{May 5, 2014} {Review} Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller

From Goodreads: Stolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She’s never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love–even with someone who seems an improbable choice–is more than just a possibility.

Trish Doller writes incredibly real teens, and this searing story of love, betrayal, and how not to lose your mind will resonate with readers who want their stories gritty and utterly true.

_____________________________________________________________

I picked up this novel on whim when I read the synopsis–it reminded me very much of one of my favorite novels, If You Find Me, so I just had to read it, and I was pleased to note from the start that it’s a very well written novel. Focusing on Callie as she tries to make sense of her disheveled life and figure out where her loyalties truly lie, a feat no child or teenager should have to experience, Doller hooks her readers from the very first page, and as the story begins to unfold, it’s raw emotion will open a special spot in the readers heart for Callie.

For the past 12 years, Callie has been moving from place to place with her mother, a haggard, chain-smoking woman who changes her mind with the sunrise—always on the move. Callie has never been to school, she’s never known stability, and she’s never really missed it–that is, until her mother is caught during a traffic stop and Callie is reunited with her father and her family, a group of people she doesn’t know or remember. Suddenly, Callie has a stable home, two little brothers, a doting if not suffocating family, a best friend, a job, and even a love interest.

Torn between the woman who has raised her and the family she didn’t know she had, Callie has some extremely difficult choices to make. She has been hurt; hurt a lot in her life. As you can imagine, her mother has had many “lovers,” and one, Frank, was a little too “caring” for the 8 year old Callie. And as it would for any who experience abuse, it haunts Callie both day and night, causing her to be wary when it comes to trust of other. Thankfully, Doller does not provide graphic detail, but the reader definitely knows what happened to Callie, and it helps explain the not so great decisions she’s made in the past and that and continues to make as the story unfolds. Her entire understanding of love is tainted, having seen her mother’s strange definition of it, and this novel is ultimately one of healing as Callie’s learns what it means to be truly loved, and to love back.

I really loved the characterization and depth of this novel, and I also enjoyed that it takes place in Tarpon Springs FL. While I haven’t spent much time there, I’ve been through the area on a few occasions, and I have spent much time in Bradenton, so I was able to vividly imagine many of the scenes within the novel–something I usually can’t do because I have zero imagination. This really brought the story to life for me, and I felt like I was right there with Callie, seeing through her eyes, which made it such an intriguing read.

The addition of a Greek family was awesome, and I loved getting to know them, seeing the ins and outs of their family and town, and it reminded me a little bit of My Big Fat Greek Wedding in terms of the family relationships, minus some of the humor, because this is a much more serious tale.

Overall, this is a beautiful tale that I highly recommend. Four stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon:

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

{May 4, 2014} {Blog Tour: ARC Review, Excerpt, and Giveaway } Royally Lost by Angie Stanton

From Goodreads: Dragged on a family trip to Europe’s ancient cities, Becca wants nothing more than to go home. Trapped with her emotionally distant father, over-eager stepmother, and a brother who only wants to hook up with European hotties, Becca is miserable. That is until she meets Nikolai, a guy as mysterious as he is handsome. And she unknowingly finds herself with a runaway prince.

Nikolai has everything a guy could ask for-he’s crown prince, heir to the throne, and girls adore him. But the one thing he doesn’t have…is freedom. Staging a coup, he flees his kingdom and goes undercover on his own European tour.

When Nikolai and Becca meet, it’s their differences that draw them together. Sparks fly as they share a whirlwind of adventures, all the while dodging his royal guard. But Becca’s family vacation ends in a matter of days. Will Nikolai and Becca be forced to say goodbye forever, will his destiny catch up to him, or will they change history forever?

_____________________________________________________________

Royally Lost is a charming, uplifting read that I enjoyed immensely. Though a few aspects seemed a tad far-fetched, overall the novel is very well written, and I found it impossible not to root for Nick and Becca. Having traveled across Europe during my teenage years, much of Nick and Becca’s experiences resonated with me and helped me connect with them from the get go, which made this novel all the more enjoyable.

I am always looking to connect with the characters in novels that I read, and Stanton does a great job making both Nickolai and Becca’s actions, thoughts, and responses extremely believable. Nickolai is also quite swoonworthy, down-to-earth, and perfect in every way—of course, being a prince doesn’t hurt, either. I just loved him, and how Stanton portrayed him as an entity set on changing tradition and helping his people of his fictional country. His ideas for his country are modern and reflect the needs of the people, which was great to see, even though he bumped heads with the traditional entourage of the kingdom. He is a well-rounded individual, and I loved reading his story.

Though generally against tales of instant love, having my own hidden, whirlwind romance as I traveled Europe makes me love this story all the more. While my romance wasn’t of monarch proportions, it was still very similar to Nick and Becca’s, and this not only allowed me to connect with the characters on a level others might not be able to, but also allowed me to put aside my aversion to instant love having experienced something similar in my teenage days—something I had forgotten about until Stanton brought it back to my foremost thoughts.

This is a great story, and as I said previously, while some events may seem a bit far-fetched in some aspects, I really loved it all the same. Four stars.

I received this novel from the publisher, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon | Kindle (only $3.79!) | Barnes and Noble

_______________________________________________________________________

Excerpt:

Nikolai opened his eyes, chilled, as a cloud blocked out the sun. Next to him, Becca slept, her hand curled in his. She smiled in relaxed slumber.

He gently released her hand and looked around. A couple of people lounged on the distant beach and a lone man sat in the sand with a camera aimed straight at him. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

Nikolai turned his back to the beach and nudged her. “Becca!”

“Hmm?” She stirred.

“There’s a guy on the beach and I’m pretty sure he’s taking our picture.”

Her eyes sprang open. “What?” She sat up and spotted the man. “You think he’s paparazzi?”

“It sure isn’t a random tourist aiming a long lens at us. How the hell did he know I was here?” Nikolai slid on his shorts.

“Oh crud.” Becca grabbed her clothes and quickly pulled them on. “You think he’s been taking pictures of us sleeping?”

“That and more. Lord only knows how long he’s been here.” He didn’t notice him when they were in the water, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t been lurking in the trees, snapping pictures.

Nikolai stuffed their leftover lunch items into his backpack. How did this camera-wielding jerk find him?

Dressed, with everything packed up, they headed for the motorbike. Their path unfortunately forced them to pass the creep with the camera. Nikolai pulled his baseball cap low and hid behind his sunglasses. He led the way with Becca’s hand firmly in his.

“Prince Nikolai, why did you run from the palace?” The photographer, a short, heavyset man with cameras strapped across his chest moved closer.

Nikolai picked up the pace, but the man stayed with them, walking backward and snapping pictures. This was no official appearance where Nikolai owed the press a friendly smile and kind word.

“Do your parents know where you are?”

He ignored him.

“Your friend is beautiful. Is she the reason you fled? What’s her name?”

Nikolai bristled and fought the urge to shove the man to the ground and bust his camera. He glanced at Becca, her face pink with embarrassment. She didn’t need to be targeted by this oily loser.

“Have you heard that your sister, Princess Alexi, has gone missing?”

Nikolai hesitated for an instant, but then hurried on. The man was lying. He was sure of it, and he wouldn’t let this vile intruder ruin their day.

They reached the bike. He hurried and strapped on the pack and hopped on. Becca climbed up, hugging him from behind. Nikolai liked the feel of her body secure against his. It made him feel better able to protect her.

The photographer kept snapping pictures and wouldn’t back off. “There are rumors that you have renounced the throne,” he baited.

Nikolai stiffened, but didn’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction. He started the engine.

“Where are you going next?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Nikolai grinned, revved the engine, and spun gravel as they raced away.

_______________________________________________________________________

About Angie Stanton:

Angie Stanton never planned on writing books; she wanted to be a Rockette. However, growing up in rural Wisconsin, with her brothers’ 4-H pigs as pets, dance didn’t work out. Instead she became an avid daydreamer. After years of perfecting stories in her head, she began to write them down, and the rest is history.

Angie is the author of six books including Royally Lost, Rock and a Hard Place, and Snapshot. She graduated with a Journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin, and is a proud double finalist of the National Readers Choice Awards for Love ’em or Leave ’em.

Website: http://angiestanton.com/
Twitter: @angie_stanton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngieStantonAuthor

Enter Angie’s Giveaway!!

Click the blog tour button above to see all the stops on the tour!

{May 3, 2014} The 99 Cent Club–Feature 95–Ten Books for Ten Bucks

Every Saturday I run a feature for the 99 Cent Club, and below are the ebook picks for this week that caught my eye and are currently ONLY 99 Cents on Amazon, with many on Barnes and Noble as well. I don’t know if these are permanent prices, so please don’t shoot the messenger, and double check pricing before pressing the buy button. Enjoy! (If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.)

______________________________________________________________

Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand

I killed a girl last night. I did it with my bare hands and an old piece of pipe I found lying next to the dumpster. But that’s not the part that got me. The part that scared me, the part I can’t seem to wrap my head around and still has me reeling, was that when she charged me, her body shifted – and then she was a wolf. All snapping teeth and extended claws. But by the time I stood over her lifeless body, she was a girl again. That’s about the time I went into shock… And that was the moment he showed up.

And even now there are two thoughts that are so clear, they feel branded into my mind: One, Werewolves do exist, and two, I was born to kill them.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

PSSSST: You can get your 1-liner published in Dirty Blood #5!

Check out this CONTEST from Heather Hildenbrand:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/99767128/

______________________________________________________________

Soul Survivor by Michelle N. Files

Hailee Mai Hart is just a simple, normal girl. Or so she thought.

When she left her one-horse town for a college education in the big city, she never could’ve imagined what awaited her.

She’s quickly thrown into a world filled with angels, danger, and a curse…her curse. Come to find out, she’s not so simple after all. She’s actually the last of her kind, and the fate of the world rests on her shoulders. She has one chance to save Earth, and it all comes down to one choice: Light or Darkness. What is right and what is wrong is all a matter of perspective, which leaves her heart dangerously tangled. No matter which path she takes people will die, and that’s just not an option.

Will she be able to save everyone, or will she be the Soul Survivor?

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

Whispers and Wishes by Hollie Westring

Eliza Monroe has been traveling the United States for three years, immersing herself in the towns she visits as she searches for the mother she’s never known. She hopes returning to her grandmother’s inn in Sage Springs, Mo., will provide the break she needs to evaluate her lonely life.

What Eliza isn’t expecting is to have two men enter the picture, not making her decision to stay or leave any easier. One has been her foundation, while the other is as comfortable as she is hopping from city to city. Throw in a kooky grandmother, a cheerful best friend, a sarcastic guest, a town where residents and spirits interact like neighbors, and Eliza has little time to contemplate her future.

Friendships grow, webs are spun, and lies are revealed before Eliza comes to terms with what she wants in life and learns what’s really important.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Spirits and Spells by Hollie Westring

Ivy LaRue didn’t intend on being happy when she moved to Sage Springs, Mo., but that’s exactly what happened. First, Eliza and Lexi wiggled in through the cracks of her carefully constructed defensive walls. Now her best friend, a spirit, is in the flesh thanks to mysterious circumstances. And Ivy can’t help but notice it’s some mighty fine flesh, which just adds another layer of complication to her life.

With only days to find a cure to keep her friend in human form, Ivy attempts to find the town’s magical spring to save his life. While doing so, however, she must battle an unseen spirit who seems determined to make Ivy’s life as difficult as possible. Assistance comes from unlikely places as she faces her past to attain the future she never thought she wanted.

Casting spells, dodging love and forming friendships soon make this snarky witch realize life is much more interesting than she ever imagined it could be.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Haunting: The Dusty Chronicles by B.J. Sheldon

Haunting is a recipient of the Reader’s Favorite Silver Medal.

After a family tragedy, 15-year-old Dusty Vermeer has to start her sophomore year in a new town and a new school. Rural Iowa introduces her to Mark, a charming football player. Dusty can hardly believe her heart. Then, to her surprise Dusty meets another guy.

The chemistry between Dusty and Jack could spark a prairie fire on a rainy day. The only problem? Jack’s dead. The handsome soldier comes to Dusty in her dreams and introduces her to the horrors of a foreign battlefield and the enchantments of first love.

While Dusty tries to balance her feelings for the two new guys in her life, Jack steps out of Dusty’s dreams and into her reality. And he wants something. Jack has no memory of how he died more than half a century ago. Dusty vows to uncover the mystery, but her quest for justice puts her in the path of evil, a force that won’t stop until she’s silenced.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

The Boy Who Sneaks in My Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moselry

Amber Walker and her older brother, Jake, have an abusive father. One night her brother’s best friend, Liam, sees her crying and climbs through her bedroom window to comfort her. That one action sparks a love/hate relationship that spans over the next eight years.

Liam is now a confident, flirty player who has never had a girlfriend before. Amber is still emotionally scarred from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. Together they make an unlikely pair.

Their relationship has always been a rocky one, but what happens when Amber starts to view her brother’s best friend a little differently? And how will her brother, who has always been a little overprotective, react when he finds out that the pair are growing closer? Find out in The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Last Call by Michele G. Miller

“You are cordially invited…”

Four words that spark the fear of God into any gently bred, single southern woman.

When Savannah Guthry receives an invitation to her cousin’s wedding back home in Charleston, South Carolina, her first thoughts aren’t of flowers and dresses. Instead, she’s reminded of the groom: her first love and the reason she ended up at a college 500 miles away from home.

Determined to show up and dazzle not only her ex but her spoiled cousin too, Savannah allows her friends to set her up on a series of dates looking for Mr. Right. Wrapped up in her memories of the past and the drama of the present, Savannah doesn’t recognize a pattern in the seemingly random events that occur around her. There is a dangerous threat looming in the shadows, and if she’s not careful, she might lose more than Mr. Right.

*Mild language and sexual situations

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Never Let You Fall by Michele G. Miller

Orphaned at 7, with no memory of her past or the family she lost, 17 year old Skye Martin is tired of being alone and afraid. After a hard night of partying, Skye wakes up alone in an unfamiliar hotel. All she can remember is the deep voice of her rescuer and his promise: “I am safe.”

Xander has been tasked with watching Skye from afar for the past two years, in order to keep her safe from the demons that hunt her. An easy job – until a pair of red glowing eyes reveal themselves to Skye, and Xander, in a moment of weakness, is forced to break his cover to protect her.

Never good at trusting people, Skye is inexplicably drawn to Xander and the immediate bond she feels for him. However, Xander is filled with secrets and ties to her past that threaten to thrust Skye into a world she could never imagine existed…

As she begins to unravel the truth about who Xander is and the details surrounding her family, she discovers that she might just be the key to saving everything…

And, most importantly, she finds that there has always been someone by her side who would never let her fall…

***This book is a fantasy romance recommended for 14 and up

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Finding Obscurity by Emma Shade

FINDING OBSCURITY is the first book in The Secrets Series:

Lily Canton always knew she was unique.

After she loses everything she has ever cared about ten years ago, Lily decides it’s time to find answers about her past and why she has special powers. But when you can’t control seeing the future, and you hold enough electricity inside you to black out an entire city block, it doesn’t always make life easy.

She swore she would never care about anyone ever again after that fateful day so long ago. Then she meets sexy club owner, Ashton Ryder. Lily can’t afford to fall for Ashton. Then there is handsome, powerful, Blake Moore, who wants to help her with more than just her powers. She has to learn to trust people and let them into her heart, even as things spiral out of control.

Not only does she learn Ashton has a secret that will make her question everything she ever thought was real, but Lily finds out that her birth parents are anything but ordinary. Just when Lily thinks she has everything figured out, someone is determined to destroy her – because she isn’t supposed to be alive.

Other books by Emma Shade:
FINDING CLARITY, book two of The Secrets Series

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Love As the World Dies by Lila Felix, Rebecca Ethington, and Rachel Higginson

There is always talk of the end of the world. The end of light, the end of humanity, the end of civilizations. But even through the ends there are beginnings. There are things to cling to. There is love.

Join best selling authors, Rachel Higginson, Lila Felix and Rebecca Ethington, as they take you to the end of the world, to the end of time to prove that love survives all.

Love as the World Dies is comprised of three dystopian novellas, the first in their respective series. Love and Decay by Rachel Higginson, Forced Autonomy by Lila Felix, and Through Glass by Rebecca Ethington.

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.

For more information about books on sale throughout the week, as well as giveaway updates, be sure to like A Book Vacation’s Facebook Page.

{May 2, 2014} {ARC Review} After the End by Amy Plum

From Goodreads: She’s searching for answers to her past. They’re hunting her to save their future.

World War III has left the world ravaged by nuclear radiation. A lucky few escaped to the Alaskan wilderness. They’ve survived for the last thirty years by living off the land, being one with nature, and hiding from whoever else might still be out there.

At least, this is what Juneau has been told her entire life.

When Juneau returns from a hunting trip to discover that everyone in her clan has vanished, she sets off to find them. Leaving the boundaries of their land for the very first time, she learns something horrifying: There never was a war. Cities were never destroyed. The world is intact. Everything was a lie.

Now Juneau is adrift in a modern-day world she never knew existed. But while she’s trying to find a way to rescue her friends and family, someone else is looking for her. Someone who knows the extraordinary truth about the secrets of her past.

__________________________________________________________________________

I didn’t have access to the internet when I started reading this novel on my Kindle, so I couldn’t refresh my memory about the synopsis before I plunged in. But truth be told, I actually think not knowing the synopsis made After the End even more interesting for me because early on, when the truth hit about WWIII for Juneau and Miles, I was shocked and totally riveted to the spot. It’s always fun to go into a book without knowing the premise, and generally I am always surprised by what I learn along the way, having no expectations going in, and so I feel like I should do it more often, especially after absolutely falling in love with this novel.
I will admit that the first chapter didn’t reel me in right away. I wasn’t sure what was going on, and this is why people write a synopsis for books in the first place—to give a little background. Juneau’s story was a bit interesting, but not riveting, and I was definitely thinking Hunger Games throughout that first chapter, but then Miles came on the scene and changed everything for me. I can’t express how exciting it is to figure something out before a character does; to have an “aha” moment before the entire picture becomes clear, but as Miles’ story began to evolve, I definitely had a moment where everything suddenly clicked and I was hooked, line and sinker.

If you haven’t read the synopsis above as of yet, well, I’m about to ruin it for you. The whole idea of a society gone into hiding after WWIII, only for the truth to come out that there never was a WWIII, well… genius. Just. Genius.

Can you imagine finding out that the entire world you know and understand, or thought you knew and understood, was a lie? That everyone, mentors and parents included, have lied to you since birth? It’s mind boggling, yet this is exactly what Juneau experiences as her world deteriorates around her. Thrust into the unknown, a world she was taught to fear, she must trust the most unlikely allies in order to find her family, and it’s definitely a bumpy and intense ride the entire way.

Filled with elements of the paranormal, Plum’s latest novel is epically fun. I especially love that it’s told from two different viewpoints, allowing readers inside the minds of both Juneau and Miles as they make decisions and choices that could ultimately end with their death if they aren’t careful—but to not take risks means ultimate failure and the death of others. Locked between a rock and a hard place, unsure just how much trust to put in the other, both Juneau and Miles have many choices to make, and lots of growing up to do. Five amazing stars.

In exchange for an honest review, has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on May 6, 2014.

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

{May 1, 2014} {Release Day Launch: Review and Giveaway} Spirits and Spells by Hollie Westring (Sage Springs #2)

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Review:

From Goodreads: Ivy LaRue didn’t intend on being happy when she moved to Sage Springs, Mo., but that’s exactly what happened. First, Eliza and Lexi wiggled in through the cracks of her carefully constructed defensive walls. Now her best friend, a spirit, is in the flesh thanks to mysterious circumstances. And Ivy can’t help but notice it’s some mighty fine flesh, which just adds another layer of complication to her life.

With only days to find a cure to keep her friend in human form, Ivy attempts to find the town’s magical spring to save his life. While doing so, however, she must battle an unseen spirit who seems determined to make Ivy’s life as difficult as possible. Assistance comes from unlikely places as she faces her past to attain the future she never thought she wanted.

Casting spells, dodging love and forming friendships soon make this snarky witch realize life is much more interesting than she ever imagined it could be.

_____________________________________________________________

After reading Hollie Westring’s debut novel, Whispers and Wishes, I was sold on the beautiful and haunting town of Sage Springs. With her quirky characters, charming townsfolk, and overall laid back atmosphere, Westring easily draws readers into Sage Springs, throwing in twists and turns where we’d least expect it.

Whereas Whispers and Wishes focuses on the character of Eliza, Spirits and Spells gives readers a more in-depth look at Eliza’s spunky sidekick, Ivy LaRue, a young woman running from both past and present. Bedding down in the illustrious Sage Springs, with her candle business booming and the magical realm just beneath her fingertips, Ivy’s story drew me in right away, especially as I see a bit of myself in her. A little stand-offish and full of snark, Ivy’s cover for her heart of gold, she continually blames herself, closing doors on relationships before one can say “happily ever after.” But when a dark spell begins to threaten those she loves, Ivy really begins to come into herself, and there is no limit on surprises that Westring throws at readers as this sweet love story unfolds.

Oliver is, of course, to die for… He completes Ivy in a way no else ever has, and I just loved their back and forth quips throughout the novel. Hilarity ensues as the novel progresses, and Ivy’s strong kick-butt personality, along with Eliza’s pragmatism, Lexi’s cheer, and Oliver’s swoonworthyness will make this a novel you won’t soon forget. With a dash of mystery, romance, and magic, this novel is sure to be your perfect afternoon read. Four stars.

In exchange for an honest review, I received an ARC of this novel from the author.

Hollie's_Candles_Teaser

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

The ebook is JUST .99 cents!

_________________________________________________________________________________________

About the Author:

Hollie Westring hails from Kansas City, Mo. She used to be a journalist, which probably explains her extreme dislike of the serial comma and her preference for AP style.

After realizing the hours of journalists were not productive to any type of social or family life, she settled into a job at a publishing syndicate. She worked with comics, astrology columns, word puzzles and feature columns for six years. Although she enjoyed her time there, Hollie decided to leave the nine-to-five world and join the twenty-four/seven world of motherhood. Now she edits from home.

When not writing, editing or reading, Hollie can be found baking cookies or watching more than her fair share of crime TV. She’s a loyal Royals and Chiefs fan.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Hollie_Westring_Teaser_#2

Hollie is a UtopYA Nominee for

BEST DEBUT NOVEL

BEST PARANORMAL NOVEL

GO VOTE:

http://bit.ly/VOTEutopYAawards2014

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Giveaway:

I’m giving away an ebook of both Whispers and Wishes and Spirits and Spells to one lucky winner!

Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!

{May 1, 2014} {Cover Reveal} Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge (Dowser #3)

Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic

by Meghan Ciana Doidge

(Dowser #3)

_______________________________________________

Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic: $3.99

Trinkets, Trasures, and other Bloddy Magic: $3.99

Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic: Coming Soon

_______________________________________________________________________________

About Meghan Ciana Doidge:

Meghan Ciana Doidge is an award-winning writer based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She has a penchant for bloody love stories, superheroes, and the supernatural. She also has a thing for chocolate, potatoes, and sock yarn.

Novels – After The Virus, Spirit Binder, Time Walker, Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic – Dowser #1, Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic – Dowser #2, Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic – Dowser #3

Novellas/Shorts – Love Lies Bleeding and The Graveyard Kiss

WARNING: author has been known to manipulate characters with chocolate, sex, and fantastical plotting. Readers beware http://author.to/meghancianadoidge

Blog: www.madebymeghan.ca

Twitter: @mcdoidge

Facebook: Meghan Ciana Doidge

NEW RELEASE MAILING LIST

Amazon Author Page

Goodreads Author Page

{May 1, 2014} Recently Released Giveaway Goodness Giveaway #36–May

It’s that time again! For no other reason than that I like giveaways… we’re onto the THIRTY-SIXTH Recently Released Giveaway Goodness Giveaway run by yours truly!

Many of these novels have recently released. I’ve included my reviews below to help you pick the novel you’d like to win!

Interested? Of course you are! I’m offering ONE lucky winner one of these novels:

This is an INTERNATIONAL giveaway from the book depository, but you need to make sure they send to your country before entering–check here.

Fates by Lanie Bross
The Lure by Lynne Ewing
White Space by Ilsa J. Bick
The Tyrant’s Daughter by J.C. Carleson
The Darkest Joy by Marata Eros
White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout
The Troop by Nick Cutter
Nightcrawlers by Tim Curran

To enter you must:

-Be 13 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

-Fill in the mandatory question on rafflecopter (extra entries optional)

Click here to go to the Rafflecopter entry form!

This contest is open internationally and will end at 12:01am EST on June 1st. The winner will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

___________________________________________________________________________________

A Book Vacation is honored to be nominated for:

BEST BLOG OF THE YEAR

BLOGGER OF THE YEAR

UTOPIAN OF THE YEAR (Shana Benedict)

You don’t have to vote for me, but you should definitely vote for your favorites!!

Voting ends May 16: http://bit.ly/VOTEutopYAawards2014

______________________________________________________________________

And, check out the other giveaways running on the blog:

Win a SIGNED Paperback of The Darkest Joy by Marata Eros–ENDS May 8

Win a Paperback of Easy by Tammara Webber–ENDS May 8

Win both of Hollie Westrings ebooks, Whispers and Wishes and Spirits and Spells–ENDS May 16

Win a Signed Paperback Set of Witch and Yellow by Tim O’Rourke–ENDS May 20

{May 1, 2014} {Cover Reveal} Empower: Fight Like a Girl–An Anthology

Title: Empower: Fight Like A Girl

Genre: Anthology of short stories ranging from crime mysteries to paranormal thrillers

Publisher: Words Empower Media

Release date: May 1, 2014

Purchase on Amazon

______________________________________________________________________

Book blurb:

“Women of TV have united against lupus! Presenting Empower: Fight Like A Girl, a special collection of short stories by top women writers from some of your favorite shows, including: Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Family Guy, Person of Interest, Grimm, Battlestar Galactica, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Law & Order: SVU, Star Trek: Voyager, Eureka, Twisted, The 100, Malcolm in the Middle, Millennium, Being Human, The Shield, Castle, Chuck, Gilmore Girls, and Game of Thrones. In this anthology, you’ll discover supernatural thrillers, crime mysteries, horror, comedies, and more.

______________________________________________________________________

Praise for Empower: Fight Like A Girl

“Even non-girls will feel empowered by these stories about ordinary, flawed characters finding their own strengths. Highly entertaining and original.” – Lee Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author of The Chase and King City, whose mother lost her hearing to lupus.

Authors contributing stories to this volume include:

All proceeds will be donated to the non-profit Lupus Foundation of America to help solve the cruel mystery of lupus.

Purchase it on Amazon

{April 30, 2014} {Giveaway} Win a Signed Paperback Set of Witch and Yellow by Tim O’Rourke

Tim O’Rourke has just recently updated his covers for the fabulous Sydney Hart Series–they’re beautiful!! And in celebration, Tim if giving away a signed set to one lucky winner!!

Witch:

Twenty-year-old Sydney Hart has always made mistakes and when she meets Michael Grayson, she soon comes to wonder if she hasn’t made the biggest mistake of her life. That one moment of passion between them causes Sydney’s world to spiral rapidly out of control.

Suffering from nightmares, Sydney soon realises her life and the people closest to her aren’t who or what she believed them to be. Fearing she has been cursed, Sydney attempts to unravel the dark secrets that surround her, and is desperate to discover why a dying man called her ‘Witch’.

A racy, paranormal romance with a chilling twist.

Yellow:

In love with Vincent and trying to move on with her life, Sydney Hart is visited by an old friend. When this friend suddenly goes missing, Sydney finds herself in a desperate race against time, not only to save her friend’s life, but also her relationship with Vincent.

With Michael wanting to spend more time with her in order to rekindle their relationship, Sydney’s life and emotions become ever more complex.

Trying to stay focused on the hunt for her missing friend, Sydney has to figure out who is telling her the truth; but most importantly, who is Mr. Yellow?

_______________________________________________________________

To enter you must:

-Be 18 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

-Fill in the mandatory question on rafflecopter (extra entries optional)

Click here to go to the Rafflecopter entry form!

This contest is open internationally and will end at 12:01am EST on May 20th. The winner will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

{April 30, 2014} {Release Day Blitz} Fighting for Infinity by Karen Amanda Hooper (Kindrily #3)

FIGHTING FOR INFINITY, the 3rd and final book in The Kindrily series by Karen Amanda Hooper, has been released!

Every moment, every lifetime, every decision—including her choice to erase—has led Maryah to this.Two outcomes are possible: an infinite happy-ever-after with her kindrily or the final severing of her relationship with Nathan.Closer to the enemy than ever before, Maryah unravels the diabolical plan that Dedrick has been manipulating into place for centuries. Revelations, secrets, and lies surface faster than Maryah can process. She doesn’t know who to trust, what to believe, or how to save her loved ones from the desolate future Dedrick is so close to executing.Guided by an enigmatic raven-haired prisoner, Maryah fights body and soul to save Nathan, her kindrily, and countless others. But is her love strong enough to alter a prophecy written in the stars?

______________________________________________________________________________

Right now all Kindrily series ebooks are on sale in honor of the trilogy being complete.

Book 1, GRASPING AT ETERNITY, is only $.99!

But hurry and grab your copies now because the price will go back up soon.

All books can be purchased at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

______________________________________________________________________________

Karen is celebrating with a week-long Facebook party where many authors will be giving away free books and prizes. Go here to join.

Karen will be giving away winner’s choice of a signed copy of any of The Kindrily books.

You can enter using the Rafflecopter below, but she’ll also be giving
away more prizes during her Facebook party running April 30-May 8th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

{April 29, 2014} {Review} Monument 14: Sky on Fire by Emmy Laybourne (Monument 14 #2)

From Goodreads: Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope.

Knowing that the chemical weapons saturating the air outside will turn him into a bloodthirsty rage monster, Dean decides to stay in the safety of the store with Astrid and some of the younger kids. But their sanctuary has already been breached once. . . .

Meanwhile, Alex, determined to find their parents, heads out into the darkness and devastation with Niko and some others in a recently repaired school bus. If they can get to Denver International Airport, they might be evacuated to safety. But the outside world is even worse than they expected…

_____________________________________________________________

I absolutely adored the first novel in this series, and while this second novel is very well written, it just didn’t grab me like the first. While part of this has to do with needing to rekindle my relationships with the characters, and thankfully Laybourne gives readers all the reminders they need to get back on track, the main issue for me was the font. Normally, I don’t discuss layout or font when critiquing a novel, especially since it generally has no barring on the story itself—the author doesn’t control font in a big publishing house—but I just can’t get over it. The novel is split between two characters, Dean and Alex, as they branch off from one another and tell their stories as the days unfold. Dean and just a few young survivors are staying behind at the Greenway Superstore due to blood toxin issues, and so events unfolding there are told through his eyes, in a normal, every day font. On the other hand, Alex, Dean’s brother, and the rest of the young survivors have taken the bus and are driving 60+ miles to the airport in attempts to bring people to help rescue Dean and the other survivors who can’t weather the toxins in the air. And here is where the story lost me—I had trouble reading Alex’s point of view because the font changed, and it wasn’t a normal easy font for me to read. It was lighter than normal font, with the letters elongated and spaced out, and it really impacted my reading. One can’t enjoy something they struggle to read, and while I get the idea behind different fonts, I think it was a not so great move on the part of the publishers. I just couldn’t get into Alex’s story because I struggled so much to follow it.

This novel is actually rather short in the realm of things, sitting at 213 pages, and truthfully, not a whole lot happened. There were a few issues that arose, but our heroes and heroines were able to smooth things over quite quickly, which is good, but doesn’t leave much in terms of excitement. Don’t get me wrong, I did like the story, and I’m excited to see what happens next for the characters, but I hope there is just a little more substance and, of course, a normal font throughout. Three stars.

I purchased this novel from Barnes and Noble.

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

{April 29, 2014} {ARC Review} The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel

From Goodreads: Some sixteen-year-olds babysit for extra cash. Some work at the Gap. Becca Williamson breaks up couples.   

After watching her sister get left at the altar, Becca knows the true damage that comes when people utter the dreaded L-word. For just $100 via paypal, she can trick and manipulate any couple into smithereens. With relationship zombies overrunning her school, and treating single girls like second class citizens, business is unfortunately booming. Even her best friend Val has resorted to outright lies to snag a boyfriend.

One night, she receives a mysterious offer to break up the homecoming king and queen, the one zombie couple to rule them all: Steve and Huxley. They are a JFK and Jackie O in training, masters of sweeping faux-mantic gestures, but if Becca can split them up, then school will be safe again for singletons. To succeed, she’ll have to plan her most elaborate scheme to date and wiggle her way back into her former BFF Huxley’s life – not to mention start a few rumors, sabotage some cell phones, break into a car, and fend off the inappropriate feelings she’s having about Val’s new boyfriend. All while avoiding a past victim out to expose her true identity.

No one said being the Break-Up Artist was easy.

_____________________________________________________________

Admit it. There has always been that one relationship (or two) that you were dying to break-up. Whether it was because your best friend turned into someone different, or the couple was in so deep they couldn’t see how wrong they were for each other, or perhaps just because you were jealous—you’ve wished that someone would come along and break them up. Meet Becca. She’s your person.

I have to admit that I nearly didn’t pick up this novel. Readers just know going in that Becca is going to get caught, that the people in her school are going to make an example of her, and that it’s just not going to end well for her. And because that sounds very much like a bunch of teen movies I’ve seen, I nearly stopped myself before I even began reading. And I’m so glad that I didn’t listen to my inner monologue. The Break-Up Artist is actually a hilarious tale and, though we know how it’s going to end from the very beginning, Siegel makes this novel stand apart from all the teen angst movies and books out there, and I highly enjoyed nearly every minute of it.

Becca has seen how relationships can ruin a person, so she’s made it her job to break up relationships before they get to the stage where they ruin lives. Amazingly enough, well, perhaps not knowing human nature, there are tons of clients willing to pay the masked break-up artist if she can successfully break up the couple in question. And in the beginning, it seems harmless enough. She really is doing some people a favor by breaking them up, as seen by how self-absorbed and forgetful they become around their significant other. It’s true, people change around their beau, especially teens in relationships, and so it makes sense that Becca has found a calling in “helping” her peers return to their right sense of mind.

When Becca is asked to break up Huxley and Steve, she takes on the challenge, and hilarity ensues along the way, but so do some very real life lessons, like fate, friendship, and right from wrong. Becca has a lot to learn in the love department, and at one point even she is duped into the “relationship” throng, going against everything she’s ever preached, and learning that perhaps what she’s doing isn’t right at all. Constantly battling against herself and her desire for friendship, especially as she see’s her true friend, Huxley, return to her, Becca has a lot of growing up to do, and this is the perfect tale to tell it all. Though I didn’t agree with her when it came to her best-friend’s boyfriend—in fact I found her to be quite silly in her antics here—I get what she’s going through, and I just adored how the entire story unfolded. And there’s going to be a sequel of sorts—I can’t wait to see what’s next in store for Becca! Four stars.

In exchange for an honest review, Harlequin Teen has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release today!

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

{April 28, 2014} {Review} Shadows by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Lux #0.5)

From Goodreads: The last thing Dawson Black expected was Bethany Williams. As a Luxen, an alien life form on Earth, human girls are…well, fun. But since the Luxen have to keep their true identities a secret, falling for one would be insane.

Dangerous. Tempting. Undeniable.

Bethany can’t deny the immediate connection between her and Dawson. And even though boys aren’t a complication she wants, she can’t stay away from him. Still, whenever they lock eyes, she’s drawn in.

Captivated. Lured. Loved.

Dawson is keeping a secret that will change her existence…and put her life in jeopardy. But even he can’t stop risking everything for one human girl. Or from a fate that is as unavoidable as love itself.

____________________________________________________________

I picked up this novella after reading Obsidian, because Shadows is the prequel and I was curious to know more about Dawson and Bethany’s ill-fated relationship. I have to say, had I known there was a prequel available before reading Obsidian, I would have read it first, but as things turned out, I ended up reading the first full novel prior to reading this prequel. That being said, I already knew the outcome going in, and yet, I almost feel like reading these stories backwards made me care even more about the characters than had I read them in the correct order. Would I recommend reading Shadows after Obsidian? Well, yes, I think I would, because even though I knew the ending going in, I had a healthy respect for all the characters and knew so much about them that I already loved the story before I even started reading.

And just like Obsidian, Shadows is an extremely well written novella. Armentrout ties the novella and novel together seamlessly, giving the characters I loved, like Daemon and Dee face time, even though this isn’t their novella. She also gives readers more background information about the Thompson triplets, characters readers tentatively meet in Obsidian, but don’t obtain much information about them as they’re extremely minute.

I will say that knowing the ending of Shadows was hard, especially as I’d gone and fell in love with the characters right away. It killed me to know bad things were going to happen to them, and yet, I also feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel here. Based on the wording that Armentrout uses at the very end of this novella, I’m not 100% sold on the idea that what the DOD said happened really happened, so I do have hope as I go into Onyx, book two in the series. Likewise, I’m very curious about this bond that seems to keep happening between the aliens and their human lovers… having seen what happens to Dawson and Bethany, I am worried for our characters Daemon and Katy as they seem to be in a similar situation at the end of Obsidian. Which is another reason I’m not 100% sold on the end of Dawson and Bethany…

To be quite honest, it doesn’t really matter what order your read these two books in—Obsidian before Shadows, or Shadows before Obsidian… they’re both beautifully written and captivating, and you should read them both. Four stars.

I purchased this novella from Amazon:

Kindle | Nook

{April 27, 2014} The Martinsburg Chocolate Festival and Book Fair–What You Need to Know and Why You Need to Go in 2015

Early yesterday morning, my friend Sharon and I left for a short road trip into West Virgina solely to experience the awesomeness that is Martinsburg’s Chocolate Festival and Book Fair that ran from 10am-4pm. We wanted to experience the “chocolate walk”; a walk from small business to small business, extending three blocks on Queen’s Street, in which each participating shop provided chocolate tasting (all different sorts), as well as housing an author–allowing store visitors to chat with them, purchase signed books, pick up awesome swag, and even enter raffles for giveaways. All this–and it was only $5 admission (which paid for the chocolate portion–the author portion was free).

Truth be told, I wasn’t sure what to expect upon arrival in Martinsburg. Parking is free on the weekends, and it’s a very cute, classy town full of beautiful shops–but my main concern was this: would there be enough to do from 10am-4pm? With 23 stops on the chocolate walk, including a chocolate factory tour and showing of the classic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the answer is, indeed, yes. There’s TONS to do.

We arrived a little after 10:30am and immediately purchased tickets to the chocolate walk tour–a self-paced, do-as-you-like tour of Queen’s Street and its shops. Purchasing our tickets at the 1902 building, we first went inside to see the Cupcake Contest. My oh my, there were a TON of beautiful, delectable cupcakes inside, and I was amazed by the imagination and creativity of the entrants! I was even more amazed by the tastiness of it all… at 11:30am, after the judging was complete, chocolate walkers were invited to participate in a tasting, and boy was that fun! I picked a yellow flower shaped peanut butter concoction to taste, and it was so good! I was highly surprised by what I found on the inside as well–an entire section of peanut butter just for me! YUM! My friend, Sharon, picked a coconut cupcake to taste, and that was amazing, too! Just look at all the creativity and imagination of this edible art:

After taste-testing cupcakes, we decided to begin following the tour guide pamphlet to start meeting authors and eating our fill of chocolate:

One author I especially wanted to see was Michelle Files, stop 21, so that’s where we started–at the All About Fabric store. As a book blogger and UtopYA attendee, I already knew Michelle, and I was excited to see her again (she’s the main reason we made the road trip).

We found Michelle, her mother, and her sister in the cozy All About Fabric store (really cute), and it was so nice to chitchat and catch up with one another. Likewise, I was able to purchase some signed paperbacks of the awesome Soul Survivor as well as two book charms (one book and charm for me and one book and charm for an upcoming giveaway–so stay tuned to the blog), as well as grab some signed bookmarks and, of course, chocolate! The set up was beautiful and inviting, and Michelle also had three ginormous raffles up for grabs, which was awesome! (More about Michelle Files and her book, Soul Survivor, can be found at the end of this blog post.)

From Michelle File’s stop, we made our way down the list, going from store to store, chatting up authors and browsing store merchandise. In Roberts Jewelers, I came across the most magnificent clock, perfect for a book lover like me, and just had to have it–plus the chocolate in the jewelers was absolutely divine.

And on and on we went. For lunch, we stopped into Casa Visone, a quaint little Italian place that I highly recommend, and here we met Lee Adams, a YA, NA, and non-fiction author! While eating the most delicious Fettuccine Delizia–you could just tell everything, noodles included, was made from scratch–I read over the synopsis for Lee’s novels, and ended up purchasing two of them, Strawberry Wine and Unlikely Family for upcoming reviews on the blog. And I’m highly anticipating them! (More about Lee Adams and her books can be found at the end of this blog post.)

After lunch, we went to DeFluri’s Fine Chocolates and participated in the kitchen tour, eating even more chocolate, and buying up some awesome edible tokens to bring home as well… we did have to wear hair nets in the kitchen, which was a little strange, but the smells, sights, and tastes made it all worth it in the end. Check out the candies from DeFluri’s Fine Chocolates as well as from the walking tour itself–deliciousness all around:

We wandered around a few more shops after our kitchen tour, and then went out to dinner with Michelle Files, driving through the beautiful countryside and visiting Shepherd University before our trek back home. And I have to say, yesterday was indeed one of the best days ever. Great friends, great food… yummy chocolate, and awesome books–what more could you want in a festival?

Make sure you plan on coming to the third annual Chocolate Festival and Book Fair next year, 2015, so you can experience all the fun, meet great authors, and eat all the chocolate you could ever want–and if you’re an author close to Martinsburg, make sure you apply to be a part of the chocolate walking tour next year–I’d love to see you there!

My haul from all the shops participating in the Chocolate Festival and Book Fair:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

About Michelle Files

Michelle was born and raised in wild, wonderful West Virginia. While her first passion is numbers, not long into adulthood, Michelle rediscovered her love of books and with it the joy and fulfillment of writing her own stories. She spends her days working as a CPA and her nights weaving tales of love, friendship, and everything in between.

When she’s not working or writing, you’ll find her binge watching her favorite TV shows, reading, tweeting, hanging with her friends and furry children, or spending time with her close knit extended family.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Youtube | Pinterest

Soul Survivor Synopsis:

Hailee Mai Hart is just a simple, normal girl. Or so she thought. When she left her one-horse town for a college education in the big city, she never could’ve imagined what awaited her.

She’s quickly thrown into a world filled with angels, danger, and a curse…her curse. Come to find out, she’s not so simple after all.

She’s actually the last of her kind, and the fate of the world rests on her shoulders. She has one chance to save Earth, and it all comes down to one choice: Light or Darkness.

What is right and what is wrong is all a matter of perspective, which leaves her heart dangerously tangled. No matter which path she takes people will die, and that’s just not an option.

Will she be able to save everyone, or will she be the Soul Survivor?

Soul Survivor is only 99 cents on Kindle right now!

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

About Lee Adams

Lilli “Lee” Adams grew up on the outskirts of Baltimore MD. She graduated from Shippensburg University of PA with a B.A. in Communications; Radio/TV/Journalism. Before joining the record industry, Lee spent ten years working in radio as an on-air personality. She has traveled extensively in the U.S. and also abroad to Australia, Italy, France, London, Canada, and the Caribbean islands. Her hobbies include water skiing, scuba diving, boating, reading, music and martial arts. She is an active member of her church and the Walk to Emmaus community.

Donor Girl, written under her given name of Lilli, was inspired after her experience as a living organ donor. In 2006, her sister called to let her know that her husband was on the kidney transplant list, waiting for a kidney. The wait would take 5-7 years and Dave needed it within one year. The family decided to get tested and Lee’s medical tests came back as a match. Lee looked on the internet and in book stores to find books about living organ donors and couldn’t find many. Some members of her medical team and family suggested she write her story.

Lee’s first novel, Strawberry Wine, is the story of five friends who grow up together, come of age together and endure a heartache that threatens to tear them apart and destroy the rest of their lives. It’s a story of friendship, forgiveness, and courage.

Lee has just finished her second novel, Unlikely Family, and it is available on Amazon Kindle for just $3.99. This is the story of four teenagers who find themselves alone and homeless due to no fault of their own. They join together and with the help of two adults, form their own unlikely family and make it through adolescence. They overcome adversity to find friendship, success and love.

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

_______________________________________________

Strawberry Wine Synopsis:

Ten years have passed since Taynya Smith’s last summer at Laurel Lake – the summer of Marie. Today Tanya is a confident, successful music promoter – a far cry from the naive seventeen-year-old who showed up at the lake full of rosy notions of first love, lifelong friendships, and evenings spent sipping strawberry wine on the shore. That September changed everything, and as far as Tanya is concerned, there’s no going back. That is, until a mysterious phone call from Marie’s lawyer brings Tanya face to face with the past. Suddenly she finds herself returning to Laurel Lake and to everything she left behind there. Will the dark secret that haunts the lake break her heart all over again? Or will Marie’s legacy be the key that unlocks the future Tanya gave up on ten long years ago?

Strawberry Wine is only $2.99 on Kindle right now!

_______________________________________________

Unlikely Family Synopsis:

When Joshua Anthony finds himself homeless at fourteen, he is determined to survive on his own. With the help of motel owner Curt, Josh is doing just that when he encounters three other homeless teens; Charles, Elise and Leah. They decide to band together, pool their resources, and form their very own unlikely family. Along the way, they encounter Liz, a 27 year old woman who is down on her luck and needs a break. Will these teens be just what she needs to get her life back on track?

This is the story of four resilient teenagers, determined to thrive in spite of their circumstances. They encounter many hardships on their road to adulthood, but also learn to love, hope, and find success.

Join this unlikely family on their journey of discovery. Laugh with them, cry with them, fall in love with them as they do with each other.

Unlikely Family is only $3.99 on Kindle right now!

{April 27, 2014} {Review} Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Lux #1)

From Goodreads: Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don’t kill him first, that is.

_______________________________________________________________

The fact that the main character, Katy, runs her own book blog instantly sold me on this novel. I mean, that’s just epic. She loves books just as much as I do, and she’s more inclined to stay in and read all day than to hang out with friends, just like me! I loved her from the get go. So, where is my alien living next door?

Not only could I connect with Katy, but she’s also an all-around good person, and I really enjoyed that about her. She cares about others and knows how to take care of herself–I mean, let’s face it, no one is superman/woman, so we all need a little help now and again, but Katy knows when to accept help and when to stand on her own two feet; she isn’t a pushover or a heroine in distress, but rather a rational, smart young woman who finds herself in a surreal situation. And it’s so nice to read about characters like this.

And Daemon? He really is infuriating. I know the synopsis says he is, but sometimes I don’t expect the characters to get under my skin as much as they do, and Daemon is case in point. There were so many times that I wanted to reach through the pages and strangle him, the same as Katy, and I really bonded with her over his asinine comments and actions. And yet, he has redeemable qualities, and I do like him–I’m not in love with him yet; he’s too obnoxious, but he grew on me as the novel unfolded, and I am looking forward to more.

There was just the right amount of romance/tension/action in this novel to make it a seamless read, and I thought it was an ingenious idea to have the Luxen race be made of light, and though I actually have no imagination whatsoever, Armentrout was able to make me see their forms, which is a feat within itself. She is definitely a master storyteller. Four stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

And

Be sure to pick up the prequel, Shadows (Lux #0.5)

{April 26, 2014} The 99 Cent Club–Feature 94–Ten Books for Ten Bucks

Every Saturday I run a feature for the 99 Cent Club, and below are the ebook picks for this week that caught my eye and are currently ONLY 99 Cents on Amazon, with many on Barnes and Noble as well. I don’t know if these are permanent prices, so please don’t shoot the messenger, and double check pricing before pressing the buy button. Enjoy! (If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.)

______________________________________________________________

Two Little Lies by Adam Kunz

Lies can be very dangerous and deadly little things.

Almost four years after Laney Matthews survived a brush with death at the hands of Robbie Jameson, she has finally picked up the pieces of her life and started over. She’s made new friends, began dating again, attended countless therapy sessions, and is about to graduate in the spring from Blackburn University. Ever since that fateful night, Laney has tried to surround herself with positivity, and so far it’s been successful … but that’s all about to come crashing down.

When Laney receives news of Robbie’s release from prison, her bubble of security bursts and she begins to withdraw from everyday life. Her friends come to the rescue with a fun winter break getaway in order to clear their heads and shake off the end of semester finals. It’s here that Laney comes face to face again with Brent Lyles, the one true love that got away, and she begins to realize maybe he’s the exact thing that’s been missing in her crazy life.

Something’s amiss at the sprawling rental property though, and when things take a deadly turn, Laney and her friends are forced to fight for their lives. Has Robbie returned to finish what he started years ago? And is Laney prepared to stand up to her past demons once and for all?

The key to her survival this time though will be trust-a feeling she hasn’t embraced in quite some time.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

One Tiny Secret by Adam Kunz

Just one tiny secret has the potential to ruin everything.

Being the daughter of the sheriff in a small town like Holden Ridge means that eighteen-year-old Danielle “Dani” Marks’ life is under constant surveillance. She’s made a habit of staying under the radar by being a floater among social circles at school, which has kept her out of trouble-until now.

After a missing persons case stirs up the entire town, Dani finds herself caught right in the middle of the scandal. When she’s labeled a possible suspect, things quickly go from bad to worse. The sudden return of her old flame, Parker Reed, manages to make her whole situation even more complicated.

When an elusive unknown person begins to blackmail Dani by threatening to reveal her deepest secrets, Dani refuses to play along. That is, until the person’s actions take a violent turn. Holden Ridge loses its sense of quaint town security, and Dani is caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Who can she trust when anyone around her could be a suspect?

One thing’s for certain though: Never underestimate the power of one tiny secret.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Shady Bay by Casey L. Bond

Sometimes the hardest thing for a proud person to do is lean on others.

Since her father went to prison, Mercy Taylor’s life has been crap. With forty dollars in her pocket, and a determined look on her face, Mercy decides to do something about it. She hitch-hikes her way to Myrtle Beach to start fresh.

Never say it can’t get worse, because for Mercy, it does. For her, rock bottom consists of eating out of a trash can. But, once you’ve hit bottom, there’s nowhere to go but up.

Jaxon Harrison left Devil Creek, West Virginia for a new start. He’d fallen in love and had given his heart to a woman who had chewed it up and spit it out. He doesn’t need that kind of heartache again. The problem is, there’s a sweet, stubborn girl who refuses to get out of his head.

Sometimes life has plans that don’t coincide with our hopes and dreams. Sometimes life is hard. What will the future hold for Mercy and Jaxon? Can love survive anything?

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Consequence by Shelly Crane

Maggie and Caleb are married, leaders of their people, parents to their children, and happier than they ever dreamed, even with the visions they saw of it to prove it so. The council is still rebelling against Maggie’s changes, but this time it’s different. It’s almost as if something…or someone is behind them, pulling the strings and making decisions for them.

And Maggie is having strange visions that only she can see, leaving Caleb helpless to help her. But when her visions start to warn her that their daughter, Ava, will one day be in danger, they’ll do anything it takes to find out what’s going on and how to stop it, even paying a visit to a previous Visionary.

Maggie and Caleb must find out who or what is behind it all and stop them before Maggie is one vision too late.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

The Sisters by Teal Haviland

Gabrielle, the Angel of Karma, isn’t happy about a lot of things that have happened since she came to Earth to learn more about humans. She’s especially not happy that the Book of Barabbadon has fallen into her enemy’s hands, that demons are becoming significantly more powerful, and because of the dark changes in Lucas since the attack on him.

And her anger is beginning to show.

Her superior and her brethren—even Lucas—thought she was handling everything pretty well until they learn she wants to go after a human trafficker so she can see him face karma. It’s something she does only when compelled to do so because of a human’s particularly good, or, in this case, heinous acts. But their concerns aren’t from her desire to be more involved with her duties, or even because of the human she wants to see reap what he’s sown with her own eyes. It’s because of whom she wants to use to carry out what she has in mind—a trio of demons called the Sisters. They possess troubling powers, thought to still be strengthening, and were locked away by Gabrielle many years ago. Gabrielle, and those who care for her, know the Sisters are more than a little dangerous even for the Angel of Karma—they also know the Sisters will be looking for vengeance of their own.

Author Note:
The Sisters (A Reaping Chronicles Novella) is intended to be a companion to Inception (The Reaping Chronicles, 1). If you have not read Inception, I recommend that you read it prior to The Sisters. If you choose to read The Sisters first, you will not understand the dynamics between the characters or their state of mind, and you will learn of things that will spoil many plot revelations that take place in Inception.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Steel Lily by Megan Curd

AVERY PIKE is a commodity. No, more than a commodity. Her existence is guarded at all costs. She’s a water Elementalist, the strongest of her dwindling kind. She creates steam to provide energy to fuel Dome Four: the only thing standing between humanity and an earth ravaged by World War III. No steam, no Dome. No Dome, no life. Or so she thinks. That is, until a mysterious man offers her a way out of having to donate steam. A way to escape the corrupt government of Dome Four. While the offer seems too good to be true, Avery is intrigued. But when she arrives to her new home, she realizes the grass isn’t any less dead on this side of the fence. Instead, the lies are just hidden better. …Which means digging deeper. When Avery enlists the help of her friends to uncover the truth, she learns that while some secrets are better left concealed, humankind was never meant to live in a cage. And when you can control the most sought after resource, you can learn to control anything…including the fate of your world.

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

Touched by Vicki Green

‘What your body desires
Your heart can’t have’

Jade Morley was not your average stripper. Her rules. Her way. No sex. Touching only.
D.J. Sexy Lady by day, Stripper Angel by night, her life became one with no emotions, no heart and no soul until one night he walked in.

Knox Dunway has one thing. Money. Women throw themselves at him every day and he takes what he wants, when he wants but there’s no feeling, no love and no commitment. He wants more. Growing tired of trying to find ‘the one’ he walks into a strip club one night and everything changes.

Will Jade ever give in to her heart or will her survivor instincts always win?

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Love’s Suicide by Jennifer Foor

My heart belonged to Branch and Brooks Valentine since we were children, when we were all too naïve to know what that even meant. We didn’t understand that when we became adults, love would change us. I had to make a choice and when I did, it ripped our bond apart. Brooks left town, and he took half of my heart with him. It was difficult, but I coped and planned my future with Branch. I thought I’d made the right decision. I loved him and I always had.
Brooks showed up to be our best man the night before our nuptials. After drinks and too much reminiscing, I ended up in bed with the wrong brother. To avoid the humiliation and the fact that I’d ruined all of our lives, I left Branch and the only family I’d ever known.

That’s where my story should have ended.

Almost three years, one beautiful little girl and an abusive marriage later, I was standing there staring at the man that would always hold my heart.

The only question was…
Would I give it to him.

Find it on Amazon.

______________________________________________________________

A Beautiful Mess by T.K. Leigh

What happens when you lose everyone that promised they would always be there for you? How can you protect the few pieces of your shattered heart that remain?

Olivia Adler is a woman with a troubled past. After losing her parents at the young age of six and being raised by an uncle who she lost years later, she refuses to get attached to anyone, including friends. For the past decade, she has been able to remain unattached to any man, too worried about losing someone to get too close. Until Alexander Burnham walks into her life one night and changes everything. But he has issues of his own. And he’s keeping a secret that could turn Olivia’s world upside-down. Will Olivia let Alexander in enough for him to get close and protect her from a force threatening her very existence, or will she push him away, scared of letting Alexander in, in order to protect her heart?

A Beautiful Mess is the first installment of a three part series sure to captivate the heart with a story of secrets, courage, and love.

Recommended for ages 18 and up due to sexual situations, language, and mild violence.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

Price of a Kiss by Linda Kage

*new adult romance*
**explicit scenes and language**

I don’t care what my cousin says; I am not the queen of impossible relationships. I mean, just because my last boyfriend tried to kill me and left a bit of a scar on my neck, then forced me to move across the country and legally change my name to Reese Randall to escape him, does not mean—

Oh, who am I kidding? For a freshman in college, I have to have the worst dating track record ever.

It’s no wonder love is the last thing on my mind when Mason Lowe enters my life. But the chemistry between us is like bam! Our connection defies logic. And he’s just so freaking hot. Being around him makes me feel more alive than I’ve ever felt before. I even like bickering with him. He could be my soul mate…except for one teeny tiny glitch.

He’s a gigolo.

Boy, do I know how to pick them.

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

______________________________________________________________

If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.

For more information about books on sale throughout the week, as well as giveaway updates, be sure to like A Book Vacation’s Facebook Page.

{April 25, 2014} Announcing the Third Annual UtopYA Awards Public Voting–Go Vote for Your Favorites!

Early this morning, UtopYA announced the nominees chosen by their peer members of the UtopYA Academy and opened the voting in the Third Annual UtopYA Awards to all the fans out there!

This blog, A Book Vacation, and I (Shana) have been nominated THREE times, for BEST BLOG OF THE YEAR, BLOGGER OF THE YEAR, and UTOPIAN OF THE YEAR. You don’t have to vote for me–I’m just honored and extremely humbled that I was nominated, and I’m excited to boot!

Make sure you stop by UtopYA and VOTE for your favorites, especially since there are 10 NEW categories for a total of 30, which gives YOU even more opportunities to vote for your favorites, such as Raine Thomas, Megan Curd, Tiffany King, Jennifer L. Armentrout, Heather Love King, Hollie Westring, Paulina Ulrich, Chelsea Fine, Heather Hildenbrand, Angeline Kace, Amanda James, and many, many more!!!

Voting Ends 11:59 PM Friday, May 16, 2014. Congratulations to all the nominees!

VOTE HERE!

{April 25, 2014} {Review} Clara Barton: Angel of the Battlefield by Ann Hood (The Treasure Chest #1)

From Goodreads: While exploring The Treasure Chest, Felix and Maisie are transported to a Massachusetts farm in 1836. Disappointed that they have not landed in their beloved New York City, they wonder why they were brought to Massachusetts to meet a young girl named Clara Barton. Perhaps Clara has a message for the twins? Or maybe they have one for her?

__________________________________________________________

While I don’t usually seek out and read MG books, I’m really glad that the publisher gave me this novel to read at my leisure. Originally, I wasn’t sure if I would read it for review or not, but since it’s such a quick read, I decided to give it a shot, and I’m happy I did. Though definitely a novel for young readers, the story itself is interesting—with a little bit of drama, lots of snooping around, and time travel, I was hooked almost from the beginning, genuinely interested in the lives of twins Felix and Maisie, especially because they’ve had it so rough as of late. Due to their parents’ divorce, Felix and Maisie find themselves uprooted from their home and moving into the servants quarters of a 70 room mansion—a mansion their great grandfather built, but that his daughter turned over to the preservation society in order to help with its upkeep. Of course, everything is new for the twins, and the loss of their stable home has them rather upset, so it’s easy to connect with them from the start. Hood does a great job fleshing out the twins, and in no time they are exploring their new home, sneaking around the mansion when they know they aren’t supposed to, and a sense of mystery and magic permeates the story as it begins to take flight.

I can see how much a 3^rd-5^th grader would really love this story, but I also think students as old as 9^th and 10^th grade would enjoy it as well. Hood really has a way with words, and this novel delivers in all the right places. While these wasn’t much in terms of Clara Barton’s story—more so frivolous information in the beginning—Hood ties it all together for Maisie and Felix, and I can see this historical fiction series becoming a favorite within the classroom. Four stars.

I was given this novel for free by the published during NCTE 2013.

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

{April 24, 2014} {Review} Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout (The Dark Elements #0.5)

From Goodreads: In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series THE DARK ELEMENTS, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

Dez wasn’t just Jasmine’s crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining balance between good and evil. He was her everything…right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn’t help that Jas’s father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he’s back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn’t taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again…

_________________________________________________________________

While this novella takes place four years prior to events in White Hot Kiss, focusing on two minute characters, it was still an amazing read!! Getting to know Jas and learn about the mating rituals/roles within the Warden’s clan was interesting; something that is briefly touched on in White Hot Kiss, but not expounded upon since Layla has no chance of taking a mate–not since her kiss is fatal to all except a demon.

In the beginning of Bitter Sweet Love, I was riled up and on Jas’ side–Dez disappeared for three years without a word and there was no way that I thought she should take him back. But, as the story evolved, and as Armentrout so beautifully described their seven day adventures, my walls, along with Jas’ came crashing down. And you know, Dez actually had a pretty good reason for leaving—even a bit romantic in a way, if one chooses to look at it that way (though he still could have called…).

At the end of this extremely well written novella we do meet 13 year old Layla, timid, taciturn, and shy as can be. And we meet Zayne, and even Roth–it’s was great to see their interactions and realize that the clan knew of Roth’s curiosity even four years before he ever approached Layla, and that actually makes me even madder at the Wardens!! But, for all intents and purposes, the entire situation was extremely well played. Bitter Sweet Love is a great novella, and if you’re interested at all in Gargoyles, Demons, swoonworthy boys, kisses that will melt your heart, and some kick butt fight scenes, then you should definitely pick up this prequel, regardless of whether you’ve read White Hot Kiss or not. It’s intense and oh so amazing. Four stars.

I purchased this novella from Amazon:

Kindle | Nook

AND

Pick up your copy of White Hot Kiss today!!

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

{April 23, 2014} {Review} Teardrop by Lauren Kate (Teardrop #1)

From Goodreads: Never, ever cry… Seventeen-year-old Eureka won’t let anyone close enough to feel her pain. After her mother was killed in a freak accident, the things she used to love hold no meaning. She wants to escape, but one thing holds her back: Ander, the boy who is everywhere she goes, whose turquoise eyes are like the ocean. And then Eureka uncovers an ancient tale of romance and heartbreak, about a girl who cried an entire continent into the sea. Suddenly her mother’s death and Ander’s appearance seem connected, and her life takes on dark undercurrents that don’t make sense. Can everything you love be washed away?

______________________________________________________________

This was an interesting fantasy/paranormal/mythology novel, but to be honest, it wasn’t what I expected at all. Having read the prequel, I thought there would be more explanations of Ander and his family, but readers are left with little more knowledge in this full novel than they received in the prequel, and I really wanted to know more, especially since the entire mythology aspect completely floored me. I wasn’t expecting it, and it didn’t even register in my mind until close to the big reveal, even though there are clues woven throughout the novel. And yet, some of those clues really left me scratching my head at the time of their revelation. Perhaps that is because the novel itself is just so secretive.

I knew going in that there were going to be many secrets in this book, but I felt like there were just too many. I like to have some semblance of what’s going on in my novels, but I didn’t feel like I was any closer to the truth as I read Teardrop because it’s all so secretive. For instance, the entire story surrounding Eureka’s mother and her instruction to never cry went completely over my head—I remember actually thinking, “why is this here?” as I was reading through the novel; I thought it was a random inclusion and it didn’t make sense to me at the time because it didn’t mesh with anything else happening around the randomly inserted scene. And then I found out that it was the crux of the entire novel. I mean, this is called Teardrop, after all, but in this case, I feel like that should have been played up a bit more. Perhaps I just missed out on the other explanations and clues earlier on in the novel. It could be reader error, who knows.

Regardless, though, this was a decent read. Though a bit choppy here and there, by the end of the story I was drawn in and dying to know what would happen next, realistic or not. While this novel is not on the same par as Kate’s Fallen Series, I will say that it’s a good read for those looking for something completely different. Just know that not all your questions are going to be answered in this first novel. Three stars.

I borrowed this novel from the the public library.

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

Share this:

Amazon | Kindle (only $3.79!) | Barnes and Noble

Excerpt:

About Angie Stanton:

Share this:

Dirty Blood by Heather Hildenbrand

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

PSSSST: You can get your 1-liner published in Dirty Blood #5!

Check out this CONTEST from Heather Hildenbrand:

Soul Survivor by Michelle N. Files

Find it on Amazon.

Whispers and Wishes by Hollie Westring

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Spirits and Spells by Hollie Westring

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Haunting: The Dusty Chronicles by B.J. Sheldon

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

The Boy Who Sneaks in My Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moselry

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Last Call by Michele G. Miller

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Never Let You Fall by Michele G. Miller

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Finding Obscurity by Emma Shade

Find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Love As the World Dies by Lila Felix, Rebecca Ethington, and Rachel Higginson

Find it on Amazon.

If you could help give these authors some love by spreading the word, that would be epic.

For more information about books on sale throughout the week, as well as giveaway updates, be sure to like A Book Vacation’s Facebook Page.

Share this:

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

Share this:

Review:

Casting spells, dodging love and forming friendships soon make this snarky witch realize life is much more interesting than she ever imagined it could be.

_____________________________________________________________

In exchange for an honest review, I received an ARC of this novel from the author.

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

The ebook is JUST .99 cents!

About the Author:

Hollie Westring hails from Kansas City, Mo. She used to be a journalist, which probably explains her extreme dislike of the serial comma and her preference for AP style.

When not writing, editing or reading, Hollie can be found baking cookies or watching more than her fair share of crime TV. She’s a loyal Royals and Chiefs fan.

Links:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Hollie is a UtopYA Nominee for

BEST DEBUT NOVEL

BEST PARANORMAL NOVEL

GO VOTE:

Giveaway:

I’m giving away an ebook of both Whispers and Wishes and Spirits and Spells to one lucky winner!

Share this:

Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic

by Meghan Ciana Doidge

(Dowser #3)

_______________________________________________

Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic: Coming Soon

About Meghan Ciana Doidge:

Meghan Ciana Doidge is an award-winning writer based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She has a penchant for bloody love stories, superheroes, and the supernatural. She also has a thing for chocolate, potatoes, and sock yarn.

Novels – After The Virus, Spirit Binder, Time Walker, Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic – Dowser #1, Trinkets, Treasures, and Other Bloody Magic – Dowser #2, Treasures, Demons, and Other Black Magic – Dowser #3

Novellas/Shorts – Love Lies Bleeding and The Graveyard Kiss

WARNING: author has been known to manipulate characters with chocolate, sex, and fantastical plotting. Readers beware http://author.to/meghancianadoidge

Links:

Blog: www.madebymeghan.ca

Twitter: @mcdoidge

Facebook: Meghan Ciana Doidge

Share this:

It’s that time again! For no other reason than that I like giveaways… we’re onto the THIRTY-SIXTH Recently Released Giveaway Goodness Giveaway run by yours truly!

This is an INTERNATIONAL giveaway from the book depository, but you need to make sure they send to your country before entering–check here.

Click here to go to the Rafflecopter entry form!

A Book Vacation is honored to be nominated for:

BEST BLOG OF THE YEAR

BLOGGER OF THE YEAR

UTOPIAN OF THE YEAR (Shana Benedict)

You don’t have to vote for me, but you should definitely vote for your favorites!!

Voting ends May 16: http://bit.ly/VOTEutopYAawards2014

And, check out the other giveaways running on the blog:

Share this:

Title: Empower: Fight Like A Girl

Genre: Anthology of short stories ranging from crime mysteries to paranormal thrillers

Publisher: Words Empower Media

You can enter using the Rafflecopter below, but she’ll also be giving
away more prizes during her Facebook party running April 30-May 8th.