Friction to Fiction

Dawn of the Apocalypse Blog Tour

2013-12-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

What's better to celebrate the New Year than the end of the world? 'Tis the Season of the Apocalypse is a week long blitz and review tour with awesome prizes, interviews, guest posts, and more!

The tour will also have a two-week long giveaway, where winners can get a signed paperback copy of Dawn of the Apocalypse and $10 Amazon cash. All tour hosts will get a free ebook copy of Dawn of the Apocalypse, along with the chance to win an autographed copy of Dawn of the Apocalypse and a $5 Amazon gift card!

SO hurry up and enter, before it's too late!

Dawn of the Apocalypse by E.S.P.

Published: August 8, 2013

Publisher: Mind Candy LLC

Amazon

January 1, 2000. May 21, 2011. December 21, 2012 These are just a few of the days humans prophesied as bringing catastrophic events that would end the world. We predicted nuclear warfare. Drastic climate change. A call from God. We were wrong. Cue the gargoyle invasion—laboratory bred mutants designed to slaughter humans. When the government goes AWOL and gargoyles are swarming by the hundreds, it's up to the citizens of the United States to regroup and save themselves. Meet Cliff Matthews, a teenage boy separated from his entire family with the exception of his younger sister, whom he is desperate to keep alive. Along the quest to save their lives, he encounters people who aren't all that they seem. Everyday's a battle, but if he can't trust his own species, where does that leave his family? And we can't forget the man who may be willing to sacrifice Cliff's life, if it means world domination. In terms of doomsday, no one could've seen this coming.

Excerpt!

Angel’s chest was rising and falling rapidly as the gargoyles circled them silently. Hunter had never wanted something more in her entire life than to live for another day. She couldn’t even entertain the idea of little Angel being gobbled up by the big bad gargoyle…

She squeezed her eyes shut. Please, please, please, she chanted silently over and over.

She knew the type of wound a scratch had given Cliff. What type of pain would they concur on her entire body? Would they eat her right away or save her for dinner? Would they pluck out her limbs and eat them one by one?

Time stopped as the door creaked open. The gargoyles soundlessly cloaked themselves back in the shadows. The stairs groaned as someone walked down the stairs without a care in the world. Hunter could practically hear the gargoyles lick their lips.

She wanted to cry out and warn the person. But it was beyond her control. That’s what you get for walking down the stairs so loudly. That’s what you get for walking in the dark during a damn invasion, she reasoned. But her heart was saying something else.

The person reached the bottom of the stairs. The gargoyles uniformly shifted through the shadows. “Hey…” he said suspiciously.

He had realized his danger a second too late. He broke into a run, but the gargoyles would be on him in a second. And he’d be dead.

“C’mon, sweetie.” Hunter whispered to Angel, crawling out from under the stairs. Ignoring the cries of agony, pain, and sorrow, she raced up the stairs. The wood banged against her ankles, but she didn’t stop. There was the cruel sound of cracking. Hunter shielded Angel’s eyes from the scene and dared to look behind her.

The gargoyles were circled around the man. The predominantly bigger gargoyle bit his neck. A gush of blood spewed across its face. The man’s eyes still stared at her, his mouth formed in an O, as if he was trying to speak to her.

“I’m so sorry.” She choked.

She hurried up the steps, slamming her body into the door. The light washed over her body, as did her relief. But her nerves did not settle.

Enter the Giveaway!

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About the Author:

Being the daughter of an accomplished author, E.S.P. grew up listening to stories and telling her own to classmates. After writing for several years and even publishing some short works, she finally decided to take the plunge to write (plus finish!)a full length novel. Thus, Dawn of the Apocalypse was born. When she's not writing, she's either reading books, blogging at whoistheserialreader.blogspot.com, or watching eighties movies.

Follow E.S.P. on her blog

Join the Discussion!

"Move over zombie apocalypses, the gargoyles are taking over. " Unabridged Bookshelf Book Blog

"Dawn Of The Apocalypse is a novel full of grit, action, blood and never forgetting the gargoyles...you should get your hands on this one!" Emily at Fluttereal Flight Blog

What's in the Snow?—An Interview with Jessica Sankiewicz

2013-12-28T00:25:00.002-05:00

Jessica from Reviews Abound and Cal from Read Books and Live Green are hosting a Winter Scavenger hunt together that is amazing. Be sure to start from the beginning to get all the clues! Check out the intro post for a full explanation of the hunt here.

I have an interview with Jessica Sankiewicz, author of If Only We.

Hi Jessica! Welcome to my blog, and welcome to the What’s in the Snow? Scavenger Hunt!

This event is all about Winter and everything wintry. What do you look forward to most when winter is approaching?

~~Snuggling under fluffy blankets, watching movies, and drinking hot chocolate.

What’s your favorite thing to do during the winter?

~~Ice skating.

During the winter, there are numerous holidays being celebrated around the world. How do you celebrate, and what’s your favorite tradition?
~~I don’t really do much of anything for the holidays. I just try to spend as much time with friends and family all through winter.

How do you stay warm and cozy during winter?
~~Blankets and hoodies! Hahaha! I’m wearing a hoodie right now, and if it was colder I’d probably have a blanket on too.

Seeing as you live in Ohio, I’m sure you get a decent amount of snow. If you were a kid again, what would you be doing on a day with fresh snow on the ground?
~~I’d make snowmen and snow forts and have snowball fights.

This or That!

Hot Cocoa or Hot Coffee? ~~Hot Cocoa

Fire or Electric Heater? ~~Fire

Cookies or Chocolates? ~~Cookies

Blanket or Snuggie? ~~Blanket

With snow, stay inside or go outside? ~~Stay inside

Speed Round!

Favorite book to read when stuck inside? ~~Anything nearby. I’m not huge on rereads (although I do reread from time to time) so I grab anything I haven’t read that sounds good.

What’s your favorite “wintry food?” ~~Marshmallows… when they’re in hot chocolate.

Favorite winter clothes? ~~Soft sweaters and hoodies.

What year had did you have the best winter? ~~Probably sometime when I was still in elementary school but I have no idea which year it was!

Favorite winter themed book? ~~For some reason, the first one that popped into my head was The Ex Games by Jennifer Echols.

Do you like snow? ~~I used to when I was a kid but now that I have to drive a car in it, not so much. It is pretty to watch though.

Yummiest holiday food/dessert? ~~Cookies! I love cookies with sprinkles.

GIVEAWAY!

-Giveaway is for people 13 years or older

-Prizes are US ONLY for physical copies, but ebooks are INTERNATIONAL

-The winner has 48 hours to reply to the email, otherwise another winner will be chosen.

-PRIZES ARE DISTRIBUTED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS!

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BUT WAIT! You need to answer this clue in order to get an entry in the Rafflecopter!
Clue #11: Who took pictures of snowflakes on a black background and showed that they were all different? (Last Name)

The Offering by Kimberly Derting—$50 Book Blast

2013-12-16T15:17:00.005-05:00

The Offering by Kimberly Derting

True love—and world war—is at stake in the conclusion to The Pledge trilogy, a dark and romantic blend of dystopia and fantasy. Charlie, otherwise known as Queen Charlaina of Ludania, has become comfortable as a leader and a ruler. She’s done admirable work to restore Ludania’s broken communications systems with other Queendoms, and she’s mastered the art of ignoring Sabara, the evil former queen whose Essence is alive within Charlie. Or so she thinks. When the negotiation of a peace agreement with the Queendom of Astonia goes awry, Charlie receives a brutal message that threatens Ludania, and it seems her only option is to sacrifice herself in exchange for Ludanian freedom. But things aren’t always as they seem. Charlie is walking into a trap—one set by Sabara, who is determined to reclaim the Queendoms at any cost.

Praise for The Offering

"This was a truly epic ending to the series." --Crystal Perkins, Goodreads Review "The final book in Kimberly Derting’s Pledge trilogy is a thrilling conclusion. I was immediately swept up into it and powered right through. It was pretty much what I wanted with a few surprises along the way." --Krys at Bibliopunkk Reads

Author Kimberly Derting Kimberly Derting is the author of the BODY FINDER series, THE PLEDGE trilogy, and THE TAKING (coming April 2014 from HarperTeen). She lives in the Seattle area, with her husband and three children, who often find the outrageous things they say either in the pages of her books or posted on Twitter or Facebook for the entire world to see.

Tour Schedule

BookBlast $50 Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 1/18/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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The Prophecy Blog Tour--Author Interview with Erin Albert!

2013-11-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

AHHHH! It's here, it's here, it's here! This book looks amazing, and I can't wait to devour it.

Buy The Prophecy at any online retailers:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

About The Author

Erin Albert is an author and fitness trainer. Since she picked up Morris the Moose Goes to School at age four, she has been infatuated with the written word. She went on to work as a grammar and writing tutor in college and is still teased by her family and friends for being a member of the "Grammar Police." In her free time, Erin enjoys acting, running, kickboxing, and, of course, reading and writing.

Find me online:
Twitter | Facebook | Website | Goodreads

Preorder Link:
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/50-our-authors/authors-a/381-erin-albert

About The Book
Growing up on a small farm in the kingdom of Vanguard, seventeen-year-old Layla Givens lives a deceptively tranquil existence. But her carefully constructed life quickly falls apart when she’s abducted by a religious zealot who proclaims her The Fulfillment of an ancient peace prophecy and whisks her away to marry her greatest enemy.

Wilhelm, Prince of the Ethereals, is reluctant to meet his new bride. He's grown up believing Vanguards are evil, an enemy to fight and fear...not love. Can he set aside his prejudices and work alongside Layla to bring lasting peace after centuries of war?

Nash, a loner who has never fit in, carries a huge secret, one big enough to destroy both kingdoms. When he accidently meets Layla, he’s no longer content to live in the shadows, but he must resist his growing attraction—for her safety and for the longevity of the two kingdoms.

When Nash's secret is revealed, a firestorm sweeps through both realms, with Layla at the center. Now she must choose between duty and desire while the fate of two nations hangs in the balance.

I've got 2 excerpts for you! A shorter one, and a longer one! :)

Shorter one:

Even though she had no chance to escape now, Layla shoved the Elder with all her might. The blow sent him flying into the baker’s door, which splintered under the force, and she darted forward. The Vanguard soldiers moved to block her.

“We are all Vanguards,” she pleaded. “Please let me go.”

For a moment, they hesitated. Layla used the opening to slip around them. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her, but they proved to be too slow. Within moments, the soldiers leapt upon her, knocking her to the ground. Wrenching Layla up by her hair, they dragged her back to the Elder, whose face now bled from his encounter with the baker’s door.

“I see you’re going to be trouble.” He brushed the dirt off his robes. “You can’t escape your destiny, girl.”

Longer one:

“Everything must be taken down.” A rotund man, with beady black eyes, surveyed the town, disdain in his expression. While he did not appear distinguishable from the other black and purple clad men, he spoke with authority. “The First Ones and their great Prophecy must be honored properly.” He sniffed, his actions indicating the very existence of Medlin and its occupants offended him.

Layla wondered what this man considered a “proper honoring” of the First Ones. The First Ones…they’d been dead for centuries, and, as far as Layla could tell, hadn’t done much in life except start a never-ending war. She knew nothing more about them except that she was to thank them for good things, curse them for bad, and celebrate them on this day.

“That’s Elder Werrick, head of the Ecclesiastics,” whispered Samson, glancing back at Grant. Layla noticed the look that passed between them.

Grant nodded his assent. “Get her out of here, brother.”

Samson tried to steer Layla away, but she held her position to get a closer look at the man whom her family so feared. She knew they had good reason to worry—her black hair and purple eyes marked her as a Fulfillment candidate, one with the potential to bring about the long awaited peace. But she couldn’t quite bring herself to believe Elder Werrick would notice her on the crowded streets, especially with her eye drops and hood. Could he really be responsible for dragging candidates from their homes, forcing them to undergo strenuous, sometimes gruesome, testing for the sake of the Prophecy? To Layla, he looked like nothing more than a short, fat, unhappy man. The very notion that he could strike such fear into the hearts of her people seemed almost laughable…almost. As his gaze swept over the crowd, she glimpsed a sinister undertone that made her shiver.

Waving his pudgy arms at the awaiting townspeople, Werrick commanded, “Take it down.”

Suddenly, his body stilled and his tiny eyes grew wide. They briefly connected with Layla’s, narrowing with calculation. The Elder turned to his nearest black clad companion.

“Do you feel that?” Layla heard Werrick ask.

The other man looked skeptical. “Feel what, Elder?”

Werrick leaned in as the two whispered, stealing furtive glances in her direction. When the Elder’s companion pointed at Layla, Samson grabbed her arm. She heard his breathing change from rhythmic to jagged as he pulled her away from the men.

“We have to go now.” His urgency spurred her into action.

Grant moved to block them from the Elder’s view. “Get her away from here, Samson.”

The Elder looked up to see everyone staring at him as if frozen. He repeated his demand, “I said take everything down.”

The townspeople, joined by the Elder’s minion, scampered to remove their decorations, anxious to “properly” celebrate the First Ones. Their flurry of activity concealed Layla as Samson and Grant escorted her away. Layla scanned the streets, horrified, as the people of Medlin stripped the town’s center barren. In no time, everything appeared as it always had, devoid of any celebratory adornments. She looked up at the sky with its gray clouds lingering overhead. A bad omen…

On the hill, a safe distance away, Layla watched a group of Ecclesiastics erect a monstrous stage where the donkey races should have occurred. She heard the braying of the angry animals, harnessed and corralled on the orders of the Elder to avoid interfering with the “true” Day of Dawning celebration. Her ire rose. Who did they think they were coming in and changing everything?

An icy, phantom finger traced a frigid line down her spine. After hearing warning after warning from the Mantars her whole life, Layla knew exactly what the Ecclesiastics could do, what they had done to others in the past. Maybe Samson and Grant had been right. Maybe she should never have come, especially today. Layla turned her back on the town, resolved to go home, to safety.

“Layla!” Samson’s alarmed tone sliced into her, and she swung around toward him.

To her horror, two Vanguard soldiers forced Samson to the ground. She knew just how much strength he possessed, yet he couldn’t free himself. Her hands balled up into fists, shaking with their desire to unleash the full force of their fury.

“Run!” Samson screamed before a soldier’s fist smashed into his face.

His body stilled. Panic, coupled with indecision, crippled her. She should run like Samson commanded, but she couldn’t leave him lying there. To her relief, Grant ambled toward them, his eyes full of rage.

“Run!” Grant echoed Samson’s warning.

With a final glance at the two boys who’d been as close to her as brothers, Layla fled. She flew down the hill, swinging her head from side to side in alarm. Ecclesiastics swarmed throughout the city, making a clear escape route difficult to discern.

Terror rose within Layla. Why hadn’t she listened to her family? She’d been foolish to believe she could sneak around under the ever-watchful eyes of the Ecclesiastics, and that hubris put Samson and Grant in danger as well. She choked back a sob.

“Run,” she whispered.

Willing her feet to move forward, Layla darted toward the back of the baker’s shop, hoping to take a shortcut through the back alleyway. She swerved to miss a wooden box and stumbled, arms flailing to right herself. Unfamiliar hands reached out to break her fall. Once stable, Layla looked up to find Elder Werrick staring down at her. She screamed but no sound came out of her open mouth.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he said, a wicked smile on his face.

And NOW!!! An Interview with Erin Albert!

Hi Erin! Welcome to Friction to Fiction. Thanks for chatting with me today!

Thank you so much for hosting me, Erica! I’m thrilled to be here and stoked to be able to “talk” to your blog followers. *waves*
There's already a summary of The Prophecy up there, but give us your own summary of The Prophecy in one sentence.

An action packed adventure where Game of Thrones meets Arthurian legend.
How did you come up with the idea of The Prophecy and the world your created?

The idea pretty much came out of nowhere. ;) I was watching a movie, and the idea for the Ethereals and Vanguards just came into my mind. I wrote up a brief summary of my thoughts (which became my query letter and then the back cover of my book) and sent it to my friends. They were incredibly enthusiastic about the idea, so I began writing. The book became The Prophecy, and my friends became The Dream Team. (Left to right: Danielle Craver, Dawn Ward, Ginny Hunsberger, and Kim Sharp)

I see that the Vanguard Crest is on the cover! Could you explain the significance?

Dream Team member Danielle Craver designed the crests. She’s super in to researching the significance of things, so each element on the crest has a meaning. First of all, the color…red is a powerful color, and the Vanguards are powerful people. All of the symbols on the crest point to strength, which is the Vanguard supernatural gift, and combat. The Vanguards are more violent and hot-headed than their Ethereal counterparts. Danielle said the short answer to this question would be: a symbol of strength and combat, especially in women.
Which of your characters in The Prophecy has been your favorite to write about?

Hmmmm…I can’t exactly answer that without giving some stuff away. So, I’ll go with a secondary answer (I’m all sneaky like that). I really enjoy writing the interactions between Layla and Samson. They have a super tight relationship, but they could not be more different in a lot of ways. I recently did a character interview using both of them, and it was a total blast!

I'm going to dive into your writing life with a few more personal questions.

<rubs hands together> Let’s do it! ;)
When I'm reading I usually like to chomp on some pretzels. What's your favorite writing snack?

My most favorite writing snack is a container of Enjoy Life Mega Chunks (I’m lactose intolerant, and they have no milk) and a Diet Pepsi with Lime. I typically have that snack every day at 3:30pm. If I don’t get it, I *might* be ornery… ;)

Is there anything you like to listen to while you write?

When I write, I typically listen to the Pink station on Pandora. I get a variety of good music to keep my mind active. If I have a particularly difficult scene to write and need assistance, I put the song that most inspires me in that moment on repeat. I listened to “I Won’t Give Up” at lot while writing The Prophecy, and I listened to a song by Evanescence while writing the sequel (tentatively called The Outlanders). I’ll tell everyone which song when information from Book 2 starts getting released. <wink>
How excited are you for the next book in The Fulfillment Series to release?

I am so totally excited for all of the books in the series to be released! I hope the stage I set in the first book will have people clamoring for the second and third books. ;)

Thanks so much to Erin for chatting with me! I hope you all enjoyed her answers as much as I did. And I hope it convinces you to read The Prophecy!

WAIT! Don't leave yet, though. There's a giveaway! You can win a $50 Amazon Gift Card. Don't you want it? I know you want it!
Enter the giveaway!!!

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Siding With Plato by Michelle Manning—$100 Book Blast

2013-11-08T23:31:00.002-05:00

Siding with Plato: A Romantic Comedy Chick Lit About College Life, Love, and Chaos Siding With Plato is a romantic laugh-out-loud chick lit novel about Being Young, Beautiful, and a Seriously Hot Mess! Brooke Aarons can't get to college fast enough. Leaving behind her small town life, she intends to transform herself into a brilliant psychologist at the University of Texas, with no distractions to slow her down. But when a twist in her plans lands her on double date with the school's star jock - and worse, enjoying it - Brooke has to wonder if she's the one who needs her head examined. James Cartwright's easy life, endless bucks, and long line of willing girls should make him a non-starter for Brooke, but as she learns, the psychology behind a bad crush is a whole lot messier of a subject.

Praise for the Book "This book hit home! Very funny and fast and fun read! I hope she makes this a series! LOVED IT!!!" "I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an escape back into the best years of your life! A MUST READ." "Buy 2 copies of this relatable book - one for yourself and one for your best friend." "Siding With Plato is a must read for every girl who has gone away to college! It reminded me of my college years and the relationships between different boys, but most importantly the amazing friendships that were created. I could relate to all of the characters at one time or another. Siding With Plato is well written, funny, witty, and full of emotion. I definitely recommend reading this book!!"

Author Michelle Manning Michelle Manning is a Southern California native who ventured over to Arizona State University in 2005, where she majored in journalism and met the friends who would later inspire her book series. After receiving her degree, she worked in the entertainment industry as an editor and red carpet reporter for a news outlet in Los Angeles until she moved to New York - shortly after releasing her debut novel, Siding With Plato!

$100 BookBlast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 11/26/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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Kindle Fire HDX Giveaway

2013-11-04T18:18:00.000-05:00

This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT!

Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HDX 7".

All New Kindle Fire HDX 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HDX (US Only - $229 Value)

Or $229 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $229 in Paypal Cash (International)

NOVEMBER SPONSORS

Sign up to Sponsor the December Giveaway (starting around December 2nd) http://www.iamareader.com/2013/10/december-kindle-fire.html

Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of an all new Kindle Fire 7" HDX (US Only - $229 value), $229 Amazon Gift Card or $229 in Paypal Cash (International). There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire HDX 7".

Ends 11/30/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash.

Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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The Prophecy by Erin Albert COVER REVEALLLL!

2013-10-25T00:01:00.000-04:00

The Prophecy releases November 15!

Goodreads

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18160774-the-prophecy

Pre-Order

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/50-our-authors/authors-a/381-erin-albert

About The Author ERIN ALBERT

Erin Albert is an author, editor, and fitness trainer. Since she picked up Morris the Moose Goes to School at age four, she has been infatuated with the written word. She went on to work as a grammar and writing tutor in college and is still teased by her family and friends for being a member of the "Grammar Police." In her free time, Erin enjoys acting, running, kickboxing, and, of course, reading and writing.

Website: www.erinalbertbooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Erin-Albert-Books/182769448541270

Twitter: @ErinAlbertBooks

Here's an Excerpt from The Prophecy!

“That’s Elder Werrick, head of the Ecclesiastics,” whispered Samson, glancing back at Grant. Layla noticed the look that passed between them.

Grant nodded his assent. “Get her out of here, brother.”

Waving his pudgy arms at the awaiting townspeople, Werrick commanded, “Take it down.”

Suddenly, his body stilled and his tiny eyes grew wide. They briefly connected with Layla’s, narrowing with calculation. The Elder turned to his nearest black clad companion.

“Do you feel that?” Layla heard Werrick ask.

The other man looked skeptical. “Feel what, Elder?”

“We have to go now.” His urgency spurred her into action.

Grant moved to block them from the Elder’s view. “Get her away from here, Samson.”

The Elder looked up to see everyone staring at him as if frozen. He repeated his demand, “I said take everything down.”

“Layla!” Samson’s alarmed tone sliced into her, and she swung around toward him.

“Run!” Samson screamed before a soldier’s fist smashed into his face.

“Run!” Grant echoed Samson’s warning.

“Run,” she whispered.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he said, a wicked smile on his face.

I Gave My Blog A Makeover!

2013-09-06T23:52:00.002-04:00

PEOPLE, FOLLOWERS, CITIZENS OF THE INTERNET! I have redesigned my blog, all by myself!I'm so proud! Seeing as I'm really horrible at Photoshop, and HTML, and everything like that, I'm surprised at how the header turned out!

Here's my new header!

With my "amazing" photo editing skills, this is what I made. I included the two things I love to do--play piano (and music in general), and read. The font that my blog title is written in came off of dafont.com.

Now, you can see a before and after pic of my blog!

This is what my blog looked BEFORE the makeover:

I was using the basic stuff on blogger. I actually really liked the background, but you can't change the color, and it didn't look right with the header I made, so I chose a different one instead--which is a completely different color, might I add!

And now, this is what my blog looks like AFTER the makeover!

I think it looks pretty different from the old one. I kept the same basic template, but changed the fonts and colors. And if you can see, I got a blogger button! So you can grab that if you want :)

Along with a blog button, I changed the symbols I use to rate the books I read in reviews. Instead of the simple ALT+14, I made actual button-like music note symbols. You can see them on the left side bar, or in my next review!

So, that's the makeover my blog got. I know it's not as great and amazing as those people that are really good with HTML and Photoshop, but I'm proud of it, and I like. That's really all that matter's, right?

Later on, I'll be making a new signature, changing it from this:

To something that looks cooler and actually has my name, Erica, rather than my blog name. I'll also maybe make my own social media buttons, instead of using the generic ones you find on Google.

Now, onto an update on things. I have a couple of reviews written, but they don't go up until October and November for...reasons. I finished reading The Collector by Victoria Scott, and I'll be writing a review for that and posting it up sometime soon!

I've been off my blog for a little bit, trying to get reorganized and find better scheduling with school. I think I've got it figure out though. I saw a couple of bloggers that I follow creating up a weekly schedule. If you check out Crystal at Crystal in Bookland or Nova at Musings of a Blogder, they've had a post that talked about a weekly schedule. I'm thinking of making one of my own! I'll show it to you guys when I have it ready.

Also, as you can see from above, that I play instruments. Would any of you be interested in hearing the songs and instruments I play? I could create a YouTube channel and also post them up on my blog every once in a while. I think Eileen at ***Singing and Reading in the Rain*** does her singing covers sort of like that.

I appreciate the input and you'll be seeing a lot more of me! Promise! I know I always say this in every update, but seriously, with me making a weekly schedule, I'll be so much more organized and post WAY more.

BYE! ♥

Triangles by Kimberly Ann Miller Book Blast!

2013-08-26T21:33:00.001-04:00

The Triangles

Win a Frikkin' Cruise

Sweepstakes!!

The Grand Prize Winner gets to go on a cruise!

Two runners-up will win $50 gift cards from Amazon (in US) or Book Depository (Worldwide).

What do you do?

Buy Triangles!

A cruise ship. A beautiful island. Two sexy guys. What could possibly go wrong?

In the Bermuda Triangle—a lot.

Hoping to leave behind the reminders of her crappy life--her father's death years ago, her mother's medical problems, and the loser who’s practically stalking her--seventeen-year-old Autumn Taylor hops on a ship with her sister for a little distraction. When she wakes up in the Bermuda Triangle, she fears she's gone nuts for more than one reason: that loser’s suddenly claiming they're a happy couple... a hot guy is wrapping his arms around her and saying "Happy Anniversary"... and suddenly, she’s full of bruises, losing her hair, and getting IV medication. Autumn visits the ship's doctor, hoping for a pill or a shot to make the craziness go away. Instead, she's warned that these "alternate realities" could become permanent.

She just has to ask herself one question—how the hell is she going to get out of this mess?

Send confirmation of purchase or You can draw yourself with the book or you can use a library copy for the picture.

(receipt, pic with book, drawing with book, you get the idea)

with this form to Spencer Hill Press!

They MUST have it by September 14th.

Drawing on September 16th.

Waiting On Wednesday [11]

2013-08-14T00:01:00.000-04:00

This is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine! It features a upcoming releases

I'm BACK with the weekly Waiting on Wednesdays! Do you wanna know what I'm featuring this week?

Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release Date: August 27th, 2013
Summary from Goodreads:

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he's facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don't seem entirely crazy, but the group's goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

Will they even be together?

I get to read Daemon's POV? How much better can this series get? This books sounds like it will be totally EPIC. I'm not the biggest fan with the cover not being as dark as the others. But the background of it looks amazing! And a shirtless Pepe? I'll take that anytime! :)

I can't wait for this book to release. Plus, with all the people who got ARCs saying how great it is I'm really excited for this book. Seriously, if you haven't started the Lux series yet, get on that NOW!

THUNDER & LIGHTNING by Madison Louise COVER REVEAL w/ GIVEAWAY!!!

2013-07-29T00:15:00.000-04:00

OOOH! AHHH! Look at that PRETTY cover! I, personally, love storms, so this cover is absolutely gorgeous!

Here's the summary of the novella:

After two hundred plus years without each other, Felix and Millicent have finally found each other again. And even though they wanted to run to the nearest church to get married right away, their family insisted on planning a wedding.

Millicent is nervous, this is whole new step in life. A step she was ready for all those years ago, but now, with their powers, and exposure, Millicent’s not sure how things will go. Everyone tells her things will be fine, but Millicent isn’t so sure.
After celebrating their wedding, and becoming Mrs. Walter, Millicent is finally convinced that things will be fine, but then they get a visit. The person brings bad news. News that crushes Millicent, and her dreams.

Will her and Felix be able to get past this news, and live their life?

Thunder & Lightning released TODAY! Go buy it now!

Amazon Kindle | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble Nook

About The Author! Madison Louise!

Madison Louise decided at a young age that she wanted to write. Since she was nine she has written many books. Now Madison is a teen pursuing her dream of becoming best seller author. She spends her time writing, reading and drawing, the occasional Just Dance when she has the time. Madison lives in Ohio, with her parents, her sister, and all their pets.

You can visit Madison online on

Twitter @AuthorMadison

Blog madisonlouiseauthor.blogspot.com

Website madisonlouise.weebly.com

WEE! And here's the GIVEAWAY! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

WIN a Kindle Fire!!!

2013-07-20T13:29:00.001-04:00

This is a joint AUTHOR & BLOGGER GIVEAWAY EVENT! Bloggers & Authors have joined together and each chipped in a little money towards a Kindle Fire HD 7".

Kindle Fire HD 7" Giveaway

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)

Sponsoring Bloggers & Authors

Giveaway Details 1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire 7" HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International). There is a second separate giveaway for bloggers who post this giveaway on their blog. See details in the rafflecopter on how to enter to win the 2nd Kindle Fire. Sponsor a future Kindle Fire Giveaway by signing up HERE. Ends 8/15/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating authors & bloggers. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

ORIGIN by Jennifer Armentrout COVER REVEAL!

2013-07-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he's facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don't seem entirely crazy, but the group's goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together?

Origin will release August 27, 2013

Goodreads

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13644052-origin

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Origin-Lux-Series-Entangled-Teen/dp/1622660757/

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/origin-jennifer-armentrout/1114855732

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlarmentrout

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout

Website: http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/

Endure Book Blast!!!

2013-06-03T00:01:00.000-04:00

Available June 5th

Endure (The Protector, #4)

Book Description:

Wrapped in darkness and woven with defeat, every action Chase has taken since being exiled from the Circle has been met with a devastating response. Now he's been burdened with a quest that seems impossible, and he needs to evolve into something more, something greater than he ever thought he could be.
Armed with magic, friendship, and an unbreakable will, Chase must build an army and find a weapon capable of defeating the ultimate evil. But he knows that nothing great comes without sacrifice. Blessed by the very gods who have abandoned him and carrying the fate of all the worlds on his shoulders, Chase Williams is about find out just how much one man can endure.

Excerpt:

I jerked up from the couch, but the repercussion that came with the motion made me curse. My chest heaved and sweat dripped down my face.

“Chase?” I heard a voice say, but it was groggy. I wasn’t quite in reality yet.

I cleared my throat and threw my legs over the edge of the couch. More pain came, but I didn’t care. I needed to touch the floor. I needed to ground myself.

“Chase, are you okay?” It was Rayna’s voice and she ran down the stairs.

I screamed as the scabbed over skin on my back tore open when I attempted to stand. I fell to the couch and beat my fists against the cushions as though that could alleviate the pain.

“Chase, hey…calm down.”

Rayna’s voice soothed me. She crouched in front of me and carefully touched my shoulder. Calming energy emanated off her body and soaked into mine. The adrenaline and pain faded, leaving an empty pit stirring inside me. I went completely still. The green cat eyes staring back at me had stolen my words and my breath. Swelling had formed under Rayna’s right eye and she looked tired, but she was as striking as ever.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

Amazon | B&N | Kobo

About the Author:

M.R. Merrick is a Canadian writer, and author of Exiled, the first installment in The Protector Series. Having never traveled, he adventures to far off lands through his imagination and in between cups of coffee. As a music lover and proud breakfast enthusiast, he's usually found at the computer, between a pair of headphones and in front of a large bowl of cereal.

M.R. Merrick | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Book #1, Exiled is currently FREE

Chase Williams is a demon hunter in the Circle, or at least he was supposed to be. On his fifteenth birthday, Chase stepped up to the altar to claim his elemental power, but it never came. Elemental magic is passed down to a hunter through the bloodline, but on Chase's birthday, the bloodline stopped.

Exiled without the Circle's protection, Chase has spent two years trying to survive a world riddled with half-demons and magic. When he has a run in with a frightened and seemingly innocent demon, he learns the Circle's agenda has changed: the Circle plans to unlock a portal and unleash pure-blood demons into the world. Vowing to stop them, and knowing he can't do it alone, Chase forms a reluctant alliance with Rayna — a sexy witch with an attitude and a secret.

In their attempt to stop them, Chase and Rayna find themselves in the middle of the Circle's plan, leaving one of them to decide what their friendship is worth, and the other's life depending on it.

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | Smashwords

****GIVEAWAY****

5 winners will have their choice of eBook from the series.

1 Grand prize will win SIGNED copies of ALL FOUR BOOKS.

International

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alternative Method to Follow ME--Bloglovin'

2013-05-31T22:54:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! Just a small update on things.

I'm not sure if you all know, but Google plans on discontinuing Google Reader, meaning GFC following will no longer be available. This is taking place in the beginning of July! This news came out a few months back, and I've been trying to find some alternate ways for you guys, the readers of my blog, to follow me.

I've noticed that some bloggers have started using Bloglovin'. This seems to be working well for them and I decided to sign up for it. If you sign up for Bloglovin' it will allow you to import the blogs you follow from Google Reader, so that you don't have to re-follow all those blogs again.

So, if you want to follow this blog with Bloglovin', just click this link: Follow my blog with Bloglovin. Thanks guys, I really appreciate it!

More reviews and posts coming soon! Thank goodness school is letting out in 2 weeks. I can't wait for summer. I'll be reading all day long! And, I'll leave you with that. Bye!

Jumper by Jeff LaFerney

2013-05-27T22:57:00.002-04:00

Jumper by Jeff LaFerney

Summary:
After spending three years in jail and others completely alone, twenty-four-year-old Cole Flint discovers an amazing ability—he can time-travel and teleport. He’s a jumper. So what should the motorcycle-riding, cage-fighting tough guy do? He should protect an innocent eighteen-year-old girl who happens to be in possession of the Staff of Moses. Following the direction of a trio of angels who are determined to shake things up in the Middle East, Cole pairs up with Hannah Carpenter and her pet grizzly while he also tries to change his past and learn the mystery of his birth. Curiously, the King of Jordan knows all about Hannah, and he’s determined to gain possession of the staff. He’ll do anything to possess its power, but is it possible that he’s no more than a pawn, manipulated in time along with Cole and Hannah? Jumper is a mysterious roller coaster of action and a time-traveling adventure that will keep readers guessing right to the very last page.

*A copy was provided for an honest review*

My Review:
♫♫♫♫-Allegro!
I really enjoyed this book, very much! It was fun to read, and really intriguing. There was a GREAT story line and a world that is very imaginative.

As all great stories, there were many plot twists that I didn't see coming and like-able characters. For example, Cole. Cole may seem like the typical "bad boy" type. But, not really. He has an interesting story. Also, Hannah was great. She was strong throughout the book, even when she was confused about many things.

Although, with characters that I love, there also have to be characters that I don't like. Lauren, a reporter you meet early in the story, didn't really give me the same feelings I had for Cole and Hannah. Personally, I found her to be slightly obnoxious and prying. I thought I'd warm up to her later in the book, but I never did. Of course though, this is a personal preference.

Some parts of the novel were confusing with the constant time traveling. But hey, it's a time travel book. What book about time travel are you going to find that isn't confusing at some point? Even though I was confused at parts of the book, I ended up knowing very clearly what had happened throughout the story by the end.

The end of the book was good. It may not have ended exactly how I thought, or wanted, it to end, but it gave clarity to everything. The epilogue of the book may have been a little open ended, leaving the possibility for a second book.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this short, fun book! I'd recommend it to many. Put it on your to-read pile!

And now, here's an excerpt so you can get an idea of what the book will be like! Enjoy!

As the king’s car shifted into gear, Akmal-Adnan caught sight of the Carpenters making their way into the Church of Moses rather than back down the mountain. “Wait,” he ordered. “That girl…it’s her.” The order to hold was passed to the other drivers.

“It’s going to storm, Rich. Don’t you think this can wait until tomorrow?” Kristina asked.

“It’ll only take a minute. I’m dying to see it with my own eyes…photograph it. Don’t you want to touch it?”

Deafening thunder exploded, but Richard wasn’t to be denied. He withdrew his camera as the family entered the door to the historic stone church. There it was…with an increased, bright-blue hue. “Can you believe it?” he asked excitedly. An incredible bolt of lightning could be seen through the open remains of the uncanopied portion of the Basilica followed almost immediately by another tremendous explosion of thunder.

He slid his hand along the staff reverently as he shot picture after picture. It possessed breathtaking beauty. Purity emanated from the polished gem, and again, it seemed a living entity. The family, in awe and reverence, gathered around the staff in admiration. Another brilliant flash of lightning and a horrifying peel of thunder broke them from their trance.

“We need to go,” Sarah begged. “I’m scared.”

“Okay, you’re right. Let’s each give the thing a heft and get out of here.”

“It’s time,” Cassiel ordered Perisa. “Go to Cole Flint, and send him now.”

Perisa disappeared as Richard gave the staff a yank. It stood firm. Kristina tried next. Still, no movement occurred. Sarah nervously glanced to the sky as she gripped the staff and another thunderclap, louder than any other, shook the mountain. She gripped, yanking on the gem with no luck and then ran, her father and mother following closely behind her. They exited the church as huge drops of rain began to fall. Richard put his arms around his wife and daughter before realizing that Hannah wasn’t with them.

Hannah seemed under a trance. Her family fled before she could try to dislodge the staff herself. Slowly, she reached forward and grabbed hold with her right hand. She felt peace as her palm gripped the radiant gem. The staff was warm to the touch, as if it flowed with energy and power. It felt right in her hand, like a comfortable tool—as if it belonged to her. Only a mere few seconds passed, but Hannah felt as if time wasn’t of any essence. This rod that once divided the Red Sea beckoned her to lift it. She felt relaxed as she tightened her grip and wasn’t surprised in the least as it slid out of the rock without any resistance at all. The Staff of Moses balanced comfortably—delicately—in her right hand. In a sort of dazed wonder, she walked with it to the church exit, and right as she stepped out from the church, her father glanced back to look for her. Hannah Carpenter possessed the Staff of Moses.

King Adnan saw Hannah exit the church with the staff and gave a quick order. “Take it! Take it now!” Within seconds, doors flew open and Royal Special Forces, amidst a torrential rainstorm, aimed their weapons at Hannah.

Lauren caught a glimpse of the girl from her news-van window at precisely the time she exited the church. She quickly took out her cell phone and began recording the scene as the Jordanian military police surrounded Hannah and the Carpenter family. Lauren could see the fear in the girl’s eyes despite the driving rain as guns pointed menacingly at her.

Out of the pouring rain, a bright-blue motorcycle appeared, its muscular driver in a blue, sleeveless shirt and dark, blue jeans materializing from thin air. The machine landed on the stony, muddy ground with a sideways skid and slid to a momentary stop right before the girl. Hannah’s attention diverted from the gunmen to the stunning, dark-haired rider. With no hesitation, Cole Flint, the time traveler, stood quickly, lifted her, set her facing him on the seat, and accelerated in an incredible burst of speed toward the stone church. From the viewpoint of the Carpenter family, the government entourage, and Lauren Molina, it appeared that he drove right through the stone wall. The girl, the staff, and the mysterious rider had simply vanished.

Cover Reveal AND Excerpt: Smash Into You by Shelly Crane

2013-05-21T15:06:00.002-04:00

AHH! Finally! I've been waiting for this cover for a while, and I am so excited to read this book. Shelly Crane is one of my favorite authors. I absolutely adore her books, all of them!

There is no concrete release date for this yet, but it will release sometime in the Summer, 2013.

Are you ready for this? Here's the blurb:

Jude has spent the whole twenty one years of his life running. From what, he wasn't quite sure. His mother tried to keep him safe; a low profile, a constant move on the horizon, a week's pay always stashed away. She tried to instill in him that he was special somehow, though would never elaborate. He never felt different. He was so completely normal and vanilla that he wondered if it had all been in her head. But then she was murdered and all he saw was a running silhouette of a man as his mother said three final words to him. Three words that changed his whole being.

Never stop running…

Now he's semi-settled into a big town. The college is huge and easy to blend into. It's been three months since he had to move because 'Biloxi', as he calls the man who killed his mother, found him once more.

Then Marley, an eighteen year old girl who is as infuriating as she is blissfully ignorant of her gorgeousness, smashes into his car with hers. Then smashes into his life as he realizes that whatever it is he has that Biloxi wants, she has it, too. And now, they're after them both.

AND HERE'S THE COVER!!!

EXCERPT:

And now, as I stared out into the dark rain to see a POS car sideways in the road, I knew the world hated me, had to, because someone had just smashed her car into my truck.

I got out and braced myself. It wasn't easy to pay cash for new cars every time I needed to skip town. It was hard living when you couldn't be who you really were. Finding people to pay you under the table was almost impossible these days.

I groaned and glared at the beauty standing at the end of my truck. "Look at that!"

"I'm so sorry," she began. I could tell she really was, but I was beyond pissed. "I'll call my insurance company right now."

That stopped me. "No!" I shouted and she jolted at the verbal assault. "No insurance."

"Well," she pondered, "what do you mean? I have good insurance."

"But I don't."

She turned her head a bit in thought and then her mouth fell open as she realized what I was saying. "You don’t have any insurance, do you?"

"No," I answered. "Look. Whatever, we'll just call this even-steven, because you did hit me."

"Even-steven my butt!" she yelled and scurried to jump in front of me, blocking my way.

"And what a cute butt it is."

Even through the noise of water hitting metal, I heard her intake of breath. The rain pelted us in the dark. I hoped no one came around the corner. It would be hard for them to see us here in the middle of the road. She might get hurt. Then I wondered why I cared.

"Look, buddy," she replied and crossed her arms. It drew my eyes to her shirt. My eyes bulged 'cause that shirt…well, it was see-through now. She caught on and jerked her crossed arms higher. "How dare you! You're on a roll in the jerkface department, you know that!"

"My specialty," I said and saluted as I climbed in my truck. "Get your pretty butt in your car and let's pretend this never happened, shall we?"

Because if cops and insurance were brought into this, I'd be on the run sooner than I thought.

She huffed. "Excuse me-"

"Darling. Car. Now." She glared. "Like right now."

She threw her hands up in the air and yelled, "I knew chivalry was dead!" before climbing in her car and driving away. She didn't know it, but I was being as chivalrous as they come. I made sure she got out of the rain and back into her car, even though she didn't like the way I did it, and I got her as far away from me as I could.

In my book, I deserved a freaking medal for being so chivalrous. Because people that stuck with me didn't live long.

Just ask my mom.

Oh, wait, you can't. She died long, long years ago saving my life. I refused to bring anyone onto this sinking ship with me. If it finally did go down, I was going down alone.

If you liked that, mark it as a to-read! And if you don't think it's your kind of book, maybe check out her other books. They're all great!

You can check out her books, and contact her here:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/shellycranefanpage

Twitter https://twitter.com/AuthShellyCrane

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4951964.Shelly_Crane

Stacking the Shelves [24]

2013-05-18T00:31:00.000-04:00

Go over to Tynga's Reviews and join in on the fun!

Ah! I haven't posted a StS for a while now! But, I'm back, and with a lot of books!

From the Library:

The Host by Stephenie Meyers
Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan
Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

In the Mail!

The Elite by Kiera Cass

E-books:

Catalyst by Marc Johnson
Jumper by Jeff LaFerney

YAY! I'm so excited to read all of these. I've just started City of Bones and I have no idea why I didn't read this sooner.

Comment your link below, and I'll go check out your Stacking the Shelves!

Destiny's Flower by Linda Harley

2013-05-11T19:17:00.001-04:00

Destiny's Flower by Linda Harley

Synopsis:
Doctor Lynn Davis is kidnapped by handsome Lord Kyle von Talion and taken to a far off planet, Saldiora. As she finds herself in this unfamiliar culture, she must learn to fight with a sword, ride a talking horse, and endure the politics of a royal court if she is to survive. Kyle has his hands full keeping Lynn from making cultural blunders and ensuring her safety. The Juntu's are plotting to take over Saldiora and consider Lynn to be a threat to their success. Will Lynn live long enough to fulfill her destiny and save the kingdom of Saldiora?

*A copy was provided for an honest review*

My Review:

♫♫♫-Andante
I enjoyed this book, it was good!

There were many great things about this book, but also some things I wished to see more of. But, I'll start with the good stuff first.

I loved the world that was created with this story. It had talking animals, and interesting customs. This book showed the importance of staying true to yourself and not letting yourself forget who you are and where you came from. The idea that this book was based on is really interesting. It's a competition of 10 girls, who are competing for the title of Queen of Saldiora.

I also really liked the characters that were created by this story. Kyle von Talion was very likable always protecting Lynn as his duty. He may, or may not be the love interest, but I'm not too sure because this first book didn't really have much romance.

The main evil character/villain of the story, Brigieta, was great. It doesn't seem like she or her family will be able to redeem themselves in later books, but I do have the smallest sliver of hope that she'll come around.

On to a couple of things I didn't like about the book. In general, there wasn't a lot of character development. I don't really know what the characters look like physically. I also don't know much about the character's personality. I felt like the only character I could actually connect with was Lynn, while I didn't know much about the others. For example, when a character died during the book, I didn't feel many emotions because I didn't know the character's background or personality. Although, even though I could connect with Lynn, I sometimes wondered why she did what she did. Like, Lynn started crying at one point, and I didn't understand why she was crying. Also, the book had a few grammar and spelling errors, but that didn't distract much from the book, making it still have and easy flow when reading.

I'm really excited to read the next book when it comes out. I need some answers! There were so many things left unanswered, so many questions I have. In later books, I'd really like to see more character development, along with development of Saldiora and what it looks like. With the character development in the next book, I hope to see more of the romance aspect of the storing come into play. The story ended on a small cliff hanger, making a lot of room for incoming plot twists and turns in the next book. I also feel like there may be a love triangle coming on...considering what was said in the last chapter.

Overall, Destiny's Flower was a light, easy read and I enjoyed many parts of it. Although, I did wish to see more development with characters and the world, but hopefully that will happen later in the series!

Endure by M.R. Merrick Cover Reveal!!!

2013-05-01T00:01:00.000-04:00

Available June 5th

Endure (The Protector, #4) by M.R. Merrick
Cover by Parajunkee Design

YA Urban Fantasy
Final book in The Protector Series

Wrapped in darkness and woven with defeat, every action Chase has taken since being exiled from the Circle has been met with a devastating response. Now he’s been burdened with a quest that seems impossible, and he needs to evolve into something more—something greater than he ever thought he could be.

Armed with magic, friendship, and an unbreakable will, Chase must build an army and find a weapon capable of defeating the ultimate evil. But he knows that nothing great comes without sacrifice. Blessed by the very gods who have abandoned him and carrying the fate of all the worlds on his shoulders, Chase Williams is about find out just how much one man can endure.

Book 1 - Exiled is FREE!

Amazon | B&N | Kobo

About the author:

M.R. Merrick is a Canadian writer, and author of Exiled, the first installment in The Protector Series. Having never traveled, he adventures to far off lands through his imagination and in between cups of coffee. As a music lover and proud breakfast enthusiast, he's usually found at the computer, between a pair of headphones and in front of a large bowl of cereal.

M.R. Merrick | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Stacking The Shelves [23]

2013-04-06T00:01:00.000-04:00

Go over to Tynga's Reviews and join in on the fun!

Hey everyone! It's been super slow these past couple of weeks, as you can see from my posts. I haven't exactly posted anything in a week or two, and it's actually kind of sad. I know I said previously that I'd try really hard to blog more, but I just can't find the time or any books that I REALLY want to blog about. The books I've been reading are just...eh. Nothing special, and nothing that makes me go, "OH MY GOD! I need to get my thoughts out NOW!"

I know this isn't an excuse to not blog, but that's the honest truth. It was a new years resolution mine to blog as much as possible, but it seems like that hasn't been happening. Although, this time when I say I'm going to make a huge effort to blog, I WILL DO IT. This time, I'm not letting myself neglect my blog, I'm moving forward with what I love, and I'm not letting it go!

So with that out, let me show you what I got this week. It's not much really, but they're books I've had my eye on.

From the Library:

Hooked by Liz Fichera—Being a golfer, this piqued my interest. I saw it's about a girl getting onto an all boys golf team, and it seemed really interesting. It definitely wouldn't be easy doing that. Plus, it seemed there was some romance mixed in with that, and I enjoy books that have some kind of romance tied in with the story. So, of course, I had to pick up this book.

E-books:

Existence by Abbi Glines—This book is actually FREE in iBooks. So anyone that has the iBooks app on any of their Apple products, act fast because I think this is only free for a day or two more. It was listed as "book of the week." This book was actually on my To-Read list for so long, but I never got a chance to buy it or check it out because of all the new books rapidly releasing. As I was browsing the iBooks store, I saw this was free, and jumped on the offer as quick as I could. I finally get my chance to read this book. And with all the praise Abbi Glines gets, I'm sure it'll be amazing! Plus, Pepe Toth (from the Lux series covers) is on the cover of this book!

Thanks for visiting! Put a link to your StS below in the comments and show some comment love! I'll go check out your blog. BYE!

Frigid by Jennifer L. Armentrout Cover Reveal!!!

2013-03-27T00:01:00.000-04:00

For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.

But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

Frigid will be available in digital formats on July 30th 2013

Print release of Frigid will be November 5th 2012

Goodreads
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16122034-frigid?ac=1

J. Lynn, also known as Jennifer L. Armentrout, is a # 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author. She lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russel Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Twitter https://twitter.com/JLArmentrout

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout

Website http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/

Waiting on Wednesday [10]

2013-03-20T00:01:00.000-04:00

This is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine! It features a upcoming releases

This book that I'm waiting on is the 4th book in the series by an author I love! I think I've said this at least 3 times already on my blog, but Jennifer Armentrout is one of my favorite authors, and this book written by her is one that I needed to get my hands on the moment book #3 ended.

Apollyon (Covenant #4) by Jennifer Armentrout
Release Date: April 9th, 2013
Summary from Goodreads:

Fate isn't something to mess with...and now, neither is Alex.

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods–and Alex herself–to bring her back.

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex's power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex's connection to Seth isn't the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole "an Apollyon can't be killed" theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer...or she might become the God Killer herself.

When I finished Deity, book 3 in the series, I was thinking about it for days. I also read over the last paragraph a couple times to make sure I was reading it correctly. As soon as this book comes out, I will be getting it! I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Stacking the Shelves [22]

2013-03-15T23:19:00.001-04:00

Go over to Tynga's Reviews and join in on the fun!

These books that I got this week...I've been waiting on them for SO LONG. I seriously could not wait until these came out. And now that they finally have...YESSS!!!

From the Library:

Requiem by Lauren Oliver—I've heard such great this about this final book in the trilogy! The feeling about the end is mixed, some say it was left open for the reader's imaginations, and some say there wasn't enough closure, so they didn't like it. We'll see which side I'm on!
Pulse by Patrick Carman—I've been anticipating this ever since I saw the cover reveal. Sadly, many people didn't like it. I've seen so many 1-3 star reviews, and I'm kind of questioning if the book will meet my expectations. But, I'm not one to judge a book solely based on what others say, so I will be reading it.
Breaking Point by Kristen Simmons—I really loved Article 5 and I couldn't wait until Breaking Point came out. Now that's it's out, I'm eagerly waiting the read. I have to finish a couple of books before I can read this, but it's one of the top on my to-read pile!

Put the link to your Stacking the Shelves, and I'll go check it out!

Kindle Fire HD Giveaway or $199 Amazon GC/Paypal Cash

2013-03-09T00:31:00.002-05:00

Kindle Fire HD Giveaway!

The winner will have the option of receiving a 7" Kindle Fire HD (US Only)

Or $199 Amazon.com Gift Card (International)

Or $199 in Paypal Cash (International)

Sponsoring Authors

Cascade Brides by Bonnie Blythe

Twenty-Five Years Ago Today by Stacy Juba

The Return of the Dragon Riders by Kristian Alva

Prison Nation by Jenni Merritt

The Stone Guardian by Theresa McClinton

For What It's Worth by Karey White

Hidden Heart by Camelia Miron Skiba

The Gryphon Series by Stacey Rourke

Shifting Pride by Laura Diamond

Fire Within (Guardian Witch #2) by Ally Shields

The Light of Asteria by Elizabeth Isaacs

Kiss Me, I'm Irish by Bella Street

Legend Unleashed by M. Latimer-Ridley

Innovera Yakov- The Journey of a Thousand Eyes by Kia Garriques

The Gifted by Deborah Andreasen

Reflection by Kim Cresswell

Forbidden Temptation of a Vampire by Jodie B. Cooper

Family Magic by Patti Larsen

Fall of Sky City by S.M. Blooding

Blood Oath by T.L. Clarke

Grace Doll by Jennifer Laurens

A Tale of the Other Kind by Leandi Cameron

Alexander Drake by Elizabeth Parkinson Bellows

Owlet by Emma Michaels

Aura by Rebecca Talley

Giveaway Details
1 winner will receive their choice of a Kindle Fire HD (US Only), $199 Amazon Gift Card or $199 in Paypal Cash (International).
Ends: 3/31/13

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

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