Give it to Cupcake (she'll eat it)

RELEASE DAY Never Let You Fall by Michele G Miller

2013-05-01T00:10:00.001-05:00

I am beyond excited to be a part of this release day! The time has finally come for one of my closest friends to release her debut book. I've read the entire book and I'm blown away at the talent she has.

You can check out my review here.

A special Excerpt just for you...

“What do you feel? Anything strange?”

She flung her hands up in the air as she answered me. “Yes, I feel something strange! This whole thing is strange!”

Placing my finger on her lips, I shook my head in frustration. “Skye, what do you feel here?” I asked again, pointing to her chest. “How do you feel?”

She stood for a moment with her lips lightly pressed to my finger, slowly closing and reopening her eyes. There was a sheen to them that spoke of unshed tears, and as she raised her hand to pull mine away from her mouth, I saw her fingers tremble when she whispered, “I can’t deal with this, Xander.”

“Yes, Skye - you can and you will,” I warned her. “This is going to happen whether you want it to or not. I told you that I’m safe, and I…”

Skye broke into hysterical laughter at that. “Safe? You’re telling me that a legion of demons is after me and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. How in your book does that equal safe?”

“You don’t know me, Skye, and you don’t know Rioden and… what we can do. I told you that I would protect you, and I will.”

Shaking her head, she took a small step back and admitted, “You’re right about one thing, Xander,” as she wiped a tear from her face. “I don’t know you, so how can I trust you? No matter how you make me feel. Please just leave me alone.” She spun on her heel and sprinted away, leaving me to stare after her.

About the Author

Her family, a doting husband and three awesome minions have planted their roots in the middle of Michele’s two childhood homes in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Never Let You Fall is Michele’s first novel and she is beyond thrilled to have finally followed up on a dream she has held for over 20 years! God willing there will be many many more books to follow.

Blog: http://michelegmiller.blogspot.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6975382.Michele_G_Miller

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chelemybelles

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BLOG TOUR Sacrifice by Stacey Rourke

2013-04-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

Celeste Garrett has finally found a happy balance in her life as the Chosen One, thanks in large part to a certain hunky Irishman. But if there’s any lesson she should heed since receiving her calling it’s that everything can change in the blink of an eye. Soon a terrible new threat, unlike anything she’s ever encountered, causes her to make a gut-wrenching choice that will strip her of someone she holds dear.

As much as she’d like to have a pity party for one, there’s no time for that now because wedding bells are ringing in Gainesboro! In between dress fittings and rehearsal dinners Celeste will have to fend off attacking demons and leering pirates. As if the Dark Army wasn’t scary enough our heroine is faced with the horrifying trauma of attending a bachelorette party with her mom and watching Grams do Jello shots. Is a walk down the aisle even possible for a member of the Garrett family when the Dark Army is out to destroy them? More importantly, will the Dark Army Glee Club sing at the reception?

Raise your glass to the happy couple, and get ready for a wedding…Conduit-style.

GET TO KNOW ROWAN

Rowan has never been anything but honest about what he is … a pirate and demon that has found himself tangled with the Dark Army. For centuries his only motivation has only been his own self-serving needs. But changes are stirring within this seductive swashbuckler now that he’s met the Conduit. Meeting Celeste awakened a yearning within him to claim her as his own. Can he resist the temptation to use his ability against her when with a simple touch her mind can become his to bend and play with?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012.

Stacey Rourke is the author of the Gryphon Series. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant, drooly dogs. Stacey loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. She is currently hard at work on the continuations of this series as well as other literary projects.

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MY BLURB REVEAL Promise Me This

2013-04-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE and I have a special announcement to make. I've been kind of MIA lately and that is because I've been super busy working on writing my own book! I'm doing my best to try and balance reading, blogging, and writing - but it's kind of a day to day struggle! So, I promise I will continue to try and do my best! But now onto the fun stuff.

Today I celebrate my birthday and twenty-five years since I made an appearance into the world! In honor of my birthday, I have a few things to share with you. First, is this lovely photo of me as a wee little baby. I couldn't find one in my stash of me as a newborn, so you will have to settle with me being a chunky infant instead. You're welcome. Second, is something I have been dying to share with you all for some time. MY BLURB! Yes, it's finally perfect and ready for the world to see!

Also, do you see the nifty little banner up there? Well the silhouette is actually a picture from my cover shoot! I just couldn't wait until May to share some of them so I had to be creative and find a way to do that without giving away too much. I think I did a pretty swell job, don't you? Okay, back to the blurb.

Here it is! The blurb for Promise Me This...

Welcome to the South - where the tea is sweet and the accents are sweeter. This Southern way of life is all Charlie has ever known. It’s not until she loses the only person who pushed her to break free of the Southern Belle mold that she starts living the life she needs and not the life her parents forced on her.

Jhett has lived on the edge for as long as he could remember - constantly teetering back and forth between being a rock star and living a normal life. His rebellious and sometimes arrogant attitude is known to get him into trouble, especially with the girls who hang on his every move.

Charlie never thought that a trip to pack up her brother’s apartment would leave her feeling even more unsettled about the grainy details of her brother’s death. Her quest for information leads her straight to his old hangout and into arms of Jhett, who suspiciously knows more about her situation than he ever should.

Only a few questions remain - Can you trust someone based on their word alone? And if you make a promise, how far will you go to keep it?

WHEW. I feel like I could shout and sing from the rooftops I'm so happy to finally get this out there! But wait folks - there's more! I've also got another teaser for you. It's a Jhett POV teaser, so enjoy!

“It’s kind of hard to think when you have me in such a compromising position.” She wiggled against the hands beneath my grasp. I never held her hands down too tight or against her will, but I’d figured out what she liked, and it was exactly that.

“I could guess one thing you’re thinking about right now.” I let go of one wrist, which left me free to explore the curves underneath me that continued to drive me wild. My hands slid down her chest and side, blazing a trail straight to her thighs. Her unsteady breaths let me know that she was enjoying every minute of the sensuous torture I had planned.

Charlie’s hand slipped up to my face, and she locked her eyes onto my own; the deep blue color acting as my kryptonite. “I’ve only got one thing on my mind…” The soft pad of her thumb ran across my bottom lip, sending a shiver down my spine. She caught me off guard as she pressed her lips on mine with only the slightest amount of pressure, causing me to breathe in deep through my nose.

“How many hours of sleep you’re going to get after I rock your world all night?” I couldn’t even recognize my own voice anymore. It was deep and husky, filled with a kind of need and lust I’d never heard come out of my mouth.

Charlie took my earlobe into her mouth, only running her teeth lightly over it before she released my sensitive flesh. “What bathing suit I’m going to wear tomorrow at the bonfire…”

Now I'm off to go shove my face with birthday cupcakes. Yum! Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes!

FEEL FREE TO STALK MY AUTHOR PAGES.

FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | MY BLOG

COVER REVEAL Never Let You Fall by Michele G. Miller

2013-04-10T23:00:00.000-05:00

Today I am excited to be a part of one of my good friends cover reveals! It's been really awesome to watch Michele's vision come to life. Just look at this gorgeous cover. I've been obsessing over it since it was sent to me. I'll also tell you this - I've read some of Never Let You Fall and you will not be disappointed. Add this to your MUST READ list ASAP!

NEVER LET YOU FALL BY MICHELE G. MILLER

Book One - The Prophesy of Tyalbrook

A YA Fantasy Romance Series

Expected Release Date- May 1, 2013

Orphaned at 7, with no memory of her past or the family she lost, 17 year old Skye Martin is tired of being alone and afraid. After a hard night of partying, Skye wakes up alone in an unfamiliar hotel. All she can remember is the deep voice of her rescuer and his promise: “I am safe.” Xander has been tasked with watching Skye from afar for the past two years, in order to keep her safe from the demons that hunt her. An easy job - until a pair of red glowing eyes reveal themselves to Skye, and Xander, in a moment of weakness, is forced to break his cover to protect her. Never good at trusting people, Skye is inexplicably drawn to Xander and the immediate bond she feels for him. However, Xander is filled with secrets and ties to her past that threaten to thrust Skye into a world she could never imagine existed… As she begins to unravel the truth about who Xander is and the details surrounding her family, she discovers that she might just be the key to saving everything... And, most importantly, she finds that there has always been someone by her side who would never let her fall…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Having grown up in both the cold, quiet town of Topsham, Maine and the steamy, southern hospitality of Mobile, Alabama, Michele is something of a enigma. She is an avid Yankees fan, loves New England, being outdoors and misses snow. However she thinks southern boys are hotter, Alabama football is the only REAL football out there and sweet tea is the best thing this side of heaven and her children’s laughter! Her family, a doting hubby and three little minnions, have planted their roots in the middle of Michele’s two childhood homes in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Never Let You Fall is Michele’s first novel and she is beyond thrilled to have finally followed up on a dream she has held for over 20 years! God willing there will be many many more books to follow.

You can add Never Let You Fall on Goodreads.
Go and send some love to Michele on Twitter, Facebook, and her blog.

COVER REVEAL Broken Gates by D.T. Dyllin

2013-03-28T00:36:00.001-05:00

BROKEN GATES BY D.T. DYLLIN

Book two in The P.J. Stone Gates Trilogy

Publisher: Dragonfairy Press

Cover Artist: Lindsay Tiry

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Release Date: May 24th, 2013

P.J. Stone is a Seer who saw too little, too late.

In the past, her biggest worries were boys and school—but war has a way of changing things. Now, the alien Riders are trying to overrun the world. As the last of their kind, P.J. and her friends must find a way to save humanity before there’s nothing left to save.

After choosing a mate, P.J. hoped she'd have time to enjoy her love life. But with everything changing so quickly and major secrets revealed, who knows what the future will bring?

HERE'S WHAT I THOUGHT

So I've had the pleasure to Beta read for this book and oh my goodness! First of all, if you haven't read Hidden Gates you need to. This isn't your average Paranormal Romance series. It's a New Adult Paranormal Romance and that just makes everything better. So let's talk about this cover. The purple is gorgeous and hellloooo sexy shirtless man! And notice that little dragon on the side? EEK! Did I mention there's dragons in this book? It's fricken awesome!

ABOUT D.T. DYLLIN

Cynical-Optimist. Chocolateholic. Sarcasm Addict. Paranormal Believer. Self-Imposed Insomniac. Sci-Fi Geek. Animal Lover. Writer . . . are just a few words to describe D.T. Dyllin. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and now lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and two very spoiled German Shepherds.

CHECK IT OUT, YO

You can find Broken Gates on Goodreads.

Look for D.T. Dyllin everywhere!

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY TIME

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BLOG TOUR Shattered Promises by Jessica Sorensen

2013-03-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

SHATTERED PROMISED BY JESSICA SORENSEN

**Mature Content Warning** 17+ for language and sexual content. (A re-imagining of The Fallen Star told as a New Adult Paranormal)

For twenty-one year-old Gemma, life has never been normal. She knows nothing about her past and has been haunted by the same monsters in her nightmares for the last few months. Unemotional and numb to life, she feels disconnected from everyone. Until the very first day she cries. After that, nothing in her life is the same.
Her emotions slowly surface and she starts experiencing love, happiness, and anger, feelings she never knew existed. But they leave her confused and she doesn’t know whether to embrace them or run away from them.
Her life only gets more complicated when she meets Alex. Sexy, arrogant, and secretive, Alex can get under Gemma’s skin like no one can. Yet she’s drawn to him by an invisible connection she has no control over. She’s also seen him before. In her nightmares.
Every part of Gemma’s mind is screaming at her to stay away from Alex, but every other part of her is begging to get close to him. But the closer she gets, the more she realizes Alex knows more about her than he originally let on.
As secrets about her past unravel, Gemma’s life becomes threatened. She needs to figure out what’s going on, before she winds up dead. But the only person she can turn to for answers is the one person she isn’t sure she can trust.

HERE'S WHAT I THOUGHT
I'll start of by saying The Fallen Star was the very first book I read by Jessica Sorensen and I have been a huge fan of hers ever since. When I heard that she was re-writing The Fallen Star into a NA series, I may have jumped up and down and clapped like the silly little fan girl I am. And then I waited....and waited...and then I begged for an ARC. And then I got it and I read it that day. Because, like I said, I'm a fan girl. And I fell so much more in love with all the characters I already knew so well! So I'm going to try and write this review without too much comparing between the two, but I can't promise anything.

You should know that you most definitely can read this book without reading The Fallen Star! You won't be missing out on anything(other than another great book) if you read this before or don't read the other at all.

Gemma has always known a life without the loving family and emotions that everyone else seemed to get. In fact, she doesn't ever remember crying. But one day, she does, and she begins to experience every emotion that she had never felt before. Happy, sad, tired, frustrated, hurt, and even lust, all coming at her hard and fast, leaving her little time to processes everything. On top of it, she meets Alex and she can't shake him out of her mind. But Alex is arrogant and downright rude to her, which may or may not only fuel her desire to be around him more. What Gemma doesn't know is the secrets that Alex holds might undo her entire outlook on her world, and his as well.

As Gemma starts to learn of a word full of Keepers, Witches, Foreseers,Vampires, Death Walks, Faeries, and so much more, so do you. You feel as if you're Gemma learning everything for the very first time, fitting together the missing pieces of the puzzle that is her life.

I loved Gemma in this book. She was much different than in The Fallen Star. Now Gemma is a women and despite her unemotional upbringing, she doesn't let that phase her when it comes to her new emotions. She knows what she wants and what she needs and she'll do what it takes to get it. She doesn't back down and cower when new situations present themselves, and I admire that in a female character.

Alex was just as big a butthole in this book than in The Fallen Star, but he is still a favorite of mine. He has a mission is is sent to do when it comes to Gemma, but there's a pull that draws him to her. He breaks the rules, regrets it, and then does it again. It's a vicious cycle that he doesn't know how to fix. You can really identify with him throughout the book. You can't help but cheer him on to make the right decisions!

There's a few other characters that will capture your heart. Aislin is Alex's sister who is gorgeous and smart but with supernatural talents of her own. And then there's Laylen, who is by far my favorite character. He has a scene in the beginning when you first meet him that just confirmed everything I thought about him before. He embraces what he is in Shattered Promises instead of being ashamed of it in The Fallen Star, which makes him even more appealing and loveable.

I need book two to be out already because I can't wait to see what is in store with this grown up Gemma and Alex. They're so much more compatible in this book and I loved every minutes of it!

I GAVE SHATTERED PROMISES

FIVE CUPCAKES

CHECK IT OUT, YO!

You can find Shattered Promises on Goodreads and Amazon.

You can find Jessica Sorensen on Facebook, Twitter, and her blog.

I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST OPINION.

BLOG TOUR & TOP FIVE Wolf Spell by M.R. Polish

2013-03-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

WOLF SPELL BY M.R. POLISH

With a death starts a new beginning...

Eighteen-year-old Esmerelda thinks she’s just a normal girl, but all of that changes the day of her mom’s funeral, when a warlock, intent on using her special powers, kidnaps her. Powers she didn’t know existed. Thrown in the middle of a magical battle, Es struggles to learn her magic while fleeing both vampires and warlocks, at the same time, hunting for the witches that can help defeat her adversary. The only problem is that they are dead.

Thankfully, she has the help of Jarak—her Guardian—who quickly captures her heart, but she wonders if she can win his? Just when she thinks Jarak is the one for her, Ian appears with daggers drawn to save Es from a vampire attack. Ian is cocky and rude, but there is something magnetic about him—something that attracts her to him. With her heart torn between two men, she faces the foes that are out for her blood. Can Es do the unthinkable and awaken them from their graves before time runs out?

HERE'S WHAT I THOUGHT
Witches, Vampires, Guardians and spirit wolves - OH MY. I've read a lot of paranormal books with all these types of characters in them, and I have to say, this storyline is still very unique! I felt like I was learning about a whole new world(can I telleport there, please?) and it sucked me in. I was up until 5 AM to finish reading!

Esmerelda lead a normal life growing up. It wasn't until her mom passes away that her life goes haywire. And it's not because of normal events that follow the death of a parent. It's the fact that she learns she's a very powerful witch and has a very important role to play in a world she knows nothing about.

Esmerelda immediately captured my heart. She was so naive and sweet. I wanted to hug her and make her my BFF. But as her adventure progressed, she matured so much. I loved that she still held onto that innocent eighteen-year-old heart, but she was more confident and really grew into who she was.

There was also a really great love triangle, which we all know I can't resist. I had tweeted M.R. that I was all about Jarak, Es's Guardian. He's so protective of her as he gets drawn to her more and more. They are both so sweet about it, lusting after each other but not knowing how to react to their feelings. And then comes Ian, Jarak's brother, and I jumped ships. I'm a total bad boy lover and he got me with his splash of sweetness, too. How lucky is Es to have two awesome Guardians pinning after you? I may have been a little jealous.

In all, I'm itching for the next one. We were going full speed ahead and I want to know what happens! We are left with so many possibilities to ponder and it's killing me. But that just makes me love Wolf Spell that much more!

I GAVE WOLF SPELL

FIVE CUPCAKES

TOP FIVE WITH M.R. POLISH

I got to ask the lovely M.R. Polish what her Top Five Guilty Pleasures were. I think we would get along just fine with some of these answers! Chocolate, half naked men, and dancing. Sign me up!

1. Symphony Milk Chocolate Bars

2. Historical Native American Romances... You know the ones with super hot throbbing, bare chested warriors that kidnap the white woman and they fall in love? Ya, those.... *Swoon

3. Love Michael Jackson songs. I turn them up and sing along every time.

4. Total Twilight fan =)

5. Dancing in the house (usually when no one can watch lol)

CHECK IT OUT, YO!

You can find Wolf Spell on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Goodreads.
You can find M.R. Polish on Facebook, Twitter, and her blog.

I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST OPINION.

BLOG TOUR I Am Alive by Cameron Jace

2013-03-07T00:00:00.000-06:00

I AM ALIVE BY CAMERON JACE

Every girl dies - not every girl really lives.

Sixteen-year-old Decca Tenderstone feels captivated when she meets Leo, who is arrogant, silent, beautiful, and shoots almost every one he meets.

the usual boring girl meets badboy story... hmm... with a twist ...

They live in a dystopian future in Los Angeles where every sixteen-year-old is ranked on a scale from one to ten to determine their future. Outranks, who are considered a danger to society, are forced to attend the Monster Show, a brutal sacrificing ritual that is broadcasted worldwide on live TV, where rebellious teens are labelled Bad Kidz or Monsters and get to fight for their lives in deadly games.

To prove that you're still alive you have to scream I Am Alive every six hours. Lower your voice, and you're dead.

Decca doesn't need Leo's company. She has secrets of her own. While they both can't stand each other, she will find out why she doesn't fit into any rank.

Nothing will stand in her way as she has to make choices concerning love, life, staying alive, growing up, and finding out who she really is.

HERE'S WHAT I THOUGHT

I'm a Dystopian nut. What can I say? It's my roots of where I started reading as an adults and I absolutely love the idea of the future that's not like the Jetsons. When I read the blurb for I Am Alive, it caught my eye immediately. It takes place in Los Angeles, which I am very familiar with growing up in San Diego and I always love stories where I can relate to where it is happening.

We start off by meeting Katie on ranking day. She's is pre-ranked to be middle class and seems to be okay with that. She's content she's not going to be lower than a five, which would make her an Outrank and have consequences for her family, but she has a whole hidden agenda. She wants to get into the Monster Show and she has an amazing plan with an even more interesting reason behind it.

This may make me a morbid person, but I love the idea of the Monster Show. Not because innocent children are dying, but I love the suspenseful emotion that it fires inside me. You start to become everyone's cheerleader, but you also start to feel the conflicted emotions of what would you do if you were in that situation. It's nerve-wracking! I felt like I was there and it's creepy and intriguing all rolled into one.

You also meet Leo, a rock star of his time, who is mysterious and also it's questionable if he's trustworthy. I liked him from the beginning but I wanted to know more. I wanted to know his story. I STILL want to know his story, even though you learn bits and pieces of it, but I will have to wait until the next book. In fact, there's a whole lot of things I still want to find out, which makes this book so awesome. You get so sucked into this new world that you are left wanting more.

Another favorite part of mine was all pop culture references. First it was the added Z's to words and then when I found out about The Breakfast Club, I about had a heart attack. Also, the Monster Show takes place where Disneyland used to be! And they ride on some of the old school rides and I kept thinking, "I've been there! I've done that!" It was pretty cool.

Last but not least, there's a love interest in this book. It's sweet and not the whole story, but everyone needs someone to ship in books and you will definitely be a Leo and Katie shipper! Or else we can't be friends. Okay, maybe we can. Maybe!

I GAVE I AM ALIVE

FIVE CUPCAKES

CHECK IT OUT, YO!

You can find I Am Alive on Goodreads and Amazon,

You can find Cameron Jace on Facebook, Twitter and his blog.

I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST OPINION.

BLOG TOUR Exhale by Jennifer Snyder

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

EXHALE BY JENNIFER SNYDER

Inhaling in life is easy. It’s the exhaling—the letting go— that’s the hard part.

Katie Elliot has always known the Conner twins. For years she secretly pined after one, while playfully averting the advances of the other. Once upon a time, she was fine with that. Then came the moment when her twin of preference kissed her and changed everything.

As if realizing love can be complex—even when it’s reciprocated— isn't hard enough, tragedy strikes, tearing Katie and the boy she’s always desired apart. Finding herself torn between love and guilt, Katie must learn when it’s acceptable to let go—when it’s finally okay to exhale.

HERE'S WHAT I THOUGHT

The blur and the cover really made me excited to read this book. I grew up by the beach, so it's something that has always played into my heart's song. I also am a sucker for love triangles. Both of these things seemed to be present in Exhale just based upon looks alone.

Katie is a young girl whose two best friends are her twin neighbor boys. Derek is the strong silent type that Katie can't get out of her mind, while Kyle is the loud, obnoxious one that not-so-secretly pines after her. Derek and Katie finally let each other in on their feelings for each other, but then comes a tragedy that strikes the entire town, directly effecting Katie and Derek's relationship and themselves as a people.

Katie is your typical teenager. She has wants what she can't have while her best girlfriend is flirty and outgoing. Once she finally gets Derek, she falls deeply. Ah, the joys of young love. I also enjoyed Derek and Kyle throughout the book. Kyle was a great character who I thought added a lot of fun into their story. Derek was strong and protective and always did what he felt was right. I admired that.

That being said, I had to look past some things to really enjoy Katie's story. I felt like something was missing from the beginning of the book. It started off great and then just felt very rushed after that. I felt like Derek and Katie went from zero to thirty in five seconds flat. I understood it was young love, but I guess I didn't feel the character development before they got there. Katie seemed very one dimensional to me as the main character. I just couldn't feel that attachment to her, although I did feel it with Derek and Kyle. I would have liked to see some more development of the story before the night of the first party.

In all, I liked the storyline and most of the characters. It was a sweet and painful tale of young love, which everyone has experience in one way or the other.

I GAVE EXHALE

THREE AND A HALF CUPCAKES

CHECK IT OUT, YO!

You can find Exhale on Goodreads, Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble.
You can find Jennifer Snyder on Facebook, Twitter, and her blog.

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I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST OPINION.

BOOK TRAILER Sacrifice by Stacey Rourke

2013-03-02T16:46:00.000-06:00

April is around the corner, which means I can start getting pumped for the release of the third book in the Griffin Series, Sacrifice by Stacey Rourke. You can see my reviews on The Conduit and Embrace and check them out for yourself.

If you needed some more motivatiation, here's the book trailer for Sacrifice!

BOOK BLAST Silver-White by Shawn Underhill

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

SILVER-WHITE BY SHAWN UNDERHILL

“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
~ Robert Frost

Evie’s family has been holding out on her …
Big time.

On an unexpected visit to her grandparents’ house in New Hampshire’s secluded North Woods, the sixteen-year-old literally runs into the truth of the long-hidden family secrets, and finds herself thrust without warning into the clandestine world of the Great North Pack—a wild and exhilarating world of rugged beauty, heart-pounding adventures, and long nights running under a sea of stars … but as she’s set to discover, a world also fraught with potential dangers lurking in the shadows.

ABOUT SHAWN UNDERHILL

Shawn is a part-time writer from New Hampshire, where he spends his free time hiking in the mountains, camping, racing dirt bikes, or anything else that keeps him outdoors. Dogs are his very favorite people. He is also the author of the novel All Things Different.

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REVIEW Stay by Jennifer Silverwood

2013-02-26T00:54:00.000-06:00

STAY BY JENNIFER SILVERWOOD

Sometimes, love isn’t as magical as people expect it to be…

Rona believes love is nothing more than a myth, a tale for little girls. As the oldest daughter, she knows duty and family honor as well as the difference between salt and cinnamon.

Until the immortal ruler of the seas appears from thin air and she is swept into a dark and dangerous affair. What was formerly myth soon becomes part of the everyday. And Rona believes when Seid tells her they will be together forever.

But forever is a long time and after she betrays him, what was supposed to be an eternity in paradise becomes an eternity in hell. Now she is cursed, unable to feel human emotions except through the couples she is led to save.

Two thousand years is an awfully long time to live alone. And the business of love saving isn’t what it used to be. By the twenty-first century, love has become an illusion as grandiose as magic and Rona’s ready to give up. Until the night she is seen by a human. Deep in the underbelly of the city that never sleeps, she recognizes him instantly. He may dress differently and have gained a few new scars, but she would recognize the face of her former lover in any lifetime.

Trouble is, he seems to have no memory of her and he and his ex-girlfriend are the ones whose true love she’s meant to save.
But when he starts to fall for her, she is forced to learn what it means to be human all over again.

Past and present come full circle in this tale of love, forgiveness and woe.

HERE'S WHAT I THOUGHT

Here's another book that has a gorgeous, simple cover. The colors and tones are perfect! Excellent job!

As for the book itself, after reading the blurb, I knew I had never read anything like Stay before. I was expecting some type of cupid love triangle, but I got much more than that. This is a love story that stretches across thousands of years, yet is just as important in the present time. Rona is cursed to walk the earth as an immortal, finding couples on their last chance of love, and made to decide if their love is worth saving or not. This is all because her one true love, Seid, used his powers when he felt betrayed by her long ago.

I enjoyed the fact that Rona is so naive, despite the fact that she has walked the earth of two thousand years. She is programed to believe certain aspects of her curse and life can not be changed, but she meets Cain, who challenges everything she thought she knew about herself.

Cain is a broken man, stuck in the normalcy of his routine until Rona comes along. She brings him back to reality and sparks a fire back in him that had been sucked dry by many devastating events in his life. It's a double edged sword though, because the more Cain comes alive, the more Rona is drawn to him and away from her task, which is to reunite Cain and his ex-girlfriend.

Cain and Rona's story is laced with passion, love, and regret from both parties. However, their journey brings out the final fate for both of them, which I don't think either of them ever expected to see happen. Heck, I didn't! The final scenes were gut wrenching for romance lovers like me, but I was very pleased with how their story ended.

I also loved the fact that there was a tiny snippet from Jennifer at the back of the book, explaining how Stay came to be. I don't find that often in books, but I was pleased to get a little inside information about the background story. My favorite part was "Stay was written as an answer to my own questions, whether or not true love exists, and if so, how far people are willing to go for it." I think that's the perfect testimony for Stay.

I GAVE STAY

FOUR CUPCAKES

CHECK IT OUT, YO!

You can find Stay on Goodreads and Smashwords.

You can find Jennifer Silverwood on Facebook, Twitter, and her blog.

I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST OPINION.

COVER REVEAL The Truth About Letting Go by Leigh Talbert Moore

2013-02-21T00:02:00.000-06:00

THE TRUTH ABOUT LETTING GO BY LEIGH TALBERT MOORE

Publication date: February 21, 2013
Genre: YA Contemporary

A companion to The Truth About Faking (not a sequel; the books can be read out of order), The Truth About Letting Go takes readers back to Shadow Falls, or more specifically Shadow Creek, with Ashley Lockett as she learns about real friendship, love, and letting go.

Ashley wants to smash everything in her once-perfect life.
Charlotte wants to walk in Ashley’s seemingly charmed shoes.
Colt wants to turn Smalltown USA on its ear—with Ashley at his side.
Jordan wants to follow his heart…
But Ashley’s the one sacrifice he never expected to make.

Up until now, Ashley Lockett’s followed the rules. She’s always done the right thing, played it safe, gone to church. Then her ideal life is torn apart when her dad dies suddenly.

Now she’s miserable and furious, and she makes a vow not to believe in anything. She’s on a mission to do everything opposite of how she lived before—rejecting safety, the rules, faith…

And then she meets Jordan.

Jordan has big dreams, he’s a great kisser, and he wants to help her through her grief. He also believes in everything Ashley now claims to hate.

Then she meets Colt. He is not safe. And he’s ready to help Ashley fulfill her mission.

CHECK OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT LETTING GO ON

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

ABOUT LEIGH TALBERT MOORE

Leigh Talbert Moore is a wife and mom by day, a writer by day, a reader by day, a freelance editor when time permits, a chocoholic, a caffeine addict, a lover of any great love story, a beach bum, and occasionally she sleeps.

Leigh’s debut novel The Truth About Faking is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, and Kobo.
Her second book, Rouge, is a mature YA/new adult romantic suspense novel set in New Orleans. It’s available on Amazon.

FIND LEIGH TALBERT MOORE ON

Goodreads | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

GRAZE BOX My first time

2013-02-18T00:00:00.000-06:00

Some of you may have figured out I'm kind of addicted to subscription boxes. I've had my Ipsy bag for a while and I've been looking through a lot of different food ones. I found a few but never anything I felt was worth the money. That is until my friend Susan(who is like my healthy food guru. Love you, Susan!) posted about this thing called a Graze box. I checked it out and well, I ordered immediately when I found out the details.

The packaging is so nice! It held up really well.

Here's the rundown on what Graze is. It's a weekly subscription box that is sent to your door which four includes unique and healthy snacks. The part the I liked best was you can go through and browse all their different snack options and rate them - trash it(never send me this!), try it, like it, and loved it! There's also the options of a a nibblebox(regular box) and their lightbox(snacks that are all under 150 calories! On top of those options, you can choose to trash any food that you may not eat. There's a vegan, Celiac, and non-dairy list as well. So you get to essentially customize your entire box to your liking.

What could come in your box? Delicious, healthy, natural food like nut and seed mixes, juicy dried fruits, tasty crackers, dips and dippers, and natural treats. Some of their snacks are really unique and things I would not normally try on my own. I'm not a huge fan of nuts, except peanuts and pistachios, but I made a choice to attempt to try anything sent to me! While I'm at work, I'm usually pretty busy and on the move, so I'm always looking for quick snacks and sometimes that results in not-so-healthy options like Goldfish, chips, Cheeze-it's, etc. These are perfect for my grab and go lunch!

Here's the kicker. Graze is only $5 a week and you can cancel at any time. That's less than what I spend on snacks at the grocery store a month. If you needed anything to make you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside about this company, their box is made from cardboard that comes from sustainable forests, so it's 100% biodegradable & 100% recyclable. Their snack packs are made with recycled material that can be recycled again and the little booklet with all the vital information about your box is also made with paper from sustainable forests as well as being 100% biodegradable & 100% recyclable.You can't get much better than that. Here's what was in my box this week!

I got th egarden of england - mini strawberries, blackcurrants and apple, herb garden - herb and onion peanuts, baked herb bites and oregano rice cracker, pear tatin - pear, raspberry infused cranberries, yogurt coated sunflower seeds and almond, and hot cross yum - sponge pieces, cinnamon and honey almonds and orange infused raisins.

I can't wait to try all of them. Not one of them sounds bad to me! So do you want to join Graze? I have a few(four I believe) invite codes left! When you join, I get the options of getting a dollar off my next box or donating a dollar to the graze school of framing in Uganda. I will be donating each dollar from the referral program! Leave a comment below if you're interesting in signing up! Your first box will be free!

Sucked me in Sunday #4

2013-02-17T18:44:00.001-06:00

This week I have a video for you that I already shared on my personal Facebook, but it's just to awesome to pass up posting for today. I'm a The Vampire Diaries FANATIC. I mean, I'm one of THOSE people. You think I fan girl hard over books, it's a whole different level for this TV show. Which, by the way, I'm team Damon and if you're team Stephan, you better be really awesome to make up for the awful sissy lala you go to bat for. Anyway, this video showed up on my YouTube suggested video and it's perfect. It's exactly how I watch this show every Friday(we don't have cable to I have to wait until Friday!).

WARNING: This may contain spoilers, so if you get your panties in a bunch about not knowing what happens(this was made during this current season) just don't watch. Or better yet, get caught up and then you can enjoy the silliness!

So tell me, do you guys shout at the TV like this? Here are some of the ones I've totally thought in my head. "Who is this Katherine?" "Crap this town has a fudge load of official gatherings." "Stop friggen whining Jeremy!" "Guys that is not Elena!" "Are you kidding me right now Stephan?" "NEVER LET ME GO NEVER LET ME GO." "JEREMY get to beep back into the motel room!"

Here's a little something I got in the mail this week. Why yes, that is signed by Ian Somerhalder. And why yes, it does sit on my nightstand next to my husbands pictures. Can't have too many hot guys on your nightstand, right? Oh boy!

BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY The Boys of Summer by C.J. Duggan

2013-02-11T02:07:00.000-06:00

Summer romance is kind of my thing. And by thing, I mean, I love them. Doesn't this book look awesome. And hello sweet and sexy cover-ness!

THE BOYS OF SUMMER (SUMMER SERIES #1) BY C.J. DUGGAN

NEW ADULT CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

PUBLICATION DATE: December 17, 2012

It seemed only natural to nickname them the ‘Onslow Boys’. Every time they swaggered in the front door of the Onslow Hotel after a hard week’s work, their laughter was loud and genuine as they settled onto their bar stools. I peeked through the restaurant partition, a flimsy divider between my world and theirs. I couldn’t help but smile whenever I saw them, saw him ... Toby Morrison.

Quiet seventeen-year-old Tess doesn’t relish the thought of a summertime job. She wants nothing more than to forget the past haunts of high school and have fun with her best friends before the dreaded Year Twelve begins.
To Tess, summer is when everything happens: riding bikes down to the lake, watching the fireworks at the Onslow Show and water bomb fights at the sweltering Sunday markets.

How did she let her friends talk her into working?

After first-shift disasters, rude, wealthy tourists and a taunting ex-boyfriend, Tess is convinced nothing good can come of working her summer away. However, Tess finds unlikely allies in a group of locals dubbed ‘The Onslow Boys’, who are old enough to drive cars, drink beer and not worry about curfews. Tess’s summer of working expands her world with a series of first times with new friends, forbidden love and heartbreaking chaos.

All with the one boy she has never been able to forget.

It will be a summer she will always remember.

Warning: sexual references, and occasional course language.

ABOUT C.J. DUGGAN

C.J Duggan is an Australian author who lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales, Australia. The Boys of Summer is Book One in her Mature Young Adult Romance Series.
To find more C.J and ‘The Summer Series’ visit her website, Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.

EXTRA, EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT

So we got super lucky and have been included in a little teaser from The Boys of Summer. Get prepared to be sucked it and wipe some drool off your face.

Moon rays filtered through the windshield, giving the cabin an otherworldly glow.
Toby’s perfect teeth were illuminated when he smiled. “You know, you are the worst
winner!” He shook his head. “Ever since you won the bet, you’ve been apologising. Just go
with it, enjoy it, because I assure you, next time …” - he leaned closer - “… you will not be
the winner.” He pulled back, smug.
I curved a brow. “Next time?”
He nodded. “I fully intend to redeem myself.”
“Want a chance to rebuild your shattered ego, do you? I bet you’re itching to fix my bike
so you can be rid of me once and for all.” I shouldered him gently, teasing him as I would
Adam. And then I realised what I had done; I had treated him like my friends. He looked
down at his shoulder, then up at me. His eyes shadowed with untold meanings that I couldn’t
read.
“What if I didn’t want to fix your bike?” he said in all seriousness.
“Why, is my company so stimulating that you can’t bear the thought of being without
me?” I teased nervously.
I was aiming for light and airy, but something must have gone wrong with my delivery
because Toby’s face went blank. He looked out into the lights of Onslow, ran his tongue over
his bottom lip and sighed.

GIVEAWAY TIME

So not only did we get a teaser, we're also pleased to announce a giveaway for an e-copy of The Boys of Summer.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sucked me in Sunday #3

2013-02-10T20:29:00.003-06:00

Is it already Sunday again? I feel this this week has blown by! Sheesh!

Well this week, I want to share with you one of my favorite medley's on YouTube! This one is Maroon 5 and they did an awesome job!

REVIEW Here by Ella James

2013-02-10T18:17:00.002-06:00

HERE BY ELLA JAMES

Milo Mitchell's life used to be charmed, but that was before her family dissolved, she went a little crazy, and her best friends started acting more like strangers. Spending Saturday morning in a treehouse with a stun gun for company and a herd of deer for friends is the only exciting thing in her life...until she shoots a fawn and finds her dart stuck in a guy.

Her gorgeous victim is dressed in a Brioni tux and armed with a hanky. He has no idea who or where he is. Afraid her dart caused his amnesia, Milo takes him in, names him Nick, and vows to help him solve his mystery. Soon the pair find Nick's face in a newspaper obituary, and Nick beings to have strange, ethereal memories of Milo--who is sure she's never met him. Suddenly Nick knows things he shouldn't know and is doing things he shouldn't do. When the Department of Defense shows up, Nick and Milo run--toward a shocking conclusion that could destroy both their worlds.

HERE'S WHAT I THOUGHT

Let me take a second to show this cover some love. It's simple, it's black and white, and it's magnificent. Seriously, how could you not be drawn to this cover and the guy with the awesome bone structure and perfectly quaffed hair?

We start off by meeting a giggling group of teen girls. Among them is Milo, who loves her three friends very much, but is starting to feel disconnected from them as their lives start taking different paths. Since I was once a teenager(not so long ago it seems), I could relate to her very much in that sense! Finding true self in high school when you have more than one friend is a struggle at times, especially when you've gone through some traumatic events such as Milo.

She really struck me as awesome when you find out she's continued her Dad's deer tracking research and she lives out in the boondocks where they produce and sell natural energy from their turbines. Basically, Milo was who I wanted to be when I was younger! How cool would it be to grow up like that? Maybe it's just my hippie self that thinks that, but I'm already pretty jealous of her.

But her life gets about ten times more confusing when she aims for a fawn, and in its place, a handsome young man appears in a suit and tie. She handles it much better than I would have, if I would have shot someone with a dart gun. The boy doesn't remember anything prior to the moment he wakes up and sees Milo's face. She dubs him Nick, and together they set out to try and solve the mystery of his past.

I like that we get to see into glimpse of Nick's mind. He's a mystery to us and of course, I was always craving to learn more about him, but how could we when he didn't even know about himself? The connection between Milo and Nick can be seen right from the start, and I really enjoyed the innocent lust that you feel between the two of them. It was sweet and a testament to young love, one which I'm sure all of us have felt at one point or another.

My favorite part in Here was when the action finally kicked in. Nick and Milo are chased by FBI agents and Nick's 'powers' are starting to come out in full swing. I felt like I was hanging onto the back of the motorcycle with them and experiencing being hunted as well. Once they are in the underground building, I knew the book was ending, and I wasn't ready for that to happen. I wanted to know more! I need to know more! However, even though I was disappointed it ended, I wasn't disappointed in the ending, especially since I know Trapped, book two, is coming out so soon!

I GAVE HERE

FOUR CUPCAKES

CHECK OUT IT OUT, YO!

You can check out Here on Amazon and Goodreads!

You can check out Ella James on Facebook, Twitter, and her blog!

I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST OPINION.

REVIEW Hidden Gates by D.T. Dyllin

2013-02-07T10:14:00.000-06:00

HIDDEN GATES BY D.T. DYLLIN

For P.J. Stone, being a “Seer” who has never seen anything is less than fun. And P.J. isn’t known for her patience.

To make matters worse, she must choose a suitable mate to continue the Seer bloodline. Duty always comes before her heart…at least that’s what her parents taught her. When she finds herself wanting someone who is considered off-limits, P.J. is forced to question everything she believes.

As if navigating her love life isn’t complicated enough, P.J. finally receives a vision—of a threat to her world that only she can perceive. But no one will believe a fledgling Seer’s warnings. With nowhere else to turn, she may decide to trust a stranger with her life, her world, and maybe even her heart.

HERE'S WHAT I THOUGHT

This one definitely surprised me! I knew I was interested, but I was suddenly sucked in when I started reading. The only thing that has be taken back was the amount of sexy time in this book. But I can't complain, because I do enjoy reading about sexy time, especially when it's well written and even sweet! Right from the start, the characters came alive with Dyllin's amazing ability to wrap the reader up in her descriptive writing.

We start off being thrown into a high school setting, but this is anything but normal for high school in a world of Seer,s Guardians, Speakers, and Gatekeepers. I really enjoyed how it didn't feel like I was reading about some strange place, everything felt like things might have changed since I've been in high school and this is really how it is now! P.J. is our main lady and right away we find out that she's shy, doesn't date, has a guy and a girl best friend, and has yet to come into her Seer powers. Her best friends are Jenna, a Speaker, who has no shame in her love for getting her groove on with all the boys in school, and Bryn, her one day Guardian and partner in crime, but also the result of many confusing feelings she experiences.

The dynamic between these three is something else. They're quirky, fun, and free spirited! But soon not just one, but multiple wrenches get thrown into their grove, causing their world to get off kilter, opening up more adventure and magic into their already unique world. P.J. goes through a transformation throughout the book of being a shy, timid girl, to a powerful and confident young lady. Bryn, who was already a force to be reckoned with before, gets about ten times more manlier throughout the book.

I think my favorite part of Hidden Gates was the ever revealing storyline and plot twists. The story was like a good layer cake, the cake being the juicy plot twists and the icing between the layers being the new and substantial characters that get introduced along the way. Many times while I was reading I starting thinking 'NO WAY!' and I love when I can do that. I can't wait to read the second book in the trilogy and find out what fate is in store for our little band of heroes!

I GAVE HIDDEN GATES

FOUR CUPCAKES

CHECK OUT HIDDEN GATE, YO

You can find Hidden Gates on Amazon and Goodreads.
You can check out D.T. Dyllin on Facebook, Twitter and her blog.

I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST OPINION.

BLOG-A-THON 2013 Fight for the Right to Read

2013-02-04T18:26:00.000-06:00

This year is full of exciting and new things! One time, long, long, ago in a far away world in Live Journal land, I participated in blog-a-thons. This year, I will be doing it again.

This is my official announcement post for the Blog-a-Thon 2013.
You can visit the fundraising page and donate to the Fight for the Right to Read HERE.

THE SKINNY ON A BLOG-A-THON

On Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 7:30 AM CST, I will be participating in a blog-a-thon where I will be blogging for 24 hours, posting every thirty minutes, all in the name of charity. I will be fundraising for Reading is Fundamental and their mission to motivate young children to read by working with children, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life.

WHY FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO READ?

Children's literacy is something that I hold very close to my heart. I was so lucky to have a family that encouraged me to read and provided me with all the resources possible to become a strong reader and fuel my love for books from a very young age. Because of this, I have not only read over 35,000 pages of books in the past two years alone, I have started a book blog, and began writing my first novel. All of this was made possible because of the resources I was given early on.

Sadly, this is not the case for all children, even today. Thirty-three percent of 4th grade public school students are at or below the “Basic” level on the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress reading tests. Twenty-six percent of 8th grade public school students performed at or below the “Basic” level on the NAEP reading test. What's worse is that the number of high school seniors who read at or above “Proficient” has been declining since 1992, according to the NAEP reading test.

It's not just test scores that are important. Children of all ages need year-round access to books and increased reading motivation, because this is just not the case in every city in the United States. Parents consistently cite summer as the most difficult time to ensure that their children have productive things to do and about two-thirds of the 9th grade achievement gap between lower- and higher-income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities during the elementary school years. As a result, low-income youth are less likely to graduate from high school or enter college.

And families play a huge role in children's literacy. They say family dinner is important, and I believe that, but so is family reading as well. Less than half of families read to their kindergarten-age children on a daily basis. It's a fact children are sponges. When you read to them, you're opening up a world of opportunity far more vast than just reading skills.

Reading is Fundamental not only provides the resources for children to give them the confidence to become a reader, they aid the families and communities around the United States in how to encourage children's literacy to floursih.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO DONATE(AND WIN)

By donating to Reading is Fundamental, you will be providing free books to the nation’s most needy children, motivating children to read for fun, and encouraging parents and community members to become involved in children’s literacy. But as as giant thank you and maybe some incentive, you can be eligible to win prizes, donated by some amazing sponsors(and even some prizes from me, too!). For every $5 you donate, your name will be entered to win. So donate $10, you're name will go in twice, etc! I will be using random.org to select the winners and I will be added and announcing prizes as they roll in on the blog!

INTERESTING IN DONATING A PRIZE?

Not only would you be donating for a great cause, I would love to put your banner & link in the sidebar to show my appreciation! Anyone is welcome to donate a prize, businesses, bloggers, and individuals, alike! Your link would look great on my sidebar! Contact me and we will work it out!

WHEN TO GET INVOLVED

From today until the Blog-a-Thon, of course! It's never too early or too late or donate or help spread the word!

Sucked me in Sunday #2

2013-02-03T00:00:00.000-06:00

I missed last week! Eek! Sorry guys! This week I've got a double feature for you, instead. The first video is a gem I found from Jimmy Fallon. Did I mention I love watching his show? No, well I do! I think he's super funny and I love all the random things he gets his guest to agree to. As I mentioned yesterday, February is being dedicated to getting fit again, so here's a little inspiration from Jimmy and LMFAO. If you've ever attended a spin class, you will appreciate this!

This second video combines my love for A Capella groups and pop music, which is great to workout to! Pentatonix is one of my favorite A Capella on YouTube and this song is what made me fall in love with them! They look like they're having so much fun and it's just amazing to watch. Enjoy!

Fab Ab February

2013-02-02T17:51:00.001-06:00

It's a new month in 2013! Can you believe it's already February? Yeah, me either. Exciting new for me because that means my husband comes home in four months! We're down to a one-hand countdown! Color me excited.

Well, with this new month comes new goals for me. I've got to get back into my healthier living routine. I was super motivated last Summer and my asthma put a screeching halt on all activity when it became out of control. But that all has got to change. It started when a page I like on Facebook posted her Fab Ab February challenge. I'm doing it! I already did yesterdays and I'm keeping people in check on my Facebook as well! Want to join in? Here's the schedule.

So any are of you with me? In addition to Feb Ab February, I plan of going to the gym at least twice a week and running again as well! Time to do this. I can do this!

REVIEW, INTERVIEW, & GIVEAWAY Cruxim by Karin Cox

2013-01-30T00:00:00.000-06:00

CRUXIM BY KARIN COX

Amedeo is Cruxim—a rare, winged supernatural creature who knows neither his purpose nor his past, save but to feed on the vampires that plague the earth. When his one weakness, the girl and novice nun Joslyn, is taken and turned by his enemies, Amedeo vows never to rest until vampires are expunged from his world, even if that means killing Joslyn. But can he?

On his quest, he meets Sabine: a guardian. Half-woman, half-lioness, she is a Sphinx who has been protecting humans from vampires since the dawn of time. But when she fails in her task of protecting a young boy, she is relentlessly pursued by her evil employer, Dr. Claus Gandler, a scientist collecting a sideshow of freaks, and both she and Amedeo are captured and cruelly paraded in Gandler's Circus of Curiosities.

When the stakes are eternity in a cage, what will Amedeo sacrifice to save one or both of the women he loves?

This gothic paranormal novel explores the beast within amid a setting of mythology and forbidden love. Cruxim's dark world and conflicted characters are the antithesis of the sparkly vampire genre.

HERE'S WHAT I THOUGHT

After reading the blurb for Cruxim, I knew that I would most likely enjoy this book. It's paranormal/mythical characters are something I enjoy reading about, and I'd never read about a Syphinx, never mind ever heard about a Cruxim. So, I knew it was going to be a new adventure for me when I began reading.

We experience Amedeo's story through his point of view, something that was fairly new to me as well! I've read a few books in which it was a males point of view, but they were contemporary romances novels. Nothing prepared me to read through the eyes of age old, vampire hunting angel, and I loved it. Ame is focused on his mission and is hard and unattached, unless it comes to Joslyn or Sabine, both women who love him deeply. He loves them as well, but in very different ways.

I really enjoyed that aspect of the story, a kind of love triangle between Joslyn, a girl turned vampire, and Sabine, a Sphinx he finds that eases his pain of the fate of Joslyn. It's interesting and complex and you can feel Ame's emotions throughout the story as he battles his inner self over his love for both of these creatures. But what fuels Amedeo most is revenge, and that always makes for one heck of a story.

Although Ame is a strong and lovable character, it's the ladies of this book that really capture my heart. My affection for Joslyn was out of control. She's so innocent and pure, even when she endures the pain and challenges that she's faced and her body may no longer be innocent, her mind and love for Ame stays with her. I'm a sucker for a romance like that.

The other smaller characters that you meet along the way will capture your heart, freaks and oddities as they are. Cruxim is filled with passion, revenge, action, and love all mixed together to form this story that is unlike any I've ever read. The ending had me in near in tears, but now I have to find out what fate lies ahead for Amedeo in the next book!

I GAVE CRUXIM

FIVE CUPCAKES

Q&A WITH KARIN COX

A big thank you to the wonderful Karin Cox! She answered my questions with grace as I picked her brain! Want to know about a previous soap opera addicted boss, what her favorite part to write was, and how she writes or dies! I loved getting to know a little more about this author and I hope you guys do, too.

I know you’ve written over twenty-eight books and not all in the same genre! What was the genre that inspired your first book? Which was your favorite to write?
My first book was creative non-fiction, and it was inspired by the life story of an incredible Australian woman called Roma Blair, who spent three years in a prisoner of war camp in Indonesia during the second world war and then went on to become a Yoga Swami. I have ghostwritten several life stories in the first person. Ghostwriting creative non-fiction or memoir is great exercise in novel writing, because you already have the plot and the characters (although it takes a lot of time talking to the person and going through photographs and letters to get a good sense of them). From there, my job was to write it true, to make it interesting using scene breaks and pacing, and to structure it for maximum emotional appeal. I no longer ghostwrite, because much as I enjoyed it, I’d just prefer to be doing my own thing, telling my own stories, and publishing them under my own name. Most of my books have been children’s fiction or non-fiction, but I also love writing about history. I enjoy writing just about anything, bar shopping lists. But fiction and poetry are my true passions.

Where do you get your inspiration and ideas from when writing? Do they just come to you or are they based on your own experiences or interests?
Mostly, they just come to me. Usually at 2 am in the morning when I’m trying to sleep—I am an insomniac. But I think every author weaves some of their own experiences or interests into their novels. Cruxim was such pure fantasy that it doesn’t have a great deal of the real “me” in there. I’ve never been a vampire, or in a freakshow (thank goodness), but I have been in a situation where I’ve felt like I was in love with two people before (and neither of them even knew it), so I can relate to the feelings Amedeo experiences.

In Cruxim, we get to read from the point of view of Amedeo, a male immortal angel. How was it writing from a male’s point of view? Any different than from a females?
I don’t think males and females are all that different in terms of what we truly want out of life, but I do feel that, in relationships at least, men feel a real need to be a protector and I wanted to work in those strong feels of having to take care of the women in his life in the novel. That he is unable to protect them both, or even to really give either of them his entire heart, gives Amedeo a lot of guilt. Of course, Sabine almost resents his protection, because she is very strong herself, but his feelings towards Joslyn are largely paternal yet are confused by her beauty and his baser masculine instincts. It was hard for me to ensure that I made that realistic and that it didn’t come off too pervy. I hope that I managed to write a convincing male lead. Of course, him being a supernatural creature helps. He doesn’t have to be a typical man, in a sense.

Anything that really sets the mood when you write? Do you need music? Or maybe just a quiet spot to hide away in? Any writing rituals?
I get very absorbed in my world, so I prefer to write late at night, from 9 pm to 2 am. I like the silence then, when my kid and my partner are asleep and my imagination can run away with itself. The biggest writing ritual I have at present is a program called Write or Die. I’ve spent so many years editing that it can be hard for me to let go and just hammer out a first draft. Very hard. And I am a terrible procrastinator, so if I have to fact-check, I’ll spend an hour googling a place or an object for historical reference, even if it only appears for one line in the novel! I set Write or Die to kamikaze, which means it will start eating my words if I linger for too long, and I force myself to do 1000 words in an hour. Then I later edit, research, fact-check and rewrite the heck out of it. It works for me.

I always like to know about characters names and their origins. Where did Amedeo, Joslyn, and Sabine come from?
Funnily enough, Amedeo got his name from an ex of mine, a lovely Italian guy I met on my travels. However, the real Ame and my imaginary Ame have little in common, either in looks or personality (although the real Amedeo is also a great guy). He knows the character is named after him, too. I chose it because his name means “Lover of God” in Italian, and I wanted something with faint religious undertones and that was unusual but not hard to pronounce. Joslyn’s name was originally Josette, until I had a client send me a novel about vampires to edit and her lead was, coincidentally, Josette! Eventually, I came to like Joslyn better anyway.

And Sabine was always Sabine in my head, from the day I conceived the idea of writing a paranormal novel with a female Sphinx in it. The Sabines were a warlike Italian tribe, and in literature, the women were known to have thrown themselves between the warring armies of their tribe and the Romans, who abducted the Sabine women for wives, to end the conflict. I thought it was a fitting name for Sabine, who sometimes leaps in to save Amedeo’s butt.

What was your favorite part of Cruxim to write? Which part was the hardest?
My favourite parts to write were the love scenes, or what I see to be love scenes: when Joslyn’s love for Amedeo first becomes clear, with the passion-fruit scene; Amedeo and Danette, and what happens to her; and the scene where he tries to save Sabine from the burning tent.

The hardest part was definitely writing the ending. I worried that some readers would be annoyed about what happened to some of the characters. But much more is explained in the sequel, which I am currently writing and which explains why things turned out that way. Basically, Amedeo finds out that maybe his upbringing isn’t as typical for a Cruxim as he thought it was.

If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?
Probably still an editor. I’ve worked as an editor for fifteen years, and I still love it; however, I really want to focus on writing my own books for a little while now.

Since you’re your own boss now, tell us about the worst boss or job you’ve ever had.
Oh, goodness me—that’s classified information. I’ve had a few doozies. Working in the creative arts, you’re often working with people who are very passionate about what they do. That’s a great thing, but sometimes that goes hand in hand with mental illnesses or personality disorders, which can make things tricky. One hilarious boss I had, whom I loved to bits, was when I was backpacking around Europe. I worked for a lovely former beauty queen, who was sixty-odd by then and ran a restaurant on a Greek island. I worked there for several months and lived on her couch.

She had a huge appetite for wine (which often led to maudlin waterworks), for “The Bold and the Beautiful,” and being European for wandering about the house in the nude. But she was a real card. “Darleenk, come and watch the beautiful love story with me,” she would say when “The Bold and the Beautiful” came on, patting the couch (my bed!) next to her nude form. She was also always trying to set me up with rich Greek men, because she believed you had to marry money to be happy (and I certainly don’t believe that!). I think if I ever wrote about my time in Greece, people wouldn’t believe it was real. Truth is stranger than fiction! But she was a wonderfully generous and funny woman.

Care to indulge us with three facts that your fans may not know about you?
I have two elbow creases on each arm, which sounds weirder than it looks (thankfully).

I can ride a horse like a maniac, when I get the chance, and I pretty much grew up on horseback.

I adore cats. They can be cruel and selfish and self-absorbed, but they’re so darn cute and funny and deeply self-conscious at times. I can’t help it.

Do you have any nicknames? Share even the embarrassing ones
I have more nicknames than you can poke a stick at. Hardly anyone actually calls me Karin. Most people who know me well, including my family and friends, call me Kaz or Kazzy or Spazzy (because it rhymes with Kazzy!). My favourite nickname is one my dad called me as a kid: Grumbles. Because I grumbled a lot as a baby, apparently. My UK friends call me Skippy, for the obvious reason that I am Australian. My highschool friends no longer dare to call me Raggedy Anne (I was a gangly, scrawny rag-doll looking teenager). My partner calls me Kazmafarian, or another nickname that is endearing but too mortifying to ever be made public.

If you had to pick one song to be played every time you walked into a room, what would it be and why?
Wow. Like a title fight song? That’s a hard one. “Kung Fu Fighting”—just for fun.

If I take a look inside your refrigerator what would I find?
At the moment: a big old mess! The power was off all day yesterday thanks to flooding in Australia, so it needs a good clean. Usually, you can count on finding cheese, lots of cheese. And wine. And there’s always milk and bread in there too, and broccoli (which is my toddler’s favourite food, weirdly).

And one last question. Any teasers, blurbs, or information about the next book in the series? I know I’m dying to know who that is at the end of the book!
Book II is tentatively titled Creche, and it reveals a lot about Amedeo that he doesn’t even know himself. Some of that helps to explain why things are as they are. There is also a lot more about Sphinxes and how they came to be, and, of course, Amedeo has to work through his feelings of guilt about what happens to his lady loves and find a way to fix things. Plus, there’s still plenty of vampires to fight. The lady at the end of the book will play a big role in Amedeo’s life, and was destined to.

CHECK CRUXIM OUT YOURSELF

You can find Cruxim on Amazon and Goodreads.
Check out Karin Cox on Facebook and her blog.

EXTRA, EXTRA! GIVEAWAY TIME!

Can we get an extra big hug over Karin's way? She's offered to giveaway FIVE Kindle copies(.mobi) away to my readers! Seriously, how awesome is that?! Make sure you send some love her way!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST OPINION.

REVIEW & AUTHOR INTERVIEW Embrace (Gryphon #2) by Stacey Rourke

2013-01-28T00:00:00.000-06:00

EMBRACE BY STACEY ROURKE

Whether she likes it or not, eighteen year old Celeste Garrett has come to terms with being the Chosen One. She knew having a “normal life” would be tricky, between intense training sessions and epic demonic battles, but she didn’t know at what cost it would come. That is, until a dear friend is harmed by the malicious forces hunting her.

Now, she’d like nothing more than to retreat into a hermit lifestyle to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. But startling revelations, amazing new abilities, and mortifying moments in front of insanely hot guys won’t allow time for that. Soon, Celeste finds herself surrounded by darkness and wondering who she can trust—if anyone.

HERE'S WHAT I THOUGHT

After reading The Conduit, I knew I wanted to find out more in this series. Celeste, even though she's a kick booty girl with powers that will make you gasp, is still a magnet for trouble. Actually, not only that, she's a magnet for boys and relationships that will not end well! I actually feel pretty sorry for Celeste through the first book and halfway into Embrace. She just doesn't catch a break!

I loved that this book was full of lots of actions and plot twists. I'm a sucker for these two things in a book and when the plot twists are ones that make me look like I just saw a ghost, you know that they're good ones! Celeste really shines throughout the book, though. Her confidence has remained and bloomed even more since we last saw her. She finally starts putting her foot down about making her own decisions and choices with regards to what she believes is the right path for her to take. Even at times when her choices seem questionable, I still find myself rooting her on! She has a good heart.

Then come a few handsome men into her life, especially one hunky Irishman named Caleb. Oh Caleb, how you make all our hearts go pitter patter with your raven black hair and accent. Oh, that's just me? And maybe Celeste, too, I guess. I am trying not to spoil anything but I'll say this....man that Caleb! You'll just have to read and find out why I'm saying that!

As for the rest of the gang, they aren't left out at all! Lots of things happen to them in their ever changing world as well. I'll try not to give anything away except for some of my reactions to things I read. I said outloud - "REALLY?" "What! No way!" "Aww, how sweet!" And maybe a little of "FINALLY!" So, just get yourself a copy and read this, okay?

I GAVE EMBRACE

FOUR CUPCAKES

EXTRA, EXTRA! INTERVIEW WITH STACEY ROURKE!

Not only did I get the pleasure to read her books, Stacey took some time to answer some questions for me as well! That's something I always appreciate and love digging into the mind of some of my favorite people. She lets us in on her writing rituals, her dream cast, what we can expect from Sacrifice, and her love for crabs! The only thing I couldn't get her to give up was her nickname! And a big sorry to her admin, Jenn! Don't give Stacey too many lashings with a wet noodle for answering some silly questions!

Let’s talk about inspiration. Was there any particular authors or books that inspired you when you first started out as an author?

I have tons of favorite authors, all of which inspire me with their works. Yet every time I get asked that question I blank on all books I have read … ever. I will say that as of late I have been reading primarily indie books and they never cease to inspire me not only with their story telling but also with their drive and determination to get their voices heard.

What about experiences? Are any of them based on something that happened in your life or is everything just pulled straight from your imagination?

A lot of Celeste’s awkwardness she gets from me. Embarrassing herself in front of hot guys? Totally me. The original draft of Conduit had real life experiences of my extreme dating failures in it, but those were taken out. The fantasy elements come from my imagination, but I utilize personalities and stories from people I know to make the characters as real as possible.

So, how did you end up writing in the fantasy/paranormal genre? Did you choose it or did it choose you?

Fantasy really is just fun. Who doesn’t dream of being able to fly? Or bench press a car? In fantasy we can break through the rules of reality and anything is possible. That is just too tempting to pass up!

What’s the most challenging part of writer? And what part makes it all worth it?

Right now the literary world is in a state of upheaval. We’re in the midst of the indie revolution. There are so many author’s struggling to get their name out there and their voices heard right now that it is insanely hard not to get lost in the crowd. But those moments when a fan contacts me to say they loved my book, or a teen that tells me they could relate to Celeste? Those are the moments that make it worthwhile. Those are the moments that drive me to push on.

Are you a sit down and plan, let the characters run wild, or a little of both when it comes to writing?

Little bit of both. I plan and plot the story out, so I know where I’m going with it. Yet the story always manages to surprise me. When I’m in the moment with my characters the story usually ends up taking me places I hadn’t intended. And ya know what? Those are the moments that make the story real and the characters authentic.

In the Gryphon series, which character do you relate to the most and why? Personally, I’m a Grams trapped in Celeste’s body! Wild and crazy but clumsy as heck!

Celeste, definitely. Her and I both speak fluent sarcasm. LOL

Any stories about how Celeste, Keni or Gabe got their names? (Or any other characters!)

For Celeste I wanted her name to have an origin to the ancestry where her calling began; in the hills of Ireland in the 1700s. Here’s a little known fact; in the prologue of The Conduit the Garrett’s ancestor is eluded to, but not named. Well in the original version she had a name; Celia. I modernized that for present time and that’s how I ended up with Celeste. Then there’s Kendall, our creature of love. She was named in loving memory of my Uncle Ken that passed away when I was eight years old. Gabe? No real story for him. He’s a strong, badass dude and I want him to have a strong, uber-manly name. Hence, Gabe.

Anything that really sets the mood when you write? Do you need music? Or maybe just a quiet spot to hide away in? Any writing rituals?

I have to be comfy. Preferably on my bed with my laptop, a drink and fuzzy socks on the chilly days. I can not have the TV on because it’s way too distracting for me, but music is a must. I usually flip through my play list until I can find a song that sets the mood for the scene and –much to my husband’s annoyance—I play it on repeat until I get through that moment.

Have you had the chance to travel anywhere since releasing The Gryphon Series? Any funny stories or interactions with fans that stick out in your brain that you’d love to share? I

have got to travel a bit, with appearances in Tennessee, Ohio, Georgia, South Carolina, and—of course—my home state of Michigan scheduled for this year! I have had a few incidents where people recognized my name and told me how much they or someone they know loves my books and that is insanely cool. But for the most part people don’t do the starstruck thing around me. They read my books, they interact with me through social media and they know I’m a big geek that they can feel free to be themselves around and I wouldn’t change that for the world!

If the series were to go to the big screen (and I hope it does), do you have a dream cast cooked up already?

I do, and I’m attaching my dream cast graphic just for you!

Since you’re your own boss now, tell us about the worst boss or job you’ve ever had.

I once worked for a photographer that was constantly trying to get me to pose in bikini pictures because according to him I “didn’t know how truly beautiful I was.” Yeah, nice try slick. I may not think I’m beautiful, but I do think I’m smart enough to keep clothed and away from creeps like him. I didn’t not stay with that job long.

Care to indulge us with three facts that your fans may not know about you?

-I once won a talent show dancing to the song Hey Mickey. Even rocked a side ponytail

-I can touch my tongue to my nose

-My admin, Jenn, hates it when I say random stuff like this in interviews and she will give me hell for this.

Do you have a nickname? Come on, share even the embarrassing ones!

-Hahahahahaaaa!!! No. Not gonna happen. LOL

What’s a story that your family will never let you live down?

My step-dad warned me repeatedly not to jump on the stairs. But seven year old me didn’t listen and went ahead and jumped from the top of the stairs down. Didn’t clear the staircase and bounced my head off every stair on the way down. Hence securing my future as some that has to learn things the hard way…

READY TO GET SILLY? OKAY, HERE WE GO!

If you were a t-shirt, what color would you be? Why?

Purple. I have a purple tee and it’s my favorite.

If I take a look inside your refrigerator what would I find?

Take-out leftovers and coffee creamer. I’m not so much with the cooking.

If you had to pick one song to be played every time you walked into a room, what would it be and why?

Sexy B*tch! It is impossible not to strut to that song!

What’s your idea of an amazing meal?

A bucket of crab from Joe’s Crab Shack!! YES!!!!

And one last question, have any juicy hints, details, or blurbs you can share with us about what we can see next from you? Maybe a little Celeste and Caleb action? (Since I’m assuming you won’t share who Bernard is!)

Sacrifice … the story goes to a deeper, darker place. The humor is still there, but I will be taking you on an emotional roller coaster ride. Things will heat up between Celeste and Caleb, but Rowan is also a big player in this book. There’s a wedding, a painful good-bye and Grams doing Jello shots. What more could you want?!

THANK YOU

Once again, big thank you to Stacey Rourke for giving us some juicy answers to my wondering mind!
You can check out Embrace on Amazon and Goodreads.
Check out Stacey Rourke on her blog, Facebook, and Goodreads.

I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST OPINION.

BLOG TOUR Bloggers Love Bloggers

2013-01-27T00:00:00.000-06:00

Today we get a special treat! An interview with another blogger. This blog tour rocks! So I'd like to introduce Brooke of The Cover Contessa. Unforurtunetly, Blogger decided to delete her blog for spam(even though she's anything but spam!), so she's been blogging over at Contessa at the Crossroads! You can also check her out on Facebook! She interviewed me in the very beginning of January and now it's my turn to return the favor! A big thank you to Brooke! It was lovely meeting you. Check your her blog and show some love!

Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Well, my name is Brooke. I’m 41 years old and I have three young boys who are 9, 6 and 3. I am a nurse. I have been married to my husband, Jeff, for 11 years. We met through Match.com! And, of course, I LOVE books, or else why would I be blogging about them, right?

What are three unique, quirky, or silly talents or habits that you may have?
Hmmm…interesting question. The first thing I can think of is my shower routine, I have to do everything in the same order every time I take a shower, or else I feel all discombobulated. Second thing I can think of is that I turn the tab of my soda can slightly to the right after I open it, so I always know what can is mine! Finally, I can’t stop reading a book in the middle of a chapter. I must finish the chapter or I feel incomplete!

What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod(or you know, other musical device)?
Funny, I really just listen to the radio, so it’s whatever comes on when I’m listening. Although, I tend to stay on the 80s music station on in my car. And if I had to choose something to listen to, it would ALWAYS be something by Duran Duran.

When you have 30 minutes of free-time, how do you pass the time?
Free time, what the heck is that? I don’t have much of that, with my three rug rats running around, but when I do get some free time I spend it reading, of course!

What was the last movie, TV show or book that made you cry or tear up?
The last book was Asunder (Newsoul #2) by Jodi Meadows. I had three times in the book where I got teary eyed, didn’t actually cry, tho.

What’s your idea of an amazing meal?

Anything Italian, really. I love love love eggplant parm or rolatini. A good Italian meal includes that, antipasti, bread and a glass of awesome red wine.

What story does your family always tell about you?
My uncle tells the story of the first time he met me (he’s my aunt’s second husband). They pulled up in front of my building and all he saw was this little stick of a girl doing cartwheels down the street towards him. He says that his first impression of me was spot on: hyper, funny, fun, talkative and ALWAYS on the move!

NOW ONTO SOME FUN BLOG STUFF!

What book did you most recently read or are reading now?
I just finished an ARC of Dualed (Dualed #1) by Elsie Chapman. Currently I am reading an ARC of Fire Country (Country #1) by David Estes.

What was the first book you read that you just knew you had to let the author know how much you loved it?
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. I was flabbergasted with this book. It just floored me. I immediately sent her a note telling her how amazing it was. Since them I have come across many authors that I’ve sent notes: Christine Fonseca, A.G. Howard, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Julie Reece. L.S. Murphy, Emi Gayle, and my list could go on and on!

What genre do you like to read the best?
I love the YA genre, and I’ll pretty much read any sub-genre of that, although I stay away from the really creepy stuff (it’s gives me bad dreams). I tend to gravitate towards the paranormal and dystopian books, tho.

Were you always a reader or is it something that you didn’t enjoy until later in life?
I was a big reader when I was younger, through my 20s and into my early 30s. As a matter of fact, my first degree is in English! Then I got married and had kids and it kind of dwindled away having to deal with raising children, activities, work, and keeping a house together. I started reading again about a year and a half ago and I haven’t stopped since! I love reading and would rather be doing that than any other activity.

Out of all the books you’ve read which character do you relate to or see yourself in? Why?
This is a hard one because most of the books I read focus on teens, and I’m a 41 year old woman! LOL! What I can say is that the characters who are the strongest are the ones I can relate to the most. A few I can think of off the top of my head are Alex from the Covenant series by Jennifer L. Armentrout and Mac from Emi Gayle’s After Dark (The 19^th year #1). These two characters are really strong and independent and that is definitely who I am.

Any books that you thought you weren’t going to enjoy, but ended up really loving?
Splintered by A.G. Howard. It sounded quite good, but I’m not usually a fan or such macabre works. It’s based on Alice in Wonderland, but it’s much darker. I ended up truly loving it and now I’m a huge fan of Howard. Also, Laurie Faria Stolarz’s Deadly Little Secrets series. I picked up the first book because she was going to be at an author signing I was going to and I thought I should read her book. I tore through it in less than a day.

How you first got involved in with blogging?
I wanted to share my thoughts and love of books. It really is something that I just do for fun. I don’t make money doing it. I have met so many great people and authors on Goodreads my blog has just kind of blossomed. Plus, I have become friendly with a few editors and publicists and that has really made blogging special for me (I feel like I’m really a part of helping authors get their books out there to be read and loved).

What do you do when you aren’t working on your blog?
I am a nurse at a nursing home not far from my house. I don’t do direct patient care, but I still get to interact with the residents and families. When I’m not working, I’m taking care of my three small children and my house. Any other time I’m usually blogging, reading or finding stuff on the internet that has to do with books!

Name some of the bloggers whom you look up to and why?
Kathy from I Am A Reader Not a Writer, because her blog is great. Jean Book Nerd because she has some of the most awesomest interviews and giveaways. The girls at WinterHavenBooks, because their blog is fun and spectacular. Kay Leigh from KBooks because she’s so helpful whenever I have questions and we’ve just become buddies. There are so many more I can list (and I’m actually compiling a list so I can thank everyone when my one year bloggaversary comes around).

Have you got to meet or interview anyone that has made you star struck?
I got to meet so many authors this last year, I am not sure where to start! LOL! I met Jennifer L. Armentrout twice, and I am just awed by her and her ability to blast out books. I got to meet Tahereh Mafi last Spring and she is just so down to earth and funny. I just met Kate Brian over this last weekend and I’m amazed at how much she has written with having children and a life outside of writing! Cyn Balag and Jennier Murgia who organized a huge YA festival in Easton PA last year with over 30 authors. And pretty much every author I have met, which are so many to list here right now you’d be crossing your eyes!

NOW FOR A FEW SILLY ONES!

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Invisibility. I don’t know why, to be honest. I just think it would be cool that no one could see me but I could see them. I love to people watch!

Craziest thing you've ever done?
Honestly, I don’t do crazy things. Probably skinny dipping in the ocean in Miami with my friend and her boyfriend.

What's the funniest prank you've ever pulled?
I’ll admit, I’m boring, I can’t think of a prank that has really been all that funny. I do remember calling my neighbors as a child to ask if their refrigerator was running. When they said yes I would shout “then you better go chase it!” and hang up!