Ironskin Review

Book: Ironskin
Author: Tina Connolly
Book One in the Ironskin series
Edition Read: Hardcover

Blurb:

Jane Eliot wears an iron mask.

It's the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain-the ironskin.

When a carefully worded listing appears for a governess to assist with a "delicate situation"-a child born during the Great War-Jane is certain the child is fey-cursed, and that she can help.

Teaching the unruly Dorie to suppress her curse is hard enough; she certainly didn't expect to fall for the girl's father, the enigmatic artist Edward Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio... and come out as beautiful as the fey.

Jane knows Rochart cannot lover her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things is true? Step by step Jane unlocks the secrets of her new life-and discovers just how far she will go to become whole again.

My Review: 

**2.5 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: I was so excited when I read the description of this book. I couldn't wait for it to come out. So I was very disappointed when I read it. The book just didn't flow well. It seemed very choppy in the writing. The parts where it did flow, were really good, but then it got lost again.

PROS: I really liked the concept of the story and the back history with the war between fey and humans. I also liked Jane. She was strong and written the best out of all the characters.

CONS: As much as I love Jane Eyre, I wish this book hadn't tried to mirror it. It just didn't work. The parts where the book was trying to be Jane Eyre were just too awkward. Dorie was annoying. I really didn't understand what was going on with her. I also didn't like Edward. He wasn't written well and there were too many "Huh?" points with him.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I honestly don't know if I will read the next one. Normally for a 2.5 star I wouldn't, but as I said above, I did like the concept.

Add Ironskin to your Goodreads shelf.

Book Spotlight ~ Shades of Gray by Susanne Jacoby Hale

Book: Shades of Gray

Author: Susanne Jacoby Hale

Publication Date: December 15th 2011

Goodreads link

Blurb:

In inner-city New York, horros lurk in the unruly hallways of Malcolm High School. As in-school riots and gang violence consistently envelop the classroom, Olivia Dalton attempts to teach her students while simultaneously directing a drop-out prevention program that embraces an ever-increasing group of at-risk students. Left with little hope she will ever have children of her own, Olivia becomes entrenched in her students' lives, partly out of love, but also out of an unconscious desire to avoid her own internal anguish.

Meanwhile, Olivia's devoted husband, Tom, is having trouble facing his own disappointments in not being able to create a family. In an effort to protect Olivia, he attempts to hold her back from the one place she feels useful and fulfilled-her career. But despite her husband's efforts to quell her desire to help the troubled and confused, Olivia presses on and believes in change, even in the face of her students' continual mistakes and poor choices. Neither Tom nor Olivia have any idea that everything is about to change when an unassuming gift is left at their door.

Shades of Gray is the profound story of one woman's unpredictable journey to the truth, new beginnings, and a kind of love she never knew before.

About the Author: 

A former drop-out prevention teacher in a New York City high school, earned a master's degree from New York University in education and creative writing. Although, when she began teaching in the real ACE program, depicted in Shades of Gray, she had no idea that it would change her life forever. Having been out of the classroom for a few years, Jacoby Hale still felt the need to make a difference in the lives of students.

She had a fondness for writing since she was a child, but it wasn't until many years later that Jacoby Hale felt the need to tell the story of a dedicated teacher. She believes that good teachers are often unappreciated, while students' needs are frequently misconstrued. Sometimes the only thing missing in today's classroom is compassion "If we close our eyes, all kids look the same," says Jacoby Hale, "I learned this the day I fell in love with my ACE students."

Susanne Jacoby Hale currently lives in South Florida with her husband and their three children. This is her debut novel.

For more information on Shades of Gray, follow the links below:

Susanne Jacoby Hale's Website
Barnes & Noble
Amazon
Goodreads

Please check back later for a review on Shades of Gray.

Cover Reveal & Giveaway ~ Sworn to Raise by Terah Edun

Sworn to Raise (Courtlight #1) by Terah Edun

Seventeen-year-old Ciardis has grown up in poverty, a cleaner in a small vale on the outskirts of the kingdom. But beneath her kingdom's seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder-intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond initiations.

Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companion's Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she'd never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron.

But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down.

This sensational series debut melds intricate storylines with remarkable characters and unforgettable magic. Sworn To Raise is ideal for fans of Kristin Cashore, Michelle Sagara, and Maria Snyder.

Expected Publication: March 15th, 2013

Add Sworn to Raise to your Goodreads shelf.

Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for setting up this cover reveal!

Giveaway: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Alice in Zombieland Review

Book: Alice in Zombieland
Author: Gena Showalter
Book One in the White Rabbit Chronicles
Edition Read: Hardcover

Blurb:

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

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

Her father was right. The monsters are real....

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

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently. 
I'd tell my sister no. 
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad. 
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words. 
Of, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time. 
I'd tell them I love them. 
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

My Review: 

**3 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: Well, I had a hard time figuring out how I wanted to rate this book. While I enjoyed the storyline, I had a lot of problems with the book. First off... this is NOT a book about zombies, in the normal sense of the word. This book was about spirit monster/zombie things. Which was really cool, but don't try and pass it off as a zombie book when it really isn't.

PROS: OMG! She mentioned my favorite band! Hahaha. Ok... have to do a little freak out here. Ali mentioned that she listens to Skillet & Red. I like Red and have a few of their CD's and would love to see them in concert. Skillet... my favorite band ever! I have all of their CD's and have seen them 4 times in concert (soon to be 5). : )  Ali's character was written really well. She was very believable and easy to relate to. I really enjoyed her journey through the book. The only downfall is sometimes the "teenage thoughts" were a little overdone.

CONS: Yikes. Ok, I'm not going to go through everything, but I will hit two more points (in addition to the zombie one above). I am not a big fan of swearing, however, the awkward avoidance of it is just bad. There was a lot of "I was going to say this, but change it so it wasn't a swear" stuff in the book, and it just came out awkward. Honestly, I think that Cole should have swore a few times. It would have fit his character very well - at least a lot better than changing mid sentence. Alright, now my last point. While I agree that people would avoid the "bad crowd" in high school... I don't see them also being the most popular. It was just very weird that while people were afraid of them, they also wanted their attention.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Like I said, I really did enjoy the story. I just wish I didn't have as many problems with the book as I did. Now that I know what to expect, I am hoping that the next book will get a higher rating from me. (Yes, I do plan on reading it.)

Add Alice in Zombieland to your Goodreads shelf.

Challenge Sign-ups

Ok, it is that time of year for the yearly challenge sign-ups to begin. Here are the ones I am signing up for (along with the info incase you want to also).

2013 Paranormal Reading Challenge

This challenge is being hosted by Megan Likes Books and Auntie Spinelli Reads. The goal is to read one book featuring each of the following paranormal creatures: Vampires, Werewolves/Shifters, Fey, Angels/Nephilim, Mermaids, Dragons, Zombies, Demons, Witches/Wizards, Ghosts, Aliens, and Other (ie. sirens, unicorns, centaurs, etc.) Each month will feature a different category of paranormal creature.



Dystopia Reading Challenge 2013

This challenge is being hosted by Blog of Erised. The goal is to read 24 dystopian books.









2013 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Set your goal for how many books you plan on reading. Only books released in 2012 and earlier. There will be monthly challenges on 6 different blogs and a final giveaway at the end of the year.  My goal is to hit level "A Sweet Kiss" which is 21-30 books.







2013 Sequel Challenge

Hosted by Auntie Spinelli Reads. The goal is to read as many sequels as you can. (Yes, novellas count as long as they are after book #1 - ie. 1.5).  I am setting my goal at 15 books for this challenge.

The Shadow Society Review

Book: The Shadow Society
Author: Marie Rutkoski
Edition Read: Hardcover

Blurb:

Darcy Jones doesn't remember anything before the day she was abandoned as a child outside a Chicago firehouse. She has never really belonged anywhere-but she couldn't have guessed that she comes from an alternate world where the Great Chicago Fire didn't happen and deadly creatures called Shades terrorize the human population.

Memories begin to haunt Darcy when a new boy arrives at her high school, and he makes her feel bother desire and desired in a way she hadn't thought possible. But Conn's interest in her is confusing. It doesn't line up with the way he first looked at her.

As if she were his enemy.

When Conn betrays Darcy, she realizes that she can't rely on anything-not herself, not the laws of nature, and certainly not him. Darcy decides to infiltrate the Shadow Society and uncover the Shades' latest terrorist plot. What she finds out will change her world forever...

In this smart, compulsively readable novel, master storyteller Marie Rutkoski has crafted an utterly original world, characters you won't soon forget, and a tale full of intrigue and suspense.

My Review: 

**4 Stars**

MY OVERVIEW: A creative inter-dimensional, abnormal human story. I really enjoyed how different this book was from everything else I have read. And I also liked that just when you thought you knew what was happening... nope... you don't.

PROS: I really enjoyed Darcy. She had a rough life, but it made her a better person. She wasn't a whiney teenager who blames the world for her situation. She is a very well written strong heroine. I'm not normally a huge fan of the very strong heroine, cause they normally aren't written very believable. They tend to be over-done. But Darcy was done perfectly!

CONS: Orion was very annoying. His character seemed like it kept bouncing between over-protective and controlling. He just didn't feel as nailed down as the rest of the characters in the book.
I am hoping that questions were left unanswered because there is going to be another book. But there was one hint of something more between Orion and Conn, and I just wish that it was either explained fully (if there isn't going to be another book) or a little more information given for better "cliff-hanger" if another book is in the works.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I actually really hope it becomes a series, as it would be very interesting to find out more about what is going to happen between the IBI and Shadow Society.

Add Shadow Society to your Goodreads list.

Oceanheart Release Day Party

We're celebrating the release of Oceanheart, the first novel in a new and exciting YA fantasy series called The Enchanted Pages today. 

Book: Oceanheart
Author: Pen Clements
Book One of The Enchanted Pages series

Blurb:

An oceanic world where the stars are going out. Saltwater people and a shark that stalks in dreams. A girl with a nightmare, a mischievous guardian and a boy with a secret.

Meet Wynn. She thinks she's a misfit and hates showing weakness. Only one person really touches her heart and that's her little sister, Stella. But Stella is in a coma and it's all Wynn's fault.

As Wynn creates a journal of might-have-been memories for her sister, she finds herself pulling into a magical island world and sent on a journey through danger and despair. She's never been in a jungle and she's terrified of water. Then she meets Soran. He reads nature like a book and can survive anything on land and in the sea. What Wynn doesn't know is that Soran's secret could destroy her. The island could destroy her too. It's no paradise. Paradise doesn't have poison masters called the Teeth. It doesn't have Sorrowmaker patrolling the reefs. And in paradise, you don't have to face your greatest fear to fix your biggest mistake.
Winner of an Australian Society of Authors Mentorship Award 2011
and an Olvar Wood Fellowship Award

Oceanheart on Goodreads
Oceanheart on Amazon

Read an Excerpt: 

     Soran was already waist deep, waiting for me. The shark's tooth shone white against his brown chest and he sparkled from the dusting of salt on his face. He was an ocean boy who belonged in the water. Unlike me.
     'Wynn.' He held his hand out and I took it. His grip was strong and I was surprised by the rush of energy that went through me. I felt like I could do anything.
     'Take these and put them over your eyes.'
     He held out a pair of goggles with fish skin straps attached to them. I examined the lenses.
     'They are made from shells that we polish until they are clear. Take them, I can see without them.'
     I put the goggles on and took a deep breath before submerging myself in the water, never letting go of Soran's hand. We pushed out into the lagoon and I shut my eyes. It only made things worse so I opened them and looked at the bottom. It was amazing. There was so much life, so many creatures moving about in a kaleidoscope of rainbow colours. It was too beautiful to be afraid. We drifted like stars in a liquid sky with a whole world lying beneath our suspended bodies. Soran held me as we floated and his strength flowed through me. I felt as if no harm would ever come.
     We found a shallow patch of sand in a gap between the coral and stood to take a breath. My heart was a balloon floating in a summer sky. I laughed and splashed water in the air. I watched the falling droplets reflect sunlight like a spray of diamonds before the water fell and ran off our skins in molten silver. Soran's withdrawn look was gone and his tawny eyes flashed in delight.
     'You're shining!' he said.
     I looked at my arms. Glittery bits from the sand were stuck on my skin and making it shimmer. They were on him too and the vision made us both laugh. I realised it was the first time I had seen his smile, a real one, one that transformed his face. Like this, Soran was a different person.
     Soran flipped down and under the surface. I watched his body moving beneath the clear water, impossibly fast, as swift and sure as a fish himself. He stayed under far longer than any normal human being should and when he broke the surface the water seemed to part to let him through. He wasn't the slightest bit out of breath and I almost wondered if he could breathe underwater. Then he held my hand again and we drifted off further down the lagoon, lost in wonders. The coral throbbed with colour, fluoresced and glowed. I found myself following schools of pattered fish, being drawn to the next clump of sea-fans, the next crevice filled with delicate shells.
     I went further and further, more confident in the water than I'd ever been. But as we floated down the bay, things began to change. The coral wasn't so bright and then the colours grew dull and sludgy. Patches of murky looking seaweed appeared and the branching corals no longer formed an underwater forest. They lay in shattered pieces on the black sand, white and bleached as the bones that lay around the village. Soon there was nothing but rubble with lurid green algae all over it. I looked sideways. I had been so focussed on the changing landscape that I hadn't noticed myself drift close to the drop off, out where the deep water shaded into darkness. A trench lay ahead and it led to a pass in the reef. There was nothing between me and the open ocean.

About the Author: 

Pen Clements would like to be a botanist, a Shaolin monk or an anthropologist in a galaxy far, far away. She'd also like to have wings, breathe underwater and meet an angel. Unfortunately she hasn't managed all of that yet, but being a writer lets her pretend.

Pen lives in tropical north Queensland with her husband, two sons and a traditional wooden sailing boat. She loves exploring the islands of the Great Barrier Reef and is inspired by the natural world.

Author Links:
Website
Facebook
Goodreads

Cover Reveal ~ Timespell by Diana Paz

Timespell by Diana Paz

In TIMESPELL, the brash and impulsive Julia must team up with her sweet and straight-laced best friend, Angie, and the malicious and power-hungry Kaitlyn in order to keep the witch-like powers of her inheritance. But these powers come at a cost. The girls are bound to serve the Fates, and their mission sends them back in time to Marie Antoinette's Paris and eventually, into the chaos and war of the French Revolution.

Expected Publication Date: April 1st, 2013

Add Timespell to your Goodreads shelf.

Official Trailer:

About the Author: 
Diana Paz writes books about magic, adventure, and romance. She was born in Costa Rica, grew up on Miami Beach, moved to Los Angeles in high school, and went to college in San Diego. Basically, she's a beach bum. Diana graduated from California State University, San Marcos with a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts. She loves old movies, epic fantasy, all kinds of music, and heading to the beach with a good book. Preferably sipping a highly sweetened iced coffee.

For more information check out the following links: 
Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter

Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for setting up this cover reveal!

The Hobbit *A Special Post*

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty,  wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, or yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort. 

In celebration of The Hobbit movie being released tonight at midnight (ok, technically tomorrow morning), I decided to create a post featuring The Hobbit. Yes, I am going to see the movie, and yes... I have my tickets for the midnight showing in 3D! **I am so excited!!!**

If you are one of the few who have not read The Hobbit, it is a must read classic. I know that not everyone who reads it, likes it, but I feel that it is a must read anyway. There are just certain classics that everyone needs to read.

(Yes, I have the leatherbound copy!)

Here is J.R.R. Tolkien's own description for the original edition:

If you care for journeys there and back, out of the comfortable Western world, over the edge of the Wild, and home again, and can take an interest in a humble hero (blessed with a little wisdom and a little courage and considerable good luck), here is a record of such a journey and such a traveler. The period is the ancient time between the age of Faerie and the dominion of men, when the famous forest of Mirkwood was still standing, and the mountains were full of danger. In following the path of this humble adventurer, you will learn by the way (as he did) - if you do not already know all about these things - much about trolls, goblins, dwarves, and elves, and get some glimpses into the history and politics of a neglected but important period.

For Mr. Bilbo Baggins visited various notable persons; conversed with the dragon, Smaug the Magnificent; and was present, rather unwillingly, at the Battle of the Five Armies. This is all the more remarkable, since he was a hobbit. Hobbits have hitherto been passed over in history and legend, perhaps because they as a rule preferred comfort to excitement. But this account, based on his personal memories, of the one exciting year in the otherwise quiet life of Mr. Baggins will give you a fair idea of the estimable people now (it is said) becoming rather rate. They do not like noise.

"Go back?" he thought. "No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!" So up he got, and trotted along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter.

Snow White Sorrow Book Blitz & Giveaway

Book: Snow White Sorrow
Author: Cameron Jace
Publication Date: February 2013
Goodreads Link

Blurb:

What if all you knew about fairy tales was wrong?

Sixteen year old Loki Blackstar is no Prince Charming. His mother is a ghost. His only friend is a red Cadillac that talks to him through the radio. he looks like an Angel but acts like a jerk. No wonder he has been banned from Heaven, which is the least of his troubles. Loki needs a job to pay for school and support himself.

Still, Loki has a rare gift: He is a Dreamhunter. One of the few in the world who can hunt and kill immortal demons in their dreams so they never wake up again.

When Loki is sent to kill a sixteen-year-old vampire girl the locals call Snow White Sorrow, he is pulled into a magical but dangerous world. The locals believe the monster to be Snow White.

The real Snow White... living in the ruins of an ancient castle in a small town. She is described as horribly beautiful, terrifyingly enchanting, and wickedly lovely.

What he finds instead is a beautiful monster girl filled with rage and hurt, who has an epic untold story to tell of things such like why the Brothers Grimm altered the fairy tale, who the Evil Queen really is, where the mirror came from, and who possessed it.

Snow White has killed every person who has dared come near the castle where she once lived with the queen. Mysteriously, she lets Loki live, and whispers two words in his ears; two words that will change his life forever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About The Grimm Diaries prequels: 

The Grimm Diaries prequels are a number of short books in the form of epistolary diary entries. The diaries are more of teasers for the upcoming series: The Grimm Diaries, allowing you to get a glimpse of what to expect of the series. The 6 diaries are told by The Evil Queen, Peter Pan, Little Red Riding Hood, the Devil, Prince Charming, and Alice Grimm.

Author Warning: These Grimm Prequels are snapshots of a magical land you're about to visit soon. I like to think of them as poisoned apples. Once you taste them, you will never see fairy tales in the same light again. 

The Grimm Prequels on Goodreads

SPECIAL: Until December 13th, the prequel pack (all 6) for Kindle is only $0.99! You can purchase it on Amazon HERE.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt from Snow White Blood Red: 

     Dear Wilhelm Carl Grimm,

     She is not that giddy, naive, and helpless princess she pretends to be. Please don't let her fool you with her innocence if you see her sing to the birds in the forest. Resist her charm from bringing joyful tears to your eyes, and shield yourself from her devious beauty before she deceives you into wanting her kiss her awake. It'll be a kiss of death. Your death. That's how she fooled the Huntsman, Prince Charming, and me, her birth mother.
     I still remember the original script of the fairy tale, the one you wrote in 1812. It clearly stated that she was my own flesh and blood daughter. I don't have the slightest idea why you altered it fifty years later.
     What was the point of turning me into an evil, narcissistic, and heartless stepmother, blinded by jealousy and envy of the young princess?
     For years, I have been looking forward to telling you the truth about her, but you were impossible to reach.
     I am glad I found your bother, Jacob. He told me that you wanted to tone the stories down so children could sleep better at night, instead of having nightmares about the Queen who sought to eat her daughter's heart and liver.
     Shame on you, Wilhelm.
     You, of all authors, knew why I wanted to kill her. My actions were justified. I was trying to save my kingdom from her wrath, before everything we loved was destined to an end. The same way you had to rewrite the true fairytales after cursing us, so the War of Sorrows would end forever after.
     Night after night, and year after year, parents fed their children false bedtime stories, until your lies grew into inescapable memories. Your happily ever after lies, Wilhelm, shaped the so called fairy tale world.
     I wondered why you didn't burn the original scripts, instead of rewriting them. You must have figured out that sooner or later someone would dig up the truth and expose you. Altering it was the smarter solution. You let children believe that the bites were resurrecting kisses, and that torturing glass coffins were made for sleeping beauties, waiting for a prince to come and kiss them awake.
     A wise man once said that the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he was someone else. You did the same with us, Wilhelm. You turned us into pastiches of the immortals that we really are, and made it harder for us if wanted to persuade the world otherwise.
     I know that you did it to save us from her. And I appreciate how you concealed our real names, or we would have ended up like Rumpelstiltskin, tortured by those who knew of his real name.
     But sometimes, I can't help but wonder why no one ever questioned why I was called the Evil Queen, and why I was never given a real name in the books.
     Was I so superficial to the world, so stereotypical and mundane? Why was I treated as if I were the monster of the week?
     You know what I think? I think that the world never got the time to hate me. It just wanted to hate me long before it met me.
     If I tell those who detest me about the true nature of their little princess, would they ever care about me half as much as they care about her?
     I know that deep inside, they adore me. They like the way I talk, walk, dress, and even the way I kill.
     They are just afraid to admit how much they love me. I am the Snow White Queen, strong enough that I don't need anyone's pity or love, because I am loved by the greatest and most majestic heart in the world: Mine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About the Author: 

     Wonderlander, Neverlander, Unicorn-chaser, enchanter, musician, survived a coma, & totally awesome. Sometimes I tell stories. Always luv the little monsters.
     I write young adult paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and science fiction mostly. The Grimm Diaries series is a seven book saga that deals with retellings of fairy tales from a young adult POV - it connects most of the fairy tales together and claims to be the truth about fairy tales.
      I live in San Francisco and seriously think circles are way cooler than triangles.





Author Links: 
Website
Goodreads
Facebook *
Twitter

*Special Note: All "Likers" of Cameron's Facebook page will get notified of the exact release date, which is also when you will be able to get Snow White Sorrow for only $0.99 for only that one day! 

Giveaway: 

This giveaway is for one (1) Grimm Diaries prequel pack that includes all six prequels. Please note that this is only available on Kindle format. Winner will be notified by email. Winner must respond within 48 hours or another will be chosen.

Have fun!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview ~ Nickie Anderson

Please welcome Nickie Anderson. Nickie's debut novel, Bright Star, came out in November and is A.Mazing. I have included links below to my review, goodreads, and amazon. Please be sure to check them out.

Interview:

1) How did you come up with the idea for Bright Star?
The idea for Bright Star actually came from a dream I had, one of those vivid dreams that you can't shake out of your head when you wake up. In the dream, there was a girl living on a military base, and she went to go see a helicopter take off. The helicopter crashed, but none of the adults on the base wanted to go help the men on board.

I kept thinking, 'Why wouldn't the adults want to help? What were they hiding? How far would this girl go to help the people on that helicopter?'

The helicopter became a spaceship, and a few new characters were added, but the central idea from Bright Star came from that dream.

2) Have you always wanted to be an author?
I've always loved reading and writing, but I never thought it would be possible to be an author. I've always had a pragmatic streak, and working in a creative field didn't seem possible.

I studied Computer Science in college, but kept writing on the side. When I graduated, I was only able to find part-time work (tough times all around). Since I had the time, I decided to try writing again. I feel lucky that I'm able to still work a traditional job and have time for writing.

3) How many books do you plan to write in this series?
I'm planning 4 books all together. The next, Dark Skies, should be out in April 2013.

4) I loved Dr. DeWitt. He was my favorite! Who was your favorite character to write and why?
I love Dr. DeWitt too! He's a mashup of all my favorite teachers through school, and I think he's an invaluable mentor and supporter of Sadira through the story.

I had the most fun writing Baruj's character. He's a little obnoxious, a little too nosy, but loyal to a fault. He ended up being very strong-willed, and I actually had to change my original ending of the book because of the evolution of his character.

5) Can you give us a hint as to what to expect in the next book?
Sadira learns more about the rebellion against Central, but the more she sees the more she questions who the 'good guys' are.

We also get to see a different side of Sadira's personality. In Bright Star, she's a very serious and pragmatic person, and hard to ruffle. In Dark Skies, we see her struggle with anger and her inability to forgive.

6) Can you describe Bright Star in 5 words or less?
Oh man, this is hard to do! I found writing the book blurb much harder than writing the book itself. Let me give it a whirl:

Uncovering secrets leads to adventure.

7) Is there any specific food or drink that you have to have handy while writing?
Coffee. Lots of coffee.

Like if there was such a thing as a coffee IV drip, I'd have one hooked up.

8) Do you prefer to write with pen and paper or on a computer/laptop?
I do all my writing on my laptop. My notebook doesn't have spellcheck. : )

I think writing on a laptop makes editing much easier as well, and it's easier to send ideas back and forth with critiquing partners.

9) Do you have any advice to give aspiring authors?
Keep writing, and reach out to other writers. I've been blown away by how supportive the online writing community is, and I've met so many other fantastic writers (and found a few stellar critiquing partners!).

10) Are there any authors who have influenced you?
There are too many to name them all. I was a serious bookworm growing up, and if I didn't have to worry about doing anything else I'd read all the time.

I love Roald Dahl's sense of humor, how even dark, serious topics can have some levity. I love how C.S. Lewis created an immersive world full of magic. Stephen King has a knack for cutting down to the core of human nature, and Nancy Farmer is an expert at creating action and tension.

But more than that, I love how every author has a dream of a different world, a different time, or a different place, and how they make their dream come alive. If there's any magic in the world, it's in storytelling.

To find out more about Nickie and her books, please check out the following sites:
Nickie's Blog
Bright Star on Goodreads
Buy Bright Star on Amazon

Also be sure to check out my review.

Cover Reveal ~ Release by Nicole Hadaway

Release by Nicole Hadaway

"The ends justify the means"...

For vampire Miranda Dandridge, using her supernatural abilities to rescue children from impossible circumstances is her means to be a part of the human world that she loves so much, despite the atrocities of WWII.

For doctor Ben Gongliewski, saving his fellow Jews from the horrific death camps is an end for which he risks his own life every day, hiding his Jewish heritage while feigning loyalty to the SS.

Neither Miranda nor Ben expects to find love in World War II Europe, but that is exactly what happens as they work for the Resistance. When the war draws to a close, it seems like the vampire and the doctor are free to start a future together. But just how far will the Nazis go to further their own evil ends?

Desperate times make for ruthless men as loves and lives are threatened, but Miranda and Ben know that their world cannot go to hell, not by any means...

Expected Publication: January 4th, 2013

Add Release to your Goodreads shelf.

Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for setting up this cover reveal! A book blitz will be set up for Release. For more information please refer to Xpresso Book Tours' homepage (link above).

Rise of the Retics Release Day Party ~ Excerpt & Giveaway

We’re celebrating the release day of Rise of the Retics, a YA fantasy novel by author T.J. Lantz today. You can read an excerpt from this exciting novel below.

On top of that, there’s also a giveaway for a $50 Amazon Gift Card and 5 print or eBooks (if the winner is from the US) or 5 eBooks (for an international winner). You can participate by entering your information in the Rafflecopter form below!

Read an Excerpt

     “Hey, Wayde, do you see what I see?”
     “I believe I do, Bull,” answered the second boy. “I thought those things weren’t allowed at the market unleashed?”
     “As did I,” Bull responded. “What is this city coming to when half-bloods can just walk around unchained and free? It’s like a zoo out here.”
     Jaxon Miniheart clenched his fists. If it was just Bull, he might have been able to take him with Rigby’s help, but the large minotaur had two friends with him today.
     “Tough words, Bull. Especially with Wayde and Fhart standing behind you.” Jaxon glared at the three of them. Fhart, a small green-skinned goblin placed his right hand inside his vest, revealing a small, black knife handle.
     Seeing the weapon, Rigby bared her teeth, lowered her front paws and let out a low growl. She was ready to attack if her master might be harmed.
     “You think I need these two, Mongrel?” Bull snapped in response. “I should rip that tail of yours off and choke you with it just to show you how to treat a pureblood retic.”
     “Go ahead and try it, Bull.” Jaxon responded with a smile. “She’ll tear your oysters off before you can even touch me.” He pointed to the dog, her hair raised along her back, as he stared up at the minotaur. Bull was at least a foot taller than he was and probably outweighed him by a hundred pounds. While Jaxon tried to act calm and collected, his heart was pounding with nervousness.
     “What’s going on here, boys?” The deep voice of Deputy Copperbuckle snapped them all to attention as each boy tried his hardest to look innocent. The large centaur limped gingerly down the road towards the boys, careful not to put much pressure on his front right leg.
     “Oh nothing, Deputy,” replied Bull. “We’re just giving Jaxon directions on how to go back where he came from. Apparently he didn’t realize he didn’t belong here.”
     Bull’s two companions tried unsuccessfully to stifle their laughter.
     “That’s enough. All of you get out of here. We don’t need any of ya’ hanging around causing trouble. Especially you Miniheart. I’m not in the mood for your antics today.”
     Bull, followed by his two cronies, nodded an agreement and slowly walked past Jaxon as he left, making sure to roughly nudge his shoulder as he passed him.
     As he went by, he leaned in and whispered into Jaxon’s ear. “You’re lucky Deputy Lame-leg was here to save you. Next time, you might not be so fortunate.”
     Jaxon took a deep breath as he continued his walk into the market, trying hard to maintain his composure. There was no one in town he hated running into more than Bull and his friends, and it had put a large damper on his mood. As he walked, his thoughts of revenge and vengeance were interrupted by a loud gurgle from his stomach.
     He had skipped breakfast this morning, and was starting to greatly regret that decision. It wasn’t that there hadn’t been food in the house, quite to the contrary actually. His foster mother, Saan, always made sure the pantry was well stocked with his favorite items and she had a standing order for one of the town bakers each week for a plethora of fresh baked delights. No, food options were definitely not the issue.
     The real problem was that he couldn’t stand to be around his house for any longer than he absolutely had to. Everything about the place irritated him. First, there was the horrible odor of the building, like what it would smell like if a barnyard and an outhouse got together and had a disgusting little baby. He had tried constantly holding his breath for the first few weeks he was living there, but he got sick of losing consciousness every few minutes.
     The smell wasn’t everything though. He might have been able to figure out a way to make do with the place if that was the only problem. No, he also had to deal with the sounds. Mostly it was the unnecessarily happy voices of his foster parents as they aggressively tried to talk to him about his day. His step mother, especially, was always asking him such stupid questions like “How are you?”, and “Would you like a snack?” Jaxon breathed in deeply, getting annoyed just thinking about their incessant interrogation.
     But even that part wasn’t the biggest annoyance about living there, not by a longshot. No, the absolute worst had to be the flowers. They were everywhere! Saan had them outside in the garden, inside in ceramic pots; she even tried to put a few in his bedroom. He hated them more than anything else. They were always so perky and colorful, constantly taunting him with their patronizing blooming. Jaxon wished he could just go around and slowly pick the flower petals off each one, chew them up really well, and spit them right back out. They all deserved it. Actually, they probably deserved much, much more, but Jaxon didn’t want to take things too far.
     Needless to say, pretty much everything about living with the Hoofstomps made him sick to his stomach. He’d been with them for three years now, about two years and 364 days or so longer than any of the other fourteen foster families he had lived with over the years. For all the bad things people say about satyrs, and there certainly was a lot of it, Jaxon had to give them some credit. They were, without a doubt, a magnificently stubborn people.

Rise of the Retics (Rosehaven The Hidden City #1)

Title: Rise of the Retics (Rosehaven The Hidden City #1) 

Author: T.J. Lantz 

Genre: YA Fantasy

For almost a millennia humanity has been making a concerted effort to eradicate the worlds retics, an eclectic collection of non-human, intelligent species. Recently, those efforts have been strengthened and far more successful than ever, though the Council of Rosehaven, the retic's hidden sanctuary city, cannot figure out why.

No one realizes the danger of this this more than eleven-year-old Tyranna Wolfskin, who is ripped from her boring, everyday life in the middle of the night by a vicious group of retic hunters. Thrust into a struggle for her own survival, Tyranna must find a way to accept what she is and learn to acclimate herself to a world she never knew existed.  

Author Bio

Though new to the world of professional writing, T.J. Lantz has been a world class storyteller (a.k.a. liar) for many years. Originally forging his craft by creating backstories for each of the lawn gnomes he managed to liberate from the prisons his neighbors called the “front yard”, he now uses that ability to entertain his wife and six four-legged furry children. Prior to writing the Gnit-Wit Gnipper series and Rosehaven: The Hidden City, T.J. worked as an elementary school teacher in York, Pa., where he happily resides.

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Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card. If the winner is from the US, he/she will also get 5 print or eBooks (winner’s choice) and if the winner is from outside the US, he/she will receive 5 eBooks. The giveaway runs till December 31st.

Fill in the Rafflecopter form below to participate! 

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview with Malia Ann Haberman

About the Author:

Author of Chase Tinker and the House of Magic (The Chase Tinker Series, Book 1), Malia loves dancing, reading, writing, sunsets, ladybugs, playing video games on her iPod, watching TV, and chocolate. She also has a terrible motion sickness and hates onions. She's always wanted to have the ability to teleport and the power to move things with her mind. She lives in the Seattle area with her four wild and crazy ferrets.

To find our more about Malia and her books please check out the following sites:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon
Goodreads



I want to thank Malia for taking the time to answer a few of my questions about her fantastic book. For more information on Chase Tinker and the House of Magic you can click on the links above and also my review HERE.

Author Interview:

1) Where did you get the idea for Chase Tinker and the House of Magic?
It all started with a dream. One night 6 1/2 years ago, I dreamed I was living in a house where every room had some sort of magic in it. I rarely remember much about my dreams, but this one stuck with me so I started thinking, what if...and pretty soon, with the help of my daughter, I had two brothers with magical abilities, a missing dad, a bunch of powers to stick in the rooms of a huge magical house, and the source of all this magic.

It was after I started writing that the rest of my ideas came to me. So I guess most of the book, I was flying by the seat of my pants. :)

2) Are there any authors who have influenced you?
Hmm, well first there's Susan Cooper with her The Dark is Rising series, then J.K. Rowling was a big influence and Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson and the Olympians), Terry Goodkind (The Sword of Truth books), Suzanne Collins (Gregor the Overlander), Cinda Williams Chima (The Heir Chronicles), Patricia Wrede. So many wonderful fantasy writers.

3) I loved Persephone (and of course Maxwell). Who was your favorite character to write and why?
I love all my characters, but I guess I would have to say, besides Maxwell, Chase is at the top of my favorites list. I like to make things happen to him, wether they're good, bad, embarrassing, weird or just plain silly. How he reacts is a big part of it too. I feel you have to be willing to just get in there and enjoy doing things with and to your main character, and other characters, in order to make a book more interesting and entertaining.

4) Can you describe your book in 5 words or less?
A fun magical adventure.

5) How many books do you plan to write in the Chase Tinker series?
I have 4 books in the series:
Chase Tinker and the House of Magic, Book 1
Chase Tinker and the House of Secrets, Book 2
Chase Tinker and the House of Destiny, Book 3
Chase Tinker and the House of Mist, Book 4
But I'm also working on ideas for a sequel that will star some evil Marlowes.

6) Is there any specific food or drink you like to have handy while writing?
Cookies, and lots of water. I'm a huge snickerdoodle and chocolate chip cookie person.

7) Do you prefer to write with pen and paper or on a laptop/computer?
Oh, definitely my laptop. If I write anything by hand it takes me too much time to decipher what I wrote. Ha!

8) Do you have any advice to give aspiring authors?
Just write, write, write and read, read, read. It's the only way to get better.

9) Coffee, tea, or neither?
I'm not a fan of coffee, which is kind of funny since I live in the Seattle area where there's a coffee shop or stand on practically every corner. I drink a cup of hot tea with milk and sugar in it in the morning, but the rest of the time, it's water. Nothing can beat a tall glass of cold, refreshing water.

10) When can we expect the next book in the exciting Chase Tinker series?
I'm hoping the next book will be released mid Spring 2013. I'm really excited about it. I actually think it's a bit better than the first since the characters are growing and changing. Plus, I have an exciting new character to join the cast. A fun surprise for everyone. Maxwell even has a bigger, more important part. :)

Bright Star Review

Book: Bright Star
Author: Nickie Anderson
Edition Read: eBook

Blurb:

It's bad enough that Sadira Pascal's father doesn't make it home to celebrate her fifteenth birthday. He might be a busy hovership engineer pulling overtime on a new design, but he's always been home for the important things. It's worse when she discovers her father decided to ride on the maiden voyage of his newest ship, the CAS Bright Star, without even telling her. But things really fall apart during Sadira's field trip with her class to observe the hovership launch. Instead of a successful flight, she watches the Bright Star fall out of the sky.

The Central government confirms her father's death, leaving Sadira to pick up the pieces of her former life. While she struggles with her loss, Private Baruj Haddad tries to convince her that her father and the rest of the Bright Star crew are still alive. At first, Sadira doesn't believe there's any hope. But then she stumbles across a message that makes her think maybe, just maybe, her father is still alive. As she digs deeper into the Bright Star's crash, Sadira uncovers secrets about her father's work, secrets that put her and everyone she loves in danger.

My Review: 

**5 Stars**

I received a copy of this book for an honest review. 

MY OVERVIEW: This book has gotten my elusive 5 star rating! What an exciting read! At first, as with most dystopians, you are thinking that the society is actually pretty nice. But then what dystopian society is actually utopian? None.

PROS: I really liked Dr. DeWitt. All I could picture was Doc Brown from Back to the Future. :) I enjoyed that this was not a book that you could tell what was going to happen next. It really had you guessing, and it wasn't one of those books where everything went right all the time.

CONS: I really didn't have too many complaints. I think the one I do have is Papa. He was really annoying and not at all what I expected at the end of the book. I just wish he was a little different.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I really didn't want this book to end. I hope that there is going to be another one, and soon! I highly recommend this book, especially for dystopian fans.

Add Bright Star to your Goodreads shelf.

Starflower Tour - Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

On Tour with Prism Book Tours...

Starflower
Tales of Goldstone Wood #4
by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Paperback, 400 pages
Published November 1st 2012 by Bethany House

Premise:

When a cursed dragon-witch kidnaps the lovely Lady Gleamdren, Eanrin sets boldly forth on rescue mission...and a race against his rival for Gleamdren's favor. Intent upon his quest, the last thing the immortal Faerie needs is to become mixed up with the troubles of an insignificant mortal.

But when he stumbles upon a maiden trapped in an enchanted sleep, he cannot leave her alone in the dangerous Wood Between. One waking kiss later, Eanrin suddenly finds his story entangled with that of young Starflower. A strange link exists between this mortal girl and the dragon-witch. Will Starflower prove the key to Lady Gleamdren's rescue? Or will the dark power from which she flees destroy both her and her rescuer?





About the Author:

Anne Elisabeth Stengl makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, a passel of cats, and one long-suffering dog. When she's not writing, she enjoys Shakespeare, opera, and tea, and studies piano, painting, and pastry baking. She studied illustration at Grace College and English literature at Campbell University. She is the author of HEARTLESS, VEILED ROSE, MOONBLOOD, and STARFLOWER, with DRAGONWITCH due to release in 2013. HEARTLESS and VEILED ROSE have each been honored with a Christy Award.

Find & Follow:

Facebook

Twitter

Website/Blog

Goodreads

Get Your Copy:

Bethany House
Barnes & Noble
The Book Depository
Amazon

My Review:
**4 Stars**
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

MY OVERVIEW: It is hard for me to think of where to start my review. I really enjoyed it and was happy that it worked well as a stand-alone. I have not read any of the previous three books in this series, but I didn't need to. This book acted as a prequel to those, so I am actually glad I read this one first. 

PROS: I loved Eanrin! Ok, honestly, I didn't like him at first, but he really grows on you. I think it was really interesting how the women in the village were treated and viewed - seen but not heard. 

CONS: I wish that The Hound was explained a little bit more towards the beginning. You are really guessing about who/what it is for most of the book. Gleamdren was really annoying. From beginning to end; but then I guess she was supposed to be. 

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: The book did have religious undertones, but it wasn't overwhelming. You knew they were there, and they worked really well in the story... but you didn't feel like the author was preaching at you. I am planning on reading the rest of the books in this series.

The River Calls to Starflower

     The trees drew back from the girl as she fled. They dared not interfere while she walked that Path, no matter how they might wish to. She took no notice of them. how long has she fled now? Had it been one night, or days and weeks of this nightmare? And always the howls pounded her memory. 

     Suddenly, the howls vanished. A new voice spoke from the gloom. 

     Come to me, pretty maid.

     The girl stopped, swaying where she stood, on the verge of collapsing. Slowly, as though she dared not hope to find what she sought, she turned her head to the left. Between the trees a river sparkled like a ribbon of pure light and sweetness. 

     Her thirst was overwhelming. Even the snarls faded from her mind, replaced by the river's voice, babbling, gurgling, inviting. Come to me, pretty maid, it said, though she heard only the voice of water. 

     Her feet left bloodstains on the moss and rocks as she hastened down to the river's edge. A glint of gold shimmered in the tail of her eye, shining even in the Wood's oppressive shadows. She ignored it. Falling to her knees on the bank of the water, she plunged both hands in. The water stung her wrists where the harsh cords had bitten into her skin. 

     Drink deeply. Drink.

     The water flowed about her arms, fresh and alive, and the sounds of its flowing filled her ears. She cupped her hands and lifted the cooling liquid to her lips. She drank. 

     One long, shuddering breath. Then she fell upon the bank, one arm extended into the water, the other upon the shore. Her black hair covered her face, and the River ran his fingers through the ends of it, pulling, pulling. 

     Sleep deeply. Sleep,  said the River. 

Check out the entire December Tour!

3 - Laura @ Colorimetry - Launch!

3 - Laura @ Letters to the Cosmos - Review

4 - Kathy @ I Am a Reader, Not a Writer - Excerpt

4 - Kari @ Kari's Crowded Bookshelf - Review/Excerpt - River Calls

5 - Aleksandra @ Aleksandra's Corner - Guest Post - Inspired by Cats I

6 - Lisa @ Bookworm Lisa - Guest Post - Inspired by Cats II

6 - Mandy @ The Reading Diaries - Review

7 - Alicia @ Mortality Bites - Dragonwitch page REVEAL

7 - Naj @ Unputdownable Books - Guest Post - Inspired by Cats III

9 - Lissette @ Passion and Life - Guest Post - Night Terrors

10 - Laura @ Colorimetry - Review

10 - Bonnie @ A Backwards Story - Review

12 - Aimee @ Getting Your Read On - Guest Post - The Faces of Love I

12 - Kimberly Krey @ Kimberly Krey - Guest Post - Drafts

13 - Abbi @ Christian Novels - Tales of Goldstone Wood Reviews

13 - Mandy @ The Reading Diaries - Interview

14 - Ivy @ Open the Page - Guest Post - The Faces of Love II

16 - Alicia @ Mortality Bites - Review

17 - Len @ Musings of a Reader Happy - Highlight/Excerpt - Meet Dragonwitch

17 - Jen @ Literally Jen - Review

18 - Beth @ Living a Goddess Life - Review

19 - Rach @ Stressed Rach - Guest Post - Illustrated Sneak Peak

19 - Christy @ Christy's Cozy Corners - Review

20 - Heather @ Proud Book Nerd - Review

20 - Heidi @ Geo Librarian - Guest Post - The Faces of Love III

21 - Jaime @ Goodreads - Review

21 - Finale @ Colorimetry - Giveaway winner announced

Giveaway:

GRAND PRIZE: The first four books The Tales of Goldstone Wood: Heartless, Veiled Rose, Moonblood and Starflower + SWAG.   2nd Place is a copy of Starflower + SWAG.

Grand Prize

2nd Place

Enter to win until 12/20. Winner to be announced 12/21. Open to anyone who can legally enter. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here & on Colorimetry as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Void where prohibited by law.

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Cover Reveal ~ Desolate City

Desolate City by Racquel Jones

After being invited to a party, Seiren never dreamed of being haunted by the Haydens--supernatural beings--of her city. She was suppose to forget about how they watched her every move days before. She was suppose to forget how everything went downhill after meeting a certain white eyed Hayden. But that would be too simple...

Ereshkigal, a group of powerful beings that all Haydens resent, have their sights on Seiren and Haydens from every corner of Black Phoenix will do everything in their power to stop them.

With the help of the gun-toting agent Luann and Hayden guardian Julius, Seiren must figure out her place in all of this and why she is literally running for her life.

Expected Publication: January 10th 2013

Add Desolate City to your Goodreads shelf.

Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for setting up this cover reveal!