Fiction Fascination

Night Sky by Jolene Perry - Blog Tour Stop

2012-05-26T10:26:00.000+01:00

Girl I’ve loved, girl I’m falling for. Now that they’re both in view, the problem is clear.

After losing Sarah, the friend he’s loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction – his dad leaves for another woman, his mom’s walking around like a zombie, and Sarah’s new boyfriend can’t keep his hands off of her.

As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast.

But Sky’s need for honesty somehow doesn’t extend to her life story – and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year.

Author Bio:

Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.

After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.

You can find her at www.jolenesbeenwriting.blogspot.com
Or on her author site at
www.jolenebperry.com
Or her group blog -
www.fortheloveofcontemporary.blogspot...

My Review

Night Sky was a fairly quick read that gave me a little pick me up and left me with a smile on my face. I really enjoyed the authors beautiful writing style and really charming storyline. The characters for me are what really made the book, they were so down-to-earth, relate-able and really endearing. The story is told from a male perspective which was brilliant an a big change from most other YA titles I have read. I think everyone should read Night Sky as it has a little something in there for everyone.

Jameson 'Jay' is in love with his best-friend Sarah. But Sarah has started going with a guy named Eric, who is a bit of a jerk. It leaves Jay feeling awkward around Sarah and it leaves them feeling a bit down in the dumps. Until he meets Sky.

Sky is a bit older than Jay, she is very beautiful and has a real earthly quality about her which I adore. Jay and Sky immediately hit it off and the pair hang out together allot. But Sky is part of a clan and has to sit on council meetings. She also has this honesty thing with Jay that ends up coming back to bite her. She hasn't been honest with Jay and has a big secret that will be a big shocker. She has to return to her parents house (which is an eternity away) and resolve some issues with her clan. But she has left Jay shocked and not even knowing if she will return.

I loved the ending of Night Sky, the whole book has this simplistic quality about it that makes it interesting, more like real life. I can't put into words how much I enjoyed this book, all I can do is urge you to pick it up today, I highly recommend it.

Oh and can I just mention the absolutely stunning cover, definitely some cover love going on over here. ;)

Favourite Quotes:

"If I'm not listening good enough to hear you, then I don't deserve to hear."

"Like I'm flying through the night sky because I have no idea what the hell I'm doing, bit I can't get enough of you!"

"Resist girlish urge to write Sky's name all over the margins of my notebook - I'm mostly successful."

*A review copy was provided for the book tour, thank-you.*

4/5 Stars

Carly :)

Soulstone by Katie Salidas - Blog Tour

2012-05-25T08:01:00.001+01:00

Soulstone
Book 4 Immortalis Series
By Katie Salidas

It’s a desperate time for rookie vampire Alyssa, and her sanity is hanging by a slender thread. Her clan is still reeling from the monumental battle with Aniketos; a battle that claimed the body of Lysander, her sire and lover, and trapped his spirit in a mysterious crystal. A Soulstone.

Unfortunately, no amount of magic has been able to release Lysander’s spirit, and the stone is starting to fade. Weeks of effort have proved futile. Her clan, the Peregrinus, have all but given up hope. Only Alyssa still believes her lover can be released. In despair, Alyssa begs the help of the local witch coven, and unwittingly exposes the supernaturals of Boston to unwanted attention from the Acta Sanctorum.

The Saints converge on the city and begin their cleansing crusade to rid the world of all things “Unnatural.” In the middle of an all-out war, but no closer to a solution to the dying stone, Alyssa is left with an unenviable choice: save her mate, or save her clan.

Barnes & Noble Amazon Kindle

About KATIE SALIDAS

Katie Salidas is a Super Woman!

Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, She can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, She still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.

And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…

Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.

http://www.katiesalidas.com/

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Guest Post:

Supernatural Racism.

It’s better when Vampires, Werewolves, and Witches all get along.

It seems to me that in most Paranormal novels there is some animosity between the supernatural species. Vampires hate werewolves, werewolves hate witches, witches hate vampires, and so on.

There’s always some thousand year old vendetta involved. Some werewolf stepped on a vampire’s toe back in bla bla bla B.C. and they’ve been at war ever since. I’m oversimplifying, but you get the point.

I’ve never really cared for the general hatred. I’m not saying they all need to be Kumbaya sitting around a campfire, singing and holding hands (where’s the fun in that?), but I don’t think that there should be any general hatred. We humans are known for being pretty intolerant and like to go to war at the drop of a hat. (It’s sad really). Why would fictional immortal character act the same way? You’d think that supernatural creatures with extreme longevity would be a little better. I mean, they’ve had plenty of time to see mortals kill each other over petty issues. They’ve had lots of opportunity to learn from mistakes as well as to grow and mature. So, with that reasoning, they should not be so quick to go to war or to hold on to petty grudges.

That was the thought process behind my characters and the way they interact. They may not be all buddy-buddy but they certainly don’t hate each other. There is a healthy respect for who and what they are, and in times of need they find ways to use each other’s strengths to get the job done. That’s not to say that they always get along while they do it. Everyone has their limits. But there is no general hatred. No, “I’m better than you,” pettiness.

I think it’s more fun when you can get the supernaturals together, working together, and pit them against the evil human enemy. And that’s precisely what I do in Soulstone. The evil Acta Sanctorum is back, they’re after the mysterious stone and they’ll destroy everything in their path to get it.

To protect it, and unlock its mysteries, it will take the Peregrinus (vampire clan), the Olde Town pack (Werewolves), and the local witches of Boston.

Preservation by Rachael Wade - Blog Tour

2012-05-24T09:36:00.000+01:00

Fear is sabotage’s sweetest weapon.

Kate has no time for meaningless romantic charades, and definitely no time for hot college professors who are full of themselves and smitten with her. Constantly battling eviction notices, tuition she can’t afford, and a sick, dependent mother, the last thing she needs is to be distracted

with someone else’s complicated baggage. When she stumbles into Ryan Campbell’s creative writing class, he is only “Mr. Campbell” to her, until Ryan finds himself captivated by her writing and she is forced to face their mutual attraction. His cocky know-it-all syndrome is enough to send her running in the other direction, and his posse of female admirers and playboy reputation are enough to squander any odds in her favor.

But underneath Ryan’s abrasive facade is something to behold, and she can’t stay away for long. Ryan and Kate must decide who they’re willing to become and fight against their former selves if they want to make things work. That’s if academia, vicious vixens, old skeletons, and their own mastery at self-destruction don’t pummel their efforts first.

Paperback

Expected publication: May 25th 2012 by Rabbit Hole Press

Add it on Goodreads or buy it on Amazon UK US or B&N

My Review

I am a huge fan of Rachael Wade's highly addictive Resistance trilogy, but I have to say Preservation I love just that little bit more. I was instantly engaged and interested in the storyline. And as usual Rachael Wade's writing style is superb. I genuinely cared about the main character Kate, who was well developed and intriguing. Wade really can turn her hand to anything, genre wise and this stunning contemporary romance proves it.

Kate has a talent for writing and she works hard tutoring to be able to afford her collage fees, to better her writing craft. She has two best friends called Carter and Dean, who would like more than friendship, but Kate has no time for romance. When Kate attends Mr Ryan Campbell's creative writing class she finds herself attracted to him. He also loves her writing and praises her, the attraction seems to be mutual.

Will Kate let this man, who has a bad reputation as a playboy, into her life? Well lets just say he makes her heart melt and he admits his past wicked ways. But Ryan has things from his past that haunts his present with Kate.

Kate goes through so much throughout the book, love, loss, hurt, disappointment and happiness. And Rachael Wade handles the darker events in the book brilliantly. I loved the ending and I couldn't of been more made up with the outcome. This is one of them unforgettable novels that I think will appeal to a wide audience, I really think most people will love it. Pick it up today. :)

If you want a light, quick read that is filled with emotions, fabulous characters and one seriously sexy man, then this is the book for you. You will not be disappointed.

My favourite characters:

Dean and Carter: They come as a duo really, they are genuine good guys who are both down-to-earth, like able, funny and definitely 2 guys I would love to have as friends.

Ryan: Who hasn't had a crush on a teacher, right? lol Well Mr Campbell is one I definitely would of had a crush on. He is intelligent, charming when he wants to be, warm, kind and did I mention sexy? I think I did lol ;)

*Special thanks to Rachael for the review copy*

5/5 Stars

Carly :)

Preservation On Tour!

A sexy, arrogant, playboy professor. A stubborn, independent, aspiring writer. Both masters at the art of sabotage. Let the games begin. Available 5/25 from Amazon, & Barnes and Noble.

* Song: I Might Be Wrong

* Artist: Radiohead

* Tour Date: 5/24

* Venue: Kate’s Pike Place apartment

* Scene Snapshot: Kate makes a risky decision and comes to terms with her habits and hang-ups

* Anthem:

I might be wrong

I could have sworn

I saw a light coming on

I used to think

There is no future left at all

I used to think

Open up, begin again

Let's go down the waterfall

Think about the good times

And never look back

Never look back

What would I do?

If I did not have you?

Open up, let me in

Let's go down the waterfall

Have ourselves a good time

It's nothing at all

Nothing at all

Visit www.RachaelWade.com on Friday, May 25th for the Preservation launch party!

Waiting on wednesday (20)

2012-05-23T08:02:00.000+01:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Alice in Zombieland

By Gena Showalter

Summary

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

Hardcover, 304 pages

Expected publication: September 25th 2012 by Harlequin Teen

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Elanraigh: The Vow by S.A. Hunter - Blog Tour - Guest Post & Giveaway

2012-05-22T09:52:00.000+01:00

Elanraigh: The Vow
by S.A. Hunter

Only Thera of Allenholme hears the voice of forest-mind…and heeds its warning . Thera doesn’t know why the Elanraigh forest-mind chose her, of all the Allenholme folk, to hear its voice and to awaken her gifts of mind and spirit. The Elanraigh sends a warning dream; black sails swooping toward Allenholme from across the western sea—the Memteth, an ancient enemy, armed with blue fire that hungers to consume life. As Thera awakens to her gifts of bonding with raptor birds and reading hearts, the knowing; she also awakens to love. Will she choose Chamakin the young Ttamarini warrior who is a kindred in spirit to her, or the polished young nobleman who covets her beauty even more than her estate? Forest-mind is aware she is yet too young for such power and responsibility. It has no choice—the lives of all Thera’s people and the existence of the Elanraigh Forest itself, depend on Thera fulfilling her destiny. Can she learn what she must of gift, and heart, to survive what comes their way?

Author Bio

Sandra attended school in Victoria, B.C. and later graduated from the University of British Columbia with a B.A. in English Literature. After her daughter came along, she chose to work close to home and indulge her love of animals by working for an amiable, if thrifty, veterinarian. She believes in promoting the right of all creatures to live the existence that Nature intended. This value is strongly evoked in her novel.

Sandra’s always lived at the edges of ocean and forest, so it came naturally to have a sentient forest as a major character in Elanraigh: The Vow. She loves kayaking the scenic Island coastline, swimming and walking. She has a ready sense of humor and an optimistic outlook (a good thing when you’re a writer).

Her publications include Dark Fantasy short stories in pro magazines and she is currently working on a sequel to Elanraigh: The Vow.

Guest Post

Writer on Fire

Sometimes when writing a particular scene I had the experience that all of a sudden the words poured out of me, a psychic might say something like “you’re channeling a guide/mentor, or the Akashic Records”. Or, perhaps I could best describe it as a deeply meditative state, where everything your mind’s eye sees is brilliantly vivid and real. After this storm of writing passes, you lapse back, exhilarated and amazed, and realize that what you’ve written is some of your best yet.

It’s something of a “mountain top” experience, though. Not something you can deliberately coax it into being. You may attempt to seduce it, but it comes only when it wills. I was curious whether other writers shared this phenomenon; so I posed this question to other writers in the blogasphere:

“…If this is something you’ve experienced, please tell me about it; was it after hours of plodding work, or did it happen as soon as you set fingers to keyboard. What was your frame of mind? Did something put you in that frame of mind, i.e.: were you listening to music? Reading some other writer’s work and suddenly…”

The answers flew in, and yes whether in a meditative state such as I’ve experienced, or from the sub-conscious world of dreams, writers agree that from there, they’ve draw their best inspirations. Here’s some samplings of the responses I’ve had:

“I’ve experienced the same feeling of writing as if someone is moving my fingers...

“My characters come to life in my dreams. Sometimes I wake up pretty tired but I get some of my best scenes that way. It’s almost like they are writing the story and I just type it.”

This aspect of our characters taking the bit between their teeth and running with it seems to be a common thread in many responses.

“…sometimes when I’m writing, my character will reveal something about him/herself that I didn’t know.”

Or how about this comment, “My characters won’t leave me alone—and usually at two o’clock in the morning! I can’t shut them up until I write them.”

“…an out of body experience. I’m the vessel, for whatever is being said. It’s the best high out there.”

Perhaps as a reader of books you have read some in which you’ve become totally immersed in the novel’s world in all its detail: you taste the food, smell the air and live in the skin of the characters—you are moved by their grief, shaken by their terrors, and can shed tears of joy for their happiness. When the book closes, you know that your life has been enriched. That book was written by a writer on fire.

Sandy Hunter www.sandrahunter.blogspot.ca
(S. A. Hunter)
Elanraigh: The Vow Blog Tour
sandyh118@shaw.ca

Giveaway

The author is having a grand giveaway that will include: one Print copy of the book (US) a signed bookmark (INT and US) and a $20 amazon gift card (INT and US)! Fill out the Rafflecopter below, Good Luck :)

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The Witching Pen by Dianna Hardy

2012-05-21T08:02:00.000+01:00

Summary

(Book One of The Witching Pen Novellas)

It's hard being the most powerful witch on the planet. It's even harder when you're a twenty-five year old virgin who'll lose all of that power the moment you sleep with someone ... that's why Elena's never slept with her best friend and flatmate, Karl, despite the true feelings they harbour for each other.

Elena's about to discover that there are even more difficult things in life to deal with. One of them comes in the form of a pen she discovers one day, a pen that allows anything she writes to come to pass...

Suddenly, it's not just her powers or her heart that's at stake, but her very soul, as a dream demon with a seductive pull uses the pen to try and turn her away from her reality, and from Karl.

But the pen is just the beginning. Everything Elena has believed in is a lie, and her world is about to fall apart...

My Review

I knew from the second page of The Witching Pen that I was going to love it and I was not wrong. What a kick start to The Witching Pen novellas series. All the bad things you have ever heard about novellas, like them being rushed, not in-depth, not enough world building, well all that can be scraped with this book. It is perfectly paced and Dianna Hardy has written some fantastic world building, including the interesting Demon Mythology that we start to find out about. Magic, romance, witches and demons that are brought together in a brilliantly fun and definitely sexy way. Hats off to Dianna Hardy for this amazing first instalment. I am so glad I had the 2nd book to get my teeth stuck into straight away.

Elena is 25 years old, she is the most powerful witch in the world, oh and did I mention a virgin.? She has always been told that if she looses her virginity all her power will be lost to the man in question. Karl is Elena's childhood best-friend and they are currently living together. Karl is the love of Elena's life but she just needs to realise it.

One day Elena discovers a pen, out of nowhere really and whatever she writes with it comes to pass. This is very strange so she keeps it to herself only telling Karl. But when Elena starts to have strange dreams of a demon who makes her hot and bothered and who can make her unconsciously use the pen, causing disastrous results, Elena starts to panic.

You can't expect to be the most powerful witch in the world and expect to be left alone, can you? And with everything Elena has ever known being revealed as a lie, her world will crumble.

I only wished Dianna made the sexual tension between Elena and Karl last a little bit longer LOL, as I was really enjoying the tension. There is so much more I am dying to know about the demon tribes and the elders, so I hope there is loads more info in book 2.

The ending is brilliant and I think Dianna knows how to leave her readers begging for more. If you haven't yet picked up The Witching Pen, you are seriously missing out. Add it on Goodreads or buy it on Amazon UK US or Book Depo.

My Favourite characters:

Karl: he is definitely your cute boy next door. He is also kind, caring and loving towards Elena. And he has a devilishly sexy side ;)

Elena: She is fun, down-to-earth and extremely powerful. She has a really likeable personality and I think most people will love her.

*Special thanks to Dianna for the review copy*

4/5 Stars

Carly ;)

Showcase Sunday #2

2012-05-20T10:38:00.000+01:00

Hello and welcome to my second Showcase Sunday, which is hosted by Vicky of at Books, Biscuits and Tea. In my Showcase Sunday post I will 'Showcase' the books I received throughout the week(s). Feel free to leave me your links to your posts and I will check them out.

This week I will be 'Showcasing' 2 weeks worth :)

For Review

I got some fabulous little kids books for review over the past few weeks from the lovely Rosi over at HC. Thank-you =)

The Frank Show by David Mackintosh

Big Nate Goes for Broke by Lincoln Peirce

The Hueys and The New Jumper by Oliver Jeffers

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers

The Glimpse by Claire Merle

Uninvited (South Hills Sidekicks #1) by Leah Spiegel & Meg Summers

A Night like This by Julia Quinn

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

Preservation by Rachael Wade

The Fairytale Keeper: Avenging the Queen by Andrea Cefalo

Starters by Lissa Price

Well that's it folks, thanks for dropping by -Carly :)

Awaited (Wasteland #2) by Lynn Rush - Blog Tour - Promo Stop & Giveaway

2012-05-19T09:34:00.000+01:00

Awaited
Wasteland, #2

Release Date May 2012

Goodreads

Book Blurb for Awaited:

Russell Leonard is a centuries-old Guardian who’s lost faith in his purpose. So when he’s charged with procuring the first female Guardian in over two centuries, he can only hope it’s the red-headed beauty who’s been haunting his dreams for months. And if it is, he intends to claim her as his. But when he finds his dream woman, Annabelle is mute and bears no Guardian’s Mark.

He soon realizes she’s been tainted by an ancient evil. Russell must somehow release the secrets trapped within this delicate soul to help her tap into the only weapon powerful enough to silence a millennia-old demon—her voice.

Awaited (Wasteland #2) Excerpt

My feet finally found the water’s floor. I tugged the female from Durk’s grasp and hoisted her up into my arms.

The water had washed away the crimson stains, but left her lips thin and blue. Durk pressed his fingers to her neck. “No pulse.”

“Go. Find wood dry enough to burn. We need fire. I’ll start CPR.”

He bolted to his feet and darted away. I settled her on the damp foliage covered floor and ripped her buttoned blouse apart. I rested my ear to her chest. Nothing. Cheek to her mouth. Nothing.

I clamped my hands together and started counting out compressions. “Please. You can’t die. I just found you.”

Her chest caved beneath my weight with each push I offered to start her heart. Pumping it for her. She looked so cold. So small. So fragile. Darkness tainted her lips. I imagined they’d be full and bright red like in my dreams. Her glowing skin was now dull and lifeless.

Please. Michael.

There must have been a reason for me to be on this plane. This time. This date. This instance. Not to let me find someone I’d dreamt about, then to lose her.

I pinched her nose. With my other hand I cradled her neck and opened her mouth to mine. My lips formed a seal around hers, and I blew. Her chest raised. One more breath.

I turned my head, listening. Nothing.

I repeated it for another cycle. Durk returned holding an armful of branches. He ripped open his pack and pulled out a bag.

“Zip lock?”

“Jessica made an appearance at my room while packing.” He held it up. “I thought she’d lost her mind. Matches, magazine, and tiny foil blanket.”

“You didn’t say anything.”

“Told me not to.”

Durk went to work on the fire as I finished the second round of compressions. I leaned down to breathe for her again and paused an inch before contact with her lips. “Please,” I whispered and sealed her mouth with mine.

I breathed into her, then turned and drew in a gulp of air and let it flow into her. A gentle scent of sandalwood and sugar wrapped around me. Coiled me in warmth. The woman flinched beneath me.

Then coughed.

I tilted her to the side and water spewed from her mouth. A tremor rocked her little body. The crackle of a flame, and the scent of burning leaves filled the air. “There you go. Get it out.” I patted her back.

She flopped back and her eyes opened wide.

The same honey irises I’d seen a hundred times in my dreams stared at me. “Can you hear me?”

The lids hung heavy over her dilated eyes, then slid shut.

“No. No. Stay with me.” I patted her shoulder.

Durk joined me, kneeling beside her on the other side. I pressed my finger to her neck. “Steady pulse.”

“She’s got to be in shock. Freezing. Get that fire going.” I peeled my shirt over my head as I stood. “Find all you can to get a small shelter formed around the fire.” I ripped at the belt securing my soggy pants to me. “I’ll warm her up.”

Wasn’t exactly how I’d dreamed I would first lay with a woman, but I’d be damned if I was going to let her die.

She was mine.

Wasteland
Wasteland, #1

Available Now
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Book Blurb for Wasteland:

Bound by the blood contract his human mother signed four centuries ago, half-demon, David Sadler, must obey his demonic Master’s order to capture fifteen-year-old Jessica Hanks. But as he learns more about her, he realizes she may be the key to freedom from his demonic enslavement.

The only obstacle—Jessica’s distractingly beautiful Guardian, Rebeka Abbott. He must not give in to their steamy chemistry, or he will lose his humanity. But fresh off a quarter millennia of sensory deprivation as punishment for not retrieving his last target, he may not be able to resist temptation long enough to save what’s left of his human soul.

About the Author

Driven to write, Lynn Rush often sees her characters by closing her eyes watching their story unfold in her mind. Lynn Rush is a pen name that is a combination of two sources – Lynn, the first name of her mother-in-law, who passed away and Rush – since the author is a former inline speed skater and mountain biker. All of Rush’s books are dedicated to Lynn, her namesake.

Rush holds a degree in psychology from Southwest Minnesota State University and a master's degree from the University of Iowa. Originally from Minneapolis, Rush currently enjoys living in the Arizona sunshine by road biking nearly 100 miles per week with her husband of 15 years and jogging with her two loveable Shetland Sheep dogs.

Connected with Lynn online:
Catch the Rush: www.LynnRush.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LynnRushWrites
Twitter: www.twitter.com/LynnRush

~~~See you in the paranormal~~~

Giveaway

Now for the giveaway folks. For a chance to get your hands on an E-copy of Awaited, fill out the Rafflecopter below. Open internationally. Winner will be contacted via E-mail. Good Luck =)

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Summer Daydreams by Carole Matthews - Blog Tour - Guest Post

2012-05-18T08:02:00.000+01:00

Summary

What if you had always dreamed of something more...?

Nell McNamara has a happy life: her boyfriend Olly adores her, their four-year-old daughter Petal is the centre of their world and Nell has a steady job in the local chip shop. When the chippy needs a makeover, Nell jumps at the chance to unleash the creativity fizzing inside her.

Inspired by what she can achieve - and encouraged by the best friends a girl can have - Nell is determined to try something new. Waving goodbye to the chip shop, she starts up a new business making her own line of must-have handbags, which are soon flying off the shelves!

It seems Nell's dreams are finally coming true, but her success doesn't come without a price. Before too long, Nell has to ask herself if it's really possible to have it all...

Full of fun, love and laughter, soak up the sunshine with Summer Daydreams

Paperback: 464 pages

Publisher: Sphere (24 May 2012)

My Review

Wow, Summer Daydreams was just the warm fun read that I was looking for. I really won't be able to praise this book enough, but I will give it a go. The storyline is so relate-able on so many levels and I think it will be for most people in one way or another. It is perfectly balanced with highs, lows, love, heartache, disappointment, it really did have a whirlwind of emotions throughout. I fell in love with the well developed characters and I ended up staying up all night just to get the book finished. I am sad to say this is the first Carole Matthews book I have had the pleasure of reading, but I am pleased to announce it will definitely not be the last, I am now a new fan of the author.

Nell Mc Namara is happily struggling along in life, she has a beautiful 4 year old daughter called Petal & a great boyfriend who adores her called Olly. She works in a chippy and she really does love it. When her boss Phil OK's the make-over on the chippy Nell is delighted and instantly starts to work.

Everyone tells Nell what a fantastic job she has done and Phil tells her she should go do something more with her life. Nell is soon waving goodbye to the chip shop, she is starting up her own business making handbags. But everything is such hard work and it puts a strain on Nell's relationship as well as her bank balance.. With her handbags flying off the shelves it seems her dreams are finally coming true.

But nothing in life ever runs smoothly and there will be lots of bumps along the road. Can everything Nell ever dreamt of come true? Well the ending for me was very satisfying and I was more than happy with how everything panned out.

If you fancy some summer daydreams of your own, take a break, relax and pick up this fabulous book. You will definitely not be disappointed, this is a real winner that I won't soon forget.

My favourite characters:

Nell: She is down-to-earth, like-able, relate-able, and ambitious. I clicked with her very early on and I genuinely cared what happened to her. I think most people will love her too.

Phil: He is a fatherly type of figure, he is also a genuine nice guy who is both caring and like-able. I would love to read more about him and his new love interest, Constance.

*Special thanks to Sphere for the review copy*

5/5 Stars

Carly :)

I am so pleased to welcome Carole Matthews to Fiction Fascination today. Please enjoy her wonderful guest post below. There is also a fantastic giveaway to design your own handbag over here that is definitely worth checking out. -Carly :)

Author Bio

Born in St Helens, Merseyside, Carole began writing after she entered a short story competition in Writing Magazine and won a thousand pounds. Then – to her and everyone else’s amazement – she spent the money, not on shoes and handbags, but on a writing course. The tutor on the course liked what she was writing and recommended an agent who took her on straight away. She got her first book deal, for Let’s Meet on Platform 8, a week later. Carole lives with her partner, Kevin, near Milton Keynes.

Guest Post

My Top Ten All-Time Favourite Books

The Other Boleyn Girl - Philippa Gregory

I probably could have had any of Philippa Gregory’s books on my top ten list really! I am a massive fan of her books and she’s the only author who’ll I’ll buy in hardback as I want her books the second they come out. She is the Queen of Historical Fiction in my eyes. When I read her books, I can just picture myself in the Tudor courts or wherever they are set. They just draw you in to the scandal and intrigue of the age and I trust her historical research implicitly.

One Day - David Nicholls

My current favourite book. I just thought this was beautifully written and portrayed its time period so well. My ex-husband was also very much a ‘Dexter’ and I think that’s why I empathised with it so much! I did get slightly cross that it was so lauded in the press. I’m sure if a woman had written the book it wouldn’t have got nearly so much attention from the media and would probably have been put in a pink cover. For me it’s great chicklit but written by a bloke. Jim Sturgess wasn’t too shabby as Dexter in the film either.

The Time Travellers’ Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

This is probably the book I wish I’d written. It’s a love story about a man who travels backwards and forwards in time to be with the person he loves. It’s complicated and heart-breaking and I can’t imagine how on earth Ms Niffenegger kept track of what she was writing. I loved it.

Notes From a Small Island - Bill Bryson

I was on a flight years ago and throughout the plane there were people giggling. I made it my business to have a look at what they were reading as I went backwards and forwards to the loo! Without exception they were reading Bill Bryson books and, as soon as we landed, I dashed to the nearest bookshop and bought a copy of Notes From a Small Island. I’ve read all of his travel books since and they’re great. I’d love to be able to produce a travel book like that. I do admit though that I’m having to read his last book, At Home, in bite-sized chunks. It’s just a bit too dense and factual for me to cope with in one sitting. I like him when he’s being lighter and more humorous. I think he’s the author I’d most like to invite to dinner.

Bridget Jones’ Diary - Helen Fielding

I feel that I owe Bridget a lot. My very first book - Let’s Meet on Platform 8 - hit the shelves just as Bridget was becoming popular and started the whole chicklit wave. When Bridget hit America, she took me with her and I had a television book club pick and a USA Today bestseller over there. I think Bridge Jones’ Diary is a great book. Just perfect for the time. She’s endearing and funny. A great character and the films did the books proud.

Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

I love vampires! A few years ago I wanted to write a vampire novel and my agent told me that there was no market for them. Then along came Stephenie Meyer! This, in my opinion, is by far the best book in the series and I love how the various relationships are portrayed. Though I do find myself frequently wanting to slap Bella. A love story with bite. And... er... Team Edward, by the way.

The Thorn Birds - Colleen McCullough

An oldie but a goodie. It’s the heartbreaking story of Meggie Cleary and the magnificent priest, Father Ralph de Bricassart, whose passionate and forbidden love affair lasts a lifetime. A real tear-jerker. It was published in the late 1970s and was the book of the time. It’s still a great read.

The Silence of the Lambs - Thomas Harris

I love a book that keeps me up all night. And this is one of them. I started Silence of the Lambs one night when I went to bed and finished it, red-eyed, somewhere around dawn. It’s fabulous and terrifying. And I wish someone would write something just like it.

Fabulous Things - Kelly Braffet

This book was published a few years ago now - 2005 in the UK. It’s a great story, gripping and unsettling. It’s about the claustrophobic relationship between sister and brother, Josie and Jack Raeburn and reminded me very much of a contemporary version of Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews. Another book that was fantastic in its day. Braffet had one other book published - Last Seen Leaving - which I didn’t enjoy quite so much. But I can’t find anything else written by her. Shame.

Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married - Marian Keyes

From the Queen of Chicklit. I think this, Marian’s first novel, is still her best. It’s an engaging and funny tale. I do love it when my own books are compared to Marian’s. To me, that’s the ultimate compliment. She hasn’t been writing for a few years due to crippling depression but she’s just bounced back with a recipe book Saved By Cake - which is a colourful and funny book featuring Marian’s very own take on the joys of baking.

Staring Into the Eyes of Chance by Kay Dee Royal - Blog Tour - Guest Post & Giveaway

2012-05-17T10:05:00.000+01:00

Staring Into the Eyes of Chance
by Kay Dee Royal

Muse It Hot Publishing
Releasing March 2012

Book one in the LIIA Series (Lycan International Investigation Agency)

Featuring Werewolves, Paranormal Abilities, Explicit Love Scenes

Tagline:

Olivia swears off men until she meets Chance, a Lycan alpha. He ignites an undeniable hunger they can only sate together.

BLURB:

Olivia endures a thirty-four year passionless marriage, discovering her dead husband’s philandering history at his funeral. She devotes her energy and life-long sensitivity with animals to her wildlife refuge and preserve.

Chance, a Lycan alpha and leader of the Lycan International Investigation Agency (LIIA) throws himself into his investigations. He chooses to neglect his duty of finding a primal-mate after watching his father become an empty shell over the loss of his.

A murderous rogue pack draws Chance onto Olivia’s wildlife preserve, sending Olivia’s animal sensitivities into overdrive. Chance and Olivia discover a sizzling force driving them together.

Will they succumb to its enticing tether, or fight to resume their loveless lives apart?

Author Bio:

Kay Dee Royal writes paranormal and fantasy erotic romance—maybe because it's also her favorite genre to read! She pens tales with wild, rugged heroes and strong, intelligent heroines. She'll give them both a few shadowy secrets, making her stories intriguing and fun. She resides in Southern Michigan with her family (her dogs, her cats, her caged husband... you get the idea) You can reach her at her blog and find the latest on her titles from her publisher, MuseItHot

I am so pleased to welcome Kay Dee Royal to Fiction Fascination today. Below is her amazing guest post, enjoy :) -Carly

Guest Post

Staring Into the Eyes of Chance ~ Humans can have PN abilities, too.

Thank you, Fiction Fascination, for having me today. I’ve been enjoying all the different blogs on my Bewitching Book Tours and look forward to spending time hereJ

I’m Kay Dee Royal, an author who loves writing and reading paranormal, fantasy, and contemporary erotica romance.

My muse enjoys being taken away by strong, intelligent, confident heroines and rescued by wild, rugged, beastly heroes, both of which harbor shadowy secrets of intrigue and fun. My muse lives for the escape *grins*, imagine that.

With that in mind, besides telling the tales of paranormal beings, there are also humans with paranormal abilities…like Olivia in Staring Into the Eyes of Chance. She’s a fifty-five year old widow of a philandering husband (for the entire thirty-four years of their marriage I might add) and never had children.

Olivia began at an early age ‘reading’ animals…any wildlife or domesticated animal. She never realized everyone couldn’t do it—knowing what the little OR big creatures were thinking. In her very early years, she didn’t know how she knew an animal’s mood, but she had the ability to calm them and understand their wants and needs.

As she grew older, certain kids bullied her…until she hid her gift/talent. Not until she was in her early twenty’s, did she come out of the closet to a close friend…not even her sister, Lacey, knows about Olivia’s psychic ability with wildlife.

The thing about Olivia, she could only ‘read’ creatures, not humans. So, the first time she meets a Lycan in human-form…to be exact, four Lycan in human-form, she’s totally thrown off with sensory overload.

It was one of my favorite scenes to writeJ And, the Lycan had no clue she could ‘read’ them…even betterJ

So, what paranormal abilities would you like a human heroine to possess?

Here’s a scene of Olivia being somewhat challenged by her ability…

Staring Into the Eyes of Chance

A LIIA (Lycan International Investigation Agency) Book (Series ~ Book One)

Genre:

Paranormal Erotica Romance ~ Must be 18 or older, Explicit Love Scenes Rated Sizzling Hot

Excerpt (rated PG):

Olivia closed her eyes, calling up her animal sensitivity ability, while shoving down her own panic. After years of psychically working with animals, she knew they sensed panic and fear. Her breathing needed regulating.
Olivia relaxed as best she could and opened her mind. She sensed the wolf; masculine. He came across with an urgent need to protect, more like helping her feel safe. Another howl, with a deep and sinister timbre, shattered her concentration. A stab of electricity zipped through her, pumping adrenaline and tightening every muscle. This howl came from farther inside the forest than the first one. She sensed aggression in the wolves within the forest, ready for battle. Her heart drummed against her ribs in anticipation of an answering call, and she couldn’t stop the tremors running rampant in her belly.

Instead she saw the lights go out through her closed eyelids. She opened her eyes and saw nothing but blackness.

Nine o’clock on a September evening, what did she expect? Damn power company! Hopefully Lacey sat in the Jacuzzi and wouldn’t come running out.

She lay listening for any sound. Her own breath, the loudest panting she’d ever heard, came in at a close second to her heart banging against the walls of her chest. Slowly, she sat up. The back of her head throbbed, her spine hurt, and the front of her body ached, especially her breasts. She bent her legs to stand and in that same moment a jet of hot mist coated her face.

Wolf breath.

Olivia froze, tamping down the run-for-your-life urge. Her mind reached toward the beast beside her, searching his energy markers, his emotions, urges. She read him as curious, stimulated. Maybe a misread of…sexually stimulated? She sat back on her haunches, figuring if she stretched at least four feet of her five-foot ten frame, maybe she’d appear larger. His breath assailed her from above, she remained squatted.
Damn, this thing is huge!

He sniffed the top of her head, down by her ear, licked the length of her neck and up the side of her face. Another howl close by, echoing near the tree-line, got the wolf’s attention. He raised his head from her and shoved her body back with his own. She went down on her butt, folding her legs sideways. Fur from his backside pressed into the front of her, including her face. Olivia turned her head away and took a breath. A shiver began in her belly and inched through her arms, legs, and up her neck. She sensed his urgency, he must move and his need…again, to keep her safe and again something else, another misread?

He moved back, his head next to hers. A growl vibrated, harsh and deep, beside her ear. Olivia jumped when he yipped instead of howled. He circled her, stopping behind her. A sudden scratch of claws and pebbles from rain washout near the barn pelted her. Air swirled around her as the wolf leaped over her head in the direction of the woods.

Olivia’s breath whooshed out like a balloon being released. Tears welled and trickled down her face. The wolf’s size was about as abnormal as it got. She’d never heard of any wolf being that large. She’d done plenty of research on the species,

brushing up for the wolf pup she rehabilitated and released back into the wild years ago when Ray and she first opened the refuge, before they owned the preserve property.

Olivia pushed herself up onto wobbly legs, her stomach lurched, and before she could blink, vomit spewed. She retched hard, falling onto her hands and knees, weak and crying, something she hadn’t done since Ray’s funeral. As if on cue, all the lights popped on, illuminating her shadow against the barn wall.
Oh, that’s lovely. Damn power company.

A howl, and then another and another, echoed from different locations in the forest. Her forest, her wildlife preserve, not a place for a beast like her visitor, and most definitely not a place for the aggressive lot in the forest. She swiped her face with the bottom of her shirt and looked toward the woods.

About thirty yards away in the mowed meadow, her wolf circled with another, close-in-size, milky-eyed wolf with a deformed face, both spot-lighted in the yard light. They flashed razor sharp teeth and glowing eyes, with the exception of the one’s coated eye. Their vicious growls and snapping jaws filled the air. Olivia found her tranq gun on the ground and grabbed it. By the time she turned for a shot, she saw the tail end of both wolves leaping into the woods, her wolf chasing the other.

Olivia leaned against the barn, adjusting her position in accordance with her pain. She thought of the curious readings she sensed from her wolf, not sure of their meaning. She never questioned first impressions from readings anymore. Years of experiences proved first intuitive readings rang as authentic truth in almost every case.

She closed her eyes and pictured her wolf looking at her for the first time, the way his head snapped in her direction and how their gazes met and connected. She touched her neck, sliding fingertips up her cheek where his tongue touched her skin. Her breath caught, heart raced, and her eyes opened wide. She laughed out loud, maybe in relief, maybe in a small fit of hysteria, or maybe because she consider that wolf as “her” wolf. Her “stimulation” readings from him threw her off, knowing it wasn’t a possibility.

Buy Links:

Muse It Up Publishing
Amazon
Staring Into the Eyes of Chance Coffee Time Romance Buy Link
All Romance ebooks

For more info on Kay Dee Royal, you can find her at:
Kay Dee Royal ~ Paranormal & Erotica Romance Musings;
MuseItHot; Twitter; FB

Giveaway

Now folks, up for grabs is an E-copy of Staring Into The Eyes Of Chance. You know the drill, fill out the Rafflecopter below. Open internationally. Winner will be contacted via E-mail. Good Luck :) *This is not suitable for younger readers*

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Waiting on wednesday (19)

2012-05-16T07:59:00.000+01:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles #1)

By Kresley Cole

Summary

Sixteen-year-old Evie Greene thought her horrific apocalyptic hallucinations were a sign that she was slowly losing her mind. But when her visions come true, decimating the world around her and killing everyone she loves, Evie is forced to accept that she was seeing the future.

Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she turns to wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate, the gorgeous and dangerous Jackson Deveaux for help. As Jackson and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have got the same call and discover that Evie is not the only one with special powers. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and as the battle between good and evil intensifies, it is not always clear who is on which side…

Hardcover, 384 pages

Expected publication: October 2nd 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

I will read anything Kresley Cole ever writes, she is one of my favourite authors and her Immortals After Dark series is to die for. But YA is a big change & I hope I don't miss those steamy sexy scenes too much lol ;)

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Abandon by Meg Cabot

2012-05-15T09:34:00.000+01:00

Summary

Last year, Pierce died - just for a moment. And when she was in the space between life and death, she met John: tall dark and terrifying, it’s his job to usher souls from one realm to the next.

There’s a fierce attraction between them, but Pierce knows that if she allows herself to fall for John she will be doomed to a life of shadows and loneliness in the underworld. But now things are getting dangerous for her, and her only hope is to do exactly what John says . . .

My Review

I was so excited to be finally starting Abandon, it has a storyline that I found very exciting from the off. But I have to say the first half of the book was hard to get into and very confusing at times, it was a miracle I even got to the second half. But thank goodness I did, the second half of the book was so fantastic , it really redeemed the book for me. The characters are in-depth, interesting and I think Meg Cabot has built a great new world here. There are so many ways this series could go and I think it's very exciting.

Last year Pierce Oliveria flat-lined after drowning in her swimming pool. While in the underworld waiting to find out her fate, she sees a dark and dangerous boy that she recognises. She runs to him and he takes her away, she learns what exactly is going on. She escapes John and his underworld hell and finds herself alive and well in a hospital bed.

So Pierce Oliveria knows exactly what it's like to die. She keeps seeing John everywhere she feels scared or threatened and it's never good, when he shows up terrible things always happen. When Pierce and her mother move back to her mum's home-town of Isla Huesos things start to unravel themselves, with lots of shocking revelations.

But Pierce finds herself drawn to the mysterious John and can't seem to keep away from him. But death wants her back too, back to his dreaded underworld prison. What will Pierce do when things get too dangerous? Will she run right into his arms?

Well the ending is shockingly spectacular, I was not expecting what happened in the lead up to the ending either. I am now on the edge of my seat waiting on the next instalment the series 'Underworld'. Meg Cabot has written an exciting, interesting start to a new series.

Add Abandon to your Goodreads shelf today.

My favourite character:

John: He is dark, dangerous and mysterious. He is also so intriguing, I want to know so much more about him. Did I mention he is quite swoon worthy. ;)

*Special thanks to Macmillan for the review copy*

3/5 Stars

Carly :)

Goddess Girls - Athena the Brain by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams

2012-05-14T08:07:00.000+01:00

Summary

Athena has always been above average. She's never quite fit in at Triton Junior High, but who would've guessed that Athena is actually a goddess? Principal Zeus's daughter, to be exact. When she's summoned to Mount Olympus Academy, Athena thinks she might actually fit in for the first time in her life. But in some ways, school on Mount Olympus is not that different from down on Earth, and Athena is going to have to deal with the baddest mean girl in history — Medusa! Authors Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams put a modern spin on classic myths with the Goddess Girls series. Follow the ins and outs of divine social life at Mount Olympus Academy, where the most privileged godboys and goddessgirls in the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills.

Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Atom (3 May 2012)

My Review

Athena the Brain is the first book in the brand new Goddess Girls series. I really enjoyed the storyline, the authors have put in some very witty dialogue that had me tittering away while reading. There is some great world building and really good twists on Greek Mythology.

Athena always knew she was a little different, so when she is summoned to Mount Olympus Academy and told she is the daughter of Zeus, it isn't exactly a big shocker. Athena packs up her things and heads to her new school in Mount Olympus Academy to learn to be a real Goddess Girl.

Athena's first day of school doesn't exactly go well. The usually brainy Athena is feeling a little lost, with all the wonderful new things she is learning. But Athena also makes an enemy of the worst mean girl in history, the one and only Medusa.

Will Athena be able to cope with all the pressures of her new school life? Well she is super brainy and she is nice, funny and makes friends easily, so she might just get by OK.

I love how cleaver the authors are, bringing in old things from history like : How Medusa was able to turn things to stone and the existence of Olives, and making a fun twist out of everything.

Unfortunately I feel like Athena the Brain is missing a little something, a little sparkle that I can't quite put my finger on. But all in all a fantastic kick start to the Goddess Girls series and I cannot wait to start the second book 'Persephone The Phony.' I would recommend Athena the Brain to all girls 8+, who I think will enjoy this humorous, quick read.

*Special thanks to Atom books for the review copy*

3/5 Stars

Carly :)

Bloodstorm by Amber Kallyn - Blog Tour - Promo Stop

2012-05-12T14:27:00.000+01:00

Bloodstorm

Heart of a Vampire Book 1

Release Date: April 13, 2012

Novella

Paranormal romance

Long Blurb:

When duty forces a shaman to stop a vampire from her revenge, love doesn’t just burn... it bites.

For two hundred years, Niki DeVeraux has been tracking the monster who murdered her family and made her a vampire. She finally catches up to him in a small Arizona town, only to face more than she bargained for. Amid an imperious vampire King, a shaky truce between the local clan and shifter pack, and a too-sexy sheriff who makes her remember she’s still a woman, Niki’s single-minded purpose is threatened for the first time since her turning.

Between his duties as Keeper of the peace for the Magic Council and heir to his tribe’s shamanistic magic, Sheriff Shane Spencer’s job is to protect humanity and stop the friction between the local Arcaine races before it turns into an all out blood war. To make matters worse, there’s an irresistible rouge vampire in town enflaming his senses.

When wolves start turning up dead, the tension between the paranormal races grows and suspicion falls on Niki. Shane knows she’s not to blame, and it has nothing to do with the primal urges she stirs within him. Working together, they must find a way to stop the hostilities from going over the edge. Trouble is, the desires raging between Niki and Shane might prove more dangerous than the surrounding threats.

About the Author:

One of those rare breeds, Amber Kallyn is an Arizona native who can trace her family's history through six generations in the state. She lives with her sexy husband, and their four very active children. Included in the menagerie are two cats (though there's always room for more) and two dogs. We won't count all the fish. She also writes urban fantasy under the name Higley Browne.

Amber loves the paranormal, from dragons to werewolves to vampires. She's currently at work on her next book, probably running around the house acting out a fight scene with her collection of swords and daggers. Or maybe, wishing she had claws to practice the other fight scenes.

A voracious lover of the written word, Amber found at an early age that she could read fast. Really fast. She devours novels by the day, novellas by the hour, and is always looking to get her hands on more.

http://www.amberkallyn.com/

http://amberkallyn.wordpress.com/

http://www.facebook.com/AmberKallyn

https://twitter.com/#!/AmberKallyn

*Sorry for the late posting, it was scheduled & didn't go in*

The Witches of the Glass Castle by Gabriella Lepore

2012-05-11T07:57:00.000+01:00

Summary

Mia’s life is thrown through a loop when she discovers her family secret — that she and her brother Dino are witches. After they are sent away to study their craft, they begin down a path that will change their lives forever.

Suddenly thrust into a world where handsome warriors command the power of nature and people’s thoughts and actions can be manipulated at will, Mia and Dino struggle to navigate their own allegiances and do what they know to be right when everything around them seems beyond their control.

Paperback, 255 pages

Published 2011 by Book Guild Publishing

My Review

The Witches of the Glass Castle is a really fresh, exciting witchy story that I hope will kick start a brand new series. It is brilliantly written, really well thought out and put together. The storyline is fantastic and reeled me in from the first chapter, it is peppered with twists and turns and is definitely different from everything else in the genre out there at the minute.

When sixteen year old Mia reads the writing on the wall in the basement of her house, everything in her life is turned upside down. Mia and her brother Dino learn that they come from a long line of witches and Mia unlocked their witching heritage. Their mother and aunt are thrilled with the news and pack them off to the Glass Castle to learn more about using their magic, just they did before them.

When they arrive at the Glass Castle they are greeted by a lady called Wendolyn and it's not too long before the adventures and the fun starts. Mia makes friends easily as she is such an outgoing, likeable person. But soon things become all to clear that someone or something is out to get Dino and Mia. They always seem to be in harms way and with Dino being so secretive Mia is left in the dark.

There are |Hunters in the book which makes it very different than your typical witchy book. Their job is to hunt and protect, they are cruel, cold and supposedly emotionless. But when a Hunter named Colt meets Mia, the pair become quite taken with each other. Can Colt keep up his duties as a Hunter and forget about Mia?

The ending of the book is brilliant, I loved how everything worked out and I was quite surprised at times. Gabriella Lepore has left the book wide open for lots more adventures to come (fingers crossed). Add The Witches of the Glass Castle to your Goodreads shelf today.

My favourite characters:

Mia: She is a very strong person, she is likeable, relate-able, down-to-earth and oozing with personality and adventure.

Colt: Colt loves himself, he is cocky, confident, very powerful and a force to reckoned with., I love his whole there's no-one quite like me attitude. Oh, did I mention he is quite a charmer and very swoon worthy. ;)

*Special thanks to Gabriella for the review copy*

4/5 Stars

Carly :)

She Speaks to Angels by Ami Blackwelder - Blog Tour - Guest Post & Giveaway

2012-05-10T11:12:00.001+01:00

She Speaks to Angels

Series: (The AngelFire Chronicles #1)

Published: 2012

Genre(s): YA, Paranormal Romance

Synopsis: What if everything you believed was a lie?

A Suicide

Seventeen year old Allison Maney attends Millennium High School in Manhattan. Nothing out of the ordinary, unless you consider the occasional suicides at the school. At least that is what everyone is told, what everyone believes. But Tommy Bachelor was a popular football player; why would he jump off the roof of the school?

Dangerous Liaisons

When Dameon pays attention to Ali, she couldn't be more excited, because for the past three months he was all she could think about. But now that Dameon is finally pining for her affections, she is becoming more and more wrapped up in a clique of three who, as new transfers to the school, are proving to be trouble. But at least Dameon loves her, doesn't he?

Kian- a dangerous love interest she did not ask for.

Powers- belonging to an underworld she never knew existed.

A Clique- that could be friends or foes?

A Soul Purpose

The underworld of angels and demons have one thing on their mind: Earth.

Demons want to do what they want.

Angels want to protect humans from these rogue angels, AKA: Demons

For Allison Maney, everything is not exactly what it seems…

A Suspenseful Romance

Caught between Dameon and Kian, the suicide and the clique of three,

Ali won't know who to trust…or who to love.

Author Bio

Ami Blackwelder is a romance suspense writer in the paranormal, scifi and historical genres. Growing up in Florida, she graduated UCF and in 1997 received her BA in English and additional teaching credentials. Then she packed her bags and travelled overseas to teach in Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, China and Korea. Thailand is considered her second home now. She has always loved writing and wrote poems and short stores since childhood; however, her novels began when she was in Thailand.

Having won the Best Fiction Award from the University of Central Florida (Yes, The Blair Witch Project University), her short fiction From Joy We Come, Unto Joy We Return was published in the on campus literary magazine: Cypress Dome and remains to this day in University libraries around the USA. Later, she achieved the semi-finals in a Laurel Hemingway contest and published a few poems in the Thailand’s Expat magazine, and an article in the Thailand’s People newspaper. Additionally, she has published poetry in the Korea’s AIM magazine, the American Poetic Monthly magazine and Twisted Dreams Magazine.

http://amiblackwelder.blogspot.com

FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/amis.bookpage

Links

Amazon Goodreads Barnes & Noble (Print) Youtube video

Guest Post

DAMEON VS KIAN!

DAMEON: 17. He is a newbie at Millennium High School in NY. He is mysterious and not much is known about him, but Ali recently found out that his mother had died and that is why he was transferred. His dark hair and eyes only add to his mystique. He also doesn't seem to like Kian very much…then again Kian detests Dameon too. So, Ali figures they are even.

Vanilla or chocolate? CHOCOLATE!

Edward or Jacob? NEITHER, I'd take them both down!

Hockey or soccer? Hockey. I like to hit.

Ebook or paper? eBooks. I don't own paper.

Salty or sweet? Salty. Anything bitter is good.

Beach or mountains? Mountains. Gives me hiding space.

Phone call or email? Email. No one even knows I have a cell.

Early bird or night owl? Night Owl. I do my best work at night.

Dog or cat? Dog. Not those cute ones either. A real mean one. A Bulldog maybe.

Messy or neat? Messy.

Ninjas or pirates? Ninjas.

KIAN: 17. Transferred to Millennium High School in NY. He hangs around Nathaniel and Krysta, but Ali can only stand Nathaniel. He seems real interested in Ali. Why? She isn't sure. But he sure doesn't like Dameon hanging on her. With copper blond hair, he sometime shines under the sun.

Vanilla or chocolate? VANILLA.

Edward or Jacob? It is more like Kian VS Dameon.

Hockey or soccer? Soccer. I like to run the field.

Ebook or paper? eBooks. Everyone at uses eBooks.

Salty or sweet? Just give me a coffee.

Beach or mountains? Beach. Sand between the toes.

Phone call or email? Phone. I want to hear form you now.

Early bird or night owl? Night Owl. I have to keep a watch on Dameon at night.

Dog or cat? Neither. An Eagle would be more suitable for my needs.

Messy or neat? Neat. I like things clean.

Ninjas or pirates? Ninjas. I love to kick butt.

Giveaway

To be in with a chance to win an E-copy of She Speaks to Angels, fill out the Rafflecopter below. Open internationally, winner will be contacted via E-mail. Good Luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The author is having a Grand Giveaway where she is offering 2 Print Copies of her book (US Only) eBook copies of the book (US and International) and Bookmarks.

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From Love and Pain by H. A. Caine - Blog Tour - Guest Post & Giveaway

2012-05-09T08:11:00.000+01:00

From Love and Pain

by H. A. Caine

29 year old Adrian ran away from an imprisoning and abusive household at the age of 19. For years he ran, living on the streets and in shelters, taking crappy jobs to save a little money. Ten years of struggling and now he is a successful partner of a security company. Under the guise of running the security company, Adrian and his best friend and the people who work for them help others who live unfortunately. Like Adrian, not one of his employees have a nice past. They're all running from something, never letting their guards down and they don't want others to suffer as they have. But Adrian makes the mistake of falling in love with a young man when he's 27. For a while, he gets to experience what it's like to be a normal man. He never thought he could be happy, but Jaxon makes him the happiest man in the world. Only it can't last and Adrian is forced to leave or risk Jaxon's life. But his demons caught up with him long before he realized and now no ones safe. Can Adrian save Jaxon before it's too late? And can Jaxon forgive him for walking away?

Goodreads * Smashwords

Excerpt

The door opened.

As casual as could be, the newcomer grabbed a chair from outside the door and turning to face him, straddled it, resting his arms on the back of it. For a long minute he just sat there, staring at Jaxon.

"How are you feeling today?" the man asked in a pleasant tone.

Jaxon was incredulous. He may not be able to look in a mirror, but he felt like crap warmed over and probably looked worse, so he said the only thing he could think of.

“I feel like I just got the shit beaten out of me."

The man tossed back his head and let loose a booming laugh before looking back at Jaxon. "I like that. A man not afraid to get his ass whipped for his insolence. Though I have to say, from the looks of you, I’d guess that welcoming carpet has already been rolled out, huh?" the man smiled charmingly, displaying straight white teeth that shined in the gloominess of the room.

When he didn't received an answer he chuckled softly before turning serious as he suddenly stood, causing the chair to tilt over backwards.

The clatters of the chair hitting the floor made the goony from before jump and take a step away from the man.

From his vantage point on the floor, the man appeared to be a giant, but Jaxon knew better. The man had short hair and a stocky build. He could’ve been a bouncer for some high end club if it wasn't for the impeccable suit he was wearing.

He now tugged on the lapels, straightening out invisible wrinkles as he glared at Jaxon; trying to force him to cower in fear, but Jaxon cowered for no one.

Author Bio

H. A. Caine lives in her hometown of Brooklyn, New York. She has hopes of becoming a great writer and one day opening her own bakery. She even has the name and layout already decided. Among other writing projects she's working on her very own first series, Boys in Love. The first book, Letting Go, will be available later this year.

She enjoys reading and has a passion for writing. But more than anything, she loves hearing from her readers.

Website/Blog * Facebook

Guest Post

My Top Ten List of Places I Want to Visit

I want to travel. If not the world, than the vast majority of it. There's so much to see and I want to be able to say I saw it. I've no plans of buying a book and visiting "1001 places to see before you die". No, I want to go where my heart takes me and never look back.

Here's a list of the Top Ten Places I Want to Visit (See Before I die) *wink, wink*

1. Hawaii - I've always found pictures of Hawaii beautiful and soothing to the senses. I'm huge on water and have a never satisfied need to be close to it.

2. Australia - Another place that screams beauty to me. I've seen movies, read books and have heard from people who live there. All three only convinced me that this is a special place and the people who live are too.

3. Japan - Okay, I'll admit it. I'm addicted to anime. Like Yu-Gi-Oh. I love it, pissed me the hell off when they took it off and now they made so many new versions, it's confusing. Anyway, I've wanted to visit here since I was a little kid. My accountant just got back from Japan. If he can go, why can't I?!

4. London - Historical romances set in London did this one in for me.

5. Antartica - I happen to love the coat and I love winter even more. Antartica seems like the perfect place to be, and the white surroundings are peace and quirt to me.

6. Philadelphia - There's no real reason behind wanting to go here other than just to travel. I hope to do a lot of traveling in my lifetime.

7. Washington - I want to see a few of the monuments up close.

8. San Francisco - Sounds like a fantasic places, beatutiful views and many attractions. Again, to travel.

9. Eygpt - While history was never my favorite subject in school, I did enjoy the brief periods of time spent on Ancient Egypt. The only time I really watch the Discovery Channel is when there are documentaries on anything Eygpt. It's kind of magical.

10. California - Beaches=Water. Enough said.

Giveaway

For a chance to win an e-copy of From Love & Pain by H.A. Caine fill out the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. Winner will be contacted via e-mail . Open Internationally. Good Luck :) *please note this is not suitable for younger readers*

Grand Giveaway Entry Rules!

There will be THREE Grand Giveaways! First, Second and Third.

The grand prize(s) are…

First Prize: A paperback copy of From Love and Pain, Author Swag( From Love and Pain coffee mug, notebook, banner, and a pen) and one ebook copy of all future books that I write. These will be given before or the day of releases.
Second Prize: A paperback copy of From Love and Pain and one ebook copy of any e-book reviewed on my site. (at the the top of the author's page there is a box that reads “Reviews”. All reviews have been copied and pasted there.)
Third Prize: A paperback copy of From Love and Pain.

Grand Prize Entry Rules: The Grand Prize giveaways are open to the U.S ONLY. Please leave your name and email in a comment on any of the blog stops or on any tour posting, to be entered into the giveaway. Winners will be chosen using Random.com. Grand Prize winners will be announced on the author's blog and on the author's facebook page on May 22nd, 2012. Follow my the author's blog or like my her page to guarantee you won’t miss the announcements. This is not mandatory to be entered into the drawings. Winners will have 14 days (2 weeks) to contact the author and claim their prize. If prizes are not claimed in the allotted time period, the prize will go to the next person. And so and so on. Thank you for your participation. To view all the rules or contact the author, visit HERE

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A Novel in Three Parts - The Lady Most Likely by Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway

2012-05-07T14:00:00.000+01:00

Summary

" Three of the brightest stars of historical romance invite you to a party at the country home of the Honorable Marquess of Finchley "

Hugh Dunne, the Earl of Briarly, needs a wife, so his sister hands him a list of delectable damsels and promises to invite them-- and a few other gentlemen--to her country house for what is sure to be the event of the season.

Hugh will have time to woo whichever lady he most desires . . . Unless someone else snatches her first.
The invitation list includes: The horse-mad but irresistibly handsome Earl of Briarly The always outspoken Miss Katherine Peyton The dashing war hero Captain Neill Oakes The impossibly beautiful (and painfully shy) Miss Gwendolyn Passmore The terribly eligible new Earl of Charters The widowed Lady Georgina Sorrell (who has no plans to marry, ever)

And your hostess, Lady Carolyn Finchley, an irrepressible matchmaker who plans to find the lady most likely . . . to capture her brother's untamed heart.

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Piatkus (3 May 2012)
Genre : Historical Romance

My Review

The Lady Most Likely is a truly spectacular novel, that is written in 3 parts. It is 3 stories within one story which is very different from anything I have ever read before and I loved it. This is a fun, fluffy, sexy book that was warm, satisfying and put a big smile on my face. Hats off to Julia Quinn, Eloisa James and Connie Brockway for bring this wonderful MUST read book to the table.

Hugh Dunne is the Earl of Briarly and after a scare from a horse training accident he feels he needs to find himself a wife. So he has his sister Carolyn make him a list of all the available and the best young ladies on the market. Carolyn is a bit of a matchmaker and is delighted with the idea of pairing Hugh off. So she invites the young ladies and some fine gentlemen to her house for a house party. But will things go as she plans?

Not likely, Hugh will need to work fast if he has any hopes of securing any ladies hand, as his friends are also showing a keen interest. But Hugh can't seem to tear himself away from the stables, where he is training his Arabian racehorse. And while some matchmaking may be going on with some of the ladies and gentlemen, Hugh sets his sights on an unlikely lady. But will she even consider him?

The novel tied up beautifully in the end and I was overjoyed for all the new lovebirds. The Lady Most Likely is a delightful quick read that I would highly recommend to fans of the historical romance genre, or even new readers to the genre. Add it to your Goodreads shelf today or buy it on Amazon.

Favourite Quotes:

"Gerogina had an overwhelming urge to run. He was absurdly different from the men she had known. Too much, too male, too strong, too - too everything. "

"Something that was for her alone. Something that stole the breath from her chest and sent a shiver down her spine."

"Because if he looked like he was unaffected by her smile, then she would not realise that, in actuality, he was in an utter panic because somewhere deep down inside he'd realised that his life had just changed forever."

My Favourite Characters:

Kate : She is outspoken and probably the most unlady like out of the group of ladies. She speaks her mind and it makes some people feel uncomfortable. I love her charming nature and I think she could be wild behind closed doors.

Georgina : She has a very quiet , reserved manner and after the death of her husband she is still quite down. But she is intelligent, witty and definitely has a devilish side :)

4/ Stars

*Special thanks to Piatkus for the review copy*

Carly :)

Showcase Sunday #1

2012-05-06T22:30:00.000+01:00

Hello and welcome to my first Showcase Sunday, which is hosted by Vicky of at Books, Biscuits and Tea. In my Showcase Sunday post I will 'Showcase' the books I received throughout the week(s). Feel free to leave me your links to your posts and I will check them out.

This Sunday I will be doing 3 weeks worth of books, so there is quite a few. :)

For Review

The Proposal by Mary Balogh

Summer Daydreams by Carole Matthews

The Sands of Time by Dianna Hardy

Goddess Girls - Athena the Brain by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams

Goddess Girls - Persephone the Phony by Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams

Monster High 4 - Back & Deader Than Ever by Lisi Harrison

Middle Watch by Loretta Proctor

The Witching Pen by Dianna Hardy

Dying to Know You by Aidan Chambers

Until I Die by Amy Plum

The Butterfly Tiara by Gwyneth Rees

Young Sherlock Homes - Fire Storm by Andrew Lane

Bringing the Summer by Julia Green

Scarlet by A.C Gaughen

Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts

The Witness by Nora Roberts

32 Fangs by David Wellington

So that's it folks, to see my reviews of :

The Butterfly Tiara click here

Bringing the Summer click here

Dying to Know You click here

Revamped by Ada Adams‏ - Blog Tour - Guest Post & Giveaway

2012-05-05T10:02:00.000+01:00

ReVamped

By Ada Adams

Paranormal YA

Blurb:

Nineteen-year-old vampire Dawn has led a sheltered life within the confines of her father’s presidential headquarters. Upon being sent on a mission to revamp four goofy misfits into guardians of a peaceful little town of Angel Creek, Dawn believes that all her dreams have finally come true. What starts off as a simple task, turns into something unexpected, changing Dawn’s life forever and leading the action-loving, thrill-seeking vampire teen on a path of mystery, danger and intrigue.

When a human girl is kidnapped by a group of rogue vamps, Dawn discovers that there is more going on in Angel Creek than meets the eye. And it all connects to Ethan, the cute newcomer who seems too perfect to be true, Sebastian, the mysterious vampire with a turbulent past, and even Dawn herself. Dawn must not only succeed in revamping the troubled recruits, but must also prevent the vampire race from being overtaken by a malevolent villain who has a strange and obsessive fascination with her. As threat escalates, romance blooms, and ghosts from her past begin to surface, Dawn is sure of only one thing: her life will never be the same.

Excerpt One:

PROLOGUE

A sharp, searing pain pierced through my chest as I watched the guy I liked—the guy I was falling in love with—kiss another girl. With every fiber of my being, I willed myself to look away, my vision blurring in a desperate attempt to escape the agonizing scene before me. My body failed to obey; my gaze remained firmly glued to the couple.

Powerless, I surrendered to the nightmare, for a brief moment allowing myself to imagine that his muscular arms were, in fact, embracing me. After all, the girl’s face, with its pale complexion, high cheekbones, straight nose and cupid-bow lips, was identical to mine. Her glossy brown hair cascaded down her back, each loose wave perfectly matching my own. Even her slender body curved in precisely the same places. Looking at her was like gazing into the smooth, reflective surface of a moving, breathing mirror.

She was me.

Or was I her?

She fluttered open her long, dark lashes, and pulling me out of the fantasy, revealed the one perceptible difference between us: her emerald green eyes. While hauntingly beautiful, they looked nothing at all like my pale violet ones. She stared directly at me, tightening her grip on the only person in the world I had ever wanted to be with—mocking me for being too late.

“Aurora,” he whispered in her ear.

In that instant, I knew with certainty that he was not thinking about me.

About the Author:

"Many people sing in the shower. I, on the other hand, write scenes in my head and act them out."

At age five, Ada read her first chapter book - Pippi Longstocking. Ever since that moment, she developed an intense passion for the stories and characters found within the pages of literature.

In her career as an actress and a writer, Ada currently spends most of her days immersed in imaginary worlds. Much like the characters she enjoys playing and writing about, Ada is a martial artist with a Black Belt in Shotokan Karate. She is also a big proponent of lifelong learning, and has attained Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (it aids in creating characters with unique quirks!) as well as a Master's of Science in Education.

Ada strives to bring a fresh voice and perspective to fiction. She has been writing creatively for many years. "ReVamped" is her debut novel.

She lives in Toronto, Canada, and enjoys adventurous nature hikes with her adorable puppies Cara and Oreo.

www.revampedbook.com

www.facebook.com/revampedbook

www.twitter.com/Ada_Adams

www.goodreads.com/book/show/13495198-revamped

Guest Post

Many readers have had some very nice things to say about ReVamped’s cover, so I thought that I would share its story and highlight the photographer/digital artist who was responsible for its creation.

Her name is Olga Barkhatova, and we first met on a fun photoshoot for a hair salon, where she proceeded to turn me into a mermaid with a really cool updo!

Here are some unique images that she has created:

You can view more of Olga’s work at www.olgabarkhatova.ca

I’ve greatly admired Olga’s skill as both a photographer and a digital artist, so when it came time to create a cover for ReVamped, I approached her about a collaboration.

I had always wanted the cover to be true to the story—that was one of the most important things for me. I wished to find the perfect balance between an eye-catching cover and the content of book. I adore pretty covers, but since Dawn is such a strong, independent character who kicks a lot of butt, I didn’t want the cover to be “too girly”.

My first step in designing the cover was to do some research. What book covers stood out? What colors worked well? What content drew in the viewer’s eye, and then kept their attention? In today’s electronic age, many people are finding out about books by seeing tiny thumbnails of the cover pages on their computer screens. Therefore, it’s important for a cover to not only look great in print form on someone’s shelf, but to also be able to catch the viewer’s attention in its digital form.

Choosing the color of the cover was simple. Dawn’s unique amethyst eye-color is very important to the story. Therefore, it was essential show it off. Without a doubt, the cover had to be in hues of amethyst/purple/violet. Plus, it’s a bold color that stands out and also happens to be one of my favorites, so it was an easy decision! I also incorporated some white and black into the mix, thus keeping the color scheme elegant, yet powerful.

The content was a little harder to come by. I had noticed a popular trend in recent 2011/2012 covers—it’s all about beautiful, long gowns and high-fashion poses. While I adore each and every one of these covers, I also had to take into consideration ReVamped and Dawn. Putting Dawn into a high-fashion gown just didn’t fit with her personality or the plot. This is a girl who keeps her combat boots on under a sundress and groans at the thought of having to attend the Scarlett House ball! I didn’t want to create too much of a divergence between Dawn’s character and the cover. Still, I knew that I wanted to cover to be eye-catching—with or without the gown!

I went through a few prototypes, most notably focusing on Dawn’s eyes and the gazebo (since it plays such an important part in the story). There was a point in time when I considered displaying it all! Dawn’s face, the gazebo, and perhaps even the boys (Ethan and Sebastian). Thankfully, I had a moment of clarity (or perhaps sanity?) and scrapped that idea. More is not always better. You can’t overcrowd a book cover, because then the viewer’s focus will be scattered all over the place. Simplicity is often the key. We pulled the gazebo and the guys, and were left with Dawn’s face.

I also always knew that I didn’t want to display “all of Dawn”. When I read, I prefer to form my own images and thoughts about the characters’ appearances. Of course, the author dictates most of that with the character descriptions, but when you’re served an image of a character on a platter, then as a reader you can sometimes find yourself unable to stray away from that image. Therefore, I selected to show the readers a little peek of Dawn, but not so much that you cannot form “your own Dawn” in your mind.

I told Olga what my vision for the title was, and she provided me with some script samples to choose from. We had a few really girly ones, but we ended up settling on the one you see now, because it was unique, while at the same time it hinted at the action and adventure that occurs in the book. I also decided to switch around the “RE” so that it was facing backwards. It’s a little homage to the misfits, who are kind of “backwards vampires”!

I’m currently in the development stages of the sequel’s cover, and things are getting interesting. Plotting covers for a series is not a simple task. They all have to connect and be completely in-sync, while at the same time they must be different enough so that readers can immediately recognize which book the cover belongs to. Originally, I knew exactly what I wanted for ReAwakened’s cover, but after laying out the story and adjusting the plot slightly, I’ve decided to go in a different direction. I guess you’ll have to wait until the cover reveal to find out what that is! :)

Fun Fact:
Did you know that the necklace Dawn is wearing on the cover is made out of forks? Prongs of an actual fork are keeping the stone in place! When I first saw it, it reminded me of an ancient piece of jewelry, which worked very well with the plot. Even though Dawn is only nineteen-years-old, her past, as we find out, spans over a very long period of time. Therefore, the necklace is a very fitting way to tie Dawn to the historical aspect of her life. The stone of the necklace was actually emerald in color. We decided to change it to suit the cover and Dawn’s eyes, but isn’t that interesting? Out of all possible colors, it happened to match Aurora’s eyes perfectly!

I hope you enjoyed getting a little behind-the-scenes peek into ReVamped’s cover! Feel free to stop by Olga’s website and let her know what a fantastic job she has done!

Happy Reading!

Ada Adams

I am thrilled to have Ada Adams here guest blogging today & I am so pleased she decided to talk about her lush cover. I have some serious cover love for ReVamped & I think Olga's work is fantastic. I am dying to read ReVamped but unfortunately I cannot read e-books. Oh & I loved Pippi Longstocking too -Carly :)

Giveaway

Now for the giveaway folks, to be in with a chance to win a Kindle copy of ReVamped then fill out the Rafflecopter below. Good luck :)

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The Butterfly Tiara by Gwyneth Rees

2012-05-04T08:13:00.000+01:00

Summary

In this third book in the series, Ava puts on a beautiful trapeze outfit with an amazing butterfly tiara and is transported to a travelling circus. Ava loves the bright lights and the beautiful costumes, but she's worried about a baby elephant that is being trained to perform tricks. Can Ava reunite the baby with its mother before the ringmaster finds out?

Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books (29 Mar 2012)

My Review

The Butterfly Tiara is the 3rd instalment in the series and the first book I have had the pleasure of reading, you really could pick up the series on any book. It has a fabulous little storyline, relate-able and likeable characters, lots of action and fun for any girly girl. The illustrations are a nice treat throughout the book and they sort of reminded me a bit of the Jacqueline Wilson books I would of read when I was younger.

Ava and her family have an exciting secret, they are blessed with the travelling gift. They can stand in front of the magical mirrors and be magically transported back in time. On this adventure Ava and her auntie Marietta are visiting a travelling circus. Ava picks out a really special trapeze outfit, that has a beautiful glittering butterfly tiara, that becomes even more sparkly when she puts it on.

When Ava and Marietta arrive at the circus, Ava meets Lexi (Lexi's dad owns the circus). Ava comes across a really cute baby elephant, that is being forced to preform tricks. Ava feels sorry for the baby elephant, so Lexi and Ava do some detective work to try and find out where the elephant came from. They enlist the help of one of the performer's and they make it their mission to try and return the baby elephant to it's mummy.

The mission will be dangerous for the girls and they will have to act fast, before the nasty animal trainer finds out what they are up to.

The ending has an unexpected surprise that will put a big smile on your face. :)

The Butterfly Tiara is a real winner and I think every 7+ girl out there will love it. Give it a try today: Add it on Goodreads or buy it on Amazon UK US

*Special thanks to Macmillan for the review copy*

4/5 Stars

Carly :)

Repossession (The Keepers Trilogy, #1) by Rachael Wade - COVER REVEAL

2012-05-03T10:28:00.000+01:00

Repossession (The Keepers Trilogy, #1)

A Post-Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Romance Series
Coming Winter 2012.

Add to your Goodreads shelf HERE.

Skylla only knows that she has been kidnapped and held hostage by the foreign invaders and their human allies. And that the world is ending. Or so the humans think. The invaders have made it clear that their arrival is one of hostile intent, and as their takeover spreads, so does the panic across the globe. No one knows how to defeat them, or if it’s even sane to try.

Jet, Skylla’s human captor, is up for the challenge, though. A traitor in Skylla’s eyes, he is working with them. But Jet has his own agenda; one that doesn’t include babysitting Skylla or helping the enemies. And as the human race struggles to keep the invaders from achieving their goal, Jet and Skylla’s paths collide to reveal the truth behind Skylla’s abduction.

The invaders are headed for the water. Jet is headed for the water. But that’s the last place Skylla wants to be. That’s where the future of humanity lies, and where the bridge to their yesterdays was burned. On a mission to take back what is rightfully theirs, Earth’s population is determined to make sure this isn’t the end. But some endings were never theirs to begin with.

I am so happy to have been able to share this brand new book with you today. I don't know about you but I am already mega excited about this book. Rachael Wade writes such a wide range of genres, which is wondeerful. -Carly :)

Bringing The Summer by Julia Green

2012-05-02T12:36:00.000+01:00

Summary

It's the lazy end of summer and Freya is about to start her A levels. Her brother Joe died a year ago, but she is slowly coming to terms with his death. She is beginning to feel ready for something new - a change. And then a railway accident brings her by chance into contact with the gorgeous Gabes. Freya is drawn not just to Gabes himself and his blond good looks, but everything about him, including his large, shambolic, warm and loving family, which seems to Freya so different to her own family of three. And then Gabes' clearly troubled older brother makes it clear he is interested in Freya - and Freya has some decisions to make about what she really wants.

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC; Original edition (10 May 2012)

My Review

Bringing the Summer is the first Julia Green book I have read and if it is anything to go by I have been seriously missing out. The storyline is kept fairly light while still tackling darker issues brilliantly. Julia Green writes beautifully and I was fully engaged in the story from the first chapter. I really didn't expect to love Bring the Summer quite as much as I did, so I am extremely happy with how everything turned out.

Frey's brother died in a boating accident about two years ago, so that just leaves Freya and her parents, who work allot and aren't around much. Freya hates the stillness and quietness that surrounds family life now, with her brother gone. But when Freya meets super cute Gabes things start looking up.

Freya is sucked into Gabes' family life, he has a super big family and his big old house is homely and never still or quiet, the way Frey thinks family life should be. Freya and Gabes become very close but there seems to be no romantic spark.

Gabes' older brother Theo is dark, mysterious and he really intrigues Freya, who he shows a keen interest in. But Theo has some serious issues to work through and sometimes he frightens Freya. Frey need to think about what or who she wants or she could end up hurting the people she cares about.

The ending is great, Freya really grew as a person and I think she made the right decision for herself. I was really pleased for her.

Overall I think this book was brilliant. You would think by reading about this book that Freya wouldn't be a very nice person, with the whole brother thing. But that is not the case, I think Freya was a truly nice person, she was just making some typical mistakes 'growing up' and I think that's the angle Julia Green was coming from, Freya maturing and growing as a person, she needed to make her own mistakes in order to do just that.

I would highly recommend Bringing The Summer and I am now going to seek out more of Julia Green's works. Add Bringing The Summer to your Goodreads shelf today.

My favourite characters:

Freya: I loved Freya, she is quite mature for her age, she is intelligent, fun, works hard in school and is a really good friend to have.

Theo: This is one dangerous guy, he is little disturbed to tell the truth, but I think he is a really intriguing character that I was instantly drawn to. He is extremely intelligent but he is also quite introverted and comes across a little rude to people at times. But his softer side, when he opens himself up, are the best times to see who he could be without the dark cloud he has hanging over him.

*Special thanks to Bloomsbury for the review copy*

4/5 Stars

Carly :)

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

2012-05-01T08:09:00.001+01:00

I am thrilled to be apart of Insurgent UK and to be in team Erudite UK. The hype for Insurgent was so high, I have never seen so much hype surrounding a book before. A big thank-you to the lovely Rosi (who works over at HarperCollins) for making things so fun for everyone involved.

Summary

Fighting for survival in a shattered world… the truth is her only hope.

The thrillingly dark sequel to New York Times bestseller, DIVERGENT.

I have done bad things. I can’t take them back, and they are part of who I am.

Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future.

Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever… because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead.

My Review

It is so hard to not just say Insurgent is spectacular and that's it, as it really is too good to put into words. What a chillingly exciting second book that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. There were a real mixture of emotions for me throughout the book, I was angry, sad, happy and always excited. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and in the end when I finished the book all that there was left in my mind was WOW.

Tris is struggling with her grief, the loss of her parents and being forced to kill one of her best-friends, Will. The future is looking bleaker all the time and the Dauntless that are left need to make a stand before it's too late. Tris becomes more reckless that ever and it puts allot of strain on her relationship with Four.

Tris finds out that the Erudite have the knowledge of something that will change the future for everyone, if revealed. But the Erudite are still tirelessly searching for the Divergent, some of which are shockingly her friends, so Tris must make an important decision, will she sacrifice herself for the sake of her friends?

The Dauntless traitors are still working for Erudite and the Dauntless that are left find an unlikely ally, that Tris is sure can't be trusted. Four and Tris end up having different agendas, which means they will be trying to oppose each other, which can't end well, can it? There are tons of big shocking moments throughout Insurgent, it is one big thrill ride from start to finish. The ending is so fabulous and unbelievable that I am already biting my nail in anticipation for the third and final instalment in the trilogy.

Veronica Roth writes masterfully and builds the most haunting future worlds, her characters are fresh, exciting and getting stronger in each book. I can promise you that if you are a fan of the first book you will love this book. Insurgent needs to go on everybody's MUST read list, you definitely won't be disappointed.

5/5 Stars

*Special thanks to HarperCollinsChildren's books for the review copy*

Carly :)

Giveaway

OK folks, I said I would do a giveaway for reaching 300 followers. But I think what better time to do one than now, I loved Insurgent so much I want to share it with all my wonderful readers. So, to be in with a chance to win a paperback copy of Insurgent by Veronica Roth, fill out the Rafflecopter below. If any of my wonderful blogger friends already have a review copy of Insurgent, they can pick another book to the round about value of Insurgent. The giveaway is open internationally, as long as the Book Depository ships to you (click here to find out). Winner will be contacted via e-mail & will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be drawn. I am not responsible for any items lost or damaged in the shipping process. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE. :)

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Letters in Cardboard Boxes by Abby Slovin - Review - Interview & Giveaway

2012-04-30T08:05:00.000+01:00

Summary

Letters In Cardboard Boxes tells the story of an eccentric grandmother and her granddaughter alongside a series of fantastical letters they once exchanged. Their letters once traversed the East River to help Parker escape the loneliness of a childhood without her globe-trekking parents and communicate during her turbulent teenage years. Now, nearly a decade later, Parker begins to rediscover the evidence of this letter writing tradition, as well as the family’s untold stories and, unexpectedly, letters from her grandmother’s own youth that paint a very different portrait of the woman who raised her.

Letters carries us through the universally-shared experience of loss and the process of coping with life’s unexpected twists and turns. Through unusual and bold characters, the story moves through some of its heavier themes with honesty and humor.

Paperback, First, 260 pages

Published September 9th 2011

Letters In Cardboard Boxes has just won the First Horizon Award for superior work by a debut writer. Please check it out at the link below :)

http://www.hofferaward.com/HAFirstHorizon.html

My Review

Letters in Cardboard Boxes is a truly wonderful and moving story, that I think will be relate-able to many readers. It is beautifully written and reads brilliantly. It took me a little while to get fully engaged and interested in the storyline, but after that the pages flew in quickly and I fully enjoyed the story.

Parker has been raised by her eccentric grandmother, Dotty. The pair are very close and do quite allot together. Parker discovers Dotty is very ill, she is loosing her memory at an alarming rate. So Parker packs up her things and moves in with her Grandmother.

Parker finds a cardboard box full of letters that her Grandmother sent to her when she was growing up. Dotty always sent Parker letters and at first Parker loved their letter writing ritual, but as she grew up she thought it was silly and stopped sending letters back.

Dotty deteriorates further and further and soon she may not even remember who Parker even is. But Parker will always have the wonderful letters to remember her Grandmother by. Parker finds more letters and photographs in her Grandmothers belongings and she discovers some things about Dotty that she never knew before. She starts to regret not asking questions and getting to know Dotty when she had the chance.

Tanya is a sixteen year old girl that Dotty mentored. The pair were very close and Tanya relied on Dotty's presence and advice. But Dotty wants Parker to take over Tanya's mentoring sessions, Parker's not too sure. Tanya plays a key role in the book, Parker ends up relying on her. Tanya is described as an old soul in the book and I think that fits her perfectly.

I really don't want to ramble the whole storyline away, so I will let you discover the book for yourself. The ending was fantastic, I was so pleased for Parker, that she puts herself first. She went through such a transformation throughout the book and it was a delight to read. Abby Slovin handled the heavy topics in the story superbly, it never became too low, it had humour to keep it balanced.

I am one of those people who picks up a book and reads until the end of a chapter, but Letters is divided into 5 parts and that annoyed me a little bit. I understand now that the book was divided into 5 parts to coincide with psychology's 5 stages of grief, but I'm still not sure how I feel about no chapters.

All in all, a must read book from début author Abby Slovin, add it to your Goodreads shelf today, I highly recommend it.

My favourite characters:

Tanya: She is intelligent, different, fun and seems older than her years. I really enjoyed reading about her character.

Dotty: I absolutely loved Dotty's bold, wacky, fun personality, she is a great person that I would love to have as my grandmother. She is a real joy to read about and put a big smile on my face. It is such a shame that such a lively soul lost her memories.

*Special thanks to Abby Slovin for the review copy*

4/5 Stars

Carly :)

About The Author

Abby Slovin was born in the summer of 1983 and lived in the same house on Long Island until attending the University of Michigan. She has a deep love for New York City, Brooklyn especially, where much of her family has its roots. She loves to spend time outdoors, travel, research family genealogy, and relax at home in Jersey City with her husband, Dominick and dog, Grumpy.

Interview

First off a big hello and welcome to Abby Slovin, who has dropped by Fiction Fascination today for an interview. :)

Thanks for inviting me :)

Tell us a little bit about Letters In Cardboard Boxes?

Letters tells the story of an eccentric grandmother and her granddaughter alongside a series of fantastical letters they once exchanged. This relationship sits at the core of the novel and we witness this bond begin to deteriorate as dementia progresses. Its told with honesty, warmth, and humor, and focuses on the universal experience of loss.

Where did the inspiration come from to sit down and start writing it?

The inspiration for this story stems from a moment of discovery in my own life. I was sorting through some of my grandmother's belongings after she had passed away and found a handful of letters between her and my grandfather during their courtship. I was hit with a lot of emotion: sadness, for not having her around to discuss it, guilt for not asking about her youth when she was around, and joy that she had such love in her life. I decided to write a story with this theme at its foundation, and it evolved from there.

Who is your favourite character in the book? Why?

I love Jerry, his gentle humor and warmth, and also his quiet sadness. I think he's a good, complete character.

Tell us a little bit about your writing process?

Since I work full-time, my process is more influenced by time constraints. Most of my big ideas, big scenes, or dialogue have resulted from sporadic thoughts I’ve had throughout the day. Walking to work, for example, something might occur to me and I write myself a text so I don’t forget. Sometimes, I’m able to run right to my computer and flesh it out. Other times, the little notes to myself sit for a few weeks until I can get to them. I don’t necessarily have a schedule to write, but I think that’s what makes my prose more energetic, more raw. Because I’m usually moving while I’m “writing.” I usually jump around in the story also. One day I’ll write parts of the beginning, then jump to the end, then back to the middle, and so on. I just go with what section is speaking to me at that moment. If you can call chaos a process, then I guess that’s exactly what my process is.

Is writing something you always wanted to do?

I've always loved to write, but I would say it was definitely more of a hobby before I got the inspiration to write Letters. Even then, I was writing the story for fun for some time before I realized it could be something more.

If you could change one thing about Letters In Cardboard Boxes, would you? What would it be?

That's a tough question because I think its important to reach a point in the writing process where I'm content with things as they are, and allow the story to live in the real world with readers and their own interpretations of it. That's not to say I think the story is perfect, but more so that I've reached a point where I'm content with it, as is.

Are you working on any writing at the minute? That you can tell us about?

Right now, I'm moving forward with two new projects. The first, being released monthly on the Dunce Academy blog, is a humorous story about a recent college graduate searching for work (http://www.abbyslovin.com/jack-and-the-brick-wall/about-jack/ ). The other will be my next novel, called 10:15 on a Tuesday, tells the story of an unlikely friendship that develops between an upper-middle class widower and a psychic (http://www.abbyslovin.com/other-work/what-should-i-write-next/1015-on-a-tuesday/ ).

Tell us about some of your favourite authors?

I love Kurt Vonnegut, and am in awe of how he consistently made such profound observations in such a simple way. And I love the quirky relationships and multi-dimentional characters depicted in the work of Charles Baxter, Woody Allen, and Ruth Ozeki. I love the poetry of Emily Dickinson.

If you can narrow it down (I know it's hard) could you tell us you top 3 all time favourite reads?

What a difficult exercise. Hmmm...my favorite reads of all time are probably One Hundred Years of Solitude, White Oleander, and All Over Creation.

Who is you favourite fictional character (not your own)? Why?

I love Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird. She's bold, curious, and challenges what society expects of her.

What do you enjoy getting up to in your spare time?

I like to spend time outdoors, sitting outside with a beer or a coffee and talking to a friend, or strolling through the park. Anything low key or slow paced that allows me to stop and watch the world for awhile.

Where can people find you? And your works?

I love hearing from readers, so if anyone wants to find me, they can email me with questions, feedback, or to sign up for my mailing list at abby.slovin@gmail.com. If anyone would like to read more of my work, or keep updated on new projects, they can visit my website: www.abbyslovin.com

Thanks so much for the interview, Abby :)

Thank you!

Giveaway

Abby has been kind enough to offer up 2 e-copies of Letters in Cardboard Boxes. So to be in with a chance to win one, fill out the Rafflecopter below. Open internationally, winner will be contacted via e-mail. Good Luck :) *Sorry about spelling Boxes wrong in the Rafflecopter*

a Rafflecopter giveaway