Monday, December 31, 2012

The Silver Sphere by Michael Dadich - Virtual tour and Amazon GC giveaway


Today we're spotlighting author Michael Dadich on his tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for the YA fantasy novel, "The Silver Sphere".

Michael will be awarding a $75 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during this tour and his reviews tour, so comment today AND follow his tour (if you click on the banner above, it'll take you to a list of his tour stops)! The more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a GC!

Shelby Pardow never imagined she could kill someone. All she wants to do is hide from her troubled father… when she is teleported to awaiting soldiers on the planet Azimuth. Here she is not a child, but Kin to one of the six Aulic Assembly members whom Malefic Cacoethes has drugged and imprisoned. He seeks to become dictator of this world (and then Earth by proxy).

His father, Biskara, is an evil celestial entity, tracked by the Assembly with an armillary device, The Silver Sphere. With the Assembly now deposed, Biskara directs Malefic and the Nightlanders to their strategic targets. Unless….

Can Shelby find the other Kin, and develop courage and combat skills? Can the Kin reassemble in time to release or replace the Assembly, overthrowing Malefic and restraining Biskara?

I’ve been writing since first setting pencil to steno pad at age 8. A year later, I began developing the world of my current series-in-progress, and even created its title, The Silver Sphere. Now, with the support of years of experience, those early maps and back stories have progressed into what I hope is a fresh and entertaining take on the classic young adult fantasy adventure.

Despite my frequent escapes into parallel worlds, I root myself firmly in my very real family and community. When not pacing the yard maniacally after every few pages of writing, I spend as much time as possible hanging out with my studly 9-year-old son, and my inspirational wife Jenna. I also coach several local youth sports teams in Beverly Hills, and alternate between yelling at my two crazy Corgis and hiking with my trained German Shepherd.

For more, join me in my favorite fantasy worlds, from Lord of the Rings to the creations of C.S. Lewis, Anne McCaffrey and Terry Brooks. Even more importantly, stop by and say hello on my Facebook page at AuthorMichaelDadich, tweet me at @MichaelDadich, and stalk my website at http://www.thesilversphere.org.org.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Mid-Winter's Eve Giveaway Hop Winner!


The winner of my Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway of a $10 Amazon GC was:

MomJane!!

I've emailed you.

Thanks to everyone for visiting :-)

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Mid-Winter's Eve Giveaway Hop


Welcome to the Mid-Winter's Eve Giveaway Hop, hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Maryann from Oasis for YA

Thanks for visiting my blog! As you can see, we love juvenile fiction in all shapes, sizes, lengths and genres and we post reviews, giveaways, interviews and guest blogs, contests and more.

To win my Book Lover's Holiday giveaway, all I ask is that you follow my blog (make sure your email is associated with your profile). Earn a second entry by leaving me a comment with some of the YA/Middle Grade books you'd choose if you win (I always need help building my TBR pile)!

My prize?

One winner will receive a $10 Amazon GC!

It's so easy to enter! Just FOLLOW ME! And a comment with a book suggestion earns you another entry.

Good luck! And check out the other participants for more great prizes.

As I Wake by Sarah DiCello - Virtual Tour and Giveaway


Please welcome author Sarah DiCello on her tour with Bewitching Book Tours today for her Paranormal YA romance "As I Wake". Sarah's offering a great Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of her post, so don't forget to enter!

Welcome, Sarah!

Why YA fiction? What draws you to it?

I feel like I have more freedom to write about mysterious things in this world like time-travel and past lives. Like the readers accept these concepts more than in other genres. It allows me to free my mind and think about things I have questions about.

What would you write in a letter to your teen self?

RELAX, Sarah! Life is too short so have fun and stop worrying about whether he's in love with you or not. Who cares! Your life will be so different ten years from now. Follow your dreams and don't let anyone or anything stand in your way or tell you you can't do it. Two decades from now you'll publish your second book and you'll finally be able to say you did it.

What superpower would you love to have? Why?

The ability to stop time so I can do more things. Being the mother of two young daughters, working, writing, and going back for my Master's can take its toll. I wish I could freeze time around me so that the world paused and I could take two hours of frozen time to do the laundry or, even better, sit and watch a movie in peace with a nice glass of Chardonnay.

Hunger Games or Twilight? Why?

I'm probably going to get condemned for saying that I didn't like "Hunger Games" but really...who has the mind to think about kids killing kids. It's sick and twisted. I mean Suzanne Collins is a brilliant writer but damn those books were hard to read.

I'd have to say Twilight because reading Stephanie Meyer's first book in the Twilight series made me fall in love with YA novels and authors.

What reality show would you love to be on? Why?

I would love to just sit and listen to the Real Housewives of Orange County and spend a day with Lisa Vanderpump to see what a day in the life of Lisa is really like. That woman has so much money but she works hard for it. There is so much drama on that show. I love it.

Ideal summer vacation.

Any beach anywhere. Well, not anywhere. The Indian Ocean might not make the top five beaches to visit with the whole "Biggest Tsunami EVER" status it now holds. I love the Outer Banks of North Carolina. That's my happy place.

You’ve just won a million dollars and you’re not allowed to save any of it. What do you spend it on?

A beach house; The ASPCA since I have two rescue dogs myself; LOTS of clothes and shoes; I'd travel all over the world with my family; A shopping spree at FAO Swartz for my daughters; A house for my brother and his wife; I'd pay off my parent's mortgage and give them a brownstone in New York City. Okay, I might need more than a million. Can that be arranged?

Playlist for your current book.

Well Stephanie Meyer already took it but it pretty much sums up my series - "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri; Bruno Mars "Locked Out of Heaven," because I love it; Florence and the Machine's "Breath of Life;" And Adele's "For an Eternity."

As I Wake (Breaking Fate Collection Book 2) by Sarah DiCello

Genre: YA Historical Romance with a time travel twist
Publisher: Taylor Street Books
Number of pages: 200

Book Description: Readers entranced by As I Close My Eyes will once again be thrust into the enchanting life of Danielle Grayson in As I Wake, the second book in the Breaking Fate collection.

A secret of Dani’s past is revealed and she must find the answers before it’s too late. Can she change the fate of her one true love or will he suffer the same destiny for all of time?

As Dani rekindles her relationship with Ben she finds herself torn between her present day life in Sugar Hill, Georgia and a new past she has yet to discover. But something in her past makes her question the journey she has chosen. Time is running out and she is the only one who can understand the path that must be taken. But will it be enough? Has the story of Dani and Ben been written in stone never to be undone?


Something is digging into my spine. A pebble? No. A piece of glass? Maybe, but it’s round and dull. And I’m wet. Just underneath my head, although I can feel water slowly making its way down my neck and into my back, saturating every fiber of fabric. Shadows move in between rays of fading evening sun from a window just above my head. Someone is talking. It’s a man. Again, a voice I recognize. I must have passed out and can feel Ben’s hands on my shoulders gently shaking me. As soon as I hear his name in my head I’m relaxed and the cold, wetness beneath me no longer matters. Nor does the object piercing my lower back. I’m lying on a wood floor moving the tips of my fingers in and out of the deep grooves in the planks. My ring finger stops on a nail sticking out of one of the floorboards. The head of the nail is round like the object making an indent in my skin.

“Elizabeth. Can you hear me?” Shouts a dark figure hovering over me.

I find myself in the same precarious situation in this black hole of time travel. I can’t speak, though I know in a few moments I will be able to sit up and assess the situation. I assume that I went deeply into Cape May again, but oddly don’t remember a bit of it. Is it me they are calling? It can't be. I'm Caroline, not Elizabeth.

Everything looks different as I blink my eyes open and catch glimpses of the scenery around me. It’s dark and smoke has filled the air. I can faintly make out faces in front of me and feel brushes of clothing against my cheeks as people try to get closer.

These faces aren’t familiar. Where is Rebecca? Where’s Grace? Who has Grace? I can feel my heart beat faster and faster, sending me into a shutter of anxiety. I keep my eyes open for a few more seconds, longer than I’ve been able to so far. Everything looks strange.

When am I?


Sarah DiCello is new to Taylor Street.

She writes fantasy / romance.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs. She graduated from Shippensburg University with a degree in Communications/Journalism.

http://sarahdicello.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/SarahDiCelloauthor
http://www.goodreads.com/sarahdicello

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Lycaon Press -- Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway


Today, we're spotlighting Lycaon Press who is celebrating the release of two paranormal young adult stories with a virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions.  The publisher is awarding a $20 Lycaon Press GC to one lucky commenter during the tour, so don't forget to comment here -- you could use it to buy one of these amazing books!

Resolved: The Shalean Moon, Book 6 by J. Lilley

When Shaleans fight Shaleans nothing is simple. With the help of true friends can good overcome evil?

To save Shalea, so much depends on so few people, that nothing is certain. It's not even clear just which side some of them support, and the Sept is getting weaker.

Brios and his friends must save their world, but time is running out. To make things worse, the identities of some people might just result in no resolution at all.

Can everything become clear and good triumph over evil before the next Shalean Moon, or is Shalea as they know it over?

Tony started to talk about Marok again.

"All we can hope is that Marok continues to recover, and that he knows more about what's going on. I'm not happy or comfortable with anything at the moment."

Rach still thought there was a lot more to worry about than Marok's recovery; her dad wasn't the only one uncomfortable, but she didn't say so. It wasn't like her dad to be so negative, and it worried her. Not just that, Aibhlinn worried her as well. It had been during those long scary hours they'd spent together that she'd begun to get to know the other girl, and found she liked her. She suspected her aloofness was in all probability due to the situation she'd found herself in. What she hadn't found out was what Aibhlinn's involvement was with the Shalean-turned-Rogue, Struan Scott. In Rach's opinion that was crucial to help her understand what had taken place and might occur in the future.

"Well, I still wish I knew what was going on," she said again. Gah, I'm beginning to sound like a stuck record. She was tired but restless, and needed to find a way to solve her problems. She had an idea. "Dad, shall we go for a bike ride? It's not dark yet, and I've got to get some of these jitters out of me. I feel like a volcano about to erupt and it's not nice. I'd shift if I was with Brios or Leira, but as I'm not, well, could we cycle somewhere?"

"I'll hazard a guess you've an idea where that somewhere would be?" her dad asked her. "The Pardes'?"

Rach laughed. "Actually I hadn't thought of that, but if we did go there, maybe I could shift and run a bit, just along one of the tracks. You could watch, you know, keep an eye on me."

She waited and looked at her dad's face as he thought about her request. In general, his face was very expressive. However, this time, she decided, he was not about to let her see anything he thought.

"And maybe we could come back past Ali's," she went on. "And maybe her mum can tell us what's happening, and then maybe..."

"And then maybe," her dad said, "you'll draw breath, and I can say hold on, okay. Why does everything have to start with 'and'? Okay, let's do it. We've got about an hour I'd guess, before it gets too dark to ride with safety. Or." He paused. "I could drive you and you can run for longer?"

She liked the sound of that. "Really? You don't mind?"

Tony shook his head. "It makes sense. I'll jog while you shift and stretch your leopard. I reckon if anyone sees the car, they'll think it'd be natural for you to go and...er, water Shala's flowers for her, or well, something," he finished. He didn't sound too convinced. "I guess. While they're away."

Rach laughed. "Have you seen Shala and flowers? She tends flowers about as well as she cooks. Badly. Leira says that's why they have shrubs, and her dad looks after them. No, I'm going to check on the gerbils."

Now her dad looked bewildered. "She doesn't have gerbils, does she?"

Rach sighed. "Nah, but hell, what else can I think off of the top of my head? Rabbits, hamsters, or god-knows-what. From now on, if anyone asks, Leira's got a pet, even though she doesn't know it. So if we have to, we'll bluff it."

Tony laughed. "Gerbils it is. Okay, lets go."

He picked up his car keys and phone and followed her out of the house. He locked the door and checked he'd done so. Rach grinned. He would never change.

"Paranoid, are we?"

He shrugged. "Well, yeah, do you blame me?"

She shook her head. "Nope, not at all."


Elemental: The Rare Sisterhood, Book 1 by Alyce Lewis

Born of magic and created as a weapon, eighteen-year-old quadruplets Anila, Terra, Aydan, and Yara use their elemental powers to battle evil.

The world of Rare Root is about to be forever plunged into darkness, overtaken by a shadowy force, and the last hope for peace comes in the form of eighteen-year-old quadruplets Anila, Terra, Aydan, and Yara. Born of magic and created as a weapon, the Sprites must use their elemental powers to hunt down and vanquish the evil. When the sisters realize their powers are not yet strong enough, they seek out allies. Aided by an Elf prince and a Fairy queen, they face perilous obstacles, traitorous enemies, and prepare for the most epic battle of their lives.

But there's no training manual for love, and when Anila starts to fall for the prince, it forces a rift between the sisters. In order to destroy the threat and restore Rare Root, the four Sprites will need to rally together as one.

Because in a world of darkness, unity is elemental.


Mother Fairy ran her hand along the ledge of her cottage's stone windowsill, tracing the grooves with wrinkled fingers. The smooth stone was cool under her warm, rough skin. It was comforting, yet...it made her tremble. Or maybe it was what was beyond the window.

She opened the azure-colored shutters and a piece of white hair escaped its neat bun and trailed down to her stomach. She tucked it back and slid open the glass of the closed windowpane. A muggy wind rushed over her, and she grimaced. The faint smell of smoke swept over her face and into her nostrils, causing Mother Fairy to wrinkle her nose and cough. Bah, it's at it again, she grumbled to herself. Foul, cursed blight.

She squinted her tired brown eyes and looked out at the skies. It was only midafternoon, yet the skies were darkening, and a sizeable shadow was cast over the ground. Looming clouds rolled in overhead, and she fixed her stare on the piece of brilliant blue that was fighting against the dark. The blue faltered and strengthened as it sparred with its opponent. She wanted so badly for it to win. She wanted the darkness to go away.

A flash of movement on the ground caught her attention, and she ducked her head to the side, out of view. The Rot hovered in the distance. It had its black tendrils around some unseen prey, lifting its victim into the air until the feet dangled there, limp, like two noodles. The body went still, and the Rot slithered into the woods, dragging the unconscious form behind it.

Made of misty shadows and reeking of death, the Rot was the darkness that plagued Rare Root.

The haze swirled over Mother Fairy's cottage, as thick as ink. She shivered and looked away from the spot where the Rot had just been hunting. Clutching at the sudden ache in her chest, she rushed to close the window and shutters. She stopped short when screams of agony carried across the wind and into her ears.

Without thinking, the old Fairy brought a hand to her open mouth and held her breath, straining with her declining senses to pick up more sounds. A few seconds later, faint at first, but then louder as they drifted in the breeze, were the pitiful cries of townsfolk begging for mercy. The cries were coming from the direction of Pineglade. If innocent folk were suffering, she could only surmise the Rot was somehow responsible.

Mother Fairy snapped the shutters closed and crumpled down onto her reading bench. She clamped her thin hands over her ears to block out the horrible wails and screams of the fairies in the neighboring town. "No," she whispered, and then started rocking sideways. "Not Pineglade."

She wanted her mind to go numb, but instead found it racing, and her thoughts drifted to her beloved world...and how it was changing.

Two alignments, as different as day and night, coexisted in Rare Root. They were Light and Dark, or the Light Ones and the Dark Ones. The Light Ones valued honesty, kindness, generosity, respect, and selflessness, while the Dark Ones were selfish, unscrupulous beings driven by hatred and greed.

Multiple realms divided the world of Rare Root, each of them occupied by either Light or Dark. As such, a power struggle had existed since the beginning of time. The Rot materialized, seemingly out of thin air, and started building a Dark army. Now, the balance of power was shifting.

Mother Fairy thought about the gallant and honorable Light leaders. They were doing their best to keep the Rot away, but Mother Fairy understood their abilities had limits. Little by little, Rare Root was growing dim. It wasn't just the blue in the sky that fought to shine. It was the pure radiance of the Light Ones whose spirits were fettered, too afraid to hope anymore for the terror to end. Unless something drastic occurred, all the goodness that was Rare Root was fast approaching its end.

Salty tears streamed down the Fairy's cheeks. A strangled sob caught in her throat, and her chest heaved up and down. She stopped rocking and uncovered her ears, making fists with her hands. There was a hard glint in her eyes as she shouted into the silence of her living room, "Not Pineglade! Not anywhere else!"

She raised herself up from the reading bench just as the air around her became warm and shifted into a howling wind. It whipped fast around her tiny frame, and its strength matched the searing heat of rage in her chest. Her withered face, as worn as the great, majestic maple that stood in the middle of her modest home, contorted into an unrecognizable shape in the gusting gale. When Mother Fairy spoke next, it was not in her usual gentle, steady voice, but a near-primal roar.

She held her arms out in the wind and said, "Too long has the Rot threatened our lands and peace of mind. No longer will I let my fellow beings suffer in fear. I make my stand now to ensure this world survives for the pure-hearted creatures that live here. I will leave a gift, a legacy that all the beings of Rare Root, good or evil, will never forget."

As soon as Mother Fairy finished speaking, the wind vanished. To conjure magic through emotions or thought was an ability few possessed naturally. Most magic users in Rare Root were spell casters, and it was typical that incantations or objects aided their spells. It was unusual for Mother Fairy to lose her temper, but when she did, her emotions careened through her body and a whirlwind sometimes erupted.

Now, the evidence of her rage was gone. She put her hands on her knees and doubled over at the waist, desperate to catch her breath. Yet with each exhalation, her energy faded. Tears coursed down her creased cheeks, and she wiped them away with the back of her hand. Deep down in her core, Mother Fairy knew that it was time.


Monday, December 17, 2012

Kindred by Michelle Cornwell-Jordan - Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway


Please welcome author Michelle Cornwell-Jordan on her tour with Bewitching Book Tours today for her Paranormal YA romance "Kindred". She has an awesome Rafflecopter giveaway at the end of the post AND one commenter here at this blog will win an eBook copy of Kindred.

Welcome, Michelle!

Why YA fiction? What draws you to it?

Answer: In YA there’s Magic. I know that Adult novels can also hold a magical element; But YA also holds the element of Hope, newness. There is freshness, a sense of wonder, and discovery in most of the stories in this genre, including my favorite Paranormal. I suppose I always feel as if I am getting a second chance to begin anew, with each story I read or write!

Pretend your protagonist is at school and opens her locker – what will we see inside?

Angel will most likely come into contact with a Vampire that is trying to destroy her, or a member of Wasiki’s (He’s the bad guy) group, who is waiting to possess her. So yeah, she’s better off carrying her books!

What books were your favorite as a youth and why?

As a Teen and Young adult, shoot let’s be real…even now:O) I love the Gothic Romances and Paranormal stories. Any story with a touch of magic and mayhem!

What’s your favorite sweet treat?

Gummie Bears:O)

What did you want to be when you grew up? Why?

A Writer, I never really believed back then I would, well, actually I will not say that, it was more like…a far out of reach dream, that I would love to experience…I wanted to be a writer, because I love to read and I wanted to create worlds and adventures like my favorite authors did. So, now I really feel as if I am walking, “living” my dreams…I am grateful, because it truly rocks!:)

What would you write in a letter to your teen self?

I would warn the young me of the Pitfalls that I knew would come, make mostly completely different choices, and tell her to not be afraid, go after her dream of writing then…if I had told her all of this, it’s no telling how far I would be now?:)

What candy do you give out at Halloween?

I know I probably should say something about striving to give healthier items for snacks, but the truth of the matter is, I give out all the gooey, hooey, chocolaty treats! My daughter would have it no other way!

Coal or candy in your Christmas stocking? Why?

Ooooh, I suppose it’s really bad, to say I’m not sure?:O)

Um, I will say I have a couple weeks left, so I will try and pull it out and get that candy this year!

What superpower would you love to have? Why?

Shape shifter, with the abilities of the host. Then I could be whoever, and whatever I wish on a given day! Oh! I just realized I have that power already, like so many others…

I write stories :-)

What book is on your nightstand currently?

I am actually reading a book for a read 2 review on Goodreads…the title is “Into The Night by Jade Fowler and one other Tales of Aradia The Last Witch by LA Jones

Hunger Games or Twilight? Why?

Although I am fast becoming a fan of the Hunger Games, and it will be my go-to movie on movie nights in the upcoming future, and you will probably see me raving about it on social media…but always and forever Twilight Saga...it was a great romance, which I loved!

Share your playlist for your current book.

#10) Sweet Dreams by Emily browning from Sucker Punch
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcxRtLpkAkQ

#9) Monster Paramore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoTEnaAI9Fo

#8) Tourniquet by Evanescence
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSC0zQnLIWQ

#7) I’ve got to see you again- Nora Jones
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el9cknEVlc0

#6) Never too late -3 Days Grace
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL2ZwXj1tXM

#5) I’m so sick Flyleaf
Video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWIADZKU9dw

#4) Angels by Within Temptation (Silent Force)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK9qfVQ4Z04

#3) Haunted by the Thought of You by Jill Tracy
Video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyd1XUNQUNQ

#2) Cecile Monique’s Never Over
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GQyIQToSaA

#1) Cecile Monique's Immortal Beloved
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slxdfVTs4tY

There you have it and if you want to listen to the interview with Rock Artist Cecile Monique when I and my co-host Jamie B Musings Interviewed Cecile on our show IndieReview Behind The Scenes internet radio...listen here!  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/indiereviews-behind-the-scenes/2012/11/24/indiereview-behind-the-scenes-w-music-artist-cecile-monique

Happy Rocking!:)

Kindred (Night School Vampire Hunter Trilogy Novella#2) by Michelle Cornwell-Jordan

Genre: YA Paranormal
Number of pages: 82

Book Description:

Angel and her friends at Ame Academy, a boarding school for preternatural and humans are back, and they are preparing for battle against the dark forces that kidnapped Angel’s younger brother Jordan. Angel had recently discovered that she was a Hunter and that she alone has a special weapon against her enemies; her blood, which is discovered to be toxic to her enemies. Angel is prepared to use her training and all that is at her disposal in order to save Jordan, even if that means joining forces with the strange and mysterious Rafael, who at their first meeting, she recognized him as the boy she had dreamed about for weeks prior to his arrival at the school. Angel cannot shake the feeling that she knew Rafael before, and is hopelessly drawn to her extremely handsome fellow hunter.

Rafael frightens her, he hints of a secret; another time and another life lived.

Can love survive two lifetimes?

Events unfold that provides the answers to who Rafael really is and what they mean to one another; and along with these strange and blossoming emotions for Rafael, along with guilt and fear for her brothers safety; Angel discovers that she is more than just a Vampire Hunter, and that she plays a major role in a ancient prophecy, which she must fulfill by facing an a force so evil that survival is not promised.

But she will face the Dark One, Angel will sacrifice all, if it means saving all whom she loves.

Many questions are answered, but the drama is just beginning….

About the Author:

Michelle Cornwell-Jordan is a YA Paranormal Author.

Her titles:

Reahket (Co-written with Author Danny Jones)

YA novella series Night School Vampire Hunter trilogy

Series includes:

Night School Vampire Hunter novella #1 Released date March 2012

Kindred (A Night School Vampire Hunter Trilogy novella) #2 Released date November 2012 Redemption (A Night School Vampire Hunter Trilogy novella) #3 Released date spring 2013

Works –In-Progress

Chrysalis (Full Length) Released date spring 2013
Hunters Series novellas Released date summer 2013
Ame Academy’s Paranormal novella series summer 2013

Michelle Cornwell-Jordan is also the producer of the online radio segment IndieReview Behind The Scenes, where she and her co-host Jamie B Musings interviews Indie Authors and Musicians.

http://michellecjordan.wix.com/author#!

Contact regarding the Hunters Series Fan Club Email: hunterseriesfanclub@gmail.com

Twitter @mcjordan37

http://www.facebook.com/#!/michelle.cornwelljordan


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Bound by Jennifer Dean - Virtual Tour



Please welcome author Jennifer Dean on her tour with Bewitching Book Tours today for her Paranormal YA romance "Bound".  Welcome, Jennifer!

What’s your favorite sweet treat?

Anything chocolate! I have a weakness for things like Milky Ways, thin mints, brownies and Riesen Candy. The weirdest combo is chocolate ice cream, which I mix with gummy bears and marshmallows. It could be cold outside and I still have a craving for it. The same goes for my vulnerability to mocha frappuccionos…something I drink all year round.

What did you want to be when you grew up? Why?

I was always involved with sports from the time I was three. Most of my life was spent competing with select and Varsity softball. And if you would have asked my 15-year-old self about my future, I would have told you I wanted to be an Olympic Softball Player. Looking back now, I feel a bit like that Taylor Swift song. I had no idea life was going to lead me here but I’m so glad it did.

What superpower would you love to have? Why?

I think about this all the time. What I’ve decided would be pretty awesome is the power to teleport places. I love the idea of convenience with that power. I could save on gas and passports.

Hunger Games or Twilight? Why?

I love these both but if I had to choose it would be Twilight. I have a stronger connection with the love story fantasy because I read it first.

Favorite TV show from your childhood?

I know this is completely inappropriate now that I’m an adult but I remember loving Melrose Place and 90210…I guess even as a ten-year-old I loved the drama. Of course, I couldn’t leave without also mentioning my love for Saved by the Bell and Growing Pains.

Favorite pizza toppings?

I am so picky when it comes to food that I like to keep it simple with most things. If you give me a choice with pizza, it’s always going to be thin crust cheese.

Bound by Jennifer Dean

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Number of pages: 254

Book Description:

17-year-old Emma Morgan believes she finally has the chance at happiness again when she relocates back to her hometown of Washington, North Carolina and reunites with her older brother, Sean.

But after three years apart, their unique bond is tested when Sean protests her meeting of the oddly charming and bright-eyed, Liam Alexander. A boy who holds a very deep secret from the rest of the residents in Washington.

A secret that will change Emma’s life forever and lead her to discovering the beginning of something she never believed could exist...true love.


This is the end of chapter five, after a very intense scene.

Once I shut the door behind me, I felt as if the imaginary director had yelled “cut”, letting me finally involuntarily collapse to my knees. I closed my eyes, sitting on my heels with my hands resting on my thighs, slowly filtering in a shaky breath. What the hell just happened? I wanted to hear Sean’s voice to soothe me, but I didn’t have the strength to grab my phone from inside my purse, which I had thrown to the bed a moment before my collapse.

Suddenly I heard a knock at my door. Damn. I opened my eyes before my hands helped lift me back to my feet. I knew my mom would definitely question me if she found me on the floor like that. I breathed out two deep sighs in order to calm my expression before I was ready. Action, I thought.

“Come in,” I said.

The door opened, but it wasn’t my mother. It was Sean that peeked his head through the frame gap, before stepping inside my room and shutting the door behind him. I didn’t waste the time to rush him. I wrapped my arms underneath his as I laid my head to his chest. The instant warmth of his presence lifted me to a better place.

“I thought you had to work late,” I said.

“I just got back and felt like I should stop by and see you.” I felt him gently pat the back of my hair comfortingly. “Is everything all right?”

“I don’t know how you do it,” I said.

“Do what?”

“Make yourself appear right when I need you. But I’m glad that you do.”

“It’s a gift. Now are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”

I finally stepped back to look up at him. But now in the moment of truth, I knew that I couldn’t say anything. I couldn’t be the reason that Sean lost his friends. But I also knew that was what Ross and Nick were hoping on, and I wasn’t keeping quiet for their sake. I have to tell him. I opened my mouth, but still nothing came out. I curled my fingers into fists, looking for the courage to speak.

“I got . . . ” This was my chance as my tongue lingered with the words. Say it. “Freaked out earlier.”

Sean narrowed his gaze with a prepared anger. “Freaked out by what?”

I gulped, not quite sure why this was so hard to say. I hadn’t even begun to wrap my head around Liam Alexander. “I forgot my purse, and when I went back for it the janitor was really creepy.” I rolled my eyes for dramatics with a small shrug. “But you know how my imagination can be.”

I sighed with the guilt weighing me down like lead. I’ll admit the janitor wasn’t going to be my friend but he didn’t deserve the persona I was building of him. I expected a lecture of any kind for being stupid enough to not bring a friend with me. I even welcomed it in order to serve as punishment for lying.

Instead Sean merely pulled his neck back to gaze at me with his brow lifted. “Are you sure that’s all?”

I nodded, maybe a little too much. It wasn’t as if he knew I was lying but more that I wasn’t telling the truth. Luckily he was choosing to ignore it, and I was grateful.

My eyes shifted to the floor with guilt.

“I know it sounds a bit childish, but would you stay until I fall asleep?”

“Sure,” he said.

I wasn’t sure how long it would take me to fall asleep, but I was glad Sean had stayed to do what he had always done best, protect me. Lucky for him, I would have no problem staying away from Liam Alexander now. I wasn’t even sure where to begin with Liam. My mind could barely decipher the idea of what I had seen, let alone how to articulate it into words.

There must be an explanation for it all, but for now I laid under the covers, moving to curl into Sean, with my head rested on the warmth of his chest. It was like sunshine that radiated around my body. The warmth on my skin was like that sensation of hot water from the shower on a cold day. Just being near him made me feel better.

“Sean,” I said.

“Yeah, Em?”

“I’ll stay away from Liam.”

There was a few seconds of silence where I felt like I could almost see his eyes shift away with a smile of accomplishment.

“Why now? Did something happen with him tonight?”

I shook my head, while my mind knew the opposite. “No, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that I believe you. There is something strange about him.” I paused to exhale at the memory of tonight. “So, you don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

I thought of how different things would be if Sean had seen what I did. He would surely be even more protective of me. But if he had known, then it would be something he would have already told me. Even if I knew how hypocritical I seemed by withholding what I had seen tonight.

I felt Sean’s light, comforting kiss on my scalp before he laid his head on top of my own. “Promise?”

I sighed into the warm silence crawling around the two of us.

“I promise.”

Jennifer lives in Dallas, Texas with her family. When not immersed in her writing, she is either engaged in a book or one of her favorite television shows.

www.jenniferdean.net

www.twitter.com/jleighdean

www.facebook.com/JenniferDeanOfficial

Amazon Author Central Profile http://www.amazon.com/author/jenniferdean

Goodreads Author profile http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6584656.Jennifer_Dean

Buy on Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Bound-ebook/dp/B00ACPH2RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354052916&sr=8-1&keywords=jennifer+dean+bound+kindle

Buy paperback http://www.amazon.com/Bound-Jennifer-Dean/dp/1481067656/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1354053222&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=jennifer+dean+bound

Friday, December 14, 2012

The Hands of Tarot by SM Blooding - Virtual Tour and Giveaway


This review is done in conjunction with the author's tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a Tarot Doll of their choice to a randomly drawn commenter (US/Canada Only) during the tour More information: http://www.smblooding.com/ht1-order-tarot-doll-autographed-book, so leave your thoughts here and you're entered! If you want more chances to win, visit the rest of her tour stops here.

The Hands of Tarot by SM Blooding
Steampunk YA
318 pages
Rated: 3.5 Stars

She killed his father.

She imprisoned and beat him.

And now she thinks he’s her trophy.

Synn El’Asim will do almost anything to prove her wrong. But he’s only proving her right.

Queen Nix awakened his Mark of power and inducted him into the House of Wands. She knew what she was doing. The son of the two most powerful Families standing against her is the ultimate prize.

What she didn’t take into consideration was that maybe he was too strong for her. Maybe.

The Families aren’t. They’ve been weakened, and it’ll take a lot more than one young man with a powerful Mark to take on the Hands of Tarot.


My review:  With a new take on steampunk and amazingly proficient writing skills, SM Blooding has created a book that both intrigued me and puzzled me.  She's got a clever new plot here with sympathetic characters (well, except for Nix, who is truly evil personified) and a fascinating world populated with different peoples, animals and creatures. That's where both the intrigue and the puzzlement came in.

I'm a pretty savvy reader, and can pick up things quickly. Usually.  This book I struggled with a bit as I was plunged into a remarkably complex world that wasn't well described (perhaps its complexity made that difficult without creating what sounds like a textbook).  The characters were well described, thankfully. The author painstakingly helps us meet each person one at a time as Synn returns to his mother's from a journey.  For this I was truly grateful, as I'll read anything if I'm  invested in the the people and I was right from the start.  And, truthfully, effective world-building can be difficult.  You don't want to bore the reader with tons of details or backstory, but you want them to understand what's going on.  Maybe it's just because I've not read a lot in this genre, but it took a bit for me to catch on.  Regardless, I enjoyed the concepts behind this book enough to plug on through my  problem because I wanted to know what happened to Synn.

Synn is a young man who's disappointed his mother (because he has no mark).  When his best friend arrives and says his family has been attacked, Synn and his father go to rescue the survivors.  Only, the attackers, the Hands, aren't merciful.  Synn's father is killed horribly (as are the survivors of the attack) and Synn himself is captured and tortured because his mark -- an amazingly powerful mark -- manifests during this conflict.

His torture is violent, sexual (what amounts to rape of his mind and his body) and sometimes gruesome (Nix likes to burn people alive).  This makes it a book I can't recommend to younger teens.  Aside from this, though, there's little graphic violence or sex.

I loved the second half of this book.  Loved the people Synn and his friends meet, the places they go and I especially enjoyed watching Synn come into his own as he matures.  He truly becomes a person to admire, though it takes time and plenty of work.  The way this book ends shows how much he's changed and absolutely made me ready to read the next in the series to find out what happens next. Now that I have a firmer grip on the world, I'm positive I'll enjoy the sequel even more than the first.

If you're a fan of unusual steampunk novels, I'd recommend you pick this one up. Just give yourself some time to get into the story. You won't regret it.  I didn't.

Now, read an excerpt:

I woke freezing, my teeth chattering.

I tried to sit up, but my head was pounding so hard, it made me nauseous.

“Lay back,” a soft voice murmured, gentle hands pressing down on my bare shoulders. “Be at ease. You are safe now, Synn Primus.”

I shook my head, falling back onto the soft pillows. My back was on fire where the pillows touched it. “Not—” It was so hard to speak. My tongue felt thick. “Not my name.”

“Yes it is, you goose.” Something was draped over me.

I let out a startled yell and threw it off. Everywhere it touched burned.

It was draped over me again. This time the hands pressed it down on my shoulders, keeping it in place. “You have been Marked by the House of Wands, so you now bear our name. You are a Primus, Synn. Welcome.”

My whole world stopped.

I’d lost my father. He was—

I closed my eyes and fell back.

Dead.

I’d watched so many others die, their children made to watch as those they loved were lost.

And now? I’d lost my life to the Hands?

No. I shook my head and rose. No. “No. This can’t be.”

She pushed me back. “How else do you explain it?” A warm thumb ran over my brow. “You survived the fire, Synn.” She pulled the blanket away, a cool finger running over where I burned. “And how do you explain this? This is your Mark, Synn, the thing you have been waiting for your entire life.”

My father’s strong, rigid face swam before my eyes, so fierce and strong as the fire rose to claim him, writhing with the pain of it. A sob seeped from my chest. “Not like this.”

I was gathered in her arms. She held me close, cupping my head to her chest as she rocked me. She crooned a song I’d never heard. I wasn’t paying attention. I was overwhelmed with what I had lost; my Family, my home, my self.


About the author:

SM Blooding lives in Colorado with her pet rock, Rockie, their new addition, Mr. Bird, who’s a real bird. She likes to hike the beautiful Rocky Mountains, and is learning to play the piano and guitar. Currently, she’s trying to MURDER them both. Friends call her Frankie.

She’s dated vampires, werewolves, sorcerers, weapons smugglers and US Government assassins. Yes. She has stories.

She’s also an investigator with a local paranormal investigation group, Colorado Paranormal Rescue!


Facebook          

Amazon – Kindle   

Amazon – Paperback    

B&N – Paperback   

Autographed copy  

Additional information

Goodreads

 

http://www.smblooding.com/

http://www.smblooding.com/the-hands-of-tarot/

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Debris Dreams by David Colby - Virtual Book Tour


Please welcome author David Colby on his tour with Bewitching Book Tours today for his SFF YA "Debris Dreams".


Debris Dreams by David Colby

Genre: YA science fiction
Publisher: Candlemark & Gleam
Number of pages: 294
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/CJnnk8jX2g8
Book Description:

2068 1.5 million kilometers above the surface of the Earth Drusilla Xao has only seen a tree in movies and vid-games. She has never breathed air that wasn’t recycled, re-filtered, and re-used a hundred times over again. She has never set foot on the Earth.

And now she never will.

When a terrorist attack by a radical separatist group on Luna destroys the space elevator that had called so many – including her parents – to live permanently in space, Dru is cut off from any hope of ever reaching Earth and her beloved girlfriend, Sarah. The Chinese-American Alliance declares immediate war on the rebels and conscripts everyone they can get their hands on…including Dru.

Cast adrift, forced to become a soldier, trapped in a nightmare of vacuum and loneliness, Dru’s training will help her survive, but only Sarah will be able to bring her home.


Author Bio:

Heavily influenced by George Romero movies and bad, poorly dubbed anime, David Colby decided to start writing almost twelve years ago. It went poorly. But, despite these early setbacks, David continued to work and write and send out submissions until someone was mad enough to accept him. Currently living in Rohnert Park, California, while working on his English Bachelor, David Colby continues to be fascinated by George Romero movies and has realized that animes have subtitles.

http://debrisdreams.candlemarkandgleam.com
http://quantumspinplates.com
Twitter: @therealzoombie
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6439863.David_Colby

Book Character Twitters:
@druofnight
@cayerbear22
@caa_news

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway winner!

 

The winner of my Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway of a $10 Amazon GC was:

bookattict!!

I've emailed you.

Thanks to everyone for visiting :-)

Reflections: Eternal Curse Series book one by J. Dorothy - Virtual Book tour


Please welcome author J. Dorothy on her tour with Bewitching Book Tours today for her paranormal YA romance "Reflections: Eternal Curse". The author answered a few questions for me, so sit down and get to know Ms. Dorothy, then enter her Rafflecopter giveaway, below to win one of five paperbacks or ten Ebooks for your very own!

Why write YA fiction? What draws you to it?

As a former primary school teacher/librarian I spent a number of years reading and choosing young adult books for the school library collection. When I ventured into classroom teaching, I continued to read YA books, to keep up to date with my students reading interest, while secretly fulfilling my own enjoyment at the same time. So, when I first began writing I was drawn to the YA genre, as it is the one that captures my interest the most and I feel the most comfortable with. I enjoy writing through the eyes of a young adult, as it allows you to revisit the complexities of life at an earlier age, when life is just beginning and the future it yet to be determined. There always seems to be an element of hope and optimism in most YA novels which I find refreshing and satisfying as a reader, and now as a writer.

What books were your favorite as a youth and why?

I have always loved reading. My mother was an avid reader so I was probably influenced by her example. As a child my favourite author was Enid Blyton and I particularly loved the Magic Faraway Tree. As a teenager my favorite book was Lord of the Rings. I was captivated by the characters and fascinated by the world Tolkien created. He was definitely the master at creating a believable fantasy world. I remember having many discussions with my sister over the intricate relationships between all the characters and creatures from Middle Earth.

What superpower would you love to have? Why?

I’d love to be able to speed read and to have super editing abilities. To spot errors on every single page, to leap across chapters, cutting and slicing with my red pen, leaving a perfect manuscript in my wake. That would definitely be something!! I’m sure my editor and publisher would love that too!!

Hunger Games or Twilight? Why?

I liked both. But I’d have to say Twilight, because I liked the story and character development with each new installment. And being a big lover of romance books, I also enjoyed that element of the story. I thought the Hunger games became a bit stagnant in the second book, and I’m yet to finish the third book. Whereas, with Twilight I read all four books in quick succession.

Favorite TV show from your childhood?

I watched a lot of Sesame Street as a young child, and I still remember seeing Bert and Ernie in colour for the first time, a somewhat significant event, in a mostly black and white television childhood. But my favourite show was probably Happy Days, and I still love watching re-runs . Scott Baio was my girl crush for many years.

Sum up your book for Twitter: 140 characters or less.

Two sisters, bound by an eternal curse. A family legacy set to determine their fate. And time is definitely not on their side.

You’re stranded on a desert island—which character from your book do you want with you? Why?

Well if I had to choose, I think I would choose James. He is resourceful and dependable. Someone you could rely on to see you through difficulties and keep your spirits up, with his joking banter and upbeat personality. And being trapped on a desert island I think I’d need cheering up.

Reflections Eternal Curse Series Book One by Jacoba Dorothy

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Taylor Street Books
Number of pages: 272 Book Description:

Jo doesn’t know why she inherited a magical ring.

She doesn’t know why her father abandoned her when she was a baby, or the truth about her mother’s death.

Jo doesn’t know a lot about her past. But she’s about to find out.

Nearing her eighteenth birthday, she’s about to discover what really happened to her father all those years ago.

She’s on a new path, a path including her first love, a path that will lead to the truth about a family secret held for generations.

Jo’s about to face her first real challenge. ‘Reflections’ part one, is just the beginning.


About the Author:

Jacoba Dorothy lives in Canberra, the bush capital of Australia. She is the mother of two and works part time teaching children with English as an additional language. Most days she can be found bashing away at the computer, either writing, editing, reviewing great books or face-booking. Oh and of course balancing her time to make sure she give special attention to her husband and family.

The Eternal Curse trilogy is her debut series, the second in the series, Shadows, should be released later this year. And the third installment, sometime next year.

www.eternalcursetrilogy.weebly.com
http://www.facebook.com/#!/jacoba.dorothy
Web site: http://www.taylorstreetbooks.com/
http://eternalcursetrilogy.weebly.com/the-author.html
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eternal-Curse-series/248812455248382?success=1#!/pages/Eternal-Curse-series/248812455248382
Good reads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/11970152-jacoba
Book Trailer for Reflections: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNCvAS5HXio
Book Trailer for Shadows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMpcQdMENK0

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, December 10, 2012

Black Moon by Jessica McQuay - Virtual Book Tour



Please welcome author Jessica McQuay on her tour with Bewitching Book Tours. We're featuring information about her book, "Black Moon".  Check out the contest at the end for autographed books and swag bags with Amazon GCs and more!

Black Moon (Paige Tailor Series Book One) by Jessica McQuay
Genre: YA/NA Paranormal Fantasy
Number of pages: 240
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/YapSh2lxRnc

Book Description:

"Am I losing my mind?"

Paige couldn't help but question her sanity. What other explanation could there be for her hearing a conversation held barely above a whisper in the back of a classroom full of students? What about coming home to find one of those very classmates lying in wait in the darkness of her home, ready to attack her?

Confused, frustrated and feeling every ounce of her social ostracism, Paige confides in the one person she's always been able to count on: her mom. But when her mom reveals a deeply rooted, unbelievable family secret, Paige discovers her world is filled with more than she ever imagined possible. A world where fairytales live alongside nightmares and secrets are the glue that binds them together. Suddenly no one is who they seem and Paige is faced with more questions than answers. Can she survive in a world filled with creatures scarier than anything she could imagine and where deceit runs as thick as blood? Or will the truth send her over the edge?

While my classmates read to themselves, I replayed the morning over and over in my head. I was up early, just as I started off each school day. I showered, brushed my teeth, and got dressed. As I packed my things into my bag, ready to head downstairs and out to my car, a white dusky light began in the palm of each of my hands. A tingling sensation accompanied the light causing me to drop my backpack.

I stared in disbelief, turning my hands palm up towards the ceiling; a trickle of fear mingled with curiosity warmed the core of my being. I brought my hands together, palm to palm and watched as the light grew stronger, casting a white luminance on the things surrounding me. Th e tingle grew stronger and began coursing up my arms. Scared, I pulled my hands apart and just as suddenly as it began, it stopped.


There were three things Jessica loved to do growing up; reading, writing and playing music. She discovered her love for writing at a young age, when she realized she could create anything she wanted with words. Jessica lives in Sacramento, CA with her husband, four children, a goldfish named Sparkle and their cat, Talula. When she isn't working on the next Paige Tailor novel, taking her children to one activity or another, or folding the never ending laundry of a six person family, Jessica enjoys playing her clarinet in the community band, reading while enjoying a cup of coffee or heading to the theater and catching a movie with her husband.

www.jessicamcquay.com
http://paigetailorseries.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/JessicaMcQuay
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-McQuay-Author-of-the-Paige-Tailor-Series/217414364984840
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16005072-black-moon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, December 7, 2012

Death to the Undead by Pembroke Sinclair - Virtual Tour and Giveaway


Please welcome author Pembroke Sinclair on her tour with Bewitching Book Tours today for her paranormal YA"Death to the Undead". The author answered a few questions for me, so sit down and get to know Ms. Sinclair, then enter to win a coffee mug, a spiral notebook (2 will be given away), or a complete signed set of books (both Life After the Undead and Death to the Undead) (2 will be given away) by leaving a comment!

Why YA fiction? What draws you to it?

I am drawn to YA and Middle Grade because I’m still a kid at heart. I enjoy taking a break from my busy, adult life and just sitting back and having fun. Even if my characters aren’t exactly having fun (after all, fighting zombies is serious and scary work), it’s still outside of my mundane existence. Writing about and for teens allows me to go back to those times when I was carefree. It’s a nice escape.

What books were your favorite as a youth and why?

My favorite books as a teen were Christopher Pike books. I loved his writing style and the situations he put his teens in. His use of the supernatural and horrific were fantastic! He really influenced me as a writer.

What’s your favorite sweet treat?

I have several, I can’t narrow it down to one. I’m a big fan of Crunch bars, but I also really like brownies (without nuts) and cinnamon rolls. Donuts are fantastic as well.

What candy do you give out at Halloween?

Much to the chagrin of my husband, and probably the kids in the neighborhood, I handed out temporary tattoos this year. I figured they’d be getting tons of candy elsewhere, why add to it? Plus, we only had probably 8 kids come to the door, so I didn’t want to be stuck with leftover candy! My kids brought home enough for an army!

What superpower would you love to have? Why?

The ability to multiply myself so I could be in several different places at once. That way, I could take care of all the things that needed to be taken care of during the day and still find time to write!

What book is on your nightstand currently?

Currently, I am reading the new book by Christopher Pike, “Witch World.”

Favorite class in high school. Why?

My favorite class in high school was English. I’ve always loved to create stories and write, and I had wonderful teachers who encouraged me. I wouldn’t write now if it weren’t for those teachers.

Death to the Undead by Pembroke Sinclair
Genre: YA horror
Publisher: eTreasures Publishing
Number of pages: 286

The battle that began in Life After the Undead continues.

Zombies changed her life completely...

Tough teenager Krista escaped to the safety of Florida after her parents were killed by the zombie horde. She united with General Liet, a distant cousin, and moved with him to North Platte to help build a wall to keep the zombies in the West. Krista fell in love with Quinn, a survivor and fighter from the zombie-infested wildlands of the West, and together they freed the garrison at North Platte from the power-hungry Liet.

But zombies aren’t the only enemy they have to face...

Now, North Platte is free, but Liet was not the only one using the zombie apocalypse to control their people. Florida is ruled by five ruthless Families, who use intimidation and the threat of the zombie horde to coerce their populace. Krista and Quinn hatch a desperate plan to run guns into the state and help the people revolt. Krista and Quinn, labeled as rebels run for their lives when the Families attack North Platte. The Families want them captured, the zombies want to eat them, and other survivors want them dead. Caught in between powerful forces, they must survive long enough to devise a new plan and put it into action, all while trying to solidify their new relationship and trying not to self-destruct in the meantime.
I write fiction under the pen name Pembroke Sinclair, and I have had several short stories published. My story, “Sohei,” was named one of the Best Stories of 2008 by The Cynic Online Magazine. I have novellas and a short story collection forthcoming from Musa Publishing and eTreasures Publishing. I have two novels, Coming from Nowhere (adult, sci fi) and Life After the Undead (YA, horror), that are available from eTreasures Publishing, as well as Death to the Undead (YA, sequel to Life After the Undead), which is forthcoming. Life After the Undead was a Top Ten Finisher in the Preditors and Editors Reader’s Poll in the YA category and the cover art category.

Under my real name, from March 2008 to January 2011, I wrote scientific articles for Western Farmer-Stockman. I have a nonfiction book, Life Lessons from Slasher Films, scheduled for release in July 2012 from Scarecrow Publishing (an imprint of Rowman and Littlefield).

I have my Master’s in English, and I am a freelance content editor for Musa Publishing, as well as a former content and line editor for eTreasures Publishing.

http://pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com/
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3522214.Pembroke_Sinclair
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pembroke.sinclair

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Realm of the Lost by Emma Eden Ramos - Virtual tour and giveaway

Tour Schedule
This review is done in conjunction with the author's tour with I Am a Reader, Not a Writer.


Realm of the Lost by Emma Eden Ramos
Fantasy/Paranormal Middle Grade
68 pgs
Rated: 2.5 Stars 

What happens when you die before your time?

Thirteen-year-old Kathleen "Kat" Gallagher has had it with her family. The eldest of three children, Kat feels trapped ever since her parents’ separated and she has had to take on more responsibility than she feels prepared for. Everything changes on a frigid morning in mid-December when an accident propels Kat into unfamiliar territory.

Stuck in the place where people go when they have died before their time, Kat must face obstacles she could never have imagined.

With the help of other young inhabitants of the Realm of the Lost, Kat learns the true meaning of friendship and family.

My Review:  First, I have to say I completely enjoyed the author's voice and skill.  I had no problem reading this story from beginning to end quickly and never had a complaint about the quality of writing in the least.

The characters were vivid and interesting and the setting well created.  But, I had some issues with the storyline itself.  I enjoyed the basic premise behind the idea of The Realm of the Lost.  I thought this version of purgatory was fascinating and original.  But my frustration arose with Kat's journey.  There was very little actual conflict in the story, aside from Kat learning her way around the new world she found herself in.  She didn't have anything to overcome to make her grow, a hero's journey to accomplish.  It had the feeling of "a day in the life" more than a story with beginning, middle and end.  I wanted more:  more depth, more conflict, more growth from our heroine.    Truthfully, this could have (and perhaps should have) been expanded because, as I noted, it was an interesting idea.

Perhaps the target audience (in my opinion somewhere between 8 - 12 year olds) wouldn't have the same problems I did.  There was some excitement and action and certainly things that would appeal to that age range.

Still, my reservations about the story itself aside, I was quite impressed by the author. She absolutely knows her writing and I would be completely open and interested in reading more from her in the future.


Author Emma Eden Ramos

Emma Eden Ramos is a writer and student from New York City. Her short stories have appeared in Stories for Children Magazine, The Storyteller Tymes, BlazeVOX Journal, and others. Emma's novelette, Where the Children Play, is included in Resilience: Stories, Poems, Essays, Words for LGBT Teens, edited by Eric Nguyen. Three Women: A Poetic Triptych and Selected Poems (Heavy Hands Ink, 2011), Ramos’ first poetry chapbook, was shortlisted for the 2011 Independent Literary Award in Poetry. Emma studies psychology at Marymount Manhattan College.

Purchase


Tour Giveaway
2 Ebooks of Realm of the Lost
Open Internationally
Ends 12/12/12


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour Schedule 

December 3rd
I Am A Reader, Not A Writer - Tour Kick Off
Cuzinlogic - Author Interview
Paranormal Urban Fantasy Reviews - Review
Fictitious Musings - Review & Interview

December 4th
Brooke Blogs - Review & Interview
Bookhounds - Interview
Up in the Bibliosphere - Review & Interview
Lovely Reads - Review

December 5th
Publishing the Parnomal - Review & Interview
Books for Kids - Review
Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews - Review & Character Interview
Books in the Hall - Review

December 6th
Storeybook Reviews - Review
Bittersweet Enchantment - Review
Blkosiner's Book Blog - Interview
Christy's Cozy Corner - Review

December 7th
Reader Girls - Review
Cindy C Bennett - Interview
Rachel Rooney - Review
Peace from Pieces - Interview