Little Library Muse

Excerpt & Giveaway: You Are Mine by Janeal Falor

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

Book Title: You Are Mine
Author: Janeal Falor
Publication: May 6, 2013

Description:
Serena knows a few simple things. She will always be owned by a warlock. She will never have freedom. She will always do what her warlock wishes, regardless of how inane, frivolous, or cruel it is. And if she doesn’t follow the rules, she will be tarnished. Spelled to be bald, inked, and barren for the rest of her life—worth less than the shadow she casts.

Then her ownership is won by a barbarian from another country. With the uncertainty that comes from belonging to a new warlock, Serena questions if being tarnished is really worse than being owned by a barbarian, and tempts fate by breaking the rules. When he looks the other way instead of punishing her, she discovers a new world. The more she ventures into the forbidden, the more she learns of love and a freedom just out of reach. Serena longs for both. But in a society where women are only ever property, hoping for more could be deadly.

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Excerpt:
His face is taut, void of expression except his eyes. They burn with barely controlled rage. I try to bow my head so I can't see how furious I've made him, but my head won't move.
From the side of me, Father grabs my wrist and thrusts it toward the Chancellor. “She's yours.”
The Chancellor grabs my wrist and with his free hand, unties my hair ribbon. The bit of red floats to the floor as my dark locks fall to my waist. He scoops me into his arms.
The ceremony is over. He's going to carry me to the carriage and I'll be able to go to the house. Find Cynthia. Figure out how to get rid of this fog clouding my attempts to do anything.
When he places me on the cool stone, I know being finished was too hopeful a thought. My body shivers when it comes to me.
There's no tarnished coming today.
I am the sacrifice.

Giveaway

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My Sunday Post #17

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

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~

Last Week on the Blog

Sunday Post #16
Children's Book Week Giveaway!
Sirens by Janet Fox ~Guest Post & Giveaway
Deep Betrayal by Anne Greenwood Brown
The Heiresses by Allison Rushby ~Interview & Giveaway
Cricket Baker Author of The Ghosting of the Gods ~Interview & Giveaway
Waiting on Wednesday #16: Allegiant by Veronica Roth
River Road by Suzanne Johnson ~Review
Twisted Summer Tour ~Interview & Giveaway
Yellow Spots and Blood Spots by Bailey Thompson~Spotlight

Tenative Schedule for this week

Sunday Post #17
You Are Mine by Janeal Falor ~Excerpt & Giveaway
No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop
A Match Made in Heaven by Trina Robbins ~Review
Waiting on Wednesday #17
Impostor by Susanne Winnaker ~Guest Post & Interview
Kindle Fire Giveaway
Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland ~Review
Sugar by Jewel Rhodes Parker ~Review

Giveaways

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
Abberant by Ruth Silver
After Math by Denise Grover Swank
Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck
Nantucket Blue by Leila Howard
Robin in the Hood by Diane J. Reed
Shucked by Megg Jensen
Escaping Darkness by Theresa McClinton ~ Giveaway Blast

New This Week

Review

Received from the publishers via Audiobook Jukebox
Thanks to AudioGo, Penguin Audio & Simon & schuster Audio

Tours

May 23, 2013 ~Guest Post

Notes

Happy Reading!

Promo: Yellow Spots and Blood Spots by Bailey Thompson

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

Synopsis
Two lines means pregnant, and pregnant is the very last thing seventeen-year-old Isabelle wanted to be. She’s just beginning her senior year, she’s rekindling the respectable relationship she once had with her family and she has finally fallen in love.Her boyfriend, Jason wants an abortion, while Isabelle wants to give her baby a chance at life, whether that means adoption or raising her baby herself. Her situation raises a question of values, beliefs, rights, societal expectations and personal opinions, and as Isabelle’s friends and family discover the news, they seem to think they know what’s best for her and her baby. Within two weeks of finding out about their beautiful disaster, Isabelle and Jason have to come to a mutual agreement and make a life and death decision.

Two pink lines.

I rubbed my eyes; hoping to escape the dreamy haze that had come over me. The small bathroom seemed misty, probably from the last person who’d had a shower or possibly because my eyes were still foggy from having woken up just minutes before. Or maybe, much more profoundly, it was because the news was just so surreal.

Two pink lines.

Pregnant.

That’s what two pink lines meant.

Pregnant. I pulled up my PJ pants, and washed my hands before glancing back at the long pregnancy test stick that was now balanced like a teeter-totter on the edge of the counter top. The two pink lines, still visible on the small circular screen weren’t faint like I was expecting. They were so obnoxiously obvious, it was impossible to miss either of them.

I’d been expecting a rush of tears, or even a strong feeling of anger, fear or regret to come over me. But I felt nothing, except the sudden urge to climb back into bed, just like every other early morning. Was there some way that I was supposed to feel? I was seventeen-years-old, in a relationship that had only lasted a few months so far, living under my parent’s roof with nothing for financial support except a part-time job. I imagined I should feel a level of devastation, confusion, tension, stress or sadness, at least something that showed I understood what it meant, but I still felt nothing.

I wiped the mirror with the palm of my hand, making a clear window in the fog.

My long brown hair, which was usually down past my shoulders was up in a messy ponytail. The make-up that I’d worn yesterday, which wasn’t much more than a little brown eyeliner and mascara, was slightly smudged, and my hazel eyes were a little early-morning bloodshot. I was dressed in a black tank top that outlined my figure and fluffy striped PJ bottoms. I looked like the typical teenager who had just woken up, not one who just found out that her life was about to be drastically changed by the possible presence of a child. Not just any child either; my own child. That was a big deal, but so far, even that didn’t faze me, unless my lack of response could just be considered shock.

I decided that the news would hit me later. Maybe once I’d woken up fully, maybe when my parents found out, or maybe I’d have to wait until the first time I could feel the baby kick inside of me to really realize what was happening. Or maybe it would hit me when I had to tell Jason.

I was already picturing his reaction as I confirmed our fears.

The look of love in his deep brown eyes would fade to that of fear and anger, not towards me, but towards himself. His eyebrows would grow firmer, and his mouth would be straight, hiding his perfect smile.

Just thinking about how much it would hurt him and my heart sank. This wasn’t exactly what he needed, and he wasn’t the type of guy that would just walk away from the problem either.

I kind of smiled just thinking about him, feeling relief and comfort from his imaginary presence. Jason wasn’t tall, but he was built. What he didn’t have in height, he made up for in muscle. He had short blackish brown hair that was always either gelled and spiked or concealed with a white Nike hat, and sometimes occasionally free to do what it pleased. His skin was a gorgeous caramel popcorn colour, softer than a baby‘s bum and overly kissable; always warm to the touch of my lips. He had a well-sculpted nose, an addictive smile and a deep attractive voice.

My mom had always called him a “pretty boy” for being so well groomed with such killer style. Her nickname wasn’t far off either; he was absolutely stunning, but not in the sense that he tried to be, it just came naturally.

Ironically, it had never been his appearance that had caught my attention. Sure he was cute but it was more curiosity that caught me when I realized that there was more than meets the eye when it came to Jason. He certainly wasn’t an open book, and not somebody who you could read just from a glance. Maybe it’s a bit of a bold statement, but I’d say that Jason was rather mysterious.

His reputation said he was full of himself with dollar signs in his eyes and a personality that resembled an idiot. Getting to know Jason revealed the opposite; a down-to-earth, insanely smart guy with humongous dreams, and an even bigger heart. Though, that’s not something he’d admit to just anybody.

It only took a couple months to find out that Jason’s true self and his reputation were complete opposites.

He was undoubtedly in love with himself, but it never seemed to be overbearing or even cocky. It was just an extreme level of confidence or high self-esteem, which soon translated to sheer attractiveness. He came from a well-off family, and had generally led what many would consider to be a spoiled life, but he was grounded. He had good values, and despite having an infatuation for money, he also had an appreciation for some of the real things in life; like sunrises, and long deep conversations. He had good balance.

What I eventually learned about Jason was that he was one-of-a-kind. He was unique. There’s a common theme that happens in every high school, the presence of cliques and then stereotypes. In each class, there is the class clown, the nerd, the jock, the slut, the pretty girl and so on. In each school, everybody fits into a group, there’s the popular group, the nerds, the Goths, the gamers. Of course, our high school was no different. We certainly did have the popular group, the nerds, the athletes, but then on top of all that, there’s Jason.

It’s not that he doesn’t fit in; it’s just that he is a unique individual. He is athletic, but not a jock. He is smart, but wouldn’t fit in with the nerd group even though he gets along with them. He’s witty and funny but definitely not the class clown. His family has money, but he isn’t considered the rich kid. He’s cute, but certainly not a stud. He’s not super-popular, but he’s also not a nobody, because everybody seems to know his name.

He is just an individual and there’s something really intriguing about that.

When I first met him, he told me that he had the personality of a dry leaf, and was generally heartless and unlovable, but he was good for an interesting conversation. I later discovered that not only was he good for an excellent conversation, he had an intricate personality that was hard not to fall in love with.

It took a few months to let go of the Jason that he was perceived to be, and accept the Jason that he really was. That was when I slowly began to admit to myself that maybe… We could be good together. Although, maybe too good together.

I shoved the pregnancy test and it’s packaging into my sweater pocket, put on a straight face and prepared myself to escape downstairs to my bedroom, avoiding running into anyone in my family since the strange bulge in my sweater could have been questionable.

The house was quiet. I knew that both my parents were in their bedroom getting ready for the day, and both my elementary school brother and high school sister had already left for school. I couldn’t hear any footsteps close to me, so I rushed towards the stairwell and then down the stairs.

I fell to the bed in my bedroom. Well, it wasn’t much of a bedroom. A few weeks before, Jason and I had the bright idea that my plain brown walls could use a splash of colour: specifically lime green. Removing the carpet revealed that the inside of the wall was covered in mould. Tearing down the wall revealed absolutely no clues as to where the mould had come from or whether there was a leak, so I was left without a room until a heavy rain could make a leak apparent if there was one.

Instead, I was huddled on a mattress in the downstairs family room surrounded by my father’s tradeshow booth portable wall for privacy.

At the least, it was in a cozy corner. It wasn’t like what I was used to in my bedroom though; it was missing the neatness, mounds of fluffy pillows, bright light, a couple of picture frames displaying photos of the family pets, or some of the little candle holders or modern decorations I’d picked up over the years. All of the contents of my bedroom were shoved into a disorganized mess in a dusty room downstairs. All I had access to was my mattress, a couple of fuzzy throw pillows, ultra-soft blankets and a mat I had taken from my room just to make my new little abode a little more friendly.

There was even a candle in the corner to keep it familiar, but I didn’t dare light it. Mom hated candles, and considering that you could see my corner from the top of the stairs, I knew I wouldn’t be able to hide it from her. I knew she’d take one glance downstairs, see the flame and grow frantic. The whole set up was incredibly uncomfortable, but it was the most that I could ask for while my room was going through renovations. Despite the fact that my clothes were shoved in boxes and my belongings were scattered throughout the basement, I kept calm reminding myself that this was only temporary.

The only thing that really bothered me was the lack of privacy. I’d always been a considerably private person who needed plenty of time and room to myself, and this room wasn’t all that private.

Had anyone even wished to get into my things or discover something about me, it wouldn’t have been too difficult. I’d always been a very cautious person when it came to sharing personal details with people, and always grew nervous in moments when I’d unintentionally shared too much with somebody, or they’d somehow stumbled upon something that they shouldn’t have.

At the time of moving into the room, I didn’t have too much of a problem with the lack of privacy considering I didn’t have very much to hide. Overnight, that had changed.

I reached into my pocket for the test, and grew frightened as I realized it wasn’t there. Fear began to race through my spine as I began to wonder if it had fallen out. I couldn’t help but imagine that lonely test laying on the floor of the hallway, and my dad as he walked from his bedroom being forced to step over it. I knew him well enough to know that he wouldn’t just step over it, he’d pick it up and examine it, then he’d call my mom, and together they would figure out their plan of action.

For a moment, I felt sick to my stomach, as though I could cry just from being so careless with the revealing stick. I held my breath for a moment, told myself to calm down, and then reached into my other pocket, only to discover that it was there. I could feel the utter relief cross over me as I stared at the test.

I’d almost forgotten what it had meant, in the moments of thinking that it was lost, but as I stared at the two solid pink lines, the news hit me again.

It was still too early to think about what this meant; too early to register how drastically having a baby would change my life. Too early to realize what a baby would do to my busy lifestyle, or that my part-time, fifteen-hour a week job wasn’t going to cover the cost of a baby.

Too early to consider that I planned on spending my next summer driving to BC, and the year travelling, working, while possibility continuing my studies.

It was far too early to even place myself into the position of raising a child and becoming responsible for another being.

I suspected it hadn’t hit me fully yet because it was still only a possibility or a potential. There was still time to turn around and change the outcome. I hated the thought of that.

I had always thought seeing those two pink lines would resemble a happy time. I could only think of a woman who had been trying for a baby, crying out in joy as the two pink lines appeared in the small circular window. I could see her rushing to tell the baby’s father, who would then smile uncontrollably for days after.

I had even thought about my future self, and how I would tell Jason in a few years time that we were having a child. I could imagine myself fumbling with the test in the bathroom while Jason slept in the adjacent bedroom. I could envision holding my breath to prevent myself from screaming in excitement as the two lines appeared on the stick.

Then, as Jason slept, I would rush downstairs to the kitchen to prepare an omelette, or whatever was Jason’s breakfast preference at that time.

The table would be set with a plate and cutlery for me, another set for him at the end of the table, and across from both of us, I would place a couple baby spoons.

Jason would stumble into the kitchen, his hair a mess and his eyes baggy. He would walk over and kiss me on the cheek. Surprised that I made him breakfast, he would ask if I needed any help before sitting down at the table.

My stomach would be fluttering as he sat down, and I’d watch mesmerized as he would rub his eyes a little more to wake himself up. As his vision got clearer, he would notice the extra setting at the table. He would study it for a minute and then the presence of a bright blue baby spoon would hit him.

He would hop out of his seat, twirl me in the air and kiss me on the nose; “We’re having a baby?!” he’d scream over and over again.

He’d be too excited to eat the food I’d made, but would spend the rest of the morning dancing around the house in excitement as he tried to get ready for his day. And that addictive attractive smile… it would be impossible to wipe off for a very long time.

That was what finding out you were bringing another human being into the world was supposed to be like… happy.

Instead, my body was beginning to quiver with numbing fear.

About Bailey

Bailey J Thompson is a teenage author that resides in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. She has been storytelling since the moment she could talk, and has since developed passions for creative writing, photography, nature and the environment. Yellow Socks and Blood Spots is her debut novel.

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Interview & Giveaway: Twisted Summer by Lucy Morgan

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

About the Author
Lucy writes sharp contemporary fiction, usually with a liberal splatter of filth. She is a Lyrical Press author and a screenwriter.
Her upcoming new adult novel, TWISTED SUMMER, is a gutsy take on forbidden love starring an even gutsier heroine.

Her contemporary series, encompassing CHAIRMAN OF THE WHORED and THE WHORED'S PRAYER, features slick London lawyers with a penchant for sensual violence. It's definitely on the darker side. BEAUTIFUL MESS, her current release, is a snarky, sexy friends-to-lovers romp.

Lucy is currently working on new novels, and is developing a paranormal television series with producers (think The Vampire Diaries meets The 4400).

She is still trying to kick her dirty Pepsi habit.

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Chat with Author Lucy Morgan

Tell us about yourself and why we should read Twisted Summer?
I'm 29, British, and one of those weird redheads who actually tans(!). Lots of people are telling me they love that TWISTED SUMMER is very different from a lot of NA reads out there; if you like the idea of a bisexual heroine running off with a very forbidden older man, you might like it.

What is it about forbidden love that's so appealing?
Heh. As Danni and Gabe say in the book:

“I feel like I’m in one of those daytime soaps,” I confessed.
“Illicit trysts by the ocean,” he mumbled into my collarbone. “Oh no, we shouldn’t! We mustn’t!”
“We can’t!” I giggled.
“This forbidden lo—lust shit is TV crack, isn’t it?”
I tried so hard not to pause at his slip. Failed miserably. So I sat back and stroked the wind-ruffled hair from his face. “Yeah. I’m starting to get that now.”

I think we're drawn to things we can't have; especially those of us who suck at delaying gratification. But for Gabe and Danni, the "forbidden" aspect is partly in their heads. There are so many reasons why they shouldn't work as a couple and the prospect of the risk scares them.

How much of your personality goes into your characters?
Lots, although I tend to give each character just one of my traits. It helps me to relate to them. With Danni, I very much played on the idea that at eighteen--Danni's age--I was basically a bit of a twat. A lot of eighteen-year-olds are, in many ways; you just aren't aware enough of anything. You get hurt, other people get hurt in the process. I wanted to throw Danni into a bit of an emotional craptrap and watch her grow as she works her way out of it.

What book are you reading now?
LIVING DEAD GIRL by Janine Pilkington--a very awesome NA paranormal romance. It's about a trainee mortician, her snarky (HOT) punk rocker boyfriend, and a very sarcastic British reaper. Has loads of very engrossing relationship drama. It comes out later this year.

How do you make the romance/relationships feel real?
I think a small dose of awkward makes things feel real. That moment when you're trying to hug someone and you sidle up all sexy...and their elbow goes in your face. That happens. That's real to me.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world which would it be?
Ooh. Anything by Anne McCaffrey, please. I want to live on Pern with a warrior and have my own dragon.

Who is your favorite character from your book and why?
That's hard--I like all of them in a way. Gabe endears himself to me because he doesn't hide who he is. He has a lot of the typical male weaknesses but he doesn't pretend they aren't there, or that his behaviour is okay. He admits things and apologises. In the beginning, that's the difference between him and Danni.

What is the most rewarding experience you've had since your book has released?
Lots of things, actually! I love the little messages people send me on Facebook on Goodreads when they tell me how much they've enjoyed the book. I also love it when I read a review, and the very astute reader has picked up on something I didn't even realise I'd implied (or written); an emotion or undercurrent or facet of a character. That's awesome. And getting to number one over here on iTunes UK was amazing.

Are there any upcoming projects that you'd like to tell us about?
I'm writing another NA at the moment. It's very much work-in-progress and has no title, but the hero is rather, ahem, skilled in the art of sports massage. I also think he's the first genuine "hero" I've written; I tend to write very flawed men, but Harry has a heart of gold. A bit of an antidote to the stereotypical bad boy, if you will.

Is there a question you wish interviewers would ask and the answer to that question? Or if you'd like to, share a fun fact about yourself?
Heh...I've no idea about a question. (Maybe I should interview myself more often?!) Fun fact: I like to play The Sims. It's great for plot bunnies. I like to make my characters and then watch them interact with each other autonomously...it's amazing how accurate it is.

Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for having me!

Synopsis via Goodreads:
Purchase: Amazon
A dark New Adult romance.You have to understand that we never meant for it to happen. We knew it was stupid. We knew it was wrong.

Eighteen-year-old Danni Warren has big plans for her last summer before college: a cool job, a concert she wouldn’t miss for the world, and spending time with her beautiful girlfriend, Esme. But after one hell of an argument, Danni’s mother packs her off to stay with her estranged step-uncle, Gabe, in his lodge on the English coast. So begins a weekend of the worst punishment imaginable: no phone signal.

With his sun kissed good looks and sarcastic manner, twenty-nine-year-old Gabe Asher isn’t anything like Danni expected. She wants to hate him—he’s her punishment for standing up to her mother—but between surfing lessons and beach hikes, Gabe and Danni grow close. Maybe too close.

Now Danni’s questioning everything: old family secrets, her future, her strained relationship with Esme. One sun stained afternoon, Gabe and Danni go too far. And then everything else falls apart…

The prize pack includes A beach bag by pro surf brand Brakeburn, Korres Cherry Lip Gloss, Signed print copy of Twisted Summer, and Luxury chocolate bars from Choccacino Devon.
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Review: River Road by Suzanne Johnson

2013-05-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

Author: Suzanne Johnson
Title: River Road
Series: Sentinels of New Orleans, Book 2
Publication: November 13, 2012
Publisher: Tor books
Genre: Adult Urban Fantasy /Paranormal
Source: Author via Blog Tour

Book Description:
Hurricane Katrina is long gone, but the preternatural storm rages on in New Orleans. New species from the Beyond moved into Louisiana after the hurricane destroyed the borders between worlds, and it falls to wizard sentinel Drusilla Jaco and her partner, Alex Warin, to keep the preternaturals peaceful and the humans unaware. But a war is brewing between two clans of Cajun merpeople in Plaquemines Parish, and down in the swamp, DJ learns, there’s more stirring than angry mermen and the threat of a were-gator.

Wizards are dying, and something—or someone—from the Beyond is poisoning the waters of the mighty Mississippi, threatening the humans who live and work along the river. DJ and Alex must figure out what unearthly source is contaminating the water and who—or what—is killing the wizards. Is it a malcontented merman, the naughty nymph, or some other critter altogether? After all, DJ’s undead suitor, the pirate Jean Lafitte, knows his way around a body or two.

It’s anything but smooth sailing on the bayou as the Sentinels of New Orleans series continues.

Amazon |BN |Book Depository | Indiebound

I can't hate on a girl with options and DJ has three gorgeous men vying for her heart. Alex is the hot shape-shifter and her co-sentinel that has feeling for her but they've agreed to remain professional. Jake, Alex's cousin and a loup garou in the beginning made no attempts to hide his interest in DJ but after the change has serious issues maintaining control over his wolf. The historical undead pirate Jean Lafitte is as open about his wanting her and will blur the lines between mixing business with pleasure, if it gets him closer to her. Each guy oozes with masculine charm and mystery. DJ in all her attempts to keep it together becomes flustered and flabbergasted by the amount of attention she’s getting lately but she doesn't have time to sort out how she feels as her job brings her the task of stopping a possible mermen war, a strange water contamination issue and a perplexing murder scene. She has her hands full attempting to connect the dots and wondering if somehow these events are related somehow. As she races to fix the mess that's being made in the Louisiana waters, DJ starts pondering the complexities of her heart and which guy she truly desires. Can she manage sentinel politics alongside her seemingly blooming social life?

This story begins three years after Hurricane Katrina and the death of DJ's mentor and father, Gerry. She still hasn't figured out how to use the staff with her wizard abiities without creating chaos. However, DJ hopes to prove to the Elders that she is capable of working as sentinel on her own without Alex and a little pay raise wouldn't hurt either. I liked the flow of this story and the details Johnson gives of a Louisiana recovering from devastation along with the spirit of the community. The characters are fantastic, if given the choice, I wouldn't be able to pick between Alex, Jake or Jean....well I'm leaning more towards Alex but DJ's interactions with each guy is different yet engaging. LOVE them! DJ makes for an interesting heroine; she has enough vulnerability in combination with tenacity and sheer will to succeed. Overall, the world that the author has created is believable, realistic and an entertaining read...so looking forward to book three.

3 1/2 stars

Excerpt

The minute hand of the ornate grandfather clock crept like a gator stuck in swamp mud. I’d been watching it for half an hour, nursing a fizzy cocktail from my perch inside the Hotel Monteleone. The plaque on the enormous clock claimed it had been hand- carved of mahogany in 1909, about 130 years after the birth of the undead pirate waiting for me upstairs.

They were both quite handsome, but the clock was a lot safer.

The infamous Jean Lafitte had expected me at seven. He’d summoned me to his French Quarter hotel suite by courier like I was one of his early nineteenth-century wenches, and I hated to destroy his pirate-king delusions, but the historical undead don’t summon wizards. We summon them.

I’d have blown him off if my boss on the Congress of Elders hadn’t ordered me to comply and my co-sentinel, Alex, hadn’t claimed a prior engagement.

At seven thirty, I abandoned my drink, took a deep breath, and marched through the lobby toward the bank of elevators.

On the long dead-man-walking stroll down the carpeted hallway, I imagined all the horrible requests Jean might make. He’d saved my life a few years ago, after Hurricane Katrina sent the city into freefall, and I hadn’t seen him since. I’d been desperate at the time. I might have promised him unfettered access to modern New Orleans in exchange for his assistance. I might have promised him a place to live. I might have promised him things I don’t even remember. In other words, I might be totally screwed.

I reached the door of the Eudora Welty Suite and knocked, reflecting that Jean Lafitte probably had no idea who Eudora Welty was, and wouldn’t like her if he did. Ms. Welty had been a modern sort of woman who wouldn’t hop to attention when summoned by a scoundrel.

He didn’t answer immediately. I’d made him wait, after all, and Jean lived in a tit- for- tat world. I paused a few breaths and knocked harder. Finally, he flung open the door, waving me inside to a suite plush with tapestries of peach and royal blue, thick carpet that swallowed the narrow heels of my pumps, and a plasma TV he couldn’t possibly know how to operate. What a waste.

“You have many assets, Drusilla, but apparently a respect for time is not among them.” Deep, disapproving voice, French accent, broad shoulders encased in a red linen shirt, long dark hair pulled back into a tail, eyes such a cobalt blue they bordered on navy. And technically speaking, dead.

He was as sexy as ever.

“Sorry.” I slipped my hand in my skirt pocket, fingering the small pouch of magic-infused herbs I carried at all times. My mojo bag wouldn’t help with my own perverse attraction to the man, but it would keep my empathic abilities in check. If he still had a perverse attraction to me, I didn’t want to feel it.

He eased his six-foot-two frame into a sturdy blue chair and slung one long leg over the arm as he gave me a thorough eyeraking, a ghost of a smile on his face.

I perched on the edge of the adjacent sofa, easing back against a pair of plump throw pillows, and looked at him expectantly. I hoped what ever he wanted wouldn’t jeopardize my life, my job, or my meager bank account.

“You are as lovely as ever, Jolie,” Jean said, trotting out his pet name for me that sounded deceptively intimate and brought back a lot of memories, most of them bad. “I will forgive your tardiness— perhaps you were late because you were selecting clothing that I would like.” His gaze lingered on my legs. “You chose beautifully.”

I’d picked a conservative black skirt and simple white blouse with the aim of looking professional for a business meeting, part of my ongoing attempt to prove to the Elders I was a mature wizard worthy of a pay raise. But this was Jean Lafitte, so I should have worn coveralls. I’d forgotten what a letch he could be.

“I have a date after our meeting,” I lied. He didn’t need to know said date involved a round carton with the words Blue Bell Ice Cream printed on front. “Why did you want to see me?”

There, that hadn’t been so difficult—just a simple request. No drama. No threats. No double- entendre. Straight to business.

“Does a man need a reason to see a beautiful woman? Especially one who is indebted to him, and who has made him many promises?” A slow smile spread across his face, drawing my eyes to his full lips and the ragged scar that trailed his jawline.

I might be the empath in the room, but he knew very well that, in some undead kind of way, I thought he was hot.

I felt my face warming to the shade of a trailer- trash bridesmaid’s dress, one whose color had a name like raging rouge. I’d had a similar reaction when I first met Jean in 2005, two days before a mean hurricane with a sissy name turned her malevolent eye toward the Gulf Coast. I blamed my whole predicament on Katrina, the bitch.

Her winds had driven the waters of Lake Pontchartrain into the canals that crisscrossed the city, collapsing levees and filling the low, concave metro area like a gigantic soup bowl.

But NBC Nightly News and Anderson Cooper had missed the biggest story of all: how, after the storm, a mob of old gods, historical undead, and other preternatural victims of the scientific age flooded New Orleans. As a wizard, I’d had a ringside seat. Now, three years later, the wizards had finally reached accords with the major preternatural ruling bodies, and the borders were down, as of two days ago. Jean hadn’t wasted any time.

About the Author

Suzanne Johnson writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance from Auburn, Alabama, after a career in educational publishing that has spanned five states and six universities. She grew up halfway between the Bear Bryant Museum and Elvis' birthplace and lived in New Orleans for fifteen years, so she has a highly refined sense of the absurd and an ingrained love of SEC football and fried gator on a stick.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Publisher

Interview & Giveaway: Cricket Baker Author of The Ghosting of the Gods

2013-05-15T01:00:00.000-05:00

About the Author
In 2001, Cricket began a journey to fulfill her childhood dream of being an author. Somewhere between raising three sons, moving 3 times, pondering the mystery of life and death, and obtaining a Masters of Education, she found time to develop her writing craft. Many seminars, workshops, and book drafts later, she found her voice with The Ghosting of Gods.

Cricket’s writing combines her appreciation of strong storytelling with a passion for haunted settings and deep spiritual questions to create fiction that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. She especially loves books which are either supernatural or dystopian, so her first novel incorporates both these genres.

In addition to working as a counselor for teens, Cricket spends time developing her next writing project as well as sharing her thoughts on writing and spirituality through her author website at http://cricketbaker.com and on her Tumblr blog, Mystical Scribbles of the Scribe, at http://cricketbaker.tumblr.com.

What inspired you to write The Ghosting of Gods?
I finished reading The Glass Lake by Maeve Binchy, and in a fit of grief that it was over, that I could know nothing else about those characters, it came to me with a dreadful force: I HAD to write my own novel. And so, I plotted for my characters to be mine as I long as I needed them to be.

Has a character ever done anything that surprised you?
Yes. My protagonist, Jesse, did the one thing I never thought he would do. It’s toward the end of the book.

Favorite quote?
I have a new one lately. Well, it’s a return to an old favorite. It’s a sage observation from the freaking amazing mythologist, Joseph Campbell. Read it slowly...know it deep inside: “The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.”
What draws you to this particular genre?
I call my novel a supernatural dystopian. My inborn love affair is with haunted scenes. I can’t get enough of supernatural, ghostly stuff. Been this way since I was a kid--I would roam library shelves looking for cover art which promised the story inside would frighten me with the Otherworld. As for the dystopian aspect, I need to write a story that’s suspenseful but also meaningful. Dystopian novels are all about highlighting what goes wrong in society, so that the reader can be prodded to SEE. And OMG does the world need young generations to SEE.
If you could be any bird, what would you be? Why?
That’s easy-peasy. An owl. I’ve had a thing for owls ever since middle school language arts class when we were studying Greek mythology and I saw a picture of the goddess Athena with an owl on her shoulder. My teacher explained the owl was a symbol for wisdom. So here was a girl god, and she had wisdom on her shoulder. I wanted an owl, too. I wanted wisdom, which is to say I wanted Truth.
What is your favorite television show right now?
Big Bang Theory. I like nerds. I used to be one. (wink, wink)
What are some of your writing habits?
I do NOT wait for inspiration. I summon it, which means I allow it to come. Who knows where ideas come from? It’s a magical, mystical thing. The best part of writing is the creativity of it, and that simply happens when you’re relaxed and feeling alive and happy. My method for getting “into the space” of writing is to be quiet a short while without thinking (a simple definition of meditation), feel appreciation/love for all that my life is, casually remind myself to trust the Creative Process...and then I deliberately “go” to a creepy, haunted world (while listening to a thunderstorm soundtrack with my son’s expensive gaming headphones). Writing is not about being clever and working hard. This is what I’ve totally found to be true: When you’re feeling open and all good inside, this expansive feeling fills your chest, and then, creativity flows. It’s wonderful. You can write for 8 hours, and it’s not work.
Which character’s perspective in The Ghosting of Gods did you find the most challenging and enjoyable to write?
The most challenging was the coven scientist Elspeth. She remained a mystery to me for a long, long time. The most enjoyable was Poe. I love him. I identify with him in many ways, though he is a much better person than I. What we have in common is the whole poetry, horror, and God thing.
Any new projects in the works?
I have two projects on my laptop right now. One is a sort of sequel to The Ghosting of Gods. Some of the characters are back, some aren’t. Mostly, though, I’m working on another ghost story set in a secluded town that can’t be found unless you’re invited. You don’t want to be.
What is the question you wish interviewers would ask, and the answer to that question?
That’s hard. Interviewers ask good questions. Uh... Huh. Well. Okay, how about this: If you had to choose between reading and writing, which would you choose?

Writing is an absolute high for me, but my reply would nevertheless be quick and easy: Reading!

About the Book
Jesse, an apprentice exorcist, defies his priests when he learns his sister is in danger…even though she’s dead. When he’s exiled to a haunted world, Jesse must unravel the mystery of what ghosts really are if he is to save her. He plunges into a deadly game of hide-and-seek. The players include denizens draped in monkish robes, ghosts with matted eyes, the dead who tunnel underground in terror, and…Elspeth.

A coven scientist, Elspeth is both respected and feared for her abnormal spiritual powers. Jesse needs–craves–the knowledge of ghosts which she possesses. Elspeth tempts him in other ways…but is she a spiritual prodigy, or dangerously insane? The coven scientist begs him to trust her. He doesn’t. But he wants to.

Caught in a world on the brink of spiritual evolution, Jesse struggles to understand Elspeth even as frightening contacts from his sister force him to face the secret, shattering meaning of a verse he knows well: “Blessed are the poor in ghost.”

Trailer

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Waiting on Wednesday #16: Allegiant by Veronica Roth

2013-05-15T00:00:00.001-05:00

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

Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Expected Release: October 2013

Goodreads Synopsis

One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth’s #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

What are you waiting for?

Interview & Giveaway:The Heiresses by Allison Rushby

2013-05-14T02:00:00.000-05:00

The Heiresses by Allison Rushby
Publication date: May 7th, 2013
by St Martin's Press
Genre: New Adult Historical
~Amazon | ~Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:
In Allison Rushby's Heiresses, three triplets--estranged since birth--are thrust together in glittering 1926 London to fight for their inheritance, only to learn they can’t trust anyone--least of all each other.
When three teenage girls, Thalia, Erato and Clio, are summoned to the excitement of fast-paced London--a frivolous, heady city full of bright young things--by Hestia, an aunt they never knew they had, they are shocked to learn they are triplets and the rightful heiresses to their deceased mother's fortune. All they need to do is find a way to claim the fortune from their greedy half-brother, Charles. But with the odds stacked against them, coming together as sisters may be harder than they think.

Interview with Author Allison Rushby

Where did you get the inspiration for The Heiresses?
This is extremely embarrassing, but I think it was actually from watching a Dr Phil show, years ago. I can't say too much as it will spoil the plot completely, but I saw a segment that involved a family and their genetic makeup and asked my husband (a medical specialist) about it all that evening. This led me to wondering how this family's scenario might have played out if genetic testing was not available to them, which is the case in The Heiresses, set in 1920s London.
What other novels in the New Adult genre would you compare The Heiresses to?
I think the obvious comparison is Anna Godbersen's The Luxe series, because of the historical setting and the saga-like plot. I love all her books!
What was the hardest part about writing The Heiresses?
The most difficult part was the historical research. Although I love to read historical books and watch documentaries and historical dramas on TV, I hadn't actually written anything historical before. When I started writing, I found myself stopping after every second sentence or so to research this point and that point. After a while, I realised I had to write on and put little 'x' signs where I needed to research and go back later to do all my research in one session, or I'd never get anywhere!

Luckily, I wrote The Heiresses while living in Cambridgeshire in the UK (I usually live in Australia), so could pop on a fast train and be in London in under an hour to research anything I liked. Being so close to London was an enormous bonus – from the London Transport Museum, to simply walking around Belgrave Square, it really brought the story to life for me. I even managed to crash the village set of Downton Abbey, which was a hugely exciting day, despite the fact that it snowed (Australians don't do snow well…)!
What do you feel the major differences are between New Adult and Young Adult?
For me, it's all about bridging that gap between childhood and adulthood and the more I see people discuss New Adult, the more this is firmed up in my mind. I do think people focus too much on the sexual content of books when talking about the New Adult genre. For me, The Heiresses is New Adult because of how the girls deal with the sex they are having in the book (and, to be honest, there isn't a whole lot of sex) and how it changes them from girls into women, along with all the other happenings in their new lives.
What are you writing now?
I've just finished a contemporary New Adult novel. While it's set in the present day, it's not college-based, but is about a charismatic modern artist and a young woman who becomes his muse. It's set in Paris, London and New York. My next New Adult novel will most likely be historical, though.
What are you reading at the moment?
I'm actually on a short New Adult/Young Adult reading break (might have gorged myself a little there) and am reading Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, which is absolutely fascinating and horrifying all at the same time.
Do you have any advice for aspiring New Adult writers?
Read widely and write what you'd love to read. I think it always shows if you're writing something you're excited about, rather than trying to write to a trend.

Author Bio
Having failed at becoming a ballerina with pierced ears (her childhood dream), Allison Rushby instead began a writing career as a journalism student at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Within a few months she had slunk sideways into studying Russian. By the end of her degree she had learned two very important things: that she wasn't going to be a journalist; and that there are hundreds of types of vodka and they're all pretty good. After several years spent whining about how hard it would be to write a novel, she finally tried writing one and found it was quite an enjoyable experience. Since then, she has had nine novels published. She keeps up her education by sampling new kinds of vodka on a regular basis.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

20 Paperback copies of The Heiresses (US/Can)

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Deep Betrayal by Anne Greenwood Brown

2013-05-14T00:00:00.001-05:00

Author: Anne Greenwood Brown
Title: Deep Betrayal
Series: Lies Beneath #2
Publication: March 12, 2013
Publisher: : Random House Children's Books
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
~Website

Synopsis
It's been thirty days, two hours, and seventeen minutes since Calder left Lily standing on the shores of Lake Superior. Not that she's counting. And when Calder does return, it's not quite the reunion Lily hoped for. Especially after she lets her father in on a huge secret: he, like Calder, is a merman. Obsessed with his new identity, Lily's dad monopolizes Calder's time as the two of them spend every day in the water, leaving Lily behind.

Then dead bodies start washing ashore. Calder blames his mermaid sisters, but Lily fears her father has embraced the merman's natural need to kill. As the body count grows, everyone is pointing fingers. Lily doesn't know what to believe--only that whoever's responsible is sure to strike again. . . .

Lily has been away from home for months since the accident that almost took her life. Now, she struggles with the decision of telling her father that everything her grandfather said was true and that he is a merman. Calder has returned in time to help her father transition but it seems she seeing less of both men and they have no time for her. Lily never expects her father to take so quickly to this revelation but its like something clicks inside him and he can't stay out the water and neither can Calder. Yet, dealing with her loneliness isn't enough when bodies start appearing on the shore and her crazy neighbor starts spreading rumors that mermaids exist and that they are the reason people are coming up dead. In an effort to make sure her father is not responsible for these death's Lily along with Calder decide to do some investigating. What they may learn is that not all things deadly "lie beneath" the surface.

Lily is a rebel, every time someone tells her to not do this or that, she does. Her father asks her to do one thing, stay out of the water...she decides to go in an experiment. She's curious what her father's heritage makes her and dreams of growing a tale even though Calder has explained that's not possible. She begins to hear these noises when she's underwater and what she discovers will change her world. Calder seems dependent on Lily to keep him from reverting back to his old ways. I'm not quite sure but I think I liked him more in book one...he just doesn't move much for me in this one as far as growing from the first book but remains a steady character. I think the writing is good and Brown has created an intriguing concept with this mermaid lore and that ending was unexpected. I'm curious how the next piece of Lily's story will unfold and how she will adapt to the changes in her world. Overall, the pace was a little slow at times for me but it's an okay read for those that love dark, dangerous tales about mermaids.

Guest Post & Giveaway: Sirens by Janet Fox

2013-05-13T00:00:00.003-05:00

When Jo Winter’s parents send her off to live with her rich cousin on the glittering island of Manhattan, it’s to find a husband and forget about her brother Teddy’s death. But all that glitters is not gold..

Caught up in the swirl of her cousin’s bobbed-hair set—and the men that court them— Jo soon realizes that the talk of marriage never stops, and behind the seemingly boundless gains are illicit business endeavors, gangsters, and their molls. Jo would much rather spend time the handsome but quiet Charles, a waiter at the Algonquin Hotel, than drape herself over a bootlegger. But when she befriends a moll to one of the most powerful men in town, Jo begins to uncover secrets—secrets that threaten an empire and could secure Jo’s freedom from her family.

Can her newfound power buy her love? Or will it to ruin Jo, and everyone around her?

1920s: Gangsters, Gun Molls, and Gin Joints

Danny Connor, in SIRENS, is a gangster. Lou is his moll, or girlfriend. While both are fictional characters, I could envision that when the very real Al Capone left New York for Chicago in 1921, someone had to fill the void, so I made up Danny. He’s not a nice man. Gangsters are not nice men.

Gangsters really can’t get a foothold unless they can offer something everyone wants but nobody can get legally. In the 1920s, that something was alcohol.

Let’s face it: Prohibition was a bad idea. It glamorized alcohol by prohibiting it. Gangsters like Al Capone – already involved with other criminal activities – saw the opportunity to provide the people with what they wanted, and “rum-running” or “bootlegging” was at the top of the list.

Al Capone was the most notorious of the 1920s’ underworld mobsters. Tough and determined, he rose to the top by his intelligence and by his determination to rise above his poor immigrant upbringing, both fueled by his brutality. Mobsters in general were society’s outcasts, and as the son of immigrant Italians, Capone couldn’t find success in legitimate enterprises. He turned instead to the underworld: gambling, theft, corruption, gun-running, and alcohol.

Girlfriends of gangsters were known as their “molls.” A penniless girl didn’t have many choices in the 1920s – women were only just beginning to break into the job market – and being a rich man’s girlfriend sure made life easier.

Gin joints – speakeasies – were a product of the prohibition of alcohol. Sure, speakeasies could be fun places – joints like “21” with its upscale décor, joints in Harlem featuring great jazz, or the “Nineteenth Hole Club,” made to look like a golf course – were swanky, happening places. Dancing, smoking, and drinking were extolled in the society columns of writers like “Lipstick”. A girl who couldn’t find a glamorous job, like that of a secretary? She could earn an ok wage as a factory girl, sewing machine operator or domestic servant, but how could she afford to buy the clothes she needed for work and the clothes she wanted for play, plus all the other extras?

The life of a gun moll must have been very tempting.

But short. Bonnie and Clyde were gun moll and gangster, and they came to a pretty rough end. Most did.

Even Al Capone paid, although not until 1931. He was finally carted off to prison but not for murder or racketeering or any of the other myriad activities he’d engaged in, but, ironically, for evading taxes on his illegal profits. It was all the violence around him that really brought him down, culminating in the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929, when the public finally turned against him and the cops could no longer look the other way. (Although it must be said that no one was ever brought to trial for that crime, including Big Al.)

The Roaring Twenties had a bright side and a dark side. Bright were the changes that brought new style, new music, new ideas to society. Dark was the greed and criminality that fed off of Prohibition. It’s important that we recognize both.

Author Bio
Janet Fox is the author of award-winning books for children and young adults. FAITHFUL (Speak/Penguin Young Readers 2010), set in Yellowstone National Park in 1904, is a YALSA Best Fiction for YA nominee and an Amelia Bloomer List pick, 2011. FORGIVEN (Speak 2011), set in 1906 San Francisco during the great earthquake, is a Junior Library Guild selection 2011, and a 2012 WILLA Literary Awards Finalist. Her most recent novel, SIRENS (Speak 2012) is set in 1925 New York. Janet has numerous MG and YA projects underway. She is a former high school English teacher and received her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults in 2010 (Vermont College of Fine Arts). Janet lives in Bozeman, Montana.
Website | Twitter | Facebook

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Children's Book Week Giveaway!

2013-05-12T15:05:00.001-05:00

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My Sunday Post #16

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

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~

Last Week on the Blog

Sunday Post #15
After Math by Denise Grover Swank ~Interview & Giveaway
Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck ~ Blast Giveaway
Nantucket Blue by Leila Howard ~ Excerpt & Giveaway
Robin in the Hood by Diane J. Reed ~ Promo & Giveaway
Shucked by Megg Jensen ~ Giveaway & Excerpt
Release Day Blitz for Hope's Reign by Selina Fenech
Escaping Darkness by Theresa McClinton ~ Giveaway Blast

Tenative Schedule for this week

Sunday Post #16
Children's Book Week Giveaway!
Sirens by Janet Fox ~Guest Post & Giveaway:
Deep Betrayal by Anne Greenwood Brown
The Heiresses by Allison Rushby ~Interview & Giveaway:
Cricket Baker Author of The Ghosting of the Gods ~Interview & Giveaway:
Waiting on Wednesday #16
River Road by Suzanne Johnson ~Review
Twisted Summer Tour ~Interview
Yellow Spots and Blood Spots by Bailey Thompson~Spotlight

Giveaways

Abberant by Ruth Silver
After Math by Denise Grover Swank
Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck
Nantucket Blue by Leila Howard
Robin in the Hood by Diane J. Reed
Shucked by Megg Jensen
Escaping Darkness by Theresa McClinton ~ Giveaway Blast
The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

New This Week

Review

Received from the publisher
Thanks to Merit Press

Library

Tours

May 13, 2013 ~Guest Post

May 16, 2013 ~Review

May 17, 2013 ~Interview

Notes

Happy Reading!

Giveaway Blast: Escaping Darkness by Theresa McClinton

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

She may have spent years in an asylum, but that didn’t make her crazy–just fearless.

Dropped in Moscow with her friends on an impossible mission against underworld forces, Tara is left to her feelings of overwhelming inadequacy. Her boyfriend is a healer, her best friend is “the Guardian,” and everyone else is a powerhouse of awesome strengths. The only thing she has been able to contribute are her memories, which has left her with nightmares of her time spent at the mercy of the evil Sarian–who everyone has gone to fight.

Alone with her emotions, Tara finds herself falling into a city of depravity and corruption. And amidst all this evil is a young man with an agenda of his own, who leads her down a road that will either prove she is a hero at heart, or drag her into a world she’s always feared.

He wants revenge, she wants redemption. And in an underground rings of missing girls and bloody sacrifices, only the fearless can survive…

Excerpt

Rays of morning sun crept through the windows of Tara’s hotel room. She was already awake, frozen in bed and staring at the entrance. Harsh whispers echoed from the hall paired with rushed footsteps on the carpeted floors beyond the door. She gripped the blanket, her heart pounding in anticipation.
She flung the covers aside and hurried across the room. The knob rattled followed by several sharp pounds. She peered through the peephole before swinging open the door. Renato rushed in with a limp Hawa hanging in his arms.
“Oh my god! What happened?”
Renato laid Hawa on the bed. Black hair spilled over her face as she moaned. Peter stumbled into the room, his eyes glossed over with sleep. Renato glanced over his shoulder and waved him over. “We need your help.”
Tara’s chest tightened while she stared at them. “Where’s Ashley?” Renato glanced at her and then back to Hawa without a word. Tara stepped forward, a knot forming in her stomach. She gripped the bedpost, her legs beginning to feel like mush. “Mr. Renato, what happened to Ashley?”
“She’ll be fine,” Peter said while examining Hawa’s bandaged leg. “I don’t sense any breaks or fractures. No lesions.” He stared up at Renato. “What the hell happened?”
Renato paced, rubbing the five o’clock shadow that darkened his chin and jawline. “Sarian was much stronger than we anticipated. When Ashley tried to retrieve the stone, he somehow sensed her, even with the masking spell.” Figures. Tara knew it was bad news when that witch offered to help. She hated the idea from the start, but being outnumbered and a girl with no abilities to contribute, she thought it better to keep her mouth shut and let Renato and Ashley make the final decision. The masking spell could have been a dud. For all they knew, Contessa might have wanted Ashley dead to take her stone. The witch only helped to get revenge on Sarian in the first place. Who knows what other motives she had. Tara still wasn’t sure of the extent of the stone’s power, but since every underworlder seemed to want to get their hands on it, it had to be capable of some unworldly things.
“Who healed Hawa?” Peter asked.
“Contessa. At her home.” Renato glanced at his watch. “We arrived back less than an hour ago.”
“Well, it looks like she did a decent job.” Peter laid the back of his hand against Hawa’s forehead. “No fever. I think she’s just exhausted. We should let her sleep.”
Tara let go of the bedpost, anger peeling away her layers of patience. There was no way she’d let them keep ignoring her. With her fists perched on her hips, she glared at them. “If someone doesn’t answer me in the next two seconds, I swear I’m going to flip the hell out.” They both stopped and stared at her. Tara swallowed. “Where’s Ashley?”
Anger was as good as any other emotion right now—better even, since it kept her blood rushing fast enough to prevent her from passing out if the news was grim.
Renato gave a deep exhale. “Tara.”
The way he said her name sucked the heat right out of her body.
She wound her fingers into her mess of red curls. “Oh God. What?”
“Please don’t panic,” he continued. “She is not hurt.”
Tara exhaled a calming breath and gestured toward the door. “I’m gonna go talk to her.” When she took a step forward, Renato stepped to the side, cutting off her path. She stared up at his tight face. “I’ll be right back. I just want to go see how she’s holding up.”
“Tara.” But when he said her name the second time, his tone hadn’t changed, and the look in his eyes told her something was wrong. He ran his fingers through his hair, smoothing it down. “She’s not here.”
“What do you mean she’s not here? You said she’s all right.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
Tara shifted her weight. “Well, where is she?”
“She and Arwan left to get Jayden back.”
“Back?” Tara scanned the room. In all of the chaos, she hadn’t noticed Jayden wasn’t there. “Is he pulling another stunt to win Ashley over?”
“I don’t think that’s what’s going on this time,” Peter said.
“Sarian is stronger than we realized.”
“But…” Tara shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“Jayden was killed in battle.”
She felt like someone had kicked her in the chest. “What?” She gasped, her bottom lip quivering with her voice. She had known Jayden almost as long as Ashley, and even if they weren’t as close, he was her friend. She swallowed past the ache in her throat.
Peter took her hand.
“She and Arwan rushed to Guatemala,” Renato continued. “To the caves of Naj Tunich.”
She tightened her grip on Peter’s hand while suspicion crawled over her. “Ashley hates caves. Why would she want to go there?”
“Ashley was determined. I attempted to convince her it was a dangerous, reckless idea, but she insisted. She and Arwan traveled to the caves to find Houn—the Guardian of Souls. She has the insane thought that they can get Jayden’s soul back in time.”
Tara pulled away from Peter, grabbed Renato’s collar, and jerked him forward. “Are you trying to tell me that my best friend is going to meet up with the Grim Reaper?”
Renato stared down at Tara’s fingers clenching his shirt.
She let go of his collar. “I want proof. Ashley wouldn’t just take off like that. Not without telling me first.”
Renato straightened his posture while smoothing out the wrinkles in his clothes. “I managed to rent a cold chamber for Jayden’s body in the local morgue.” He paused, watching her skeptical stare. His lips pressed tightly together. “If escorting you to see his body is the only way to convince you I am being honest, that is certainly an option.”
Tara took a step back. “Oh my God. You’re serious.”
“Unfortunately, yes. If Ashley and Arwan cannot retrieve his soul before Houn places it, the morgue is where Jayden’s body belongs. Either way, we need to preserve it the best we can.”
“Preserve?” She choked on the word and slowly lowered herself to the mattress beside Hawa’s feet.
Peter tucked a curl behind Tara’s ear. “It’ll be all right.”
She wanted to believe him, but something in her gut told her it wouldn’t be that simple. “Jayden’s dead and…Ashley didn’t even say goodbye. What if—” Her breath caught in her throat. “What if I never see her again?”

~Amazon | ~BN | ~Kobo | ~All Romance

Paranormal Romance Guild gave Escaping Darkness 4 stars!

Book 1

Like any other teenager in America, Ashley just wants a normal life. But growing up in an orphanage for the insane is anything but normal. After endless therapy and increasing medication, her nightmares have only gotten worse.

Probably because they’re not nightmares.

When Ashley’s mysteriously abducted, she finds a reality even less normal than the orphanage. And she discovers something else—she’s no ordinary orphan. Faced with enemies thought to only exist in fairy tales, Ashley discovers she possesses a powerful Maya bloodline. She’s the daughter of an ancient Maya Guardian, whose duty is to protect the Stone of Muuk’ich, an enchanted relic blessed by the gods. But first she must get it back from Sarian, a power-hungry demigod who slaughtered the last guardian—Ashley’s mother. Without the stone, all will be lost.

When she meets Arwan, a hot Belizean time bender, his delicious olive skin and dark eyes make her feel a little less alone. But his gentle whispers and reassuring touch might not be all they seem. How can she balance love and duty when it’s up to her to prevent the rising of the underworld? Especially when the guy she loves might be its crown prince…

About the Author

A long time enthusiast of things that go bump in the night, Theresa began her writing career as a journalism intern—possibly the least creative writing field out there. After her first semester at a local newspaper, she washed her hands of press releases and feature articles to delve into the whimsical world of young adult and new adult paranormal and contemporary romance.

Since then, Theresa has been married, had three terrific kids, moved to central Ohio, and was repeatedly guilt tripped into adopting a menagerie of animals that are now members of the family. But don’t be fooled by her domesticated appearance. Her greatest love is travel. Having traveled to over a dozen countries and explored dozens of U.S. states—including an extended seven-year stay in Kodiak, Alaska—she is anything but settled down. But wherever life brings her, Theresa will continue to weave tales of adventure and love with the hope her stories will bring joy and inspiration to her readers.

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Blitz: Hope's Reign by Selina Fenech

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

Hope's Reign

Selina Fenech

YA Fantasy

Book Two in Memory's Wake Trilogy

Date Published: May 10, 2013

Summary:

Everything is slipping away from Memory. The bond of friendship between her, Eloryn, Roen, and Will, that was formed while running for their lives is tearing. In a world that doesn’t feel like home, with a mind filled with nothing but questions, Memory struggles to be true to herself… whoever that is. When her past self starts haunting her, she knows her sanity could be the next thing she will lose.

Buy Link:

Amazon Author Page

Selina Fenech

Born in 1981 to Australian and Maltese parents, Selina lives in Australia with her husband, an unnamed cat. During her life Selina has found ancient Roman treasure, survived cancer, had knights joust at her wedding, been mugged for doughnuts, made a living as a visual artist, and shared her imaginary worlds in paintings and now in her novels.

Contact Links

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Excerpt & Giveaway: Shucked by Megg Jensen

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

Shucked by Megg Jensen
Publication date: April 14th 2013
Genre: YA Contemporary

Synopsis:
Suburgatory meets Indiana Jones...on a farm

Fifteen-year-old Tabitha has had the kind of life that would impress even the greatest adventurers. She's escaped a croc attack in the Amazon, walked the length of the Great Wall of China, and earned a black belt in taekwondo in Korea. She owes her worldly experience to her mother's career in archaeology, but when her mother takes on a dangerous new assignment, Tabitha is devastated to learn she can't tag along.

Instead, she's forced to live on a midwestern farm with her grandparents where she'll have to attend a full year of public school. It's Tabitha's greatest nightmare, because despite all her adventures, she has no practical experience with the one thing that frightens her the most - other teenagers.

Her math teacher is her mom's old high school boyfriend, she can't tell the friendly girls from the mean ones, and she develops a major crush on a boy she knows she can't trust. And just when she thinks she'll never get the hang of this normal teenager thing, an attack brings the danger of her previous life right up to her midwestern porch. Who could have ever guessed getting totally shucked would bring her face-to-face with her most exciting adventure yet?

Amazon/Kindle | Barnes & Noble/Nook | iBookstore/iPad | Kobo

Excerpt
And now I had to face math too? I prayed for a tornado or anything to whisk me away from this school. Instead, a boy stood in the doorway, blocking my entry to the classroom.
His back to me, all I could see was his stringy blond hair. I had the strangest urge to run my fingers through it - fingers covered with shampoo, that is. I shuddered at the grossness of it. What? Did he just get off the tractor before heading into school?
“Excuse me.” I nudged him with my knee as I ducked under the outstretched arm of the boy next to him. The other boy moved, maybe about a centimeter, as he turned his head to look down at me. Then I was struck.
Oh, Aphrodite, his eyes alone forced my stomach to plummet down to my toes. Gorgeous, dark brown Asian eyes. Who was this boy and what planet did he come from? He looked unlike every other midwestern homegrown pod person in this high school. My jaw dropped. My brain scrambled.
“Annyong hashimnikka.” I wanted to hit myself on the head with a blunt object. Stupid, stupid, stupid, speaking Korean instead of English.
“Huh?” he asked, a smile spread across his face. Dimples, there were dimples. “Did you just tell me good afternoon in Korean?”
I nodded.
“That’s cool.” He reached down and put his arm around my shoulder. “How’d you know I’m Korean?”
“I lived there for a year,” I stammered, struck by his eyes.
“My parents taught me a little here and there when I was growing up. Too bad there isn’t an opportunity for me to learn more with the Korean adoption groups in Chicago. There isn’t enough free time on the farm for that.”
My knees quivered as he led me over to an empty desk. What was wrong with me? Did my exile to cheerleading turn me into a weak-kneed teenage girl? I dropped my math book on the desk and gazed up at him.
“Long day?” he asked. “You look a little glassy eyed.”
Buddha give me strength. It was obvious. He knew.
“Leave her alone, Alex.” Becky elbowed her way between us. His arm slipped off my shoulders, leaving my skin hot and tingly. I wasn’t feeling well all of a sudden.
Maybe my vomiting fears were about to come true.
Alex turned around and skulked to the back row. He struck up a conversation with a geek next to him. A girl geek. Jealousy gnawed at my gut. I might need to kill Becky for sending him away.
“Sorry about Alex,” Becky said, rolling her eyes. “He’s such a player.”
“You think he’s a player?” I asked. “Really?”
“He’s dated almost every girl in school.” Becky drew quotes in the air when she said dated.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, eyeing him again. He leaned over closer to the geeky girl and twirled a bit of her hair around his index finger. She giggled. I reached to my belt for a sword before I realized I wasn’t in taekwondo and that I wasn’t allowed to hurt unarmed geeks.
“He’s a serial dater. He’s different. He’s hot. He knows it. Everyone has fallen for him at one time or another. Anyway, Alex is trouble. Stay away from him.”

Author Bio
I've been a freelance parenting journalist since 2003 and began writing YA novels in 2009. I co-run DarkSide Publishing, am a member of SCBWI, and I blog about writing while juggling freelancing, volunteering, and family life. I live in the Chicago suburbs with my husband, two kids, and our miniature schnauzer, Ace.
Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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Promo & Giveaway: #RobinintheHood by Diane J. Reed

2013-05-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

“Is it any wonder I became a bank robber?” said Robin.
But she never dreamed she’d fall in love…

15-year-old Robin McArthur thinks she has it all figured out when it comes to bilking her wealthy dad for guilt money as a substitute for his genuine affection. Until one day he suffers a stroke, and she learns the brutal truth.

They’re broke.

And everyone from bankers to bookies has come to collect.

His only saving grace is what he reveals to Robin in between drools: He truly does love her, in spite of all his mistakes.

Panicked and desperate, Robin figures she has two choices. Either surrender to the pestering caseworker and live in a skanky foster home, or take a chance and sneak her dad out of the hospital to make a run for it. Little does she know that stealing a car and hitting the road means that before the day is through, she will rob her first bank.

Now an outlaw, Robin finds a backwoods trailer park to hide her dad from authorities. There, she encounters Creek, a local bad boy who also commits crimes to provide for their motley neighbors. Realizing she could use Creek’s help, Robin proposes an ingenious plan—they should team up to rob banks together. But when their partnership leads to a romance that turns Robin’s world upside down, she soon begins to discover that people are more precious than pocketbooks, and real love means opening your heart to the kinds of treasures money can’t buy…

BOOKS A MILLION | BARNES AND NOBLES | AMAZON

ROBIN IN THE HOOD IS NOTED AS THE BEST YA SINCE THE HUNGER GAMES! RATED 4.8 STARS ON AMAZON AND 4.36 ON GOODREADS WE ARE VERY GLAD TO BRING YOU THIS TOUR

I write novels that are infused with enchantment, where characters dare to break through boundaries and believe in true love. I have a soft spot for artisans & outlaws of the heart, those of us who burn brightly to live each day as a gift--because it is! I'd love to hear from you, so feel free to visit me at www.banditsranch.com or message me on facebook or twitter (@DianeJReed) to share the whispers of your spirit.
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Excerpt & Giveaway: Nantucket Blue by Leila Howland

2013-05-07T04:00:00.000-05:00

Expected Publication: May 7th 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion

Blurb
For Cricket Thompson, a summer like this one will change everything. A summer spent on Nantucket with her best friend, Jules Clayton, and the indomitable Clayton family. A summer when she’ll make the almost unattainable Jay Logan hers. A summer to surpass all dreams. Some of this turns out to be true. Some of it doesn’t. When Jules and her family suffer a devastating tragedy that forces the girls apart, Jules becomes a stranger whom Cricket wonders whether she ever really knew. And instead of lying on the beach working on her caramel-colored tan, Cricket is making beds and cleaning bathrooms to support herself in paradise for the summer. But it’s the things Cricket hadn’t counted on--most of all, falling hard for someone who should be completely off-limits--that turn her dreams into an exhilarating, bittersweet reality. A beautiful future is within her grasp, and Cricket must find the grace to embrace it. If she does, her life could be the perfect shade of Nantucket blue.

Excerpt
I was plieing around a barely dressed Jules to the flute solo in the South African jazz song when Zack opened the door.
"Hey, Mom's in her dashiki," he said.
He strode in the room but stopped at the sight of Jules in her bra and underwear.
"What the hell are you two doing?Jesus!Why didn't you warn me?"

He ran out.

"You should knock,"Jules called after him, howling with laughter.
"I didn't know you were in your freaking lingerie. You've scarred me for life," he yelled from the hallway.
"At least she wasn't wearing a thong," I said, leaving Jules to get dressed and shutting the door behind me.
"That doesn't make me feel better,"he said, retreating into den. I followed him. He sat on the sofa, his head on his hand. "In fact, great. Thanks for the image."
"What you saw was no different than a bathing suit."
"Oh, yes it is," he said."I don't know how and I don't why, but is." The right corner of his mouth turned up. He put his feet on the coffee table. Crossed his ankles. "I have to make an appointment with the worry doctor now," Zack said. The Claytons had moved here four years ago from New York. From what Jules had told me, Zack had been an anxious kid with thick glasses who'd seen a psychiatrist, his "worry doctor," during most of elementary school. Most people were embarrassed about therapy, but Zack owned his time in the chair- It's not a couch, he said, but a comfortable black leather chair and ottoman, very 1970s-and was happy to discuss with anyone who asked. He stayed back a year when they moved here, and now he was funny, slightly under-the-radar freshman at Alden with plenty of friends and boldly framed glasses he wore with confidence.
"Nice game today, by the way, Cricket." I hadn't even noticed he was there. "And yes, I'm aggressively changing the subject. You were awesome out there."
"Oh, thanks," I said and plopped next to him on the sofa.
"You're so fast, like an animal running from whatever's above it on the food chain."
"Are you calling me an animal, Zack Clayton?" I smacked him with a needlepoint pillow of a crab.
"Hey, the crab is a lover not a fighter," he said, taking the pillow from me and placing it behind his head. " I just meant that you looked like a prairie dog fleeing a jackal."
"I'm a prairie dog now?"
He nodded. I looked around for another pillow, but by the time I'd spotted it he'd grabbed it and was holding it in front of his face in self-defense.
He lowered it and said: “But who says being an animal is bad? Personally, I think we should honor more of our animal instincts."
"If I ever catch you two following your animal instincts, I'll puke twice and die," Jules said, emerging from her room wearing jeans and a delicate cardigan over a loose, lownecked T-shirt.
"I wasn't flirting," I said.
"Who said anything about flirting?" Zack was smiling, eyebrows raised. I looked at him in shock.
"Busted," Jules said. Zack hugged the pillow and titled his head back in a silent laugh.

About the Author
LEILA HOWLAND loves to read, explore L.A., and engage in funny and meaningful conversations with her friends and family, especially her brother who calls from Washington D.C. whenever he’s waiting for the bus. A lot gets discussed in those phone calls, but they tend to end abruptly when the bus shows up. She can really cut the rug, but wishes she could sing without people covering their ears. A graduate of Georgetown University, Leila spent five years acting in New York where she was a company member of the award-winning Flea Theater in Tribeca. It was a lot of fun and she often talks about “getting back into it.” The closest she has come was a stint as an extra on The Young and the Restless in 2010. Leila now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two dogs. She teaches high school English and blogs for HelloGiggles. NANTUCKET BLUE is her first novel.
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Blast Giveaway: Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

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

About the Book
Back in Oregon, Kelsey tries to pick up the pieces of her life and push aside her feelings for Ren. But danger lurks around the corner, forcing her to return to India where she embarks on a second quest–this time with Ren’s dark, bad-boy brother Kishan, who has also fallen prey to the Tiger’s Curse. Fraught with danger, spellbinding dreams, and choices of the heart, TIGER’S QUEST brings the trio one step closer to breaking the spell that binds them.
Amazon | BN | Book Depository

About the Author
Colleen Houck’s New York Times bestselling Tiger’s Curse series has received national praise with the fourth book, Tiger’s Destiny, debuting September 2012. Colleen is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, science fiction, and romance. Formerly a student at the University of Arizona, she has worked as a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter for seventeen years. Colleen lives in Salem, Oregon, with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers.

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Interview & Giveaway: After Math by Denise Grover Swank

2013-05-06T00:00:00.001-05:00

Book Description:
Scarlett Goodwin’s world is divided into Before and After.

Before she agreed to tutor Tucker price, college junior Scarlett was introvert, struggling withher social anxiety and determined to not end up living in a trailer park like her mother and her younger sister. A mathematics major, she goes to her classes, to her job in the tutoring lab, and then hides in the apartment she shares with her friend, Caroline.

After junior Tucker Price, Southern University’s star soccer player enters the equation, hercarefully plotted life is thrown off its axis. Tucker’s failing his required College Algebra class.With his eligibility is at risk, the university chancellor dangles an expensive piece of computer software for the math department if Scarlett agrees to privately tutor him.Tucker’s bad boy, womanizer reputation makes Scarlett wary of any contact, let alone spending several hours a week in close proximity.

But from her first encounter, she realizes Tucker isn’t the person everyone else sees. He carries a mountain of secrets which she suspects hold the reason to his self-destructive behavior. But the deeper she delves into the cause of his pain, the deeper she gets sucked into his chaos. Will Scarlett find the happiness she’s looking for, or will she be caught in Tucker’s aftermath?

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Interview with Author Denise Grover Swank

What was the most difficult part for you when writing After Math?

The hardest part of writing After Math was making sure Scarlett and Tucker found a deeper relationship based on trust, respect and friendship before they allowed the sexual side to evolve. It took writing, rewriting and lots of tweaking to get it to where it is now.

What was the easiest part?

The easiest part of writing After Math was the romantic scenes with Scarlett and Tucker. Their relationship was almost a holy thing at that point and each experience was truly a union of their souls. It was a beautiful thing to write.

What is your favorite scene or was your favorite to write? Don’t forget to tell us why.

Wow, my favorite scene. Probably the scene when Scarlett finds Tucker drunk outside the party they are at (separately) and she realizes there’s so much more to him than he portrays. She’d suspected before, but his pain escapes and she feels a tug on her heart to risk herself and reach out to him. This was definitely outside of Scarlett’s norm and comfort zone. For someone who based her life on routine and order, she was truly testing herself.

Is there anything in After Math you hope readers take away after reading, or something you want to point out you don’t want readers to miss?

I think there’s a bit of Scarlett and Tucker in each of us. We’re never who we portray to the world. There’s a deeper self, usually hurt and damaged. I think we all hope we can find the one person to not only recognize that part of us, but love us and help us heal.

What authors or books have influenced you as a reader and/or a writer?

I’ve been influenced by many authors. The first was Laura Ingalls Wilder when I was a kid. Reading The Little House on the Prairie series made me consider writing my own stories and books. In the new adult genre, I’ve been influenced by Abbi Glines, Jasinda Wilder, and Colleen Hoover.

What’s next for you writing wise that you can share with us?

I’m currently wrapping up REDESIGNED, the second book in the Off the Subject series. REDESIGNED is about Caroline, Scarlett’s roommate.

About the Author
Denise Grover Swank lives in Lee's Summit, Missouri. She’s a gypsy who can’t live in oneplace too long or stay in one genre. She writes contemporary romance, urban fantasies without vampires and werewolves, young adult science fiction, and romantic comedy mysteries set in the south. Denise has six children, three dogs, and an overactive imagination. She can be found dancing in her kitchen with her children, reading, or writing her next book. You will rarely find her cleaning.
Website | Facebook | Twitter

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My Sunday Post #15

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

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~

Last Week on the Blog

Sunday Post #14
Boundlesss by Cynthia Hand ~Review
The Warner Grimoire by Clay Held ~Promo
Waiting on Wednesday #15
The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa ~Review
Of Triton by Anna Banks ~Review
Jumper by Jeff Laferney ~Blitz
The Infernal Detectives by Katie Weiss ~Blast & Giveaway

Tenative Schedule for this week

Sunday Post #15
After Math by Denise Grover Swank ~Interview & Giveaway
Nantucket Blue by Leila Howard ~ Excerpt & Giveaway
Waiting on Wednesday #16
Robin in the Hood by Diane J. Reed ~ Promo & Giveaway
Shucked by Megg Jensen ~ Giveaway & Excerpt
Release Day Blitz for Hope's Reign by Selina Fenech
Escaping Darkness by Theresa McClinton ~ Giveaway Blast

Giveaways

Abberant by Ruth Silver

For Review

Received from the publisher
Thanks to PYR

Tours

Notes

I have more to share but posting from my kindle is tricky and irritating :/

Happy Reading!

Trailer Blast & Giveaway: The Infernal Detective by Kirsten Weiss

2013-05-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Nerd TRAILER Blast for THE INFERNAL

DETECTIVE by Kirsten Weiss hosted by Book Nerd Tours!

THE INFERNAL DETECTIVE, the fourth book in the Riga Hayworth series, published by misterio press, will be available on Amazon May 21, 2013.

To promote the novel, the author created an alternate reality game – a virtual “novella” in the world of The Infernal Detective. The Infernal Detective video book trailer is the gateway to the game, which leads players through character blogs and a Pinterest board.

Hidden in the text are links to stories within stories, and a scavenger hunt for a “junk oracle.” The first fifty players to solve the game and report in to the author will receive an advance electronic copy of The Infernal Detective for Kindle, Nook, or Kobo.

When Riga Hayworth finds a dead body in her bedroom a week before her wedding, it’s par for the course. When the corpse drives off with her fiancée… That’s a problem.

Riga knows dead. More intimately than she’d like. So when a murdered photographer gets up and walks away, she’s believes there’s necromancy afoot. And when she discovers that several of her wedding guests are under the influence of dark magic, she’s certain. But how can she catch a killer and stop a necromancer when even her nearest and dearest are lying to her?

The Infernal Detective is a fast-paced, paranormal mystery, where nothing is quite as it seems, and magic lies just beyond the veil.

This giveaway is completely separate from the scavenger hunt mentioned above.

You need not complete it to enter for this awesome prize from the author!

1 Winner will receive

1 - Infernal Detective T-Shirt in the size they prefer

1 - Infernal Detective Charm

Shipping in US Only, No PO Boxes. Must be 13+ To Enter

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About the Author:

Kirsten Weiss is the author of the Riga Hayworth series of paranormal mysteries: the urban fantasy, The Metaphysical Detective, The Alchemical Detective, and The Shamanic Detective.

Kirsten worked overseas for nearly fourteen years, in the fringes of the former USSR and deep in the Afghan war zone. Her experiences abroad not only gave her glimpses into the darker side of human nature, but also sparked an interest in the effects of mysticism

and mythology, and how both are woven into our daily lives.

Now based in San Mateo, CA, she writes paranormal mysteries, blending her

experiences and imagination to create a vivid world of magic and mayhem.

Kirsten has never met a dessert she didn’t like, and her guilty pleasures are watching

Ghost Whisperer reruns and drinking good wine.

Website |Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Pinterest

Blitz: Jumper by Jeff LaFerney

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

Title: Jumper (Time Travelers)
Author: Jeff LaFerney
Publisher: Tower Publications
Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Genres: NA, Action/Adventure

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.
Amazon|Barnes & Noble

ABOUT the AUTHOR
Jeff is currently an 8th grade English teacher for Davison Community Schools. He coached for 25 years. In the past three years, he stopped coaching and has published three mystery/suspense novels. Loving the Rain, Skeleton Key, and Bulletproof are three stand-alone novels featuring Clay and Tanner Thomas. A fourth novel, a time-traveler action/adventure called Jumper was published on April 30, 2013. Jeff loves sports, reading, writing, and spending time with his awesome family.
Blog | Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

Of Triton by Anna Banks

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

Author: Anna Banks
Title: Of Triton
Series: Of Poseidon #2
Publication: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Aroundtheworldarctours

Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

Of Triton picks up where the previous book left off with Emma's mother Nalia being accused of abandoning her people. Galen has the task of bringing her in to his brother Grom, who believed her dead all this time. Nalia doesn't trust Galen and while he is away retrieving Grom, she takes Emma and runs. While searching for Emma and Nalia progresses things down under get complicated as there are those that think the Royals are corrupt. That they haven't done there duty towards their people and it's time for a change. Torn between saving her mother and the Syrena, Emma must decide to hide or risk death to save the Syrena from destruction.

I really liked this one. The romance between Galen and Emma remains steady, even though there are moments of doubt. Emma seems more uncertain about her mother and herself. She's angry and resentful towards her mother about her relationship with her human father. So, when she's sees how Nalia speaks of Grom, she can't help the bitterness that stems from within. Galen wants what's best for the Syrena but he also wants to find a way to be with Emma and hopes that his brother will see that they belong together regardless of the rules. Rayna is a pest but she's growing on me and she plays an important role in this story as well. Banks has created a very likeable group of characters that it's easy to become engrossed in their journey. There is one jaw-dropping scene that made me very happy and was a little bit of a surprise, though there are subtle hints to it.

This story is loaded with strong-willed characters all fighting for what they love. Banks has crafted a Syrena world on the edge of corruption packed with great action sequences and romance. The writing is good, though the story seems much shorter than the first book, I still enjoyed reading it. The plot moves along at a steady pace, and I liked seeing things from the different viewpoints of the main characters. Overall, this is a good continuation of this fun story.

Review & Giveaway: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

2013-05-02T00:00:00.001-05:00

Author: Julie Kagawa
Title: The Eternity Cure
Series: Blood of Eden #2
Publication: April 30, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
~Website | ~Blog

Synopsis from Amazon
In Allison Sekemoto's world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood.

She has done the unthinkable: died so that might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie's birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever—and possibly end human and vampire existence.

There's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago—and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time.

Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make.

The story begins with Allie searching for her sire, Kanin, and she's running out time as his sanity hangs in the balance. Every time she sleeps she can see what he's going through and fears that he will succumb to the monster within and become lost to her completely. Never having much family of her own lately, Kanin is all she has left, well so she thinks as the "blood call" leads her down an unexpected path. Allie may think Kanin is her only task but chaos is just around the corner. She must save many or all will be lost to Sarren's madness.

“You will always be a monster - there is no turning back from it. But what kind of monster you become is entirely up to you.”

Allie struggles with holding to the last threads of humanity she has and refuses to give in to the hungry demon within. She's a vampire with morals, and chooses to live differently than what she views as the norm in vampire society. Throughout this story, she grapples with her choice to become a vampire...ghosts from her past won't let her forget the events that lead to her decision. I found her voice to be authentic and could sympathize with her uncertainty, loss and pain. She's lonely; having left behind the one boy she cared for in the safe haven of Eden and facing the possible loss of her sire. It's seems that she just keeps losing everyone she loves.

“You're still beautiful and dangerous and incredible, and I'll keep telling you that for as long as it takes you to believe it. But right now, all I want to do is kiss you, except I'm terrified that if I try you might throw me off this balcony.”

Allie and Zeke, though they shouldn't be together for obvious reasons, Zeke tries to convince Allie that things will work out between them. However, Allie remains afraid that in just a moment of letting her guard down, she will slip up and hurt him. Zeke has changed some in this book, maybe I missed how fearsome he was in the first book but he's become a very incredible but naive young man this time around. It's so hard not to want him to be with Allie as his love for her has given him the ability to be more open about all vampires not being evil. Allie experiences much emotional torment with trying to keep him at bay for his safety and her heart but as things gradually start to spiral out of control, she finds this to become difficult. She wonders if it's possible for the two of them to make a relationship work and it not end in disaster for them both.

"I'm not going after that psycho unless I have to. You think I'm bad?' He snorted and shook his head. "You haven't seen anything until you've met crazy Sarren."

Which brings me to Sarren, he’s one sadistic lunatic. I'm still trying figure out exactly what the heck he's trying to do. He claims to have a solution to end the Red Lung virus but no one is going to like it. This man freaked me out; he is a whole new level of crazy that Kagawa has crafted. Overall, this has moments of goriness and loads of action. It felt like being immersed in a Resident Evil movie or video game. Kagawa's writing moves fluidly and the plot has some humorous yet gory segments throughout. I liked the characters but surprisingly my favorite in this book would have to be Jackal, his development is interesting. I think this is a good read that zombie and vampire fans will enjoy this book.

Note: Quotes are from the Arc copy that I received and may be different in the original copy.

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Waiting on Wednesday: Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger

2013-05-01T03:53:00.003-05:00

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

Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger
Expected Release: November 2013

Goodreads Synopsis
Does one need four fully grown foxgloves for decorating a dinner table for six guests? Or is it six foxgloves to kill four fully grown guests?

Sophronia's first year at Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality has certainly been rousing! For one thing, finishing school is training her to be a spy (won't Mumsy be surprised?). Furthermore, Sophronia got mixed up in an intrigue over a stolen device and had a cheese pie thrown at her in a most horrid display of poor manners.

Now, as she sneaks around the dirigible school, eavesdropping on the teachers' quarters and making clandestine climbs to the ship's boiler room, she learns that there may be more to a school trip to London than is apparent at first. A conspiracy is afoot--one with dire implications for both supernaturals and humans. Sophronia must rely on her training to discover who is behind the dangerous plot-and survive the London Season with a full dance card.

In this sequel to bestselling author Gail Carriger's YA debut Etiquette & Espionage, class is back in session with more petticoats and poison, tea trays and treason. Gail's distinctive voice, signature humor, and lush steampunk setting are sure to be the height of fashion this season.

What are you waiting for?