Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul by Marcus Dino - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Marcus will be awarding $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to Books in the Hall!

Why do you write juvenile fiction? What draws you to it?

I could write serious adult fiction say, a book called 'Love on a Madrid afternoon.' I would type the first line.. 'He met her on a rainy night and could not forget that maroon hat....' and that would be it. Tons of writer's block. Or I could write , “My name is Fifi, starving Gen Y actress who may be a bit leafy but most certainly would not consider myself the least bit beefy, “ and it would take off. Stuff flows into my head when I write Young Adult fiction. Some of us perhaps never grow up? This also happens being a school teacher around a bunch of kids the last two decades. Finally as a writer you have to build on your strengths, especially strong characterization that you get 'comfortable' with. Look how well Sylvester Stallone built the 'Rocky character' when he wrote the 'Rocky' screenplays . It's the same way with me with 'Fifi,' who happens to be a YA character similar to the heroines from 'The Wizard of Oz,' 'Twilight,' and 'The Hunger Games.'

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

Fifi opened her locker and was heartened to see the picture of Joy Jones, her favorite actress, giving her encouragement. 'In ten years I will be just as rich and famous as her, after I make it in Hollywood,' she sneered to herself. Then she looked more closely inside her locker.....and gave out a chilling scream. “EEEEEEEK WHO PUT THAT SPIDER INSIDE MY LOCKER. I FEEL LIKE KICKING YOU ALL IN THE BUTT.”

What’s your favorite sweet treat?

Nothing like vanilla ice cream, fudge topping, and walnuts. A close second is carrot cake. Unfortunately I need to watch the calories so these delightful treats I eat just once in a while.

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

Actually the first career I wanted to be when I grew up was author. I loved reading Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov and wanted to be the next great Sci Fi writer . I wanted to the next great Sci Fi novel about life in a Martian colony. Believe it or not this novel is still in my mind and maybe one day I will write it.

Coal or candy in your Christmas stocking? Why?

Hard to say. Let's see they both have good and bad qualities. Coal can be quite messy but lowers my heating bills., actually not really since I live in a home without a fireplace. Candy is the perfect energy food if you don't mind getting cavities and consuming a lot of calories.

Favorite TV show from your childhood?

The original 'Star Trek.' 'Where no one has gone before.' Captain Kirk and his crew goes to the outer reaches of the galaxy and finds strange new worlds. It was watching TV shows like 'Star Trek' that piqued my imagination and helped me in writing 'Fifi's' trilogy of 'Fifi.' 'Diary of a Mad Gen Yer.' and 'Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul.'

Ideal summer vacation?

Any summer day where I can throw away an alarm clock which means not having to get up early to go to work or not having to get up early to 'look' for work.

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

Fifi Larouche of course. “MARCUS THERE'S A PLANE FLYING OVER AHEAD. YOU NEED TO YELL AT HIM WITH ME MARCUS. GOTH, AU YOU'RE BOTH MY SPIRIT GUIDES. GET INTO THAT PILOT'S HEAD AND TELL HIM WE'RE DOWN HERE. What in heaven's name are we eating tonight Marcus? That disgusting looking crab lying on the beach....I never had a taste for seafood. Most certainly you're going to help get the firewood , right Marcus?”

"Fulfill your destiny Fifi, as you wander through the Wilderness," Goth her spirit guide tells her....

Marcus Dino's latest book 'Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul', an anthology like it's smash hit predecessor, 'Diary of a Mad Gen Yer.' has 21st century actress/heroine Cheryl 'Fifi' Larouche coming back outrageous as ever introducing new 'Silly Stories,' 'Silly Poems,' and 'Silly Blogs', plus an added new twist using the world of Twitter, Fifi's 'Silly Tweets.'

'Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul' is third in a series of 'Fifi's stories following Marcus Dino's top ten Amazon Bestseller 'Diary of a Mad Gen Yer' in addition to his original Hollywood novel 'Fifi.'

Many of the major characters from Mr. Dino's two earlier book are back in 'Evolved Soul' including Fifi's boyfriend Biff, her obstinate father Charles, and her two alien friends from the planet Zatoris, Alocki and Helos. In addition there are some very interesting new characters in 'Evolved Soul' including a long dead Englishman who said he knew great literary figures such as Dickens and Keats called 'The 200 Year Old Great Writer,' and two entities who say they are 'Fifi's Spirit Guides' Goth and Au.

Both Goth and Au write very inspirational blogs that convey a strong message in the 'Blogs' section of 'Evolved Soul.'

'Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul' is both humorous and inspirational and like it's two predecessors will entertain the reader from beginning to end.

Enjoy an excerpt:

Excerpt from 'A Midsummer Night's Silliness'

QUEEN LYMPHAMA

This is a night when strange demons and vampires arrive to doth try to steal the soul of the innocent…Tonight oh Neptune after the party we shall call the Royal Apothecary who will doth conduct a potient out of bat wings and garlic and the tongues of TV talk show hosts and politicians and other vile and smelly things…And whoever I praytell drinks of this potient will scare off all evil souls and who ever drinks of this potient will be strong as anyone who drinketh such foul and smelly stuff would have to be strong…and crazy…Now.. Come my good king and my subjects let us now go to the party at the palace to intake in wine and merriment….

(Image of Ghost from Hamlet appears)

GHOST

What noblest of misfortunes that hath cursed my son Hamlet partakes thou fair Queen? I praytell that I shalt make amends for my son to be of assistance to thee…My son Hamlet at times hath not believed in me…I praytell thou noblest of Queens believe in me as I was once King Denmark…

QUEEN LYMPHAMA

I hath no misfortune oh Ghost of the King of Denmark…I praytell that thou may get into the minds of casting directors of good theater and good movies and good TV shows of which there are so few in 2012 and convince them of my acting abilities…Now Ghost of the King of Denmark a place where they doth are well known for changing men into women and women into men I doth praytell thou join us at the palace for an evening of wine, song, and merriment….

Marcus Dino has always wanted to be a fiction writer as long as he can remember. Living in Southern California plus his being a die hard movie buff has led him to write stories dealing with the struggles and conquests of heroic up and coming Hollywood actress Cheryl 'Fifi' Larouche.

Practical Advice from an Evolved Soul is an anthology and inspirational book and is Mr. Dino's third 'Fifi' series book. His first book, Hollywood novel Fifi was first published in 2003. His second book in ebook format, Diary of a Mad Gen Yer, an anthology and Amazon best seller in it's category, was published in 2009.

Mr. Dino has a Masters degrees in Education and Engineering and is a graduate of Chapman University. He has a distinguished career as an electronics engineer working for several Aerospace companies and also as a mathematics teacher in Los Angeles area schools. He currently resides in Santa Maria, California.

Website: www.summertimeproductions.net

'Evolved Soul' can also be purchased on major on line bookstores such as www.amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Advice-Evolved-Soul-Marcus-ebook/dp/B008X0803S/

and Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/217466

The printed version of 'Evolved Soul' has just been published and is currently being placed into numerous bookstores.

Facebook and Twitter (over 7500 followers) username:Fifilarouche

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Lei Crime Series - Virtual tour and giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The Lei Crime Series: eight novellas, by eight different authors, is based on Toby Neal's vivid and captivating Lei Crime Series.

Each week in June this tour will explore two different books in the series. This week we are kicking off with two Young Adult Suspense titles: "Fireweed Trail" by Craig Hansen, and "Never Again (Defining Moments, #1)" by Julie C. Gilbert.

The authors will be awarding a $30 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Please click on the banner to see the other stops on this tour.

The Lei Crime Series is:

Hawaii is palm trees, black sand and blue water—but for policewoman Lei Texeira, there’s a dark side to paradise. Lei has overcome a scarred past to make a life for herself as a cop, but often the cases she works activate wounds and complications from her tangled family history. Lei is affected deeply by her cases even as she solves them with persistence, obsession, and intuition. She falls in love with Michael Stevens, the charismatic detective she works with, and they make a life solving crime in contemporary Hawaii with all its beauty and deadliness.

Before she was a detective...

Troubled teen Leilani Texeira is on the edge of self-destruction. As a last-ditch effort to reach her, Auntie sends her to the Fireweed Trail program, a wilderness therapy hike down the Oregon Coast Trail. Things go well until a fellow hiker turns up dead.

Now she's a murder suspect.

Damaged and fragile, Lei is pushed from inaction to one of the most harrowing adventures in her young life. Miles from civilization and help, she only has her own strength and determination to save herself from of a killer's wrath.

And instead of hiking, she's running for her life.

*********

The breakup was just the beginning …

When college junior Alana Adams catches her boyfriend passionately kissing another woman, she promptly dumps Nathan and turns to her best friend, Michael, for advice and emotional support.

At first, Nathan apologizes and showers Alana with gifts in an effort to win her back. He tries to get her to see they belong together, but when his efforts fail, he concludes the real problem in their relationship must be her best friend.

As Alana’s rejection further sinks in, Nathan realizes there’s only one solution to their problem: kill Michael Stevens.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Julie C. Gilbert

Julie is a writer as well as a high school chemistry teacher. She has a YA science fiction series called Devya’s Children, and a Christian mystery series called Heartfelt Cases. She enjoys warm weather, hot tea and coffee, reading, writing, teaching, building Legos, reviewing products, and listening to books on CD or audible.

You can connect with her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/JulieCGilbert2013) or Twitter (@authorgilbert).

You can also sign up for her newsletter ( http://eepurl.com/beYcY9 ) which may lead to free books and other giveaways.

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Lei-Crime-Novella-Defining-Moments-ebook/dp/B00VQWU8LW/

Craig Hansen

Craig Hansen wrote his first SF published short story, "The S.S. Nova," when he was fourteen. It was published in the Minnesota Writers in the Schools COMPAS program's 1981 anthology of student writing, When It Grows Up, You Say Goodbye To It. That was when he decided to dedicate himself to writing.

Hansen earned two degrees at Minnesota State University at Mankato under the mentorship of young adult novelist Terry Davis. In the years that followed, Hansen worked a variety of jobs, including five years in journalism in northwestern Wisconsin, where he earned several state awards for his writing and editing.

His work has appeared in the Meadowbrook Press anthology, Girls to the Rescue, Book 1, as well as the true crime journal, Ripper Notes, in volume 28.

His first novel, Most Likely, was released in May 2011. Shada, the first installment of the Ember Cole series of young adult paranormal suspense books, was published in September 2011. Under Contract followed in the spring of 2012. The Devohrah Initiative appeared in August 2013. Nice Girl Like You appeared in June 2014, and Spoiled is September 2014. Rotten and The Woodsman were both released in October 2014. Ripe was released in February 2015, and the KindleWorld tale, Fireweed Trail, set in the Lei Crime KW created by Toby Neal, is his most recent release.

Hansen remains hard at work on several projects that will be announced when they are close to release, on his author website.

Hansen lives in Oregon with his wife, a dog, two cats, and his 92-year-old father, a World War II veteran.

Craig's interests include the music of Johnny Cash, reading the novels of other independent authors, blogging, and the study of Messianic theology.

On his website (http://www.craig-hansen.com/ ), you can sign up to receive a periodic email newsletter that will notify you when he releases new books.

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Craig-Hansen/e/B0052H1I6G

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/778132.Craig_Hansen

Twitter: @craigahansen https://twitter.com/craigahansen

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Lei-Crime-Fireweed-Kindle-Novella-ebook/dp/B00VQWUFT2/

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Beacon by Angela Brown - Virtual book tour and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Angela will be awarding a $75 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Pretend your protagonist is at school and opens his/her locker – what will we see inside? Students in New Festus, or any school in The Colony for that matter, don’t have to worry about lockers. All books, text or otherwise, are digital. So a student will have their personal holo-rod as well as a holo-pad for doing assignments and turning them in.

What would you write in a letter to your teen self? Dear Teen Me, You are one stubborn girl. But don’t let that stick-to-it-tive-ness go. You’re going to need it when your mother passes on and you make some crazy decisions feeling that your world is over. You’ll have to learn that starting over isn’t bad, new beginnings are good for the soul and for those story ideas you have bouncing around in your head, and that yes, you are worthy of being a writer.

What candy do you give out at Halloween? Chocolate! Mini-Snickers, mini-Twix, varieties of mini-Hershey bars, yeah, I love eating and giving chocolate. If you don’t like chocolate, we can still be friends, but if you see me looking at you all cock-eyed, it’s because I’m trying to figure out how it is humanly possible to NOT like chocolate lol!

What book is on your nightstand currently? I have my kindle set for Gears of Brass, a steampunk anthology with fairy tale re-tellings and more. I’m really excited to get into it.

Hunger Games or Twilight? Why? Definitely Hunger Games. It was the inspiration for Beacon, my YA urban fantasy dystopian, and the action throughout both the book and movie were awesome.

Favorite TV show from your childhood? I’m a Cosby Show kid. Loved crushing on Theo and Vanessa tended to be my fave with her antics and experiments, like trying to sew lol!!!

Sum up your book for Twitter: 140 characters or less. Life's norm slams to a halt when Macie is forced to the capital city of Biss, onto a path of self-discovery & the unraveling of all she knew. (I think the period makes it 141 characters)

Ideal summer vacation. It would be me and my siblings, along with our respective kiddos, doing a weeklong trip to an all-inclusive resort at some place along the west coast of Mexico. Fun in the sun. Sand in our toes. Pools for swimming. Adventures together and having the space to have comforting time alone getting a much needed massage.

You’re stranded on a desert island—which character from your book do you want with you? Why? I would so take Thane. As an unregistered, he knows how to hunt his food, clean his kills, cook meals without the luxury of a gas or electric stove, and can turn the nearest trees and cave into a functioning shelter. I’m still thinking about what I’d add to the situation lol!

Tsunamis reduced the USA into a shell of itself, called The Fold. Surviving humans and vampires joined forces to form The Colony, where registered citizens do as they're told. They donate blood quarterly and dream of being chosen as Attendees for the Jubilee celebrations, that is, everyone except Macie Breen. With high school graduation near, she’s anxious to ditch the rules in hopes of starting a new life with Thane, an unregistered and also her best friend.

Her hopes fizzle when Macie is selected as an Attendee, forever registered. Any future with Thane…impossible. Being chosen comes with another unexpected price.

Truths about The Colony blaze into ashes and lies when she discovers the vampires haven't kept their part of the bargain. Worst still, Macie’s life unravels as her stint in the city of Bliss forces her to face daunting truths about who, and what, she really is.

Enjoy an excerpt

"We’re not kids anymore, Macie. You’ve learned what little The Colony had to say about the vampeer, wights and devil spawn. There’s something else they’ve hidden from you. From all registered citizens. I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time why we met. Just how special you really are. But you won’t want to be my friend anymore once you know the truth. Losing you would be…”

Words trickled from my mouth unfiltered. “I, what do you mean I wouldn’t…”

He turned to me, chewing his bottom lip. The last time he did that was the day I broke first blood.

We were playing at knight warriors, a favorite of ours since we were kids. I thrust my wooden sword forward. It clattered to the ground as I doubled over from a sharp spasm in my stomach. I tried to shoo Thane away, deal with the pain on my own. But, noticing the grimace on my face – I really tried hard to be quiet, but I cried out anyway – he wouldn’t have it. When he glanced at my yellow cargo pants, he chewed his bottom lip, eyes wide. My gaze trailed down to the bloody mess I’d become. My face couldn’t have flashed hotter if I set it on fire.

Now he was doing it again, chewing his bottom lip. What could he possibly have to say? He opened his mouth to speak when the tent flap ripped away. We jerked our heads around to face a tall being covered in shaggy, brown fur from scalp to hoof. A shadowy glow encircled it like a dirty aura. Two arms protruded from both sides. Jagged teeth crowded its mouth. Drool leaked down its chin. Reptilian eyes shone bright white with a red slit down the middle. One set of eyelids blinked side to side as the second set followed up and down. It snarled, spat and drooled some more. My bladder felt one moment away from losing it.

“Frag me,” I whispered as my world collapsed into a nightmare.

About the Author

Born and raised in Little Rock, AR, Angela now calls Central Texas home. She's a lover of Wild Cherry Pepsi and chocolate/chocolate covered delicious-ness. Steampunk, fantasy and paranormal to contemporary - mostly young adult - fill her growing library of books. Mother to a rambunctious darling girl aptly nicknamed Chipmunk, life stays busy. Her favorite quote keeps her moving: "You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6476148.Angela_Brown
Angela Brown in the Pursuit of Publishness blog: http://publishness.blogspot.com/
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Angela-Brown/e/B009JJEX60
Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AngelaLBrownWrites
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ALBrownwrites
Buy Links:
Evernight: http://www.evernightteen.com/beacon-by-angela-brown/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Beacon-Ripped-Ties-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00PXHHUX0

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Wrong Side of the Grave by Bryna Butler

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Bryna will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

When the dearly departed of Point Pleasant start walking and talking, the Men in Black mark Mothman as suspect number one. A fun read, Wrong Side of the Grave is a fast-action Teen Sci-Fi Mystery with a paranormal twist.

Parent Approved: Contains no profanity or sexual content.

Enjoy an excerpt:

"You look at me as if you know me.”

“I like to think I do.” I keep it light and flash her a flirty grin as I continue to be clever. “I’m not lying when I say that from the first moment I saw you, I wanted to get you alone.”

Kendall seems amused by my response. Her lips tighten to a thin line, pulling up in the corners. She turns from me but keeps her hold on my hand, pulling me a few slow steps away from the door.

“Honestly, I don’t know why I bother trying to make these connections,” she says. She doesn’t look at me while she says it, but I’m looking at her. She walks like she’s dancing. Her movements are so graceful they nearly defy gravity.

I watch as Kendall’s blond curls bounce against her back with each careful step around the mud. I watch as her arms swing open for balance. Her pale skin catches the moonlight so that it glistens.

“I suppose it’s my age showing,” she continues, not paying a bit of attention to me. “I’ve become a granny rambling on about who’s related to who. I need to learn that it doesn’t matter in the scheme of things. Whether we have met before is of no consequence this close to the end.”

I laugh. That’s just like the old ones. Slipping up when they think they’re safe; when they think they’re in control. To her, I’m already dead.

About the Author: Bryna Butler is a journalism-trained writer having authored dozens of articles and financial publications before taking the leap into fiction in 2011. Her first book, Of Sun & Moon, skyrocketed to number one on Kindle top free charts in the categories of Teen/YA Supernatural Mystery, Teen/YA Romantic Mystery, and Teen/YA Time Travel in the U.S. and U.K. when the title went to free status in 2014. Butler’s work is free of profanity and sexual content making them safe reads for pre-teen as well as teen readers.
Website/Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Wrong Side of the Grave Playlist

Buy the book at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Australia, Apple, Barnes and Noble, or Kobo. Pre-order your Paperback edition directly from the author: http://brynabutler.com/store/

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Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway - Secrets: Diary of a Gusty Teen

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Enter the Rafflecopter for a chance to win a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Top Five "Bucket List" Situations I would like to do before I die
,br> 1. Live in NYC for a year. Be involved, while there, in making a movie or a television series based on Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen.

2. Travel to Vietnam, visit with my pen pal Linh and her family. Linh wrote to me when she was 9, now she is 14. We have been penpals (e-mail penpals) ever since. She read the first book in The Truth Series, The Truth in Vietnamese. She calls me Grandma and I have such warm feelings toward her!

3. See the staged version of The Truth and Secrets, known as The Locket performed in Manhattan as a dramatic musical.

4. Spend week long relaxing times with lots of fun, good food and things to do with my husband and children and grandchildren.

5. Spend lots of good times with dear friends talking, laughing and just 'being' there for each other.

Following in the footsteps of The Truth, Secrets: Diary of a Gutsy Teen begins as the thirteen-year-old protagonist makes a move with her family to a new town. She has grown up a lot over the past year—and has made a list of everything that’s important to her now that she doesn’t want to forget when she gets older. But now, as she enters her early teen years, she begins to write down the secrets she wants to keep—and the ones she has no one to tell about. From new school experiences to a new baby in the family to a new crush, this new teen finally feels empowered on making her own decisions with confidence and keeping those secrets she holds dearest for herself.

In a positive and supportive diary-entry format, Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein encourages tween and early teen girls to carry the most precious parts of themselves into adulthood. A great book for mothers and daughters to read together, Secrets is aimed to improve communication, understanding, and self-esteem for young girls as they enter the rocky road of teenager-dom.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Date: December 2
Dear Diary,

I have a secret and it’s been eating me up inside, so I have to tell you. I lied to Angela. I told her I had a terrible sore throat and couldn’t come for the weekend. She said she was sorry and that she would invite me again.

I felt terrible, and then my throat really began to hurt. But I just couldn’t go to Springport for a whole weekend_even though I miss being around Angela.

Now that I have best friends here, I don’t feel the same way I used to about going back to visit. And I didn’t know how to tell Angela that. I could tell when we talked on the phone that she really wanted me to come. And she sent me a new selfie, holding a sign that reads I Miss You! She even told me that she doesn’t have a new best friend since I left. She really misses me. She also told me that Paul is in lots of her classes and he asks if she’s talked to me. How could I tell her I’m in love with Rob and don’t care about Paul anymore? How could I tell her that I have new best friends and want to stay here with them?

I did go to Sally’s instead, and we had the best time. Her mother ordered pizza for us and we drank Coke. We watched television and made popcorn and did each other’s hair with all of Sally’s older sister’s hair products we found in the bathroom. I look silly with curly hair. We kept laughing and falling on the floor and giggling, and we played this fun game that Jackie learned in camp last summer. We all lay down on the floor and we each put our head on someone else’s belly. Someone says, “Ha-ha,” and then the next person says, “Haha-ha,” until everyone is laughing. Then you can’t stop laughing because the belly you are on is bouncing all around under your head.

Sally’s mom got really angry at all the noise we were making, and we had to turn off the lights and pretend to go to sleep. I hardly slept a wink, though. I was so excited and having so much fun with my new friends. I was tired the next morning and really did have a sore throat when I went home, but I didn’t care. It was worth it to have so much fun.

About the Author: I have been a positive psychologist in private practice for the past thirty years. In the course of working with my clients, I originated the idea of THE ENCHANTED SELF(R), a positive psychology therapy where I teach people how to recognize and utilize their strengths, talents, skills and even lost potential. I have developed a number of methods, including using our memories to rediscover what is right about ourselves and our lives, rather than what went wrong, helping people to overcome adversity, experience positive emotions and live the good life!

Since developing this concept, I've been able to use many tools to bring the Enchanted Self to everyone, particularly women and girls. I've written many books, starting with THE ENCHANTED SELF, A Positive Therapy, and then Recipes for Enchantment, The Secret Ingredient is YOU! My books for girls are very popular, as they are great fictional reads and also help deal with many of the questions that trouble kids as they move into the tween and teen years. The Truth, Diary of a Gutsy Tween and Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen are the first two books in this series.

I really love to teach and educate about happiness and how to benefit from positive psychology in ways that let us lead lives of meaning and happiness. You can find me all over the place on the web. In particular, www.enchantedself.com, www.thetruthforgirls.com, on Facebook at Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein: Psychologist & Author, on Pinterest and on You Tube. Just look for me on You Tube via Barbara Becker Holstein.

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Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway: Kaylen's Rising by Yves Robichaud

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner.

 

Kaylen has been in the dark for fourteen years – in every sense. His people are hunted, so they must struggle to survive within underground caves. His community despises his family, taunting him constantly. His parents keep him housebound, forbidding him from wielding sword or wand. When he is finally allowed to attend school, the harsh truth reveals he has much to learn – including a unique magical ability. Kaylen can summon and control skeletons! With surface-dwellers threatening war, he will need every friend he can make, and to stay true to himself if he is to survive what is to come.

Enjoy an Excerpt:

As Kaylen repeated the words, the strangest thing happened. The earth in Kaylen’s hand started moving. At first it was very slow but then much quicker, in a circular motion like a tiny tornado. The small twister then hopped off of Kaylen’s hand and headed straight for the ground. Once it hit the ground, it disappeared into the floor.

As this was the first sign that Kaylen had any magical powers, he was smiling brightly when he asked the professor what was going on.

“Wait,” said the professor, not looking up at the boy. His eyes were still trained on the floor. Suddenly, the ground started shaking. In the middle of the floor where the dirt had disappeared, a skeleton hand popped out from the ground. Then a second skeleton hand popped out. The hands seemed to brace themselves on the floor to pull up the rest of the body as the head, torso, and, eventually, the legs magically appeared from below. The full skeleton stood up in the middle of the room. It was at least six feet tall, with sparkling white bones, and... strangely enough... it had Kaylen's bright green eyes.

About the Author:

Yves Robichaud is originally from the small Acadian community of Grand-Barachois, New Brunswick, Canada. He has studied Business Administration and Information Technology, currently works for the federal government, and is the proud father of one son: Jeremy. Inspired by a love of fantastical, magical tales, Kaylen's Rising is Yves' first attempt to share this literary passion with his son and the rest of the world.

Links:
Author Website: www.yvesrobichaud.com
Book Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KaylensRising
Twitter: @yvesr72
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24735389-kaylen-s-rising? from_search=true
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kaylens-Rising-Tomes-Taria-1/dp/0993974600/ref=sr_1_1? ie=UTF8&qid=1423511154&sr=8-1&keywords=Kaylen%27s+Rising
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Little Red Gem by DL Richardson - Interview and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award to one commenter at every stop a prize consisting of one ebook, a bookmark and a laminated pass (the passes relate to the storyline). Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome to Books in the Hall!

Thank you so much for having me on your blog today. I hope your readers enjoy finding out a bit about me. I hope they can leave comments so I can find out a bit about them, too.

What books were your favorite as a youth and why?

The first books I fell in love with were Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitte and The Trumpet and the Swan by E B White. Tuck Everlasting was the story of a young girl who went on an adventure that resulted in her finding the elixir to eternal life, yet she turned down the chance to live forever. I think that was the start of much of my philosophical musings. What would I have done in her place? Eternity sounds grand, but to watch the world grow old while you don’t age could become a drag. A few years later I read The Outsiders by S E Hinton, and that was the book that really connected me to the characters. It was like “Wow, I’m not alone. There are people out there who aren’t rich yet who have values.” I think these books prompted in me a desire to question why we do things, and they also showed me how connecting characters with readers is important. These books were the building blocks for why I became a writer.

Hunger Games or Twilight? Why?

Hunger Games. There is something terrifying, more terrifying than vampires, about a world where kids are forced to kill kids for entertainment. It’s that pushing of the envelope humanity is so tempted to do, and the true test of humanity is whether we take that plunge into doing what’s wrong. The sad truth is that we often do. We see it in the news every day, how poorly humans treat each other and everything else whether through lack of education, money, or conscience. Animals are subjected to cruelty for entertainment! I can’t get understand it. Horse racing, dog racing, elephant riding, bear fighting, I could go on and on about this subject. None of these forms of entertainment are necessary nor are they right. The Hunger Games is like a mirror being held up to show humanity’s dark side. We’ve developed a culture where we’ll do anything for our entertainment despite the outcome. I think it’s good to step back and say to ourselves that some things are just not necessary nor are they right. We know right from wrong, yet many people make the decision to look away and say that right and wrong are for the lawyers to decide, but that’s not the case. It’s for us to decide what’s right and wrong, and if we can stand up for what’s right then we should be free to do so.

Favorite TV show from your childhood?

I grew up watching American TV shows. Mork and Mindy. Happy Days. Brady Bunch. Six Million dollar Man. The Bionic Woman. Wonder Woman. Space 1999. MASH. The Muppet Show. I loved them all. These shows were entertaining (yes, we can be entertained without being cruel). These shows were vibrant, colorful, funny, poignant. But if I had to pick a favorite from this list it would be The Bionic Woman. Jaime Somers was smart, she was beautiful, she was kind, and she was strong – with or without the bionic implants. She was also one of the nice girls. She never bitched or back-stabbed or ridiculed anyone, even while they were trying to kill her or blow up the world. If my female characters end up half as decent and strong as Jaime Somers, then I’m a happy writer.

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

Oh, please don’t tease me. I would love t win a million dollars and I’d know exactly what I’d spend this money on. I would also, not for a second, contemplate staying at work because “I’d be bored” like I’ve heard some people say. I’d never be bored. I would build a house with a library and buy millions of books to stock it. In this house would be a conservatory with a black grand piano taking center stage. Outside the conservatory through a set of French doors are gardens that I would sit in to gaze over the mountain and lake views. In the garage is a red 1963 Corvette. I guess because I’m not allowed to save any of the winnings I’d have to buy lots of tinned food, chickens and goats, plant vegetable crops, and install water tanks and a solar energy system so I don’t have to worry about having no money in the bank. I could live like a hermit, not a problem.

Playlist for your current book.

There was a special song I listened to while writing the ending to Little Red Gem. I was stuck on how to end this tale of a girl who drives herself crazy in order to find out how much her boyfriend loved her, when she only needed to know how much she loved herself. On the radio came Katy Perry’s song “Roar.” As soon as I heard the lyrics, I knew I had my ending. Little Red Gem is a love story, but it’s a love story with a difference, the main character goes on a journey of self discovery. I think all boys and girls, men and women benefit from going on such a journey. There’s a great line in the book where she says, “My life. My choice.” Sure, we all make mistakes. Some we learn from. Some we regret. But the path to happiness is acceptance of the choices we make. I hate that we’re always looking to blame everyone else. I like to do like my dog, and scratch some grass over that business and move on.

Now let's learn about your book!

Love can make you do crazy things as Ruby Parker discovers when she dies and returns from the grave to unearth how much Leo Culver loved her. With the aid of bad advice from a ghost who is trapped by a curse, a little bit of magic courtesy of her unsuspecting half-sister, and a televised music talent show coming to town to hold auditions, Ruby Parker makes more of a mess in death than she ever did in life. Can she fix everything before it’s too late? Or will she spend eternity as a ghost, haunted by the unknown depths of love? Either way, one thing Ruby learns is that while love can make you do crazy things, it can make you do amazing things too. But at what cost?

Enjoy an excerpt:

…“I’d know if I was dead.” While I watched my two best friends walk with arms around each other for emotional support, I wrestled with accepting Audrey’s version of the story. To do so meant I was dead. And dead meant I would never again speak with Leo. And there were so many words left unsaid, so much business left unfinished.

The final nail in my coffin came when a customer walked out and Audrey pushed me directly in front of the customer’s path. Instead of bumping into him, I fell through him, landing on my hands and knees. My skin tingled with pins and needles from where the body had passed through me. A loud noise filled my ears, similar to water flowing from a dam. For a split second my vision blurred. Then I watched in absolute horror as my hands and legs split into millions of tiny fragments.

Audrey might have been capable of delving into her mother’s magic bag to produce this neat trick, but I wasn’t.

I crawled into the gutter because it seemed the most suitable place for a reluctant spirit to bawl her eyes out. Audrey was kind enough to sit beside me with her hand resting on my shoulder; although we were both apparitions the contact still registered. I forgot about being angry with her and welcomed her company.

“Okay, I’ll admit this has been a rather extraordinary morning so you may be right.” I sniffed back the tears and turned to face her. “How did I die?”

“Your car slid down an embankment. You weren’t wearing a seat belt. Leo dragged you out of the car but it was too late.”

I jumped up. “Leo!”

Music first captured the creative interest of young adult author D L Richardson. From choir, to her first acoustic guitar at age ten, to singing with the school band and performing in school musicals. When she left school she helped form her own rock band where she sang lead vocals, played bass guitar, and wrote all the lyrics. At age 26 she sold her equipment and focused on writing instead. She now has three novels and one short story anthology published.

Little Red Gem is a tribute to her former life as a musician and contains some of the author’s actual experiences, though she has never entered a national singing competition to capture the attention of the boy she loves. It is also a tribute to those brave young women who charge forward in pursuit of their dreams.

She lives in Australia on the NSW South Coast with her husband and dog. When she's not writing or reading she can be found playing her piano or guitars, renovating the house, or walking her dog.

Contact information

Email dlrichardsonbooks@bigpond.com

Blog www.dlrichardsonwrites.blogspot.com

Website www.dlrichardson.com

Facebook http://goo.gl/560JXl

Twitter www.twitter.com/#!/DLRichardson1

Buy Links:

EBOOK

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FUMQDUO

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/365185

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-red-gem-d-l-richardson/1117076354

PAPERBACK

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Little-Red-Gem-ebook/dp/B00FUMQDUO/ref=la_B00717D7KU_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1383280608&sr=1-1

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/little-red-gem-d-l-richardson/1117076354

Powells http://www.powells.com/biblio/61-9781492939924-1

Create Space https://www.createspace.com/4465741

Book Depository http://www.bookdepository.com/Little-Red-Gem-Richardson/9781492939924

Henge by Realm Lovejoy - Review Tour and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Inspired by one of the greatest legends of all time…

Modern-day Camelot. Where knights no longer carry swords. Magic is dangerous. And those who seek control are not to be trusted.

Sixteen-year-old Morgan le Fay is a fire user. An ordinary girl with an extraordinary skill, she has the ability to create and command fire at will. Her dream is to become the Maven—the right hand of the future King Arthur. In the chance of a lifetime, Morgan is selected to join Arthur’s Round, an elite group of young magic users from which the new Maven will be chosen.

Along with the other fire, water, and wind users in Arthur’s Round, Morgan is rigorously trained and tested. The handsome Merlin, a brilliant water user, takes a particular interest in her. Is his friendship to be trusted, or is Merlin simply trying to win the position of Maven for himself? Among the many rivals Morgan faces is the current Maven, Mordred, who seems determined to see her fail.

But Morgan has a secret—years ago, her mother was executed for using fire magic, and Morgan’s desire for justice makes her more than ready to take on the challenge before her. Can she prevail in Camelot’s tests of survival and magic? Only time—and Morgan’s powerful fire—will tell.

Realm Lovejoy’s modern Arthurian series features one of literature’s most complicated and powerful female figures. Henge is the first book in the LE FAY series, and—like Morgan le Fay’s magic—it is sure to dazzle and amaze.

My Review:

Henge is a well-written, unique take on a classic story. Playing with the Arthurian legend can be a risky thing, but the author has made it just different enough to make it her own.  In fact, sometimes I'd forget this was about Camelot, and then we'd be introduced to an old friend again: Tristan and Isolde, Merlin (loved how he was introduced!), and so on. 

But don't think you'll have this all figured out just because you know the legend.  It's got its own twist on things.  Morgan is a great protagonist and I really empathized with her.  She's had a rough life so far, and takes risks to put herself where she thinks she's supposed to be.  She wants to be trusting, make friends, etc., but is a relatively untrusting soul (and for good reason).  I love a strong female protagonist, and she fits the bill.

There's nothing her so objectionable or frightening that younger teens couldn't enjoy this as well. Certainly it has a few flaws--it's occasionally rushed, and sometimes I had to go back a reread things to make sure I understood what was happening--but that barely detracted from my enjoyment.

4 stars and recommended to fans of fantasy and urban fantasy of nearly all ages. 

Enjoy an excerpt:

When I go to bed that night, I sink into the goose down, ready to sleep and get my mind off things. I remember Merlin’s eyes—his irises had little gray lines that turned his eyes into a foggy color. When did I look at him closely enough to notice the threading of his irises? I drift into sleep, feeling like I am drowning in feathers that whisper like the ocean. Is Merlin lonely? Does anyone else visit him in prison? Maybe Vivian?

I wake up sporadically throughout the night, a strange energy lurking in the depths of my sleep. In my dream, I’m sinking in water—it seeps into my lungs and strangles my heart. The water is coming from smooth hands. Merlin smiles as he drowns me. I sink into an endless depth of blue, the light flowering and scattering above me. The water the same color as his eyes.

About the Author:

Realm Lovejoy is an American writer and an artist. She grew up in both Washington State and the Japanese Alps of Nagano, Japan.

Currently, she lives in Seattle and works as an artist in the video game industry.

Website: http://www.realmlovejoy.com
Blog: http://realmlovejoy.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorrealmlovejoy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/realmlovejoy
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23151530-henge

Buy Link:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Henge-Fay-Book-Realm-Lovejoy-ebook/dp/B00PBV1HKK/

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The 13th Descent by Ky Lehman - Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Ky will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

ONE CHOICE CAN MAKE AN IMMORTAL HUMAN.

BUT WHAT CHOICES NEED TO BE MADE TO GO BACK AGAIN?

The revolutionary year following Serenay "Ren" Avalon's eighteenth birthday could rival Clark Kent's entire adolescence.

After her mother and her grandmother were killed in a car bomb explosion at the heart of their sleepy hillside town where nothing extraordinary usually happens, she discovers that her mother is actually alive and in hiding, her long lost father is a Father, and her best friend, who turns out was once an Archangel, has taken a gargantuan step back in his evolution to live on Earth with her for the past thirteen lifetimes. And besides being the only one in her immediate circle with a serious case of past life dementia, she learns that during her first lifetime, she was married to one of the greatest teachers history has ever known who is now the gorgeous lead singer of a hot new rock band taking the world by storm, and who is keen to meet up with her again in the twenty first century.

As Ren realizes that the powerful family name she bears also brings with it the promise of an unnatural death, she is reminded that it has always brought hope to people on both sides of the veil, human and Tor. As the world draws closer to being completely shrouded by the dark cloaks of her age-old enemies, the Bloodstones, she now, more than ever before, has to draw strength from her origins to protect her family and their ancient truth from this global force responsible for torturing and killing centuries of her ancestors.

As she struggles to unearth who she was, who she is, and who she chooses to be, as well as the expectations of her first mortal love and the heavenly love she has always guiltily denied, she has until midnight on the Solstice find a way to bring light to a compromised heart and to a world on the brink of perpetual darkness.

This first book in The Rosefire Trilogy by debut YA author, Ky Lehman, is a reminder of how the choices we make in the throes of love, loss, hope, and adversity are what makes the divine human, and the human divine.

Enjoy an excerpt:

“Come on, Renay! You’re as slow as a wet week,” she snaps.

“Right behind you,” I grumble, trying to coax my jelly legs to step out of the car.

She bustles us inside and disarms her house alarm. She grabs my hand, leads me straight to the navy blue comfy couch and gestures for me to sit. “Drink?” she asks.

“No, thanks.”

She goes to the kitchen and gets me a tall glass of water anyway.

Then everything goes from strange to downright bizarre when she sits down, squishes in next to me, puts her arm around my shoulders and rests her cheek on my hair. I am wedged in-between her and the armrest: I couldn’t move if I tried, and I honestly don’t want to. Hugs from my one and only aunt are like sunny days in the winter. They are rare. They are warm. They smell of cream and cinnamon. They go by too quickly. And you know you’ll have to wait a while for the next one.

“Look at me, Renay,” she gently commands. Bleary eyed, she carefully scans my face and sighs.

It seems she is already regretting what she is yet to say. A chill of forewarning forces a shiver: it sets my heart pounding and my legs that have finally regained feeling start to twitch and shake, preparing to run. She senses my panic and holds me tighter, and starts to softly hum a familiar tune that Nanna must have used to calm her down too. Slowly, the dread resides and the warmth returns. My stiff posture thaws allowing me to slump into her side. Realising she has been given the green light, she takes a deep breath and starts talking.

Aunt Romey has never been one to beat around the bush. Simple English. No fluff. The bare facts followed by her opinion of them. But this time, the candour I usually appreciate brings with it a realisation that hits me so hard, that, for the first time since the bomb went off, I am relieved the undercooked takeout chicken kept me home that night.

Bedtime stories that once lulled me into sweet dreams now leave me feeling cold, heavy and sick.

Horrifying truth gives a voice to the intoxicated mutterings of a grieving husband and father.

Nanna’s fairy tales.

Georgie Pa’s drunken rants.

All of the frayed strands and loose ends I’ve obliviously left hanging tangle and weave into the blood stained tapestry that is Aunt Romey’s history lesson.

Three versions of the same unfathomable story, each with its own conclusion. The fairy tale ends in hope.

The drunken rant ends in fear.

And the history lesson will only end with the death of the Three Roses, who my newfound enemies believe are Nanna, Mum and me.

Surrounded by the ghosts of our ancestors and their vindicating screams, I cling to the only olive branch within reach.

Mum may be on the run, but she is alive and well.

But the sinewy little branch is not strong enough to bear the weight of centuries of lost life. It snaps, and I limply fall into large, familiar, bloodstained hands that carry me off into the black quiet.

About the Author:

KY LEHMAN is a novelist, a children's author, a teacher of swimming and water safety, wife to her high school sweetheart and the proud mother of their three very tall sons. She lives in the Yarra Ranges, Victoria, Australia, with her husband and their children where she is currently writing the second book in The Rosefire Trilogy, The 13th Rising.

Facebook ~ Amazon Author Page ~ Twitter Buy the book at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.





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By Starlight by Nancy Lindley-Gauthier -- Virtual Tour and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Nancy will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The night my best friend Gracie disappeared, I had a nightmare.

A monster loomed from the shadows around the campfire. I ran. The thing stretched after me…

I woke gasping, afraid it might somehow be true. Gracie could always make me feel better – but she didn’t respond to my email. Not that night; not ever.

That's what lead to my summer camp counselor job here near Gracie’s home. Hiking and canoeing fill every moment but I don't forget why I'm here. I’m going to find Gracie.

The camp-owner, a famous Native seer, isn’t any help. Her herbal healing and Spirit Bear talisman won’t help find Gracie.

There's the local ranger and my campers, but will they believe me? I’m alone with this. Somehow, I will find her...

Enjoy an excerpt:

"Shhhh." Frankie, riding point, set her paddle in front of her. She deftly removed her camera from its bag. I followed her gaze, past the high yellow-tipped grasses in a pocket of boggy greenery. Dark, vine-covered stumps jutted from the black surface of the water. Long branches of goldenrod lay flattened, at the foot of narrow, dark limbs. No, not tree limbs, those were legs!

Frankie hastily snapped a photograph of the moose. The animal’s face was half-submerged, but as we glided by, it slowly raised its head and stared at us.

Immense, it stood with long green growth hanging out of its mouth and trailing back into the water. Everyone saw it now. Quiet fell over the lot of us. Frankie leaned this way and that, trying, I guess, to get an exceptional shot.

Slowly, the moose dropped its head back to its soggy grazing.

Chelsea let out a long, drawn out "Coooooool."

I wondered if the kayakers had belted by without even noticing the massive animal by the riverside.

The quiet creek allowed us to glide with paddles barely touching the water. I think after spotting the moose we were all of the same mind.

All we needed now was to see a bear. I stared hopefully into the thick woods on our other side, thinking they might prefer the shade of the evergreens. The girls had to be thinking the same thing, because quiet hung over us; a quiet full of expectations.

Nice that the kayakers had shot ahead. They were always chattering and would have ruined the chance for us to see wildlife.

A splash alerted me again to the swampier side. It held more promise for a bear. Tempting, large dandelions grew right down to the water's edge, and beyond that, stalks of what might be wild rhubarb. Nearer, maple saplings bowed over the river, trailing their leaves and making little circular ripples.

Dragonflies hovered in formation in the shadow of the little maples. They darted up and sideways, always keeping a strange, arrow-shaped formation, as we drew abreast.

A stick twirled slowly in the gentle current, caught in a scrawny maple branch. The yellowy stick had a strangely curved arch as if, somehow, man-made. The dragonflies shot upward as I reached it. I stretched very carefully to grab it. The strange stick snapped closed over my hand…

A New Englander throughout her life, Nancy Lindley-Gauthier currently resides in New Hampshire. Her chief interest is her horses (she both rides and drives them) and she especially loves trail riding. Occasionally, she is dragged away from the equines to serve as pillion rider on husband Kent's motorcycle.

Also among her favorite activities is whale-watching… and she’s pleased to record sightings of Minke and Greys off the East Coast and Humpbacks along the Inside Passage on the West.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23241229-by-starlight

http://www.amazon.com/Starlight-Nancy-Lindley-Gauthier-ebook/dp/B00LF5GB8E/ref=asap_B00JE5RBBI_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1417397997&sr=1-3

http://anothershoestringadventure.weebly.com/

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Taking the Reins by Katrina Abbott - Spotlight and Giveaway

NOTE: THIS BOOK IS CURRENTLY *FREE* EVERYWHERE IT’S AVAILABLE!! LINKS ARE BELOW.

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One lucky person will receive a $25 Amazon/BN GC via Rafflecopter. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Brooklyn Prescott (if that’s even her real name) is the new girl at TheRosewood Academy for Academic Excellence, now that she’s moved back to the States after two years living in London. Rosewood, a boarding school for children of the rich and famous and known for its celebutantes, is missing just one element important to any junior’s education: boys. But luckily for Brooklyn, and the rest of theRosewood girls, there’s a boys’ boarding school, The Westwood Academy, just a few miles away.

On her very first day, Brooklyn meets Will, a gorgeous and flirty boy on campus to help with move in. But is he who she thinks he is? And what about Brady, the cute stable boy? Or Jared, the former child actor with his grown-up good looks who can always make her laugh? As Brooklyn settles in at Rosewood, she’s faced with new friends, new challenges and new opportunities to make herself into the girl she always wanted to be. Whoever that might be.

Taking The Reins is the first installment of The Rosewoods, an exciting new Young Adult series for readers who love fun, flirty love stories.

Enjoy an excerpt:

I should have felt insulated and safe in the back of the Town Car.

Instead, my heart was pounding like crazy as the driver pulled into the long circular drive that would bring me to the front of the Rosewood Academy for Academic Excellence—my new home for the next ten months. The windows of the car were tinted, so no one could see in, but as I was in one of several limos (mixed in with Range Rovers, Audis, Mercedes' and other cars of the famous and wealthy), no one really paid attention. And, gauging by the chaos on the front lawn of the school campus—registration, moving in, laughing and getting reacquainted—people were too wrapped up in their own stuff to notice a new girl, anyway.

The new girl.

I sighed and gave myself a couple moments to calm my nerves as the driver rolled to a stop at the curb. I took my long brown hair out of the ponytail holder, then second-guessed and put it back in again. Then realized it would look sloppy to have a ponytail, so I took it out one last time.

God, Brooklyn, get it together.

The driver put the car into park, turned halfway toward me and smiled. “This is it.”

“Yeah,” I said, glancing out at the crowd. There were several tables, including one with a banner that read, “Check in. Come here first.” Brilliant. At least that part was sorted. The fitting in and making friends part couldn’t possibly be quite so easy.

“It will be fine,” the driver assured me, as though he was reading my mind and standing in as my father or something, making me feel guilty that I’d forgotten his name already. “I hear it’s a good school.”

I almost snorted at his comment; Rosewood wasn’t a good school. Rosewood was the best school.

About the Author:

A survivor of adolescence, Katrina Abbott loves writing about teens: best friends, cute boys, kissing, drama. Her main vice is romance, but she’s been known to succumb to the occasional chocolate binge. She may or may not live in California with her husband, kids and several cats. Taking the Reins is not her first book. Visit Katrina online at www.katrinaabbott.com

Website: http://katrinaabbott.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbbottKatrina
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatrinaAbbottAuthor
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/abbottkatrina

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Kobo, or Google Play.

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Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway - Deceived by L.A. Starkey

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour. Prizes are as follows:

• One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
• One randomly chosen host will receive a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

They say a soul is the immaterial essence, the animating principal, the actuating cause of an individual life.

But what if you had to share yours with the one person you hated the most?

The soul mate principal states that for every one soul there is another that will recognize its match, hence creating the perfect union.

But what if you had two soul mates, which would you choose?

What if your choices had eternal ramification?

Deceived, the debut novel in the Soul Keeper Series, is a modern day love story about the implications of having more than one soul mate, and having to choose between the two of them. The decisions of the gods has left the next generation, their heirs, torn between fate and reality, and the balance of the future hangs in anticipation of what's to come.

Enjoy an excerpt:

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and even though the breeze had picked up, embracing Sam like a good friend, the warmth of the sun was putting up a mighty fight. Being someone who thrived outdoors, she loved that New Hampshire had four seasons and took profound joy in having the ability to experience all the weather gods could throw her way. After the first few warm up miles, Sam stood back up on her peddles and pumped out the next few miles with a good bit of effort.

Man, it feels good to get my blood pumping.

Sam looked to her left as a quick movement of yellow jotted between the trees.

“No!” A loud masculine voice rang out.

She jerked forward in time to swerve, barely missing the yellow lump lying in the road and instead hitting the curb. She plummeted off the bike, flying through the air and landing in a crouch. Her chest heaved in effort to gain much needed oxygen as all of the blood in her body rushed to its aid.

Her eyes quickly surveyed her surroundings as she cautiously rose. No one was close enough to create the loud protest that was still reverbing in her head. Trying to regain her composure, she worked to make sense of what had happened. I could’ve sworn there was something yellow in the trees. And then it was in the road, right?

She searched the ground finding nothing to support her internal claim.

About the Author:

Laurie Starkey is the author of the upcoming Soul Keeper Series, a supernatural young adult series, and The Liarus Detective Series, a supernatural middle grade series. She lives in Houston, Texas with her husband, Jacob and three beautiful kiddos.

She is a CPA by trade, a church planter and entrepreneur at heart; however, writing and reading are passions she just can't help but indulge in. With more ideas that one person should be allowed, she is blessed to have a muse that doesn't seem to take a vacation and more energy that one might consider healthy.

Website: www.lastarkey.com
Blog: www.lauriestarkey.wordpress.com
Twitter: LAStarkey Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/L.A.StarkeyAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23109999-deceived
Amazon (kindle/paperback): http://www.amazon.com/Deceived-Soul-Keeper- Series-Volume/dp/1500927872/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409578566&sr=8-1- spell&keywords=deceivede+soul+keeper

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My Name is Thank-You by Kaizen Love - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kaizen Love will be awarding a $15 BN/Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Thanks to Kaizen for stopping by to chat today!

What books were your favorite as a youth and why?

Whenever I see this question, I get a bit excited. I am never too sure how to answer it. Should I start to list the books by name, or should I categorize them by genre? Growing up, I had a new (borrowed) book just about every other day. My favorites were books about love, real-life issues, and randomly...psychiatric disorders. Books such as "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb, and "I Never Promised You A Rose Garden" by Joanne Greenberg topped my "favorites" list in middle school, and they have never left me.

What’s your favorite sweet treat?

My sweet tooth is both my arch nemesis and one of my closest friends. I love almost anything covered in sugar, chocolate, syrup, sauce, sprinkles, and icing!

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

The letter to my teen self would be quite short. It would say:

One day you are going to be an actual grown-up, and be able to decide for yourself the kind of life that you want to have, and the kind of human that you want to be. Don't change a thing about yourself, because you are enough today, and every moment that you think you can't survive, becomes nothing more than a tool that you will use to build a better tomorrow.

What book is on your nightstand currently?

"The Art Of Communicating" by Thich Nhat Hanh. If you are in need of inspiration, or a kick-start to understanding how to live a better life, I highly recommend his books!

Favorite hot beverage. Why?

I think I may have to go with Teeccino Caffeine-Free Herbal Coffee, because I love coffee, and this has to be the first hot beverage that I have tried that comes close to being a suitable replacement, and a much healthier option.

Favorite pizza toppings.

Extra Cheese. Pineapples. Mushrooms. Onions. Banana Peppers. Yum!

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

This is a funny question, because my fiancé and I were laying in bed talking about this just the other day. We would buy a new house, a new car, and give the rest away to our families, and favorite charities.

Playlist for your current book.

I am a huge fan of Dr. Jeffrey Thompson, and use his albums as a gateway to my creative zone. The music that he has developed to enhance brain function in certain areas is wonderful. I am not trying to prove whether or not what he claims his music can do is legitimate. I am just a writer, trying to write to the best of my mental ability...and his music, for me, is an important part of my process.

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

Inspirational, at times devastating, and ultimately life changing; this is more than a novel, it is a journey into the power of gratitude.

My Name Is Thank-You allows us into the worlds of two very different thirteen-year-old girls. Each girl’s voice carries its own unique tone, as the girls beckon us to follow magically into their lives. One is a joyous story of hope against all odds, the search for acceptance, and the longing for unconditional love; the other a sad tale of unspeakable abuse, constant rejection, and an overwhelming sense of loneliness. Thank-You and Josephine create around us a world rich with emotion, one that will leave you inspired, breathless, and yearning for more words.

Enjoy an excerpt:

"There is nothing better than being able to swim in a pool of knowledge so deep it forces ignorance to be uncomfortable in its own skin, to where it no longer holds a sense of being, a sense of purpose. That’s what books do. They allow us to live in the minds of every type of human. They allow us to taste the kind of freedom that even the end of slavery didn’t bring."

Kaizen Love is an up and coming writer, spinning words into a beautiful web that should enrich the lives of all who read them. She has a positive and fresh take on life, and has mastered the art of storytelling. She grew up reading books by authors from every style, race, nationality, culture, and religious perspective; drawing inspiration from each one. Her greatest mission is to share love.

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LPLHQ3W

Website: http://kaizenlove.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kaizen-Love/1387506034846336?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaiZenLove

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads

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