained - Ella James - ya paranormal romance

Arrow of the Mist - Christina Mercer - ya fantasy

It’s your turn! Ask my readers one question that you are dying to know the answer for.

I’m always looking for tips on how to connect and find more readers.

Authors - what has worked best for you connecting with readers?

Readers - what draws you to an author creating a loyal fan in you?

Author Bio - Kate Flynn is a young adult author. She resides in Illinois with her mustang fanatic husband and two children. In between writing she can be found with her nose in books or singing the latest Fresh Beat song with her kids.

About Marked:

Bayerly Easton has secrets, one her mentor died for to protect her. She leads a

controlled life in order to survive. On a whim Bayerly decides to go to the Underground Club in New York, she didn't expect to run into teen Nightwatchers tracking a wayward vampire. This is the closest Bayerly's been to Nightwatchers, warriors tasked with protecting normies from line crossing supernaturals. She meets their leader, hot, caramel haired Will. She is pushed over the edge into Will's world sparking a match to her carefully constructed control when she almost died after an attack by a Gasher. How did she survive the poisonous attack that would have killed the most harden supernatural? Why is she, a normie, being targeted? The Nightwatchers would like to know. Secrets have a way of coming out, Bayerly would like to know if she is going to survive...

One lucky commenter who answers Kate's question will be entered to win an ebook copy of Marked or one of the books she recommended (equal value only). Open Internationally. Must be 13 or older to enter.

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Blog Tour: The Hero's Guide to Storming Your Castle; Character Spotlight, Review & Give@way!

2013-05-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited to be a part of this fantastic blog tour! Check out the other stops on the tour HERE.

5. Ella

Occupation: Hero-in-training

Known Allies: The League of Princes, Princess Lila of Erinthia

Kingdom of Origin: Harmonia

Current Residence: The Royal Palace of Harmonia

Parents: Esmeralda, stepmother (biological parents deceased, names unknown)

Longtime Foe: Boredom

Likes: Action, adventure, mystery
Dislikes: Staying indoors, bullies, the same old routine

Signature Move: The Fake-Out Cape Yank

Quote: “What do you want to do today? Hunt a dragon, walk a tightrope, storm a castle? I’m up for anything.”

Little Known Fact: Almost never made it to the royal ball on account of having been startled by the sudden appearance of her fairy godmother—and thereby greeting said fairy with an uppercut to the jaw.

The Hero's Guide to Storming the Castle (The League of Princes #2) by Christopher Healy

Hardcover, 479 pages

Published: April 30th, 2013 by Walden Pond Press

Source: Publisher

Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You remember them, don't you? They're the Princes Charming who finally got some credit after they stepped out of the shadows of their princesses - Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow White, and Briar Rose - to defeat an evil witch bent on destroying all their kingdoms.

But alas, such fame and recognition only last so long. And when the princes discover that an object of great power might fall into any number of wrong hands, they are going to have to once again band together to stop it from happening - even if no one will ever know it was they who did it.

Christopher Healy, author of the acclaimed The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, takes us back to the hilariously fractured fairy-tale world he created for another tale of medieval mischief. Magical gemstones, bladejaw eels, a mysterious Gray Phantom, and two maniacal warlords bent on world domination - it's all in a day's work for the League of Princes.

I am just loving this series! I read the first one aloud to my kids and we had a lot of fun with it. Lots of giggling! This second one I read to myself because I wanted to see if I enjoyed it any differently and just because it was so long and I wanted to get it read quickly. We will definitely read it aloud in the future though. And I have to say that teachers should definitely consider reading this to your class (maybe 2nd and 3rd graders?) though it might take you awhile because those kids will interrupt with all their giggling.

This bumbling mess of Princes are just hilarious! They just can't seem to do anything right, no matter how hard they try to be the hero's they are determined to be. Luckily the Princess's are there to save the day, at least much of the time.

I found this book to be at least nearly as enjoyable as the first book. I can't really compare them since I read the first aloud so I think I absorbed it a little differently. This one was certainly fun though and kept a smile on my face the entire time. It's a bit silly and at times ridiculous, but that's what I loved about it! It's one that keeps the adults entertained as well as the children. I can SO see this one as a movie, it would be just as funny, or funnier, than Tangled. I think it would be great and I'm hoping this happens, soon!

I definitely recommend this series!

Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle Giveaway put together by Walden Pond Press.

All readers of this blog have exclusive access to a special giveaway for THE HERO’S GUIDE TO STORMING THE CASTLE. You will need this SECRET CODE to enter: PRINCE CHARMING. Click here to enter.

WHAT YOU WIN: If you are one of the first three people to enter the giveaway TODAY, you will receive a signed copy of The Hero’s Guide to Storming the Castle. EVERYONE who enters the giveaway from 5/6 to 5/26 is eligible to win a $200 gift card to the bookstore of his or her choice.

Other Storming the Castle Activities:

Twitter Chat: Join New York Times Bestselling author Marissa Meyer and Christopher Healy for a Twitter Chat on fractured fairy tales on Monday, June 3rd at 9pm ET. Hashtag #talesretold. There will be giveaways!

Young Adult Review: Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland

2013-05-13T00:00:00.001-07:00

Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland

Hardcover, 304 pages

Published: May 7th, 2013 by Disney Hyperion

Source: ALAMW

Find the author:

Website | Twitter

For Cricket Thompson, a summer like this one will change everything. A summer spent on Nantucket with her best friend, Jules Clayton, and the indomitable Clayton family. A summer when she’ll make the almost unattainable Jay Logan hers. A summer to surpass all dreams.

Some of this turns out to be true. Some of it doesn’t.

When Jules and her family suffer a devastating tragedy that forces the girls apart, Jules becomes a stranger whom Cricket wonders whether she ever really knew. And instead of lying on the beach working on her caramel-colored tan, Cricket is making beds and cleaning bathrooms to support herself in paradise for the summer.

But it’s the things Cricket hadn’t counted on--most of all, falling hard for someone who should be completely off-limits--that turn her dreams into an exhilarating, bittersweet reality.

A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue.

I picked this one up because I was desperate for a summery read. I was aware that it's not a light fun read, but it's still set in Nantucket in the summer and has a summer romance. It deals with some heavier things like grief and friendship and some family issues as well. A lot of it is Cricket kind of finding her way.

Cricket has always spent a lot of time at her best friend Jules house, and it's become her 'comfort zone' sort of. And when tragedy strikes Jules family, it strikes Cricket too. But instead of being pulled in to grieve with the family, she's pushed out and for the first time she's on her own. Her plans for Nantucket have been canceled but she's not giving up and decides to make it on her own. She lines up a job and heads out there herself. While some of this may have been done in naivety, she really thought that things would be fine, I think she did the right thing. She took things into her own hands and made things work. And while it wasn't exactly what she had planned, she doesn't give up and head home to mope, she just trudges onward even while things are falling apart.

I loved Cricket. She was kind and good and lovable. She's the sort of girl I want to be my friend. While she's still in the stages of just dreaming about boys and what she thinks of them in her head, through the summer she finds out much more about boys and what real love really is.

I adored the romance! I saw it coming way before it ever happened, but I loved it. There's no insta love or a love triangle. This could have easily been a triangle, but instead avoided that drama. And thank goodness! I was worried for a moment, but it really was only a moment. There's was no lengthy hard decisions for her to make. She knew her heart and she went with it. Not that she didn't make mistakes, but luckily for the most part everything was drama free regarding the romance. It was very nearly perfect. The only thing I'd change is having a few more special 'moments' between them. Really though, that's not much of a complaint cause I really did adore them.

I cried, I laughed and I cried some more. This book managed to bring out the emotion for me. I needed it though. It was the right book at the right time. I felt anger at her friend for not being a true friend and I wanted to slap her silly. I felt sadness at what Cricket had to go through alone and I felt that little spark of happiness in my gut when things went good for Cricket, when she found her way on her own without any help. When she started to realize her feelings for this one particular guy and when things started to work out for them as they discovered their love.

I loved this book, it was almost perfect for me. And I think I would give it 4.5 stars. It's just not quite a 5 star read for me, but it's so close! I have debated this and I have decided 4 stars will be my overall rating just because I feel like it could have had a tiny bit more to elevate it to even better!

Disclosure: I received this book at ALA. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Children's Book Week Give@way H0p: Enter to w!n 3 books!

2013-05-12T21:00:00.000-07:00

Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop

May 13th – 19th

Hosted by

KidLitFrenzy, Mymcbooks

& I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

What is Children’s Book Week?

Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast!

For more information please visit: http://www.bookweekonline.com/

I am giving away one children's book (Snowy White World to Save by Stephanie Lisa Tara), one middle grade book (Eliza's Forever Trees by Stephanie Lisa Tara) and one young adult book (Rotten by Michael Northrup). There will be one winner who gets all three.

A mother polar bear and her cubs search for food as the sea ice melts. Includes a kid-friendly resource guide so readers can educate themselves to become global citizens.

Where has mother gone? Mothers don’t leave. Mothers stay, forever. Mothers are like redwood trees, those special forever trees that grow hundreds of feet high and live for thousands of years. Mothers read storybooks aloud. They know the power of a story. Power that can even make the wrong-beats of a child’s heart go away.

Maybe the monarch butterfly was right? Perhaps they should make the journey. The one that was too long, and too far, for a girl with a wrong-beating heart. Yet there was someone in the redwood forest that Eliza just knew could help. Not just any someone. Another mother. The first mother. The one, Eliza’s own mother had spoken of. Great Mother Redwood. The very first, the oldest and wisest redwood tree of them all. She, who started the forest thousands of years ago, might know where mother had gone. It seemed impossible. To find one who had never been seen, one who had only been spoken of? Yet. Mothers dont leave. They are like redwood trees. They stay, forever.

Eliza decided she must try. She would put one foot in front of the other, slowly. She would take small steps. She knew the butterfly would be patient alongside her. Down the path. To the forever trees.

To find Great Mother Redwood.

A troubled teen. A rescued Rottweiler. An unlikely friendship.

Jimmer "JD" Dobbs is back in town after spending the summer "upstate." No one believes his story about visiting his aunt, and it's pretty clear that he has something to hide. It's also pretty clear that his mom made a new friend while he was away---a rescued Rottweiler that JD immediately renames Johnny Rotten (yes, after that guy in the Sex Pistols). Both tough but damaged, JD and Johnny slowly learn to trust each other, but their newfound bond is threatened by a treacherous friend and one snap of Johnny's powerful jaws. As the secrets JD has tried so hard to keep under wraps start to unravel, he suddenly has something much bigger to worry about: saving his dog.

One person will win all three books. US addresses only. Must be 13 or older to enter. Ends May 19th, 2013.

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Also, don't forget you can enter to win one of 15 copies of Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book!

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Children's Review & Activities: Oh, the Things My Mom Will Do by Marianne Richmond

2013-05-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day everyone! I'm excited to be part of the Mother's Day tour for Oh, the Things My Mom Will Do by Marianne Richmond. This is a book that mother's and children will both enjoy!

Oh, the Things My Mom Will Do... by Marianne Richmond

Hardcover, 32 pages

Published: April 2nd, 2013 by Sourcebooks

Source: Publisher

What a child sees as everyday routine is anything but for a mom! Oh, the Things My Mom Will Do is a celebration of the unpredictable adventure that is motherhood with its sometimes silly, always heartfelt, and wonderfully important moments--all rooted in love. This sweet and amusing book will have book moms and kids smiling with recognition while spotlighting all the different ways a mom shows her devotion.

This book is about all the things a mom will do for her child. The things she will put up with, the lengths she will go to make them happy, the embarrassment she has to suffer through. Any mom will connect with this book.

My children, 4 and 8 liked it as well. I don't think kids always think about the things their mother goes through for them. And I know this made my kids think and it brought about some good discussions. So often the kids forget some of these things. For example, my daughter takes horse riding lessons and so every other week I bring her and then I have to wait an hour and a half. I have to keep my 4 year old entertained in this time and there's no bathrooms (there's outhouses, but no thanks) and it can get long. Not to mention that it costs a lot of money. But I want to do it for her because I love her, I think it's a good thing to learn, I think it's good company to keep, etc. And reading this book I was able to remind her that it's not fun for me or for her brother, but we do it anyway.

I can't not mention the illustrations in the book. They are lovely and eye catching and to me they felt Spring-like and perfect for the Mother's Day. I would even say this is a good one to get moms for Mother's Day and plan to get my own mom a copy because I'm pretty sure she would cherish it.

Disclosure: I received this book for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

I have some fun activities for you now!

I hope that these are all in order. I wasn't able to use the file so I was lucky enough that a friend could provide me screen shots to use. Thanks Heidi at Rainy Day Ramblings!

I really love both of these activities and am planning to do them both with my kids this weekend. I think that it's a good idea for a grandparent as well and with the journal I'm going to have my daughter draw some pictures inside to send along. I think grandma will love both things!

Here's a spread of a page from the book for an example of what you'll see inside!

Saturday Situation~ Link Up Your Reviews & Give@way's!

2013-05-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

Young Adult Review: Invisibility by David Levithan & Andrea Cremer

2013-05-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

Invisibility by David Levithan and Andrea Cremer

Hardcover, 358 pages

Published: May 7, 2013 by Philomel

Source: ALAMW

Stephen has been invisible for practically his whole life — because of a curse his grandfather, a powerful cursecaster, bestowed on Stephen’s mother before Stephen was born. So when Elizabeth moves to Stephen’s NYC apartment building from Minnesota, no one is more surprised than he is that she can see him. A budding romance ensues, and when Stephen confides in Elizabeth about his predicament, the two of them decide to dive headfirst into the secret world of cursecasters and spellseekers to figure out a way to break the curse. But things don’t go as planned, especially when Stephen’s grandfather arrives in town, taking his anger out on everyone he sees. In the end, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how big of a sacrifice they’re willing to make for Stephen to become visible — because the answer could mean the difference between life and death. At least for Elizabeth.

I'm a huge David Levithan fan, so this was a must read for me. I was very excited to give it a shot and was curious how he and Andrea Cremer would pull this book off. In the end, while I did enjoy the book, it felt a bit flat for me and hopefully my review can explain that for you all.

Stephen was a character that I liked pretty well. He'd spent his whole life invisible so he never had any friends or anyone to spend time with other than his mom who died awhile back. Because of this I felt very bad for him and was excited that Elizabeth could see him. I felt like their interaction was, well.... I wouldn't say I disliked it, but it felt flat to me. David is known for having characters that really *spark* and have a lot of life to them. They always say witty funny things and keep me entertained. Stephen just didn't quite have that spark to him, but I did still like him, he just could have been more. I could say the same thing with Elizabeth. She was interesting enough, but could have had a bit more OOMPH to her. I will say that they both are good about putting others first and protecting their friends and family. I also enjoyed Elizabeth's interaction with her brother and Stephen with his father.

The one who DID have that *spark* was Laurie, Elizabeth's brother. He was often the voice of reason for them but he also often cut in with something humorous to throw in and kept things a bit more interesting. I really enjoyed his character a lot and hope that he got his own happy ending.

The romance was okay. I felt like the 'I love you's' came way too soon. I wasn't yet feeling a vibe and a strong connection between them and in all honesty I never really did. I felt like we were told that they loved each other but never shown that true connection. However, I think that they made a good couple. I think that they probably had that special spark I just wasn't given enough to feel it myself. I think they compliment each other well and that they each are what the other needs.

The paranormal aspect of the book surprised me. Yes, Stephen is invisible and there has to be a reason for it, but I still had it in my head that it would feel more contemporary. But once the paranormal came into play it was easier to accept Stephen's little 'issue' to really understand why he was invisible. I think it worked well to make everything believable. Or to explain a lot of things.

The ending is something I'm unsure about how I feel. I understand that not everything is happily ever after for everyone, and that's just real life. And it's not that it's a bad ending, but it has a lot of 'accept your situation' kind of stuff going on. While some things are solved, not everything is. That's all I'm going to say.

By what I recall this book was pretty clean. I recommend this one to fans of the authors, but go in knowing this is something different for both of them. Try to keep your expectations reasonable and it's possible you'll be quite entertained by the story.

Disclosure: I received this book for free at ALAMW, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Young Adult Review: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

2013-05-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Eternity Cure (Blood of Eden #2) by Julie Kagawa

Hardcover, 446 pages

Published: April 30th, 2013 by Harlequin Teen

Source: NetGalley

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

This is a spoiler free review for the series.

Julie has created a very gritty and scary world and if you thought it was terrifying in the first book, you'll find this one is even more so. It's a dark world where only the toughest and bravest can survive and as many of you know, Allie is plenty brave and strong. I found her stepping up to harder and scarier tasks in this one and while my memory of the first has faded, I do feel she's grown stronger as a character.

In the first book we got a little romance and I'm not sure I completely 'felt' it between the two and I felt he was kind of a weak character. When he shows up in this book we immediately see he's a different person. He's much stronger and just more present on the page. He no longer blends in. And I'm definitely on board with him now.

We get some favorites revisiting in this book, one of which was a bad guy in the first book. In this one we see him from a little different angle, and while he may not be good exactly, he's not really the same guy as in the first. Though I will say that he did a very good job stealing the show because of his sarcasm and humorous comments. He seemed to lighten up what is a dark book and added the humor we really needed. I also loved when her sire, Kanin, was back on the page. He is by far my favorite character and I loved getting to know him better. I only hope that he's even more present in the next book.

While this is a long book I never really got bored with it. I know there were slower parts but I found myself entertained and not at all tired of it. There was always this need to know what comes next because they are constantly after something or someone, and it was life or death, all the time. So it was go-go-go, yet when they have a long journey it's hard to express that urgency. Luckily in the beginning portion we get through the long journey quickly and the rest of the book takes place in the city.

This is a series that's definitely for mature readers. It may be labeled as young adult but if it wasn't I would have guessed it to be adult. Allie may be young, but the world she lives in is dark, scary and very bloody.

The ending of this book through me for a loop. There was a bit of a shocker that brought out lots of anger and frustration and maybe some crying. I'm not sure we can really call it a cliffhanger, but it's plenty close to being one! I definitely recommend this series, it's absolutely fabulous!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review purposes, all opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

HOSTS NEEDED: Mother Sea Turtles Month~ Premade Post

2013-05-08T17:55:00.000-07:00

I'm looking for hosts! I need bloggers to post the below post on May 12th or after. Bonus GIVEAWAY: If you post this on your blog you will be entered to win the same sea turtle plush seen below OR an Amazon gift card of the same value (around $35). We want to spread the word about this wonderful book, and what better way to celebrate sea turtles than Mothers Day?!

What you do: Email me at candacesbookblog(at)yahoo(dot) com telling me you want to post and I'll send you the code that you can simply paste right into a new post! It's easy peasy and only takes a minute! Then you schedule it to post on Mother's Day, May 12th, or within a week or two after. (The giveaway's end June 12th, so at least a week before that date at the very latest!)
In addition, if you are interested in reviewing Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book please let me know. I have copies available for review (it's REQUIRED to review on Amazon!).

Thanks so much, I look forward to hearing from you!

Dear Turtle Activists,

I want to thank each and every one of you for your tireless dedication and love to our cause! I have written this book FOR YOU! I dedicate this book TO YOU! 120 pages of fotos, facts and fun!

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book has a primary goal: SAVING SEA TURTLES FROM EXTINCTION. A portion of proceeds from this book go to charitable organizations like the Turtle Foundation (www.turtle-foundation.org) of whom my first turtle book, I'LL FOLLOW THE MOON—is a proud sponsor.

If you are new to us—please join with us, for together, holding hands, we can effect change. Yes—really! xoxo. SAVE GREEN SEA TURTLES on Facebook (www.facebook.com/.../Save-Green-Sea-T...) is our hugely popular hang-out—tens of thousands of Activists-strong. Please join us!

NOW—prepare for something totally new and amazing!

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book is not your typical scientific turtle book: my special book is all about having FUN! Enjoy the mini FLIP-BOOK in the corners and create a movie of your own! Click the ebook pages—or thumb through manually in the paperback—YOUR CHOICE!

I've written these chapters in a fun, chatty voice—you know, the one YOU use when talking up your favorite topics! Don't be surprised if you find yourself giggling as you turn pages! Enjoy breathtaking photography, incredible facts, and way-out wow'ing surprises that these millennium-old creatures have to share.

AND: TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE! Yep! Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book is my second turtle book—it's a perfect TWIN to my first international bestseller, I'LL FOLLOW THE MOON: buy BOTH TOGETHER for your shelf. Two little twins; one a fable, one fotos, facts & fun.

So, in closing...please accept this deeply personal gift from me, your faithful sea turtle leader, the turtle-lady, or Stephanie Lisa Turtle - as I was renamed recently by a fan—from my heart to yours.

GOD BLESS EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED THE CAUSE TO SAVE SEA TURTLES FROM EXTINCTION!

I've always believed that magic hides in special places. As a child, people would often stare at my bright red hair, which was very, very bright indeed.
Unfortunately, I developed a bad habit of making up rhymes about all of them, and they soon became funny characters. I didn't have much time to think about being different; fanciful lyricisms danced in my head, and no one was safe!
Since then, I've come to believe that storytelling has the power to inspire a deep love of language and learning. Words tripping off the tongue in somersaults that stick to your thoughts like taffy-- those are the things that stay forever in the mind.
I've lived in many special places: on a farm, in a city skyscraper, on a tropical beach, and in the beautiful country of France. Now I live in northern California, between the redwood forests and the sea. Even though I'm an adult, I'm still as silly as ever.
Many nice words have been used to describe my books, such as fun, engaging, delightful, and whimsical. Some folks say that I deliver timeless messages of love for kids and parents to share again and again; this makes me very happy. I hope that you'll enjoy my stories, too. Captivating children with language is something that I believe in, and I strive to live my life with this always.
--Stephanie Lisa Tara
www.StephanieLisaTara.com
stephanielisatarabooks@gmail.com

Cause pages (each supports a book's vision):

Facebook page for Save the Polar Bears | Facebook Page for Save the Green Turtles | Facebook Page for Save the Redwood Forests

Stephanie Lisa Tara's Personal Sites:

Facebook | Amazon | Website

Giveaway:

15 lucky people will win a copy of Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book. You must be 13 or older to enter. Open to US addresses only. Giveaway runs from May 12th to June 12, 2013

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Two lucky reviewers will win a Melissa and Doug Giant Plush Stuffed Sea Turtle that retails at $34.99 and measures 26"L x 8"H x 16"W. You must review Stephanie Lisa Tara's Turtle Book on Amazon to enter. This giveaway runs from Mothers Day, May 12th to June 12th, 2013.

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And you can still enter to win a Kindle Fire!

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Blog Tour: Interview with Emily from The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross & Give@way!

2013-05-08T00:00:00.001-07:00

I'm excited to be a part of the blog tour for The Girl With the Iron Touch by Kady Cross hosted by Kismet Book Touring. I really love this series and you'll find my review of the book a little later in the month.

Today I'm excited to have the chance to interview Emily who plays a major role In the Girl With the Iron Touch.

Hi Emily, it's so great to meet you and have you on today! You all have been so busy saving the world and time and time again, you never really get much down time with Sam. If you and Sam could finally have a chance to spend some quiet time together where would you two like to go on a real date?

Thank you for having me! Oh, a real date would be fun. A blanket and a picnic basket. A sunny afternoon. Reading to Sam while he rests his head on my leg. I suppose that sounds rather boring, doesn’t it?

You are a genius Emily, we all know that; we also know that you are always clamoring to learn more. If you could study with any of our universes greatest minds in any time in history, who would you choose to study with, and why?

Oh! I like this question! DiVinci, of course. I would like to spend more time with Mr. Tesla. Oh, and that Hawking bloke you have in your time would be fascinating to talk to. Why? Why not! So many brilliant minds all across the centuries. I really don’t know where to begin.

What is something about yourself that no one knows about you?

If I told you then everyone would know it. Kind of defeats the purpose of keeping it all to myself, doesn’t it? Alright, Finley just jabbed me in the ribs. Fine, very few people know I was born with a twin, but she died.

Finley just told me that was a horrible thing to tell you, and that I should tell you something not so morbid.

How about this – I would like to have a pet pig.

If you could travel to any time period and place, where would you choose to go and why?

Just one? Faith and begorrah, you know how to ask a difficult question. I would like very much to travel to the 21st century so I could examine this ‘Beiber Fever’ I’ve heard about. It sounds nasty and very contagious. I would like to help people find an antidote.

Thanks so much Em, it was great having you on!

Thank you!

About The Girl With the Iron Touch
Pre-order your copy today: Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons—or forfeit her friends' lives.

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke's sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him...and for Griffin.

Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel's desolate alleyways to Mayfair's elegant mansions. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine.

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist's ultimate creation—an automaton more human than machine. And if she's to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn't know she has....

About The Girl in the Steel Corset (#1) - Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Indiebound

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the

“thing” inside her.
When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….
Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she’s special, says she’s one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.
Griffin’s investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.
But The Machinist wants to tear Griff’s little company of strays apart, and it isn’t long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she’s on—even if it seems no one believes her.

About The Girl in the Clockwork Collar (#2) - Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, Indiebound

What happens when someone you love becomes a weapon to use against you…
In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling — or dangerous.
Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her “straynge band of mysfits” have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade—the dangerous device Jasper stole from him…for the life of the girl Jasper loves.
One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei’s neck tightens. And tightens.
From the rough streets of lower Manhattan to elegant Fifth Avenue, the motley crew of teens with supernatural abilities is on Jasper’s elusive trail. And they’re about to discover how far they’ll go for friendship.
More than ever, Finley Jayne will rely on powerful English duke Griffin King to balance her dark magic with her good side. Yet Griffin is at war with himself over his secret attraction to Finley…and will risk his life and reputation to save her. Sam, more machine than man, finds his moody heart tested by Irish lass Emily—whose own special abilities are no match for the darkness she discovers on the streets.
Now, to help those she’s come to care for so deeply, Finley Jayne must infiltrate a criminal gang. Only problem is, she might like the dark side a little too much….

About Kady Cross - website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads
In her other life, Kady Cross is a USA TODAY bestselling author of more than twenty books. She is lucky enough to have a husband who shares her love for the slightly twisted and all things geek, and a houseful of cats with whom she shares her darkest secrets. When she’s not listening to the characters in her head, she’s either trying to formulate the perfect lip gloss or teaching herself to solder. She has a weakness for all things girlie, sugar skulls and boots. Her love of books and makeup borders on addiction—of which she never, ever wants to be cured.

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Tour Schedule:
Monday, May 6th - Harlequin Paranormal Blog & Reading Teen
Wednesday, May 8th - Candace Book Blog
Friday, May 10th - Rainy Day Ramblings
Monday, May 13th - Two Chicks on Books
Wednesday, May 15th - YA Bibliophile
Friday, May 17th - Fiktsun

You can find the tour page HERE.

Adult Review & Author Interview: Generation V & Give@way of 10 copies!

2013-05-07T00:00:00.001-07:00

Today I'm really excited because I have M.L. Brennan on the blog for an interview! I also have a review of Generation V at the bottom of this post. And some fantastic news folks, there's a giveaway of TEN copies, yes folks, that's 10 copies up for giveaway!

Let's welcome M.L. Brennan to the blog!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today!

Thanks so much for having me!

Generation V was a book that really surprised me, I hadn't heard much about it before I got it so it wasn't one I was pining for or anything, but the second I started reading I was completely pulled into Fort's life and loved his voice! I found it to be very authentically male, but you're a female, was pulling off the male voice at all difficult for you? Did you have any tricks for getting it 'authentically' male?

Oh, I like this question a lot. The short answer is “no,” but now I’m going to lay a long answer on you.

Literary gender-swapping is actually something I do a lot of, and really did a lot since I started writing seriously in college. There’s always a bit of controversy about this – there are people who will argue that men can’t write women realistically, for example – but I think that it’s actually a really good exercise for any writer, because what you ultimately realize is that gender is just another piece in constructing a character. There’s always the question of experience when people argue about this – that women can’t write men because they’ll never truly experience what it is to actually function in that skin. But you can make that argument about a lot of things – age, level of affluence, and race all spring immediately to mind. I’d hate to be limited to only my own experience when it came to crafting characters.

Fort is a guy, which is something that I’ll never experience. But I’m also not a vampire. And I’ve never had a relationship end because someone cheated on me. And the thought of actually being a film major makes me shudder. Constructing all of those things together, though, helped me figure out who Fort was, and what he would sound like. And once I figured out what his voice would be, the rest fell into place.

Funnily enough, there was a character who I had such a problem writing that I just rewrote a scene to avoid it – but that character was female. (you’ll meet her in the next book, and writing her just never got any easier)

In terms of tricks… it helps to remember that at our core, we fundamentally operate off of emotion and need. Once you figure out how the character feels and what he needs, it helps a lot. It also helps to have a good editor – it didn’t happen a lot, but there were at least two separate instances where my editor sent me a note that was basically “Can you butch Fort up a little here?” and I though, oh, okay, I guess this incident won’t *actually* drive him to tears. But I think that both of those instances could have applied equally to a female protagonist.

The vampire 'world' you created was very unique. I haven't read as many vampire stories in the past year or so but I feel like I've read my share of them in the past and finding a real unique spin is kind of hard, it seems like it's all 'been done' yet you came up with something new. How did the ideas for the vampire 'workings' come to you? I mean, the whole breeding thing is seriously gross and creepy, but yet so fascinating...

Thanks, I was definitely aiming for new! My personal take on vampire workings really originated from a

need for my vampires to make sense to me on a biological level. A creature that is physiologically frozen in time from the moment they are changed, won’t ever die, and only have to do a small blood donation to make more of themselves? That sounds like a population disaster that would leave the entire planet in the equivalent state of Guam and its snakes.

So I rethought vampires in two directions – first, as apex predators. Watch any animal documentary and you notice that for the three-hundred mule deer running in terror, there are only about five wolves. So there needed to be similar biological differences between humans and vampires as to mule deer and wolves to get that kind of disparity naturally.

Secondly, I thought about vampires as parasites. This led directly to the breeding, since my source of inspiration on that one was the tick. And anything that is based on a tick is going to be creepy and gross, but it sure was fun to dream up and then put into action.

In Generation V Fort starts learning more about the supernatural around him and starts acknowledging the fact that he really knows very little about all the 'creatures' in his world. We meet a few in Generation V, do we continue to meet more in the next book? Any hints on what we might get to see?

The next book will definitely involve Fort becoming much more involved in the supernatural parts of his world, which is also going to make his ties to humans become more problematic and dangerous.

As for hints… I can confirm straight out that the kitsune will definitely be back, but beyond that… hmm… well, let’s just say that when I was planning this book, one of my primary resources was Carol Rose’s marvelous Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins: An Encyclopedia.

There's not really much for romance in Generation V, but there's a bit of chemistry there and I think anyone who reads it chants in their head "kiss, kiss, kiss..." so is there any kissing in the next book? Please say yes!

Yes, but something that I’ve always loved in fiction is when the romance is a slowly boiling pot. Think about any movie version of Pride and Prejudice – by the end you are screaming for Elizabeth Bennet to just grab Darcy and lay one on him. But if that had happened an hour earlier, it wouldn’t be as great when it finally happens. (I’m thinking here of the great recent web series The Lizzie Bennet Diaries – it took something like 98 web videos and several months to actually see the two characters kiss. And it was totally worth the wait.)

I don’t make the reader wait that long. There is kissing in the second book. But I will not confirm the participants of said kissing.

Now I'm really excited for the next book! Can you give us an estimate on the release date of it, do we have to wait a whole year? And do you know yet how many books will be in the series?

Fantastic news on that front! The second Fortitude Scott book, Iron Night, will be published in January 2014!

So far I’ve been contracted for three books, but I definitely have ideas for more.

Do you have any other works in progress that are different from this series?

I have a few ideas I’m playing with right now, but right now the only thing very seriously on my worktable is the third Fortitude Scott book, which I’m writing right now.

And last question, what is your most recommended book at this very moment?

Oh, that’s a really tough one, because I feel like I should be recommending something that isn’t getting a lot of attention… but I just can’t help myself – Anne Bishop’s Written In Red is mind-blowingly good, and I’ve already re-read it a few times.

But after Written In Red, people should absolutely check out Cassie Alexander’s Nightshifted, which has a fantastic heroine, an insanely active plot, and also answers the fabulous question of – if you have multiple species hiding in plain sight from humans, what the hell happens when one of them needs to go to the hospital? Great stuff.

Thanks again for coming on today!

Thank you so much for having me, and this was so much fun!

Be sure to find M.L. Brennan on her Website | Twitter

Thanks to the publisher, Ace/Roc/Penguin, I have ten copies for giveaway!

Open to US only.

Must be 16 or older to enter.

Ends May 21st.

Fill out the rafflecopter to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Generation V (American Vampire #1) by M.L. Brennan

Paperback, 320 pages

Published: May 7th, 2013 by Roc

Source: Publisher

Reality Bites

Fortitude Scott’s life is a mess. A degree in film theory has left him with zero marketable skills, his job revolves around pouring coffee, his roommate hasn’t paid rent in four months, and he’s also a vampire. Well, sort of. He’s still mostly human.

But when a new vampire comes into his family’s territory and young girls start going missing, Fort can’t ignore his heritage anymore. His mother and his older, stronger siblings think he’s crazy for wanting to get involved. So it’s up to Fort to take action, with the assistance of Suzume Hollis, a dangerous and sexy shape-shifter. Fort is determined to find a way to outsmart the deadly vamp, even if he isn’t quite sure how.

But without having matured into full vampirehood and with Suzume ready to split if things get too risky, Fort’s rescue mission might just kill him.…

After suffering a reading slump for a good long week and setting aside book after book I wasn't sure what I would think picking up Generation V. Sometimes urban fantasies are just the thing to knock you out of a slump though and I was immediately drawn in by Fort's voice. It's in first person, which I think helped me along quite a lot because I really felt that connection with him. I think being inside someone's head instead of outside looking in, makes the reading a little easier. And Fort is a great guy. He may let people walk all over him, and is unable to defend himself in any way at all, but he's a great guy! Okay, so yeah, he starts out being a wimp. And yeah, he's a vampire but not really. He's still mostly human. And to understand how that works you'll have to read the book because that would take far too long to explain.

Vampires in this book aren't sparkly and are often cold blooded killers. I feel the author did a great job in portraying that they are NOT good guys, yet there are worse guys than some of Fort's family. That while he hates what they are and what he will become, he sees that they could be worse. The author created a very unique take on vampires. I felt like it was a tad hard to wrap my head around initially, figuring out how they breed and all that, but as I read on everything clicked into place.

As I mentioned already, Fort is a great guy. In the beginning he's just a bit too nice. He lets people walk all over him and doesn't stand up for himself much. But he grows a lot through the story as he discovers that some girls have gone missing and a vampire is responsible that he must do something. But his family won't get involved and he's been forbidden to do anything.

Suzume has been hired to protect Fort and from the moment she comes into the story everything changes. She's larger than life and does a decent job of stealing the show. Of course since we're in Fort's head that doesn't really happen, but she was just so FUN when she came on the page. She's a kitsune and holds her own powers and magic. She also teaches Fort much more about the supernatural community, which he was completely clueless about. She stands by Fort through much of what's going on in the book, but will she stand by him when no one else will? When he's ready to risk EVERYTHING to rescue a girl? You'll have to read it to find out!

I flew through this book like nothing and I wanted to read more when it was finished. I'm absolutely eager for more and will be chomping at the bit to get the next book.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Photo credits:
Wolf: photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ucumari/2366638158/">ucumari</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>
Deer: photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53825985@N02/6347146782/">** Lucky Cavey **</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

Spring Blog Carnival: The Land of Make Believe~ a Challenge & Give@way!

2013-05-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The Land of Make Believe! Before we get started I want to welcome you to the Spring Blog Carnival! This is a hop-like event where about 50 bloggers host challenges with giveaway's all Carnival themed. You'll want to head over the map to check out all the stops in the carnival.

This event is hosted by myself, Pure Imagination and Reading Angels. This is our third year hosting it! I hope you have a fun time visiting all the wonderful booths!

The land of make believe is full of amazing magical creatures. From dragons, to witches, to faeries and more, it's hard to say what you might find when peeking around the corner!

Challenge:

I'm keeping this one simple, an easy task for all, just tell me in a comment what your magical creature is. Be creative! Have fun!

Here's my example:
Furball is my creature, he's a tiny dragon, not tall. I keep him by my side as he's my pet you see, he is red all over, with a tint of silver on his wings. His special power is that he can grow so he goes from 3 feet long, 1 foot tall to 20 feet long and 8 feet tall! And then I can ride him across the land and then he shrinks again so we can enter a small domicile.

Tell me, tell me, what is your creature?!

CLOSED
~~I am giving away this signed copy of which there are VERY limited copies (only 100 signed copies!) of Poison by Bridget Zinn.~~

This book has been signed by authors and illustrators who knew Bridget. These were sold at her release event when the book was released. I was lucky enough to go and to snag an extra copy just for this giveaway! {If you didn't already know, Bridgett passed away from cancer.}

~~To enter you must do the challenge!~~

~~I will only ship this book within the US.~~

~~If you are international and you win I will order you the book from The Book Depository.~~

~~You must be 13 or older to enter.~~

~~This giveaway ends May 12th.~~

~~Void where prohibited by law.~~

Spring Blog Carnival Map ~ Come check out all the booths and rides!

2013-05-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

No matter what you're in the mood for, you'll find it at the Spring Blog Carnival! To make sure that you can easily find your way to whatever your heart desires, we have provided you with a map. Each of these stops has a fun challenge for you with a giveaway! Just click through visiting them all and have a blast at the Carnival this year!

Before we get started -Please get your tickets here!!

Ticket Booth

For those seeking a thrill hit up the...

Reading Roller Coaster

Tilt-a-Whirl

After all of that you'll probably be hungry so be sure to hit up the...

Bed and Biscuit Booth

Food Booth

Hot Cocoa Booth

Popcorn Booth

Then take the kids around and stop at the...

Daisy Chain Story Booth

Bumper Cars

Down the Rabbit Hole

Horse Rides

Weaponry and Dangerous Weapons Booth

Better yet, let your babysitter take the kids there and you and your special someone hit up the...

Magic Carpet Ride
House of Pain

Just looking for some fun? Then hit up the...

Make-Over Booth
Shooting Gallery

Then round out your night time with some fun night-time activities and a ball by stopping at the...

Middle Grade Review: The Center of Everything by Linda Urban

2013-05-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Center of Everything by Linda Urban

Hardcover, 208 pages

Published: March 5th, 2013 by Harcourt

Source: ALAMW

Spring 2013 Kids' Indie Next List

For Ruby Pepperdine, the “center of everything” is on the rooftop of Pepperdine Motors in her donut-obsessed town of Bunning, New Hampshire, stargazing from the circle of her grandmother Gigi’s hug. That’s how everything is supposed to be—until Ruby messes up and things spin out of control. But she has one last hope. It all depends on what happens on Bunning Day, when the entire town will hear Ruby read her winning essay. And it depends on her twelfth birthday wish—unless she messes that up too. Can Ruby’s wish set everything straight in her topsy-turvy world?

This is a book that has award written all over it. To me it felt like middle grade literary fiction. It's a very thought provoking story. And I can imagine lots and lots of people will love it. Unfortunately I didn't love it, but I did like it well enough.

I'm not a fan of literary fiction most of the time. Books that are full of hidden meanings and all that. I don't know... it's hard to explain, but I don't connect with them. And I can't say I fully connected with this book. I liked it okay, and some things I loved, but for the most part I felt kind of blah about it.

The book takes place in a period of only a few hours, yet there's so much back and forth and jumping around it actually covers more time. I read this book aloud to my kids and over a longer period of time, so it's quite possible that affected my enjoyability since I likely forgot bits and pieces. But I found myself getting a tad confused at times and not sure where things were going. It seemed like there was a lot of random roaming around to different places and times. I know everything actually connects, but I wasn't 'getting' it completely.

I loved the writing. It flowed really well as a read aloud and I found myself in the rhythm immediately each time I picked it up. It was fun to read, I wanted to read it. So even though I wasn't in love with the story, I did enjoy reading it a lot.

I also liked that this book is about grief. Ruby lost her grandmother a short time before and she's really grieving her. She's trying to figure some stuff out and this theme in the book was pretty great. It was just connecting everything that got a bit weary for me.

So while I may not have fully connected with the story, I know many will. It's not at all a bad book. It just needs to get to the right people.

Disclosure: I received this book free of charge at ALAMW. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Saturday Situation~ Link Up Your Reviews & Give@way's!

2013-05-03T19:00:00.000-07:00

Confident Reads: Interview with Rucy Ban, author of All My Life

2013-05-03T00:00:00.002-07:00

Hello everyone! Confident Reads is a feature I have here each week and is a way to open communication between readers and Indie authors. This is to help readers feel confident in the books they spend their money on, and for authors to feel confident in the book they publish.

Today let's welcome Rucy Ban, author of All My Life, which releases May 7th, 2013!

When, and how, did you come to being as an indie/self published author?

I would love to say that it was my first choice. But when I used to think about the future I always used to visualize myself being picked up by a Random House or maybe Neil Gaiman noticing my stalker behavior and applauding me for it by introducing me to his agent! As you can guess, that was a complete and total fail. Thankfully, I found out about the overstuffed world of indie authors and I immediately dressed in my favorite Sardine costume and dove right in!

Did you attempt to publish traditionally? What were your experiences?
My experiences are pretty well documented on my blog. I tried for four months for my book to be noticed in the slushpile of various leading and not-so-hot agents. In the meantime I saw authors like Jamie McGuire, Colleen Hoover, Hugh C. Howey making it big all on their own. Their journey has been a great source of inspiration for me.

If you were offered a deal with a traditional publisher, would you take it?
Much like some of the authors I mentioned above, I would never give up control of my digital works. Never evah.

What is the best part of being indie/self published, for you?
Being the master of my universe. Designing my own warships, concocting my own propellant and blasting them off towards the storm troopers.

The indie/self published scene is constantly changing. Even quite a few traditionally published authors have ventured into the world of self-publishing. What do you predict for the future? How do you think the indie scene is changing and where do you think it will go?
It’s just beginning to get interesting. With well-known, Pulitzer-winning authors (David Mamet) choosing to go the self-publishing route, the pot’s just heating up.

As an indie/self published author, what has been your biggest obstacle?
To build credibility and to make people take a chance on my book.

In the world of indie/self published not everyone goes about things the same way. Many make mistakes (and hopefully learn from them). What are the biggest mistakes that you think authors are making and how do you suggest they improve?
Poor editing. Lame cover art. Unprofessional behavior. But same could be said of many traditional publishers!

How do you approach reviewers? And what has worked best when doing so?
I think professionalism works best. Even if someone doesn't want to look at your face again and thinks your book is the ugliest thing they’ve ever seen, you need to be professional in your response.

When it comes to sales, what do you think has worked the best for you and had the biggest impact?
My book is yet to be released (on 7 May, 2013) so this is a bug I have yet to inspect and analyse.

If someone tells you they are thinking of publishing a novel themselves and they would like some advice on where to get started or some tips for success, what advice would you give?
Never give up. Keep writing. No matter what anyone says. And. Always write from your heart and edit with your mind.

We all know covers are important; can you tell us about your cover story?
I designed my own cover. I have some background in graphic design, so that helped a lot. I had great fun doing it!

Bad reviews are inevitable; most every author gets at least some. How do you handle things when you get a bad review so you don’t get hung up on it or possibly lash out which could cause more damage in the long run?
Somebody is going to hate what you’ve written. Just like not everybody in this world is going to like you. So don’t let your ego drive you. Everyone has a right to their own opinion. Just let it be.

Can you list 5-10 indie/ self-published titles that you recommend?
Wool by Hugh C. Howey
Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
Hopeless by Colleen Hoover
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Angefall by Susan Ee (originally self-published)

It’s your turn! Ask my readers one question that you are dying to know the answer for.
Between two books by unknown authors with great cover art, interesting blurbs and exciting excerpts, which one would you choose? The self-published one or the one published by a lesser known publishing house?

About All My Life:

Seventeen-year-old Kari meets Neil Mars. “Neil as in Armstrong and Mars…as in Bruno.” A boy who beats every vampire, werewolf, highlander fantasy Kari has ever had. But she knows can’t get close to him. Not ever. Because that would mean telling him everything. Coming clean. And Kari can’t bear the idea of changing the way Neil looks at her. Like she’s the only girl in the world. His reverence is something too precious to lose. Perhaps even at the cost of losing him.

But Kari doesn't know why Neil calls her his ‘Angel’ and when she finds out, she realizes what love is all about. Boundless joy, unending longing and a fuckload of heartache.

******

EXCERPTS from All My Life:

“I can take care of myself,” I tell him.

His lips twitch in response. “Oh, I’m sure you can, little shrub.”

“You are warned!” I take my voice down a notch and point my ring at him, “I’ll tunnel your leathery knighthood right out of this galaxy!”

Neil suddenly halts in his tracks and pins me down with eyes. “Batman vs. Green Lantern? Batman wins. Every. Single. Time.”

“Ohmygod! So not true. In the…”

He cuts me. “One word…yellow.” I stare at him with my mouth half-open.

“‘Nuff said,” he says smugly and then tugs on my hand.

******

Maybe I’ll forget this feeling someday. Maybe it’ll just be reduced to a memory made up of a flickering gas heater, the salty dew of his skin and the love in his dark, inky eyes. This feeling of pure unadulterated joy. Of reaching a high so potent that your spirit feels like it’s soaring across the universe…and falling from that glorious peak only to find yourself enveloped in someone’s warm caring hands. When you feel like you’ve just died or been born, right at the same time.

It could be that I’ll forget this feeling someday. But I’m sure it won’t be anytime soon. Maybe when I’m a hundred and looking forward to my lunch of mashed bread. Not one single day before.

******

Full length New Adult Contemporary Romance:

HEA ending.

******

AUTHOR PROFILE
Rucy Ban was born in 1978 and still continues to thrive. Ever since she first met Francine (the protagonist of her favorite novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn), Rucy fell in love with the written word. Rucy has a B-school degree in Marketing which she now puts to good use teaching lovable rowdy rogues and negotiating with her equally belligerent adolescent. In her previous avatar, she handled corporate communications for companies. At present, Rucy lives in Sao Paulo, travels often, speaks decent, if not quite fluent, Portuguese and really hates talking about herself in third person.

-----------
Author Pages:

http://jiltedgenius.wordpress.com

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7054725.Rucy_Ban

Clean Sweep ARC Challenge May 2013

2013-05-02T17:57:00.001-07:00

This is my Clean Sweep ARC Challenge post, which started yesterday, May 1st.

The goal: to read and review as many ARC's as we can. We will have fun challenges each Saturday hosted by some wonderful bloggers and a prize for two luck participants at the end of the challenge. So gather your ARCs and your brooms and lets have some fun!

You can find out more at Caffeinated Book Reviewer on the post HERE.

My goal:
Do I really need to type it all out? My pile is so huge that this is only a little more than half of what I have that releases in May (or already released). I still have lots more from this year that already released that I haven't read yet. So I just grabbed the ones that I had separated because I *really* want to read them. But I will need to squeeze in more June releases through the month as well, I'm just not yet sure what. I also have some on kindle. It's scary guys, really scary. And stressful. So yeah... I'm going to go read now!

Young Adult Review: The Loop by Shandy Lawson

2013-05-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

The Loop by Shandy Lawson

Hardcover, 208 pages

Published: April 30th, 2013 by Hyperion

Source: ALAMW

Ben and Maggie have met, fallen in love, and died together countless times. Over the course of two pivotal days—both the best and worst of their lives—they struggle again and again to resist the pull of fate and the force of time itself. With each failure, they return to the beginning of their end, a wild road trip that brings them to the scene of their own murders and into the hands of the man destined to kill them.

As time circles back on itself, events become more deeply ingrained, more inescapable for the two kids trapped inside the loop. The closer they come to breaking out, the tighter fate’s clutches seem to grip them. They devise a desperate plan to break free and survive the days ahead, but what if Ben and Maggie’s only shot at not dying is surviving apart?

The Loop is sort of Groundhogs Day reminiscent. Ben and Maggie have been in the same time loop over and over again experiencing the same things and struggling to break free of fate. But fate has other things in store for them and breaking free is harder than it sounds.

We meet Ben after this loop has been occurring for some time. This is the first that he's able to realize what's going on though, or at least that's how we see it because if he realized things before, he forgot it before this day started. And for the most part the book takes place in this one loop and with Ben and Maggie trying to escape the loop by doing things they didn't do before. They know they always end up in Shreveport, so they struggle to avoid Shreveport because that's where they know they die, over and over again.

I liked Ben and Maggie both fine but there's not really anything real remarkable about them. I just read it yesterday and the only thing I can think of worth mentioning is that Ben, after only knowing Maggie for a day (by what he remembers), is willing to sacrifice himself for her. I haven't decided whether this is stupid or really sweet. I also thought that they didn't always make the smartest choices. Instead of trying to head in a different direction, why didn't they just hole up in New Orleans instead? There were a lot of things like this that I didn't fully understand. I also found the near end of the book too be a little strange. I don't want to say too much, but we suddenly get Maggie's POV, which I didn't mind, but I didn't understand if we were remembering the days we recounted with Ben earlier, or if it was new days. It wasn't until the end of her recounting all that stuff we already went through with Ben (but much shorter) that we know and then I just felt like I had more questions. I also felt like maybe it was a little pointless to add that entire section, that all that could have happened in the first place. I did find myself feeling pretty satisfied with the very end though.

While I found the book entertaining to read, it certainly didn't blow my mind and it left me with a lot of questions. I didn't feel like I understood the reasons for so much of what they did. Because of the fact I devoured the book quickly and actually DID enjoy it while reading, I'm giving it 3 stars. It might be more like a 2.5 star book overall though.

Disclosure: I received this book at ALA. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Blog Tour: Guest Post with R.R. Russell and Review of Wonder Light: Unicorns of the Mist

2013-05-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Author R.R. Russell once spent a lot of time sketching unicorns. In this post, Russell will go into detail about her fascination with these mystical creatures and why they play such a significant role in her novel.

In Wonder Light, Twig, a twelve-year-old girl sent to live at a pony ranch for troubled girls on a misty, isolated island, witnesses the birth of a baby unicorn. Her encounter with the unicorns and the people of Lonehorn Island changes her world.

When I was young, my walls were covered with posters of unicorns, leaping and shimmering with rainbow colors. They seemed to belong in a different, brighter world. They were beautiful, powerful, and free. I loved to look at them and to draw them, but I never really believed in magical, horned creatures bounding through the clouds. So when I sat down to write a book about unicorns, I made them the sort of real, wild animals that could live in this world—the kind that Twig, a lonely girl with a rough past, could believe in.

Twig is the last person who’d dream of discovering wild unicorns. She doesn’t believe in magic or miracles. She’s never even dreamed of having a pony like other girls. She just wants to be left alone, and she’s given up on dreaming. She’s almost given up on herself. But Twig discovers that these mysterious creatures, who at first seemed to be ghosts—always slipping into the shadows, hiding in the mist—really want to be known. To be understood.

She’s the only one on the ranch who understands who the unicorn filly born in the stable really is. Why she’s so different and why she struggles to fit in with the ponies. But Twig learns she must do more than just care for this impossible creature. Nighttime howls fill the mist-shrouded darkness of the island. Something’s out there, hunting, waiting to attack. Twig must become her unicorn’s rider, and she must face the howling darkness with her. Together they must fight to save the last free herd of unicorns.

R.R. Russell lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. She grew up traveling the world as an army brat and now travels the country as a coach with a non-profit judo club. She loves to read and draw, and like Twig, once spent a lot of time sketching unicorns. Visit her at rrrussellauthor.com.

Deep in the heart of a mist-shrouded island, an impossible secret is about to be discovered.

Twig is used to feeling unwanted. Sent to live on a pony ranch for "troubled" girls on a misty, haunted island, Twig is about to discover the impossible — someone who needs her.
Jolted awake from a bad dream, Twig follows the desperate whinny of a terrified horse out to the stables. There in the straw is a bleating little scrap of moonbeam. A silver-white filly with cloven hooves and a tiny, spiraling horn.

A baby unicorn.

Now Twig knows what secret is hiding in the island's mist: the last free unicorn herd. And a mysterious boy named Ben who insists that this impossible creature is now Twig's to care for. That she needs Twig's love and protection. Because there's something out there in the deep, dense shadows that's hunting for them...

Wonder Light is a story about Twig, who has had a rough childhood. Through the book we know that she's had a rough time of it and feels like an unwanted child, but we don't get the full story until later. We see as she goes from a quiet, angry girl, to a girl who wants to make a difference and protect those she's come to love. We see her blossom, though I wish we had seen more of that aspect of her than it being so much about the unicorns and what's going on with them. I wish that her past had been explored a bit more, though that might come later.

I enjoyed the setting on an island in the Pacific NW. It's very cool to think of a pony ranch for troubled girls on an island and them being the only inhabitants (and the husband and wife that run the ranch, of course). The setting was very vivid and easy to imagine. I live in the Pacific NW, so that may be why, but I did feel the descriptions were very well done.

The book takes place over about a year (or close to it) and it skips stretches of time. This allowed the book to move at a faster pace, but I would have actually enjoyed a touch more time with Twig in her environment and exploring her regular life and not this 'other' stuff going on. I would have liked to know a bit more about her past as well. And while I enjoyed the other characters quite a lot, aside from Ben, I felt like they weren't terribly fleshed out and I wouldn't have minded getting to know them better. However, this might be more of a positive for the younger readers that are searching for a fast read that gets to the heart of the story without all the extras to read. It's certainly a fast read with plenty of action.

Any girl who loves unicorns would likely enjoy this book. I also think this series has potential to be really great. I'm certainly curious to see where things go and will definitely read the second book to see if more of the fantasy element is explored (which I expect it to be).

This is a book that I felt was a tad too 'scary' for my 8 year old (she's super sensitive though) so I would think maybe 9 or 10 and up might be the best age. Every reader is different though. I think in a year or so my daughter will understand more of the fantasy elements of it and might not be so sensitive to parts that might scare her now.

Being as I'm not the target age for this book, I know I'm not connecting with it like a 10 year old might. So just keep that mind. It's a great book that plenty of girls will absolutely love. In particular girls who come from troubled homes (or are in foster care) and may be looking for a character that shows incredible strength after living through some traumatic events.

Disclosure: I got this book at ALAMW. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.

Candace's Book Blog

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